Answers to your questions about the piano

Posted on October 11, 2011 by youngholm

I know you’re dying to ask. The answers are…

* 833 pounds

* More than a Corolla, but less than a Prius

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The piano’s progress

Posted on October 10, 2011 by youngholm
A slide show of the piano being delivered on Saturday.

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This is why it’s hard to practice

Posted on October 10, 2011 by youngholm

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The piano arrives

Posted on October 9, 2011 by youngholm
After a hair-raising journey up the stairs (which took four guys over an hour to manage), the piano arrived in the living room in good shape.

It sounds wonderful when Arlin plays it.

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The grand piano makes a brief visit

Posted on October 8, 2011 by youngholm
We’re getting a brand-new grand piano! I’m taking lessons again after 40 years, and I need a decent piano, so I’m treating myself.

It’s a 7-foot Ritmüller (made in China, despite the name). None of the shorter pianos I played appealed to me as much as this one.

Unfortunately, though the living room has plenty of space, the two 90-degree turns in our stairs make it a little difficult to get it up there. Three movers couldn’t get it beyond the downstairs hallway today while keeping the long side down, so they’re coming back with an extra guy tomorrow to try again with the keyboard side down. Wish us luck.

The tape measure in the living room is extended to 7 feet. As I said, plenty of space.

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Kai starts chemotherapy

Posted on October 8, 2011 by youngholm
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 Kai had his last radiation therapy a month ago. The next phase is chemotherapy, which started on Tuesday, October 4. He’ll have four or five treatments, at intervals of three weeks (assuming no adverse effects). According to the doctors, chemotherapy in dogs is not as stressful as it is for humans, and the risk of side effects is pretty small. We have medications for nausea and diarrhea, just in case.

His neck was shaved for the surgery and radiation, and his forelegs were shaved for IVs. He also had a radiation burn (healed now) just below his left ear. The bare spots have nothing to do with the chemotherapy; it’s just taking a long time for the fur to regrow. I think this may have something to do with thyroid imbalance also. He’s taking a thyroid supplement but I’m not absolutely sure that the levels will be right until after all his therapy is over.

Meanwhile, he’s doing really well. He doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort, and he chases squirrels, swims, and wrestles with Chester.
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Fun at the park

Posted on September 15, 2011 by youngholm

Kai’s energy is improving. Today we went to Point Isabel twice. During the second visit Kai and Chester roughhoused for 30 minutes or so, contending for a ball Kai had found in the rocks. The video shows some of their less energetic teasing play.

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Almost done

Posted on September 8, 2011 by youngholm
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Here we are at the dog park in Davis, ready to go home after Kai’s last radiation treatment.

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There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned trashy novel

Posted on September 6, 2011 by youngholm
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Willy reads Peyton Place.

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Kai’s last week of radiation

Posted on September 6, 2011 by youngholm
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Kai was home for the long Labor Day weekend. He’s lost some energy after the third week of radiation therapy, but he’s still happy and spunky. He and Chester decided to climb a tree after a particularly annoying squirrel yesterday.

Today he goes back for his last three days of radiation. We’ll pick him up on Thursday.
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