Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 75
September 22, 2023
September 22, 2023: Getting Away!
The place has bee all too quiet the past few days. I actually choked up eating roast chicken. We need to get away for a while.
So we’ve booked our first Japan trip in five years for December and are looking to do a little more vacationing. I put out a twitter poll yesterday –
Thinking of getting away for a week.
Where should we go?
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) September 21, 2023
New Orleans runs away with it. Coincidentally, Akemi cast her vote for the Big Easy as well, eager to sample the beignets at Cafe Du Monde. How many days do you think would be good? I’m guessing somewhere between 3-5. We either go in November OR early next year as we have also booked a two night trip to NYC. We’ll be staying in Midtown. Hit me with your Big Apple restaurant recommendations! Also any other vacation destinations we should be considering. Spain and Portugal are also top of the list.
At some point, we’d really like to adopt another dog or two, but it’ll be tough to do amidst all the travel, especially if we ended up adopting a special needs senior (or two) which is more than likely.
Today’s Yes/No…
Matcha Mocchiri Balls? Yes/No
Matcha mocchiri balls appear at Starbucks in Japan for a limited time https://t.co/qVDqYUy54F via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Very much missing my girl
The post September 22, 2023: Getting Away! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 21, 2023
September 21, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad #1 – cove art by Tom Reilly
Catwoman #57 – cover art by Joshua “Sway” Swaby
Green Lantern: War Journal #1 – cover art by Taj Tenfold
Green Lantern: War Journal #1 – cover art by Dave Wilkins
Superman #6 – cover art by Tiago Da Silva
The Vigil #5 – cover art by Sumit Kumar
Titans #3 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.
Harley Quinn: Black, White & Redder #3 – cover art by Cliff Chiang
Victory #4 – cover art by Dave Johnson
Dune: House of Harkonnen #9 – cover art by Raymond Swanland
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post September 21, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 20, 2023
September 20, 2023: Suji
Many question the wisdom of adopting a senior dog given the limited time you have with them.
In Suji’s case, we were blessed to have her for almost seven years.
She came to us via the Pacific Pug Rescue when she was almost twelve, wheelchair-bound, cantankerous and, surprisingly, not very affectionate for a pug. She didn’t mind Akemi, didn’t like other dogs, and certainly didn’t like me who she tried her best to avoid those first couple of days. Akemi wanted to give her a new name to symbolize her fresh start while I insisted that it was madness to rename a dog heading into their twelfth year of life, so we compromised. And Suzy became Suji (short for Sujiko, Japanese for salmon roe).
And so, Sujiko started her new life with us. Due to her condition, her back legs didn’t work so well so she relied on a wheelchair. But she was a determined girl so we decided to test her, exercising her regularly, eventually walking her with a towel to help support her hindquarters – first a few steps, then the length of a street, eventually an entire block. We brought her to therapy (hydro, laser, massage), and, slowly but surely, she regained the use of her back legs. She started walking again. A little wobbly, but she still walked – and we were able to put her wheelchair in storage.
Also due to her condition, she wasn’t able to pee on her own so we learned to express her bladder, first Akemi crouching down with her as the vet videos taught, later me with a standing off-the-hip motion that would worked far better. She was also an oblivious pooper, dropping the occasional nugget until I learned to help her in that respect as well, earning myself the nickname Poop Whisperer.
Suji settled in quickly and grew to tolerate the other dogs in the house, fellow pug Bubba and frenchie Lulu. She actually formed a bit of a bond with laid-back Lulu and, after Lulu’s sudden passing, spent days wandering the apartment looking for her.
Unlike most dogs, Suji didn’t mind being dressed up and she seemed to love the camera, so Akemi had no trouble starting a dedicated instagram page for her, a page that, at last check, had over 52k followers, over 10k more followers than I do despite my 400 hours of produced television including Stargate and Dark Matter.
Like a lot of celebrities, Suji would occasionally get recognized when she was out in public – on the street, in the park, once by a retail worker at Lululemon in Vancouver who rushed out of the store to meet her. And, like a lot of celebrities, Suji was indifferent, grudgingly posing for pictures or suffering unsolicited pats.
Eventually, she lost the use of her legs again but this time, no amount of therapy would help her regain mobility and she was back in her old wheelchair for a time. But eventually the neurological condition she suffered from made even that impossible so we switched to a doggy stroller and she would enjoy the outings, the feel of the rolling wheels underneath her, the sun on her face, being inaccessible to other dogs.
In her later years, Suji seemed to give in to her natural pugly instincts and actually enjoyed being cuddled, usually on Akemi’s lap or when I would carry her in my arms like a baby. That was when she was the most comfortable. And, really, so long as we were near, she was fine. Of course as she got older and her hearing went and her eyesight failed, “near”, became increasingly Suji subjective. She preferred it when I sat on the couch beside her and worked or if she could rest her chin on my reassuring foot while I was at my stand-up desk. The last time we went away (to Japan), she was still mobile and had Lulu to keep her company, so she stayed with a friend. When we picked her up following our two week trip, she absolutely let us have it, barking her outrage in the backseat of the car the entire drive home. But since Lulu’s passing, and Suji’s high-maintenance needs, we shelved our travel plans indefinitely.
Suji turned 18 this past May and, all things considered, we thought she was doing pretty well for a girl her age and were hopeful she’d hit 19 at least. But her conditioned worsened. The vets suspect her neurological condition was slowly working its way up her body, robbing her of the ability to walk, then making the most mundane of things difficult – holding her head up, chewing and swallowing, breathing. We switched to softer food, smaller bites, and then hand-feeding. We tried propping her up so she’d have an easier time of it. Despite our best efforts, she struggled, occasionally choking. I had to perform the doggy Heimlich on her on three separate occasions over the past month.
Ultimately, breathing became an issue so we would lie her with her chest and head propped up, or we would carry her around, again like a baby, to keep her airway clear. But, in the end, even those measures were fleeting and she would suffer scary respiratory attacks where her tongue would turn purple. So we made the decision. The plan was to take her out for burgers and coconut ice cream (to accompany the seasoned chicken Akemi had been making for her, her absolute favorite) and arrange a visit for an in-home euthanasia today. But late yesterday afternoon, she took a turn for the worse – gasping for breath, tongue purpling – so we called our vet and brought her in.
Our vet, and the team at then Queen West Animal Clinic (connected to the Four Paws Rehab center we would take Suji to for her hydro and laser therapy) were amazing and incredibly reassuring. I held Suji in my lap as she drifted off to sleep for the last time.
My biggest regret is that she never got that coconut ice cream.
Now, the house feels quiet and empty. Unusually so. For the first time in almost 25 years, I’m without a dog. And I don’t like it.
For now, Akemi and I will mourn our girl and focus on other things, maybe finally take that long overdue trip back to Japan.
And when we come back, we’ll look into adopting another dog or two, preferably seniors. Because in spite of the limited time you have with them, what may feel like few years to you is a second lifetime to them, one filled with hope and love and fun and affection and sleeping on a huge bed and getting to paint with little sponges on their paws and eating barbecue duck from T&T.
I’ll miss my girl.
I leave you with a few of my favorite Suji videos…
The post September 20, 2023: Suji appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 19, 2023
September 19, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!
The Tower (2021-2023) – First season
After a long-serving cop and a teenage girl fall to their deaths from a London tower block, Detective Sarah Collins investigates the dark heart of policing.
My thoughts: Logic goes out the window in service to a social justice message. Pass.
2/5
Love/hate (2010-2014) – First season
The story of the organized crime scene of Dublin is revealed, centered on Darren, who wants to stay out of trouble but ends up returning to his old habits and his old gang.
My thoughts: The visual style is dated and the soapy elements are a little much at times, but the characters are great and the story is compelling.
3.5/5
The Responder (2022-) – First Season
A crisis-stricken, morally-compromised first-responder tackles a series of night shifts on the beat in Liverpool.
My thoughts: Bleak. Not for me.
DNF
Guilt (2019-2023) – First season
Two brothers accidentally run over and kill an old man. They cover their tracks, but their lives start to fall apart when neighbors and relatives of the dead doubt the way he died.
My thoughts: Maybe on or two too many twists in this darkly humorous Hitchkokian thriller, but it’s loads of fun.
4/5
Line of Duty (2012-2021) – Season 1
Drama series following the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit.
My thoughts: A terrific set-up with some great twists and turns, but marred by plot conveniences.
3.5/5
The post September 19, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 18, 2023
September 18, 2023: Unusual Deaths and Weird Egg!
#UnusualDeaths
Ants kill over 30 people a year. Fire ants, and their Australian cousins the jack jumper ants, sting their victims with venom. African army ants, meanwhile, can form columns 50 million strong, often feeding on small mammals. pic.twitter.com/HZVqsND9O5
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
Bees kill, on average, 50 people a year, with most deaths due to anaphylaxis from bee stings. The deadliest of the species, the Africanized honey bee, is reputedly aggressive and, apparently, vengeful, known to pursue people for up to 3/4 a mile when provoked. pic.twitter.com/hn7Hz96cf8
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
Selfies have killed almost 400 people since 2011. Most were transport-related or involved electrocution, firearms, falls, or drowning, but a few involved animals, like the guy in China who was drowned by a walrus that evidently didn't want its picture taken. 1/ pic.twitter.com/e2BV5Iw5kA
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
There are over 200 frozen bodies on Mount Everest, many of which are used as trail markers by hikers. While many are unidentified, a few have been given names like Green Boots and Sleeping Beauty. pic.twitter.com/KYBTs8bvMa
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
The Brazilian yellow scorpion and the Israeli deathstalker can inject their victims with enough venom to kill a human being (usually children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised). They kill 3250 people a year. pic.twitter.com/GPMQqBo8ei
— Joseph Mallozzi
Today’s Yes/No…
Inside-Out Egg? Yes/No https://t.co/yPWCIjDw4T
— Joseph Mallozzi
Thanks again for all the well-wishes. Suji had a better day today.
The post September 18, 2023: Unusual Deaths and Weird Egg! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023: Suji Sunday!
So we’re keeping an eye on our little girl and while we’re preparing ourselves for the worst, we’re taking it one day at a time and spoiling the hell out of her. Her recent meals included grass-fed ground beef, bacon, pan-fried chicken with Herbes de Provence, water buffalo cheese, kouign-amman, coconut ice cream, and Portuguese custard tart.
Coffee outing to Cafe 23…
Hanging with dad…
Check out this interview…
https://www.sharisimpson.com/post/suji-and-her-people-joe-akemi
The post September 17, 2023: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 16, 2023
September 16, 2023: Another Suji update!
So last night was a bit of a long night for me and my gal. Whereas mom hand feeds her, massages her, and brushes her teeth, dad is in charge of ensuring she does her business and sleeps comfortably through the night. Akemi has noticed Suji has been having trouble breathing of late and he nose has been very leaky. I must have awakened two dozen times last night to readjust her or wipe her nose.
In discussions with the vet yesterday, she said that only we would know when it was time. Some people draw the line when their dog or cat stop walking, but if that was our line, we never would have adopted Suji in the first place. She came to us with a wheelchair, her back legs useless. But, over time, we got her walking again – albeit in a wobbly manner. And she did walk, wheelchair-free, for several years – until last year. Despite our best efforts to repeat our success, she didn’t regain her walking ability.
Other people draw the line at a pet’s inability to do their own business but, again, this was yet another issue Suji had when we adopted her, so we learned how to express her bladder and I became a poop-whisperer of sorts.
For me, the line I’ve always drawn with my pats dogs has been loss of appetite. Pugs and frenchies are notorious gluttons and when they reach a point where they no longer show an interest in food, then I know it’s time. Suji is still a voracious eater. In fact today at lunch, after sampling the pan-fried chicken breast, she angrily barked for more.’
BUT, it’s very clear that she is increasingly having trouble chewing and swallowing. You can even see her frustration in her attempts to accomplish the previously simple task of eating.
I knew it was Maximu’s time to go when he stopped eating and then simply gave up on walking on afternoon. I knew it was Jelly’s time when she stopped eating. Akemi was more attuned to Bubba’s needs, and she knew exactly when it was time – calling me off set late one night. In the case of Lulu, it was somewhat easier on all of us in that, rather than us having to make the decision, she ate a big breakfast and simply keeled over.
As I said, I’d always kind of hoped that Suji would go out that way, preferably quietly in her sleep, but as our vet pointed out, EVERYONE hopes that is the way their dog or cat will go out but only about 2% of them do.
On the one hand, Suji is animated and hungry and we can see her personality shining through. On the other hand, she is struggling to eat and, of more concern, struggling to breathe. Not always, but occasionally, enough for me to fear she will aspirate.
So we’re taking it one day at a time and keeping a close eye on her. Our vet has given us the name of a mobile vet that does in-home euthanasia, something we’d rather not think about but realistically have to at this point.
And that’s the update. As I write this, my gal is dozing comfortably beside me. She sleeps particularly well after our lunch (table scraps!) and after Akemi gives her a massage. Thinking I may spoil her with ice cream later.
The post September 16, 2023: Another Suji update! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 15, 2023
September 15, 2023: The Suji update!
Today, we took Suji to another vet for a second opinion. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, we fear that Suji’s neurological condition is worsening and a creeping paralysis is working its way through her body, making chewing and swallowing difficult. Lately, this has manifested in nasal discharge and choking. So Akemi and I are faced with the tough decision. Given her condition, we figured she had maybe days left at most…
BUT, miraculously, she seemed to bounce back today – as if she knew we were taking her to the vet. She demonstrated a good, healthy appetite, cleaning out half of the clinic’s collection of beef treats, and displaying NONE of the symptoms that had us worried over the past couple of days. She seems to be back to her old self. Almost. Somewhat quieter but certainly less sniffly.
So, for the time being, we’re going to keep an eye on her and play it by ear.
Thanks to everyone who posted and reached out with well-wishes and will keep you posted on our feisty, cantankerous gal.
The post September 15, 2023: The Suji update! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
September 14, 2023
September 14, 2023: Suji
Alas, our little gal has not been doing well of late. Increasingly, she’s been having trouble eating – chewing and swallowing – and whenever she drinks, her nose runs. She’s been having trouble breathing but seem to do better when she is in certain positions, with her chest propped up.
I suspect it’s the neurological condition that initially paralyzed her back legs and, eventually, her front ones as well, slowly working its way up her little body.
Given her advanced age (18 years and 4 months), I had kind of hoped she would drift peacefully off in her sleep one night. But she’s a feisty one and, every morning, she is up and demanding to be fed. So her appetite is still there.
We have an appointment with the vet tomorrow to discuss her condition and options but, sadly, it doesn’t look good for our gal.
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September 13, 2023
September 13, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
The Cull #2 – cover art by Matt de lulis
Batman Incorporated #12 – cover art by John Timms
Batman and Robin #1 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1 – cover art by Rafael Grampa
Spirit World #5 – cover art by Jessica Fong
Ghost Rider #18 – cover art by Bjorn Barends
Red Sonja #2 – cover art by Stephen Platt
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post September 13, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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