The Venice Jette is Fun!

Doug took me down to the Venice jette this and yesterday afternoon to watch people fish, but I saw lots more than that! There were three dolphin lolling around and having lunch - not really on their way anywhere like the dolphin in Virgina Beach that definitely had an agenda to get somewhere. There were lots of birds there, too! There was a crane who was just a little too interested in my presence there - someone threw him a fish and he flew off with it, thank goodness because he was about four feet tall and kinda scary!

There were also cranes, egrets, a couple of herons, and a cormorant that freaked me out because he was spreading his wings and looked like he was in attack mode. Doug said he was just drying his wings, but I don't know if I believe that. The egrets and terns were diving into the water to get lunch, and of course, the ever-present sea gulls and pelicans were zooming around. When Doug goes fishing I always bark when he casts his pole, but he asked me to not do that to the people fishing there. Fish are something I'm really curious about, and I always try to "get" the fish - not that  I want to really bite them, but they look likes tons of fun to play with because of the way they flip and flop on the ground. The people were mostly catching grouper and snapper, but there were a couple of fish that Doug couldn't identify and one of them was really slimy. I had to lick my nose a few times before I got the slime off and Doug laughed at me and said I looked like a mule eating briers!

Last night we partied with Grammy who shared some of her spaghetti and meat sauce with me! Delicious!! We watched "Dancing with the Stars" because they're almost to the end of the competition and Aunties Cyn and Karen watch it. I thought it was pretty boring, but what do I know? Doug had a scotch on the rocks with Grammy, and they just talked and petted me until Monday Night Football came on and THAT'S when the party started!

Grammy is a huge football fan, and watching the game is a pleasant distraction from what ails her. When the family lived in San Diego they were just a mile from Jack Murphy Stadium where the Chargers used to play, so they were rooting for them last night. It took me years to get over the way people yell and scream disgusting things at the TV when football's on because I always think they're yelling at me. I don't know why I think that because, really, I'm just a Doug's boy, and he never talks to me like that. The only time Doug gets disappointed at all is when I get poop on my butt because I have such fancy pants. Despite everyone yelling at the TV, I like football games because every munches on goodies when the game's on, and I'm all about snacks with the family!

That's all for now, friends and fans, except to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving on Thursday! Doug read Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, and recommends that anyone who wants to know the real story behind the Pilgrams ought to read it! He especially enjoyed learning about the Indian wars!

Happy holiday!

Pictures of Mom's Venice, Florida, neighborhood on Aloha Friday!!

If you click on the pictures I believe they enlarge to original size!

The Venice "canals" are not like the ones in Italy

This is the terminus across the street from Mom and Dave's house

Some pictures of beautiful Venice Gardens waterways around Mom and Dave's house taken yesterday. This is one of the off-shoot canals half a block from the house.

A front coming from the east - taken on the Venice Jette

Sunset Report: Self explanatory.




I'm sitting with Mom at Harbor Chase. She's reading the newspaper, and I'm writing this. When I arrived this morning she was bright-eyed and bushy tailed and said she'd tried to call me, but I didn't answer. I told her I have my phone in my pocket - I took it out, and sure enough. "One missed message." I dunno how that happens. I'm just THAT deaf, I guess. I was rocking out on the way here and pretty deep in thought... It's kinda scary to think I can be that oblivious to the world.

I'm heading north to New England for the Christmas holidays, but I'm fearing the cold weather. It's been in the low eighties and very sunny for most of the past couple of months, and the thought of thirties and twenties is frightening. I have a very specific list of people I want to see and things I want to do so that I make sure I get everything I want to do in during my short visit north. By the way, Duppy thanks everyone for his emails, and asked me to leave today's post off with a picture of one of his favorite bird chasing venues - the beach!!

Duppy's Update

Here's one of the pelicans taking off by running on the water!

The past week or so we've just been hanging out with my Grammy at Harbor Chase Rehabilitation Hospital while she gets her legs back under her. Everybody here loves me, and whenever they see Doug coming they always look for me. I had a spa treatment and grooming two days ago so I'm especially foofy now, and everyone loves that. We've been here about three weeks and Doug hasn't taken me to the beach even one time. Down here in Venice they have lots of pelicans and cranes, but since we haven't been to the beach I haven't had to chase them off like I did in Virginia Beach. We don't have to go to the beach to see birds here because Grammy and Duffy LIVE in a bird sanctuary!! I'll tell Doug to post some pictures - I know he's been meaning to take some!

For every step forward poor Grammy makes she seems to take one back. When she fell and broke her hip she also tore open her elbow, which needed to be stitched up. Unfortunately, it became very infected and it took until today to get the infection under control. A couple of days ago she got tangled up with a device in the bathroom, and cut her wrist up pretty badly so she's all bandaged up. The rehab nurses are trying to get her going, but it's a very slow process, and Doug is just glad that she's not spending her days on her back in the hospital bed. She goes to physical therapy in the morning and occupational therapy in the afternoon. Right now she's in her wheelchair watching TLC. She loves that I come to spend lots of time with her every day, and I hop right up on bed so she can feed me tidbits and pet me!

Even though we haven't made trips to the beach, we have been eating out at least once a day and I love that! Before I became a service animal I had to wait for Doug in the truck, but now that's all changed. Doug gets lots of email about our experiences, and our blog has had almost 6,000 hits from twenty countries in just eleven weeks - the latest being Equatorial Guinea, India and Latvia! Jeez! Doug says it's my fan club since I seem to be the one most people want to write to. Can't blame them as I'm pretty darn cute!

See what I mean? Cute or what?

Doug and Grammy both enjoy reading historical literature, and Doug is reading one of Gram's books entitled Mayflower, written by Nathaniel Philbrick, about the real story behind the colonization of the Plymouth Plantation. Reading the book has caused Doug to go on a huge search for information about the European Hundred Years' War, Thirty Years' War and the Seven Years' War, which all preceded the Pilgrims' emigration to the New World. While the part of the story about Squanto and the Indians saving the Pilgrims' bacon when they first arrive in North America is true, the rest of the story was a shock for Doug.

He thought the Pilgrams were peace-loving people, but that was not really the case because in the book it said every man in church worshiped with a musket at hand. Within a handful of years the colonists and Indians found themselves in conflict that erupted King Philip's War and the Great Swamp Fight which was absolutely shocking to Doug. Seventy-five percent of the New England towns were attacked, which had homes, barns and mills set on fire, and many people killed or captured to become Indian slaves! It turns out that America's first best-selling book was the story of Mary Rowlandson's capture and experiences as an Indian slave! Doug is doing lots a research as he reads, and is looking for a copy of Rowlandson's book.

We hope that before long Grammy will be back on her feet and we will be down the road to Pensacola for Thanksgiving, but that may be too optimistic for her current circumstances. Doug said he will posting some pictures soon, so stop by in a day or two to see them!

Love,
Duppy

Dear Daddy, Remember The Time?

One of my favorite older pictures from elementary school

Dear Daddy,
                    Remember the time you tapped my hand to the seat of your vehicle (F-150) when I was reaaally young to teach me the concept of a musical beat?


Miss the old days.

The above is a text from Emma, my daughter, that came in VERY late last night. I had my phone charging, and didn't get the message until I got to the hospital with Mom today. You have a message in your inbox, sweetie!

Yes, I remember that lesson in syncopation more vividly than you can imagine. Lee Roy Parnell and Radney Foster were the artists we did that to in my old green Ford truck that wouldn't die. I finally junked it because it was too embarrassing to be seen in. I always said I'd drive it until it broke, but it never did. It just got uglier and uglier. It ran like a beast, and I always enjoyed that you liked the truck, too. You were the first to ride in it after I bought it, as well as the truck I still have now! You're my best girl! There should be a country song about your best girl being the first to ride in your truck. "Riding down the road in my pick-up truck, ya better get ready 'cause I'm pickin' you up" Do you remember that? You used to sit on stage and sing our songs during Oklahoma, in fact, you stole the show one night and had the whole audience clapping for you! Deservedly so! You used to offer command performances in restaurants from your chair by winking at the men, singing and reciting poetry!

I remember teaching you to roller skate, ride a bike, swing high and long on a rope swing, dancing with you, singing to you (You Are My Sunshine! Remember?) taking you to the playground, fairs, ballet, circus and reading to you to show you how syllables work. But what I remember most is how much I have always loved you, and how special you make my life. I don't pretend to take credit for the fact that you are so brave that you could handle the 150 yard zip line, or jump of a sixty-five foot cliff into a quarry, but I really admire you for having the guts to face and do those things.

You are simply the best! Remember that always!!

I am SO lucky!!!

Love and kisses always,
Daddy

We've Been Busy!!

Ringmaster Chris

I've been having a lot of new experiences since we hit the road and most of opening my life to be as large as Doug's has been really great, but sometimes things get a little freaky for me because I'm just a Duppy. Yesterday Doug took Auntie Cyndi and me to the Cole Bros. Circus! At first I had fun, and met the Ringmaster, Chris, before the show. He knew about Harold Ronk and Uncle Soapy, and Doug thanked him for his kindness and gracious words. When the show started they brought out the BIGGEST kitty cats I've ever seen! I was really glad they stayed with their trainer, and I was a little jumpy about that because animals of all kinds gravitate to Doug. It was after that things went to hell in a hand basket. For starters, everything was REALLY loud, and it just kept getting louder! I was pretty okay with Doug covering my ears until the clown car exploded when Doug didn't expect it! A great big BOOOOM!!! Then I went to pieces, and hopped right into Doug's lap. I could tell it even scared Auntie Cyndi, because she jumped, too! Doug took me out before they fired off the human cannonball, thank goodness! Next time I'm going to let Doug and Auntie Cyn leave me in the car. After the circus Doug took us out for dinner at Ruby Tuesday. We had steak and lobster tail, and Auntie Cyn had a shrimp parmesan pasta dish. Both of them shared because I really enjoy a good piece of pasta with my steak!

Grammy's house has a Florida room with windows low enough  that even I can look out at the back yard, and yesterday I saw a big hook-bill crane catching geckos and Lord knows what else. I also saw a red-headed woodpecker, doves and the cat next door hunting the squirrels that Grampa Dave feeds. Kitty has been hunting them for years, but Grampa says the squirrels are way too fast. They scamper up the orange trees, and say, "Na na na na - Boo boo," which really torques the cat off. There are plenty of orange trees out back for the squirrels to take cover in, but I have to admit that chasing squirrels is one of my favorite things to do, too. I don't really want to hurt them, but I really enjoy it when I can get my nose right up in their tail feathers! Doug used to take me to Wesleyan University on weekend mornings, or if he got home from work early enough on sunny afternoons we'd go chase the squirrels and there are really lots of them! The squirrels in Florida aren't nearly as juicy as Connecticut squirrels - they're kinda small, but still great fun to chase after.

The things that catch my eye and makes me jump are the geckos that run from everywhere I go, and the fire ants sneaking up and biting my tootsies when I'm not looking. Yesterday they got Doug good, and when he realized we were under attack he scooped me up and dusted the ants off me first, and himself after! The bites stung for a couple hours!! The neighbors don't pick their oranges, and they just leave them on the ground which draws in all kinds of "visitors" I'd prefer not to meet. Grampa Dave caught a opossum in the trap he set to catch our runaway kitty when she got out, but there's no way I wanna chase one of them! They are kinda gross, and hiss like crazy!

Look how many types of palms there are!!

The part of Venice that Grammy lives in is called Venice Garden, and it's right in a bird sanctuary with a canal that winds through that part of town to a lake on the other side of the street from Gram and Gramp's house. Doug takes me to a spot at the end of the street when he goes to see if he can spot an alligator, or see if the fish are jumping. Doug's dying to go fishing again, and once Gram begins to feel a little better he'll find time to take me fishing because I really enjoy it, too! I love to try and get the fish when Doug catches them, and I always bark at him when he casts his pole, but I don't know why. Just plain ol' excited, I guess!

The trees here are really different from what I'm used to, and I have to be careful where I raise my leg because some of them I've learned about are cactus! Ouchy!! I've also discovered that palm trees come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them have stickly thingys on 'em. Bugs and snakes hide in them, too, and make me jump like a cat when they unexpectedly hop out when I pee on them! Yikes!

See what I mean?

Auntie Cyn stayed with Grammy the past two nights because she's going back to Pensacola tomorrow. Boo hoo! We're really gonna miss her more than I can say. She's so much help and comfort for Gram. Doug and I do a good job taking care of her, but no one does it better that Aunties Cyn and Karen. I heard Cyn tell Doug, "If you thing I'm good at taking care of Mom, you should see how good Karen is. She's unbelievable!!!" Grammy knows just how to blackmail Auntie Cyn, and got her to stay almost a week longer then she'd planned. Doug and I aren't going to leave Grammy until she's up and running on the road to recovery, but we promised Emma we are coming for Christmas in Connecticut. Uncle Dave is bringing the boys down for Christmas with Grammy and Grampa in Venice, so at least she'll have some of us here with her for the holidays.

Doug said for me to issue the Sunset Report for today, but before I do I wanted to let you know that We saw the sun set behind the Cole Bros. circus tent yesterday, and it brought a tear to Doug's eye. I wished he'd remembered to bring his camera!

If I weren't a Duppy, I'd say, "Damnation, it's beautiful here!!"

Love,

Duppy

Venice, Florida - Circus Memories

      

Sunset Report: Sun setting through the palm trees in a 77 degree cloudless sky was beautiful

Cyndi and I have been mostly spending alternate nights at the hospital with Mom, which believe it or not, is disorienting  after a couple weeks. Mom took her first painful steps yesterday, and is learning to overcome her fear of falling again. Because she's been so sick for so long, her muscle tone is poor and she'll be going to rehab for a while with a goal of being home for Christmas! Her spirits are much improved, and it's easy to see her progress the past couple days.

Our Uncle Soapy (AKA Duane Thorpe)

The longer I'm here the more I remember about the old days of coming to Venice for Winter Quarters during Christmastime, and watching the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey show rehearsals before they launched the new show edition for the year. We all stayed at the 40 Winks Motel and celebrated Christmas with our circus family. Very special people. I haven't "Googled" any of the names below, but I will later. My memories are personal ones, and I don't need Google or Wiki to remind me of their talent and kindness.

 Dick Barstow and Bill Bradley choreographed the dancing and production details for the spec and web numbers while Merle Evans and singing ringmaster, Harold Ronk, coordinated the music. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I grew up on the laps of my Uncle Soapy,  Lou Jacobs, Otto Greibling, and Prince Paul. Eric Braun, Joe, Mike and the other younger guys on clown alley welcomed our family behind the scenes to see how the circus show is put together. Frankie Saluto didn't care much for kids, and he was usually chewing on a cigar, pretty sauced, and scary under any circumstance.We weren't passed to him, and glad for that.

The particular "patina" of the circus is mainly a combination of elephant poop, saw dust and tiger pee; it is permanently ingrained in me. I'm taking Cyndi to the Cole Bros. Circus in Sarasota tomorrow evening, and I'm excited about that! Mom expects that I'll see several people I know, which I kind of doubt but still hope for. When I traveled with the show it was very much a family affair and because Uncle Soapy was such a popular guy, and had traveled with the circus so long, I felt like I had 425 brothers and sisters looking out for me. Many I'd known much of my life.

Every day that I drive to the hospital, I pass the old winter quarters building as I drive over The Circus Bridge. Very nostalgic. There's a trapeze school set up outside the building now, and there's talk of razing the building... so sad. I discovered during a waiting room conversation with a lady over my Duppy that she went to school with Tito Gaona, and that the trapeze school belongs to him. He was a firey, handsome flier from the days I traveled with the show and made me want to fly. Unfortunately for me I grew eleven inches in one year, and trapeze artists aren't allowed to be nearly six feet tall. I was allowed to fly on the low trapeze during practice, which only served to make me believe I could handle going high... I also always wanted to be shot out of what is now Elvin's cannon. (Not it has anything to do with the show, but driving 200 mph was also on my bucket list - the best I was able to do was 161 mph in Germany)

Handling Gunther's cubs to help socialize them, and seeing how he controlled sixteen elephants using only his voice - the same with his horses - and having him explain to me "They follow my commands because they WANT to please me," was a revelation in training animals that I understood more from the depth in his eyes than the words he used. He recently passed from brain cancer, and I went to his monument with my family last summer. RIP, Gunther.

Since Uncle Soapy's induction to the Clown Hall of Fame, I haven't seen any of the old gang. It was great to see Peggy Williams, who has made a career fostering interest in the American circus through education. Chuck Sidlow is one of a few contacts still maintained from the old clown alley; he has been wonderful about keeping us up on news and regularly calls Mom. Chuck's last bit of news was that Frosty Little has passed on last week. He was 44 when he graduated from the first class of the Clown College - quickly because clown boss, and had a twenty-four year career trouping with RBB&B. It was nice that such a great guy was such a success in transitioning his life. I know about running away to the circus, too, and we understood each other.

Thank You VRMC!!

Douglas Bradley Pascoe
28 Berkeley Terrace                                                                                              9 November, 2010
Milford, Connecticut  06460

Venice Regional Medical Center
The Rialto
Venice, Florida  34287

Dear Nurses, Staff, Doctors, Administrators, and Board of Directors,
                                                                                                        I was a career master teacher, so I know this letter format is a bit unorthodox. In the nine weeks I have been keeping this blog during my earlier travels around the country in my camper I have had almost six thousand hits from sixteen countries around the world, and I want for all the world to know how appreciative my family is for the incredible care EVERYONE here at VRMC has extended to Mom and our family as we strive to keep an appropriate level of fight instilled in her and allay her fears. I am staying in Venice until Mother is back on her feet, and we hope to have her transferred to a rehabilitation hospital before too much longer. The blog address access is available at WWW.DougandDuppy.blogspot.com. If "Doug and Duppy" is Googled, a link will come up. The first entry was made 23 August. The positive email feedback I've had about Mom's care was considerable, and far exceeded other peoples' less than positive experiences and expectations with other medical/surgical hospitals.

-The Blog Entry Regarding VRMC-

Below is a letter to the wonderful people who have been caring for my Mom during the past years of her decline. They have welcomed our large family, even when we were ALL here under their feet. Cyndi just noted that Evona, Mom's RN today, has stopped in three times this afternoon just to check on Mom's comfort! Mom's CNA today, Lourdes, is an angel, too! Cyn says, "It just keeps getting better!" in reference to the care provided here at VRMC.


For all of Duppy's fans, hold on tight. I'm sure he'll be posting soon!!!

Dear VRMC Staff and Administration,

                                                          Thanks be to you for having provided such excellent care for our Mom, Caryl Duffy, during her recent illnesses. The volunteers, staff, doctors and especially the nurses at Venice Regional Medical Center have been awesome beyond comparison. I'm touched when I see nurses like Becky, Michael, nursing students Chris Thorgard and Brittany, RNs Evona, CNA Lourdes, RNs Gail, Debra and Nicole calling Mom "Honey, Sweetie, Momma and Dear," and meaning it as they take such great care of her. I'm very impressed by their compassion and professionalism. Even when Mom doesn't make things easy and becomes fussy, they are able to address her fears and frustration at not healing faster to offer even better care to help restore her health and spirits. Their kisses on Mom's cheek and the hugs they freely offer definitely help, too. As a former member of a National Medical Enterprises hospital administration team and a career master teacher, I recognize the exceptional nursing care your staff is extending to my mother; we are grateful beyond words.

Charlene, Bonnie, Conelly and all the staff  from dietary have been absolutely awesome in their concern for making certain Mom has food that she will eat. Her meals are always delivered by Charlene with a smile, humor and grace. Patrick and Annetta, Mom's respiratory therapists, have become her friends, but the whole respiratory department has been great! David, Julie and Eric, and Mom's other physical therapists have been a Godsend; everyone from PT has been terrific! She is very grateful for the excellent care she is receiving.  Everyone who works here has been so kind, considerate and thoughtful. I can't say how much it means to my family to know that Mom is being cared for so well as she struggles desperately to mend her broken body. As a "frequent flier," Mom has always given wonderful reports about her care at VRMC to the rest of the family who are far away and eager to keep up with the status of her health. I'm delighted and relieved to see her reports are spot on, and that her care here could not be better. 

My sister related a story to me that I'd like to share with you and your staff. In the first week of October Mom came to your emergency room with a painful compression fracture to a disc in her back that badly distressed her. She was placed on a gurney, treated and then wheeled into the hallway as the ER was exceptionally busy. My sister noted two administrators observing practice and procedures of the ER staff, when Mom was approached by an ER doctor who ordered her immediate admission to the nursing staff. The two administrators, Regina Richardson and Mike Noll, wheeled my Mom to her room themselves. As a former hospital administrator, I admire beyond what words can express that your WHOLE staff is so involved in a quality of patient care that extends beyond what people expect. That you treat my Mom like you would treat your mother means so much to us - we thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for that.

I've recently semi-retired so I am able to visit Venice for as long as Mother needs, and have seen first-hand the quality care delivered with smiles and love she has spoken of so many times. My sister lives closer and has been to VRMC during almost every one of Mom's in-patient stays here. She also speaks very highly of the support the entire hospital staff offers our family as we strive to be here to provide all the very best for the strong woman that raised a very close family of five children. My siblings and I will not leave our geriatric mother, and appreciate that VRMC supports our family's endeavor to do the best for Mom we can. Your staff has made our family feel welcomed here, and we appreciate that more than I can say.

In admiration for your grace,

Douglas Pascoe, and family