JULY 31 2017

 MATHEMATICS PUZZLE... AND ORDERING MEDS FROM AUSTRLIA---  THERE MAY BE OTHER PLACES  FROM WHICH TO ORDER- BUT I DO DRIFT TO AUSTRALIA... BECAUSE THERE IS AN ADI TRAINING FACILITY THERE AND THEIR CEO TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ALLWORMER THEY USE--SO I ORDER SOME  FROM THERE FOR ABOUT 3 YEARWS NOW...  FREE SHIPPING..  WHEN I OPENED THE BOX AT MAIL CALL... THERE WERE 3 BOTTLES OF ALL WORMER FOR 22 POUND DOGS...

I THOUGHT AT THE TIME  IT WAS STRANGE--WITH DOGS WELL OVER 100 POUNDS, I USUALLY ORDER THE 88 POUND DOG SIZE....

I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT IT... TIL 3AM  AND I LOOKED UP TEH PAYPAL PAYMENT.   635.20(AU).. 100 PILLS OF TEH 22 POUND ARE 175.au .. FOR THE 100 88 POUND IT IS 439au----REGARDLSS OF WHAT I ORDERED,  OR THEY SENT....I COULD NOT MAKE  THAT TOTAL 635.2au.. SO I WILL CALL... 

 GLAD IT WAS PAYPAL-- LOOKING UP A PAYMENT  FROM THE BANK WOULD TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.  THE BANK  HAS HAD TERRIBLE  COMPUTER PROBLEMS I DON'T UNDERSTAND... BUT I NOW MUST GO TO THE BANK IN PERSON AND CHANGE ALL MY PASSWORDS....AGAIN..... BEFORE I CAN USE ANY OF THE  CC I NOW HAVE--

******** BACK TO WHY DO I HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK ANYWAY IT DOES NOT PAY ENOUGH DIVIDENDS TO PAY FOR THE GAS TO GET THERE TO CONSTANT;Y CHANGE PASSWORDS.  I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT WAR BEING A COMPUTER ONE-- WITHOUT ATM'S....BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ON THAT ROAD WITHOUT ANY FOREIGN HELP ANYWAY...

SO IF I TOOK A BUNCH OF MONEY OUT OF THE BANK... IN THIS PLACE WHERE WOULD I KEEP IT.???AND I WOULD HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY QUICKLY BEFORE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT IT........???  SO I STAY WITH THE BANK WHO FORGETS WHO I  AM REGUALRALY

*****

THERE IS A TERRIFIC PICTURE OF EVA WITH FINN... SHE SITTING IN THE WATER ABOUT 8 INCHES DEEP.. AND FINN STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HER VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER BEING THERE..  THESE DOGS DO GET ATTACHED TO ONE PERSON...AND DO A WONDERFUL JOB...

***

MY SISTER - FRAN-  IS DUE TO ARRIVE THURSDAY- AND AFTER THAT ,  SOME OF HER KIDS AND GRANDIKIDS MAY COME HERE... THEY ARE A LIVELY DIZZY BUNCH  SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO  THE VISIT..  REMEMBER THE TWIN BOYS TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER THE MANNEQUIN AT MAIL CALL...??   THAT BUNCH.

***********

HERE'S A GOOD ONE FROM ASHER TO BAIL ME OUT 

*******

ASHER AND I ARE HAVING A BLAST DOWN IN MELBOURNE, FLORIDA CELEBRATING GRAMMY'S 81ST AND PAPA'S 90TH BIRTHDAY WITH THE FAMILY! THE BUS TO PROVIDENCE WAS 30 MINUTES LATE CAUSING US TO ALMOST MISS OUR CONNECTION TO TF GREEN AIRPORT (PVD), BUT ASHER WAS HAPPY TO PUT SOME PEP IN HIS STEP TO MAKE IT TO THE STOP AND HOP ON THE NEXT BUS RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST ONE. OUR FLIGHT FROM PROVIDENCE TO ORLANDO THREW A FEW OBSTACLES IN THE WAY - WE DEALT WITH A 2.5-HOUR DELAY AND ASHER WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREA INSIDE THE AIRPORT, BUT HE HANDLED EVERYTHING LIKE A SEASONED PRO AS HE ALWAYS DOES. TRAVELING WITH HIM IS LIKE TRAVELING WITH A CELEBRITY - WE WERE STOPPED FOR PICTURES OCCASIONALLY, ASKED QUESTIONS, AND MANY FELLOW PASSENGERS COMPLIMENTED HIM ON HIS BEHAVIOR. WHEN WE FINALLY DID TAKE OFF,   THE SW AIRLINES      MADE SURE WE WERE BOTH AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE - THEY GAVE US THE BULKHEAD ON OUR FLIGHT AND KEPT THE MIDDLE SEAT EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FULL PLANE. ASHER ACTED LIKE HE HAD FLOWN A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE, AND WAS HAPPY TO SNOOZE THE WHOLE WAY TO ORLANDO. IT WAS A TURBULENT FLIGHT, BUT EVEN THAT WAS PROBABLY MORE COMFORTABLE FOR HIM THAN THE BUS! SEVERAL PASSENGERS CAME UP TO US AFTER AND SAID ASHER BEHAVED MUCH BETTER THAN THE LOUD KIDS ON THE PLANE!

MY FAMILY WAS EXCITED TO MEET ASHER AND THEY WERE SO AMAZED WITH HOW WELL TRAINED HE IS. ASHER HAS AN OLDER COUSIN, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD RAMBUNCTIOUS BOXER MIX, AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW HE'D REACT TO HER HIGH ENERGY. THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER ZOOMING AROUND THE BACKYARD! ASHER DOESN'T HAVE MUCH CLOSED SPACE TO RUN AT HOME, SO THIS WAS A TREAT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO STRETCH HIS LEGS. I WAS SO IMPRESSED HOW, EVEN WHEN HE WAS BUSY WITH A GAME OF TAG, HE'D COME RIGHT BACK OVER TO ME IF I CALLED HIM. PIPER COULD PROBABLY LEARN A COUPLE THINGS FROM HIM! :)

ON SATURDAY ASHER TESTED OUT HIS SEA LEGS AND SET SAIL ON VICTORY CASINO CRUISES WITH US. BOARDING THE SHIP WAS PROBABLY OUR FIRST NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE - MOST OF THE STAFF AT THE DOCK KEPT PETTING HIM, GRABBING ME WHEN I TRIPPED BEFORE ASHER COULD HELP ME, AND TALKING TO ASHER AND DISTRACTING HIM. IT WAS A GOOD CHANCE FOR ME TO PRACTICE SPEAKING UP, BUT I STILL THINK THESE PEOPLE COULD USE MORE EDUCATION ON SERVICE DOGS. LUCKILY, ONCE ON THE SHIP, WE WERE TREATED WONDERFULLY AND ASHER WAS THE TALK OF EACH DECK HE WALKED ACROSS. NEITHER OF US ARE USED TO THE FLORIDA SUMMER HEAT ANYMORE, SO WE WERE HAPPY TO SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME INSIDE IN THE A/C. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE, BUT ASHER BEHAVED PHENOMENALLY. OF COURSE, I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM MY PERFECT PUP!

WE'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO RELAX TODAY AFTER THE EXCITEMENT OF THE LAST TWO DAYS, ALTHOUGH WHEN ASHER'S NOT SLEEPING HE WAS HAPPY TO GO FOR ANOTHER RUN OUT BACK WITH PIPER. WE HAVEN'T EVEN LEFT YET AND CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR NEXT VISIT HOME. TOMORROW WE'LL HEAD BACK TO RHODE ISLAND AND GET READY FOR ORIENTATION!

***

I PERSONALLY LACK THE COURAGE TO GET ON ANY BOAT LARGER THAN A CANOE.... AND ONLY THE CANOE BECAUSE AS A GIRL SCOUT WE HAD TO LEARN TO  BE ABLE TO GET A CANOE AT LEAST RIGHTSIDE UP AGAIN... EVEN IF IT WAS FULL OF WATER...

THERE IS SOMETHIGN REASSURING ABOUT THAT.

july 30 2017

i don't train dogs, i train people to behave so that dogs can understand them.  that was yesterday's profound thought as i watched "them" feed...

it is down to a pretty good science  and you can watch it on camera morning and night  ?8:30 and 4 ish? the 2  person routine is easiest.."A" puts .2 bowls of food in the feeder...  "B" lets out 2 dogs who run to the feeder where A puts their fingers in front of the bowls until there is less excitement (  5 seconds is a long time to hold them back) but a then says "ok"   they dive in and  wolf down theeir food-- ( a healthy dog eats quickly) A picks up the bowls..  B  calls each by name  and  they run back into theri kennel and turn around---B has a spoonfull of treat for them right in their face.... and then shuts the gate...    the process can be done by one person   -- it might take  maybe 14 seconds longer per dog...

 that is what a lot of this service dog training is all about. figure out what result you want   and maybe more important WHY YOU WANT THAT REESULT... rarely... if ever  do we play the role of "SEE WHAT I CAN MAKE MY DOG DO"-- which is.... in my opinion-- a lot of what  obedience training is...  don't get me wrong... there is definitely a place for instant obedience to a "command"  but a well educated dog should not have to be told not to stuff their face in the nearest pile of food on a table... the example i usually use  is ....... in a waiting room-- i sit down.. bentley looks at me and i  quietly say  "bentley lie down"--  if this was an obedience class , he should drop down... however... what i mean is we are going to be here a while and you may as well relax... you can lie down if you want but you are not going more than 24 inches from my knee"   in an extreme situation    if i really need him on the floor.....i might say "GDMIT  lie down or you will ruin my reputation"  at whinc point he drops slowly ....

we rarely make them do something over and over... you ask them to jump in the car- and they do... what you don't do--- is insult them by asking them to jump out and jump in again to be sure they do as they are told.

i leaarned this long ago--some of you know this one... i was on stage with thumper talking about using danes for service.. and someone said " but they don't retreive"   and i said-- "they can" and proceeded to drop my wallet - i ased thumpe to pick it up- which he did... someone in th eback said "i didn't see it get him to do it again"  so i dropped my wallet again..

thumper rolled his eyes and  i could clearly hear "$%^&* i am not a trick dog."   bailey on the other hand  did 2 shockers...  at an ADI convetntion someone wanted to  show how ti get your dog to retrieve a wheelchair that had rolled away- and before  she finished explaining how to do  it, bailey did it  without being asked to do ti.-- and then the  mail call basket... she enjoyed the performance-- but  there were a few times when she said "no" 

as part of theri  trianing... we are supposed to think ahead... and this one needs improvement with people who take our dogs on car rides-- you do not just open the door and let  the dogs jump out--- because that is what you are tthen trianing them to do...which they then will do in the middle of the mall or highway...  it takes no more than 3 seconds.... literally 2 or 3 seconds to have them wait  and then ask them to jump out..-- then once they are out they must never runn off until told to do it... again because.. then they will...

take that split second..  "wait...ok jump out...  wait here-- have a cookie.. now go." .. could be a life saver

multiply that  by 4378 and you  will have a trained service dog.

******

so i try and think like a dog....i can not tell you how many times i have heard people say "i never thought of that"   the classic... dogs bark and chase postmen because  the postman always goes away- the dog decides he chased him  away..and the poor post man is just trying to get on with his job... a self perpetuating situation... so some postmen carry treats to break teh cycle...

 dog love to chase anything that runs-- which is why i do not allow kids  running around here.. it is also the reason i can let MO  out while sizzle is around,,,  sizzle has the instinct to bounce in and see if she can  make MO run.... MO  keeps chewing  so far so good...

 what is really bad is when sizzle is on one side  of MO  and mindy on the other...i cn just see mommy nature toying with the instinct to circle the prey.    that is another story i have told before.. my "origional"  8 danes were  very well trained as a group..we were hired to provide atmosphere at ablack tie "great gadspy "  dinner event-- all went well  dogs wandered the dining room... behaving  nicely...til people started to dance - and i just happened to notice in the nick of time  most of the 8 had surrounded the dance floor---  figuring that these people were  struggling   to killl each other so they wanted to be in on it...  luckily i stopped that thought... but it was there... no doubt.**********

now on to our breeding program... what a difference a day makes....  lynn brought watson to sdp... brother has he improved..  she posted his picture somewherer, and has had several inquiry about  breeding to him...  she said stud fees can be 2500 to 4000--- so my ears perked up...

 to do that she would have to get out in the "show community"  with him   which means we should dig hout his papers and get him reg withthe akc...

that is totally possible with his denmark registration... just more paperwork... which if she will do it, i am all for it.  she  also said she would  have to go to canada for shwoing  because judges there will  ignore the fact that he has "natural ears"  ( not cropped) apparently in the states judges prefer cropped ears.. go figure...

i prefer cropped- they are cleaner, less inclined to get chewed up in play or  a fight-- and i like the look... however i do not like the $832 vet  fee we last paid  - and the ire of  all the people who don't think it should be done....done as major surgery  by a veternarian-- and with that "crazy hat"  i make out of coat hangers  the cut edge is never taped over.. and they heal very quickly... i don't approve of teh massive taping

 i hate to tell you what else we cut off the males.. which doesn't seem to bother 51% of the population... 

as pretty as he is ( and what a personality !!) i would not consider breeding him to audry if i had any other choices...  becaus e of teh harl harl statistics on that chart.... and we have  anoter choice in wilbur-- who has a relative several generations back...  but the choice to keep sizzle and mindy is looking far better than it did several days ago  with only bentley as a chioce for them to get some relief of the " too many black puppy" problem...  he should give us some color....

*****

we have a very interesting  woman here-- from russia  by way of dallas... she shou d be around today...   she is not totally "up tp speed pof the details around here... and with the language barrier,  i will spend some time today "breaking her in"  -i think she has hired a rental car.. and oretty sure she has found a b&b in topsfield because she did n't realize  as a cp volunteer, she coudl stay here..

 i don't know where i got the idea fugan is about to arrive... if  she is... it has to be a goldie thing.. because i thionk fugan is russian also...

whatever.. we are dealing with a language/ aging deaf  problem.. so it woulf be a good time for fugen to arrive.

***

one more week  to sell out....keep up the good work... and keep puttin g the nales of your best dog in the place.... it is printing on emy daily report...thanks to all.

and 

******

hippo birdies 2 ewes for  daughter gwen.

today's chore.... I am going to  go stare at josie's belly for an hour..... and decide if there is actually a foal in there..i know the vet  ( brian) said he felt one, but i am losing faith  pretty soon we will have had her a year...and the gestation for a donkey is 12  months...i think...i did hear someone lately say something about ocasionally 14 months... but that is new to me..  to be honest we kept the stud with all the herd  so i never knew what was happening when....  is not alot different now.....   the complication with josie is that she has milk-- probably due to teh fact that she let them nurse which might have happened in the kill pens if she got separated from her own  foal and one of the others in janine's trailer just started nursing from her. in all the confusion...

donkeys are the most maligned    animal ever...   rumored stubborn for only being careful   you see millions of them piled high with all sorts of baggage following -- or leading- their owners for miles without any halter or  or rope-- you would not see a horse doing that...

donkeys are  so much more agreeable than horses... i have done things with donkeys you never could do with horses...

like drive the hitch of 8 around a rack of strawberry shortcakes in the holding area of a hotel ballroom with santa on the seat with me.  i could have done  many more/ bigger  national parades but they would not maintain 3-4 mph -  they were slow-- but oh so steady !! the worst situation i ever had was in haverhill mass... where  i harnessed out of sight behind some fire station and the police had a cruiser lead me into the square with santa on the seat with me... we got into the square and got so packed in that santa couold not even get off the wagon-- the crowd continued to press in til we had kids... small kids between all the donkeys and a few dashed under the wagon between the wheels..  they stood rock still... or they would have killed someone..  the police cruiser was useless-- we just sat--- until they broke thru with a line to get santa over to his "throne" and the crowd followed him so i could leave.

or the time janine and i ran  the 8 of them  them thru the boston traffic-  if we had any ropes and halters, i don't remembrr them-- between taxi's stopped at a red light we ran on- to get them in the frieght elevator of the prudential tower for some party int he bar at the top... janine went up with all 8.. loose in the bar...as planned..... i had to  go back and deal with the wagon and harness we had left at the ?westin? from the santa job there... we had 30 minutes between jobs-- and we did them both.. only because the second job did not involve the harness and wagon... just loose donkeys in the bar.. the rest was also as colorful... because i had to  load teh trailer ( i had a creew of college kids helping )  and get the trailer parked at the bottom of the pru so when janine came down the frieght elevator we had a place to put the donkeys... 

the big problem there was--- hotels have a lovely loading dock-- and a bunch of those 53' trailers all carefully backed in place by professional drivers... and then there was me.... i wasn't too bad--  but the problem was all those "big rigs" had flat nosed trucks-- i was pulling my trailer with a pick up- and  swinging the front of that pickup was an awful lot harder than a snub nosed normal tractor trailer...and all the other drivers were... men....

that reminds me of the day..... i was under some other hotel unloading a bunch of  farm animals for a display in the 4th floor ballroom-- cow calf goats hens-- a bunch.. and we had a baby chicken setup -- a big tray of 100 baby chicks only a few days old...( you get them from the big hattcheries by mail) in a cardboard box... with holes-   i did get backed in to the loading dock  amid snears and jeers of the 4-5  tough  men who drove the other trucks....and the guy carryong the baby chicks had cardboard failure...and the 100 tiny little fluffy yellow chickes fluttered to the ground and ran around...   at which point these tough drivers were down on their knees "here chicky chicky chicky"   we got them all back... we counted !!

*********

now as for my stats....

someone was careful to point out that  lainie and jasper had only 4 black pups... not the 3 harls... = the other correction  luna and thump also had only black pups,, which makes the chart  agree with our stats 100%

Iit was very hard to count all these... but any one or two errors do not change the result of... our pups match the  researched list

*****

here is ila-- and her  association with cakes and her fire department... she has a good thing going...

Ila _ Charter CP _ Missouri • 11 minutes ago

A few moments ago, there was tapping at the front door and who do you think was there, but three of my firemen with their big red fire truck on the street. They were returning my container I used for the cream cheese pie. I tell you, these guys are the best. They even came in and visited for a brief time.

july 28 2017

i do love a good arguement-- and puppy raising certainly provides me with every opportunity.  so before we start, let me tick off the facts that will be ticking off a few  facebook people -- check this logic very carefully.... and if you find a  logical loop by all means let me know....

we need to have all the staff / cp's verify all this... and be ready for the battle....

to breed or not to breed-- that is the question.... megan is quite rightly worried...it is her job to worry... mostly kennel space....

on the numbers game.... we have 18 young pups of unknown quality ( 8 /mom   imported)   --plus  a  bred female- gabby - who did not concieve last time we bred her- + a nice  female  audry...now in heat and ready to breed in 5 days...  which is too soon to tell if gabby has one pup or 12 in her tummy,

having not enough puppies is a total dead end...you can not produce service dogs if you don't have pups..... having too many pups is a challange -  which--- while giving us a chance to be more selective,--   can be managed by our volunteers who want a dane-- or our extensive list of people requesting one... and in the back of my head.. we have several respectable ADI start ups that i am struggling to convinc3e to use great danes-- we might share dogs with them as long as we have camera people in the area to check on them...  we as a group have faced  worse challanges than too many pups...  32 at once proves we can do it... not that i want 32 at once....but i am not worried about that...

now the white issue... for years i have suspected that the genetic study of dane colors list has been accurate as far as the 40 litters we have produced... and i have said as much many times.. in preparation for people to undersatand why i see audry as  a possible mother i really put the numbers on paper-- and our experience with 284 puppies just about mirrors teh percentages that they talk about in this study- i knew that-- but to have it so close is a little shocking.

in 25 words or less---  they say on paper-- that one black  parent -- (or a black with white) will not produce a  white-- or a deaf white...it is all there in a very complicated spread sheet---our tree of statistics agrees... thumper and bumpy ( both very black)  never produced even one white pup... 

one of the worst combinations is a merle and a harl- and if anyone wants to start an arguement about who to breed, it is that  set of parents that is the problem-- and our statistics-- from the "tree" we have... clearly shows  the cross between scarlott and bentley will produce deaf white-- and they did...there are other things beside color--and that set of parents also provided 20 service dogs... one of them  our shining star...george...

this means we should be prepared to deal with whatever.... and i hope we are..

in the chart   of  our 2 worst  breedings....

 merle/ harl parents predicts 25% each--- black, harl, merle, white  --our scarlot/bently pups.... 34% 24%  24  17%

the harl to harl cross  predicts 25%black - 33%  harl-17%merle-25% white--- our HH cross ( like bentley x chaos) 15% 42% 19% 23%

 teh black/white trim both parents predicts 100% black looking dogs ---- with our  out stats   it is 93% black and 7% harl...  close....

my choice of audry's partner would be wilbur--  a nice dog all round... and mostly black since that chart has been so accurate with the other percentages, i see no reason to doubt that the cross should produce only merles and harls..   with one small detail just to prove mommy nature has the final word in any animal breeding....  that blk blk cross should have been 100% black.... but one lone harl got in there making it 93% and 7%

so we are relying on the odds of that study to be correct-- and so far our numbers prove it.

now just to prove there  is still an element of "off the wall" logic..  100 years ago llinda scaturro  - country run danes in new york... told me there was a white deaf stud in new york that was producing only harlequin pups- and everyone was rushing to breed to him...  i thought  she was nutts. maybe she wasn't...

and...... good old goldie  may be the one to decide we should not be breeding bentley/scarleoot anymore...  especially to scarlott-- because he just can't/doesn't/whatgever... goldie has her ways...

so do your own research  look at the colors in our  "tree"  and do teh math..

i actually didn't check teh math  because our resident school teacher-- dawn.... ( and ajay) did it...

the quick response to  "shouldn't breed a white dane " is  " not to a merle or a harl, ...but you can to a black"

*****

from george-- report to the "board of directors" ---he  also loves to  "discuss" things

Always good to get it all out there and talk

I think all went well( I think😀

Summary

1 Megan primary complaint is one of numbers and Carlene is very willing to adopt out fabulous failures. What is most important to Carlene is the we have enough puppies the able to keep the placements moving and not be short on dogs. I think that can be accomplished if we place those dogs who won't be service dogs

2audrey may not be a white dog but a harl. From Carlene's stats it is harl and Merle cross that produces white pups and info fro the Great Dane stats seem to support such. I am not 100% sure without heavy duty research but her stats agree with the Great Dane clubs

3. I emphasized that there appears to be a difficulty for some of her employees to approach her and discuss these things. Unfortunately Megan gets the brunt as the one starting the discussion. However I emphasized her value and Carlene understands this and I don't think it will be a problem. Megan is important to SDP

For now..... I am off to England

*****

i forgot who sent this..:)

SURE IS NICE HAVING A BUDDY EVERYWHERE I GO! BETWEEN THE FACT THAT MOST OF MY FRIENDS GRADUATED THIS PAST MAY AND LEFT THE AREA AND MY JOB CAN BE PRETTY LONELY SINCE I DON'T HAVE MUCH FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE DURING THE DAY, I DON'T REALLY HAVE PEOPLE TO GRAB DINNER WITH AFTER WORK OR SPEND WEEKENDS WITH. ASHER'S HAPPILY TAKEN OVER THE BEST FRIEND ROLE FOR NOW AND HE'S EXCELLENT AT IT! HE'S ALSO GIVEN ME COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO CHAT WITH STRANGERS AROUND BRISTOL AND PROVIDENCE WHO I WOULD NEVER HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHERWISE - HE IS QUITE THE CONVERSATION STARTER, AFTER ALL.

WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED TO GET OUR BAGS PACKED TONIGHT AND HOP ON A PLANE TOMORROW TO SEE FAMILY FOR THE WEEKEND! ASHER WILL BE MEETING THE REST OF THE FAMILY TOMORROW EVENING WHICH WILL INCLUDE HIS COUSIN, A SWEET BOXER MIX, AND I THINK HE'S READY TO EARN HIS WINGS. NEXT TIME YOU HEAR FROM US, WE'LL BE IN SUNNY FLORIDA!

JULY 27 2017

I WORRY ABOUT MEGAN'S  PHONE-- SHE HAS SOOOOOOO MUCH STORED ON IT-- IT IS HOPEFULLY BACKED UP SOMEHOW... BUT I SURE DON'T KONW HOW...--  THE LATEST IS SHE CAN DO WALKABOUTS WITH HER PHONE WHILE THEY ARE FEEDING...AND IT MAGICALLY APPEARS ON FACEBOOK--- WE DON'T NEED TO  GO BACK TO MY HISTORY OF COMPUTERS AND CARRYING AROUND  TRAYS OF PUNCHED CARDS,WHILE WEARING HAIR NETS AND SNEAKERS..  OR TEH FIRST COMMERCIAL FOR A PORTABLE PHONE THE SIZE OF A BRIEFCASE... WHERE I PROVIDED "PAUL REVERE'S HORSE"  WHILE HE WAS FILMED MAKING A PHONE CALL -- TO GERMANY-- FROM FANUIEL HALL IN BOSTON..!!1   OR EVEN 5 YEARS AGO -- MAIL CALL AND NO SOUND???? NOW SHE HAS PERFECT SOUND AND PICTURE ON HER PHONE-- WHILE SHE IS SOOOO CHEERFUL AND WELL SPOKEN....- I CERTAINLY HOPE THE NETWORKS DON'T TRY ABND STEAL HER AS A NEWS REPORTER.. SHE IS TOO GOOD AS A DOG TRAINER TO WASTE TIME  WITH  TV.

 THIS BACKUP BY CLOUD  BLOWS MY MIND... BUT THEN ALOT BLOWS MY MIND...

I REALLLY THINK WE NEED TO PRINT IT ALL OUT TO HAVE A " HARD COPY"-- WE'D NEED TO BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING TO STORE IT ALL....

***

 BUILDINGS...  I AM TOLD TANNER PUT UP 2 SHEETS OF T-111 IN THE "RUN IN SHED"  YESTERDAY...  WE HAD STOOD AROUND AND DECIDED THERE WAS ONE WALL WHICH SEEMS SQUARE AND THINGS LIKE VERTICAL---  THERE IS ALOT OF PULLING TOGETHER AND I SHOULD GET ANOTHER TRIANGLE OR TWO INVOLVED.... EACH SHEET OF PLYWOOD IS A BIT OF A TRIANGULAR SUPPORT... BUT NOTHING LIKE A 2X6 BOLTED SOMEWHERE...

****

THE ICU BUILDING IS  HOT  AND  COLD RUNNING WATER....-- TECHNICALLY IT COULD  BE  A DORM FOR CREATIVE VISITORS... I KNOW THERE ARE TWO QUEEN SIZE ( NICE) BEDS IN THE LOFT. AND FUGAN'S WONDERFUL SOFA/BED DOWN STAIRS...   IGT HAS A SMART TV- WHICH IS SMARTER THAN I AM... BUT IT IS THERE....IT NEEDS SOME OCCUPIN G TO HAVE THE  "HOMEY FEELING"

****

SHIRTTS FOR DOGFEST HAVE ARRIVED  AND THE PLAN IS TO MAIL THEM OUT JUST BEFORE DOGFEST... LIND IS IN CHARGE OF THE ACTUAL MAILINGS-- I THINK TINA IS KEEP ING SOME KIND OF RECORD TOO...

*******

DELICATE TOPIC...  THESE WONDERFUL CAMERAS SOMETIMES RECORD MORE THAN IS  ALLOWED IN PRIME TIME...  SHORT SHORTS AND HALTTER TOPS MAY BE WONDERFUL AT THE BEACH... BUT AS PEOPLE CRAWL AROUND KEEPING THE NEW PUPS SAFE AND TIDY,  THEY SOMETIMES DON'T COVER THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE....SO ALONG WITH ADDRESSING  THE DRESS CODE....  THERE IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH  FLIP FLOPS, LONG HAIR NOT IN AN ELASTIC AND LOOSE BAGGY FLOPPING CLOTHING IN GENERAL..

 CERTAINLY WHILE I AM AT IT... GUM CHEWING IS JUST PLAIN OUT ANYWAY...AND SMOKING ONLY IN THE SMOKING KIOSK   

THE REST OF THE RULES ARE WELL POSTED  BY GRACE

RULES WHILE AT THE SERVICE DOG PROJECT

• 
  
• IF IT’S BROKEN, FIX IT
• IF IT’S DIRTY, CLEAN IT
• IF IT’S SMELLY, PICK IT UP
• IF IT’S EMPTY, FILL IT
• IF YOU TRIP OVER IT, MOVE IT
• IF IT’S GOT FOUR LEGS AND A TAIL, LOVE IT
• IF IT’S GOT TWO LEGS - IN A RED GOLF CART, LISTEN CLOSELY TO IT

JULY 26 2017

WATSON   (PUP FROM DENMARK MONTHS AGO)....)WILL BE HERE SATURDAY MORNING FOR A LOOK OVER  TO SEE HOW HE IS DEVELOPING ...  WE REALLY NEED HIM...   WITH BENTLEY BEING COMPRIMISED BY THE ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT -- HE HAS NOT FATHERED A PUP SINCE THE ACCIDENT...  STAMINA SEEMS TO BE HIS ISSUE...  WE MIGHT-- WE WILL-- TRY AGAIN WITH HIM-- I WONDER IF WE COULD  RIG SOME OXYGEN TO HIS NOSE WITHOUT UPSETTING THE REST OF HIS FUNCTION...  GENERALLY DOGS DO NOT LIKE ANY "ASSISTANCE"   --SO WE ARE LEFT TRYIHG TO VERBALLY SUGGEST CHANGES--  .... NOT HELPFUL... WE NEED MORE HARLS AND MERLES..... ALL THESE BLACK PUPPIES ARE STRETCHING OUR ABILITY TO REMEMBER NAMES...  THIS LATEST BUG GROUP IT IS ALMOST DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL  WHITE HAIRS... BREEDING  BLACK TO BLACK IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO SPOTS.. * ***** I DID HEAR FROM  THE  HUMAINE SOCIETY - Hi Carlene, Thank you so much for reaching out about The Humane Society of the United States' rescue of 84 Great Danes and your interest in helping.  The dogs who were rescued from this situation are considered evidence in a criminal case and they are being cared for in a temporary emergency animal shelter until the final disposition of the case is reached which we expect to take until at least the end of October.  We can't legally place the animals into adoptive or foster homes at this time and the decision to do so is in the hands of the court.  Once the case reaches its conclusion, we will update everyone on our Facebook page.  If the animals are legally surrendered to our care, we will then utilize our network of Emergency Placement Partners which are reputable animal shelters and rescues throughout the country to place them into loving homes. At this time, we are able to handle, work with, and walk all of the animals safely. If you'd like to help with the care of the animals, please go to www.humanesociety.org/rescueteam. Let me know if you have further questions, SO I CLICKED ON RESCUE TEAM  AND ALL THEY WANT IS $$ DONATIONS..  I WILL KEEP HER NAME...I AM PRETTY CONFIDENT THERE AREN'T MORE THAN A COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE IN THE US WHO  MANAGE OVER 50 DANES-- AND NONE AS WELL AS WE DO !! OUR POO PICKING PROCESS IS  UNEXCELLED... ***** SPEAKING OF EXCELLED....  I CAN NOW DOWNLOAD THE CHICKEN BRICK DONATIONS   TO EXCELL AND SORT  BY THE DOG/PERSON/TEAM COMMENT COLUMN..  VERY INTERESTING.... CHAOS IS A FAVORITE---  MANY PEOPLE JUST TELL US WE ARE LOVELY... WHICH WE AGREE WITH ...  BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHO GETS THE ENTIRE CHURCH GROUP TO DONATE IN THEIR DOGS NAME...  ONE GOAL IS TO GET THE ENTIRE  CORPORATE VOLUNTEER GROUPS   INVOLVED?????? **** THE RAIN YESTERDAY PROVED ONCE AGAIN   WATER RUNS DOWN HILL- NOT THAT I DOUBTED IT...  BUT WE  ( TANNER) PUT IN SOME LEFT OVER IRON PIPE -- ONLY ABOUT 4" DIAMETER   TO ASK THE  ARENA RUNN OFF PAST THE DONKEY VIEWING AREA... AND IT SEEMS TO COPE--   WE HAD MANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING SLOPE ---WE HAD ALOT OF RAIN-- AND IT RAN WHILE COVERED WITH STONE DUST--  IF THAT STAYS TRUE I WILL GET MORE STONE DUST AND LEVEL THE AREA SO WE HAVE A "VIEWING AREA"  FOR SITTING.... AS THE SIGNS SAY.... **** THIS IS TANNEER'S SUMMER OF LEARNING ABOUT LEVEL- THE BUILDING, SLOPE- THE SLIDING OF THE BUCKETS OF SAND DOWN THE ROLLERS,  TO  WATER RUNNING DOWN A PIPE.... TO  SLOPE  OF  SNOW SLIDING OFF  A ROOF.---  HE IS LEARNING...  IT IS ALL GEOMETRY-- AND NOT   A CASE OF DO IT WRONG AND GET A FAILING GRADE...IT IS A CASE OF DO IT WRONG AND IT WON'T WORK  SO YOU DO IT AGAIN... MOST MODERN "EDUCATION IS SORELY LACKING IN THE  DIDACTIC ( IS THAT A WORD?... OR EVEN THE WRONG WORD??) I WAS TRRYING FOR HANDS  ON... **** LAINES TEMP IS DOWN-- 100.4  .. THANKFULLY-- I WAS BEGINNING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SUPPLY OF GOATS MILK... ( REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION ABOUT  "KIDS MILK REPLACEMENT"  IS TERRIBLY DEPENDENT ON WHERE YOU PUT THE COMMA  THE STUFF IN THE FEED SORE IS MADE OF SEAWEED ( OR SOMETHIGN)  WE HAVE ALSWAY USED MYENBERG PEOPLE QUALITY GOATS MILK.-  YOU WONDER WHERE THEY KEEP ALL THOSE GOATS... UNTIL YOU SEE THE  AWARD WINNING GOAT MILKING CARROUSEL WHERE THYE MILK 1800 GOATS  DAILY  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5swQObgpD8   WORTH A LOOK...   THEY ALSO HAVE COW CARROUSELS OO... ***** AT THE AQUARIUM  --ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE EXTREMELY CARING TO OUR NEEDS. THEY WHERE ALL IMPRESSED ON HOW PIXIE ENJOYED HERSELF AS MUCH AS WE DID. THIS IS WHAT MAKES ARE OUTINGS SO MUCH MORE EXCITING WHEN MY SWEET GIRL WORKS BUT ALSO GETS TO ENJOY HER DAY TO AT THE SAME TIME.  I HAD A LADY COME UP TO ME CAUSE HER DAUGHTER WORKED THERE AND HER DAUGHTER CALLED HER TO TELL HER A GREAT DANE SD WAS AT THE AQUARIUM SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GET THERE AND FIND ME, LOL. SHE SURE DID HUNT US DOWN. WE TALKED SHE KNEW JUST WHERE PIXIE CAME FROM SHE WAS SUCH A SWEET WOMAN WHO HAS A MOBILITY ISSUE AND I TOLD HER MY STORY AND NOT TO GIVE UP NOR TO EVER QUIT. SHE KNEW ALL ABOUT THE SDP WHICH MADE ME PROUD TO MEET SOMEONE IN MY STATE WHO FOLLOWS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE.  PIXIE WAS A ROCKSTAR TODAY ON OUR FUN ADVENTURE I ALMOST TOOK TWO GOOD TRIPS CAUSE I JUST LOVE TO STUMBLE ON MY FEET. SHE SAVED ME FROM MY FALLS.  WHERE HOME NOW AND GOING TO ENJOY A NICE LAZY SUNDAY EVENING. I'M GETTING READY TO GO BACK ON CHEMO SO IT WAS SUCH A GREAT DAY TO HAVE NOTHING BUT SMILES ON MY SONS FACE, BEFORE I GET MY DOSE NEXT WEEK. THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME IN LIFE. TIME TO START THE BATTLE AGAIN.  I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED YOUR WEEKEND AS MUCH AS WE DID.

JULY 25 2017

THE CHICKEN BRICK WALL HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO SHOW  IF THE DONATION WAS MADE BECAUSE OF ANY SPECIFIC DOG....

SO FAR ASHER IS AHEAD--- WITH CHAOS CLOSE BEHIND.. THERE IS A LINE OF "WE MADE THIS DONATION BECAUSE OF .....XXXXX"

AND IF YOU PUT THE DOGS NAME FIRST, IT MAKES IT EASIER TO SORT... BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE  SO DO NOT PANIC... LINDA WILL FIND IT.

****

BETWEEN THE 8 PUPS,  YESTERDAY'S SURGICAL CASE  SET UP AS AN ICU, AND THE ARRIVAL OF MY FAVORITE  "SERVICE PERSON" .. THE TRASH MAN ( WHICH MEANT I HAD TO RUSH DOWN AND MOVE MANY TONS OF SAND LEFT OVER FROM THE STALL PROJECT SO HE COULD GET TO THE DUMPSTER...) THE ARRIVAL OF THE PURINA TRUCK WITH 7 PALLETS OF DOG FOOD... IN THE  POURING RAIN.....IT WAS A HECTIC DAY.

I WOULD NOT BELIEVE THIS IF I HAD NOT SEEN IT...  GETTING A 53 FOOT TRAILER UP OUR DRIVEWAY HAS ALSWAYS BEEN TIGHT-

 ( REMEMBER THE STORY OF  "IF YOU CAN'T GET IT UP THE DRIVEWAY, THERE IS A 79 YEAR OLD WOMAN SITTIN UP THERE  IN FRONT OF  HER TIPI WHO WILL  DRIVE IT  FOR YOU...")  WELL THIS GUY BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE BECAUSE HIS REAR END WAS  NOT AS FAR TO THE LEFT AS HE COULD HAVE BEEN FO R TH E RIGHT HAND TURN-- SO HE DID BRUSH AGAINST THE STONE WALL (WHICH HAS BEEN HIT BEFORE)-- I BUILT THAT WALL... AND HAVE REBUILT IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE SO THAT WAS NO REAL PROBLEM....  THE REAL PROBLME WAS TEH 4" OF NEW SURFACE OF THE HOT TOP DRIVEWAY MEANT THE TRACTOR TRAILER TOP JUST BRUSHED THE OVERHANGING TREE- FORCING THE  TRAILE TO THE RIGHT ENOUGH TO TAKE SOWN MORE WALL...

TANNER IS ABOUT TO LEARN TO APPRECIATE STONE WALL BUILDING.... TROUBLE IT IS  MADE OF ALL THOES FLAT STONES-- SO WE NOW NEED TO BUY SOME MORE OF THOSE - AS EH ORIGIONAL ONES HAVE BEEN GROUND INTO  TINY PIECES...

I SAID TO THE DRIVER... " GO AHEAD.. WE NEED THE FOOD YOU HAVE ON THERE MORE THAN WE NEED THAT WALL- HE GOT OUT OK... OTHERE DAMAGE WAS THE MAILBOX AND THE BUTTON FOR THE ELECTRIC GATE...

*****

PLUS OUR OVEN IS NOT WORKING.... AGAIN... IT'S NOT THAT IT IS OVERWORKED EITHER... AS WE ALL KNOW...- IT IS A RESTAURANT OVEN-- WE  HAVE ONE ALMOST LIKE IT IN THE T TENT-- PLUS  A REEAL OVEN IB THE GUEST HOUSE-- BUT WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE WHY IT IS DEAD... AGAIN... LAST TIME  A $13 SWITCH...

****

THE CP ' "PENGUIN PERSON" TURNED HER TRIVIA PRIZE SHIRT OVER TO  THE "LOST CP"  CAROLINE  FOR ALL HER HARD WORK WHILE SHE WAS HERE-- AND SHE REALLY DID... NOT ONLY TH E  STONES... BUT A VERY GOOD LIMA BEAN/CORN SOUP SHE MADE DURING THE RAIN... IT WAS VERY WELCOME...

******

LAINEY TEMP IS DOWN TO 102.2 LAST NIGHT AND 100 THIS MORNING--  AND THEY ARE NURSIN G OFF THE 2 BACK BOOOOOOBS WHIDH HAD A TENDENCY TO BE HARD AND NON PRODUCTIVE...-- NOW WORKING FINE I AM TOLD.  PLUS MOM IS PEEING AND POOPING ON SCHEDULE-- WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?/ 

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

SO MUCH FOR MY REPORTS OF THE DAY...

***********

HELLO ALL AT SDP,

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS ALMOST BEEN 3 YEARS SINCE SIENNA AND I HAVE BEEN A TEAM. WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING ON THIS ROLLERCOASTER CALLED LIFE AND SHE HAS HANDLED EVERY SITUATION PERFECTLY. WE HAVE GROWN TOGETHER AND KNOW ONE ANOTHER'S MANNERISMS TO A TEE. SHE STILL WAITS BY THE BATHROOM DOOR FOR ME WITH THE UTMOST ANXIETY AND ACTS LIKE SHE HASN'T SEEN ME IN YEARS WHEN I POP OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY I WAS NERVOUS TO LET HER OFF LEASH, NOW SHE MAKES HER MOVES FOLLOWING MY GESTURES AND MOVEMENTS, I DON'T EVEN NEED TO USE VOICE COMMANDS. IT'S LIKE WE SHARE A MIND AND ARE SYNCED AS ONE. WE CONTINUE GOING ON DAILY ADVENTURES SHOPPING AND KEEPING AS ACTIVE AS WE CAN. SHE LOVES TO GO TO PETCO AND PICK OUT HER FAVORITE COOKIES ( TREATS ). WE WENT TO SDP YESTERDAY AND SIENNA WAS ABLE TO RUN AND GET SOME EXERCISE WITH GROMMET. SHE ALSO GOT HER NAILS TRIMMED. THANKS AGAIN TO CARLENE , STAFF , VOLUNTEERS , CPS, CP ANGELS , EXPLORE. AND EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS LIFELONG PARTNERSHIP POSSIBLE.

LOVE MARIAROSE AND SIENNA

******

Dear Carlene,

I wanted to email you today and tell you about how Asher took it upon himself to get me out of a sticky (or rather, slippery) situation last night. He is truly looking out for me!

Around midnight last night I went to take a shower and he had his usual routine – he’d poke his head into the shower, take a look at me, and step back out. I finished and stepped out of the shower, joking that I had survived this mysterious shower contraption but I appreciated his concern (it’s just Asher and I in my apartment, so we have conversations like these often). All of a sudden I had lost my balance and fell backward, and wasn’t quick enough to grab the bar on the wall. That happens sometimes – nothing has to touch me and I don’t have to trip over anything to fall, I just lose my balance.

I’ve been fortunate over the years and I’ve never been seriously injured in a fall, just some bumps and bruises and a little shaken up. Last night I had fallen backward into the bath tub and hit my head (though not anything serious) against the back wall so my lower back was touching the bottom of the tub and my legs were folded over the side, not touching the ground. I knew I wasn’t badly hurt, just in a predicament and not sure how I was going to get back up. I was still wet, so everything was slippery, and I didn’t have anything in reach to grab on to.

Asher had this concerned look on his face and he had jumped up as soon as I fell. I thought if I could just put my arm up and brace on him, I could get myself into a sitting position and brace on him again to stand up. But Asher had a better idea. I grabbed his harness and was about to ask him to brace, when I felt him pull back. Hard. I saw him lean back on his haunches and step backwards toward the door, using his body weight to pull me all the way out of the bath tub so I could get back on my feet. Once I let go and he was sure I was okay, he moved a few steps away so I could get to the bathroom counter.

That wasn’t something we had ever practiced. I don’t know of a command for “pull”. He had done that by himself to get me out of the situation I was in, and that just blows my mind because Asher and I have known each other just a day over two weeks. But he thinks nothing of it – we’re a team. I thanked him profusely with hugs and kisses and rubs, but I have a feeling that if he could he would just shrug his shoulders and get us into bed. All in a day’s work for this Great Dane service dog. 

Erica & Asher

******

ED:  AN EDUCATED DOG....

july 24 2017

8 black pups-- all still with us and doing what looks like fine...  the first 24 hours are critical  and once we got thru that we can relax a little... very critical to the operation is that laine be relaxed into aksing to go out to pee.. and keeping the  routine exactly what she is used to ... which is  she looks uncomfortable and sits up-- pups gp in the laundry basket-- she goes outside ( gates up no leash- ) and in those 180 seconds her bed has been changed and provision made for her to lie down any where -- because she will normally change sides she is lying on-- when she lies down we take the smallest  and let her lick  him clean and put him at the milk bar all by himself... then slowly take the next 2 which might be problems - they have a tiny dot on their back-- one was the slowest to nurse... and leave thise 3 alone nursing before putting the rest bac in the pile... unless lainie  absolutelu stares at the basket... in which case we take the next- probaably one maiking a noise and put them in place.  etc.. she will tell you -- if you just watch her...

we have  greased their bums  with a bit of olive oil - so when the first bm's begin to come , they don't get stuck all over their rear ends.. and a roll of toilet paper is within easy reach for that operation....

so it starts...

very little, if any deviation  if any from that process for the next few days..

we may get them weighed

maybe... but please don't push us.. we know weighing is critical to be sure they e gainining-- believe me we know that ... but there could be a case of the process of weighing not worth the disruption of the routine... 

***"

i never  worry about the comment that says "looks like she tipped over her water" sometimes we need all the help from camera people we can get...HOWEVER...

what we don't need is "don't you think someone should have noticed she has no water. don't they realize how water is so critical. there are so many people there someone should have noticed."  which then gets off and running  with all the people who  think they know how to run this outfit " they put the wrong person in the nursery-  xxx would be so much better "  and a group of 20- 20 hindsighters  digs in for the long haul.  ending with "well, i can no longer donate to an outfit like that"

******

it is amazing we have got to  our 5th year with out a major battle-- i really appreciate when you all squelch one of those things when they start..

certianly we do have our failings ---

however----- if your opinion of the rest of humanity is that they are self serving money grubbling  lazy fools, please don't apply that to our group...  we have a great bunch who are working very hard - and enjoying the challange of helping others who have challanges of their own.

 i am trying to prepare you for our biggest challange right  now.... 8 jet black pups-- if we have 8 jet black pups in 3 weeks...  we will count our blessings... you can not see them against mom-- or each other-- and they move... even watching very closely,  we couold lose a pup, if mom gets too tired and sleeps on one.-- or someone puts down a dark/black fluffy and one gets undeerneath the fluffy..

 things can happen-- a bunch of harlequin pups is sooooo much easier to raise and train...

but when i try for more harls i might get a deaf one or two.. and a whole new bunch of people will tell me  how bad i am to produce white pups.-- like ariot?????? who lives the life of riley around here??????

i don't know how we have survived this long.... it aint easy...

moving on... maybe this is why.....

*********

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY IN FOREVER THAT WENDY WAS UP BEFORE HUNTER. WE WANTED TO SHARE THEIR HIKE OF MOUNT AGAMENTICUS THEY DID, THE DAY AFTER SURFING. LOTS OF WATER FOR BOTH AND THEY MADE IT TO THE TOP! ( ed... wow  what a video.. sorry i don't know how to share)

******

Hi Carlene, 

Recently a friend came to stay with us for the weekend. My husband and I have known him for almost 15 years, so he has witnessed my ups and downs over time. Our friend was impressed by how much Seagram has changed my life, especially now that we are 10 months into our partnership. He said that seeing me now, as compared to last summer, is "like day and night." He commented that I am walking so much better, and additionally, that I am much happier and much more positive. He observed that Seagram helps me not only with balance, but also that her companionship is invaluable.

Our friend was also impressed by Seagram's training and good behavior. We went to the Farmer's Market together and she was unflappable, despite the mix of many people, including children running around, and dogs. We also stopped at the grocery store, and although her nose was inches away from the meat, she stayed focused on helping me. 

 And he was amazed at how Seagram helps me with stairs, with no commands necessary for a few steps because she knows the routine -- so that Seagram & I now seamlessly climb the steps into the house (as compared to last summer, when I went up slowly with a cane). And when we did "step/whoa/brace," because I am still shaky on stairs sometimes, our friend also commented in amazement at how she helps me with this. 

Sometimes when progress is measured in tiny improvements day-by-day, even if only taking a few extra steps, it takes an outside observer to notice just how much has changed over time. Seagram and I have become quite a team. I am so grateful for her -- she truly is my Super Seagram!!

Thank you,

Amy

****

TODAY WAS CHURCH THEN A BIRTHDAY PARTY! EVE AND FINN GOT TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS & SWAM IN THE LAKE THEN EVE GOT TO RIDE ON A WAVE RUNNER! YES I MIGHT BE CRAZY! BUT SHE DIDN'T GET HURT AND HAD SOOOOO MUCH FUN! 

THEN WE CAME HOME TO CHILL BECAUSE EVE AND FINN GO TO CAMP THIS WEEK AND THEY WILL BOTH NEED THEIR REST TO TACKLE ALL THE FUN THIS WEEK WILL HOLD!! TEAM UP CAMP IS A CAMP DESIGNED FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR SIBLINGS. LAST YEAR CAMERON ERIN AND MYSELF VOLUNTEERED. THIS YEAR JUST ME AND ONLY 2 DAYS . JUST A BUNCH OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH THIS YEAR BUT WE HAVE GREAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY HELPING EVE GET TO CAMP!! 

july 23 2017

i wore my purple shirt today....pam has been rightly telling people who volunteer here, if they have any questions ask a person with a ourple shirt and they should be able to help you..... soooo.... yesterday was a wild and wooly day around here  between puppies 3 days early and 20 tons of sand with the corporate group to  deal with the sand   unexpected ly not coming... i was up all night between dealing with the puppies and then how to most easily handle  the 20 tons--  i was  watching the sand project and someone came along and asked a purple shirter  who was sitting in the golf cartt with me a complicated question about SDP.... which she answereed very carefully-- 

 i then asked why the person had not asked me and was told....... " because you are not wearing a purple shirt"

OK.... so i have on a purple shirt today.... whatever shirt i wear, does not change any rules around here-- yesterday's biggies "do not stand or drive behind a tractor about to back up"  -- "don't drive the tractopr forward if there are people in front of the bucket."  tanner was good at driving...  but had anything malfunctioned, the first thing  anyone would question  "who decided to let a 13 year old drive that back hoe.."  i would say he did a great job.. but i don't want to give him a big head..."

i was very glad to get thru the day with no major injuries-- and there could have been some.   lainie did not bite anyone-- and she could have....  she adores liv and is comfortted by liv's presence and touch... -- she barely tolerates anyone else so i have said don't touch her unless absolutely necessary-  things not seen by everyone-- like tossing a leash to another person in the room over a basket of pups  could have caused lainie to snap...  she didn't--   but easily could have objected to the fast movement...   i had-- and am reinforcing-  the 3 people rule in that room... one is linda-- one might be me in that chair...  but the great hordes of puppy peekers  must look from the door. or stay on the cameras--- much better idea.

"they are so cute, i just couldn't help myself"????? 

GREAT ! -- well let me help you whether you like it or not.----   just figure  keeping the animals happy  is my job.

*****

which gets to  this telling your kid at an early age... "just stick your hand out and let the dog sniff it and they won't bite" ... well they might not...  but that is not the part of you they would prefer to sniff...plus they  could probably  smell anyone who  was still in t he parking lot...i watch bentley loke a hawk ever since the accident-- and when people pat him in teh head- i get a clear message "i wish people would not bang on  my head" 

*****

now for chicken bricks-- i go thru this everuy month-- and every month you all bail us out with a sell out... thankfully enableing us to donate the dogs free of charge... ok.... we have donated over 150 dogs   and  many of those recipients  do buy a brick or two...  but there are some  who need reminding ... if at all possible... you should help pay it forward and get a friend or two to buy a brick in your dog's name..--  there is a place  to put the dog's name in the brick buying process...

*****

jim and cindy were here yestrday-- interesting ... cindy can;t talk an d i can't hear  but jim lugged sand for a while---he did tell me what a wonderful reception they had from all the great cp's they met on their way to and from florida--- all up and down the east coast...

******

 i think the sand lugging unit is still "up"   this is particularly hard on any compulsive types who really believe you have to go til you drop. like grace... . because there is no way we can do it all.. i plan to put the rest in the puppy hill area- to redo teh feeding area and clean it upa a bit...

*****

 thanks to george (DVM)  for staying in touch thru the lainie birthing --- i forgot to tell him we have the frozen placentas in the freezer if scott still needs them for tufts study...

washers nose is much much better-- amazing what a medical education will do for a dog... 

****

i have heard from will and ward-- my relatives with whom we had such a good time last time they were here.. twin boys who  during their stay here learned  to assemble manequins and put up tipi's.  they will be here around aug 6-9  i wonder if they ever get sick of "twin boys"  because by now they must be individual boys????  i know there is a song about  triplets

 "we do every thing alike

we look alike

we walk alike

we talk alike

and what i more we hate each other very much

we hate our folks

we'er sick of jokes  about how hard it is to tell us apart" 

****

could be it is like  "got a saddle for that horse..."

if the general public  only knew

but they don't. 

******

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIRTH OF 'BUG' BLACK PUPS #1 THROUGH #8.  EVERYONE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB!  HAVING SOUND WAS A WONDERFUL BONUS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.  

NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF DAY IT IS I KNOW I CAN ALWAYS FIND SMILES AND LOVE AT SDP.  ONCE UPON A TIME I COULD CONTRIBUTE IN MANY WAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS.  DUE TO UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES I CAN NO LONGER DO THAT SO I TRY TO SPREAD THE WORD AS MUCH AS I CAN.  I DO STILL HAVE SOME POKER CHIPS TO HAND OUT.  IT WILL SOON BE 5 YEARS THAT THE CAMS WENT LIVE AND THE CP COMMUNITY BEGAN.  I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE START AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US INTO YOUR HOME AND YOUR WORLD.

AND OF COURSE THANK YOU FOR CHANGING LIVES.  SO MANY, IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.  

OH...AND THANKS FOR THE SUDOKU LESSON THE OTHER DAY.  i DON'T LIKE NUMBERS BUT NOW I MAY TRY ONE ON MY OWN.  

WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE,

*****

Fiona, Karen and I got back from the blueberry festival a bit ago. Fiona was a big hit. People just gush over her. She was a perfect lady while we ate our blueberry pancakes and very patient while we visited the vendors. Karen had never been out with us before and was very impressed with Fiona's attention to me. When we got back Fiona and I took a nap. I am so fortunate to have her and I love everyone at SDP that made it possible and continue to make it possible for others.

**

good one