jan31,2014

i started this to help a few people, and play with my dogs in a tax deductable fashion.

it has gone way out of that frame...  mind you ... i love what has developed-- a bizzare group which is producing good dogs in a clubhouse  atmosphere ---with food !!

sometimes the place is a madhouse-- but look back over the past year and think what we have accomplished.. most of the time it is fun-  there have been many really good  laughs....- other times we just need  to grin and bear it.

i was warned by the ADI  person  who did our accreditation( shelia obrien  who started neads in west boylston  mass)

she said i could choose to  stay the same size-- supporting it on a sparse budget-- or we could grow- and the money would come...  lots of it.     i opted to grow... and money is more plentiful .  

what she did not tell me  was that the money comes at a price-  time--  when was the last time i had  the time to play/ train  with my dogs?  i now have 2 nearly wild frecklebutts reminding me.

there are so many intricate dealings that i end up spending nearly all my waking hours on a computer  which i am forced to try and figure out.. and i am very frustrated.  

perfect example ---

 i am trying to get the balance sheet together so i can do the 990... and i needed to subtract  expenses from  earnings    -- a simple   10 -4=6 kind of thing.. this machine does not accept a minus sign.. theresa found that she put  in a formula of positions and it worked...  S23-R17=P47 which is painful even with 2 numbers-- with a column of 20 it is impossible.  i struggled with that concept for hours trying to get  the numbers in the correct place on our existing bal sheet from the old computer.  hours into it.. a bolt of lightning-- i tried putting the negatives in (parenthesis)  ..bingo... this caused the computer to put in a minus sign which worked.

computers in general-- and this mac  specifically  -  have so many quirks like that making it tremendously powerful at some point-- but the question remains  ... What is wrong with letting the operator put in their own minus sign. ?  i wish the genius who designed these things would remember the simple folk like me who were going to need it to do simple things... and then branch out from there.....they have branches on invisible trees ..

i have computer things i must get done.... but  by the time i get done what i must do-- i am exhausted and the day is shot- making me irritable more often than acceptable . i have a red light but i don't even know where the switch is in all these wires.

i hope to organize volunteers to be puppy/house/phone   volunteers so i can get out...maria was/is  working on that ...... 

now to see if there is any left over chinese food for  breakfast...

 and

http://www.memsaic.com/app/wall.cfm?sid=0ED0CFB2AAE9D7

i did get the new chicken board up at 2am  and there are already some bricks covered !!

JAN 30,2014
DAVID 1  HAS BEEN COMING UP OUT OF THE CELLAR WITH ONE OR TWO PIECES OF 2X4'S IN HIS HAND FOR DAYS NOW...  I NEVER QUESTIONED IT OR WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH THEM--- IT ALWAYS LOOKED  LKE ABOUT THE  SAME PIECES WOOD-- IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO ASK WHY HE WAS WANDERING AROUND WITH 2X4'S--  AND THEN I WENT AND LOOKED...

LORDY WHAT A GREAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.... DOG BEDS RAISED TO 3 DIFFERENT LEVELS WITH "CATWALKS " BETWEEN ---   PLUS  RAMPS  TO THE HIGH ONES.... I WILL GET THE CAMERA OVER THERE TODAY SOMETIME-- MAYBE BEFORE  MAIL CALL-- LIKE BEFORE WE BRING THE PUPS IN-- IT IS THE ROOM WE HAVE CALLED "THE DOG DORM" WHICH HAS ACCESS TO THE BACK DECK...  OVER THE GARAGE...

AND HE DID IT ALL WITHOUT MY HELP-- WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY IT TURNED OUT SO WELL...

HE IS IN TROUBLE NOW..... 

 NOW THAT I KNOW HE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THAT ... THERE ARE NO END TO PROJECTS AROUND HERE...

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

CHIPPING.  AS IN THE LITTLE  RICE SIZE CHIPS WHICH IDENTIFY A DOG...... I SAW SOME REFERENCE IN THE ADI MATERIAL THAT ALL SERV DOGS SHOULD BE CHIPPED...  AND WE HAVE THE CHIPS AND READER..-- I THOUGHT I GAVE THAT PROJECT TO SOMEONE---- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO-- BUT WE SHOULD GET ON IT.   FIRST JOB IS TO FIND THE EQUIPMENT---- IT IS BURIED SOMEWHERE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM????

*********

SPEAKING OF THE OVERFLOW ROOM... I HAVE SOME PAPERCLIPS IN THE SHAPE OF A DOG BONE..  OF ALL THINGS TO DEFINITELY NEED..... THAT IS TODAYS PROBLEM...... WELL ONE OF THEM....

WE HAVE SOME EXTRA CALENDARS  AND SHELIA IS GOING TO RANDOMELY PULL ADDRESSES OUT OF THE CHICKEN BRICK FILE AND SEND THEM ONE.. IF THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE  THEY CAN GIVE IT AWAY..   

THEN I REALIZED  THE BIG PUSH IS TO KEEP GETTING PEOPLE ADDICTED TO THE CAMERAS TO KEEP EXPLORE INTERESTED IN OUR PROJECT...  SO I HAD "BUSINESS CARDS" PRINTED UP LEAVING OFF MY NAME--(? WHO REALLY CARES WHAT MY NAme is???)  and putting in the  WAY TO FIND THE 24/7/365 EXPLORE CAMERA INFORMATION OFF OUR WEB...

SORT OF VOLUNTEER BUSINESS CARDS..

MY NAME ON A BUSINESS CARD IS REALLY ONE OF THOSE  COMMENTS  "BLUE TOWELS WERE ON SALE AT WALMART LAST WEEK"   OF ABSOLUTELY NO CONVERSATIONAL VALUE.

ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT    MY    NAME   ... BUT MY HUSBAND'S SURNAME... BUT THAT IS A WHOLE  'NOTHER TOPIC.

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

AND THEN THERE IS THE  ACCOUNTING... IT IS GETTING THERE....  NOW TO FIND THE 990 FORM FOR THIS YEAR AND FILL IN THE BLANKS...

**********

AND CAMERA STUFF..... I NEED TO CLEAN OFF THAT POSTAL SORTING DESK-- OR WHATEVER IT IS BEHIND ME  IN CAMERA VIEW...   WE NEED TO HAVE THE  WIRELESS SOUND EQUI[PMET WITHIN EASY REACH  -- I HAVE HEARD RUMORS THAT  THE GUYS IN JON'S OFFICE CAN HEAR US..  THEY JUST HAVE NOT PASSED IT ON YET...  THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTOL THE SOUND  ALSO  BUT WE WILL HAVE PRIMARY CONTROL... IF WE UNPLUG THE MIC --- THERE IS NONE.   IF WE FORGET TO SHUT IT OFF-- THEY CAN.  PERFECT SOLUTION.--

**********

THAT IS ENOUGH PROJECT S  FOR TODAY

IF  WE HAVE A HALF WAY WARM DAY, I MIGHT GET A ROOF ON MY PACKAGE DELIVERY STATION... BUT I AM  CONVINCED NAILS DO NOT FUNCTION IN THE COLD ( ANY EXCUSE IS BETTER THAN NONE.)

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

NOW TO GO ON THE GREAT PAPERCLIP HUNT.

jan 29,2014

i have been getting my desk shoveled off..

much shifting around of dogs/pups  and getting down on paper what the plans are..

we (actually ...i...) planned to be done with the chaos/jasper litter by dec 31,2013.. and that is about how that has happened  5 service, one therapy and 2 pets

next is the pims -- looking like 8 serv dogs 2 pets  winston is in south hampton with long time my dane owners...  berry is with betsy's ( scarlott) sister .. rest  coming along nicely

then merpins 1 breeding..1 pet and 5  in  sd training 

all of those working by the next retreat???

then the scuppies-- who are lookng good at the moment  betsy gets one  lynn has blue and i have the frecklebutt twins... leaving 7 in training 

that is the year  2014   .. if they all...... that would be 20 dogs.. so see  mother nature put us slightly behind schedule by not have  a  new litter right now...-  

can't win them all

this chaotics litter would be for the start of 2015. 

*********

and then there is the accounting...    i had to get the quicken to match the bank deposits-- it was not easy... and quicken had it's own ideas.. but i battered thru  and the 2 accounts are now off by$4  which is because i did  not include the decimal.. as soon as i get it on that balance sheet i will publish it .. and do that 990fu.. 

******* 

bud 1 got the arena camera plugged in  so maybe we can solve that today ( tim .. tech...is still not out of africa ) but i will  email jon today.... in california...                                                                                                                                                                

*****

tuesday mail call celebrated the chinese new yeqr-- the year of the horse.... we are getting alot of retreat envelopes and not as many boxes.. 

they tell me i need to redo the wish list--

thanks to the chicken bricks nearly sold out, i am going to try and order a pallet of canned food-- chicken soup stuff.  we nevr seem to have enough.

****

and then there is the 2 classrooms with the kids and the decorated poo cardboards...  i lost trck  but asked theresa that we send them calendars--- and now i get an envelope with $25 asking about calendars for the group.. there are times when i miss just making a phone call.. with all the names, and email addresses  i  can not keep it straight.  somebody's name is dawn

***********

nodding off... i need more coffee

JAN 28,2014
i go thru the wall looking at the pictures-- they are all interesting... there is one that reminds me to go have an orange for bReakfase... but this time there is what looks like grannie on an electric chair on a trailer behind a motorcycle---love it !!--

nearly sold out...  thanks to you all---

*********

moving on.... in the camerA DEPARTMENT... GOT ANOTHER BOX FROM TIM WITH THE PIECES TO GET THE ARENA CAMERA GOING... WHICH I PLAN TO DO TODAY.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS WONDERFUL HEAT IN THE FEED ROOM AND KENNEL

********

WHAT DIFFERENCE HAVE THE CAMERAS  MADE??

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS... WELL JUST A FEW OF THEM...

CONFIDENCE TO BREED 6 LITTERS LAST YEAR..AND DONATE DOGS TO 28 PEOPLE.

 THE BIGGEST INVISIBLE IS 2 MAMOUTH DRYWELLS  TO COPE WITH THE HUGE LAUNDRY PROJECT.  MORE PUPS.. MORE LAUNDRY...-- THAT WAS NEARLY A HEALTH PROBLEM OF SOAPY WATER SOMETIMES IN THE PARKING LOT.  IN MY HALF VAST KNOWLEDGE... I KNOW A DRY WELL WHEN I SEE ONE..... THESE ARE HUGE.  AND  COST ABOUT 40K

2 COMMERCIAL WASHERS AND EVENTUALLY 2 COMMERCIAL DRYERS--- BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILLTO DRY BY MACHINE---I CAN TAKE DOWN THE SCAFFOLDING WHICH WAS OUR DRYING RACK FOR YEARS.

SELF STARTING GENERATOR TO KEEP THE BARN  LIVABLE IN THE EVENT OF POWER OUTAGE

 A  PROPER FURNACE..

AND -- THE TRACTOR WITH IT'S HEATED CAB-- NO MORE WEARING DIAPERS  ON MY HEAD IN BLIZZARDS

CONCRETE WHERE WE NEED CONCRETE---AND PLUMBING SO WE CAN HOSE WHERE WE NEED HOSING ( WHICH RUNS INTO OUR 40K DRYWELLS TOO)  WE SMELL BETTER  

JUST FOR  FUN....  CALCULATE ----2  HUGE HORSES, A MEDIUM DONKEY AND A SMALL ONE  THEN 50 OR SO DOGS AND ANOTHER 10 OR SO PEOPLE DAILY  FIGURE OUT THE VOLUME OF URINE PRODUCED BY ALL THOSE KIDNEYS.-- SOMETIMES NATURE NEEDS A HAND IN MANAGING ALL THAT FLUID...  WE NOW CAN DO THAT.

**** I REMEMBER  -- HERE WE GO--- 

I HAD TO HAVE A DRAFT HORSE  AND MINI DONKEY  ON STAGE AT THE EMERSON? THEATER IN BOSTON---  FIRST PROBLEM... I MANAGED TO GET 3 PARKING  TICKETS BECAUSE OF THE LEGNTH OF THE TRAILER--- SECOND PROBLEM.. BEFORE THE SHOW I SET UP A FRIEND-- LINDA-- ON ONE SIDE OF THE STAGE WITH THE DRAFT HORSE-DUKE  - WONDERFUL BLACK HORSE-- WAS ONCE THE LEAD TEAM FOR WALT DISNEY-- PROBABLY 2000 POUNDS  ( I CHECKED THE FLOORING)  ---RETIRED...  I LEFT ALL OUR STUFF ON HER SIDE AND WENT ROUND TO THE OTHER WITH THE DONKEY.. ALL WENT WELL-- THEN INTO THE SECOND ACT -- THERE WAS A FLURY OF ACTIVITY AROUND DUKE-- I COULD SEE ONLY THE FRONT HALF--- TURNS OUT...  DUKE HAD TO PEE  AND THE ONLY THING WITHIN LINDA'S REACH WAS MY NEW LL BEAN  DOWN JACKET...

I KNOW LLBEAN TAKES RETURNS FOR ANY REASON-- BUT I WOULD NOT ABUSE THAT -- EVEN THO I THOUGHT  SOMEONE AT LLBEAN MIGHT HAVE HAD A GOOD LAUGH OVER THE PROBLEM..  THAT JACKET HUNG OUTSIDE FOR 2 MONTHS-- AND I EVENTUALLY WORE IT ALL THE TIME.

*********

THEN THE FUN FUND

THE FLAG IS A GOOD ADDITION..IT LOOKS GREAT ON AND OFF CAMERA..

THE TIPI

REFRIG AND STOVE FOR THE T TENT...

AND SO  MANY LITTLE THINGS...

**********

THOSE $1 FUN FUND DONATIONS DO ADD UP.

********

SPEAKING OF THAT...

THE REGULAR WHITE ENVELOPES CONTAINING  THE POO PICKING CARDBOARD SOMETIMES GET  CHEWED UP IN THE POSTAL MACHINERY---  PLEASE DON'T PUT ANYTHING OF GREAT VALUE IN THOSE ENVELOPES-- A COUPLE PIECES OF CARDBOARD WITH THE RETREAT COUPLE DOLLARS SEEMS TO WORK OK... BUT DON'T INCLUDE ANY CHECKS IN THOSE INEXPENSIVE  ENVELOPES...  THEY GET MANGLED.

******

TIME TO DRINK THE COFFEE

JAN 27,2014
 IN SOME CASES PERFECTION IS AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE... I JUST MADE THAT UP.. I THINK

----AND IMMEDIATELY FORGOT WHY.   BUT I HAD A GOOD REASON I AM SURE.

COULD BE IT IS THE ACCOUNTING-- I HAVE AN $84 ERROR OVER THE 500K  WHCH DOES NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH- BUT BEFORE ALL OF YOU MATH NUTS DECEND ON ME--- I KNOW THE 84 CAN EVENTULLY POINT TO   A $34687 ERROR...  BUT TO SOME DEGREE SOME COULD ALSO BE THAT I JUST IGNORED THE PENNIES  ON AN AWFUL LOT OF TRANSACTIONS.  I WILL GET AT IT AGAIN....  QUICKEN IS NOT HELPING-- IT IS GIVING ME 2 DIFFERENT TOTALS FOR THE SAME BUNCH OF NUMBERS--  IT MUST HAVE A REASON-- WHICH IS NOT MY REASONING.

BACK 100 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS INTO PROGRAMMING  I COULD EASILY MAKE A COMPUTER SAY 2+2 =8.. 

COMPUTERS SIMPLY DID WHAT YOU TOLD THEM TO. DO..

NOW COMPUTERS DO WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS DECIDED YOU NEED TO KNOW.. LIKE THE WEATHER IN Fairbanks ALASKA-- LAST THURSDAY   ---ALONG WITH BLUE TOWELS BEING ON SALE AT WALMART.

***********

ARENA CAMERA IS NAILED TO THE WALL--- AND THE HOUSE CAMERA IS TIED TO THE RAFTERS...

THERE IN LIES A TAIL---  SITTING HERE I DECIDED I NEEDED A BIG S  HOOK TO PUT OVER THE RAFTERS WHEN WE MOVE THE CAMERA TO KEEP IT FROM FALLLING... FINALLY I GOT TO THE SHED--- IN MY HEATED TRACTOR---- AND PICKED UP  A 1/4 INCH ROD AND THE PIPE BENDER... DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE... AND THERE OVER THE SPLIT RAIL FENCE WAS  A PERFECTLY BENT PIECE OF IRON  HOOKED OVR THE  FENCE.....WHICH HAD BEEN THERE ---? 18 YEARS?    I LAST USED IT TO HOLD SOME SPLIT  6" PIECE OF PVC PIPE WHICH I USED AS A FEEDER FOR A BUNCH OF MINI DONKEYS.   I HAVE NOT HAD THOSE FOR A WHILE....

GOOD THING NO ONE CLEANED UP AND THREW IT OUT... THE 1/4 ROD I HAVE IS STAINLESS-- AND I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD BEND IT EASILY... OR AT ALL...

******

SPEAKING OF TIDYING UP....PAUL IS STILL ON VACATION...   WE  MISS HIM...

*****

AS AN ORGANIZATION WE HAVE WORKED OUR WAY INTO  LITTLE NOOKS  AND EACH  VOLUNTEER HAS SOME LITTLE JOB THEY ALWAYS DO--- AND NO ONE NOTICES UNTIL THEY AREN'T HERE... 

********

I HAD A PHONE CALL YESTERDAY FROM AN OLD FRIEND..."JOHN"---  MORE FRIEND THAN OLD...  BUT HE CALLED TO  "CALL IN A DEBT"    HE BOUGHT A PUP FROM ME-- LONG AGO-- FOR $500-- AND THEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASON S  HE COULD NOT KEEP IT-- SO I DID--- AND NEVER GAVE HIM BACK THE $500.

THAT WAS THUMPER---  A SUPER DOG-- FATHERED MANY PUPS FOR US--- SO JOHN SAID HE WOULD BE OVER TODAY  TO COLLECT ON THE $500.. IT WILL BE FUN... HE IS ONE LIVE WIRE...

"COLORFUL"  WOULD CERTAINLY APPLY...  COLORFUL PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE  AN INTERESTING RUN -IN  WITH THE WORLD IN GENERAL---  I AM SURE HE HAS SOME TALES TO TELL....  COFFEE IS ON...

********

BOO HAS AN EAR DOWN... DARN IT GOT TO DEAL WITH THAT AGAIN...  I HOPE MY NEW  PURPLE HARNESS FOR THE FRECKLEBUTT TWINS WILL BE HERE TODAY

*******

BRIAN( CRANNEY) WAS HERE  SUNDAY   AND HAS THE  PLUMBING CONSTRUCTION IN THE LAUNDRY BUILDING ALL FIGURED OUT IN HIS HEAD...... FINE-- GO WITH IT.  I WILL WATCH FROM THE FIREPLACE...

***********

TIME TO TACKLE THE APPLICATION FILE... AND TRY AND MATCH  WHAT WE HAVE  WITH LOGICAL PEOPLE.  THIS IS NEVER A  LINE OF PEOPLE IN ORDER...  THE QUEUE IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE ORDER...  CAN'T BE..

JAN 26, 2014
since i have not yet had breakfast this may be shorter than usual---my concept of roasting somethig  large on saturday afternoon means today there is roast pork calling me FOR BREAKFAST...

****

i have had my second battle  today with this fool machine   i needed a letter printed- it said teh ink was low... and it would not even try..nor would it try in red ink .  

and then i was extremely foolish to assume i could add an album to my songs on this machine..couldnt sign into itunes because i could not remember my first chldhood book... which i never typed in before as it is a question  i could not answer anyway..  i got  past that---paypal then needed a new card because i have never bought anything at itunes... etc--

back out .. all the passwords all over again----  i think i finally push the buy button and  if it sent it to  me i do not know where...

i quit

and i am not happy 

so what else is new?

******

next 

challange of the day is to get the arena camera up and running..  the house camera is LOVELY AND SHARP.... THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF CALIFORNIA ND AFRICA...

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

AND  NEXT

DESIGN THE NEXT PROJECT FOR THE CRANNEY ORGANIZATION TO SOLVE...

THEY ARE MANNA FROM HEAVEN.... BECAUSE THEY HAVE IN THEIR "STABLE"  ALL KIDS OF DIFFERENT SKILLED HELP--- CAN FIX ANY HOUSEHOLD PROBLEM--- OR KENNEL PROBLEM TOO.

***********

I AN NOT LEAVING THIS HOUSE TIL THE  TRACTOR IS WARMED UP-- I AM SPOILED ROTTEN WITH THE HEATED CAB...

*** 

AND

 I AM SPOILLED WITH  THE KILN DRIED FIREWOOD..  WE RAN OUT OF THE BUD 1 SPLIT FIREWOOD- SO I HAD TO ORDER... 2 CORDS-- I HAD A CHOICE OF KILN DRIED TO SOME MAGIC % OF MOISTURE... OR AIR DRIED FOR 6- 9 MONTHS...( LESS EXPENSIVE)  --  

DIAMONDS MAY BE SOME GIRLS BEST FRIEND... BUT GOOD FIREWOOD IS THIS GIRLS BEST FRIEND.... SO I SPLURGED-- AND GLAD I DID.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HAD KILN DRIED FIREWOOD..  --   THERE  IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE-- SO FOR THE $40 DIFFERENCE PER CORD... I WOULD SAY GO FOR IT..

 I CERTAINLY WILL DO SO AGAIN IF I HAVE THE CHOICE.

*********

 WITH SOOOO MANY NEW PEOPLE, I HOPE YOU ALL WILL HELP THEM FIND THE CHICKEN BRICKS... WE HAVE OONE WEEK TO GO TIL THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH...  WHICH WILL BE A "SHATUPON  SELECTION DAY"

********

AND BENTLEY'S "TIME OF TH E  MILE"  HAS BEEN  27 MINUTES, 22 MINUTES ,  AND 18 MINUTES...

SO ADD 63 DAYS AND STIR.

JAN 25,2014
WE HAVE THE NEW CAMERA--- JUST LIKE THE OLD--- NOW PLUGGED IN... AND WAITING FOR HELP FROM EXPLORE... TIM IS IN AFRICA  AND JON IS IN CALIFORNIA..  I AM HOPING TO HEAR FROM AFRICA-- BECAUSE I THINK  IT IS DAY THERE - I KNOW CALIF IS TOO EARLY SO AFRICA MUST BE OK..... SUCH PROBLEMS

 THE OLD CAMERA IS IN THE BOX WAITING TO BE SENT TO SONY FOR A NEW LENS...

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

THE HEAT IN THE BARN IS  WONDERFUL--  

WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT--- LONG AGO OUR FIRST VOLUNTEERS WERE a lic plumber ( paUL)  AND A LIC ELECTRITIAN( BUD 1) NOW THAT WE HAVE GROWN, WE HAVE INHERITED SHELIA WITH HER COMPLETE  CRANNEY HOME REPAIR COMPANY...  AND HER HUSBAND.. BRIAN. 

EVERYTHING HERE  MAY BE WORKING... BUT ..."NEEDS ATTENTION"-- WITH THE NEW SELF START GENERATOR AND NOW A NEW GAS FURNACE, WE HAVE ENTERED THE ADULT WORLD OF NO GERRY RIGGING--- 

.....OR AT LEAST LESS OF IT-- WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO- THE IMPROVEMENTS IN  THE PAST YEAR  THANKS MOSTLY TO EXPLORE'S GRANT AND THE CAMERA PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CHICKEN BRICK SUPPORT.

**********

GRACE PULLED US THRU LAST NIGHT.... THE BARKING WAS CONSTANT-- I GOT TO TIMING IT.. 3 BARKS EVERY 5 SEC,,,  NON STOP FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.. SHE WENT OUT AND BROUGHT IN  THE MAIN BARKER - PUT HER ON THE DECK--- AND IT CONTINUED-- SO SHE WENT OUT TO THE NUTT HOUSE AGAIN-- AND FIGURED OUT THERE WAS ONE DOG WHO WOULD NOT CLIMB THE STEPS INTO THE LOFT/BED  AND HAD NO WHERE TO SLEEP... GRACE PUT DOWN ALOT OF FLUFFIES AND ALL WS QUIET

I THOUGHT WWE  DID NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF SITUATION... SO WE NOW-- TODAY SHOULD WALK AROUND AND BE SURE EACH DOG HAS AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION,IN ADDITION TO THE LOFT..... IF THER EARE 2 DOGS AND ONE DECIDES TO BE DOMINANT, CAN THE OTHER DOG STILL GET IN OUT OF THE COLD?

IT IS TRICKY--- WE NEED TO DESIGN SO THAT IF THE DOMINANT DOG BLOCKS THE DOOR, THEN HE TOO IS UNCOMFORTABLE  AND WOULD THEN CHOOSE TO GET IN BED-- AT WHICH TIME THE SECOND DOG CAN AT LEAST HAVE A FLUFFY ON THE FLOOR-- OR KURANDA  OR SOMETHING  WHCH CAN NOT BE COMFORTABLY BLOCKED BY DOMINANT.

********

ANNE HAS COMPLETED THE INFO FOR MARK TO FINISH THE EXPLORE " PHOTO BOOK". 

*****

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF LETTER WRITING TO DO...

THE ACCOUNTING IS COMING ALONG  -- WE NEED TO HAVE BANK STATEMENTS  THAT EQUAL THE QUICKEN REPORTS ---- CURRENTLY ABOUT $83,000 DIFFERENCE ---- ALL IT TAKES IS ONE OT TWO ERRORS TO MAKE THT HAPPEN...  LIKE  THE $7.00 ERROR  THAT TURNS $8203.00 INTO $82037.00   YOU ONLY NEED ONE OR TWO OF THOSE TO REALLY FOUL UP THE BOOKEEPING... SO I AM ON THAT...

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

WE NEED ONE FULL DAY PERSON FOR SAT OR SUNDAY  7-7  KELLY CAN'T DO IT.. STEVE DOES ONE BUT CN'T DO BOTH...  ?ANY TAKERS?

I ALSO HAD A CALL FROM SOMEONE IN FALL RIVER ABOUT A DOG PERSON WITH A PERFECTLY BEHAVED CHIHUAHUA -- I WAS HOPING  SHE WOUL D SHOW UP HERE  IN THE  NEXT WEEEK OR SO.

MOVING ALONG...

JAN 24,2014

30 DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER WHICH MEANS JAN UARY HAS 31---SOOOOO TODAY -- THE 24TH MEANS WE HAVE 621 BRICKS TO SELL IN THE NEXT WEEK...

COME ON....YOU ALL CAN DO IT.

IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE GIFT FROM ME TO THE WINNER....ALL OWNERS OF THE NUMBERS INVOLVED IN THE SHAT RECEIVE MEMBERSHIP IN THE 

SHATUPON SOCIETY OF IPSWICH

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THE  SOPHISTICATED JUDGING THAT GOES ON TO DETERMINE THE  PRIMARY SHATTED  UPON NUMBER...

IN PREPARATION WE LINE UP 4 OF THE 3 OZ PAPER CUPS--- THEN WITH A VERY DELICATE BALANCE SCALE WE FILL THE  CUPS WITH TOILET PAPER TIL THEY ARE ALL IDENTICAL - BY BALANCE--  

IF THE HEN SHOULD SHAT IN THE CORNER OF A SQUARE WE WOULD NEED ALL 4..... IF TEH HEN HITS A LINE, WE THEN TAKE PUTTY KNIVES  AND DIVIDE THE PRODUCE ALONG THE LINES-- THEN MOP WITH THE TOILET PAPER SO EVERY DROP IS INCLUDED IN THE WEIGH OUT... EVEN WIPING THE PUTTY  KNIFE ....  .

A FEW TIMES IT HAS BEEN CLOSE.

THE ENTIRE CROWD SUPERVISES  THE DECISION...

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

ON ANOTHER TOPIC...

I HAVE HAD A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PRINT BEING TOO SMALL..  I  AM NOT SURE WHY-IT LOOKS BIG ENOUGH WHEN I TYPE- SO I WILL TRY THIS...

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

BETWEEN THE APPLE /MAC----THE    HP PRINTER -- THE NEW QUICKEN  PROGRAM..  THIS  PROMISES TO BE A DIFFICULT TIME TIL I GET THE "BOOKS" READY TO DO THE  NEW 990--  WE USED TO DO THE 990 EZ--- BUT SINCE THE CAMERA CROWD.. WE NOW HAVE TO DO THE 990FU-- ( MY NAME FOR IT) AND FURTHERMORE TWO OF THE ACCOUNTING FIRMS I HAVE TALKED TO THAT CAN DO A 501 C 3 CHARITY AUDIT.... WANT AN INCREDIBLE AMT OF MONEY TO DO THE   AUDIT-- WHICH IN OUR CASE IS NOT  A COMPLICATED DEAL... PEOPLE SEND US DONATIONS, WE PUT IT IN THE BANK, AND WE SPEND IT.  CASE CLOSED...  NO LOANS.. NO LONG TERM OBLIGATIONS... NO NUTTIN.

SIMPLE QUICKEN REPORT.

*****

EXCEPT THE 990 HAS MANY QUESTIONS .. MY FAVORITE... ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER RUN A TANNING SALON??? DON'T LAUGH... I THINK IT IS QUESTION 14 ON ONE OF THOSE 990 SECTIONS.

******

THE BIGGEST PART OF THE 990 HAS BEEN THE PUBLIC SUPPORT SECTION.. IT HAS TO BE OVER 33% OF PUBLIC SUPPORT  ( WITHIN 5 YEARS?)TO  CONTINUE TO BE  A 501 C 3.. CHARITY 

FIRST COUPLE YEARS IT WAS ME... AND I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING ABOVE THAT 33% 

NOW I AM HAPPY TO REPORT -- LAST YEAR  2012 WE WERE 67%

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MATH TYPES... IT GOES LIKE THIS ( I THINK)

TAKE YOUR TOTAL INCOME  TIMES 2%   THEN COLLECT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONATED MORE THAN THAT NUMBER-- 

THEN ADD UP ALL THEIR DONATIONS  AND SUBTRACT FROM YOUR TOTAL INCOME

THAT GIVE YOU THE "PUBLIC SUPPORT"  INCOME  

THEN DETERMINE WHAT % THAT IS OF THE WHOLE INCOME...  AND THAT IS  YOUR MAJIC PERCENT...

PURPOSE OF THAT IS SO THE IRS CAN DETERMINE IF YOU ARE  EALLY INVOLVED WITH THE PUBLIC-- OR ARE Y OU JUST TRYING TO DEDUCT A HOBBY WITH A FEW OF YOUR FRIENDS.  

AND THE Y  DO ASK JUST WHO  DID YOU BENEFIT??

IT DOES MAKE SENSE.

****

NEXT TIME THE CAMERA GOES OFF HAVE A LOOK AT THE 990 SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING THRU...

*******

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY GOLDEN  OUR OVERHEAD IS MINIMAL.  

**********

AND I AM HOPING FEDEX BRINGS ME A BUNCH OF NEW CAMERA EQIUPMENT  -- IN THEORY WE SHOULD GET THE SOUND GOING IN THIS GO ROUND.

HOW IS THAT FOR PRINT?????

jan 23 2014
big news from explore   ...

Equipment is on the way to replace the indoor cam and get the Arena camera going.  Let me know when you receive them and I'll get things setup on my end.

Best,

Tim

***********

 that will be the next fun project

****

well-- apparently the furnace in  the barn/kennel is nearing completion-- now that will be another huge worry off my platter... with the automatic starting  generator  and a proper furnace we can relax a tiny bit.

***** 

the beautiful heated cab-tractor carries laundry and trash hither and  yon

so life is beautiful- thanks to all the people and donations-- our life is easier so hopefully we can make some other people's life easier...- and apparently we have a couple dogs moving toward graduation-- now is the time for us to sit with the applicant file and see if we can figure out who would be best served by  the dogs  now in line..

i know we have 2 challenges to meet-- a  tall large veteran and a tiny girl  ..  i am told we have an applicant weighing 47 pounds...- she will need an opal size dog.  she beats jocelyn ...aka 57... because she weighs 57 pounds....

--

now for the reproductive report...  

if it was to be about yellow-- there would be no report..-- i do not understand-- never seen this-- noel is very cooperative...and he gets up on the couch to look at what is going on in the yard...

we will give him one more chance today to be sole father of noel's litter... but bentley and noel's last 3 were perfectly good...i can not take any chance on yellow... so --- here we go again---- we will breed bentley and noel--- and still give yellow the opportunity to figure it out... so we may have 2 fathers with one litter...

most akc breeders would be groaning by now-- and telling me how i am very bad-- and i should not do this--how will i know who the father is for the akc papers?   well i don't register them -- which is another fact that makes our operation different than the usual akc breeder....  i have enough papers to go back and register all the parents/grandparents/ and great grandparents-- ll it would take is about a week's effort and a bunch of money for late fees...  which woudl get us no where... except we would have a piece of paper saying  the pup is a great dane.  

so just look-- and save the money

plus i should remind everyone we do not sell dogs/pups   they are either donated to people who need a service dog-- or given to  a volunteer as a fabulous failure---  if i could find  the short heavier boned  dane in the general population of rescue dogs-- we could try those... but we have gone that route and had only one success out of 7 rescues..  that is why we breed our own

  bentley and yellow are both nearly perfect dogs... for our purposes  ---they are brothers--- and the offspring last time  magnus.. moriah.. and murphy are solid no  nonsense dogs... 

 

the other facet is that we will not know if yellow finally connects... because we are tired of watching--- and once we have bred to bentley to assure pups, it really doesn't matter if yellow  connects or not.  it will make for an interesting guessing game--if bentley is true to form i would bet no longer than 30 seconds for him to achieve a "tie" as it is called in polite society.---- behind the scenes it is called a danm peculiar episode.  i do not know what mommy nature  had in mind when she designed this performance.

on we go..

********

it is 4 degrees outside -- of course---i can not tell you how many times i bless the furnaces that keep us warm...  but true to form  i worry... so they-- the normal world-- are delivering 2 cords of wood today ... just in case....

the fireplace is lovely and charming... but the wood stove in the kitchen is even more charming if we need it--  we can make  coffee on the wood stove.

clearing off the top of it may be another set of problems-- but knowing it is there is reassuring.

i like warm-- and the older i get the more i like it.

**********

mail call yesterday was unusual-- the mail which is usually  delivered at 2:30  came  after 5pm...  i guess the pony threw a shoe..

******** 

the critical part is getting to be---  there are some very inexpensive envelopes being sold-- that do not survive the mechanical processing of the mail--  yesterday alone we had one envelope which was just the front-- the entire back and contents were gone.  the postal dept carefully delivered it in a plastic sleeve.  there was a second one with the end torn off and contents exposed...

with all these envelopes containing the one dollar for th e retreat raffle  you should get a better envelope-- the ones  not making the trip are very light weight...

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

and things like that.

JAN 22 2014

I WANT TO GET OUT AND PLOW BEFORE EVERYONY TRACKS IT DOWN TO PURE ICE..... THE STORM HERE WAS A BIT OF A FIZZLE  MAYBE 3-4 INCHES.. IF I WAS PAYING SOMEONE TO PLOW, I WOULDN'T.. BUT SITTING IN A HEATED TRACTOR WITH A CUP OF COFFEE WANDERING AROUND IN THE EARLY MORNING   IS NOT A BAD THING...

jan 21, 2014

SOMETIMES BEING WRONG IS JUST BEING INTELLECTUALLY LAZY...  

THE ONLY EXAMPLE I CAN TALK ABOUT AT THE MOMENT IS...  ME...  I NEEDED A PURPLE SHIRT TODAY-( I AM TO SPEAK AT SOME LUNCH ND THE PURPLE SHIRT IS A WAY OUT OF DRESSING FANCY) -- I  COULD NOT FIND IT --   I KNOW I DID HAVE ONE---GAVE A BRIEF LOOK AROUND AND QUICKLY DECIDED MY DAUGHTER -- WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS-- MUST HAVE BEEN DOING HER LAUNDRY HERE AGAIN AND WE NEEDED TO  GO THRU ONE OF THOSE "GREAT LAUNDRY SWAP" SITUATIONS... 

 JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO GO UPSTAIRS AND GET 2ND  PURPLE SHIRT, I HAPPENED TO SEE A GLIMSE OF PURPLE IN THE CLOSET WHERE I HAD NOT HUNG THE SHIRT ON THE HANGER CORRECTLY  AND IT DANGLED... LIKE A PARTICIPLE.

IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER TO BLAME HER THAN TO LOOK FOR OTHER POSSIBILITIES..  

I CAN HEAR HER NOW..... "SHE ALWAYS DOES THAT"

YES-- BUT AT LEAST I REALIZE IT.

****

FOR THE HUMOR IN DAILY LIFE SECTION.

......IT IS IN THAT  LOGICAL VEIN..... I AM ON ANOTHER KICK.....WHEN ASKED A  QUESTION, WHY DO ALOT OF PEOPLE  RETURN SOME QUESTION...   THERE WAS SOME RUMOR LONG AGO THAT PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY DID THAT REGULARLY...

 IF YOU  ASKED SOMEONE    "WHICH WAY TO THE 7/11 STORE? "  IN NJ  YOU WOULD GET :"  WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO THERE.?" 

OR  "DID YOU TAKE THE LAUNDRY OUT OF THE DRYER?" WOULD GET THE RESPONSE  "WHY, IS IT RAINING?" 

 I THINK THE JERRY SEINFIELD SHOW DID 1/2 HOUR ON THAT CONCEPT... SOME RESPONSES ARE VERY FUNNY I

BUT IT DOES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME

...  SO MY KICK OF LATE IS --- ANSWER THE QUESTION... .

***********

LUNCH TODAY--- --- THE KAIWANIS/ROTARY CLUB  ASKED ME TO SPEAK-- AND SAID THEY WOULD BUY MY LUNCH-- BUT ANYONE WITH ME WOULD HAVE TO BUY THIER OWN... -- I NO LONGER GO TO THESE THINGS ALONE--IT BEING TUESDAY IT IS 

SHELIA DAY TO VOLUNTEER... SO SHE WILL HAVE TO BUY HER OWN LUNCH... 

WE WILL PROBABLY TAKE BENTLEY--  WHO IS A BIT ON THE BIAS BECAUSE OF THE GIRLS IN HEAT-- SO WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH HIM CLOSELY...  OPAL IS TOO GOOFY... BAILEY IS GETTING UP THERE...  SO I AM A LITTLE SHORT ON TRAINED DOGS...

GOT TO WORK ON THE FRECKLE BUTT SISTERS--- 

i DID NOT HOOK THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE ONE OF THE HARNESS WAS REALLY TOO TIGHT  FOR THAT NONSENSE...    I USED TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF 2 OF EVERY SIZE--   BUT WE ARE DOWN TO ONE SIZE 3..

 SO I ORDERED A PURPLE PAIR  --  AS A HORSE HALTER--- THEY ARE NOT EXPENSIVE  ---$11 EACH.  I DO HAVE A DOG CART I NEVER GOT BOBBY TO PULL...  

 A DOG WILL PANIC AND RUN  WHEN SOMETHING DRAGS BEHIND THEM-- AND GETTING THEM OVER THE INITIAL SHOCK OF HAVING SOMETHING BEHIND THEM TAKES A FEW WILD SESSIONS..  BUT  DOGS WILL GET USED TO IT.

 HORSES NEVER GET OVER IT--- IT IS WHY YOU WILL NOT SEE HORSES BEING DRIVEN WITHOUT BLINDERS TO HIDE THE FACT THAT A CARRIAGE IS FOLLOWING THEM...MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY TRYING TO DRIVE A HORSE WITHOUT BLINDERS

THIS IS DIFFERENT WITH DONKEYS--   THEY LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM--  I DROVE THE 8  HITCH FOR YEARS WITHOUT BLINDERS...

LESSON OF THE DAY... THIS IS THE REASON I WOULD NEVER APPROVE OF A  HORSE AS A SERVICE ANIMAL--  THEY HAVE A FEAR AND RUN INSTINCT THAT SHOWS UP AT AWKWARD TIMES.. 

A DONKEY'S RESPONSE TO FEAR IS TO STAND STILL-- THIS IS WHY THEY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED STUBBORN WHEN IN FACT THEY  ARE AFRAID OF SOME UNKNOWN-- LIKE A PUDDLE...  OR IN MY CASE OF DRIVING THE 8 IN THE BIG HOTELS IN BOSTON, A CHANGE IN THE PATTERN IN THE CARPET.....  OR... IN A PARADE THE SHADOW OF THE ELECTRIC WIRES WERE A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE.

 AT LEAST THEIR RESPONSE OF STANDING UNTIL THEY ARE SURE OF THE FOOTING IS SOMETHING  WITH WHICH A PERSON WITH A HANDICAP COULD  DEAL..

IF A PERSON WANTED TO WALK THE APPALATIAN TRAIL,,   A DONKEY-- MINI OR FULL.. WOULD BE A PERFECT CHOICE AS A SERVICE ANIMAL. 

THE MINI HORSE PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE MY OPINION...

AND SO IT GOES 

jan 20, 2014

i think getting  this mac was  a good idea in the long run... it forces me to let someone else do stuff..  i have learned to manage a few things.. -----darn few----

even  doing the daily doggie has it's challenges-- there are days when this machine tells me i am not carlene...

some days i think it is right.

********

soooo... today is a pink/blue/green day  with 5 B's added .  maria made up a new chart of who will be here.. i think she is purple-- so she won't be here today... 

this is in an effort to make better use  of volunteer time--- WHICH WE NEED....

 so in the vein of ------what can i do ???--- my personal need in this system is a person to stay in the house area  and do THINGS.   this would free me to maybe even get some training done.... i will try and make a list...  but mostly  baby sit the younger pups, manage the camera ( push the refocus button every 20 minutes til we get the problem solved)answer the phone organize the overflow room , and  do something with the refrigerator---  

  NO SPECIAL TRAINING NEEDED   ...

 i wanted a midnight snack last night and i opened the door-- a bag of  chinese chicken  wings fell out...  

i don't remember having chinese chicken wings any time in the past 2 weeks-- leaving me to question  HOW  DID IT GET TO THE FRONT OF THE SHELF???? AND EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL-- WHT ON EARTH IS ON THE BACK OF THESE SHELVES??

SHELIA HAD RECIENTLY LEFT  A JAR OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE LEFT OVER CHICKEN SOUP--- IT WAS FROZEN SOLID--- WHILE NOTHING AROUND IT WAS FROZEN

SO I HAVE ALOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT REFRIGERATION IN GENERAL..

IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED I GET MY OWN REFRIG AND KEEP IT IN MY ROOM.-- COULD BE THAT IS THE SOLUTION

THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT WORKING.

I SETTLED ON SOME INNOCENT LOOKING CHEESE A CP FROM WI SENT...THERE WERE NO CRACKERS TO BE FOUND SO I SETTLED FOR A HANDFUL OF POTATO CHIPS WHICH HAD BEEN CHIPPED DOWN TO ABOUT A 3/4 INCH TRIANGLE.

THIS HOUSE HAS TUNED INTO A WAREHOUSE/ CLUBHOUSE KENNEL  -- WHICH IS  FINE-- BUT WE NEED A CLUBHOUSE MANAGER TO DO CHORES LIKE FIND SOMEONE'S SLOW COOKER THAT THEY LEFT HERE A MONTH AGO.

I AM SURE IT IS HERE SOMEWHERE..  A VOLUNTEER COULD DO THAT-- IT IS CERTAINLY NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO HAVE MEGAN OR ME --- ON SLOW-COOKER DETAIL-- YET THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS-- SO all of you who have thought you could come spend 4 or 8 hours a week... come do it on a regular basis..  sounds odd... but it is desparately needed... 8 to 12  12 to 4--  get in touch with maria

 maria@servicedogproject.org

THEN I COULD PLAY WITH MY 2 WHITE PUPS AND DEAL WITH THE PILE OF LUMBER IN THE YARD WHICH IS WAITING TO BE A PACKAGE DROP OFF PLACE..

*********

BIG THInGS I HOPE GET RESOLVED THIS WEEK

#1.. THE CAMERA-- I MAY GO AHEAD AND MAIL ONE OF THE BROKEN ONES TO SONY TO GET  AN ESTIMATE ON GETTING IT FIXED...  I WAS WAITING TO AMIL BOTH CAMERAS.. BUT THIS WITH THE BROKEN LENS IS "ALMOST WORKING"

#2.  DARN -- HERE WERE 3 MORE THINGS... AND I ALREADY FORGOT...

MAYBE THIS COMPUTER   WAS RIGHT-- I AM NOT ME TODAY... AT LEAST ANYWAY YET,.

***********

mark put all the BECAUSE letters on shutterfly  

i am told this works--- it ought to.. except on AOL ETC...  which will only get you close to the shutterfly bit...

www.servicedogproject.shutterfly.com/pictures 

a any Rate they are there-- with names removed for safety sake...

got to be careful about just what you give the world...

********

Having a  volunteer  here  in the house on a steady basis would do amazing things for the  entire operation..

we had a very nice woman here yesterday who said   just tell me  times would you need me here---

and i could not answer that

BBBBIIIIGGGGGG loophole in the  sdp operation.. so many of you come on a regular basis.. please... get on maria.s chart so we can fill in the holes...

that refrigerator is the tip of the iceberg...

please ......help...

***********

Hi Carlene!    We wanted to share our thought with you. When a fall or painful day brings us to our knees the world is then looking down on us but there is right next to us that sweet soul that is looking at us eye to eye literally, just waiting to help! The rest of the world does not really matter then.   

                                  Love Harry and Beth

jan 19 2014

happy 19th of the month--  there-- that takes care of all the happy's i was supposed to remember for january

991 bricks to go-- those $10 donations are our lifeblood-- 

and besides you might be invited into the most exclusive and restricted   SHATUPON SOCIETY OF IPSWICH...

I REMEMBER A LINE FROM  "AUNTIE MAME "  ---EXCLUSIVE  OF WHAT AND RESTRICTED TO WHOM?----

well i did get some of the package receiving "house"  done yesterday... in the living room/office/ by the fireplace.... so what's a little sawdust.???. it sweeps...  the fact that steve  and then jack appeared was a pleasent surprise... if it was not quite s slusshy  i might have even got it done today..  might still  if i can get p[aul to put those fork lift things on the4 tractor.. i could put it together i the alleyway of the barn-- then carry it up to the it's place pf importance opposite the "button"

i could put it together in my usual fashion---- tie it toTHE STALL FRONT   using hay string ---- leaves lots of wiggle room for those things i should have measured twice.

with difficulty steve found my dremmel-- small saw thing---- that is very handy with it's 4" blade--( recommended by caw)

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

i am amazed we are still gettng calendar  and book orders.. theresa even gave me a monkey fist list- so we are still selling those.  PLUS AN ORDER FOR ONE VIAL OF PUPPY BREATH....  

 we cAME TO A  COUPLE BOXES OF CALENDARS WE DIDN'T KONW WE HAD-- I THINK I MAY MAIL THEM OUT TO RANDOM CHICKEN  NUMBER PARTICIPANTS-- IF THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE THEY CAN THEN GIVE THEM  TO SOMEONE ELSE????  THEY ARE A THING OF BEAUTY...

IF I GIVE 10 ENVELOPES TO A VOLUNTEER-- PLUS THE BOOK O F CHJICKEN PARTICIPANTS AND JUST LET THEM RANDOMLY PICK---  THAT IS AS GOOD A WAY AS ANY.

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

SUNDAY STEWING DAY

I READ ALL THE BECAUSE LETTERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT-- AND SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTIONED HOW WONDERFUL THE CHICKEN STEW ( THE FOOD) WAS..  IT IS A MISSERABLE DAY FOR OUTDOOR LIVING  SO MAYBE A POT OF STW WOULD BE GOOD. ( AND EASY)  IT DOES TASTE BETTER  OVER THE OPEN FIRE... BUT...

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

I Have GEORGE TO THANK FOR  THE MASS  VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION  AWARD...

2013 Merit Award

Award for Animal Welfare & The Human/Animal Companion Bond

Award for Service Animals

Carlene White

Founder, The Service Dog Project

IT IS PARTICULARLY TIMELY  AS THERE ARE A FEW ASKING WHY ARE YOU BREEDING DOGS... THERE ARE TOO MANY ALREADY...   MY  ---AND OUR- PROBLEM IS WE NEED  SQUARE CHUNKY STRONG DOGS--- NOT THE  TALL  GRACEFUL SHOW DOGS-   I AM AFRAID IF WE PUT BENTLEY IN THE SHOW RING  THE SHOW CROWD WOULD LAUGH  AT HIM -- WELL JUST AFTER HE LIFTED HIS LEG ON SOME JUDGE TO MARK HIM... WHO COULD BLAME THEM. ---MY VARIETY OF DANE HAS BEEN CALLED A "PIECE OF JUNK  WITH NO LEG AND STUBBY NECK" 

 RIGHT...

BUT NONE OF MY DOGS EVER ENTER THE GENERAL DOG POPULATION--  THEY ARE SERVICE DOGS OR FABULOUS FAILURES  PLACED BY US AS THERAPY DOGS.. YOU CAN NOT HAVE ONE OF OUR DOGS AND EXPECT TO LEAVE IT HOME ON THE SOFA---

 FIRST PROBLEM IS THEY WOULD PROBABLY EAT THE SOFA FOR AMUSEMENT..

THESE ARE WORKING DOGS WHO NEED A JOB.

AND I MUST ADMIT  I HAD NOT LOOKED CAREFULLY AT BOO AND ARIOT'S SIBLINGS-- THEY ARE SPECTACULAR ---  HEAVY BONED--- CLEVER ON THEIR   FEET   AND JUST AS NICE -- THEY ARE ACTUALLY NICER  CONFORMATION THAN BOO OR ARIOT...

I FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT THE "DANISH CONNECTION"   

NOW IF WE COULD JUST PROVE  LIVE SPERM OUT OF WALTER--  WE ARE NOT TOO SURE  WHO FATHERED THE LAST TIME WE BRED HIM... IF I REMEMBER ... HE QUIT... AND WE HAD TO ASK BENTLEY--- THEN WE THOUGHT MAYBE WALTERS ONE EFFORT "TOOK"  OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT...  

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE SET UP THE MICROSCOPE TO BE READY TO  LOOK----  AS FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM, I WILL LEAVE THE COFFEE CUP PROCESS TO YOUR IMAGINATION --  AND YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY IMAGINE THE LAST FIASCO WITH MARIA, MEGAN AND I....

GO FOR IT...

**********

hi Carlene

Tuesday we went to the hospital while Melanie had a surgical procedure done. 
Lola was beyond wonderful! 

The doctors and nurses all commented on how well behaved she was and all came by 
to see the "beautiful" dog in pre-op. Lola was so quiet that a nurse came in to 
get Melanie ready for her IV and jumped out of her skin to see a giant fury face 
in the room!

We showed many of them the explore cameras and told them all about SDP. Melanie 
said they were even talking about Lola in the recovery room when she got out of 
surgery!

We were at the hospital for 4 hours. Spending so much time sitting makes my body 
really shaky and my legs give out more often and Lola was on top of her game. 
She's even been getting really good at stopping the tremors in my arms and legs. 
She walks right over and puts her head on my leg and keeps it there until the 
tremors stop. If I'm walking she wraps her body around my leg. The pressure 
really helps the tremors.

Today we had to run some errands and while we were at the bank a woman asked us 
if Lola was one of Carlene White's dogs. She said you were one of her Girl Scout 
leaders when she was a kid :)

I also wanted to let you know that my neurologist has been really impressed with 
my improvement since getting Lola. So much so that her office called me this 
week to ask some questions about SDP because she feels some of her patients 
would greatly benefit from one of your dogs!!

Hope all is well with you all and hope to see you soon!

Michelle and Lola