The first Thanskgiving

    
It's official. We are moving to Solvang and, yes, I am stoked. It is a big move for Bones--he has been in the same place for 12 years and has not had a girlfriend for a long time. Compromise is tough;  not for me but for Bones.  As good as he has it here, he is learning to be on his best behavior. Today Debbie would not let him comment on face place and sequestered him in her house. The situation involved 2 police officers outside the driveway. He just wanted to politely ask them what the heck was going on. Deb, or the source of all things good in my life, was afraid he would cause a ruckus. It seems he has a history of creating problems with the authorities.

The next 3 weeks will involve a lot of driving, moving from Ojai to Solvang. Bones and Meg and Jess have a storage area in Carpinteria--a half-way point where Bones can sort his stuff. He has a lot  of musical equipment and is very sad to have to leave his music room behind.The fear is the band will die without his house to practice at. I won't miss the band nor the music, it was loud and I always had to stay in the house while they played.

I will not miss Ojai.  It is cold, the floors have holes, there is no insulation, and the bathroom floor is falling in. The landlord is what they call a slumlord and, most important, I only have one couch to sleep on.

Thanksgiving at Deb's cousin's house was a blast. Not only was I allowed to attend the party, there were 2 girl dogs fighting over my affections.  I have gained 8 pounds at Deb's house. When I first came here I had on a harness that was way too large for me. Now it is a nice, tight fit. I cut quite a swath at the dinner party.

Today Debbie took me for a walk.  A big dog attacked me.  As we were scuffling,  Deb yelled, "Cash, Cash" and the other owner also yelled,  "Cash, Cash".  It turns out we were both named Cash -- the good Cash and the bad Cash. I am the good Cash.

If Bones gets thrown out he can live in his van I am staying here.

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger

This ain't no stinking trailer park

That's right folks I have been kick-in it in a sweet mobile home park. I told you that Murphy's mom took bones in after our accident.She has been gracious and giving. I hate to say it but it took another near death experience for us to land in such a great place.
I have the run of the house and as far as I can tell I have my own bedroom that I sleep in at night. Bones hate to owe people and he still feels helpless in many ways, I know about fighting back from the brink and I feel for him.
At the same time that I feel for him I love it here. The cats and I have a deal worked out, Murphy is the king and Percy and juju play games with me.
  I have a couple toys that are all mine I never really knew how much fun squeeze toys and balls were untill this period of my life. I think Murphy and I get along because we are both survivors. Murph is a tough old guy and he deserves respect so I give it to him. Last night we made a Debbie sandwich I was asleep on one side and Murphy on the other side of the bed. I can make myself weigh 100 pounds when I sleep so no one can move me.

Bone's youngest son moved back to town he is staying at our house in Ojai and driving our old truck. Bone's loves that he can share something with him. Sometimes he cry's for no reason. He tried to hug me the other night got down on one knee and forgot he could not bend the other knee. Deb had to help him up. On his birthday Jess and Meg came up to Solvang to see him, Deb made an incredible meal for everyone. Bones cried a lot. I know how he feels friends and family are what matters most.

Bones is kind of an emotional baby right now he wants to hug his family and loved ones but it hurts too much.

I have a field up here I go to when Deb gets home. There are a thousand squirrels running around it is no leash and no bag I love it.
So as of this post all is well in the animal kingdom I am just about done with my pills. It is time for my afternoon nap I just don't know which couch to crash on. Oh yea I got to see Roxy a while back we had a play date and it was fun. It seems to me I am now the older boyfriend and she defers to my experience.

Hug the ones you love while you can. Tell your family you love them.

Hugs from the hill. Cash Fargo Bellinger: 

   

Crash Dummies ( The Catalyst )

Hi folks, Cash here.  Sorry about the delay, a lot has transpired since the end of my last chapter.

Bones and I got in a horrible car accident.  His car spun out in the rain on the mountain road that we travel almost every day. We got hit by a very large truck. The truck hit the passenger side where I was sitting.

The sound of the impact was horrendous, louder than thunder and it felt like lightning might feel if it struck you. The truck was going 40 mph and we were sliding sideways at 25 mph. Bones was knocked out and I was also knocked out. When he came to he looked over at me to see if I was alright. I was far from alright.

When I regained consciousness the realization that I had almost died again triggered my flight response.

Flee I did. I jumped over Bones and took off as fast as I could and I ran up the curvy mountain road in the rain.

I could hear Bones yelling Cash, Cash, Cash, he was frantic. We have been through a lot together and our bond was becoming very solid and now this. Bones jumped out of his crumpled metal box and he tried to run after me. His knee would not work, he was having trouble breathing, and he was crying because he thought I was gone.

After the crash many people stopped to help Bones.  There were surfers he knew, there was a doctor that stopped and he told bones to stop moving around in case something was broken inside him. Bones explained that his dog (me) had run off and he felt helpless. The energy of the universe smiled on us both when a very nice man asked if he could help. Bones told him of my peril and he grabbed my leash and drove off to find me. I was done running, my senses had returned and I just wanted to get back to Bones. I needed him before, he needed me now.

The guy found me a long time later and took me back to the crash just as the cops and the paramedics showed up. Jesse arrived at the same time and the man with me on my leash handed the leash to Jesse.

Bones was relieved I was safe with Jesse. Bones has a broken sternum,  some broken ribs,  a crushed knee and a bruised ego.

They loaded Bones on a gurney,  turned on the siren,  and off to the Trauma center he went.

Thus starts chapter 2.  Murphy’s mom Deb came to the hospital and she offered to take Bones home to her house and care for him. He explained that I was part of the package and the offer was nice but he could take care of himself. It turns out Bones could not walk and his pain was so pervasive Deb broke him out of the hospital.

That is how Cash Fargo Bellinger moved in with Murphy, Jujube, and Percy -- 3 cats, 1 dog,  Deb  and Moans.  I have been bonding with Murphy, he is the head cat here. I am now the strong one and I have been there for Bones.  I cuddle with him when he is able.

Without Deb things would be very bad for us. I love it here.  I sleep on whichever couch I choose.   I have been practicing my cat imitations and Bones is slowly able to walk again.  This is just the beginning of a long painful journey. I got better.  Bones will, too.

I know how much I mean to Bones and how much he means to me.  I am enclosing a picture of the car. As you can see we are lucky to be alive.

Oh by the way I get to stop taking my medicine.
I am so happy to be alive and I hope you are all happy, also.

Hugs from the hill: Cash Fargo Bellinger

The common denominator

First off let me bring you up to date on my medical condition.

The  last I reported I was going for a visit at the hospital to have my liver checked.

I started with 2 aspirations that morning: one was that my liver would be alright, the other that I would no longer have to take the pills that keep the little living brain munchers from coming back and killing me.

50% is not bad in many arenas. If a baseball player comes to bat 100 times and he gets 50 hits he is batting 500. That is a good percentage in the base ball world. If a doctor operates on 100 people and 50 of them die that is not a good percentage.

In my case my liver is fine. The not so good thing is I have to takes the medicine for at least 6 to 9 more months. I choose to equate it to a ballplayer, I am batting 500. 

The doctors who had met me before were genuinely happy to see me again.

 They were all surprised at how much more confident my demeanor was.  I let them pet me and rub my head. I know these people helped me and I felt good showing them how far I had come. Some were even fans of my Chronicles. When you look at it that way I was a celebrity.

Where is Bones in this post? He was busy being what Jesse called a candy striper to the plebeian dogs and cats. He is truly impressed at the work these doctors do. The waiting room is always full of animals in different stages of some disease or injury. Every animal here has been referred by a vet who was simply not able to deal with what ever ailment or injury these critters had.

This day there was a dog with cancer. another dog with 2 broken legs. 2 cats in very bad shape many others  and  me with aspergillosis.. I was the healthiest dude on the floor.  I  had empathy for my brothers and sisters who were just starting on their journey of pain. If the others knew how far I had come it might help them have a positive attitude.

As I said Bones was amazed at how many lucky dogs and cats were there. When I say lucky I am referring to having humans love them enough to bring them here. The doctors are the best and it is very expensive.

The parking lot was filled with brand new very nice cars. In the middle of these cars is a 1986 honda, that is my car. I guess the point I am making is despite the fact the other animals had richer humans the love Bones feels for me is the same love everyone in the hospital felt for their pals.

Bones  wants to pet and say something to everyone's furry friend. Some people are a little sketchy when he approaches.

 One guy said his dog doesn't let any one touch him. The poor dog had 2 vertebra removed and could barely crawl. When bones approached him the dog crawled toward him to get a hug. It had to be a very gentle hug so as not to hurt him, but his owner was taken aback. Bones can't help himself he toured the whole lobby petting touching and talking to the patients. Any where else in any other situation these people would not have allowed this. In this building on this day all the owners let their animals share love with Bones.  

The up shot is: I have to take my pills for a long time. This is the end of chapter 1 of the Cash chronicles. I am a new dog, I have a human family of loving people and chapter 2 promises a lot of laughs.


Love is the common denominator:

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger

The green eyed monster:

                  Relationships are tough you have to  think of the other person you are involved with.

Being alone means you can do anything anytime and think anything you want. If you have been alone a long time you forget that other peoples thoughts are not the same as yours. If you want to know someone in a meaningful fashion and have them in your lives you have to be willing to compromise. 

Relationships come in many forms, really any time you have to deal with another entity for any extended period of time you have a relationship with this person. There are work relationships where people work all-day together but in many incidences never see each other out side of the work place.

Their are social relationships where you may meet a group or person once a week to dine or drink or go to a movie.

Then there are committed one on one relationships where two people commit to each other body and soul share each other thoughts feelings pain and triumphs. 

There are human and animal relationships. Bones and I have a relationship he is there to feed me, walk me, pet me, rub my head, let me out when I have to go, pick my poop up in a bag. Hey what is that all about? Where do they take it? I take a lot of time and effort to find just the right place to leave my refuse.  I could just do it in the bag.

Bones and I are learning to compromise. I let him sleep on my spot on the couch at night and in the morning when he gets up to lift his leg I take his spot in the bed.

Sometimes he isn't up for a walk on the beach so he sets up the umbrella. I sleep under it whiles he sleeps next to me. Boring but compromise is what it is all about.

Roxy and I are in a relationship, I think she is a little jealous of my being number one. She tries to lay down by Bones sometimes and I growl or nip her to let her know it is my spot. I love her but she is no longer the princess. She was here first but now I am the man.   

 Humans are sometime jealous of others that have more stuff or money or power.

I am a little jealous when Roxy leaves to go with Jesse and Megan. 

There is a feeling that exist within us all, it can kill a good relationship.  

 This feeling effects most every kind of relationship office, social, man animal, or committed.

Jealousy is stupid and petty, be happy with what you have and cherish the ones who love you.

Hugs from the hill: Cash Fargo Bellinger 

In the desert there ain't no one to remember your name:

                 In the desert there ain't no one to remember your name:

I have told you a little about my early years in Arizona. The heat was excruciating 110 degrees in the shade and the nights were no cooler. It was easy to dodge coyotes, the hard part was staying away from the rattle snakes and scorpions. If you get bit by a snake or stung by a scorpion it is pretty much all over for you.

There is a theory that if someone sucks the venom out of the bite before it hits your blood stream you may survive.  It is really hard to find a friend that loves you enough to suck on a rattlesnake wound . Being a dog it is down right impossible. Very important not to lift your leg on the wrong cactus if you get my drift.

This is painful to recall but in the interest of full disclosure I must tell the tale.

I was born in a small border town to a group of coyotes, not animals but human coyotes. These are people that smuggle people across the border for profit. As soon as I was old enough they attached a small but powerful flashlight to the top of my head. I was like rudolf the reindeer only instead of a sled I led groups of humans from Mexico to Arizona across ravines, and trails, and holes in the fences.

Why didn't I just run away you ask? It is not that simple, this was all I knew they fed me and if I did my job I did not get beaten. All my family had been raised in such a fashion and the ones not smart enough to learn the trail were soon gone and not too a good place I am sure.

I was one of the best I am very smart as I may have pointed out. I soon came to the attention of a cartel of very bad people that brought packages of very bad things across the border. As I grew in stature they started to put small back backs on me and fill them with some kind of contraband. Since I knew the trails by heart they would load me up and send me from Mexico to Arizona and sometimes back across with the pack filled with green paper.

I knew what I was doing was wrong but as I have said it is hard to run from a situation like this with nowhere to go. Well finally one night I got my chance, the back pack snap broke and I was able to scrap the flash light off my head on a cactus bush. It hurt like the dickens but I was free, I ran for days. I finally found a road with cars, I was just about to dart out in front of a car and end my misery when a police car pulled over and saw my plight. She gave me water took me home and gave me food,  eventually she took me on a long journey to California. I was scared the bad men would find me for a long time but that is all behind me now.

We all did dumb things when we were teenagers I had no choice, Bones thinks I should wear a pack and carry his surf wax and lunch for him. Sorry bones my mule days are over.

No matter who people were in the past they can change. I love you all

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger  

The good: The bad: The Snuggly

Thunder, lightning and Cash. Thats right I am a force of nature, deal with it.

 I stand at a precipice, a turning point if you will, my medication is all gone. I have been taking the stuff since my last treatment 4 months now I think.
 The fear was I might get a liver side effect and be as bad off as I was before but with a whole other problem.
 Bones was supposed to take me in and get me checked every month,  the doctor told him it would be obvious if I had the problem, I would be tired, sick and unable to eat.

 Well I love to eat, I am not tired, and I can bark as loud as Roxy and run faster than most dogs I have met. So the day of reckoning is upon me if the doctor does not prescribe me more medicine I may be at the end of this journey. I tell you this, I am strong, I am alert and yes I am smart. Did I mention I am good looking?

Roxy was not here for a couple of days and all was quiet. Bones was convinced that Roxy is the trouble maker and I misbehave when she is here just to show off. Guess what Bones I can be bad all on my own.

We picked up Roxy today from Marsh-maid that is Jesses mom, she and Bones made Jesse and Dan many years ago. Humans make a big deal out of being pregnant and having babies. It is weird they only have one kid at a time and dogs have a whole bunch. Humans are cry babies.

Roxy was really laid back when we got her, in fact I have been so bored with Bones I was ready for some action, Don't get me wrong I love Bones but when Roxy is not here we don't go as many places or walk as many times a day. Figure it out Bones I need to be entertained also.

I started barking at bikers on the way home and it got Roxy going, oh boy yelping, barking, howling. Bones was confused he now knows that sometimes I start the trouble I can be the bad dog. It is very upsetting to him, he does not want to punish me because it took so long for him to build my trust and he was so convinced I could do no wrong.

At night I have taken to snuggling with Bones in bed I did not do this before. I don't know why because it is pretty cool to have your head hugged while you sleep.
So the gist of it is the good dog can be the bad dog.

Give your loved ones a hug:
 I have to go, it is very quiet I think I will start barking and blame it on Roxy. Tonight we will both snuggle with Bones he needs a lot of love. He is a very high maintenance human but we love him.

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger