It’s just after lunch on Wednesday, and we’re taking a break in the room. It’s been cold and misty all morning—not actually raining, not even wet, just . . . as you walk along the air feels wet, and there are little pinpricks of moisture on the windshield of the car. We did some shopping in Oak Bluffs—including in the “Good Dog Goods” store, which has (Chappy tells us) some of the nicest doggie treats around, especially the Cheese Stars and the Peanut Butter Hearts. Not only do they have good treats, but the people there remember him from year to year, and always make a fuss over him. You know, of course, that I hate having people gush over my dog.

Unfortunately, because the weather hasn’t been cooperating quite as much as it could be, Chappy has not yet gotten to the beach. It’s just too cold to let him get himself soaked with salt water, not to mention having to come back to the room to give him a bath.

Well, really, the salt water is bad for his skin, and bad for him to lick off. And anyway, after Katy’s first visit to the island, she was sick for a couple weeks after we got home—throwing up about every other day, until she was dehydrated and had to be admitted at the vet for three days—but we never quite figured out why. The best cause we ever came up with was a combination of the kibble (instead of the home-cooked moist food she was used to), the salt water, which can adversely affect the digestion, and the possibility of having swallowed sand and/or seaweed while romping in the ocean. But considering how expensive that 3-night stay at the vet was (plus the x-rays and the normal visits before she got to the point where hospitalization was necessary), it’s not something I care to risk again, and if that means giving Chappy a bath while on vacation, so be it!

We talked to Dad this morning—our kitchen and bath refacing is NOT going to be done by the time we get home. The kitchen should mostly be done except for this little thing called the counter. And therefore the sink and running water. They’ll be installed early next week. Okaaaaayyyy, but the bathrooms? Should have started on Monday, were delayed until today because their last job went long (well, okay), but apparently the fellow has had a family emergency, and now the bathroom work has been pushed back to June. Argh! We’re all being pretty accepting of this (Mom remarkably so), but . . . the one thing we said when we scheduled the work was that the bathrooms, more than anything, needed to be done the week Mom and Chappy were out of the house. HAD TO. And so this, of course, is the one thing that will actually NOT be done. (Sigh.)

Here’s a picture Mom took of Chappy and me, waiting in the car for the stores in Oak Bluffs to open this morning. (It was definitely too cold to wait outside!)

And, may I just say how upset I am that two of my favorite tv shows have not been renewed?? “Jack & Bobby” and “Joan of Arcadia.” Not fair!

• Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard • Permalink:MV Day Four //