Paddle shifters are never the answer.

Flappy paddles on really high end double clutch vehicles are really the only place they belong. But when they are in that situation they are very nice.

I have flappy paddles in my BMW but I don't have the double clutch unfortunately.

OK. Confirmation day. I'm very nervous. There's a lot of processing around the church, and sitting and standing repeatedly, and having to remember masses of things. Bit of a disabled dyspraxic person's nightmare. I'm praying they've remembered to put a chair by the font, and I'm just not doing some of the processing. OK. It will all be fine. Meanwhile, entire family has descended. This is interesting.

Do I want to know what flappy paddles are?

Oh, Jesus, you guys. We came home an hour ago (1:30-ish). We had left around 7:30, so we were gone around 6 hours. We walked in, and the dalmatian was sprawled on the hardwood floor, her legs gone out from under her, and she couldn't get up. Her legs -- mostly her back legs -- wouldn't work.

She had had some pooping near (but not in) her bed, and I think the resultant flailing and then sliding on the wood floor made it messy (not badly so, but enough).

She was calm, though, and The Boy picked her up and took her outside, where she kind of was able to stand, really shakily, but not really walk. They came in, and she was able to take some hesitant steps, and then went to the water dish, and her legs went out from under her again (the kitchen floor is tile, and so she slid and couldn't regain her footing; the sliding has been happening a LOT lately -- we feed them in the kitchen, and her back legs start to slide out from under her as she leans down to eat -- but she's always managed to keep her footing -- until now). The Boy picked her up again, and brought her to the living room, where she was again able to stand, but refused to get in her bed.

The Boy went outside to find the kennel; it's one of those collapsible cage ones. The dogs followed him, and the dalmatian seemed able to walk, if not frolic. She even went down the 3 steps to go out, and then came back up them, on her own. She eventually did get into her bed, and is now lying there with her butt hanging over the edge.

I don't think this was an anomaly; I'm afraid it's an escalation of whatever it is that's been making her unable to keep her footing on the tile in the kitchen.

Man. We don't know how old she is; the friend that The Boy got her from was the dog's 3rd owner. Best guess is 9-12 years. She's weird and high-strung and dumb, and shakes all the time, but has been basically healthy. She's just recently -- in the past 5-6 months -- started the back-legs-slidey thing.

Not good.

Seska, we cross-posted -- are you excited about confirmation? In addition to your other feelings, I mean? It sounds like a joyous occasion, with the added dsypraxic concerns and up-down-up-down-up-down.

Still -- joy! Right?

Oh, Teppy, I am so sorry. My parents' oldest Golden has this and there's nothing they can really do. We help her up and stuff. Some days are pretty good still. I hope your dalmatian has a lot of good days ahead of her still. ;;Tep;; (What? Seemed better than hugs.)

Aw Teppy, I'm sorry.

I've heard good things about these: [link]

They're like balloons really. They're thin enough that dogs can feel the ground through them and they adjust pretty quickly. I'm going to start putting them on Dallas' hind feet, maybe all four.

Teppy, I'm so sorry to hear the doggy's not well. I hope she'll be OK.

Yes, I'm very excited about being confirmed! A bit sad that I don't really have any Christian friends who can come with me, or pray with me about it, or similar. But my family (mostly not Christians) are being adorable and have travelled many miles to come along today. They can sit there bemused. I'm hoping the hearing aid 'loops' work for my dad and not-stepmother. And that I remember when to go up to the bishop. And that I don't fall over. OK.

I've heard good things about these: [link]

I remember Kat mentioning boots for her dog -- MuttLuks, I think. And *both* dogs do the flail-skitter thing if they get excited and decide to tear-ass run through the house, which makes me laugh and tell them they need MuttLuks. But those rubber booties might help the dalmatian stay on her feet.

She *hates* -- HAAAAAAAATES -- us touching her feet, though, so getting them on her might be a YouTube classic. Still -- if those can give her some traction to stay up, that woukd be good.

Congratulations, Seska.

They're coming because they love you, it's certainly in the spirit of the event.

They're coming because they love you, it's certainly in the spirit of the event.

It's true! They are fantastic people.