I did something I think is kinda cool the other day.
But first, I took one dog to the vet for an eye infection.
The next day, I took him to the groomer to get shaved.
And today, I took the other dog to the vet for her annual.
I’m dog tired of taking animals to see the doctor more than I do.
Plus, I might have missed my calling.
Vets are making bank.
You know how they have health clinics for humans that do “speedy” medicine?
I wonder if they have one for animals where it doesn’t cost as much for quick visits?
We visited a speedy clinic for humans last year for a couple of quick stitches, some Tylenol and the advice to see our regular doctor for follow up.
If I wasn’t so busy doing all the things, that might be an idea to consider.
Or maybe a Vet subscription service so it’s not one BIG bill, but a monthly pay out that includes “services.”
Maybe I’ll pitch that to someone next time I’m there.
Which is hopefully next year, because, yikes!
I’m gonna have to sell a few more books.
We started baseball last weekend for the Spring season and came home with the gold.
And we’re back at it this weekend, same spot, same times, and a couple of different teams to play against.
The weather is supposed to be colder though.
Winter making one last gasp in March, before it disappears for six weeks and slams back in for May one more time.
This week, I’ve been working on series that are Amazon exclusive, and outlining some stuff that will only be on MEDIUM and only be on another platform.
It feels like platforms are going toward rewarding that.
I’m sure they have the metrics around it figured out, but I feel like I’m walking uphill in the dark sometimes.
I’ll get it though.
Tenacity is my other middle name.
Go GET AFTER IT today.
Chris
Here’s a look at two posts I made into videos: Check out how they ended up looking.
What on Earth is he saying?
WTF happened to the Dog?
AND
Shuttered a murder mystery audiobook
PLUS
FROM CONSCRIPTED – THE SHADOWBOXER FILES
Silenced bullets make a distinct sound when fired in an enclosed situation.
Brill thought the bullets were giant flying bugs.
They whizzed through the room and he heard the thuds and splats, the drips and spatters but of what he couldn't see behind him.
A man in black battle fatigues walked past him.
He wore a balaclava and golden tinted wraparound sunglasses that hid his eyes.
He put two fingers to Laurette's neck.
"Damn," he muttered.
Brill recognized the Afrikaans accent.
Goggles moved to Brill and felt his neck too.
Brill tried to speak, but only a raspy grunt came out.
"This one's still alive."
"The girl?" asked a voice from behind him.
The man in the Goggles shook his head.
"God damn it," breathed the man behind the scarf.
"There goes our bonus. Cut the boy loose."
Golden Goggles pulled an eight-inch blade from his boot and sliced through the twine holding Brill's arms to the table legs.
With the pressure gone, he collapsed to the ground, his legs still bound.
Blood leaked out of his shredded wrists.
Goggles released his legs.
He looked around and jerked a dish towel off a shelf.
He covered up Brill's crotch.
"Give it a minute," said Goggles. "We'll get you up and moving."
Brill rolled over onto his knees.
He pushed himself up on shaky arms, then to his feet.
He stood like a deer trying to walk for the first time. He stumbled over to the wall, leaned over and retched.
There wasn't anything in his stomach but bile.
Goggles tossed the towel to him. Brill wiped his mouth, then folded the towel in half and wedged it between his buttocks.
He was ripped and torn, and tried to cover the wounds.
Goggles held out a canteen. Brill took two sips and Goggles pulled it away.
“Too much too fast and you'll sick again.”
Brill leaned against the wall.
There were five dead rebels on the floor, their blood and viscera mixing with his and Laurette's under the table.
Besides Goggles, there were two other men in the room, each to one side of the closed door.
“We're going to get you out of here,” said Goggles. “Think you can walk a bit?”
Brill nodded and pushed up off the wall.
It wouldn't be much of a walk, more like a limp and every part of his lower body ached.
“We'll get you a doctor back at base,” Goggles held on to his shoulder to steady him. “
“Arnoux there is a medic, but looks like you'll need more work than we can do.”
Arnoux stood to the left of the door.
He bent down and began stripping a pair of camo pants off one of the dead rebels.
“We didn't bring pants,” he said and tossed them to Goggles.
The man slung his rifle behind his back and helped Brill slip into the dead man's pants one leg at a time.
“No time to clean you up more,” said Goggles and he pulled the pants up past Brill's waist.
He pointed to Laurette.
“Grab her Charl.”
The other soldier nodded and cut her body loose.
He slung her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry and set his rifle against his shoulder.
Goggles helped steady Brill with arm and readied his rifle with the other.
He nodded to Arnoux.
“Stay close,” he whispered.
Arnoux jerked the door open, peeked around the edge and went through with his weapon raised.
Goggles took Brill out next and Charl brought up the rear.
Brill shuffled next to the soldier, gasping with each step.
The numbness fled his nether regions as blood flooded back in.
He could feel it leaking down his legs, along with other fluids and waste.
The nerves came alive with feeling and he seized up and stumbled.
Goggles halted and made a quick whistle for Arnoux.
The point soldier went to one knee and scanned their perimeter with the sight of his rifle.
“Move,” growled Goggles.
He yanked Brill up by the arm, but his legs still wouldn't work.
Pins, needles and white hot lasers pricked every section of skin.
Ripped muscles spasmed, and each spasm was a new wave of agony.
Goggles dragged him along. Brill pinwheeled his legs, trying to keep up.
“Five minutes to extraction,” said Arnoux as they drew next to him.
“Get the others,” Goggles ordered.
Arnoux disappeared into the nighttime between the jungle brush.
Goggles and Charl struggled under their burdens.
Brill tried to help but each step felt like being stabbed with a searing fireplace poker.
He couldn't breathe, couldn't cry, and fought back on making any sound at all as the soldier half carried him through the bush.
They reached a clearing after two hundred yards.
The trees formed a circle around the edge of the clearing, a black wall full of silent jungle.
Goggles eased Brill down next to the bole of a tree. Charl deposited Laurette's body next to him.
“Perimeter sweep,” said Goggles.
Charl crept around the edge, black commando fatigues making him impossible to distinguish against the night.
Brill reached out and brushed hair back from Laurette's eyes.
She was cold, stiff, eyes glazed over and milky.
“How long were we there?” he rasped.
“Two days,” said Goggles.
The bushes rustled behind them as Arnoux returned with three other men.
“Their commander escaped,” one of the men reported to Goggles. “We terminated twenty-two.”
Goggles nodded. Charl returned and gave the all clear.
They bent in the grass and waited.
A black helicopter swooped over the edge of the clearing and circled around.
It dropped lightly into the middle of the grass. Charl and Arnoux lifted Laurette.
Goggles and another man lifted Brill. The squad ran for the open chopper doors in a tight formation.
They jumped up and strapped in as the helicopter lifted off.
It was on the ground for less than five seconds.
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Have a great weekend.
Can you get Pet Insurance for the dogs?