Friday Morning: All four of us in the group had the luxury of being able to get up at a normal time, and have breakfast with the class. It was nice to see the trainers, staff, and classmates before heading out. Doug had a few last pieces of paperwork to grab for us.
I had everything packed away by the time break and breakfast rolled around. I put the bags by the door where they could easily be grabbed when needed. Well, Traveler decided to camp out right in front of them, as if to say "Excuse me, where do you think you're going? You better not leave without me." All through the packing process, he followed me around the room, stuck his head in the suitcase. He was particularly interesed in the bag of Iams that I managed to squeeze into the second bag.
We left just after 9am, after saying goodbye to the great people in Consumer Services. The trip to LaGuardia seemed short to me, we chatted about this and that. Doug mentioned what a great group we were to work with. I think he's right; training in a small group at an "accelerated" pace was certainly different, but wonderful. We had a great group of people, and a great group of dogs, and it was just such a unique experience. He also said it was nice that we all trusted him on picking out dogs to match us, and he did an excellent job!
Once we arrived at the airport, we grabbed the bags, let Traveler have a break, and headed inside. Doug was great, and came with me through security and helped me find my gate, very nice of him. He thanked me again and gave me a hug, then went to help the other group member check in for her flight.
Once I was alone waiting at the gate, I had a series of mixed feelings. I was so excited to be bringing such a wonderful dog home. I am so lucky that GDF matched me with this boy. I was also nervous about bringing a new dog home, especially since we weren't a team for very long. I also knew that I would miss everyone at GDF, the trainers, volunteers, certain classmates, those people are truly wonderful. I've only done this twice, but once the trainer walks away, and you are truly on your own, it's a different feeling, a little scary, but exciting at the same time. I also know that this is a good match, I can feel it, and have felt it since day 1. Working with this dog just feels right, how I always imagined working with a guide could be. As I was helped to the plane, I took a deep breath, and reminded myself of the special new partner walking beside me. Things would be just fine!
Our flight left a little late, and arrived a little early. The total flight time was about 35 minutes! I can't imagine how fast the plane must have been going. When I got down to baggage my parents found me, and were amazed at how calm Traveler was. We headed to the car and made our way to school, stopping to grab a 20 lb. bag of dog food.
I was relieved to be back at school, in a nice quiet room. I set down Traveler's bed and he curled up, and watch the unpacking process. He was just as curious about it as the night before. I made a quick run to say hi to some friends, but stayed close to the pup. I ordered in for dinner to keep from having to go anywhere, so he could get used to his surroundings. Overall, he seemed pretty calm, though definitely curious about the new digs. It was a pretty quiet night, though a little bit on the lonely side. I was just so grateful to be home and relaxing!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday: last full day at GDF
We woke up and had breakfast like any other day. After this our little pack met and decided on a walk for the morning; we chose the little town of Port Jefferson, just a few blocks away from the water and the ferry. One member of the group decided to go with Tim's group instead, since she had already walked Port Jeff. while we were in Manhattan.
The walk was quiet and short. We walked in a loop with two quiet street crossings, and made it to the local Starbucks for a coffee. While we warmed up Doug gave us a little bit of the "going home talk" where we asked him some questions about how to handle things at home. He also mentioned how and when he would be finishing training; he will be visiting me third, the week before Valentine's Day.
On the way back to the Foundation we stopped to pick up Audrey at the mall. Then back to water and break dogs before lunch. Lunch was actually a pretty eventful occasion; the CEO of the foundation was there to dine with us, as was the Former director of training. I never met him, though most of the retrains remember him. From what I hear he is a great guy.
After lunch I met with CS and ordered some Frontline for Traveler, before rushing to the leather lounge to meet with the vet. Traveler was excited and whining, which I thought was because of the vet, but Doug came over and let me know that there was a kennel worker there who used to take him home at night. The vet talk went well. I found out the details about my partner.
He birthdate is February 19, 2006, and he weighed in at 77lbs before leaving the Kennel.
While he still as a couple of pounds to lose, he has lost weight since Doug brought him to me. Most of the dogs did well with the vet, and some class members has litter mats!
After the vet's visit, everyone headed pack to their room to get ready for the "posh" pictures and class picture. I hope this picture came out well; I hate being in pictures, but I'm proud of this boy, so I can't wait to see it. Once the excitement of pictures subsided, Doug started the "going home" lecture with the four of us about tomorrow. We didn't get a chance to finish before 4:30, but he said after dinner he would finish. In the midst of all these activities I was trying to pack so I wouldn't have to rush at night.
The rest of the evening was pretty much a blur. Dinner was great, Kevin made salmon with asparagus and red skin potatoes. He really is a great cook and so down to earth. I hope they keep him around for awhile. :) Audrey's PW was also there to meet her and see the dog. After dinner Doug regrouped us to tie up loose ends. At this point we were all exhausted, even Doug, but he did his best to finish everything. We each got a bag of Iams and a bed tie for home. He went over the grad pack and all the paperwork in it. We haven't signed ownership or custoday yet though, since we technically haven't finished training. He also went through the airport security procedure; he pulled a little rug up to one of the doorways that lead down the hall to the dining room, and we practiced there! Traveler got a little silly about this, especially when Dough started patting him down. By this point all of the dogs began to sense that things were different. Each dog responded in their own way. One whined like a puppy, one got quiet, and one got silly. Traveller just seemed to drift a bit while guiding, and he was more interested in everything!
After this Doug brought me into the trainer's room, where he called Traveler's Puppy Walker so we could chat. I have to admit I was a little nervous about this. by this point everyone had already met theirs in person. While I was a little disappointed about not meeting them in person, I was grateful for the phone call.
The woman I talked to was just wonderful! Her name is Carla, and she told me storoes about the family and Traveler's puppyhood. The family has raised seven dogs for the Foundation, which is just great! Five of them are now working guides, and one is a bomb sniffing dog. Both Carla and her husband are in education; so as a pup Traveler spent A LOT of time in schools. Helf the week he would be with Carla in admin. and the other half snoozing in the classroom with the husband. Carla said that even as a puppy, Traveler was "unflappable" and sat quietly even in the midst of school chaos. He also likes the water; Carla described a picture they have of him floating on a lounge in the middle of a pool. She also asked some questions about me, and said that she would send pictures to the Foundation in the next few weeks for them to forward to me, which would be just great! I hope that works out.
The phone call was rather short, and afterwards I headed out to finish the lecture, where I was shown how to clean doggy ears again. After the 8:30 break Traveler and I headed back into the lounge to listen to Mike D's beautiful guitar playing. For break, walked up and down the halls playing a song and singing "It's Break Time!" to the tune of "Wild Thing." This was cute, and reminded me to go listen to more music.
Once he packed up and left i finished packing and went off to bed. Friday was going to be a day full of Travelling! :)
The walk was quiet and short. We walked in a loop with two quiet street crossings, and made it to the local Starbucks for a coffee. While we warmed up Doug gave us a little bit of the "going home talk" where we asked him some questions about how to handle things at home. He also mentioned how and when he would be finishing training; he will be visiting me third, the week before Valentine's Day.
On the way back to the Foundation we stopped to pick up Audrey at the mall. Then back to water and break dogs before lunch. Lunch was actually a pretty eventful occasion; the CEO of the foundation was there to dine with us, as was the Former director of training. I never met him, though most of the retrains remember him. From what I hear he is a great guy.
After lunch I met with CS and ordered some Frontline for Traveler, before rushing to the leather lounge to meet with the vet. Traveler was excited and whining, which I thought was because of the vet, but Doug came over and let me know that there was a kennel worker there who used to take him home at night. The vet talk went well. I found out the details about my partner.
He birthdate is February 19, 2006, and he weighed in at 77lbs before leaving the Kennel.
While he still as a couple of pounds to lose, he has lost weight since Doug brought him to me. Most of the dogs did well with the vet, and some class members has litter mats!
After the vet's visit, everyone headed pack to their room to get ready for the "posh" pictures and class picture. I hope this picture came out well; I hate being in pictures, but I'm proud of this boy, so I can't wait to see it. Once the excitement of pictures subsided, Doug started the "going home" lecture with the four of us about tomorrow. We didn't get a chance to finish before 4:30, but he said after dinner he would finish. In the midst of all these activities I was trying to pack so I wouldn't have to rush at night.
The rest of the evening was pretty much a blur. Dinner was great, Kevin made salmon with asparagus and red skin potatoes. He really is a great cook and so down to earth. I hope they keep him around for awhile. :) Audrey's PW was also there to meet her and see the dog. After dinner Doug regrouped us to tie up loose ends. At this point we were all exhausted, even Doug, but he did his best to finish everything. We each got a bag of Iams and a bed tie for home. He went over the grad pack and all the paperwork in it. We haven't signed ownership or custoday yet though, since we technically haven't finished training. He also went through the airport security procedure; he pulled a little rug up to one of the doorways that lead down the hall to the dining room, and we practiced there! Traveler got a little silly about this, especially when Dough started patting him down. By this point all of the dogs began to sense that things were different. Each dog responded in their own way. One whined like a puppy, one got quiet, and one got silly. Traveller just seemed to drift a bit while guiding, and he was more interested in everything!
After this Doug brought me into the trainer's room, where he called Traveler's Puppy Walker so we could chat. I have to admit I was a little nervous about this. by this point everyone had already met theirs in person. While I was a little disappointed about not meeting them in person, I was grateful for the phone call.
The woman I talked to was just wonderful! Her name is Carla, and she told me storoes about the family and Traveler's puppyhood. The family has raised seven dogs for the Foundation, which is just great! Five of them are now working guides, and one is a bomb sniffing dog. Both Carla and her husband are in education; so as a pup Traveler spent A LOT of time in schools. Helf the week he would be with Carla in admin. and the other half snoozing in the classroom with the husband. Carla said that even as a puppy, Traveler was "unflappable" and sat quietly even in the midst of school chaos. He also likes the water; Carla described a picture they have of him floating on a lounge in the middle of a pool. She also asked some questions about me, and said that she would send pictures to the Foundation in the next few weeks for them to forward to me, which would be just great! I hope that works out.
The phone call was rather short, and afterwards I headed out to finish the lecture, where I was shown how to clean doggy ears again. After the 8:30 break Traveler and I headed back into the lounge to listen to Mike D's beautiful guitar playing. For break, walked up and down the halls playing a song and singing "It's Break Time!" to the tune of "Wild Thing." This was cute, and reminded me to go listen to more music.
Once he packed up and left i finished packing and went off to bed. Friday was going to be a day full of Travelling! :)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday: a big day in a very big city!
Our group awoke today at 5am. I forgot to set my alarm before bed, so it's a good thing that the night nurse came around knocking. The dogs were fed, watered, and taken outside by 5:30, then we all loaded into the van. Valerie was there to accompany us in the city that day. We had yogurt on the way to Hicksville to catch a rush hour train straight to Penn Station. While waiting at the station, we learned how great it is to travel with Valerie. She took care of the tickets, picked out the best train to take, and timed everything out. We also found out that she would be giving us bathroom cleanliness critiques before we used them. It's lovely travelling with a female trainer! :)
We arrived in Penn around 7:30, and fought our way through the crowds in the station to the street. Now as I understand it, Penn station is around 33rd street. We set out towards Times Square (42nd street) amongst the crowds of commuters and city goers. Times square was unmistakable, and everything I thought it would be. Stunning lights everywhere, and screens twenty stories high! Doug was wonderful; he pointed out things and helped me take some pictures, including the building where they drop the ball on New Years, the studio for David Letterman, and the Good Morning America studio. It was incredible, and so realistic, as there were people, dogs and traffic everywhere. After walking a few blocks, we doubled back and stopped at a cafe to warm up and have a coffee. I had a fabulous chai latte. Times Square was just wonderful, I want to go back there someday for sure.
Our next task was to make our way towards Columbus Circle ( i think that's the name) to get to Central Park. Initially Valerie was planning on getting us on a shuttle train, but we ended up walking to practice crowds. We stopped at the GAP, since a certain trainer forgot his sweater. :) it was VERY cold and windy the whole way through, but walking helped. Once we made it to Central Park, we walked through it a little ways, had a few dog distractions, and went back to the street. We stopped at two museums, including the Museum of Natural History. Not sure what the other was. At the museum we found a bus station (the tickets and plan miraculously provided by Valerie) and headed back to Times Square. On the way, Doug brought me into a store, where I got a few postcards and a keychain. Then we walked a few blocks to find a place for lunch. We decided on Hard Rock cafe, and had a relaxing lunch there. Another realistic experience, the place was crowded, and there was even a birthday, so lots of people were cheering and singing. The dogs were great!
After lunch we began heading back to Penn. This walk was the most impressive I have had with this dog by far. Usually I can see blurry shadows outside, but occasionally even that goes away entirely, and it happened on teh way to Penn. He knew it too, and responded in a way that I almost can't explain. He weaved and dodged through the crowds, across street crossings, and I followed. He usually does this, but its almost as if he can tell that my vision varies every walk. We really were working like a team, it was beautiful. I've never experienced anything like this, and it made me proud, and humbled me; I am so incredibly lucky to be working with this dog. I don't have to be afraid that he will make me trip over a curb. I really feel safe with him. It's so comforting to travel and not feel vulnerable and alone. Even though I do have some vision I am still legally blind, and working with a guide makes me feel safer and more confident than I can express.
We waited a little while for our train, and took it back to Hicksville. We arrived back at the Foundation earlier than Tuesday afternoon. We were all exhausted. Valerie helped us wash our salty coats, and I was sure to let her know how nice it was to have a woman around for the trip. Lecture was quick, and afterwards I did laundry and watched a little bit of TV with a classmate. A wonderful day overall, and I still can't believe I am lucky enough to be bringing this dog home with me.
We arrived in Penn around 7:30, and fought our way through the crowds in the station to the street. Now as I understand it, Penn station is around 33rd street. We set out towards Times Square (42nd street) amongst the crowds of commuters and city goers. Times square was unmistakable, and everything I thought it would be. Stunning lights everywhere, and screens twenty stories high! Doug was wonderful; he pointed out things and helped me take some pictures, including the building where they drop the ball on New Years, the studio for David Letterman, and the Good Morning America studio. It was incredible, and so realistic, as there were people, dogs and traffic everywhere. After walking a few blocks, we doubled back and stopped at a cafe to warm up and have a coffee. I had a fabulous chai latte. Times Square was just wonderful, I want to go back there someday for sure.
Our next task was to make our way towards Columbus Circle ( i think that's the name) to get to Central Park. Initially Valerie was planning on getting us on a shuttle train, but we ended up walking to practice crowds. We stopped at the GAP, since a certain trainer forgot his sweater. :) it was VERY cold and windy the whole way through, but walking helped. Once we made it to Central Park, we walked through it a little ways, had a few dog distractions, and went back to the street. We stopped at two museums, including the Museum of Natural History. Not sure what the other was. At the museum we found a bus station (the tickets and plan miraculously provided by Valerie) and headed back to Times Square. On the way, Doug brought me into a store, where I got a few postcards and a keychain. Then we walked a few blocks to find a place for lunch. We decided on Hard Rock cafe, and had a relaxing lunch there. Another realistic experience, the place was crowded, and there was even a birthday, so lots of people were cheering and singing. The dogs were great!
After lunch we began heading back to Penn. This walk was the most impressive I have had with this dog by far. Usually I can see blurry shadows outside, but occasionally even that goes away entirely, and it happened on teh way to Penn. He knew it too, and responded in a way that I almost can't explain. He weaved and dodged through the crowds, across street crossings, and I followed. He usually does this, but its almost as if he can tell that my vision varies every walk. We really were working like a team, it was beautiful. I've never experienced anything like this, and it made me proud, and humbled me; I am so incredibly lucky to be working with this dog. I don't have to be afraid that he will make me trip over a curb. I really feel safe with him. It's so comforting to travel and not feel vulnerable and alone. Even though I do have some vision I am still legally blind, and working with a guide makes me feel safer and more confident than I can express.
We waited a little while for our train, and took it back to Hicksville. We arrived back at the Foundation earlier than Tuesday afternoon. We were all exhausted. Valerie helped us wash our salty coats, and I was sure to let her know how nice it was to have a woman around for the trip. Lecture was quick, and afterwards I did laundry and watched a little bit of TV with a classmate. A wonderful day overall, and I still can't believe I am lucky enough to be bringing this dog home with me.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday: Day 1 of the big city.
Tuesday morning came around, and I have to say I was pretty excited for the city trip. Our lovely trainer explained that we would take the LIRR train to Brooklyn, and walk a route through a park that would lead us to the Brooklyn bridge! The park was lovely according to the trainer Mark who accompanied us along the way. We turned a corner, walked up the stairs, and were suddenly up on the bridge! The walk was long, but worth it. Mark explained all we were around. I wish I had brought a camera with me to snap a few shots of what wewere near. According to him we were walking by the statue of liberty, and ahead of us was a view of all of Manhattan.
Once we got over the bridge, we hopped onto the subway to Penn Station, and wandered around a few blocks to 34th and 8th streets (I'm trying my best to remember here) to a Friday's resteraunt. There a group member had the chance to meet with their new partner's puppy walker, which was nice. The woman stayed with us through lunch, to get to know the dog's new handler. The food was good, and Mark was entertaining as always. He and I both ended up with the same meal for lunch, a tasty chicken burger. At the end of the meal the Friday's staff gave us all pins in celebration of Obama's inauguration. We missed the speech, but all the TV's were tuned to the coverage so we got to hear about some of the action. The lunch was nice, but I was sitting in the sun and this made it difficult. Doug noticed, but I wasn't about to have him move over it.
After lunch we said goodbye to the P W and headed back to Penn station, to catch the train back to Hicksville. The dogs were tired, but they did great! Traveler was such a good boy. He handles train platforms wonderfully, and was good on the subway. Sometimes he's so good its hard to believe that we've only been a team for six days.
We returned to the Foundation just in time to feed the dogs and ourselves before the leash correction lecture. I didn't do much after that as Wednesday morning promised to be a busy one; wake up time at 5, leaving the foundation just after 5: 30.
A great day overall. A few mistakes, but they were mostly my mistakes. The dog was great; I love working with him.
More about city day 2 to follow....
Once we got over the bridge, we hopped onto the subway to Penn Station, and wandered around a few blocks to 34th and 8th streets (I'm trying my best to remember here) to a Friday's resteraunt. There a group member had the chance to meet with their new partner's puppy walker, which was nice. The woman stayed with us through lunch, to get to know the dog's new handler. The food was good, and Mark was entertaining as always. He and I both ended up with the same meal for lunch, a tasty chicken burger. At the end of the meal the Friday's staff gave us all pins in celebration of Obama's inauguration. We missed the speech, but all the TV's were tuned to the coverage so we got to hear about some of the action. The lunch was nice, but I was sitting in the sun and this made it difficult. Doug noticed, but I wasn't about to have him move over it.
After lunch we said goodbye to the P W and headed back to Penn station, to catch the train back to Hicksville. The dogs were tired, but they did great! Traveler was such a good boy. He handles train platforms wonderfully, and was good on the subway. Sometimes he's so good its hard to believe that we've only been a team for six days.
We returned to the Foundation just in time to feed the dogs and ourselves before the leash correction lecture. I didn't do much after that as Wednesday morning promised to be a busy one; wake up time at 5, leaving the foundation just after 5: 30.
A great day overall. A few mistakes, but they were mostly my mistakes. The dog was great; I love working with him.
More about city day 2 to follow....
Monday: quick post.
Our final week has arrived. Today we drove to Huntington for a busy, though productive walk. We waiting in Starbucks inbetween walks, which was relaxing. The walk was good, lots of curbs to work on. In the afternoon, we set out again, and walked the backwards P walk here in town. One side of this walk is along a busy road, with a circle behind it. We did this in the afternoon, and again at night. All went well, in my opinion. Honestly, I hope I'm remembering everything as it happened, very tired at the moment, but I am waiting for laundry in the dryer, so now is as good a time as any. :)
Let's see if I can catch up.
Let's see if I can catch up.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Weekend
I'm falling a little behind, so the weekend will be one post.
On Saturday, we returned to the horse shoe area to do "rounded curbs" again, which means...traffic checks, a fancy way of saying a GDF staff member rushes at you with a car to test your dog. Traveler did very well, he stopped each time, and would not move forward until the car left. A very solid perfomance, except for the fact that the trainer inside the car, Valerie, is a good boddy of his, and he was interested in her. It got him a little distracted, but overall he did very well. Afterwards, we did two laps on the horse shoe to prepare for the night walk that evening.
When I returned, I got ready for Megan to come visit. She didn't bring Buddy, so we could just enjoy a visit without a chorus of "leave it." It was nice, we had pizza and caught up. Her boyfriend Glen was there too, he's very nice. After they left I stayed in the leather lounge for a little bit, as Tim was playing guitar. Traveler was a little bothered by it, so I figured it was best to stay there so he could get used to it. I managed to get a nap in before dinner and the night walk. The walk was pretty good for the most part, though he got a little bit scooty when he passed the other dogs in our group. Overall, a great day though.
Sunday;
We went on a trip to the backwards P, which would also be our second night walk. Tim's group went as well, so we got to ride in the bust with them on the way to the route. Once we got there, Doug took the three of us at once (one member of the group stayed back at the Foundation) and went through the route taking turns on leading. It was snowing so the dogs got a little bit silly, but we handled it like professionals. :) After this we did grocery store training and Daniella and I went to the pet store, which was fun. Traveler now has a lovely air Kong ring toy, though it no longer squeaks for some reason. He loves it anyway, and tries to play tug, though he doesn't growl I'm not encouraging tug. He tries to convince me to play tug though, by bringing the toy back, acting all calm handing it to me, then pulling it back again, putting his whole body into it!
In the afternoon I got a knitting lession from Marda, which was nice and relaxing. We also had exit interviews and a chance to free run. Traveler had fun romping with Daniella's dog, it was very cute.
After dinner Daniella and I went downstairs to groom the dogs. I found a little bump on his stomach which worried me. I decided to show it to Doug the next day just to make sure. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend, though it's really starting to set in that we're only here a few more days.
On Saturday, we returned to the horse shoe area to do "rounded curbs" again, which means...traffic checks, a fancy way of saying a GDF staff member rushes at you with a car to test your dog. Traveler did very well, he stopped each time, and would not move forward until the car left. A very solid perfomance, except for the fact that the trainer inside the car, Valerie, is a good boddy of his, and he was interested in her. It got him a little distracted, but overall he did very well. Afterwards, we did two laps on the horse shoe to prepare for the night walk that evening.
When I returned, I got ready for Megan to come visit. She didn't bring Buddy, so we could just enjoy a visit without a chorus of "leave it." It was nice, we had pizza and caught up. Her boyfriend Glen was there too, he's very nice. After they left I stayed in the leather lounge for a little bit, as Tim was playing guitar. Traveler was a little bothered by it, so I figured it was best to stay there so he could get used to it. I managed to get a nap in before dinner and the night walk. The walk was pretty good for the most part, though he got a little bit scooty when he passed the other dogs in our group. Overall, a great day though.
Sunday;
We went on a trip to the backwards P, which would also be our second night walk. Tim's group went as well, so we got to ride in the bust with them on the way to the route. Once we got there, Doug took the three of us at once (one member of the group stayed back at the Foundation) and went through the route taking turns on leading. It was snowing so the dogs got a little bit silly, but we handled it like professionals. :) After this we did grocery store training and Daniella and I went to the pet store, which was fun. Traveler now has a lovely air Kong ring toy, though it no longer squeaks for some reason. He loves it anyway, and tries to play tug, though he doesn't growl I'm not encouraging tug. He tries to convince me to play tug though, by bringing the toy back, acting all calm handing it to me, then pulling it back again, putting his whole body into it!
In the afternoon I got a knitting lession from Marda, which was nice and relaxing. We also had exit interviews and a chance to free run. Traveler had fun romping with Daniella's dog, it was very cute.
After dinner Daniella and I went downstairs to groom the dogs. I found a little bump on his stomach which worried me. I decided to show it to Doug the next day just to make sure. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend, though it's really starting to set in that we're only here a few more days.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday: these boots were made for walkin'
Friday morning we awoke to some VERY cold conditions: 15 degrees with wind. The other training class headed out to the mall, while we headed back to the horse shoe for more practice. This route was to be our first night walk, so we had to become familiar with it. It was bitter cold and the ice and snow were getting under doggy toes, causing alot of limping and flipping about. Traveler was disgusted by this, and at one point threw a tantrum into the snow! We were getting boots for them in the afternoon so it was a relief knowing he didn't have to stay cold, the poor pup!
I got Morgan's package around mid day; some of her homemade goodies and a book titled "Bad Dogs Have More Fun" This is another treat from John Grogan.
Jenny served at lunch, where we had an awesome pasta dish, with a cream sauce and cheese and garlic bread. The new chef Kevin has really been spoiling us! It was so nice to see Jenny again, we got to chat a little before I headed off to buy a new GDF sweatshirt and get ready for the afternoon.
After lunch we met up with Valerie, the trainer providing us with Ruff Wear boots to protect the dogs' feet. Most dogs tolerated them going on, though flipped about a little while walking around (Doug calls this "hot feet"). We then loaded into the van and headed back to the horse shoe, to try these boots in the snow.
What a sight we must have been during the first lap of this walk! The dogs did not show much fondness towards the new footwear, and let us know it. When I set out, I had to stop practically every five feet to get him to stay calm. I felt so bad for him, and thought seriously about going back to the van, though the flashbacks of this morning's sore salty paws kept me trying. By the first half of the lap he was doing well. By the second lap it was almost as though the boots had vanished, as he accepted them pretty well. I was so proud, and glad he didn't have to worry aobut sore cold paws.
After dinner there was the infamous grooming lecture, being taught by the infamous Mark! I knew we were in for a treat and Mark did not disappoint, as he rarely does. the whole thing was funny and informative, and I also found out that he loves the Zoom Groom. He let me groom him for a good 20 minutes with it, I am so pleased!
I got Morgan's package around mid day; some of her homemade goodies and a book titled "Bad Dogs Have More Fun" This is another treat from John Grogan.
Jenny served at lunch, where we had an awesome pasta dish, with a cream sauce and cheese and garlic bread. The new chef Kevin has really been spoiling us! It was so nice to see Jenny again, we got to chat a little before I headed off to buy a new GDF sweatshirt and get ready for the afternoon.
After lunch we met up with Valerie, the trainer providing us with Ruff Wear boots to protect the dogs' feet. Most dogs tolerated them going on, though flipped about a little while walking around (Doug calls this "hot feet"). We then loaded into the van and headed back to the horse shoe, to try these boots in the snow.
What a sight we must have been during the first lap of this walk! The dogs did not show much fondness towards the new footwear, and let us know it. When I set out, I had to stop practically every five feet to get him to stay calm. I felt so bad for him, and thought seriously about going back to the van, though the flashbacks of this morning's sore salty paws kept me trying. By the first half of the lap he was doing well. By the second lap it was almost as though the boots had vanished, as he accepted them pretty well. I was so proud, and glad he didn't have to worry aobut sore cold paws.
After dinner there was the infamous grooming lecture, being taught by the infamous Mark! I knew we were in for a treat and Mark did not disappoint, as he rarely does. the whole thing was funny and informative, and I also found out that he loves the Zoom Groom. He let me groom him for a good 20 minutes with it, I am so pleased!
Gah! I did it again!
I want to keep this thing up to date, I swear I do. It's so hard to find the time, I know that's a bad excuse, but I really wanted to write down as much about the training as I can! So, time to play catch up...
Thursday:
As expected, we did the horse shoe in the morning, along with the strip of rounded curbs in front of the school. Traveler decided to get a little scooty during the horse shoe walk in the snow, but other than that he has pretty good. He decided to be a little speedy because the other dogs were in front of us, but we worked that out. :) I started teaching him to watch the ice, so when I say it he will hopefully slow down to keep us from slipping.
After these walks, we headed back to the school, had lunch and so forth. Doug informed us that we would be going to the mall in the afternoon, which sounded promising. During the AM walk, he mentioned that since I was in class not that long ago, that he would let me explore the mall by myself. I never forget a mall. :) And sure enough, he kept to his word, and Traveler and I set out for our very first solo walk! It was a little scary at first, I wasn't sure I was ready to do this, but since Doug had faith in me, and I wanted to challenge myself, we did it. He was a little slow at first, it seemed like he was looking for Doug. Maybe he could tell I was nervous as well so I made it a point to praise him lots and keep myself positive. As it turns out, he listened, and we walked all across the mall! This is amazing, considering I'd only known him for 2 days...we did well too, and found Claire's, bath and body works, and starbucks. The people in the mall were great about giving out directions...I'm sure they get these situations alot being so close to the school.
While I was in line, Doug came in with another classmate, so I waited for them, and went back to the food court to meet up with the rest of the group. I was glad to see them, so I could follow back. Shortly after, I got a chance to get to sears to buy a pair of khaki pants for the posh pictures coming up. I wasn't in to spending much money, so I figured sears would have a sale, which they did. Traveler handled the whole things beautifully. It was very realistic; going through Sears, the fitting room, the checkout...To be honest I was a little bit nervous about heading out on my own so soon, as we're still really just learning each other, but things were a success. Doug even had me lead the others out to the bus while he drove it up to meet us! He's really making this fun and challanging for me.
Thursday night was a lecture on how our dogs are trained and conditioned. This was given by the wonderful Jody, with Mike D. sitting nearby for "dinner and a show." It was okay, though truthfully a bit boring as I've heard it all before, and most of the lecture was filled with new students asking questions. Traveller behaved well of course!
Thursday was quite a day, things are really moving fast!
Thursday:
As expected, we did the horse shoe in the morning, along with the strip of rounded curbs in front of the school. Traveler decided to get a little scooty during the horse shoe walk in the snow, but other than that he has pretty good. He decided to be a little speedy because the other dogs were in front of us, but we worked that out. :) I started teaching him to watch the ice, so when I say it he will hopefully slow down to keep us from slipping.
After these walks, we headed back to the school, had lunch and so forth. Doug informed us that we would be going to the mall in the afternoon, which sounded promising. During the AM walk, he mentioned that since I was in class not that long ago, that he would let me explore the mall by myself. I never forget a mall. :) And sure enough, he kept to his word, and Traveler and I set out for our very first solo walk! It was a little scary at first, I wasn't sure I was ready to do this, but since Doug had faith in me, and I wanted to challenge myself, we did it. He was a little slow at first, it seemed like he was looking for Doug. Maybe he could tell I was nervous as well so I made it a point to praise him lots and keep myself positive. As it turns out, he listened, and we walked all across the mall! This is amazing, considering I'd only known him for 2 days...we did well too, and found Claire's, bath and body works, and starbucks. The people in the mall were great about giving out directions...I'm sure they get these situations alot being so close to the school.
While I was in line, Doug came in with another classmate, so I waited for them, and went back to the food court to meet up with the rest of the group. I was glad to see them, so I could follow back. Shortly after, I got a chance to get to sears to buy a pair of khaki pants for the posh pictures coming up. I wasn't in to spending much money, so I figured sears would have a sale, which they did. Traveler handled the whole things beautifully. It was very realistic; going through Sears, the fitting room, the checkout...To be honest I was a little bit nervous about heading out on my own so soon, as we're still really just learning each other, but things were a success. Doug even had me lead the others out to the bus while he drove it up to meet us! He's really making this fun and challanging for me.
Thursday night was a lecture on how our dogs are trained and conditioned. This was given by the wonderful Jody, with Mike D. sitting nearby for "dinner and a show." It was okay, though truthfully a bit boring as I've heard it all before, and most of the lecture was filled with new students asking questions. Traveller behaved well of course!
Thursday was quite a day, things are really moving fast!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The beginning of a beautiful partnership, I think!
Things went very well yesterday. Our morning walk was at King's Park, and was a success, though abit icy. I think the ice helped me keep a more steady pace, good for a first walk. Patchogue went better in my opinion; on Main street there was a bit of ice, but we got in a pretty good groove and seemed to be reading each other well. Had a dog distraction along the way...two little dogs were running around, they saw us and darted towards Traveler, who was interested in sniffing them as well. Doug told me not to do anything sudden to scare the dogs back into the street where the could get hurt. I must admit Traveler did well, no barking or growling so I am pleased. :) He did show interest but I was able to keep in under control. So, overall I think we are getting there.
It's not something that happens overnight but its already better than the last time. Truthfully, I'm ecstatic. I'm trying not to get too excited as it's still only just the beginning, but I really think this time it's right! I saw Sebastian yesterday, who was pleased in the match("Oh, you got one of my babies again, have you?"), as was Mike S. He could tell how happy I was, and said that he seems to be happy with me too, and that we look like we are going to be a great team. He also said that he and everyone else really appreciate the effort I gave with Franklyn. He said they know that I tried and gave it all I could. This really made me feel good, because I was so worried someone would blame me, but they get it. They understand, and it's a good feeling because it proves that this is the right school for me, and I couldn't be happier about my decision to come back and give it another try.
Last night was the bereavment lecture. It was very emotional, more because of the stories of others than of my own. I did share what happened with Franklyn, because I want to put it behind me. It really helped. Everything today really made things come full circle, and I'm really glad.
Today it is snowing, so not sure what will be happening. We were supposed to do the horsehoe and then the mall in the afternoon. Who knows, maybe these will be switched today? We will see.
I will post more as the day progresses, in the meantime, a picture of my new boy:
It's not something that happens overnight but its already better than the last time. Truthfully, I'm ecstatic. I'm trying not to get too excited as it's still only just the beginning, but I really think this time it's right! I saw Sebastian yesterday, who was pleased in the match("Oh, you got one of my babies again, have you?"), as was Mike S. He could tell how happy I was, and said that he seems to be happy with me too, and that we look like we are going to be a great team. He also said that he and everyone else really appreciate the effort I gave with Franklyn. He said they know that I tried and gave it all I could. This really made me feel good, because I was so worried someone would blame me, but they get it. They understand, and it's a good feeling because it proves that this is the right school for me, and I couldn't be happier about my decision to come back and give it another try.
Last night was the bereavment lecture. It was very emotional, more because of the stories of others than of my own. I did share what happened with Franklyn, because I want to put it behind me. It really helped. Everything today really made things come full circle, and I'm really glad.
Today it is snowing, so not sure what will be happening. We were supposed to do the horsehoe and then the mall in the afternoon. Who knows, maybe these will be switched today? We will see.
I will post more as the day progresses, in the meantime, a picture of my new boy:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
First morning with Dog
Well, I didn't sleep very well last night, and neither did Traveller. I don't know why, just not tired I guess. Too much excitement and all. :) Traveller woke up in a very happy mood today. He's not acting up; he's just wagging is tail whenever I walk about. When we first met, I didn't think he was the type of dog to really be impressed by much, but he's warming up today. Its a chillly 24 degrees out, with the windchill over 20MPH it feels like five. Five! Boy, I'm glad I brought warm stuff with me!
We're heading out this morning to either King's Park or Patchogue, depending on the icyness of Kings Park. Though a fellow classmate did bring up a good point; we all live in areas where ice is a reality so it might be good to get some practice in. Doug also mentioned that he'd like to fit all of our dogs (everyone in his "class") with doggy boots to protect against the cold and salt. This is a brilliant idea, and If he'll wear them, I know his feet will be safe. :)
That's about it for now. More to follow later on!
We're heading out this morning to either King's Park or Patchogue, depending on the icyness of Kings Park. Though a fellow classmate did bring up a good point; we all live in areas where ice is a reality so it might be good to get some practice in. Doug also mentioned that he'd like to fit all of our dogs (everyone in his "class") with doggy boots to protect against the cold and salt. This is a brilliant idea, and If he'll wear them, I know his feet will be safe. :)
That's about it for now. More to follow later on!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dog Day, vol. 2
Soooo.... after breakfast time we met for an hour or so, discussed a few things, meeting the dogs, etc. then broke up for short handle walks. Mine was last in the group, and lasted maybe five minutes, just a quick refresher.
The dogs were scheduled to come over at ten. Well ten came and went, and so did eleven. Apparantly the dogs were taking longer to dry after the baths than what was expected. The trainers made the decision to give out dogs after lunch, so off we all went to the dining room. A few old friends from July were there, so I was pretty pleased. After all was said and done, I think we got the dogs around 1.
Traveller:
All I can say is: wow! Now, when the dogs first come in to meet us, they are usually pretty wound up. Not so with this one. I called him, and he walked on in, as though it were an everyday thing. I couldn't belive how calm he was! I mentioned this to Doug, and he said, "well that's what you were hoping for, right?" Yes it sure was!
He did a little whining when he heard Doug in the hall, and a little drooling too (does he want to eat his trainer??) but aside from that he was pretty laid back, let me pet him and all that. It was a nice first moment. :)
Our first walk was down to the basement grooming room, which involved a quick reteaching of how to do steps with a dog. I was the first one down there, so I had him find a seat, got him to lay down under it, and waited for the rest of the group to arrive.
Once we were all down there, the dogs got pretty silly, of course! Whining, moaning, trying to play, and all staring at Doug with love and adoration. Too funny! Out of our group I have the least amount of experience with working dogs, but it reminded me that it's always shaky at first. We took it all in stride of course!
After a little obedience work, we headed back upstairs, where Doug told me I could let Traveller off tie down for awhile (shh! don't tell :). I did, and he was so good about it, he followed me around a bit, layed down, and stayed calm. At one point I sat on the floor calmly just to see what he would do. After a moment, he came and laid beside me, first on his side. As I pet him, he rolled onto his back, front legs way up in the air, and stayed that way as i pet him. As he became more relaxed, he leaned on my leg a bit, but still just layed there until I had him get up.
He is beautiful! He is very stocky, like some of the labs, but he has this subtle fuzziness all over his body from the golden half. Now that I am seeing more of the crosses, they are getting easier to tell apart from full breed labs. His fur is shiny and wavy. I just love him so far!
We took them to dinner, which was pretty quiet, suprisingly. Dinner was delicious. Beef Stroganoff with carrots and peas, and coffee ice cream!
We did leash guiding this evening, which wasn't perfect of course, but it won't be at this stage. We do our first harness walk tomorrow. I can't wait; it will be nice to get out and work him on a real route to get a feel for him. But so far things are good and I think this is the one!
Pictures to come tomorrow, havent gotten a chance yet.
Good night!
The dogs were scheduled to come over at ten. Well ten came and went, and so did eleven. Apparantly the dogs were taking longer to dry after the baths than what was expected. The trainers made the decision to give out dogs after lunch, so off we all went to the dining room. A few old friends from July were there, so I was pretty pleased. After all was said and done, I think we got the dogs around 1.
Traveller:
All I can say is: wow! Now, when the dogs first come in to meet us, they are usually pretty wound up. Not so with this one. I called him, and he walked on in, as though it were an everyday thing. I couldn't belive how calm he was! I mentioned this to Doug, and he said, "well that's what you were hoping for, right?" Yes it sure was!
He did a little whining when he heard Doug in the hall, and a little drooling too (does he want to eat his trainer??) but aside from that he was pretty laid back, let me pet him and all that. It was a nice first moment. :)
Our first walk was down to the basement grooming room, which involved a quick reteaching of how to do steps with a dog. I was the first one down there, so I had him find a seat, got him to lay down under it, and waited for the rest of the group to arrive.
Once we were all down there, the dogs got pretty silly, of course! Whining, moaning, trying to play, and all staring at Doug with love and adoration. Too funny! Out of our group I have the least amount of experience with working dogs, but it reminded me that it's always shaky at first. We took it all in stride of course!
After a little obedience work, we headed back upstairs, where Doug told me I could let Traveller off tie down for awhile (shh! don't tell :). I did, and he was so good about it, he followed me around a bit, layed down, and stayed calm. At one point I sat on the floor calmly just to see what he would do. After a moment, he came and laid beside me, first on his side. As I pet him, he rolled onto his back, front legs way up in the air, and stayed that way as i pet him. As he became more relaxed, he leaned on my leg a bit, but still just layed there until I had him get up.
He is beautiful! He is very stocky, like some of the labs, but he has this subtle fuzziness all over his body from the golden half. Now that I am seeing more of the crosses, they are getting easier to tell apart from full breed labs. His fur is shiny and wavy. I just love him so far!
We took them to dinner, which was pretty quiet, suprisingly. Dinner was delicious. Beef Stroganoff with carrots and peas, and coffee ice cream!
We did leash guiding this evening, which wasn't perfect of course, but it won't be at this stage. We do our first harness walk tomorrow. I can't wait; it will be nice to get out and work him on a real route to get a feel for him. But so far things are good and I think this is the one!
Pictures to come tomorrow, havent gotten a chance yet.
Good night!
Dog Day! Morning!
Today is the day we recieve our new partners! Just wanted to check in to say that I am totally excited about today. got up bright an early, and tracked down the nurse Donna because I don't have any Alieve on me. Had a killer headache all night and into the morning. I wanted to get rid of it before dog time, but now I'm in pretty good shape, just waiting for breakfast. I wonder what Kevin will have for us today?
So far today the agenda is a short handle walk to refresh on commands a bit, which will probably take from 8 to 10, then the dogs come over.
Woke up with that song "Just travellin' through" on my mind today. :) Funny how I thought yesterday that I travel too much...Traveller will be living up to his name if he comes home with me. :)
Off to wander a bit before breakfast. More later. There WILL be pictures at some point!
So far today the agenda is a short handle walk to refresh on commands a bit, which will probably take from 8 to 10, then the dogs come over.
Woke up with that song "Just travellin' through" on my mind today. :) Funny how I thought yesterday that I travel too much...Traveller will be living up to his name if he comes home with me. :)
Off to wander a bit before breakfast. More later. There WILL be pictures at some point!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Back at GDF, crazy but exciting!
Well, what a day it has been! I am at GDF; got here around two thirty-ish this afternoon. Here's a recap of the day's agenda.
We woke up this morning to a pretty heavy snowfall. I got bundled up and went to clean mom's car and the driveway so she could leave safetly. She left at about seven. We were soon to follow at 8. the airport is about an hour's drive, and with the snowfall and rush hour, we wanted to be sure to make it for the flight at 11:00. A stop and Dunkin was also in order.
I arrived at the airport just before ten. Got to the ticket counter, and come to find out, the plane is little. It was one of those flights where you have to walk out ot the plane on the ground. There were only about fifteen people on the plane!
Once we finally got to laguardie (after about twenty minutes of circling overhead) the airline had someone to help me to baggage, where we quickly found Doug.
We trudged back to the van to pick up another class member to head back into the airport for lunch, since we had to wait awhile for the third pickup. We all had a thai peanut salad, which was pretty darn good. Once the third arrived we headed to the foundation. Once we got here, I saw a few trainers, Mark and Dan, and had a tour of the building (didn't need it, but whatever). Then was dinner, a new "chef" and the food was great. We had a breaded chicken patty with gravy, garlic potatos and asparagus, with a brownie. Got to see a few more people. I'm surprized that they all remembered me.
After dinner was the Welcome chat/lecture. We went over a whole lot of things, all in the company of Mars (a lovely dog). Then...we all found out the name and breed of our dogs!!! I was a little nervous, but very excited too, because I know now!
His name is Traveler, and he is a black lab/golden cross!
Doug pulled me aside earlier in the day and mentioned that he had a great dog for me, but warned me that he is a little older, and has been matched twice before. With one person the pace was off, and with the other left class early.
I started not feeling well after that and got a little worried, because this is my third black lab golden now, and the first two didn't work out. I pulled Doug aside and asked him if Those problems were becaquse of the breed; should I be worried? He quickly assured me that each dog is different, and he thinks I will be very happy with this dog. I sure hope so!
So, its up early tomorrow morning, breakfast at 7:30, then a short handle refresher on commands, then dog time is at 10:00AM! I can hardly wait!
Getting to bed now, more to come tomorrow. :)
We woke up this morning to a pretty heavy snowfall. I got bundled up and went to clean mom's car and the driveway so she could leave safetly. She left at about seven. We were soon to follow at 8. the airport is about an hour's drive, and with the snowfall and rush hour, we wanted to be sure to make it for the flight at 11:00. A stop and Dunkin was also in order.
I arrived at the airport just before ten. Got to the ticket counter, and come to find out, the plane is little. It was one of those flights where you have to walk out ot the plane on the ground. There were only about fifteen people on the plane!
Once we finally got to laguardie (after about twenty minutes of circling overhead) the airline had someone to help me to baggage, where we quickly found Doug.
We trudged back to the van to pick up another class member to head back into the airport for lunch, since we had to wait awhile for the third pickup. We all had a thai peanut salad, which was pretty darn good. Once the third arrived we headed to the foundation. Once we got here, I saw a few trainers, Mark and Dan, and had a tour of the building (didn't need it, but whatever). Then was dinner, a new "chef" and the food was great. We had a breaded chicken patty with gravy, garlic potatos and asparagus, with a brownie. Got to see a few more people. I'm surprized that they all remembered me.
After dinner was the Welcome chat/lecture. We went over a whole lot of things, all in the company of Mars (a lovely dog). Then...we all found out the name and breed of our dogs!!! I was a little nervous, but very excited too, because I know now!
His name is Traveler, and he is a black lab/golden cross!
Doug pulled me aside earlier in the day and mentioned that he had a great dog for me, but warned me that he is a little older, and has been matched twice before. With one person the pace was off, and with the other left class early.
I started not feeling well after that and got a little worried, because this is my third black lab golden now, and the first two didn't work out. I pulled Doug aside and asked him if Those problems were becaquse of the breed; should I be worried? He quickly assured me that each dog is different, and he thinks I will be very happy with this dog. I sure hope so!
So, its up early tomorrow morning, breakfast at 7:30, then a short handle refresher on commands, then dog time is at 10:00AM! I can hardly wait!
Getting to bed now, more to come tomorrow. :)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The last few hours...
Just about all packed. Had to check my email one last time so I figured a quick post. Hard to believe that tomorrow is the day. I will do my best to keep a chronicle of things while I am getting to know my new partner.
The next post shall be from New York!
Good night!
The next post shall be from New York!
Good night!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Happy Saturday
Today was a very nice day, as mom and I got to spend time out of the house. We went all over town, just having a good time. We went to Petco where we spend at least an hour, and walked out of the store with fishes.Two female bettas. I also got a skane of red yarn for Marlene's scarf, and I'll probably bring it with me to New York to work on it during the downtime. We also went to Chili's for lunch. Today was just so much fun!
Last night I even got to spend some time with Dad watching Twister. Mom says he's starting to turn around but I really don't know, as he just came home a efw minutes ago from drinking again. I really don't know, but I'm not going to let it bother me, because I'm keeping my distance so as not to get let down again. That's the best way.
We are expecting a snowstorm overnight tonight. One new station says 1-3 inches this morning, though the Weather Channel is sticking to a 5-8 inch prediction. We'll see. I have a feeling there will be alot of shovelling involved, we're going to have to dig out to get to church in the morning.
That's about it for now. I've pretty much just been doing alundry and getting things ready for GDF and school after that. I won't be coming back here inbetween, so everything has to be ready. I am very excited about it all though. I think I will be ready for the new dog.
Last night I even got to spend some time with Dad watching Twister. Mom says he's starting to turn around but I really don't know, as he just came home a efw minutes ago from drinking again. I really don't know, but I'm not going to let it bother me, because I'm keeping my distance so as not to get let down again. That's the best way.
We are expecting a snowstorm overnight tonight. One new station says 1-3 inches this morning, though the Weather Channel is sticking to a 5-8 inch prediction. We'll see. I have a feeling there will be alot of shovelling involved, we're going to have to dig out to get to church in the morning.
That's about it for now. I've pretty much just been doing alundry and getting things ready for GDF and school after that. I won't be coming back here inbetween, so everything has to be ready. I am very excited about it all though. I think I will be ready for the new dog.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
First Post of 2009! And alot of catch up to do!
Here I am still alive! It's been quite awhile, while in PA with grandma there was no internet connection I could catch. I got home Tuesday night, after a long trip on Amtrak. The train ride was really very nice. It was comfy and quiet, and gave me the chance to crochet. I've been doing alot of that lately. Grandma wanted a scarf, so I made her a blue and white one. When I was done there was even yarn left over to make a matching hat. She loved it. So, to catch up a bit on things...
Wednesday: New Year's eve.
As it turned out, we were snowed in at my aunt's house, so we could not make our plans for the night. We stayed inside, since it was frigid outside, negative 8 with wind. We baked cookies and played board games. Kevin made yummy homemade pizza for dinner. Then another game marathon and we toasted in the New Year with champagne. It was quiet, though nice and relaxing. I feel bad for the people who went through the trouble of going to New York city, it was just too cold. Maybe next year. :)
Thursday: New Year's Day.
We got up early to say goodbye to everyone and pack the car. Grandma lost her wallet so we ended up looking for that for a good 45 minutes. Come to find out, it ended up in my purse! She had given up looking for it, and when we got in the car I reached into my purse and there it was. Someone must have found it laying around and thought the purse was hers.
We made our way to Danbury CT to have breakfast with Bob and Debbie. It was great to see them and breakfast was tasty. We exchanged Christmas gifts. They surprized me with gifts, two really nice ones. A digital photo frame and light up led clock. We left there about 1 and set off on our journey to PA. We got there around Five and made dinner, unpacked and watched a little tv before heading to bed.
Friday: We ran a few errands, bank groceries, etc, in the morning. We had chicken salad at home for lunch, and then set out again, for the Casino. :) We only brought 20 dollars each, for the cheap slots. This was alot of fun. We were there a good while. I lost about ten dollars, before winning 28 so I managed to walk out with more money than I brought. After that we went to see Marlene. The lights in their dining room were very bright; by the time we left my eyes were stinging, and stayed that way all night.
Saturday: Shopping at Boscov's. I got a lovely new coat, and some sweaters. We had lunch out, at this diner type place, but it was like a four course meal for a very good price. We had seafood. We also went to an aisan market, which was intresting. At night, we had a drink and watched movies. I did more crocheting.
Sunday: We went to Wal Mart for more yarn. Lunch at a chinese place, and in the afternoon we invited the neighbors over for a little while. I honestly can't remember what else we did this day...
Monday, we went Everywhere, shopping, hair salon (got my hair cut :)) And in the evening we went to see Tish, my cousin, grandma's aunt ( not exactly sure how we are related, but we are, and she is alot of fun). We got hone late, so I packed up my things for the train trip.
Tuesday: Left early to head to Trenton NJ for the train. Like I said, the trip was pretty quiet, and I was home around 5:30. I really had a great trip. It's nice to be able to see family, especially since I haven't seen most of them in years. Grandma seemed to enjoy it too.
So since it's the new year, I have a few resolutions. They are:
- Make the most of everyday, spend less time worrying and more time just enjoying life.
- Think more about others.
I also heard that it's good to learn two things every day, even little things, so I've decided to try it. I have a little notebook that I am writing them down in. It's a fun little book.
Yesterday was the conference call for GDF. I can't believe I'm leaving on Monday, this is so exciting. I can't wait to meet my new partner! As it turns out, I have the same room as last time. I know the building well, so it's good! I called consumer services and asked about the puppy walkers; since I am doing a combination training I won't be able to go to Celebration Sunday. I think the way this works is GDF sets up a phone call so you can talk to the PW's, I hope so anyway. Only a few more days, and I will be on my way.
Wednesday: New Year's eve.
As it turned out, we were snowed in at my aunt's house, so we could not make our plans for the night. We stayed inside, since it was frigid outside, negative 8 with wind. We baked cookies and played board games. Kevin made yummy homemade pizza for dinner. Then another game marathon and we toasted in the New Year with champagne. It was quiet, though nice and relaxing. I feel bad for the people who went through the trouble of going to New York city, it was just too cold. Maybe next year. :)
Thursday: New Year's Day.
We got up early to say goodbye to everyone and pack the car. Grandma lost her wallet so we ended up looking for that for a good 45 minutes. Come to find out, it ended up in my purse! She had given up looking for it, and when we got in the car I reached into my purse and there it was. Someone must have found it laying around and thought the purse was hers.
We made our way to Danbury CT to have breakfast with Bob and Debbie. It was great to see them and breakfast was tasty. We exchanged Christmas gifts. They surprized me with gifts, two really nice ones. A digital photo frame and light up led clock. We left there about 1 and set off on our journey to PA. We got there around Five and made dinner, unpacked and watched a little tv before heading to bed.
Friday: We ran a few errands, bank groceries, etc, in the morning. We had chicken salad at home for lunch, and then set out again, for the Casino. :) We only brought 20 dollars each, for the cheap slots. This was alot of fun. We were there a good while. I lost about ten dollars, before winning 28 so I managed to walk out with more money than I brought. After that we went to see Marlene. The lights in their dining room were very bright; by the time we left my eyes were stinging, and stayed that way all night.
Saturday: Shopping at Boscov's. I got a lovely new coat, and some sweaters. We had lunch out, at this diner type place, but it was like a four course meal for a very good price. We had seafood. We also went to an aisan market, which was intresting. At night, we had a drink and watched movies. I did more crocheting.
Sunday: We went to Wal Mart for more yarn. Lunch at a chinese place, and in the afternoon we invited the neighbors over for a little while. I honestly can't remember what else we did this day...
Monday, we went Everywhere, shopping, hair salon (got my hair cut :)) And in the evening we went to see Tish, my cousin, grandma's aunt ( not exactly sure how we are related, but we are, and she is alot of fun). We got hone late, so I packed up my things for the train trip.
Tuesday: Left early to head to Trenton NJ for the train. Like I said, the trip was pretty quiet, and I was home around 5:30. I really had a great trip. It's nice to be able to see family, especially since I haven't seen most of them in years. Grandma seemed to enjoy it too.
So since it's the new year, I have a few resolutions. They are:
- Make the most of everyday, spend less time worrying and more time just enjoying life.
- Think more about others.
I also heard that it's good to learn two things every day, even little things, so I've decided to try it. I have a little notebook that I am writing them down in. It's a fun little book.
Yesterday was the conference call for GDF. I can't believe I'm leaving on Monday, this is so exciting. I can't wait to meet my new partner! As it turns out, I have the same room as last time. I know the building well, so it's good! I called consumer services and asked about the puppy walkers; since I am doing a combination training I won't be able to go to Celebration Sunday. I think the way this works is GDF sets up a phone call so you can talk to the PW's, I hope so anyway. Only a few more days, and I will be on my way.
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