DEC 31 2017

JODY WANTS ME TO  ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME HERE TO DO A WINTER STINT OF VOLUNTEERING- BELIEVE ME IT IS A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE- NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE MEEK AT HEART.- HEAVEN KNOWS WE HAVE PLENTY OF JACKETS... AND A FEW SNOW SUITS FOR THE RUN BETWEEN  HEATED BUILDINGS.

HEAT... THRU THE AGES....

I REMEMBER WHEN....... I HAD ONLY ONE BUILDING /HEAT SYSTEM TO WORRY ABOUT-- THE HOUSE...ALL DOGS (3 OR 4) LIVED IN THIS HOUSE- AND THE BARN WAS FULL OF EQUINES - THE HOUSE WAS BUILT WITH ELECT BASEBOARDS WHICH WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO RUN WITH CATHEDREAL CIELINGS..... SO WE JUST WORKED THE FIREPLACE... AND  FROZE... ALOT...- THEN AT A COUNTRY FAIR, I FOUND OUT ABOUT KEROSENE FURNACES-- NO CHIMNEY--  VENTED THRU A WALL- MY IDEA OF HEAVEN... IT BLEW HOT AIR- SO SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT TO THAW OUT  WAS MY STYLE.-- DAUGHTER GWEN AND HUSBAND RON WERE LIVING IN TH GUEST HOUSE- WHICH WAS UNHEATED- THEY SURVIVED BY ADDING A  $19 "MILKHOUSE HEATER"  TO THE SMALL BATHROOM... THAT IS WHY THERE IS  BIG HOOK IN THE SHOWER IN THE GUEST HOUSE...  THEY HUNG THE TV THERE, HE HAD A PIECE OF PLYWOOD OVER THE SINK FOR  DESK/PAPERWORK   AND  THE SECOND PERSON SAT SIDEWAYS ON THE W/C AND WATCHED TV... AND THE PIPES DID NOT FREEZE.. THOSE MILKHOUSE HEATERS 1500W WERE WONDERFUL- SO WHEN I ADDED TEH 6'X8'  DEAGLE DOG HOUSE  I PUT ONE IN THERE.ONE PER CIRCUIT DID NOT BLOW FUSES....  TWO DID... BY  ADDING THE DEAGLE ANNEX- WITH A PASS THRU WINDOW  WE FORCED THE HEATED AIR BETWEEN SECTIONS WITH A TINY COMPUTER FAN-- WE  WERE ALSO FORCED TO STUDY  AMPS--- OR JUST HOW MANY OF THESE  AMP THINGS WE COULD PUT ON WHAT WIRE...  THE FUSES WERE EITHER 15 OR 20-- AND IF YOU BLEW TEH 15 AMP FUSES, YOU DID NOT JUST SWAP IT FOR A 20 AMP.. I KEPT ADDING THOSE MILKHOUSE HEATERS EVERYWHERE THAT NEEDED A BOOST... PUTTIN ONE INSIDE A WIRE DOG CRATE TO KEEP PUPS AWAY WAS A FAVORITE IN THE ANNEX...TIL I OWNED A DOZEN...

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FYI TOPICS.... BECAUSE ANY INSPECTOR...OR FIRE INSPECTOR AFTER YOUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN--- CAN SIMPLY LOOK AT THE FUZE BOX AND CAN TELL FROM THE WIRES ATTACHED, WHAT SIZE FUSE THEY SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO.

STARTING WITH THE HOUSE--GUEST HOUSE.. THEN DOUBLE DEAGLE HOUSE-THEN CAME THE  START OF THE LAUNDRY BUILDING...--  ON HONEYMOON HILL AREA...ORIGIONAL DESIGN 12X8  -- THAT WAS  2 SHEETS OF PLYWOOD X 3 SHEETS- MY BUILDING SKILLS HAD ADVANCED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL BUILDINGS MUST BE BUILT WITH A 4 X 8 SHEET OF PLYWOOD IN MIND- ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO NOT OWN A "T-SQUARE"  OR GOOD SAW.   THAT WAS "THE MAGAZINE SHED" FOR " WANT AD"  WEEKLY  DELIVERIES( 16 PEOPLE WOULD COME BY WEEKLY TO PICK UP THEIR SUPPLY AND DROP OFF A PAPER BAG WITH THE CASH AND CHARGE SLIPS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK...AND... FOR HEAT.... THERI HUNDREDS OF MAGZINE RETURNS)--- THESE  WANT ADS WERE  OF NEWSPAPER STOCK - SO  POT BELLIED STOVES WERE PUT IN ALL THE BUILDINGS AS BACK UP-- WONDEREFUL HEAT-  WHICH WOULD LAST ALL NIGHT BECAUSE THE "WOOD STOVES" I BOUGHT WERE FOR "WOOD AND COAL "  SO EVEN THE ONE INTHE DEAGLE HOUSE WOULD GO ALL NIGHT IF YOU GOT A GOOD FIRE GOING AND ADDED THE CHUNKS OF COAL-- WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN  SOME INCOME AREAS.  

THE   WANT AD SALES WERE GOOD-- AND I NEEDED A BIGGER SHED... HENCE THE LAUNDRY BUILDING-- WHERE THE BACK "ROOM" HAS BEEN ---IN  IT'S LIFETIME,--- A BIGGER MAG DEPOSITORY, JANINE'S BEDROOM , PARVO ISOLATION ROOM,  AND FINALLY NOW, PAM'S 3 DOGS.  BY THEN WE WERE ON TO ALL KEROSCENE FURNACES-- 5 OF THEM WITH THE 5 WOOD/COAL STOVES AS BACK UP....

AS  WE CHANGED TEH LEFT SIDE OF THE BARN NTO KENNELS 1 - 8-- AND OUR BRAVE KEROSENE HEATER STRUGGLED TO KICK HEAT FROM THE FEED ROOM DOWN A  GALVANIZED STOVEPIPE-  IN THE BACK OF THE RAISED  SLEEPING LOFTS- SO THE DOGS COUD SNUGGLE UP TO IT TO STAY WARM-- THE AMT OF HEAT THRU KENNELS 1 THRU 8 WAS  CONTROLLED BY  ADDING 1/4 HOLES DRILLED TO LET HEAT OUT OF THE PIPE RIGHT WHERE THE DOGS FLUFFY WAS.... IT WORKED..  BUT I COULD NOT HAVE A WOOD STOVE THERE......

WHEN TEH  EXPLORE CAMERAS CAME IN.. AND ALL YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE WITH YOUR $10 CHICKEN BRICKS I KNEW IT WS TIME... AND THE GAS FURNACE WAS INSTALLED TO PROPERLY HEAT THE ENTIRE 1-10 AND TEH DONKEY SIDE KENNELS TOO..

LOSS OF ELECTRICITY-- WHICH HAPPENS OFTEN--  WOULD SHUT OFF THAT HEAT AND MEAN ALL THOSE DOGS WOULD HAVE TO GET IN CARS WITH HEAT RUNNING OR THE HOUSE HAVE IGN 20 DOG IN FRONT  OF THE FIREPLACE WAS NOT REALLY AN O[TION EITHER... SO SDP PUT IN AN AUTO GENERATOR IN THE BARN WHICH  WORKED SO WELL I PUT ONE IN THE HOUSE-- EVEN THOW WHEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES DOWN YOU WILL FIND ME PILING WOOD IN THE FIREPLACE.

NOW WE HAVE ALL THESE  WONDERFUL MITSUBISI HEAT EXCHAINGER THINGS... AND ALOT OF WOOD BURNING  DEVICES...

 THESE DOGS DO NOT DO WELL IN THE COLD....

NEITHER DO I....

*****

 i forgot i had these two.

********

ON OUR LAST TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, I WAS ESPECIALLY PROUD OF SEAGRAM. AFTER LIVING IN/NEAR NYC FOR 15 YEARS, I HAD NEVER BEEN TO SEE THE ROCKETTES, SO THIS SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT OUTING FOR US. SEAGRAM HANDLED THIS CHALLENGE BEAUTIFULLY, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT, GIVEN THAT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL SEATS 6000 PEOPLE!! HONESTLY, THE HUSTLE & BUSTLE OF THE AREA AROUND ROCKEFELLER CENTER & RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL HAD MADE IT SEEM UNSAFE WITH THE WALKER/CANE I USED BEFORE, BUT WITH SEAGRAM BY MY SIDE, I FELT CONFIDENT THAT WE COULD WALK ANYWHERE AROUND THERE. WE EVEN SKIPPED THE ELEVATOR & TOOK THE STAIRS TO THE LOWER LEVEL. I WAS SHAKY BUT SHE WAS PATIENT, EVEN WHEN WE HAD TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STAIRS AS PEOPLE PASSED BY. AFTERWARD, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAD BEEN WATCHING US SAID, “THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE,” AND WE STOPPED TO HAVE A PLEASANT CHAT WITH HIM. 

SO MANY PEOPLE COMMENTED ON HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS (AND WE ALWAYS RESPOND GRACIOUSLY TO TELL THEM ABOUT HOW HELPFUL & WELL-TRAINED SHE IS, SINCE THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO LISTEN). THE MOST INTERESTING COMPLEMENT CAME FROM THE MOTHER OF THE 3 PRE-TEEN GIRLS SEATED BEHIND US. AS BRIEF BACKGROUND, BEFORE THE SHOW, THE GIRLS RAN TO THE AISLE TO TAKE A GROUP SELFIE, AND ONE OF THEM SPILLED HER POPCORN ALL OVER IN THE RUSH. THEN DURING THE SHOW, AS USUAL, SEAGRAM ALTERNATED NAPPING WITH AN OCCASIONAL CHECK ON ME. AFTER THE SHOW, THE MOM COMMENTED, “LOOK AT HOW WELL-TRAINED SHE IS — SHE DIDN'T EVEN EAT ANY OF THE POPCORN ON THE FLOOR!!” AND OF COURSE, SEAGRAM WAS BY MY SIDE, ATTENTIVE AND OBSERVANT AS WE NAVIGATED OUR WAY OUT OF RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, AS MANY PEOPLE NOTICED & COMMENTED ABOUT. THIS WENT SO WELL THAT WE ALSO WALKED TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER. WHAT A WONDERFUL OUTING!! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR SUPER SEAGRAM!! 

****

My Fiona

She is a beauty

Dark spots on white

A blue eye, one brown

Head held high

She does not chase squirrels

Nor sit when she wants

Even when others “command” her to

And this protects me from falls

She lays next to me at dinner

Or in crowds at a fair

People compliment her behavior

And her attentiveness to me

She walks next to me

My balance is secure

She waits for my needs

To be expressed

She is a SDP girl

Well trained all the way

With love and devotion

She was raised the best way

I love her most dearly

My partner my best friend

Bless the souls who gave her to me

May they know what a gift she is

They baby fed her and trained her

And taught her so much

Stairs and elevators

Working and such

I am so grateful

To all of them

Carlene and her gang

They have blessed me

Thank you with love

And from Fiona too

DEC 30 2017

PUPPIES--- WOW... WITH THE BRUTAL TEMP, THEY ARE LOOSE IN TH E HOUSE...( MEANING I AM BACK WEARING LEATHER 

CHAPS ON MY LOWER LEGS..).-- THEY ARE VERY  BEHIND IN THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS..  CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS - 

BUT TRAINING HAS TO BE AHEAD OF BOTH...  HANDLING PUPS COMES FIRST - WAY AHEAD OF LAUNDRY FOLDING AND FLOOR 

MOPPING WITH THE FANCY STEAM MOPPER....-- THOSE THINGS MUST BE DONE WHILE THE PUPS ARE SLEEPING... IF THEY ARE AWAKE AND ROAMING AROUND.. THERE ARE THINGS TO DO..... MEGASN IS NOW COMING IN TO MARCH THEM AROUND THE FIREPPLACE ( TOO COLD OUTSIDE) ---  WHEN SHE DID THAT YESTERDAY, I NOTICED THEY AVE NO RESPECT FOR TEH TAPPING OF THE SPOON ON THE CONTAIINER.. WHICH MEANS THEY ARE NOT BEING SPOON FED PROPERLY... INITIAL SPOON FEEDONG IS SHOVE AS FAST AS TEH OPEN MOUTHS APPEAR-- LIKE BABY BIRDS-- HOWEVER... WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET TO NAMING EACH ONE AS THE SPOON GETS SHOVED-- THEREBY MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THE "WAIT" COMMAND SO USEFUL WHEN IT COMES TO ENTERING AND EXITING A CAR...

IF THE OBJECT WAS TO SHOVE FOOD AT THEM, WE COULD SAVE TIMEE AND PUT IT IN A DISH... WHENEVER YOU HANDLE

 AN ANIMAL YOU ARE TRAINING IT--INSTEAD OF LEARNING TO WAIT FOR A COOKIE TO BE PLACEDD IN THEIR MOUTHS

 .........THEY ARE LEAPING AT MY FINGERS SO THAT I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SPOON BEFORE I LOOSE TOO MUCH BLOOD 

 ON THEIR TINY CANINE TEETH.

MY FAULT-- I WAS NOT WATCHING TO BE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE...

I WOULD BET A PLUG NICKLE THAT  TEH PUP JERI TOOK WITH HER IS FAR BETTER STARTED THAN OUR SIX.  GOTTA 

PLAY CATCH UP...  I AM ON IT NOW.

****

 LINDA BROUGHT US AROUND TO  SDP'S BASIC PURPOSE----  WITH  HER DESCRIPTION OF A RECIPIENT SHE MET 

WHO BURST INTO TEARS AT THE THRILL OF  GETTING AROUND ENOUGH TO FOLD LAUNDRY.... THAT GOES BACK TO 

YESTERDAYS DD ABOUT THE THRILL I HAD IN THE MRI MACHINE TO BE TOLD.... "OK.. NOW  YOU MAY SWALLOW" 

  AND WHAT IS REALLY CRITICAL IN THE THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.---- I HAVE THE TENDENCY TO BE THANKFUL FOR 

THE FACT THAT COSTCO NOW SELLS PRIME ROAST BEEF, WHEN IN FACT I SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR  THE FACT

 I HAVE  A PEANUT BUTTER JELLY SANDWICH.

****

MY MONUMENTAL DECISION YESTERDAY WAS TO SEND OUT 3 SAMPLE PACKETS TO OTHER EXPLORE CANINE CAMERA

 PEOPLE WITH SOME OF OUR POO PICKERS--    I DO THINK WE HAVE THE FINEST POO SYSTEM-  I WROTE A LETTER TO

 INCLUDE WITHT TEH PICKERS-- THEN THREW IT OUT AS TOO LONG FOR ANYONE TO READ..  THEN I THOUGHT... NO....

 THE DD--- SO HERE'S WHAT I DECIDED NOT TO SEND BECAUSE IT IS TOO LONG.

AN IDEA TO SHARE---

I WOULD NEVER PORTEND  TO BE AN EXPERT  ON MUCH OF ANYTHING... WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF 

 “THE PICKING OF THE POO”  ...  MOSTLY BUT NOT  LIMITED TO... DOG ELIMINATIONS. 

I FEEL I MUST SHARE MY QUALIFICATIONS - YEARS AGO AS COMPUTERS BEGAN TO HAVE  A MOUSE... THERE WAS A GREAT 

NEED FOR SOMEONE TO PROVIDE A MOUSE  FOR A PHOTOSHOOT  AT MANY STUDIOS IN BOSTON..  ARMED WITH ONE OF 

THOSE  WIRE  SCREEN UMBRELLAS DESIGNED TO KEEP FLYS OFF BBQ FOOD,  PLUS   A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER. I WOU LD 

GO TO THE STUDIOS WITH SOME MICE... EITHER   WHITE STORE BOUGHT-OR  GREY BARN TRAPPED.  ALL NAMED “MICKEY” , 

THEY  WERE  KEPT ON THE PHOTO SET BY THE  “FOOD UMBRELLA”  TIL IT WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION... I WOULD FLIP UP 

THE UMBRELLA AS THEY SNAPPED THE SHOT SEEN ROUND THE WORLD IN TECH MAGANEZINES--   THE TINY BIT OF 

“BROWN RICE” MICKEY  OFTEN LEFT BEHIND WAS EASILY SCOOPED WITH  TIOLET PAPER - I WOULD BE HANDED A CHECK 

FOR $150. F0R MY  EXPERTISE IN THE MAMAGEMENT OF  NOT ONLY MICKEY, BUT THE BROWN RICE TEHFOR 2 MINUTES 

“WORK” AND TAKE MICKEY  HOME TO TURN LOOSE IN THE BARN- INTO AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY OF 

 BI COLORED MIC.E.

ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM,  I WAS CALLED ONTO SUPPLY A SHAMPOO’D COW TO WORK WITH JERRY VAN DYKE 

 IN A STUDIO IN BOSTON..IT WAS APPROPRIAELY  CALLED -“HIGH OUTPUT” ...    BEING THE EXPERT THAT I WAS CONSIDERED 

TO BE,  NO ONE QUESTIONED THE  6 BAGS OF KITTY LITTER I STACKED IN THE CORNER--  I KNEW AHEAD OF TIME

THAT-BECAUSE OF THE SPLATTER FACTOR.... IT TAKES 35 POUNDS OF KITTY LITTER PER COW, PER HOUR TO CONTAIN THE 

FLUIDS AND SEMI FLUIDS   THUS PRODUCED.  I KNOW THESE THINGS.

I HAVE LECTURED INTERNATIONALLY ON THE TOPIC OF POO COLLECTION- LAST TIME IN TORONTO, MY CO- SPEAKER

 PRESENTED A  METAL CHUNKY VOMIT PICKER. THIS WAS DECLARED NOT AS EFFICIENT AS MY  POO PICKERS BECAUSE 

ONCE USED  YOU WERE LEFT WITH A VERY DIRTY CHUNKY VOMIT PICKER.

SDP’S PICKERS WERE ALSO CITED FOR THE FACT THAT ANY ORGANIATION  COULD INVOLVE  THEIR INTERESTED PUBLIC 

 BY GETTING THEM  TO MAKE UP THE 3 X 6 CARDBOARDS OUT OF THEIR MORNING CEREAL BOXES--- 4 CARDBOARDS WITH 

A FOLDED GROCERY BAG BETWEEN THEM  SLIPS NICELY IN TO A PERSON’S BACK POCKET.                                                                                                                                       

THEY MAY PRODUCE PERSONALIED POO PICKERS BY WRITING FUNNY THINGS ON THE  CARDBOARD TO CHEER THE 

PICKERS OF POO.       SUPER POO’S  HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE A WET WIPE  BETWEEN THE CARDBOARDS TOO..

 FOR HAND OR FLOOR WIPING.  

******

 WE HAVE ENOUGH TO SHARE AT THE MOMENT...  :)

DEC 29 2017

these  donated jackets  are keeping up with the  cold really well... as you all watch the people in blue jackets-- if you are a steady volunteer here you might check  to see if we have any left that might fit you...  certainly all purple shirts are  welcome to one...  the routinen is you try on the sample over my head here in the office then get someone---  tanner or tom ( i.e. young person  with young legs)--- to get you one from our ample suppluy in the icu loft..----there was a minor zipper issue which bud resolved by simply cutting off that blue flap entirely-- ask around...

***

 in an effort to keep you up to speed on  misc. activities...  judy drove me to an appointment  for an mri  all the way down 128.. she drives well... we didn't hit a thing in either direction...  which is always my big worry in going  too far from home...

---I have had an mri before-- long ago... i forget why--but that did allow me to say , with certainty i did not have any metal  implanted in my body.. long ago at one point  i needed to go thru an awful lot of something i cant remember... to get a metal splinter out of one eye before an   mri.. as the thing is a magnet pure and simple--  magents are kind of like gravity-- not to be denied-- a piece of metal in one eye during an mri  would have removed the metal and some of the eye.. but i had gone thru all that without  putting any more metal in any part of me since..even clostrapobic as i can sometimes be... i find i can get ahead of it by shutting my eyes as soon as i get near the machine.. then they ask you what kind of music you would like to listen to just before the great machine starts thumping and banging so loud that you can not hear it anyway..- and if you are very fortunate,  the little man  on the other end of the sound system will let you swallow or cough about every 4.5 minutes...

it is amazing how it is possible to  focus all your attention  on that which is denied-- like "don't swallow"  and the joy when someone says "you may now swallow"

i bet none of you reading this ever considered the concept of the joy in being told you may now swallow...  but apply that idea  to the recipient of one of our dogs,  who was thrilled to be able to step  up a 6" curb to get into the supermarket.---.moving along to the  coach  traveler who is thrilled to be bumped to first class-- that is a second hand speculation as it  has never happended to me,  .. i think i am fortunate  to have had my fancy expectations curtailed long ago....  i do not even consider a fascination for driving a rolls royce motor car... i am thrilled each time i turn the key on my car and it starts !!!-- looking back,  is it  my fortune to have driven a collection of vw's that cost $100 each and one  ford bronco that i found in a swamp?--keep it simple stupid... a roof that doesn't leak much...a room that is heated --  indoor plumbing---a faucet that runs water... ----there are too many people who have not lived without these things  who's expectations exceed the capabilities  of mommy nature to keep up with those expectatons... you gotta watch  what you are being trained to believe..  especially if you are being trained to think you are  entitled to something.

.take it to the extreme...... like yellow flowers in the middle of your lawn must be drenched in poison.----- all these golf courses on which presidents all "play" -- i have never seen one little yellow flower.- about as rare as a skirt in the congressional photogtaphs...

things  do change ..

***** 

EVE AND FINN

We had a lovely and busy Christmas and now we are recovering and planning a New Years Eve dinner with family. Between illnesses and scheduling conflicts Eve hasn’t been to therapy in a few weeks and was back to land PT for a check up today and Swim therapy is scheduled for tomorrow! 

I’m comments I will post a video of her walking 5 mos ago and then today almost 4 mos post surgery! Not only is she clearly stronger you can see how frustrated she was 5 mos ago because it also didn’t feel good! Thank you Finn for helping her every step of the way!! 

**

Hello,

It's been a year now that I have been paired with Garnet, and I cannot imagine life without her by my side.  Garnet is one patient girl and in this past year has learned and adjusted to, the quirks of my gait.  She regularly nudges my left side to keep me from falling, and she will look up at me to make sure I got the message.  She is one well behaved dog, and she gets so many compliments every time we go out.  We also get a lot of the "I didn't know that Great Danes could be service dog's" comments, to which Garnet will give a heavy sigh and then wait patiently while I answer questions and tell them about SDP.  

Again, there are no words for the appreciation I have for SDP and all that you do.  Garnet has allowed me to move more, to be more independent, and to resume the advocacy work that I am involved with here in my home state.  Garnet is the perfect ambassador for SDP wherever we go and with whomever we meet.  She  travels with me wherever I go and no matter what the size of the plane, she curls up as small as she can and travels like a pro.  

When Garnet isn't working she loves couch time, and play time, and runs like a crazy woman all over the yard.  She is gentle and goofy and yet always checks in on me wherever I am.  So thank you, thank you.  She has improved my life in so many ways, I appreciate all of you for all the time, effort and love you put into her.

Thank you and Happy New Year!

Karen Cushnyr and Garnet

DEC 28 2017

HAVING  A GREAT AILMENT CAUSING S VERY LEAKY HEAD HHAS CAUSED ME TO WEAR A CONTAINER OF KLEENEX AROUND MY NECK.. I IS AN OFFICIAL KLEENEX PRODUCT-- "KLEENEX ON THE GO" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT...AND I ORDERED A CASE FOR  THE FUTURE-- IT IS A FAR BETTER SOLUTION THAN THE ROLL OF TOILET PAPER I HAD ON A STRING AROUND MY NECK.  THAT WAS DURING THE CIRCUS DAYS IN LYNNFIELD..TO WEAR TP IS ALSO A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR TENDING A  LITTER OF YOUNG PUPS/

 THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION IS VERY SIMILAR TO  KEEPING THE BAINDAIDS IN THE BATHROOM WHEN THE PROBABLILTY  OF CUTTING YOURSELF IS FAR HIGHER IN TEH KITCHEN OR SHOP...

AS I N RUNNING SDP --- I NEED TO  BE SURE WE HAVE THE MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH ANY SPECIFIC JOB... FOR EXAMPLE POO PICKING... I REALLLY THINK WE HAVE  AVAILABLE TO US THE BEST MEANS OF PICKING POO .- QUICK, CLEANS UP- ODOR FREE THINGS LIKE THAT...

THE NEXT- AND VERY REAL PROBLEM IS  THE AVAILABILITY OF THE SOLUTION-- HAVING CARTONS OF PPO PICKERS ON THE FRONT PORCH IS NOT HELPFUL AS TEH POO PRODUCERS ARE RARELY OUT THERE.

( I AM GOING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS...)

SO THERE IS A WHOLE PROCESS-- NURSES ARE GOOD AT THIS STUFF... KEEPING A SMALL  BUT SIGNIFICANT SUPPLY LOCALLY TO WHEREVER THE NEED IS LIKELY TO OCCUR.-- THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE ARE VERY GOOD AT THIS-  THE 8 PALLETS OF DOG FOOD IN THE SHIPPIING CONTAINER TO BE DISTRIBUTED  A FEW BAGS AT A TIME TO FEEDING STATIONS INTHE HOUSE AND BARN.. WONDERFUL.. THEN THERE IS MY PET PEEVE.... WASHCLOTHS--WONDERFUL CLEAN WASHCLOTHS -- I BET WE HAVE 1000  THOSE ARE ALWAYS UP HERE FOR ABSORBING ALL THE STUFF BORN WITH THE PUPPIES---   HOWEVER....THEY ARE ALSO PERFECT FOR  ABSORBING THE QUANTITY OF URINE PRODUCED BY  A PUPPY UNDER 1 YEAR OLD--UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE BEEN LABELED BIRTHING EQUIPMENT-- AND A FULL SIZE BATH TOWEL GETS USED TO BLOT UP 1/8 CUP OF URINE-- THESE TOWELS ARE THEN TOSSED INT HE LAUNDRY--  WEARING OUT THE LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR $900 A MONTH WATER BILL, $2500 A MONTH ELECTRIC BILL. ALL THE WAY ALONG TO  BATH TOWELS   TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE ON THE SHELVING SO THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THE WASH CLOTHS WHICH WOULD WORK JUST AS WELL...

SO WHAT IS MISSING THAT I AM NOT  ENCOURAGING???-- ALMOST EVERY PERSON HERE IS CAPABLE OF MASSIVE THOUGHT- PROBLEM IS SOOO MANY VOLUNTEERS COME HERE TO GET AWAY FROM JOBS WITH  MASSIVE THOUGHT.. THIS IS A PROBLEM... 

SO NOW..... ANNIE PARKED BY HE GUEST HOUSE-- SOMEONE BACKED TEH CAR OUT -- IT WAS THAT ICY DAY.. THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH DOWNHILL SO THEY COULD NOT PULL FORWARD-  STUCK---  THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE  ( OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION) DEALING WITH THIS STUCK CAR... 3 ON THEIR PHONES CALLING AAA ONE WENT TO GET THE TRACTOR  ( WHICH IS NOT TOTALLY SAFE TO USE ON ICE AROUND THINKS THAT DENT) --  THE TRACTOR ( THANKFULLY) WOUOLDNT RUN AND AAA WS OVERLOADED... SO THESE 4  JUST STOOD....  CELL PHONES IN HAND... THEY CALLED ME TO REPORT THE DRIVEWAY BLOCKED  WITH ANNIES CAR... SO I WENT TO THE CAMERA/COMPUTER TO  WATCH... I CALLED TEM BACK AND SAID  DON'T STAND IN FRONT.. GET BEHIND AND PUSH-

THEY EASILY PUSHED ANNIE ON HER WAY...  NOT ONE... BRIGHT PEOPLE --THOUGHT OF PUSHING INSTEAD OF CALLING SOMEONE ELSE...

TO TOTALLY UNDERSTAND..... I HAD TROUBLE USING  MY CELL( A SIMPLE FLIP PHONE) TO CALL THEM WHILE THEY STOOD THERE USING THEIR PHONES TO  FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH SNOW HAD FALLEN IN GEORGIA YESTERDAY....

A MASSIVE  GENERATIONAL DISCONNECT...

***

WE OWN A PAIR OF "GRATES"  ABOUT 24" X 10 "  WHICH YOU SHOVE UNDER A SPINNING TIRE..

THEY SHOULD HANG ON THE TREE BY THE GATE BUTTON WHERE EVERYONE GETS STUCK

 I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHERE THEY ARE.

CASE CLOSED.

DEC 27 2017

LICE--YOU KNOW HOW I HAVE FAITH IN GOLDIE AND HOW SHE ORGANIZES OUR THINKING AT TIMES.... WELLLLLL....

CHRISTMAS ALSO MEANS 12 DAYS STRAIGHT OF MYTHBUSTERS-- AND I JUST FOUND OUT 12 DAYS OF DR POL.... SO I SWITCHED TO  HIM LAST NIGHT--  AND TEH SECOND FARM CALL HE MADE WAS A VERY WEAK BEEF COW THAT NO ONE COLD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS TH E MATTER-- HE DECIDED - WHEN HE PULLED OFF CHUNKS OF HAIR--- THAT THE COW WAS LOADED WITH LICE AND  BASICALLY BEING BLED BY THE MILLIONS OF THEM...  HE MADE SOME REFERENCE TO :THE COW WAS BEING EATEN BY  THE  "INVISIBLE WOLF"--  YOU KNOW ... I HAVE HEARD OF THAT...  SO I DID A QUICK CHECK-- WHY WAS GOLDIE TELLING ME THAT???  THE NEW DONK LOOKS A LITTLE SKRUFFY-- SO FOR GOOD LUCK, I WILL GET A CAN OF POWDER TODAY - AND GIVE EVERYONE A  PUFFOR TWO --- THEN LEAVE THE REST IN THE CHICKEN COOOP...  BECAUSE THAT IS OFTEN THE  SOURCE OF  THE IDDIE BIDDIE THINGS.

DO NOT BE HORRIFIED.. LICE ARE A FACT OF LIFE AND NEED TO BE DEALT WITH  ACCORDINGLY...  WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN KINDERGARDEN, I WAS SURE MINE WERE THE ONLY ONES LICE AND WORM FREE-- BECAUSE I WORMED THEM AND USED FUNNY SHAMPOO ON THEM ONCE IN A WHILE...  CHILDREN ARE VERYT MESSY THINGS TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE- ESPECIALLY WHEN MIXED WITH OTHER ANIMALS CRAWLING AROUND THE SAME FLOOR.

I REMEMBER---I HAD A FRIEND WHO SENT HER 2 YOUNG BOYS 8 - 10 YEARS OLD- OFF TO THE SCHOOL BUS WITH A CUP OF HORSE FEED-- SHE USED TO WORK IN JAQUITH GRAIN MILL-- AND SHE SAID 'IF YOU THINK THAT IS ANY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT  YOU GET OUT OF A CEREAL BOX, YOU ARE VERY WRONG."

THAT STORY  GOES ON AND ON.....  HER HUSBAND - EVEN MORE "UNUSUAL"  WANTED TO NAME HER SON "FORD" BECAUSE HE WAS BORN IN THEIR FORD TRUCK-  THIS HAPPENED BECASUE HE WANTED TO FINISH HAYING THE FIELD BEFORE TAKING HER TO THE HOSPITAL-- THEN SINCE SHE ALREADY HAD TEH BABY, HE WANTED TO   TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO HAYING... SHE TOLD ME THAT --- AND I DO NOT - FOR ONE MINUTE- DOUBT HER.  HER SONS NOW CAN BE FOUND 80 FEET IN THE AIR CLIMBING AND TRIMMING TREES IN THE AREA NORTH OF BOSTON.  BIG STRONG GUYS...  SEEMS SHE MIGHTHAVE BEEN RIGHT ON THE CEREAL PART.

SNEEZING WILL NOW BE A GREAT PART OF MY DAY-- THANK HEAVENS FOR THE "KLEENEX ON TEH GO"..- A PACKET OF TISSUES WHICH HANGS AROUND MY NECK.

HOW SICK AM I???  I FORGOT TO EAT LUNCH OR SUPPER YESTERDAY-- FOR ME-- THAT IS A MASSIVE  ERROR...- I HAVE NO TEMP...   BUT MY EYES ARE AT HALF MAST.... AND FLOODED.

BACK TO DR POL-- I AM ASSUMING THERE IS NO OTHERE NEWS SINCE  THE OTHER "POLITITIANS  AVE GONE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY - LEAVING THE WORLD TO SPINN WITHUT THEIR HELP.

****

BELLA NEWS-- SHE IS NOW ATTACED TO 20 POUNDS OF WEIGHT TUGGING AT HER HALO  -- LET US PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE  SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 40 POUNDS... SO SHE HAS 1/2 HER WEIGHT TUGGING AT HER HEAD???  AND GEORGE IS THERE WITH HER... AND DOING ZOOMIES  ON AN ATTACHED PORCH...

CACOPHONY=  BENTLEY, SIZZLE, CHAOS SINGING AS I TYPE THE DD... ( PUPS ARE JUST LEARNING...)

dec 26 2017

I HAD A FUN LETTER FROM A KID THAT USED TO WORK IN OUR BARN IN LYNNFIELD-- NOW AN MD AGE 65ISH??? HE HAD ONE OF OUR DOGS "CUBA"  WHO HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE WITH HIM--  HE WAS SORT OF THE "TANNER" OF  THAT TIME...

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE READ JANINE'S BOOK ABOUT HTE CIRCUS AND PIG ETDC  WILL RECOGNIZE SOME TFO THE PIECES -- I MADE A COUPLE COMMENTS TO HELP....

*****  

Nice to hear from you. I have lots of memories of the days on Chestnut Street. I was 17 or 18 and "knew it all! back then. 1973-1974.  The ( RACE HORSE)  filly "Friday" we kept under your  house one winter with strangles or something, ---the dog bowls freezing in the kitchen, taking "Tony" ( RACE HORSE BORN AT THE FARM)  to the track, the yellow "MD 128"  VW Janine or Gwen and I used to deliver Want Ads ( MAGAZINE I WORKED FOR  FOR 30 YEARS OFF SITE)  in Cambridge  during a snow storm. Durability and ingenuity were learned at Hay Fever Farm. 

I also recall being given a large jar of pennies and instructed  to go to the  hog farm off Rt. 128 to see if the farmer would exchange a piglet for its weight in pennies. He did and I came home with a piglet on the floor of my little green MG car. The same car packed full of Want Ads as a joke by the kids. Janine giving Tinker ( HER PONY)  half an English muffin each morning on way to bus. We had fun. I still do and hope you do too. 

I think you should market the ropes for people. Inside bedrooms, bathrooms, near recliner and in kitchen or more...It would help prevent many falls and save many fractures in the elderly. I would do it with you if you want, but not for nonprofit...Janine could do it.

I am very lucky that I have a happy life. Single and happy. My dogs are constant companions. Shelby and Renzo still live at home. Halle is finishing nursing, Shelby is going into Dental school (Yea for her, medical practice is not doctor friendly anymore), and Renzo is a business major.  

I still have horses. Don't ride anymore. Got brittle...started breaking bones and things...that never happened before, figured it was time to stop. 

I have 2 Great Pyrenees now. They are good farm dogs and live inside. I traded slobber for hair.  The older one was Cuba's playmate for years. Shelby got the new one after we buried Cuba.  Cuba was really special. Thank you for her. We went a lot of places and had a lot of fun. Mostly in the woods and the wilderness around here.  She loved to explore and romp the woods with me. I'm glad she passed so peacefully. Yes, thank you for her.

 If I were running for office, someone would twist this around, but I really love my animals. I have 6 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats. I don't know what it says about me, but it's hard to find a person I would rather be with than my animals. Especially my dogs. I wish I could read people's minds as well as they do mine...

My Pyrenees pup of 11 months and 70 lbs of fuzz got skunked 3 days ago when lots of guests expected within 24 hrs. The Hydrogen peroxide-baking soda bath mix works. Made him a lot whiter too...

Wow, we go back a ways...I need to come visit.  

I remember a letter you wrote  when I was in  South Carolina about how uncomfortable it might be if the only thing I had to "fall back on" was a pitchfork...to get me to go to college,,,,and then how you told me that "even Hitler spared the doctors" when I couldn't decide between Vet and Med schools.  ( I SAID SOME GOOD THINGS TO HIM APPARENTLY...) 

Say "hello" to Janine...I wish we were closer, it would be fun to share old memories...

*****

ERIC IS DUE HERE ABOUT 8:30 TODAY TO WORK ON THE VIDEO...

*****

MY FYI OF THE DAY... KLEENEX GO ANYWHERE...  THEY HANG  ON A STRING AROUND my NECK - PERFECT FOR ALLERGY OR FLU SEASON !!!-(    I ALREADY ORDERED A DOZEN...)

***  

I WOKE THIS CHRISTMAS FEELING SO GRATEFUL CAUSE I HAVE THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT EVER. I HAVE MY SWEET PIXIE; SHE IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING. SHE IS MY MIRACLE MY BLESSING MY HEART MY EVERYTHING, SHE HAS GIVING ME SO MUCH TO MY LIFE BACK AND FOR THAT I NEED NOTHING MORE IN LIFE CAUSE MY WISH HAS BEEN ANSWERED. SHE HAS MADE SO MUCH POSSIBLE FOR ME TO ENJOY THAT LOST WITH MY ILLNESS WITH MY BOYS WHO MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR MY GIFT.

PIXIE MY SHINING STAR
MY ANGEL
MY ROCKSTAR
MY GIRL WITH HEART OF GOLD

THANK YOU SERVICE DOG PROJECT FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME TO REGAIN SO MUCH LIFE AND INDEPENDENCE BACK. YOUR GIFT IS FOREVER APPRECIATED AND I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
#TEAMPIXIE# 

dec 25 2017

24 hours and 3 boxes of kleenex later......i am back to nearly fighting stregnth- whata way to loose 4 pounds in one day !!    ---fortunately there was a 24 hour mythbusters show--- i do enjoy thier antics...  the usual 2 are trying to retire and there are 2 new guys--it will be difficult to  replace teh spontaneous reactions of the one guy and teh dry personality of the other...  you can see the 2  new guys trying to fake reactions-- and it just doesn't sell as well. i feel  like when johnny carson retired... however........

i think everybody slept here in the house last night because sliding down and up to the guest house was deemed too difficult...-- i know it is snowing/raining/sleeting  now  because bentley's back was shiney with beads of water.-- 

 maybe people should not park in the parking pit  today but park along the driveway..

 for pulling people out ----we have all sorts of 4 wheeled drive here- except when the car is sliding sideways , 4wd does no good --even the tractor can be a problem-- it is possibole to  slam teh bucket down and  lift the front end, and still slide sideways...

best defense  are those funny wire shoe covers-- lacking those... it is better to have teh choice of sitting  down and slide down the hill instead of falling and sliding.

there is a great picture of  a bunch of people in the snow...sliding down puppy hill on purina bags -- we couldnt do that today becasue -- no snow... just glare ice.-we couldt get up the hill on the ice...

i have been known to have the  road sand spreader come in here and fire sand all over... problem is that sand is laced with salt and  it is tough on the dogs feet-- so i  only do that when  too m any people are crawling around the yard.

thank heavens for the cameras - so i can get a vague idea of what is going on int he barn without leaving the warmth of the house...  i.e.. no baby so far...  and keep in mind 99.4% of equines foal in the wild.. all by them selves....  best we can do for jher today s to keep the door shut so she does not get any ideas about  having a baby up on an icy hill... i see no signs... she is still chewing away at the hay...

*****

standing in the cold at christmas  seems to have made an impression on janine...in the old family tradition , janine took 2 donkeys to go stand  out in the cold rain  in front of her favorite starbucks and people came by th enjoy them.. there are many pictures of people smiling-- historically, having donkeys,  made us very desireable for all religious holidays...with driving 8 donkeys  like the budweiser hitch,... add their antlers we took many santas places... like  into the ballroom of boston  hotels.-- that wsn't so bad... it was the outside jobs -- christmas parades,-- or where we stood freezing while surroundecd by donkeys who   were perfectly comfortable chewing hay-   we came to worship our snow suits-- 

it amazes me how people can realize the sweet kind nature of the  donkey  in a christmas setting, but by july make fun of them for being stubborn- when in fact they are just being careful  about where they go-  to call a person a jackass, is in my book a tremendous insult to the donkey.

****

DAY 7. BOTH AM AND PM. 

LOOKS LIKE I FORGOT MY MORNING UPDATE. BELLA HAD A GOOD NIGHT LAST NIGHT. THEY CAME TO GIVE HER MEDS AT 10 BUT SHE WAS SLEEPING SO THEY SKIPPED THE OXY AND SHE DIDN’T HAVE IT ALL NIGHT. THIS MORNING ED AND I TOOK GEORGE TO GO POTTY AND THEN TO GRAB A COFFEE AND WE RAN INTO MARISSA. SHE WAS BELLAS INFUSION NURSE FOR A YEAR WHEN WE GOT HOSPITAL INFUSIONS. SO OF COURSE AFTER BREAKFAST BELLA HAD TO GO FIND HER AND SAY HI. THEN BELLA HAS BEEN RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE HOSPITAL. SHE TIMES HERSELF TO SEE HOW FAST SHE CAN GO. THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE A TRACTION TRAILER SO SHE CAN WALK AND KEEP HER LEGS MOVING. WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THAT. WE HAD A VISITOR FROM RI COME SAY HI AND BRING BELLA AND GEORGE A COUPLE GIFTS. GEORGE HAS BEEN CHEWING HIS BONE ALL AFTERNOON! THEN WE HAD OTHER VISITORS WHO WE DIDN’T GET A PICTURE WITH BUT THE BOYS PLAYED MARIO CART WITH BELLA. SHE LOVED HAVING SOMEONE BESIDES ME TO PLAY WITH. AND THEY ARE PROS! WE WERE ABLE TO FACETIME OUR MEETING WHICH WAS PRETTY NICE AND WATCH THE LAST PART OF THE PATRIOTS GAME. TONIGHT LITTLE MISS IS HAVING SOME TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP. EVEN THOUGH WITH ALL THE LAPS SHE DID SHE SHOULD BE TIRED. SHE DID ASK FOR OXY TONIGHT SINCE HER SHOULDER IS BUGGING HER. DR. KARLIN ALSO HAD HER GET SOME X-RAYS TO SEE HOW THE WEIGHTS ARE WORKING. SO WE ARE CURIOUS TO SEE THE PROGRESS. HOPEFULLY IT IS SHOWING PROGRESS. TOMORROW WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE A GAME DAY WITH FRIENDS AS LONG AS THE WEATHER COOPERATES. I THINK THAT IS ABOUT OUR DAY. THANK YOU FOR CHECKING IN AND THE LOVE AND SUPPORT. LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE

DEC 24 2017

my eyeballs are heated-- so i am dressed in a sweatsuit...and NOBODY is  geting near me with any thermometer found in this house... so there !

i think we are all organized..the meals are confirmed to p/u at 3 from whole foods---and brittany  finally found teh vacines wheich UPS delivered yesterday...email said they were delivered... bt apparentlya new driver who didn't konw about the purple dog house delivery  place.. so left them in a plastic bag on the street which got covered with snow... but we got 'em... 

they are the C5  puppy shots for this and th next litters-they come in boxes of 25--- drsfostersmith.com-- that and teh cattle ivermectin for heartworm   ---read labels and do your own math-- a 50 cc bottle is a heck of a lot cheaper than the heartworm they sell..-- heartworm is th eonly thing not covered by teh allwormer that we get from petsmegastore in australia.

i got a call from a woman in new england who  bought a dane pup and is having trouble gettng the tummy under control-- been to the vet twice and called me because our dogs look good and healthey...no way do i want to practice vet med without a license...  but danes do have fussy guts. and we do have a routine of what we give.  and we pray alot...

tom plowed teh driveway  yeserday...? no tanner today????   i will try and get someone else to do o it tofday... or at least get it heated so i c just run it.  i am not feeling up to the challange unless absolutely necessarry...  after all ----if i leave it til spring, it will melt.

i should survive-- bunch  of nurses around here  with all sorts of suggestions.

**************

DAY 6 PM 

BELLA’S DAY WAS THANKFULLY BETTER THAN HER NIGHT. SHE HAD A FEW VISITORS AND WENT FOR A COUPLE WALKS. SHE PLAYED HER NINTENDO SWITCH WITH HER FRIEND AND PLAYED TAG WITH DAD IN THE LOBBY. NO COMPLAINTS OF PAIN TODAY. THEY KEPT HER ON THE TYLENOL AND THEY WILL DO OXY BEFORE BED. EVEN THOUGH I HOPE THAT IS COMING SOON SINCE SHE ALREADY ASKED TO LAY DOWN IN BED AND WANTS ME TO READ WITH HER. BOTH SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS TIRED. SHE DID A LOT OF RUNNING AND VISITING WITH FRIENDS AND AFTER A NIGHT OF HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING MAKES FOR A TIRED GIRLIE. SO HOPEFULLY HER MEDS WILL BE BY 8 SO SHE CAN GO TO SLEEP AND HAVE A BETTER NIGHT. SO I AM OFF TO START READING TO MY LITTLE GIRL AND GET HER READY FOR BED. WE ARE READY FOR AN EARLY NIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT. LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE

dec 2 2017

all the UFO   news overnight got me going....i've decided maybe THEY  are already here and our preconcieved notion of a being about our size with an eye in their middle of the forehead has prevented us from  considering otherwise... so i have decided "they" are miniscule and living in wheat fields where they communicate by makeing  massive intricate designs to communicate-- we humans   have tried to imitate with a couple guys, beers , boards ad ropes-- but we have never been able to produce the absolute perfection of these designs..  maybe they were here before us--  before airplanes and satallites we had no way of knowing-- now that we have satalites we have found very pequiliar designs in places other than wheat fields...since we do not understand, we just give it a shove off the intelectual shelf and go back to worrying about why our ancesters took a big leaf, rolled it up, put it in their mouth and lit fire to the other end .

Who pays the salary of thiese people..... who are wandering the world digging up strange objects which they then try and figure out what that  piece of  pottery did for someone 3000 years ago...-- or  in the case of egypt.. deciding  which pharaoh  a femur belonged to.--

i suppose  it would be possible-- if they find enough bones, to figure out the paternity  of  anyone.- wouldn't that shake  the religions.. tie that into the davinchi  code- and hollywood would have a heck of a sequel to make .

****

lotsa cut and opaste....  have at it......

******

team george

BELLA HAD ANOTHER GOOD DAY. DR. KARLIN CAME IN AND UPPED HER TO 17 LBS. HE WILL TAKE X-RAYS NEXT WEEK. BELLA HAD A GREAT TIME WITH AUNTIE TA. THEY PLAYED WITH MAKEUP, MADE SLIME, COLORED, AND JUST HAD FUN. BELLA’S FRIEND AVA CAME FOR A VISIT THIS AFTERNOON. BELLA IS OFF ALL MOTRIN AND OXY. ALL SHE HAS FOR MEDS NOW ARE TYLENOL AND VALIUM. THE ONLY REASON SHE TAKES VALIUM IS TO KEEP THE MUSCLES RELAXED SO HER SPINE CAN STRETCH. SHE WENT FOR A FEW WALKS TODAY AND EVEN BROUGHT HER FRIENDS DOWN TO THE LOBBY TO SAY GOOD BYE. GEORGE IS HANDLING EVERYTHING LIKE A CHAMP. HE GOES OUT AND FOR A WALK OR ZOOMIE A FEW TIMES A DAY OUTSIDE WHICH IS WHAT HE DOES NORMALLY AT HOME AND HE WALKS AROUND THE HOSPITAL WHEN BELLA GOES FOR WALKS. TONIGHT I CAME HOME FOR A FEW HOURS TO SLEEP. ED IS WITH BELLA. IS IT SNOWING SO I MAY HEAD IN REALLY EARLY SO ED CAN COME BACK TO HIS PLOW ROUTE. BUT A FEW HOURS IN MY BED WILL BE WONDERFUL. SO I WILL ENJOY THOSE AND LET YOU KNOW HOW HER NIGHT WENT TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!! BELLA GOT HER FIRST GIFT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME THAT CARDS AND GIFTS CAN BE SENT TO HER THERE! THANK YOU. LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE

*************

Laurie and Washer had their best training day yet today. Laurie is now baking for the holidays and Washer is napping.

A merry Christmas to all at SDP.

Thanks

***

ON OUR LAST TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, I WAS ESPECIALLY PROUD OF SEAGRAM. AFTER LIVING IN/NEAR NYC FOR 15 YEARS, I HAD NEVER BEEN TO SEE THE ROCKETTES, SO THIS SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT OUTING FOR US. SEAGRAM HANDLED THIS CHALLENGE BEAUTIFULLY, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT, GIVEN THAT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL SEATS 6000 PEOPLE!! HONESTLY, THE HUSTLE & BUSTLE OF THE AREA AROUND ROCKEFELLER CENTER & RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL HAD MADE IT SEEM UNSAFE WITH THE WALKER/CANE I USED BEFORE, BUT WITH SEAGRAM BY MY SIDE, I FELT CONFIDENT THAT WE COULD WALK ANYWHERE AROUND THERE. WE EVEN SKIPPED THE ELEVATOR & TOOK THE STAIRS TO THE LOWER LEVEL. I WAS SHAKY BUT SHE WAS PATIENT, EVEN WHEN WE HAD TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STAIRS AS PEOPLE PASSED BY. AFTERWARD, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAD BEEN WATCHING US SAID, “THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE,” AND WE STOPPED TO HAVE A PLEASANT CHAT WITH HIM. 

SO MANY PEOPLE COMMENTED ON HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS (AND WE ALWAYS RESPOND GRACIOUSLY TO TELL THEM ABOUT HOW HELPFUL & WELL-TRAINED SHE IS, SINCE THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO LISTEN). THE MOST INTERESTING COMPLEMENT CAME FROM THE MOTHER OF THE 3 PRE-TEEN GIRLS SEATED BEHIND US. AS BRIEF BACKGROUND, BEFORE THE SHOW, THE GIRLS RAN TO THE AISLE TO TAKE A GROUP SELFIE, AND ONE OF THEM SPILLED HER POPCORN ALL OVER IN THE RUSH. THEN DURING THE SHOW, AS USUAL, SEAGRAM ALTERNATED NAPPING WITH AN OCCASIONAL CHECK ON ME. AFTER THE SHOW, THE MOM COMMENTED, “LOOK AT HOW WELL-TRAINED SHE IS — SHE DIDN'T EVEN EAT ANY OF THE POPCORN ON THE FLOOR!!” AND OF COURSE, SEAGRAM WAS BY MY SIDE, ATTENTIVE AND OBSERVANT AS WE NAVIGATED OUR WAY OUT OF RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, AS MANY PEOPLE NOTICED & COMMENTED ABOUT. THIS WENT SO WELL THAT WE ALSO WALKED TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER. WHAT A WONDERFUL OUTING!! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR SUPER SEAGRAM!! 

**

WHAT A SUPER BUSY WEEK. I THINK PIXIE AND I WILL BE SO GLAD WHEN ALL THIS CRAZINESS IS OVER. WE ARE TRULY WIPED OUT. WE HAVE OUR NORMAL DAY TO DAY ADVENTURES WITH ADDED UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES BUT I HAVE CERTAINLY GOT THROUGH IT ALL WITH THE HELP FROM MY SWEET GIRL. 

TODAY SHE WAS SUCH A SUPER STAR AS WE STARTED OUT OUR DAY BEGINNING AT 5:30 THIS MORNING TO TAKE MY YOUNGEST FOR HIS MRI. SHE WAS SUCH A ROCKSTAR THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AS IT WAS A DIFFICULT DAY FOR MY LITTLE GUY.
WE THEN HAD SOME ERRANDS TO RUN AND THEN OFF TO FINISH CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
PHEW, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HOME AS THE ICE IS STARTING TO COME DOWN AND NOW TO ENJOY A GOOD CHRISTMAS MOVIE.
I KNOW ONE THING I'M SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY GIRL CAUSE I COULD NEVER DO ALL I DO TODAY WITHOUT HER HELP. SHE MAKES EACH DAY EASIER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO ALL I NEED TO DO.
PIXIE IS THE BEST GIFT I COULD HAVE EVER RECEIVED.
SHH, DON'T TELL PIXIE BUT SHE EVEN SHOPPED TODAY FOR HER PRESENTS, SUCH A GOOD SPORT SHE IS NOT TRYING TO SNIFF THEM OUT, LOL

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.

#TEAMPIXIE#

DEC 22,2017

FOOD HAS BEEN ORDERED TO SUSTAIN US OVER THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION-- AFTER LOOKING AROUND.. (AND SAMPLING- AT  WHICH I AM VERY GOOD ...)  THE  BEST WE FOUND WAS WHOLE FOODS SUPERMARKET..  SO WE HAVE COMING WHOLE MEALS    A TURKEY, A ROAST BEEF AND A VEGAN BUNCH OF STUFF.  FOR ABOUT 18 PEOPLE... WE ARE TO PICK IT ALL UP SUNDAY AFTERNOON... 3:00-- SO IT MAY BE 9 PEOPLE TIMES 2.

NOW FOR THE DETAILS.....

IT IS A HOLIDAY TRADITION....EVERYONE WHO OWNS A CAR IN BOSTON.. TAKES IT TO THE NEAREST SHOPPING MALL AND PARKS IT THERE..

THEY MUST WANT TO GET THEIR CARS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAYSO  THE POSTAL VEHICALS CAN DELIVER ALL THE STUFF THEY BOUGHT ONLINE???? 

***

THESE MALLS  TO BE READY FOR THE ONSLAUGHT   OF CARS   MAKES THE SPACE BETWEEN THE WHITE LINED PARKING SPOTS AS NARROW AS POSSIBLE.-- I BET THERE IS SOME REGULATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS REQUIRED PER STORE...  TOOK ME 3 SWINGS TO GET IN THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOT...  WHICH ALSO MEANT THAT  LEAVING THE BACK  WINDOWS  OPEN  ERASED THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER OF THE CAR ON MY RIGHT SIDE TO GET IN THE DRIVERS SEAT BEAUSE OF 2 HUGE GREAT DANE HEADS.....I DO HAVE A LABEL I WEAR WHEN I LEAVE THEM N THE CAR-- WHICH I NEVER WOULD DO IN SPRING OR SUMMER--- IF I  FAINT OR FALL I HAVE DOGS IN MY CAR - DO NOT CARRY ME AWAY WITHOUT THEM.

THE CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE IS... RIDICULOUS-- AND DARN FEW ARE SMILING AS THEY RUSH AROUND....

GOT ME THINKING....BACK  WHEN I BABYSAT FOR 20 CENTS AN HOUR  (AND CIGARETTES WERE 18 CENTS A PACK-- SO THEY HAD 2 PENNIES IN THE CELLOPHANE FOR THE VENDING MACHINES)... 1$ GOT YO A BIG SPAGETTI/MEATBALL DINNER AT "JOE'S" .. NOW I LISTEN TO THE BIG TAX BREAK FOR THE POOR, AVERAGE, OR WEALTHY-- NOW THAT $1 FOR THE POOR WOULD BE A MEAL AT  SOME FOOD PANTRY-- WHILE  TO THE WEALTHY IT WOULD MEAN A CHANGE IN THE NUMBER ON A PIECE OF PAPER...  I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.... MORE... SPCIFICALLY.. THANKS TO RICHARD'S $25K--- CHANGING HIS WILL AT LEAST ONE MORE PERSON WILL BE  MORE INDEPENDENT WITH ONE OF OUR DOGS... A TINY BIT OF INK DID SUCH A GREAT THING...

MAKES ME WONDER HOW TO ENCOURAGE  ONE OR TWO OF TEH  VERY  WEALTHY TO SPONSOR A DOG A YEAR BY PUTTING PEN TO PAPER-- LITTLE BIT OF INK CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE...

HOWEVER IN THE MEANTIME... ALL US AVERAGE SOULS ARE DOING PRETTY WELL WITH OUR CHICKEN BRICKS-- MAYBE WE EVEN MIGHT BE SHOWING THE WAY....

***

OTHER PROJETS

 DNA SAMPLING--

I AM AGAST AT THE  RECORDS WE ACTUALLY HAV E ON DOGS...  THE EMBARK OUTFIT IN BOSTON  WANTED A SAMPLE OF WHAT  RECORDS WE HAVE .. SO I SENT IN NEDS  BIRTH TO GRADUATION  RECORDS.....WE... NOT ME... HAVE DONE A HUGE JOB KEEPING DETAINS OF WHO WEIGHTED WHAT WHEN'.  JUST AFTER BIRTH , NEARLY DAILY WEIGHTS.. THEN AS WE WORMED THEM DONNA NOTED THE WEIGHTS ON THEIR MEDICAL RECORD... WELL DONE !! AND MEGAN/STEVE/OLIV HAVE REAMS OF TRAINING  PAPERWORK NOTING " HE'S DOING BETTER ON STAIRS"   ALL BECAUSE OF ADI..  SO IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE IT BE OF SOME USE TO SOMEONE..

****

AUDIT-

WHY I DIDN'T START WITH  CONTACTING THE LOCAL CHARITIES  AAND SEE WHO TEY USED AS ACCOUNTANT - ISA WONDR.. AT ANY RATE WE HAVEA BRAVE SOUL WHO WILL POSSIBLY HANDLE  THE  ENTIRE GOVT- PAPERWORK CRAP...

**

 VIDEO  I HAVE GONE AS FAR AS I CAN UNTIL I TALK TO ERIC-- WHO WAS OUT ON LOCATION YESTERDAY....

**

SO I HAVE THE DAY OFF??? MAYBE I WILL TAKE  THE DAY TO FIGURE OUT JUST WHERE MY 3 "DOWNLOAD" FOLDER ARE   --- YES-- THREE !!

**********

Carlene,

As you know and mentioned in an earlier DD, CP Jackie from Indiana lost her husband Tom last week. She and Tom have been regular visitors to the farm whereupon she always made a big batch of Indiana chili for the house and Sunday Stew. 

The email address that was included for her was incorrect (I left out one letter!) 

Here is her CORRECTED email and mailing address in case her SDP family want to send words of support.

jackiem6082@gmail.com

Jackie May

93 Capitol Drive

Avon, IN  46123

Merry Christmas.

Debbie 

DEC 21 2017

I HAVE DECIDED,  I LIKE FIREMEN-- OF BOTH SEXES... COURAGEOUS BUNCH OF BRIGHT PEOPLE SITTING AROUND WITHOUT MUCH TO DO MOST OF THE TIME... THIS GIVING THEM A  "THANK YOU  CAKE"  ON THE 19TH OF THE MONTH IS FUN FOR EVERYONE ! AND I LOVE TO HEAR STORIES... UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF YOU SEND  PICTURES WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL...

NEDS FIRST CAKE DAY... I WISH I COULD PUT PICTURES HERE.. NICE JOB-- GOOD LOOKING DOG,OWNER,FIREMAN AND KIDDO

CAKE DAYS ARE WONDERFUL FUN...

MY CAKE GOES TO GEORGETOWN  BECAUSE THE IPSWICH FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT IN  MY  "ROUNDS"  AND TOPSFIELD DOES NOT ANSWER THE DOORBELL.. I THINK IF WE HAD A FIRE PROBLEM TOPSFIELD AND GEORGETOWN WOULD BE THE FIRST TO GET HERE... LAST DAY 19TH  I WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND GEORGETOWN SAID "WE WERE AFRAID YOU FORGOT US" -- 

I REMEMBER.........  I THOUGHT THIS INTERESTING......THE NEIGHBRS-  DEB AND INGRID- WERE ON HOLIDAY AND THEIR  ALARM WENT OFF-- ALLERTING THEM AND  IPSWICH FIRE... SO THEY CALLED ME.. AND I GRABBEED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS I WENT FLYING I N MY TRUSTY RED GOLF CART -- THEY GAVE ME THE "PASSWORD" AS I POKED TEH  LITTLE BOX THING--- AND I WENT ALL THRU THE HOUSE WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN HAND... AND THEN STOOD OUTSIDE FOR  WHAT SEEMED LIKE HOURS( MAYBE 8 - 10 MINUTES) BEFORE TOPSFIELD FIRE GOT THERE  WITH BIG RED  TRUCK AND  3 FOOT LONG EXTINGUISHERS--   IT WAS AFTER THAT  THAT IPSWICH ARRIVED---AND JUST TALKED TO TOPSFIELD... BEFORE LEAVING...

THERE WAS A FIRE EPISODE HERE...  SOME OF YO U MAY HAVE HEARD IT.... BY BURNING TOO MUCH CARDBOARD IN THE FIREPLACE  THERE WAS A BANG AND LITTLE PIECES OF BURNING STUFF BLEW OUT ONTO THE ROOF -- AND IGNITED SOME OF THE  PINE NEEDLES NEXT TO THE SKYLIGHTS... I KNEW WE HAD FIRE ON THE ROOF. I COULD SEE IT.....-- CALLED IPSWICH FIRE ....AND CALLED FOR  JANINE WHO WAS IN THE GUEST HOUSE-- RELAXING IN CLOTHING THAT WAS MORE THAN A BIKINI... BUT NOT BY MUCH..   WE HAVE AN 8 FOOT YELLOW  LADDER UP STAIRS IN TH E HOUSE ON WHICH WE HANG   TOWELS-- I GOT THAT AS JANINE ARRIVED.  NOW... IT IS A VERY NICE WOODEN LADDER  BUT THE ROOF IS ABOUT 9 FEET FROM THE GROUND---- THE LADDER  IS  8'  AND THE FIRE NEXT TO THE WINDOW IS ABOUT 4" TALL AND GROWING.... JANINE IS #1 GAME TO TRY STUFF AND #2 CAPABLE--- SO I HELD THE LADDER AS PERPENDICULAR AS I COULD WHILE SHE SCRAMBLED ONTO THE ROOF... I PASSED UP THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER-- SHE  HAD PLENTY OF TRACTION TO CLIMB AROUND THE ROOF AND SPRAY FOAM ON THE FIRE SPOTS....PUTTING THEM OUT ..  THIS PUT HER HIGH ON THE ROOF  WITH ONLY A SLIPPERY FOAMY 6' PATCH OF ROOF BETWEEN HERSELF AND THE TERRIBLY WOBBLY LADDER--- WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED--  THEY CAME RUNNING  4 OF THEM  IN THEIR BIG BLACK BOOTS CARRYING ALL KINDS OF STUFF-- ONLY TO FIND THAT  THE CURRENT PROBLEM WAS TO GET  JANINE SAFELY DOWN OFF THE ROOF.

 I DID HEAR ONE OF THE MEN SAY "WHY CANT ALL CALLS BE LIKE THIS"

*****

I DON'T KNOW WHY THESE THINGS HAPPEN AT CRAZY ACRES- BUT THEY DO.

****  

TODAY.....I WISH ACCOUNTUNG  AND MAKING A VIDEO WAS AS MUCH FUN..  BECAUSE NIETHER IS.   

ERIC IS DOING A GREAT JOB  AND BETWEEN US WE WILL GET SOMETHG USEFUL DONE -- IT IS THE SAME CONFLICT IHAVE  WITH ARTISTIC WILLIAM  HUBER... AND THE  CALENDAR...  IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS AND BE ARTISTIC AT THE SAME TIME...-- SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT.  I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BREAK UP THE  VIDEO INTO USEABLE SEGMENTS-- ONE OF WHICH WIL BE PUBLIC ACCESS AND AIRPORTS. THAT WOULD BE VERY USEABLE.  

ERICA SAID SHE HAD TO  TAKE THE HARNESS OFF ASHER AND HAVE HIM WALK THRU THE SCANNER ALONE  2 WEEKS AFTER SHE GOT HIM.. AND HE BEHAVED PERFECTLY...  BINGO !!!!   PUT UP A SIGN..... NOW LET SOMEONE ARRIVE WITH A PET CHICKEN-- THAT WOULD STOP THEM.

****

Dear Carlene and all at SDP, I can't believe it's been almost a year since I received your wonderful gift of Wrinkle. My life has changed so much since she's become a part of it. We're attached at the hip, doing everything together as a team. We've been to weddings, funerals, the hospital emergency room, a Cleveland Cavaliers game and all the day to day stuff of Walmart and grocery shopping too. Through it all she's my rock star, guiding and supporting me every step of the way. Wrinkle is an amazing ambassador for SDP, everywhere we go people are astonished by her training and manners, I've given out so many poker chips!!! She impresses everyone with the tasks that she performs and actually got a round of applause after getting me up when I fell at the grocery store! She's become quite a celebrity at my son's college where I hear "Hi Wrinkle!" and the students and staff are so considerate of the No Petting/I'm Working rule. I've gotten my confidence back, I can go out in public and not worry about falling, knowing that even if I do, she's right there for me. Thank you doesn't cover all you've done for me and my family, but please know, from the bottom of my heart how much I truly appreciate your gift of Wrinkle. Have a Merry Christmas to ALL! All our love, Wrinkle and Steve. P.S. see you all at dogfest next year!

dec 20 2017

I DID GET THE " CAKE OF THE 19th" TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT- A BEAUTIFUL THING BECAUSE I HAD TO GO PAST SPINNELLI'S AFTER DROPPING "TEH CP's' at the shuttle.. which gave us  a "family size pan of eggplant parm  for supper too..  and i learned that  spinnelli's does christmass dinner too...  not only that but they deliver it the day before.. i am told...today's reasarch-- christmass dinner-- which has been donated to us... **** on the topic of food...  a bag full of soup is a new one for me...  but apparently that is how it comes  -- on that cold day last week... grace suggested i go get some  chicken corn chowder from farmer brown's----- now farmer brown's smells good from the minute you get your hands on the shopping cart and roll it over the bumpy wooden  "farm type " floor.----  because of the smells, i  assumed they were cooking there...WRONG .. FABREEZE MUST PUT OUT AN AEROSOL CALLED  HOME COOKING....--- because when i asked for a gallon of their soup theguy got  out a plastic bag and squeezed a gallon into a plastic jug-- giving me a chance to look over the "kitchen" area.. where they were broiling chickens--..  but those bags of soup..... and he fact that the soup is so consistant in all ways, i decided it must be commercially produced somewhere.. ** we have a very diverwse "community"  and i mentally went thru our list of recipients-- which did not take long because of my poor memory... and the last poerson to leave a  dog here was mindy's owner--  a family who is in the commercial  bulk food business--  so i mentioned the soup--- and last night he showed up with 4 bags of frozen soup ---chowder and  a mexican flavored one..- by moving our some of the frozen yogurt bars we were able to put them in the freezer here.  by noon today i suspect we will be CORN chowdering-- probably bycrock pot-- because to use a normal pan on oa norma stove is conducive to  unknown flying objects-- as people sweep.. and things...-- better the closed container... **** mindy was  here because she came in heat--  red type heat--- which is generally not the fertile tyime... the salmon color daubed on a piece of toilet paper ..will tell you exactly what every male dog within 7 miles will tell you... the determination of the males is inversely proportional to the amt of red  on the tiolet paper.   thumper---one of our best  cleared 2 six foot fences and pawed - and ate his way thru 1/4 inch plywood to inseminate his daughter.... i think that is the only unplanned pregnancy-- but it was a goldie moment  as thumper retired, his  son  'bumpy" took over very nicely--  bumpy got his name because he still had 2.-- to sire  4 litters  one of which included bentley. which reminds me... time to daub reese and send her home--  the real way to test that would be to ask bentley -- if he gets bitten she goes home.. problem with that wou ld be if he does not get bitten  we could have a  litter with 2 fathers...Because of the determination factor, i am not sure i could break it up ****** that is enough of that for the day.. ****  in the process of getting erica and asher   on  the train to boston, i/we met a nice guy waiting for the train--as we  3 talked, i asked if he was a veteran and why did he have crutches...  he quickly  pointed out that his other leg was in his back pack.. ( not too observant   was i?) --  made me think he might enjoy joining our "community" as he was livingin one room in beverly... right by the train ... which comes to i[swic.... and he was quick---- he has a poker chip so he might get in touch... hopefully -- have at it goldie !!   *** no recipient reports... so the ony other piece of information  whichyou mighfind interesting--- megan took walter to angel(the biggest  animal hospital in boston)  and the  vet gave her a patch and told her to use  -  Derma Medihoney Calcium Alginate Dressing with Leptospermum Honey so i ordered some--  $15.00  for a 4x5 patch-- but if it helps close thathole  it could be a cheap solution... PLEASE-----DON'T GO SENDING ME ANY-- THANK YOU... IT IS AN EXPERIMENT  AND I KNOW HOW GENEROUS YOU ALL CAN BE  -- LETS STICK TO CHICKEN BRICKS AND SEE IF THIS TEST WORKS...

DEC 19 2017

WATSON HAS GONE HOME-- A FINAL 10 MINUTES  AND ... WHO NEEDS HIM ANYMORE??? .  NOW THE HARD PART  63 DAYS AND  THEN ONE MONTH OF RAISING PUPS  AND MOM TOO WILL GO HOME TO NORMAL LIFE.. THERE IS A BROADWAY SONG ABOUT "REMEMBER IT IS HE WHO HAS THE FUN AND THEE THE BABY" --- TRUE WITH DOGS TOO I GUESS...

MOMMY NATURE- WHO WE KNOW REIGNS SUPREME, HAS 2 COUSINS CALLED GRAVITY AND CENTRIFICAL FORCE- I DON'T MEAN TO IGNORE THE HUMANS INVOLVED IN THE TRAIN ACCIDENT, BUT I AM NOT BELIEVING WHAT I AM HEARING ABOUT TRAINS..

THEY ARE EQUIPED WITH   A ? MONITOR?  WHICH CAN APPLY BRAKES IF  A PERSON'S HAND IS NOT ON THE CONTROLS FOR MORE THAN XX SECONDS...???  AND IT WAS TURNED OFF???  WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH 2 PEOPLE IN THAT TRAIN DRIVING PLACE...AS IN CO-PILOTS..  WHY SHOULD ANYONE EVEN  HAVE TO CONSIDER  A GIZMO MIGHT BE NEEDED TO  MAKE SURE THE DRIVER WAS NOT TEXTING OR SNOOZING????-- OR THAT IT WAS EVEN EQUIPT WITH AN "OFF " SWITCH IN THE FIRST PLACE???  

THEN THERE WAS TEH LOGIC OF "WE NEED TO HAVE  A FAST TRAIN BY 2017" SO THEY PASSED A WHATEVER.. AND "THEY"  PASSED FUNDING SO THAT THE RAILS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY 2015-- BUT SINCE  THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK OUT   A BUNCH OF LAW TYPES DECIDED THEY COULD ALLOW THE REPAIR TO BE PUT OFF FOR 3 YEARS TIL 2018--  WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE  POLITICALLY CORRECT START OF THE FAST TRAIN IN 2017...

 TO HEAR ABOUT  A HANGING TRAIN CAR IS ABOUT AS BAD AS HANGING CHADS...

I AM ALWAYS ENCOUGARED TO HEAR OF AN MD TYPE DOCTOR WHO IS IN CONGRESS HOPEFULLY DEALING WITH MEDICAL THINGS...  I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE LAWYERS OUTNUMBER THE SCIENTISTS-- WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES FOR THE TRAIN ACCIDENT... MOMMY NATURE'S 5TH COUSINS, TWICE REMOVED ARE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS...

 WHILE I AM AT IT..... THERE IS A BIT OF LOGIC HERE.... TO INCREASE THE TAXES  OF  "UPPER 1% OF TEH HIGH INCOME PEOPLE"   WOULD PROBABLY  GIVE THE GOVERNMENT MORE INCOME THAN TO RAISE THE  REST OF THE COUNTRY'S TAX BY  1% -

----THE HIGH INCOME PEOPLE WOULD NOT NOTICE THE "MISSING FUNDS"  BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S 1% INCREASE MIGHT MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN  EATING OR SLEEPING IN A WARM PLACE. 

**

THE ACCOUNTANT I TALKED WITH YESTERDAY MADE SOME REFERENCE TO  DONATING BEFORE  THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE NEW TAX RULES MIGHT BE IN 2018...... IT IS DEDUCTABLE NOW.

WHY SHOULD WE KNOW WHAT THE NEW TAX RULES MIGHT BE??? I HEAR THE THING IS 500 PAGES LONG -- AND DONT TELL ME ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING ON IT HAVE READ, AND THOUGHT, ABOUT ALL 500 PAGES....

***

IT WOULD BE COMICAL IF IT WAS NOT SO SERIOUS... IT IS SORT OF BRAIN SURGERY WITH A CHAIN SAW...

****

surgery for bella--  do you suppose with her addiction to star wars that her halo could be "decorated"  like R2D2??

DAY 1-TODAY HAD ITS MANY UPS AND DOWNS. IT STARTED FINE AND THEN DR KARLIN WASN’T SURE IF HE COULD MAKE THE TRACTION ATTACHMENTS WORK ON THE HALO HE HAD BEEN GIVEN. HE WAS TOSSING AROUND THE IDEA OF PUTTING IT OFF A COUPLE DAYS UNTIL IT WAS HERE BUT THEN THEY GOT THE PIECE AND WERE ABLE TO GO FORWARD. BELLA GOT INTO RECOVERY AROUND 11:30 BUT NOT INTO A ROOM UNTIL 5:30. SHE WOULD SLEEP AND THEN THROW UP. SHE COULDN’T KEEP WATER DOWN BUT THAT IS PRETTY NORMAL FOR BELLA. FOR PAIN MEDS SHE IS ONLY ON TYLENOL. SHE IS HOOKED UP TO THE TRACTION. THEY START HER AT 8 LBS OF WEIGHT AND WILL WORK UP TO 20 LBS . SO FAR SHE JUST HAS A SLIGHT HEADACHE WHICH IS NORMAL WHEN YOU HAVE 6 SCREWS PLACED IN YOUR HEAD. BUT SHE HASN’T BEEN MISERABLE IN PAIN LIKE SHE UNUSUALLY IS AFTER SURGERY. GEORGE SO FAR HANDLED THE DAY LIKE A TROOPER. WHEN THEY WHEELED BELLA AWAY TO THE OR GEORGE TRIED TO FOLLOW HER BACK. THEN WHEN I HAD HIM COME WITH ME HE KEPT LOOKING BACK FOR BELLA. ONCE WE GOT TO THE ROOM TO WAIT HE WAS FINE AND TOOK A NAP. HE SLEPT NEXT TO HER BED IN RECOVERY AND NOW HAS HIS BED ALL SET UP IN HER ROOM. SHE ASKED FOR FOOD AROUND 6:30 AND ATE A RAVIOLI. THEY SAID IF SHE KEEPS IT DOWN SHE CAN HAVE MORE AROUND 7:30 SO SHE IS PATIENTLY WAITING BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE IS STARVING! THEY DIDN’T PLACE AN IV. THEY ACCESSED HER PORT AND AS LONG AS SHE EATS AND DRINKS THEY WILL TAKE IT OUT IN THE MORNING. SO I WILL UPDATE AGAIN IN THE MORNING WITH HOW HER NIGHT WENT. DAD IS STAYING WITH HER TONIGHT AND I WILL GO HOME WITH GABI. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE LOVING SUPPORT AND ALL THE MESSAGES. THEY SURE ARE A PICK ME UP! LOVE MUCH BELLA AND GEORGE

P.S.  IT IS TEH 19TH... GET THOSE CAKES TO  YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT !!

dec 18 2017

 we have jackets  lovely blue winter jackets-- to be distributed to our employees, purple shirted volunteers, recipients  and directors--as needed...  i  i have not counted... but over 100???-- mostly larger  mens sizes--actually they are really double jackets... you zip the inner black and snap the blue..... they hang behind my head... don't take these.... they are for people to try on ... then put thier name on the card attached and i will get  them down from storage... ot tanner or tom will get them down...

tanner is here due to transortaation difficulties--- and  he is sorely bored with school-- i need some informtation on high school classees... particularly geometry- a course  i bet he could take on his own... because it logically builds on one thing after another... starting with 

between 2 points  one and only one line may be drawn.... do any of you know  about that course availability?  i was told someone had an entire k - 12 course online...  so where is it??? 

****

flightaware.com is worth a look this morning.. the bare hole around atlanta is not something you will often see...  there are times i wonder about who is in charge of the "what if" department..  from what i am hearing  they had a fire... which involved the automnatic switch to send in the back up electricity...hopefully that was not in the same building as the fire??-- at any rate it was knocked out too..  we are soooo helpless without electricity...  and the only things as bad are malfunctioning  flushing plumbing devices-- and pick up garbage service

**

 calendars are flying out of here...   i am told sandy will be in to help with them today...

***

i was flabbergasted yesterday to have 2 women arrive from ?syracuse.. a 9 hour drive...  they were here to just look around... being camera people  one's name online is "pinwheel"    they sat around with the puppies and were very happy,  then had to turn around and drive back 9 ours... i offered them a place to stay,  but the delegated driver had to go to work monday -- wow...  i am certainly pleased  to provide teh entertainment.. but that seemed an extreme  situation...

******

#1---back to the video

#2---get ready to go see a local accountant..at 11:30 who does the  local  riding for the handicapp books

**** 

watson is still  with us- and had a 10 minute tie yesterday..  his family will pick him up after work today.   

********

Clark and I finished our semester and are on “break”, though we haven’t slowed down! He is keeping me going through the busy holiday season. Last weekend, we saw a comedy show featuring Drew Lynch, a comedian who has a video blog about life with his service dog, Stella. We thoroughly enjoyed the show, and even got to meet Drew and Stella afterwards. 

That night was snowy and icy, and I was especially grateful to have Clark keeping me upright and steering me through the safest route!

This week, we have been helping out at my mom’s office and finishing up some projects at school. Last night, we went to see the Nutcracker at Cincinnati’s Music Hall. The 240 year old building had recently been renovated, so it was a special Christmas treat to get to see the beautiful renovations and the ballet. Clark slept through the whole performance, but that is what he is supposed to do. There were lots of children at the performance, and I think seeing Clark was more fascinating than the show to some of them!

Here are a few pictures. Happy holidays to everyone!

Caroline 

****

12 HOURS FROM NOW BELLA SHOULD BE COMING OUT OF SURGERY.
BELLA HAD A GREAT DAY. WE PACKED UP THIS MORNING, DID LAUNDRY, DISHES, GROCERY SHOPPING AND TRIED TO GET ORGANIZED FOR THE CRAZINESS COMING UP. THEN WE HAD OUR MEETING AT 1. WE ARE SETTING UP TO DO FACETIME SO THAT BELLA CAN STILL SEE ALL HER FRIENDS AT THE KINGDOM HALL SO THAT IS EXCITING. THEN SHE WILL ALMOST FEEL LIKE SHE IS THERE. THEN WE HAD SOME FRIENDS OVER AND WATCHED THE PATRIOTS GAME. IT WAS SCARY AND CLOSE BUT WE WON. BELLA IS NOW WATCHING MYTHBUSTERS WITH ED AND IT IS ALL ABOUT STAR WARS RIGHT UP HERE ALLEY. WE WILL BE GETTING UP AT 5:30 SO WE CAN LEAVE BY 6:30. WE WILL ARRIVE HOPEFULLY AT THE HOSPITAL BY 7:30 FOR A 9 AM SURGERY START. PUTTING THE HALO ON SHOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN SHE WILL GO TO RECOVERY, UP TO A ROOM AND TRACTION WILL START. I️ WILL TRY TO UPDATE QUICKLY WHEN SHE GOES IN AND WHEN SHE COMES OUT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT! LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE

dec 17 2017

last night's emali has to have been a record-- as i looked around there was virtually no floor uncovered by dog/human/boxes or furnature..  thank heavens i put the extra lally columns in the cellar-- 6puppies,bentley chaos sizzle, asher,ringo ( in icu  neutered)  = 11  all great danes,--- then me  ,megan#2,kathy erica steve tanner,sharan, grace ,susie , and about "12 boxes... 5 of them huge...  there was not enough sofa.s -so 2 of the dogs wandered looking for treats out of the openiing of the mail .  and we did not have a dog fight as bentley tolorated 2 other male dogs in th egroup.. well.. 2 ex males. this is being the "giving time of year"   tis more blessed to give than to recieve????- thankfully we have many camera people who can donate--- because we certainly can recieve...

as for boxes.....

my record for  number of boxes in one mail call is 59-- and that was during our "bird house" saga...  there is a poicture soewheree????  if i had that photo, i might get it in the video we are doing??? help????? 59 boxes on  my golf cart?????  can't see me????? somebody must have it.??

** 

the video-- is coming into better form while it drives me nuts...and  erica and  megan#2 went thru it to check the timine-- i am #$%^&*()_sick of watching it... ann is a good speaker and her segment can be broken up to introduce each part...  so the concept is.... to locate each segment with  the time bar... so when i get  together with eric i can say   move anne 12.34-13.07 to before  me at 4.55-- and it will make sense...-- i have it all on spread sheet..  short term memory comes in to play here.. so i needed someone to check it.   i now have 2 files  as recorded...  and then  in a dewey decimal system bit about moving pieces around...  then the next file is a bunch of still shots which can be inserted so that there is lees of my face and more interesting dog shots.

****

what i want to do... and this will involve judy's husband-- or else jack to build us a set.... i wanbt to get in the video my bit about  teh airport screening... my contention is that if there was  a sign "all service animals must walk thru the screening  alone..."  that would solve 99% of tehproblems withthe  yappy carried on pets pr the odd "service rooster" 

erica saaid when she first had asher, in the first 2 weeks, she went to get on a plane and was requested to do that...  being so new, it never occurred to her it might be a problem. so she just took off all his harness and called him thru which... being a well trained service dog he had no trouble doing...

now picture wanda in that situation... you would be chasing her thru the magazine section of the airport gift store...

 if judy's husband (  pilot for delta) can get is into the practice scanner i think we could film that  which would be a terriffic addition to the video... 

the additional consideration is.. by splitting this video into ann segments, -- who we are.. what our dogs do( show recipients) .. how they are trained..and the adi public access test with a few secondws of what is not a service dog.. eric ends the video with a very silly   section of me opening the mail while we run teh credit of all the volunteers... so it will be a great thing... on which i am gambling 10K...

eric will be  around about 12/25 to do some more filiming...  and voice over...

so we need to find  a TSA  screening  place.... JUDY???????? 

****

some bad news

Long time CP Jackie May from Indiana lost her husband, Tom May yesterday morning.  They both have visited the farm several times, Jackie more frequently than with Tom. Their last visit to the farm together came about 2 1/2 years ago when Tom had just received his diagnosis of lung cancer. Jackie is mostly remembered by Carlene for her "Indiana chili" which she made each time she came.

Here is the link to Tom's obituary. As you can see, the family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to SDP. Jackie requests that she be informed of any donations that might be made so that she can thank the donors.

http://www.weaverandrandolphfuneralhomes.com/obituary/thomas-tom-may

Her email address is jackie6082@gmail.com

Take care, 

Debbie