Medical Imaging

Meet medical imaging pioneer Dr. Kitty Catkins.

Dr. Catkins has figured out how to get you both a CAT scan and a PET scan at the same time.

Originally from the United States, Dr. Catkins went to medical school in the Catskills. He now resides in Maggia, Switzerland, where his practice cat-ers to anyone who walks through town.

Wordless Wednesday: Dachshund in Boat

Non-traditional Banking

Tootsie, Truffle, and Yugi in conversation at
Antelope Valley Summer Camp.

Vernate on Google Maps

Dachshund Daddy Here.

Yesterday, I got upset at Google Maps because they had a number of mistakes about places around southern Switzerland.

For instance, take this major thoroughfare through the hill town of Vernate:

Google Maps failed to indicate that it provides through access to bicycles, pedestrian, and dogs, including miniature dachshunds. These are not recent photos. Tootsie and her mom are still in Idaho across the Atlantic pond. I miss them, so I look at lots of photos. I also console myself by studying Google maps.

I reported the issue, and Google replied:

Thank you for reporting this problem. We've reviewed your problem and you were right! The default view in Google Maps has already been updated to reflect your suggested change, as shown below.

Alright, you're welcome, but Goo-Goo person needs to take a remedial English Composition class. "We've reviewed your problem"? It's not my problem if your maps are so blatantly inaccurate. And, please, replace "your suggested change" with "our unforgivable omission".

Same thing for this other arterial link for bikes, pedestrians, and dogs connecting the twin hamlets of Guasti di Neggio and Guasti di Vernate.

Goo-Goo person has already fixed that, too. Now it's time to work on the wording of those Goo-Goo automated messages!

It's also time for Tootsie and her mom to cross the Atlantic pond in an eastward direction!

A Postcard from Pog

We just got a postcard from Pog!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Dear Tootsie and Truffle,

After an insane hike with Dad in Switzerland this past weekend, I just telopogted myself to Poguinesia. Now I plan to chill down here in the South Pogcific Ocean until Dad calls me back for another hike. It's insanely hot both in Idaho and in Switzerland, which is why I'm cooling off down here and you're boiling over there. Take care of your mom, since I hear she had two teeth pulled. Be sure not to eat too much grass, even though everyone says they're going green.

Love,
Pog

Wordless Wednesday: Hike to an Idaho Mountain Lake

Fluff the Climber

Dear Readers and Kindred Souls,

As many of you guessed, it was Fluff who climbed Uri Rotstock!

Fluff is an avid hiker and mountain climber. He is also active as a full-time cuddle bunny. Whenever he's not hiking, he divides his time between the living room couch and the back yard, which he manages as his personal hedge fund.

Good job, Fluff!

Love,
Tootsie

The Red Horn of Uri

The Red Horn of Uri (Uri Rothorn) is one of the best-looking mountains in Central Switzerland.

Its summit towers over 8,000' above Lake Lucerne.

Due to my mouse hunting schedule in Idaho, I was unable to join Dad on this adventure. Fortunately, Dad's hike was punctuated by four fabulous doggy encounters with Terry, Max, Biwa, and Fluff.

Here's Terry, doing his own thing.

Here's Max, who spends summers at the Biwaldalp Hut.

Here's Biwa, Max's fur-brother.

And here's Fluff, a gorgeous little ball of fur and fluffy love.

Now guess which one of these great dogs made it to the top of Uri Rothorn on the same day as Dad! Can you guess which one?

Wordless Wednesday: "Wiener Wolf" by Jeff Crosby

I'm a Mighty Hunter

Enjoying the dog days of summer in North Idaho is a lot of work. I have to nap -- a lot.

And I have to stare out at the lake -- a lot.

I need lots of rest and contemplative reflection because I spend my evenings hunting for mice.

I may be a full-time snuggle bunny in Switzerland, but in Idaho I turn into a dachshund mouse trap.

My parents discovered this quality of mine shortly after they adopted me 13 months ago. As they were sitting at the dinner table with grandpa, I darted across the room to show off my talent. Dad was speechless; Mom and Grandpa were very pleased.

Mom says I'm a mighty hunter. She's very proud of me, though she still screams each time I kill a mouse. I think she's worried about me eating it, but she should know that the rules of good breeding forbid that. Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers, and the whole point was that we weren't supposed to eat them.

Tracking and following the itsy bitsy holes in the house is exhausting. Mom said she never knew we had so many holes to the outside. It's kind of gross, really.

I have to run now. My hunting shift starts again soon!

No Trailers

Tootsie at Blue Heron Park in Moses Lake, Washington.

The O-limp-ics!

Tootsie and her fur-brother Truffle in conversation
in North Idaho

Wordless Wednesday Guest Post: Idaho Elk