Monthly Archives: January 2010
Commercial Fishing Groups on Facebook
I received a comment recently on Highliners and Homecomings that was so well-written and captured the essence of this blog (and the commercial fishing lifestyle) that I wanted to share it with everyone. Here’s what Trish had to write:
“This is so refreshing to read… I am a fisherman’s girlfriend and having him gone for months at a time is not easy. But when he’s home I cherish every moment and appreciate the hard work that he does. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be out there for them, even when I see video footage he brings home to show me. Seeing the weather conditions when when they are really bad is something I cringe at watching. And I can’t even begin to explain how much I worry about him being out there, not knowing if he’s safe or not. But I do have to say, he’s the hardest working man I know, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life. So yes good luck and many prayers to all the fisherman out there, I know there are many loved ones praying every night and looking forward to their homecoming!!”
Trish, thanks again. Reading a comment like this helps us all keep pressing toward the goal.
This might be a good time to mention to everyone that if you are on Facebook and interested in commercial fishing, there are a few great commercial fishing groups you’ll want to join. You’ll find discussions, comments, pictures, and notices of events and happenings going on in national and local fishing communities in all of these groups.
Here are a few to start with:
- Commercial Fishing Families & Friends
- Commercial Fishermen Help You Live Better
- National Fisherman
- Newport Fishermen’s Wives
Feel free to “friend” me on Facebook or “follow” me on Twitter and let me know of other groups that may be of interest to us all!
One Word: Beautiful.
Dungeness crab ready to be sold in the live market.
Bryan and Brett with Dungeness crab ready to go.
Go, Toby!
This morning, the pet hospital called with the biopsy results from our beloved dog Toby’s eight-pound spleen tumor. We were shocked to hear that the tumor was benign, and in addition, the liver biopsy showed no signs of cancer.
I’m starting to wonder if Toby even still has the orginal lymphoma, which claimed his eye. I’ll find that all out when he sees his regular veterinarian to remove the stiches that run the length of his entire body.
I’ve written before that Toby is a miracle dog, and it seems that he’s proved it once again! Unbelievable.
Go, Toby!
Welcome Home, Toby
Yesterday morning, I received a call that Toby was ready to begin the rest of his recovery in the comfort of his own home.
My brother-in-law, Ryan, took me to get Toby yesterday afternoon. Although fragile, it is clear that Toby loves being home, and he has stopped the lonely wail he’d adopted while at the hospital. He was greeted with stuffed toys, treats, homemade meals, and all of his favorite visitors.
We are incredibly grateful Toby is here with us again and expect the results of his latest biopsy by the middle of next week.
Here’s a picture of Toby, taken by Ryan shortly after our arrival home.
Our Canine Soldier, Toby.
Everyone who knows us, or has read this blog, knows about our awesome dog, Toby. Of course, Toby is our 6-year old purebred pitbull, whom we fostered at six-weeks old and then loved so much we adopted him ourselves. Toby and Mandy (his border collie-mix sister) have been steadfast members of our family since the day George and I got married.
Toby is a man’s dog; he loves to ride in the front seat of the flatbed with George, help George and the crew with crab gear work, and do anything he can to be around a workin’ man. He is also a family dog; he is wonderful with the kids and an incredibly patient, loving, strong, and big dog. Our Toby defines the word stoic. He’s our brave and uncomplaining soldier.
Toby is also a miracle dog. When he was shockingly diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in March 2007, the conventional vets gave him thirty days to live. After we had his eye removed and started him on homeopathic remedies, he went into remission for an unheard-of two years.
This fall, innocent Toby was punched in the head by a bum while on one of his walks. Nothing could have infuriated us more.
In the two years since he’s been in remission from cancer, Toby has flourished. He’s eaten homemade meals with supplements and vitamins every night, gained a lot weight, and grown strong and confident. He has never been healthier. In the meantime, we added 1000 square feet to the house, created a backyard, and did everything we could to make life as ideal as possible for every member of the family, including the pups.
I’ll cut to the chase: After two years in remission, it recently became apparent that Toby was out of whack. He looked odd; his spine protruded, his belly hung low, and he moved slowly. He seemed depressed, and he even turned home from one of his walks.
We got him into his vet; an x-ray showed a tumor. The next day, we got him into an ultrasound; it showed a massive spleen tumor.
I called George on the fishing grounds, something I never do. He said, “Do whatever it takes. Get it out if you can.” I’d delayed calling George until I absolutely had to. I didn’t want to be an alarmist, especially when it concerned one of his best buddies. We had hardly any phone coverage, and I couldn’t even fully explain the situation. His command was clear, however: Get It Out.
That made my decsion much easier. Toby underwent emergency surgery yesterday, and an eight-pound, football-sized tumor was removed, along with his spleen. The tumor was so big that the surgeon said Toby wouldn’t have survived another day at home, or even a surgery scheduled for later, because the mass was ready to burst at any moment.
The tumor actually ruptured during surgery, and Toby lost a lot of blood. His bone marrow is not regenerating blood very quickly, but his heart is holding steady. Currently, he is in stable condition and being monitored by board-certified physicians.
I am so grateful for my parents, sisters, babysitters, and friend/miracle pet lover, Lisa. All of these people have altered their schedules, sacrificed money, and been on standby for Toby and all the rest of us. I am now, and will forever be, grateful beyond all comprehension!
Lisa and Toby
Toby Waiting for Surgery
First Post from iPhone
This is my first attempt at writing a post using the iPhone application I just uploaded. I thought it would be fun to try.
Speaking of phones; I received a text message from George this morning, and it sounds like everything is going fine out on the wild ocean. I think he’s happy to be back on the boat even though he misses us, and that’s a good thing. I love that he has a passion for his work, strenuous and stressful as it might be at times!
I’m adding a photo to this post just to try out the feature from the phone.
Cheerful and Optimistic
I heard from George this morning; he sounded exceptionally cheerful, awake, and optimistic. That must be the perfect attitude with which to go pick up the first round of gear!
Things are looking up here as well. That didn’t take too long. As George told me a couple of nights ago, “Remember, the first few days are always the hardest, Hon.”
Of course, I hadn’t remembered that in the midst of fevers, coughing, and broken-down dressers, but hearing the words did help. And it’s true; the kids are feeling a bit better and are well-adjusted to his departure. Eva might have the seasons a bit confused (she asked George to bring her some salmon to eat—and make her a milkshake for dessert—when he was “done on the boat”) but she understands the essence of it all.
One additional note: If you like this blog and want to be alerted when new posts are published, you can enter your e-mail address in the form on the right. This is just convenient way to keep you more regularly updated with Highliners and Homecomings, if you so choose.
The little ones and I had a wonderful day yesterday; we put a year’s worth of photos in albums and then snuggled together in a chair and looked through all of them last night. Eva loves to look at pictures of herself as a baby, and Vincent gets excited when he recognizes people and things: “Mommy! Dada. Dada’s boat!”
Have a great last day of vacation before the regular routines kick back in.
