Culo Evans 1997-2010 - That's All Folks

I met Culo, then known as Jack, at the old Humane Society Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, CA, summer 1997.

December 5, 1997, almost 1 year

October 23, 2003, age 6

December 31, 2010, age 13

For the last 13 years, I've had to factor in the health and well being of my dog Culo into almost every decision made about my life. Everything from fabrics of clothing to furniture placement to work locations to vacations. Today, that lifestyle came to an end. My roommate, companion and walking buddy died at 9:30 am at Murphy Avenue Pet Clinic in Sunnyvale. The euthanasia (Euthanasia... What To Expect by DrTJDunnJr) administered by Dr. Karen Lee (Dr. Ken Stewart, Culo's usual vet was out) was very quick and humane. I was in the room when the shots were given.

Post Secret 9-13-9

I'm very sad and a little at loose ends now that Culo is gone. For instance, 6 pm used to be his dinner time. As I'm writing this, it's 6:15 pm but it doesn't mean anything special any more. I keep expecting to see him peeking at me around corners or nudging the back of my legs so I'll pet him. I still find myself watching where I step even though there's no little 25 pound dog I may smoosh. The mornings in the bathroom will be different since Culo will no longer put his paws on my lap to get petted. Or stick his nose into the shower steam to see what's going on.

Culo's last illness was an aggressive cancerous tumor in his nasal cavity.

Cancer in the sense of body cells that turn on the host and gradually destroy formerly healthy material.

The trouble started out as sneezes and weird wet sounds in his chest and throat area. By the end, the tumor almost totally blocked his breathing. Instead of switching to mouth breathing, sometimes Culo's whole body would shake in the effort to get air through his nose. To me, it sounded like a duck quacking. He would only pant with his mouth as a last resort. On the last day, he'd figured out a kind of perpetual throaty growl as a way to breath through his mouth. Poor boy was working way to hard at existing. The bloody globs he was exhaling all over the house didn't help. Some patches look like scatter diagrams.

The cancer also caused the bone in the front part of his head to crumble. In the last week, his face area noticeably lost its former shape and structure. The bump between his eyes became bigger and reader.. Plus a pinched nerve made his left eye bulge and forced his third eyelid to stick in the up position.

Bones in face shifted.

3rd Eye Lid Stuck

Even though I miss Culo, I'm so happy he's not in pain and discomfort anymore.

When I get his cremation ashes back in January, I plan to turn them into a gem such as Pet-Gems or LifeGem. That way, I can have him with me without it being creepy like taxidermy or an urn filled with dusty ashes.

It looks like my vet donates used pet supplies to Pets In Need Redwood City. Perhaps they'll take Culo's old stuff?

Culo in Bing Beanie

Earlier today, I went to the Lunch 2.0 at Bing! Celebrating 6 month launch with Twitter at Powerset’s office in San Francisco CA.

Hallway Leading to Powerset on Brannen Street in San Francisco

For lunch I had green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, grapeful fruit salad, macaroni and cheese, Medateranian chicken sandwich with Kerns peach nectar drink. Thanks for the grub, Bing.

The most fun part of the event was dressing Culo in the swag beanie and taking some thuggish photos. So menacing, so cute.

Culo in Bing Beanie Looking to Left

Culo in Bing Beanie Looking to Right

Culo in Bing Beanie Looking For Escape Route

Culo in Bing Beanie Looking Like a Wise Old Man. Eye booger and all.

Culo Mean Mugging in Bing Beanie. Looking Through with Whole Experience

Climate Shill at Mother Jones

Culo

In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to hash out a climate treaty that will shape our planet for generations to come. Our special climate issue features four different children on the cover to dramatize the point that we're gambling with their future. ~ Mother Jones

MoJo's Next Top Cover Models

Wed October 21, 2009 3:09 PM PST

World leaders are about to start negotiating what's likely our last best chance to avert catastrophic climate change—a global treaty to bring down carbon emissions. The stakes are huge, and yet so far it's politics as usual, and conventional wisdom has it that there won't be a deal.

Want to remind your politicians (and your friends) that this is not about special interests, but the future of all of us? And also have a whole lot of fun? Try our interactive application where you can create a personalized cover of Mother Jones' special issue on climate. In less than 24 hours, Mother Jones readers have made close to a thousand covers. Here are some:

Jack

Polar Bear


Daisy and Mimi


Frosty, Thawing

Arnold Flowers

Susu Bereman

Roses for Freecycling Hook Rug Kit

Sometimes giving without expecting anything in return unexpectedly gets you a surprise gift. I contributed an blue and white Antique Blue rug latch hook kit to Freecycle Sunnyvale. Freecycling is a community based recycling. If you have something that's still usable but maybe not saleable or in shape to give to charity, then you can freecycle it. You can also request something you want to borrow or have that hasn't been offered. Just go to the Freecycle Finder homepage, and look for the program in your neighborhood.

Anyway, the good thing about my latest freecycle is that I got fresh, homegrown roses in return. The kind that smell at least five times more intense than the kind you get from the florist. The fern fronds that came with the flowers really make the flowers pop. Imagine getting these for getting rid of something you weren't using anyway?

Picture of Flowers by Themselves

Nosey Culo Investigating Flowers

Now it's Doggy Sculpture's Turn to Sniff Roses

Culo Really likes his new Red Ball

One of my PayPal co-workers, Eve, was nice enough to gift Culo with a new, red, very bouncy Kong Ball. I love the pictures so much, I have to add them to my blog. I don't know the man in the pictures. He was just walking by and started playing ball with Culo.