Schmuck: All's quiet
If it seems like I haven't been around here much the past couple of days, it's because I haven't. I'm in Blacksburg, Va, at the terrific Virginia Tech veterinary teachers hospital with my little buddy Bogart, who has the mother of all kidney stones lodged in a place that I would rather not describe further.
Let's just say it's in there deep enough that removing it -- and several others -- without turning the four-month-old pup into a lifelong invalid requires the most state-of-the-art veterinary techniques, and the place to go for that on the East Coast is VTech, which also has some pretty good sports teams if you're trying hard to find some relevance here.
Listen, I'm well aware that Bogie (at left in happier days) is just a dog and there are a lot of people out there facing much more important health crises, but he's part of the family and the kids stopped driving me toward bankruptcy when they finished college. So, I'm coming to you from the Best Western in Radford, Va., and that's where I'll be for the next few days, waiting and hoping that the little fellow comes back strong. He's got several more pieces of furniture to chew up before he reaches doggy adulthood.
I'm hoping the Orioles hold their managerial announcement at least until Sunday, or you're going to get my opinion with a southern accent.
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Comments
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100715&content_id=12259424&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal&partnerId=rss_bal
About Reimold.
Posted by: Dirk Diggler | July 15, 2010 7:00 PM
Go Hokies
If you're looking for some good food, here are some rec's in Blacksburg. Avoid Radford ... you may come home with something that requires your own doctor trip if you get too close to a Radford co-ed.
Pizza - PK's. Chicken wing pizza is awesome. Great wings there too.
Sandwiches - Macados ... they're a mini chain down there, think there is one in Radford.
Also Cabo Fish Taco, and Bull and Bones Brewhaus, are newer (within last couple years) and get very good reviews.
Best to your pup. Enjoy the scenery, loved my 4 years in Blacksburg
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Pete's reply: Thanks very much. We didn't get going until 10 pm last night, so Applebee's was the only option. But since I like Applebee's, that was okay.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 15, 2010 7:27 PM
Peter.... my fiance, lifelong Oriole fan and vet-technician at the VA-MD Veterinary Teaching Hospital, was thrilled at your blog post, and, yes, Bogie can look forward to excellent care. Thanks!
BTW... the Bluefield Orioles are just 60 miles up 460 West... they are playing Friday night....
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Pete's reply: Thanks for the heads up. If we have to stay over tonight, maybe we'll check out the young O's.
Posted by: Joel | July 15, 2010 7:50 PM
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100715&content_id=12261780&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal&partnerId=rss_bal
Wieters.
Posted by: Dirk Diggler | July 15, 2010 8:19 PM
As a two-rescue-dog serious animal rights guy who knows that dogs are family and that Bogart is absolutely and most certainly not "just a dog", I wish all the best for the little guy.
I'm not a vet, but I know enough to know that - like pretty much everything else that's bad for you - it's better that you caught it earlier in him rather than later.
Andy MacPhail and the Buckmeister - assuming that things are not getting screwed up; always an iffy proposition with this team - can wait until Bogie is on the road to recovery to make any announcements.
In fact, Andy should make Bogart's progress his first announcement! After all, first things first..
Posted by: Fang | July 15, 2010 8:22 PM
Here's a travesty and a reason why I think the home field advantage portion of the all-star game should be taken away. Arthur Rhodes - a 40yr old all star "rookie" was not put in the game...maybe because of strategic reasons? Not to mention any oriole fan who actually watched to see Ty Wigginton ~ another all-star "rookie" hit were very disappointed. I actually miss old all-star games where every player got a chance to play. I'm still a little stewed about Mussina not being used when the all-star game was held at camden yards. Explitives all around to you Cito Gaston
Posted by: Rob | July 15, 2010 8:32 PM
Pete - I am proud of you for wanting the best for your 4 legged best friend!! Way to go and any dog lover is right there with you. Of course he is NOT "just a dog" they should be near just like a child who has only YOU to be there for him when he is in need!!! GOOD LUCK & we can wait for ya!!
Posted by: SHOREMAN | July 15, 2010 8:46 PM
Is anybody else struck by the irony inherent in this post? Virginia Tech, which gave us Michael Vick, is also home to an outstanding veterinary school.
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Pete's reply: I hadn't even thought of that, but I've been preoccupied.
Posted by: RBD | July 15, 2010 10:02 PM
From today's Sun: "Although an external hire is expected, MacPhail has been impressed with the club's response to interim manager Juan Samuel, who is 14-20 since taking over for Dave Trembley on June 4."
It really shows how far this franchise has fallen that a .411 record (which would mean 66 wins over a full season) is cause to be impressed. Seems kind of silly to me- aside from one nice sweep of the Rangers the record under Samuel would be .330, exactly what the O's winning percentage is on the year. And don't forget that even Trembley swept the Red Sox- one series sweep does not mean anything.
Let hope MacPhail dumps all the short-timers for whatever he can get, hires a manager that will actually DEVELOP our young players and instill a winning culture across the team- neither of which was done under Trembley. And I hope MacPhail also realizes that he is treading on thin ice around here- the next six months are do or die time for him and he needs to stop stubbornly trying to prove how smart he is and start acting on his promises ("open the pocketbook", "buy the bats", etc, etc, etc).
Posted by: Anonymous | July 15, 2010 10:45 PM
Anonymous,
The Plan Is In Place And On Pace..
Posted by: wayne | July 16, 2010 12:19 AM
We've had enough.... We give.......
How much embarrassment can one city endure? Orioles - PLEASE just go away.
11 days til Training Camp. FInally, a competitive sports team in Baltimore that the fans can be proud of.
11 DAYS..... 11 freakin days.......
Posted by: Uncle!!!!! | July 16, 2010 12:30 AM
i wish the best for bogart. you're a good man for taking him there. (and btw, that's a great part of the US). safe travels, pete.
Posted by: pop fisher | July 16, 2010 12:36 AM
Anonymous,
"And I hope MacPhail also realizes that he is treading on thin ice around here-"
With us fans yes but with who it matters I doubt it. I read something from Cal Ripken today where he was practically gushing about McPhail.
So tell me if Cal Ripken believes in his vision do you really thing Peter Angelos does not and he is on thin ice so to speak.
Anyhow this post is about Schmucks dog and I wish lil Bogart the best and a quick recovery.
Fran In Baltimore
Posted by: F Smith | July 16, 2010 12:52 AM
Pete, good luck. I hope the procedure goes well and Bogart comes through with flying colors.
Posted by: Mikepcfl | July 16, 2010 7:44 AM
pete, good luck with your pup.go bogie.
Posted by: pc long | July 16, 2010 7:55 AM
Everyone is pulling for Bogart is this home, including 'Admiral Byng' our Cairn Terrier who said "ouch" when we told him about Bogart! Go Bogart and of course, Go O's.
Posted by: Patrick | July 16, 2010 8:38 AM
I spent a long hot summer, a good many years ago, working on that "new" veterinary center down at Va. Tech where I was an engineering student. It wasn't completed until after I'd left school. I'm glad to see that it's still doing good work.
Good luck to you and Bogart
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Pete's reply: Thanks for your efforts all those years ago, because we're benefitting from them now. It is a very impressive operation.
Posted by: Roy | July 16, 2010 9:34 AM
Gorgeous puppy. We're keeping our fingers crossed all goes well with Bogart. Nice T-shirt by the way.
Good luck !
Posted by: Mesotheliangelos | July 16, 2010 10:20 AM
Pete,
Hope Bogart does well.
To get technical here, it is likely the kidney stones are due to a recessive genetic defect involving renal cystine resorption. You should inform the breeder you got Bogart from about the kidney stones so he/she stops breeding Bogart's mother and father to each other. Also Bogart's siblings should be monitored for kidney stones.
Posted by: Rusty | July 16, 2010 11:37 AM
Hope all goes well in Blacksburg. My daughter played soccer for VTech for four years so they got a good bit of our money. Also stayed at the Best Western in Radford one football weekend and it turned out that that was where the football team stayed the night before the game. There were some big boys and a number of future NFLers there. Vick had left the year before and still roots for whatever team he plays for, (she gives him a second chance, but if he mistreats one more dog that's it)
Posted by: John | July 16, 2010 11:42 AM
Best wishes to Bogart and you. I miss my Dal (Topspin).
Posted by: waspman | July 16, 2010 11:57 AM
Pete,
Best of luck to you and Bogart. May he be back to leaving you puddles and "presents" pain-free, soon...
Posted by: BaltoJim | July 16, 2010 1:25 PM
Best of luck. Stop by and see Bowie vs Richmond on the way back.
Posted by: Randy | July 16, 2010 2:38 PM
Greetings from the Vet School Communications Office. Great to read your post. Hope all is going well with Bogart. If you are still around and want a tour of the school or need any advice about restaurants or local flavor, give me a holler. By the way, breakfast at Gillies on College Ave in Blacksburg is a must. Also, great farmer's market and art exhibition on Saturday morning in downtown Blacksburg.
Posted by: Alison Elward | July 16, 2010 4:25 PM
Schmuckers,
U and Bogey could hang out in VaTech to watch the football schedule and Macfail wont have a mgr named
Seriously
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Pete's report: And I seriously considered that. The Hokies open against Boise State at home. Might be worth the five-hour drive.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 18, 2010 10:37 AM
Pete
The VT-BSU game is at Fed Ex Field. Less than 5 hours, unless you hit Beltway traffic
Posted by: Hokie Pokie | July 20, 2010 9:33 AM
Saturday the 17th I got to the home of the guy who was best man in our wedding, actually 2nd best, in Pulaski Va. As soon as his daughter walked in I said how is Bogart doing, she said he is doing well, then she looked at me like, I told her about the blog and they were all now famous.
Posted by: Gary | July 24, 2010 10:43 PM