may 31 2018

expected to depart in 7 minutes...  flightaware tp217-- OK...  WE ARE ALL SET...I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING BESIDES BLACK  RUNNING AROUND MY FEET.

TEH REASON I CHOSE THIS KENNEL, IS I HAVE WATCHED  "CLAUDIABOHEMIA" DOGS  FOR YEARS AND THEY SEEM TO BREED CHAOS SHAPE  DOGS..  BROAD IN THE BEAM TYPE..-- THEN I FOUND PETAIR WAS ACTIVE IN PRAGUE, AND IT BECAME EASIER..  WITHOUT PETAIR, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE IMPORTING QUITE SO OFTEN...

I MUST WRITE THEM A LETTER... ON LETTERHEAD...TYPE...

starting with   buying any animal is a crap shoot-- however....I FIND BUYING A DOG IN EUROPE-- ESPECIALLY GERMANY- IS ALOT EASIER AND BETTER THAN TRYING TO BUY ONE  HERE---- COUPLE PROBLEMS-- SO MANY  BREEDERRS HERE  IN TRYING TO BE "LEGITIMATE"  HAVE A BUYING  CONTRACT-- TELLING YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO WITH THE DOG YOU HAVE JUST PAid for.-- some even try and dictate what food you will feed...-- you will not have complete registration papers- but a limited variety not allowing you to show or breed- or at least register anything you do breed with the AKC.  the concept is to try and prohibit teh  uninformed from breeding dogs-- there are too many--- however if there were better bred dogs in the usa i would try more rescues, but i do watch what dogs are available IN RESCUE and they are not the right shape for work... in my opinion... i use the basketball player vs football player concept to illustrate teh difference-- well the dogs from claudia bohemia kennels look like wrestler types..

we will see... as i say   it is a crap shoot-- walter has  HAD pups in teh same litter of all  types-- so it can happen-- i will taKE OUR CHANCES WITH  A  PUP- WHERE THE RELATIVES ARE A BUNCH OF DOGS WHO LOOK LIKE TANKS. I WISH SHE LIVED IN GERMANY ONLY BECAUSE OF " GERMAN  REGULATIONS" ABOUT FLYING OUT OF FRANKFURT. .  

GOD BLESS THE GERMANS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS.

SO HELP ME--- WHEN I WAS THERE, THE TRAINS RAN ON  HOURS/MINUTES/SECONDS  TIMING... AND THEY DID !!- TEH OTHER AMAZING THING WAS... I SAW LITTLE KIDS  --7 -8 YEARS OLD-- WITH BACK PACKS GOING TO SCHOOL-- STANDING ON THE  STATION PLATFORM---AND HOPPING ON THE TRAIN TO GO TO SCHOOL. WHICH REALLY WAS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE SCHOOL BUS  ROUTINE HERE... I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK TO ME... BUT IT STILL IS.

IN THIS COUNTRY A SCHOOL BUS WILL WAIT WHILE SOME KID RUNS OUT THE FRONT DOOR WITH AN ARM IN ONE SLEEVE, A PIECE OF TOAST IN THEIR MOUTH, SHOES UNTIED AND DROPPING BOOKS AS TEHY RUN... I KNOW -- I HAVE SAT BEHIND SCHOOL BUSSES AND WATCHED TEH  PERFORMANCE MANY MANY TIMES..  THE WORLD WILL WAIT FOR ME IS NOT SOMETHING THAT GETS YO TOO FAR IN REAL LIFE.  ONE MINUTE LATE FOR A TRAIN IN GERMANY MEANS YOU WALK.

GET 'EM YOUNG AND TRAIN  'EM EARLY.

****

 TODAY S FYI

THE ONLY FLY IN THE OINTMENT IS PAYPAL-- I AM ALMOST TO TH E POINT OF NEVER AGAIN-- THEY WITHDREW FROM MY BANK ACCOUNT ON 5/23 AND  MARIKA DID NOT GET MONEY IN HER ACCOUNT TIL 5/30-- WHICH WAS EVEN ONE DAY AFTER THE FINE PRINT SAID SHE WOULD.... I HAD CHOSEN TEH "DRAW MONEY  DIRECTLY FROM THE BANK" OPTION  WHICH IN THE TINY  GREY TONE PRINT SAID  MONEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN 6 DAYS--- WHICH STILL WOULD BE OK BECAUSE  SHE WOUDL GET THE MONEY BEFORE TURNING  THE PUP OVER TO PET AIR...  BUT SHE DID NOT-- SO ANOTEHR 2AM PANIC AND SENDING ANOTHER CREDIT CARD NUMBER  SO SHE WOULD HAVE SOME MONEY BEFORE GIVING  UP HTE PUP

.WITH THE 6 HOUR DIFFERENCE IN DEALING WITH THIS TRANSACTION PROBLEM, THE ONLY GOOD THING IS WHEN YOU CALL TEH 800 NUMBER AT 3AM THERE IS NOT A LONG WAIT FOR A PERSON TO ANSWER.

2 KENNELS AND 2 TRAVEL PAYMENTS  WITH 2 BEING SCREWED UP-- THAT IS A 50% SCREWUP RECORD FOR PAYPAL.

PLUS NOT MUCH SLEEP FOR ME IN THE MEANTIME.

P.S.  IF I WENT THRU A CREDIT CARD-- MONEY WENT IMMEDIATELY-- WITH HIGHER FEE... GOTTCHA 

****

I HAVE HAD ALOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT OUR MULE  "MO"  FIRST OF ALL   MO IS A GIRL    SHE SPENT QUITE A TIME LYING DOWN LAST NIGHT-- IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE, BUT... SHE WAS BREATHING  AND FLICKING FLYS OFF HER EARS-- IF SHE WAS IN TERRIBLE PAIN SHE WOULD NOT DO FLY FLICKING...  SO SHE WAS COMFORTABLE AND FINALLY DID STAND UP AND GO OUTSIDE.

 WHICH BRINGS UP ....THIS MAY MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT.... SHE WAS LYING RIGHT INSIDE THE DOOR-- A GOOD CHOICE IF SHE WAS TO EXPIRE... BECAUSE EVEN THO HER "SPIRIT" HAD LEFT,  THERE WOULD BE 1800 POUNDS  LEFT BEHIND-- DYING OUTSIDE IS AN EVEN BETTER CHOICE....BUT STILL WOULD INVOLVE A BIGGER TRACTOR THAN THE ONE WE OWN...  JUST A FACT OF LIFE ON THE FARM,

MAY 30 2018

ALMOST TIME FOR SIR RICHARD TO TAKE OFF FROM PRAGUE   TPA # 1305 TO BE TRANSFERED TO TPA #217 IN LISBON

TO ARRIVE IN BOSTON 13.20 TOMORROW.  

WE MUST LOAD UP WITH MORE CALENDARS, POKERCHIPS  AND SOME CHEW TOYS.

THESE 2--- PENNY AND PAULA ARE FITTING IN FINE... THEY ARE THRILLED WITH THEIR Barker bed existence... as chaos, bentley and sizzle shuffle around to find an open slot.

i don't know HOW  barbaRA ( IN GERMANY) EXPLAINS TO THESE DOGS THT THEY SHOULD SCOOT IN FRONT OF YOU AND PLUNK THEIR FANNIES ON THE GROUND QUICKLY... BUT THESE 2 DO THE SAME AS MAYHEM...  NOTHING BAD ABOUT IT, I AM JUST CURIOUS HOW SHE  ENCOURAGES THAT  PERFORMANCE..

***** 

\WE HAVE A GREAT PHOTO OF BELLA AND GEORGE-- BELLA IN A KAYAK, AND GEORGE STANDINGT CHEST DEEO IN WATER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE SHOULD HELP HER ..IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF "OUR EDUCATED DOG" 

" OUR  METHODS   RELY MORE ON BONDING THAN  "NORMAL" OBEDIENCE-- WHICH CAN TEND TO BE DOMINATING..  WE DON'T EVER GO THRU THE  "HEEL  SIT  DOWN STAY COME " ROUTINE.. OH THERE ARE A COUPLE... WHOA AND WAIT ARE ABOUT IT.-- IF I STAND NEXT TO A CAR DOOR AND TELL THE BENT OR SIZZ  TO WAIT, THEY KNOW THAT  WE ARE GOING TO GET IN THE CAR-- NOW HERE IS THE AMAZING PART-- IF THERE IS JUST ONE DOG, I OPEN THEIR DOOR AND THE DOG JUMPS IN WITHOUT MY SAYING ANYTHING.  IF THERE ARE 2 DOGS-- SO HELP ME THEY WAIT TIL I TELL THEM WHICH ONE GOES FIRST-- IT WAS NEVER MOR EVIDENT  THAN THE DAY I WAS  YELLING "SIZZLE GET IN THE CAR-- SIZZLE WILL YOU PLEASE GET IN THE CAR.... DANM IT SIZZLE" --- THEN   

MEGAN CAME ALONG  AND SAID "SIZ IS IN THE CAR... THAT IS  IS  CHAOS"   SO I SAID "CHAOS IN"   AND SHE JUMPED... 

WITH  CONSISTENCY-- MEGAN  AND STEVE TAKING THEM OUT "TRAINING"  WITHOUT ALOT OF WORDS, THEY LEARN TO WORK IN THE PROGRAM,,,  I THINK THE MOST I HAVE HEARD IS "HEY GET OVER HERE" IF THEY  RUN OUT OF THE BARN AND NOT DIRECTLY TO THE CAR.-   THE OTHER DOOR WHICH THEY ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH IS THEIR KENNEL DOOR-- WHERE WHEN IT IS OPEN FOR THEM, THEY ARE TO RUN IN AND TURN AROUND FOR A TREAT-- WHICH THE HANDLERS MUST ALWAYS HAVE.... BECAUSE-- WHAT THE DOGS ARE REALLY BEING TRAINED FOR IS TO JUMP IN THE CAR AND TURN AROUND - WHICH GETS THOSE LONG TAILS OUT OF THE WAY...--  WE ONLY DO TREATS AROUND THE FARM/KENNEL...OTHERWISE THEY ARE IN  WORK MODE AND GET A "GOOD DOOGIE" --

 THERE IS AN ASPECT OF OTHER STYLE "NORMAL"  DOG TRAINING WHERE THE DOG TEACHES THE HANDLER TO FEED THEM TREATS... I WATCH... MEGAN WATCHES  SHE IS VERY FUNNY DESCRIBING  SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAINERS, BUT JUST PORTAble  TREAT HOLDERS

i do knotice  once you start tthe treats, teh concentration is on treats-- not whaat you are trying to teach them.-- just as ... until they are bored with their surroundiings it is pointless to try and  get them to walk your sppeed.  consistency  and routine  will get a dane to the point of "ok... now what?    which is the "WATER"  part of helen keller's learnign sign language.

****

thus endeth the dog training for the day,.NO PHOTO

i try for teh picture of bella and george...

****

anne  staggared us thru the jaffee application whic we had to have done by 5/31-- it is very difficult-- especially since anne is th eonly one around here who ( being daNISH)  speaks english.

****

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR I FOUND A 16 FOOT BOARD, AND A 20 FOOT PLASTIC WOOD/BIOARD TO TRY AND GET TEH BACK DOOR TO THE G-TENT DONE-- YOU CAN NOT JUST GO TO THE STORE AND BUY 16 FOOT LUMBER

BECAUSE HOW DO YOU GET IT HOME--- EVEN ON TOP OF A CAR ... IT IS NOT REALLY "DO- APBE"  SO THEY HAVE TO DELIVER-- HARDLY WORTH 2 BOARDS.. BUT WE HAD SOME...

** 

SPEAKING OF LUMBER ... THANKS TO HUSBAND #31 WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SMOKING SHED ROOF...  HE LEFT THE POSTS.. WHICH WERE CEDAR TREES I CUT DOWN WHEN COLBY NEEDED A PLAY FORT-- IT HAS SINCE BEEN A CHICKEN COOP, PIGEON COOP, HOLDING PEN FOR PEACOCK,  RECEPTACLE FOR FEDEX UPS BOXES... AND FINALLY SMOKING SHED..

IT MUST NOW HAVE  IT'S  RESIDENT SMOKER ... THE SKELETON WHICH USUALLY SITS THERE.

****

MAY 29 2018

PUPS LANDED ON SCHEDULE===- FIRST IMPRESSION ONE IS PENSIVE- THE OTHER ACTIVE TO PUT IT MILDLY.the  people who worked there were  the usual type of people who deal withthe public  stone faced and not smiley....  until judy gave them a calendar-- which they they immediately puyt up on the wall....- the whole place began to be involved in getting us waited on...--- then i gave them a bunch of mark's poker chips- and that shut the whole place down while everyone watched/helped  us get the pups out and cleaned up in the lobby.

THE NEXT PUP WE PICK UP PLEASE REMIND ME TO TAKE CHEW TOYS-  MY HAND WAS BLEEDING IN TWO PLACES BY THE TIME W3E GOT HOME EVEN THO I WAS PAYING ATTENTION..-- WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH 2 EMPTY WATER BOTTLES AND THAT DID HELP

TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY-AND EVEN THO BUD IS A SUPER DRIVER, RIDING IN THE BACK OF MY TOYOTA WAS ALOT OF EXERCISE IN STYAING U[PRIGHT.

THEEY WERRE SHIPPED IN A NICE BIG CRATE WITH ONLY  few pieces of papertowel--- totally correct-- if they pee'd it would collect it... and if they ate it, it would get ou t- but they were anxious to chew on somethingn- we had teh wet purina with us and gave tehm a snack-- they had water in the little cups that come with the crate...it is interesting to see that they haVE FOUND " THE BARKER BEDS"   THE GAME HEERE QUICKLY BECAME GET A TOY AND DRAG IT - FIRST INTO A CORNER-- BUT THEN as  THEY DISCOVERED TEH BARKER BED AND DRAGGED EVERYTHING ONTO THAT.  I DON'T THINK THEY HAD THEM IN GERMANY-- 

THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO USE THIER NOSES TO FIND DRY FOOD-- OR MAYBE THEY DON'T RECOGNISE IT... I THINK THST KENNEL USES RAW DIET-- IT MIHHT BE NICE.... BUT CAN YOU IMMAGIND THIS PLACE  COVERED IN Raw chicken  we pride ourselves inteh scent of the place... or lack there of

i am sorry i took down that #$%^&*&^% gate in front of the house... because i can not open the front door and let them out til i get it back up...-- until they learn to come when called...

the episode with the calendar made me relate it to the  way teh general public treats those who have to serv them somehow....the plane landed -- and we /judy did go in several time s to ask if they hda our paperwork yet-- judy is pleasent big time-- but  i bet the norm  is be  "what do you mean not yet.... why are they so slow..?."    these people seems so used to getting yelled at   that by  being pleasent judy had them all waiting on us.

in britian-- or at least those friends i had who were at university in scotland -- were better trained to be civil-- there was an expression they used on each other.... "not very british of you."  or  because i was an american... "we just don't do that  over here"   made me well aware of teh  GET 'EM YOUNG TRAIN  'EM EARLY-    PROCESS TEH BRITISH HAD IT ALL OVER  US.

i am back to my mopther telling us to  stop stand and don't move if a policeman tells you to do that-- and i passed that on  to my kids.

somebody may email me with  a second opinion on this one, but i don't see why that is not mentioned in kindergaRDEN....

THERE WAS ANOTEHR JEM-- NO ONE EVER ACCOMPLISHED A THING BY TIPPING OVER A POLICE CRUIZER -- I CAN'T IMMAGINE WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO TELL ME THAT...ALONG WITH -- IF TEH  US GOVERNMENT IS ALL THAT BAD, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE...

****

I CAN BLAME ALOT OF TEH WORLD PROBLEMS ON AGRIFARMING... TEH MASS PRODUCTION OF FOOD GIVES TEH REST OF THE WORLD TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS. IF I WANT SOME ANCHOVEY PASTE TO FLAVOR MY CAESAR SALAD, ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GO TO TH E SUPER MARKET INSTEAD OF CATCHING ANCHOVIES AND SQUISHING THEM--  THIS LEAVES ME PLENTY OF TIME TO GET IN A GREAT SWIVET ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS PUTTING OUT CHEMICALS  SO THEY  DON'T HAVE ANY DANDILIONS IN THEIR LAWN.

ALL THOS WOMEN CARRYING JUGS OF WATER ON THERI HEADS DON'T FUSS ABOUT  BOXTOX TO CURE BAGS UNDER THEIR EYES.

THERE IS A BACK TO BASICS CONCEPT HERE...

LAST NIGHT COMING HOME  SITTING IN THE BACK  AREA WITH THE PUPS, MEANT I COULDN'T GIVE LIFE SAVORS TO THE POLICEMEN WE PASSED.-- I FELT GUILTY.

MAY 28 2018

GREAT PANIC  was with me...  i got up about 4AM   and there was a note from vineet- teh credit card was not going thru because of a security check... aaaaauuuuuggggghhhhhhhhh and  there was very little time before the pups were to be on the plane ( lufthansa 422) - note said to call the bank....-- so i pulled out the sdp credit card and sent that number in 2 emalls  and tried to call teh bank-- by the time i got the bank ( it is a holiday too) the other card went thru-- so we may have now paid twice.    that is no problem.  i just want those pups on that plane-- WE CAN UNTANGLE THE BANKI9NG LATER....

vineet just sent thru the  bill of lading  with the vacinations and health cert ( passport) so i think it will happen.

pet air has been very good....

NOW TO PACK UP GARBAGE BAG, WATER AND DISHES, SOME FOOD( WET)  TOWELS.. FLUFFIES, AND I HOPE I CAN FIND TEH WATERLESS SHAMOPOO.. WITH BUD DRIVING AND JUDY AND I DEALING, WE SHOULD MANAGE.  BUD HURT HIS BACK AND CAN'T LIFT-- JUDY IS SOUND, AND I CAN LIFT REALLY WELL.... BUT CAN'T WALK TOO FAR.. ...   LIFT-- WALK-- SIT DOWN ---LIFT --WALK-- SIT DOWN ---   WE WILL MANAGE  

IF ALL GOES PERFECTLY WE COULD BE BACK BY MAIL CALL 5PM...   BUT WE WILL HAVE TO  DEAL WITH CUSTOMS TOO...

****

I AM COUNTING ON THE  SUMMER INTERNS TO BAIL ME OUT ON THIS ONE...  THERE ARE THOSE WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS--- WHO ARE DOUBTING THE VIRTUE OF 2 MORE DOGS.-- HECK-- THEY ARE SMALL-- WHAT'S 2 MORE???

BOTH BLACK-- THEY  PROBABLY WON'T NOTICE,,

****

MEANWHILE HAWAII NEWS IS USING WWORDS LIKE-- CUT OFF ACCESS--- HELICOPTERS---- 3 FEET A MINUTE-- BREEZE SHIFTING-- ALL SORTS OF WORDS I WOULD FIND ALARMING.

OTHER  HAWAII INFORMATION.... IN LOOKING FOR DR POL ON NAT'L GEO,  , I FOUND DR BUCKEYE BOTTOM- I DO NOT SEE HOW HE MAKES A LIVING   BUT HIS SHOW IS INTERESTING.

****

DAVID IS COMPLETING TEH A/C.... HEAT... WALL UNIT IN THE TRAINING ROOM - ON SATUREDAY WE NEEDED THE A/C  AND ON SUNDAY ... THE HEAT.-  WE DID GET A FIRE GOING IN THE T TENT.

***

MARK COOKED ON HIS NEW GRILL-- WHICH MEANS THE OLD ONE-- WHICH IS NOT VERY OLD, IS UP FOR GRABS...  WE HAVE A YOUNG COUPLE WHO JUST BOUGHT A OUSE IN THE NEXT TOWN-- AND HAS LITTLE FURNATURE... OK... LET ME AT THAT PROBLEM.... THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BENCH IN TH ICU HOUSE JUST DIDN'T FIT-- ALONG WITH A BOOKCASE... THE GARAGE IN THE HOUSE GAVE UP  2 BRAND NEW TOILETS IN THEIR CARTONS- AND IF MEGAN DOESN'T GET THAT WALL OVEN OUT OF THERE , THEY CAN TAKE THAT TOO. UNDER TEH  "STUFF" IN TEH GARAGEE IS A BEAUTIFUL SHOW CART- WHICH IS A OPROJECT I WOULD LIKE THE INTERNS TO START ON  WITH POCKETS

****

MAYBE HARNESS AND DRIVE  MO.. JUST AS A REFRESHER COURSE-- THEN HARNESS THE 2 TOGETHER AND LET MO DO THE DRAGGING OF POCKETS TIL SHE LEARNS-- HOOKING THE 2 HARNESSES TOGETHERE WILL BE A CHALLANGE BECAUSE MO'S IS A TYPICAL WORK HARNESS WITH TA COLLAR... AND TH HARNESS FITTING POCKETS IS A DRIVING HARNESS WITH A  CHEST  STRAP FOR PULLING. 

 WHEN LAURA STARTS FOR THE SUMMER,, SHE CAN TRY ONCE AROUND THE POND TO GET MO "REFRESHED"  THAT WILL MOSTLY BE TO CONVINCE3 MO THAT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE - RIGHT NOW I AM SURE SHE IS FIGURING "I HAVE THE UPPER HAND"   THIS COULD BAE A CHALLANGE.  MANY CARROTS PER MILE.

***

I HAVE PASSED OUT THE  ROPE SLICING  "  KIT " TO THE INTERNS--- THEY SHOHLD BE ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE THEIR SECOND  PAY CHECK...-- AND TIE THAT SAFTEY KNOT...

***

FLIGHTAWARE LUFTHANSA 422   SHOLD BE IN THE AIR NOW..  I WILL GO WATCH...

may 27 2018

THANK HEAVENS I HAVE NO DESIRE TO CLIMB MT EVEREST-- NEWS THIs MORNING,, A GUY WHO LOST BOTH LIMBS TRYING TO GET THERE YEARS AGO JUST MADE IT -- I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAt...-- it is cold up there...he and everyone with him is in danger. why not try swimming from france to england where the conditions  for helpers are far more favorable?? 

**\

on to paula and penny flying tomorrow from frankfurt to boston-- landing at about 3:00-- takes about an hour to get the cargo to the terminal so we can have the attached paperwork-- which we then have to get stamped by "customs"  sonce tomorrow is a holiday, normal customs  in boston will be closed---  so we will have to go to the airport customs in terminall E-- instead... is anyone thnking about that?   they give you a very detailed paper telling you how to get thru downtown boston to get to  Customs"  at drydock..   with details of the cost of the fuel (47 cents) to make the round trip.  makes me wonder........except on a holiday when you just go to a differnt terminal.... many things make me wonder..

however....  the flight will be lufthansa 422 landign in boston at 15:00-- sooooooo

it is possbl;e to track the flight with flightaware.com  - last time there were  many hundreds of people watching that little dot cross the ocean cheering as it passed iceland... then greenland..

bud is our airport driver-- and judy and i will deal.. plan is to get them out of the crate in the  "outeroffice" space for a drink and snack. while we  put everyting  else that was in the crate  in a garbage bag...-- wipe them off with waterless shampoo.. wipe out the crate with  our terriffic supply of handiwipes--insert  new fluffies-- insert puppies and carry to car and turn loose in the back of my toyota to move and relax,  while bud drives us home.pullin up to the deagle house to carry them in  for a  camera  reception - i can not believe we will get there by mail call...  but i don't think we could be any earlier.-----oh  did i mention taking a supply of rubber gloves?

mayhem was spotless-- these are a little younger... and 2 of them in the same crate-- if it was not a direct flight we might need tyvek suits.

******

 there is some organizing to do---  people have to realize you feed dogs in reverse  order of age... which is also reverse of training...  you can not feed chaos with little puppies dancing around her feet and food--- but rather... you get the pups anchored .. like in lindas room... tehn may and sizzle... then bentley and chaos who understand "wait" 

****

 "meatcutter  steve" pointed out last night we survived with  about 40 danes in the house and no confusion... so  8 should be no problem-- i do want to claim the back condo area for "my"  end of things.

****

there are facts of life

a sleeping animal will wake with a full bLadder aND POSSIBLY COLON-  AND IF THE COLON PART DOES NOT HAPPEN THEN, IT WILL BE AWAKENED BY THE FEEDING OF BREAKFAST/ OR DINNER- SO  GETTING DOGS OUT DURING THOSE TIMES MIGHT HELP THE LAUNDRY BILL.

PEOPLE WITH SERVICE DOGS GET THE WHOLE ELIMINATION PROCESS DOWN PAT--- HAVEING BENTLEY WHO IS STILL INTACT , IT TOOK ME A WHILE- TO REALISE ALL THAT POST PEEING WAS TOTALLY NOT NECESSARY.  AS A MATTER OF FACT, A male dog seems to have an extra resevoir of urine so he may always have a little squirt necessary should he come upon a hydrant or  potted plant that has not been marked.-- because --- in the noticing department---- if it is raining out the supply may be saved for a sunny day.. when he will line up and drain  it often taking 23 minutes of a steady stream.

****

i wonder how urine is processed on this property daily  60 danes 14 donkeys & 29 people?

***

service dog having puppies at an airport   .... well... to be generous.... that dog could be teh service dog for the director of an adi  "program" . bentley is not neutered... is almost the same thing... you can not spay/ neuter your best dogs,- you must keep them for producing future service dogs.   there is some latitude given directors and  master trainers for just that reason.

now if that dog happens to be someone's working  service dog..... it could happen...  there is a famous golden stud dog with an adi member...  she has it easier... the  "feathers "( hair) hide his masculinity where as bentley it is more obvious... 

***

moving on   

****

may 26 2018

 this daily doggie is really ( dull)  but  it  will bring everyone up to speed a bit

today i must

*remind GRACE that  STEVE left  TEH MANEQUIN'S LEFT ARM IN HIS CAR.

*straighten up Delores- and get her arm back on- 

delores is a manequin to get th edogs used to manequins in teh malls

  she is leaning on the fence in the driveway looking drunk right  now 

*TELL TOM about  THE 6 LAG SCREWS IN THE FRONT WINDOW- a perfect example of good stuff wrong place.  we have alo of that here-- someone sent us 6 fly swatters which i see  are in the closit next to my desk-- by teh time you see a fly and get down on yOUR KNEES TO GET ONE, THE FLY IS GONE, AND BENTLY IS COWERING UNDER MY DESK ( SINCE HE AND I WERE ELECTRICUTED HE CAN NOT DEAL WITH THE BUZZ OF A FLY)

*ask tom to get 800 pounds  fertializer out of my car-WHICH SHOHUYLD HAVE BEEN SPREAD LAST MONTH?

*figure out the crack in the  house foundation-  WHERE IS SOME FLEX WHATEVER??? 

*find a cell phone that works ?jitterbug?I HAVE ONE FROM WALMART WHICH WILL ACTUALLY DIAL A NUMBER AFTER A3 MINUTE DELAY

*crawl around on hands and knees scratching  lawn seed into bare spots .. I AM TRYING FOR GREEN....  

*make leashes for interns to practice tie quick release********** A MUST LESSON 

*barricade  teh elect system in icu to make another kennel available. WE HAVE 2 MORE PUPS PENNY AND PAULA COMIONG MONDAY AFTERNOON... FROM FRANKFURT--  ---- OUR GERMAN CP'S HAVE SAID  THEY COME FROM A WONDERFUL KENNEL   SAME AS MAYHEM'S--- I AM TOLD WE HAVE ALOT OF DOGS...and need the room... :)

*buy stuff to practice a vegitarian  stew  ( to which we can add chicken chunks)for sunday

*try to find out how lisbon feels about rabies and  prague. (anne says lisbon airport is more modern than  boston)PETAIR IS HANDLING IT ALL  BUT IT IS NOT A NONSTOP FROM PRAGUE- boston  - AND I AM TOLD THEY HAVE A VETERNARIAN ATTENDANT  AT THE lisbon AIRPORT "PET HOTEL" (MUST BE KENNEL)

*figure out why lumber and "stuff" was delivered to the smoking hut (rumor a roof repair to be done by a  smokers  husband?)

*order the CA RULE signs (if it is dirty , clean it -- if it is empty, fill it,----if it is full , empty it....)SO WE LOOK MORE FRIENDLY TO THE PARTRIDGEBERRY DEVELOOPEMENT-- THE BABY DONKEYS HAVE DRAWN POSITIVE ATTENTION...

*encourage tree circling ( donkeys are eating trees AND THEY COULD KILL A TREE IN A DAY OR TWO...)

*get someone  to install 200' fence over pam's hill-- SO HER DOGS DON'T FIGHT WITH ANY ADULT DOGS  ON PUPPY HILL

*spread teh remaining lump of stone dust IN THE DONKEY VIEWING AREA

*get mo onto "grazing pen  on puppy hill - that GRASS IS GREENER OVER THE SEPTIC SYSTEM FOR THE LAUNDRY BUILDING 

*redefine "house dogs"   to include the "condo"  WITH THESE 2 NEW  BLACK  PUPS  -- THE GRANDMOTHER  OF THEM IS BLUE--  WHICH IS A WHOLE NEW LINE...IN DANES THERE IS BROWN, BLUE, AND  THE HARLEQUINS.. WHICH WE HAVE--  THERE ARE BLACKS OUT OF BLUE AND BLACKS OUT OF HARLS -- IF WE BRED THEse, IT COULD BE A SITUATION OF GETIN G A WIERD COLOR.  WE HAVE NOT BRED ANYTHING BESIDES HARLEQUINS-- BUT LOLA CAME FROM SOME BREEDING THAT DID..)

*Check gate between "A" and pond-- WE HAD A DOG GET THRU WHICH MEANT 3 DOGS IN ONE Area  3 dogs is too often 2 against 1 and is a very bad thing.

*make sure sharpie pens are  next to  the evening "what dog is where" list in the barn-- liv carefully made a list with a pen so light we coudl not read it in an emergency-- last person out of the barn is supposed to go around and check for water/ heat/ac, general well being and make a list of which dog is where to be left at the house.

THEN

*last of teh day.....enjoy the honeybaked turkey dinner tinna sent ! wooowoowooo

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

also----think of the book donna is going to try and put together-

i think each person we have donated a dog to has a story worth telling---the good teh bad the indifferent-- of teh before and after...

i know many have written emails to that effect--  which are totally lost in my collection,, so it would help if each of you woulod wrtie  a "one chapter" size story-- i think it would "sell"  to the general public..  and get it to info@servicedogproject.org-( linda)  who will pass it on to donna  lets get on that one.... to have it done before dogfest?????? wow 

MAY 25 2018

one hour of talking with janine  in the car to the airport is an exhausting mental exercise--- ideas fly around so quickly thaT I REALLY NEED 2 CUPS OF CAFFEEN TO KEEP UP... BUT WE MADE IT.-

 WE DISCUSSED NOT DISCUSSING MY IDEA OF  A LOCAL TV PROJECT-  BUT IT CERTAINLY IS NOT SOMETHING  WE COUDL BEGIN TO TACKLE-- THO ANYONE ELSE IS WELCOME TO THE IDEA....

 THERE AE ALOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE WANTING THIER VOICE TO BE HEArd.... soooo...... all these local town tv stations should have   an open mic-- anyone   24 hours a day   can have  5 minutes tv time to say anything they want-- then play them back  during thte day-- like commercials are for regular tv...  some could be ... amusing, instructive, or a release valve for anger.  local tv ends up with alot of dead air...  I THINK THOSE ARE SOMEHOW FEDERALLY FUNDED????? these coudl be a good thing..\   ward????? you are the expert????

**** 

AND THEN THERE IS THE NEXT BOOK IDEA.... REALLY ALREADY WRITTEN...  GOT TO WORK ON THAT...

******

i did put the details of teh pups on the comment column--  the paula AND PENNY  from the kennel in germany that sent us mayhem will be arriving in boston  3:-4:00 on monday-- lufthansa/....

*****

DEVIN TOOK the DAY OFF TODAY TO GRADUate--

****

david  and friend maTT PUT IN THE MITSUBISHI HEATER/AC IN THE TRAINING ROOM-- NOW THE LAT THING TO MAKE US MORE SECURE WILL BE TEH AUTOMATIC GENERATOR  FOR THE LAUNDRY-- FROM WHENCE COMETH THE ELECTRICITY FOR THE ICU AND T TENT ( CAMERA WHYFY)  WHICH I HPE TO GET DONE BEFORE DOG FEST.

THEY PUT IT IN JUST IN TIME FOR A PIPE TO BREEAK IN THE CELLAR-- SO NOW ALL WATER FOR THE DEAGLE HOUSE OR NUTT HOUSE HAS TO COME OUT OPF TH EKITCHEN-- DAVID SAID HE WOULD BE HERE TODAY TO FIX THAT PIPE.

DAVID #1  HAS A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SKILLS I HOPE HE IS TEACHING MATT... BECAUSE MATT IS MORE LOCAL AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN EMERGENCIES... HAVING  "BEGINNER"  MATT FIX PLUMBING DOES NOT WORRY ME... IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG WITH TEH PLUMBING YOU JUST MOP IT UP.

NOT SO WITH ELECTRICITY.

***

THANK HEAVENS FOR A GOOD CUT AND PASTE TODAY

******

Well it has been an entire week since Elvis and I left SDP and what a week it has been! 

We spent the weekend + Monday exploring campus and Boston as well as stopping for coffee with some fabulous friends! (Aileen and Jezlyn). Luckily Elvis loves going to Starbucks as much as I do 😉 We also stopped by Northeastern University Police Department where Elvis made many friends and I want to thank them for all their support! 

Tuesday was another hospital day and Elvis took everything in his stride. Everyone on the GI floor were so happy to meet him and extremely impressed as I walked down the hallway with no crutches! I have never been in Children's hospital without my crutches so you could say it was a little bit emotional when I walked through the doors without them! We then headed out to Cheesecake with Shea and Elvis was perfect. The waiters did not even realise he was there at first! 

By Wednesday, Elvis had been exposed to multiple distractions including trains flying past us and children trying to jump over him but he has stayed right by my side. I then headed to my American Health Care class where Elvis was once again very well behaved (even answering some of the questions about Healthcare financing 😂) 

Today was again another hospital day, which included Elvis meeting my primary doctor who was a big reason Elvis was a possibility! Elvis has decided he very much likes Dr Fitzgerald! She also seemed less worried about me taking on the Boston Children's Hospital walk next month as I will have Elvis (it was looking like I would have to do it in a wheelchair before last week). Completing this walk has been a goal of mine for a while and unfortunately has not been a possibility in recent years so I am excited that it seems hopeful this year! 

We also found out this week that the hospital is going ahead with another surgery. This surgery will be on my left leg as we are trying to prevent more damage and is currently scheduled for July 26th. We are still waiting for other surgery dates but for now we will be focusing on this one and the recovery. I think Elvis knew I was a little nervous about the fact I will be back in a wheelchair while relearning to walk so he made an extra special effort to cheer me up and reminding me that we are on this journey together 💙

So that is our update of the past week. It has gone by so fast and even though it has only been a week, Elvis has already helped me in so many ways, saving me from falls and helping me back off the floor. He has brought so many smiles to so many faces this week and I can't wait to see what our journey continues to bring! Stay tuned for more updates soon! 

Love Fiona and Elvis ❤️

MAY2 4 2018
IN A VERY LARGE HURRY... I HOPE THIE READS RIGHT

THE POLICE AND PAYPAL--- IT IS ALWAYS An interesting day when i get up very angry about something.....-todaY-- THE POLICE... SWEARING TO PPROTECT US-- HOW ABOUT TEH GENERAL PUBLIC BEING TRAINED TO PROTECT THE POLICE...TO HAVE SOME POLICEMAN CALLED A COWARD FOR NOT RUNNING TOWARD THE GUNFIRE OF AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE IS BIZZARRE- LAST NIGHT A POLICEMAN PANICED AND TAZZED SOME GUY--THE POLICEMAN GOT SCARED... WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH RIGHTS, THE POLICE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SCARED.... TERRIFIED... 

I WAS TRAINED AS A CHILD-- AND I TRAINED MY CHILDREN,, IF A POLICEMAN TELLS YOU TO STOP-- YOU STOP AND PUT YOU HAnds on your head if told to do so-- you may argue details later-- seems to me most of theses shootings-- tazing would not happen if the general public were trained how to respond and not scare a policeman into behaVING IN WHAT IS SOMETIMES A VERY RATIONAL SITUATION-- AFTERE ALL WE ALLOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE ARMED FAR BETTER THAN  MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS.. IT IS SCARY--

LAST NIGHT SOME FOOTBALL PLAYER  GOT TAZED-- WELL IF HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER THEN I BET HE WAS NOT A 98 POUND WEAKLING.. I REMEMBER A COMMENT BY THE WIFE OF  THAT 6 FOOT 8 INCH COMMEDIAN  ON CNN WHO PUT  A SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR "MY HUSBAND IS HUGE AND BLACK AND DOES NOT OWN A GUN-- DO NOT SHOOT HIM" 

*****

PAYPAL--  LOOKS TO ME LIKT SLEEZE

WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY I HAVE PA=ID FOR TEH PUP AND TRANSPORTING.. TURNS OUT... PAYPAL--- GIVES YOU THREE OPTIONS   TO WITHDRAW FUNDS TO COVER THE PPAYMENT--- A BALANCE AT PAYPAL ( MINE NOT BIG ENOUGH) A CHARGE CARD ON A BANK ACCOUNT ( COSTS A CHAGE CARD FEE ? $ 25.00) OR WITHDRAW FROM THE BANK DIRECTLY... ($2 FEE)

TOI PAU FOR TEH OPUO, I CHOSE "WITHDRAW FROM TEH BANK DIRECTLY"  AND AFTER THE SCREEN FLIPPED AROUND, IT SAID SHE COULD HAVE THE MONEY AFTER MAY 29TH----  EXCUSE ME????????---- I CALLED... LINDA CALLED---

LARGE UPROAR---  HOWEVER , IT STILL WOULD WORK BECAUSE THE PUP WAS DUE TO FLY 5/29-- HOWEVER... I WAS SHAKEN...

SO WITH LINDA LOOKING ON TO SEE WHERE I HAD GONE WRONG-- I PAID WITH PAYPAL USING THE CREDRTICARD OPTION

 THAT GETS OPAID THE NESXT DAY...I

SO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS TO HOLD PAYMNENT FOR 6 DAYS ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE A LOGICAL CHOICE OF LOWER BANK CHARGE-- AND ARE MAKING MILLIONS ON THE INTEREST ON THAT MONEY HELP... 

 RUNNING TO GET JANINIE TO THE AIRPORT AT 5:AM

may 23 2018

"REPORT OF ROO's  POO"---   WE TOOK ROO TO THE VET YESTERDAY- AND THE XRAY SHOWED A WIERDly  LARGE STOMACH - WITH SOME  GRANULAR LOOKING SUBSTANCE MAYBE THERE--  THE VET SUGGESTED A CAT HAIRBALL SUBSTANCE as a cure...--- BASICALLY CHICKEN FLAVORED NON ABSORBABLE  VASOLINE.... MEGAn gave her a couple teaspoons easily--- 2 hours later she produced poo-- which we decided was too soon for the effects of the poo making hairball stuff----  megan LOOKED IT OVER ...( MANUALLY..) AND DECIDED IT HAD A GRANULAR "FEEL" TO IT .  certainly could be sand---  but i am reminded constantly that at 3 weeks of age--- i.e.  before they ate outside on teh sand--  roo had an abnormally large belly.

we watcha nd wait???

as for mayhem's shoulder-- vet agreed shoulder strain of some kind-- probably not broken because she is weight bearing with some improvement.so   --- it will be about 8 weeks for a strain-- and no pain killer becauswe mommy nature is saying don't walk on it and it won't hurt.

that is a  "WAit" also 

****

I WOULD THINK THE FLIGHTS OUT OF HAWAII WOULD BE  BOOKED SOLID....  I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS NEWS ABOUT potential for additional eruptive activity--  HOW IS THAT FOR THE DEFINITION OF  OMINOUS  ,---- the resident, said he saw a crack on Nohea Street widen from about 3 feet on Thursday morning to about 10 feet wide later in the day. He also said that about 40 yards of the road sank.   "These cracks are definitely taking a toll on people getting to their homes," he said.

? HE STOOD THERE AND WATCHED???? ---  IF THIS IS A SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST DEAL, I WOULD THINK THE FITTEST WOULD BE ON A PLANE FOR "THE MAINLAND. -- DO THE NEWS PEOPLE GET HAZARD PAY?  

****

NOW IT IS ABOUT FLIGHTS ELSEWHERE.... LIKE  THE PUP FROM CZECH.. TURNS OUT THAT THE USDA RULES  OF RABIES FREE COUNTRY  DO NOT APPLY TO THE "EU" SO TEH RABIES VACCINATION  PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY GETTING THE PUP FROM CZ THRU  FRANKFORT--- OR EVEN TRANSFERRING PLANES  IN FRANKFURT FROM A PLANE FROM PRAGUE--  THERE IS A PET AIR IN BOTH PLACES- SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT.  WORST CASE IS  WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 2 WEEKS TO GIVE IT A RABIES SHOT THEN WAIT 21 DAYS BEFORE IT CAN GO TO GERMANY  TO GET TO  BOSOTN...

I AM WORKING ON IT....

******

FYI OF THE DAY  

 THEN I HAVE HAD AN EXPLINATION ON THE "ORAL VACINES FOR RABIES...

Hello Carlene,

 The oral vaccine for rabies is something we are using up here in Canada. It is distributed in a vaccine bait form. The bait is distributed in target zones where the animals of concern are known to be. The plastic packets contain the Raboral V-RG® rabies vaccine and an attractant. The oral vaccine is proving to be quite effective and is being used by government agencies around the world. It is proving to be highly effective for raccoons, foxes and skunks.

 In Ontario, within 5 years after the initiation of the baiting program the reported cases of rabid foxes went from 203 cases per year to 4 cases per year in the baited areas.  This was with 20 baits per square kilometer, distributed by aircraft and hand kilometer in an areas ranging from 8,000 to 29,000 square kilometers. 

I believe southern Texas has an ORV program for coyotes.

 Have a great day,

Lynne - FROM CANADA

***

and george added 

Used 20 years ago to keep rabies off Cape Cod. Targeted raccoons 

*******

APPARENTLY ---  INSIDE EDITION --?MAGAZINE? INTERVIEWED C COUPLE OF OUR RECIPIENTS ABOUT THE DANE FOR THE DEAF GUY ON A PLANE...  SO WATCH FOR THAT ARTICLE-- AND LET US KNOW.

MAY 22 2018

the puppy from CZ-- i know there is a rule about pups must be 16 weeks old with a rabies shot given 30 days prior---- but it goes on to say  "except in countries on the rabies free list  which is---- Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Cabrera, Channel Islands, Corsica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Formentera, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Majorca, Malta, Minorca, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway (except Svalbard), Portugal, San Marino, Spain (except Ceuta and Melilla), Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. 

 so i am hoping.  stay tuned..  i am supposed to pay for the pup today.  WITH HOPES TO HAVE THE PUP[ ARRIVE ABOUT MAY 30

WITH PREGNANCY IN MIND... I LISTED ALL THE FEMALES WE HAVE "FARMED OUT" AND CHECKED THEM OVER FOR  VACCINES..  APPARENTLY--- IF TEH MOM IS UP TP DATE ON HER VACCINES SHE WILL PRODUCE COLOSTRUM  WITH MORE ANTIBODIES.. HAPPILY MOST OF OUR FEMALES ARE UP TO DATE---  NOW TO LOOK OVER THE POSSIBLE MALES....  THEY DON'T NEED NUTTIN-- PERHAPS THAT IS A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS...

natasha/mayhem report-- she hAS A HARD TO SEE BALD SPOT ON THE POINT OF HER SHOULDER  WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A POINT OF IMPACT WHEN SHE FELL OFF SOME STONE WALL OR SOMETIGN-- AT ANY RATE...  WE ARE GOING TO XRAY  IT TODAY-  11 AM  - ALONG THE LARGE  BELLY OF ONE  PUP.

***

 ANOTHER PROBLEM OF TEH DAY ----WHICH CAMERA PEOPLE WILL BE SEEING HAPPEN--

IT TAKES 9 VEHICLES AND 4 TRAILERS TO RUN THIS SHOW AND I HATE SEEING  ANY OF THEM IN THE G-TENT--- SO TRYING TO HIDE THEM OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE AND CAMERAS... , YET ACCESSIBLE--- WILL BE THE CHORE TODAY.  WITH 12 ACRES YOU WOULD ASSUME.......

****

THE LOGIC  QUESTION OF THE DAY IS--- IF YOU DO AN ULTRASOUND ON A FEMALE  DOG AND THE REPORT IS "YES-- PREGNANT "  THEN SHE PROBABLY IS PREGNANT-- IF TEH REPORT SAYS NO-  THAT CAN MEAN "NO BABIES SEEN" WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN  NOT PREGNANT.  -- TEH NO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME RELAIBLILTY  AS THE YES.

IN ALOT OF CASES  A "NO" IS MORE DIFFICULT TO  PROVE.

AS IT READS NOW..... TO GO AND BUY A GUN   YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOU ARE NOT  MENTALLY DERANGED...-- MAYBE CHANGING THE LAW TO READ YOU MUST PROVE YOU ARE SANE TO BUY A GUN--  THAT WOULD ELIMINATE MOST OF HUMANITY RIGHT THERE.

**

I HAVE 3 RIFLES IN THE CORNER OF MY BEDROOM- OTHER THAN SWINGING THEM AND HITTING SOMEONE OVER THE HEAD, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM-- ONE HAS THAT STICK FOR POUNDING THE POWDER IN THE THING SOMEWHERE.-- I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT OF GETTING A GUN PERMIT SO I COULD SELL THEM...  THAT ONE WITH TEH WOODEN POWDER POUNDER IS AN ANTIQUE- AND VALUABLE - I AM TOLD....BECAUSE MOST HAVE LOST THE POWDER POUNDER.

****

NOW THE NEWS---DEAF PERSON SLUGGING THE GUY WHO HIT THE DOG ON THE AIRPLANE..  A  NEW YORK REPORTEER CALLED ME WHILE I WAS 1/2 ASLEEP LAST NIGHT AND WANTED AN INTERVIEW ABOUT DANES AS SERVICE DOGS.  THERE AE MORE REPORTERS CALLING BACK TODAY.

I HAVE ONLY SEEN A QUICK VIDEO- DURING WHICH THE DOG BEHAVED PERFECTLY-- LYING DOWN TIL ALL THE CONFUSION STARTED  THEN WENT DIRECTLY TO   THE HANDLER...  IT WAS THE PEOPLE WHO MISBEHAVED- I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ANY OF OUR RECIPIENTS WOULD CLOBBER ANYONE WHO SLUGGED THEIR DOG.  I AM TOLD...... THE SLUGGER TRIED TO LEAVE THE SCENE  AND TEH SLUGGEE CHASED HIM...-- THE AIRLINE HAS NAME AND ADDRESS OF BOTH SO THO CHASING WASN'T NECESSARY- UNDER THE CONDITIONS I HAVE SEEN SO FAR... IT LOOKS APPROPRIATE TO ME. 

***

 I DO HAVE ONE OTHER HEAVY DUTY COMMENT...

 THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, IF--- WHEN  OUR SCHOOLS  INSIST ON TEACHING  A SECOND LANGUAGE,   ASL WOULD BE  THAT  SECOND LANGUAGE TO  EVERYBODY- 

  AFTER  A TOTAL OF 6 "SCHOOL YEARS"---  MY PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT SPANISH ( AND LATIN)  WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE USEFUL IN ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING ELSE.

**********

TODAY WAS MY PLASMA EXCHANGE DAY. WHICH I CALL MY OIL CHANGE. PIXIE AND I GO TO THE HOSPITAL EVERY 3 WEEKS FOR THIS AND GET MY BLOOD ALL CLEANED OUT AND REFUSED UP. PHEW SO HAPPY TO HAVE HAD IT WITH THIS TOUGH WEEK AND MY MS IN FULL GEAR. FIGHTING THAT FLAIR SO I DON’T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A STAY WITH PIXIE HAS BEEN A TOUGH ONE BUT, FINGERS ARE CROSSED THAT TODAY’S TREATMENT HELPS SOME.

PIXIE ROCKED IT AGAIN! SHE’S ROCKSTAR. AS I PUT ON HER VEST SHE HAD HER TAIL WAGGING AWAY, READY TO WORK. THIS GIRL JUST LOVES TO MAKE MY DARKEST DAYS SO MUCH BRIGHTER. SHE WALKED WITH HER HEAD HELD HIGH, TAIL WAGGING AND BRACED TIGHT TO ME. SHE WAS TELLING ME MOM I GOT YOU. AS WE STOPPED AND WAITED FOR THE ELEVATOR I GOT A BIG KISS, AS IF TO SAY “ SEE MOM I’M SO HAPPY AND I GOT YOU”. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE APRIL 8TH I GOT TO WORK AND WALK WITH PIXIE KNOWING SHE WAS HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY AND WANTED TO WORK. FOR THE 1ST TIME JIMMY GOT TO STAND BACK AND WATCH US GLOW AND SHINE TOGETHER. HE WALKED ALONG OUR SIDE BUT I HAD MY GIRL RIGHT THERE THE WAY WE ALWAYS WORKED. 

WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME PIXIE WAS STILL IN THE MOOD TO KEEP PROVING TO ME HOW STRONG SHE IS. SHE HOPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND CAME TO MY DOOR TO GET ME AND THERE WE WHERE AGAIN WALKING AS ONE!

MAY 21 2018

sunday afternoons with the general public always gives me plenty to think about.... some of it great fun... like people trying to use teh fork lift without collapsoing teh tables etc..

i have set up 2 old tables and have a pallet to move from one to the other-- you probably never considered this... but one side of a pallet is very forgiving... and open---  the other  side has 2 holes for the fork thing and aim becomes far more critical... with the tractor bucket, if you lower it to the ground, there is a noticable thud - after which teh bucket keeps moving that direction and lifts teh tractor off the ground.  with this fork lift, it is so powerful that if you lower the forks to approximate teh  height of the table, and you go to far, there is no thud, you just simply compress the table to  firewood at ground level- the tractor bucket has trouble withteh purina pallet of about 1000 pounds.... someone told me this will lift 7000 pounds- and i see no reason to doubt that.]

the other thing about tractor and fork lift is that .... properly used--- you can control them  by the 1/8 inch at a time-- 

i am down to about 6 inch  TYPE control.

***

yesterdays biggie - i see the first step at having a  happy life  is having an existence of warm, dry, and well fed. after that you can be concerned with "happy/fun" -----   this is not just yeasterday, but months of  " please let my child volunteer at sdp   for experience-- i want my child to find an enjoyable job and he wants to work with animals"

with that tanner dragged 200 feet of wire fencing across our field of vision- and i pointed out to the mother that 87% OF THT WORK AROUND HERE HAd nothing to do with animals---- it started....-   her son didn't want to do that....he wanted to work directly  with animals--- why would  i not rush to have him volunteer here... -- ... she never should have asked me why.  becaquse here was a big strong  25 year old "kid" who was dictaTING WHAT IHE WOULD AND WOULD NOT DO...SO I STARTED IN WITH   "WHO FEEDS YOU?" AND IT WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE.

I AM A MIKE ROWE FAN- WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK WORK IS A BAD WORD.  WHY ARE THESE YOUNG KIDS NOT LEARNING UNEMOPLOYED  IS A WORSE  WORD.

SDP CAN NOT CHANGE 1000'S OF KIDS, BUT WE CAN CHANGE A FEW  AT A TIME--  I CAN SAY WITOUT RESERVATION, THAT IF IT BECAME NESSIARYU TO ROLL A BIG ROCK UP A hill, all our interns would be in there shoving til it got there. ( while getting great grades at the same time)

mike rowe's TED lecture concludes with "working people are the happiest people"  he draws that conclusion from his dirty jobs show.

i also know that our service dogs working with their partners are the happiest dogs i have ever seen- yet-- ther will be someone (?on teh internet?) who says dogs should just lead a simple minded, tail wagging  existaNCE- AND  CRATED BECAUSE TEY DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO WORK.

THAT CONCEPT NEEDS ALOT OF WORK-- BUT GET 'EM YOUNG, TRAIN  'EM EARLY- MAKES ME REALLY QUESTION WHAT WE ARE TEACHING THIS "YOUNGER GENERATION" 

HOW ODD-----MY FATHER USED TO SAY THAT  WHEN I WAS TEH YOUNGER GENERATION.....

++++

APPARENTLY  IT IS POSSIBLE  TO NOMINATE  ME/ SDP  FOR TEH JAFFEE AWARDS.. $50,000--  THAT WOULD BE A NICE TIDY SUM/ BIG HELP  ... SO IF YOU HAVE TIME.... LOOK INTO THAT 

may 20 2018

 "fun with body parts"   could be the title of last night's staff party  -- we had 2 legs and one arm which were  once part of a mannequin.. the rest of which  is missing-  the 2 legs have  a history of producing  moments of  classic humor... like the day we had to call an ambulance only to have the driver come up the driveway and  panic at the sight of those 2 legs sticking out from under the tractor.  i have a feeling teh arm belongs to delores who is poised by the fence near the guest house- clothed  in her summer dress and sun bonnet.

as many times as i have seen delores standing there.., i do a double take every time i ride by on my golf cart.

delores has great purpose  in the training of service dogs- 

problem being..... when 2 dogs approach each other, they  stop and freeze in place- at that split second, they are deciding whether to fight the other dog  or  wag a tail...  the bit about standing still is critical  because  when we go in a mall, the store windows are full of  people standing still-- a puppy that does not understand is going to  do more than a double take...

and if teh mannequins are bad, those rocking horses that you put a quarter in for a kitd to ride are worse... they really look like an animal about to strike-- this is why we have a rocikng horse in the arena-- so pups can get over the p[roper butt sniffing before they panic in a mall.

**

-- the party  hat--- as i sat in my bed watching the royal wedding, i thought i really ought ot have one of those british wedding hats for the party......  without moving much, i took one of the squares of flooring ajay gave me to re-floor the bgathroom- and added several things within reach--- i cut up 3 of the empty distilled water jugs before i got one to clamp on my head whille stuck on the glue of teh underside  of the piece of flooring.  courtney's unicorn, rabbit ears and a few kleenex flowers and other things, it was a proper hat..- finally donated to mark's extensive hat collection.

****

i do not have a clue why i was encouraged to pose -- head hidden/ face in hands..with trainers steve and megan-- they have some subscript in mind-- and i do not know what it is... i am sure it will appear on facebook or somewhere.

****

AWESOME ANNIE WAS AWESOME AT MAIL CALL!

****

and we are on to the  next puppy arrival... i have sent......

HI MARIKA-

HERE IS WHAT I KNOW SO FAR..... IS THIS CORRECT???

I SEE A LIST THAT CZECH IS ON THE RABIES FREE LIST --

IF THAT IS STILL TRUE, HE WILL APPARENTLY NEED JUST  THE NORMAL SERIES OF PUPPY SHOTS

AT 6 WEEKS 9-10 WEEKS AND A VET SIGNATURE THAT THE PUP SHOWS NO SIGN OF DISEASE AND IT FIT TO TRAVEL

BORN  22 MARCH--- 6 WEEK SHOT ABOUT APRIL 22-  IF HE HAS HIS SECOND SHOT-- AND VET EXAM MAY 25--6--7--8

HE COULD TRAVEL MAY 29 30 31-- I LIKE MID WEEK FOR TRAVEL...

THE LAST PUP I  GOT FROM FRANKFURT BORN DEC 30  HAD A VET SIGNATURE AND SECOND SHOT  ON  MARCH 3 AND TRAVELED ON MARCH 7  - SO MUST HAVE BEEN 9 WEEKS.

I WILL OWE YOU   1300 FOR PUP  200 TO GET  THE PUP TO PET AIR IN FRANKFURT PER YOUR EMAIL

MINUS TEH 500$ DEPOSIT.. I WILL SEND YOU $1000  

I WILL THEN OWE PET AIR FOR TRANSPORT AND CRATE

DOES THAT LOOK RIGHT?

she basically responded yes-- and sent 5 pages of details  including feeding details...

 apparently next monday is a holiday in germany, but i will contaqct pet air and have them connect with her for travel may 29 -- 30-- 31

i prefer mid week because of teh  confusioln with  my german sperm , liquid nitrogen, airport in paris-- weekend holidays   USDA and things like that.

bud...( our puppy picker upper)  i hope is ready for the usual performace... go to airport cargo side--- pick up a piece of paperr, leavign pup still in the crate,  drive  all the way into the bowels of boston- have some guy stamp the paper and drive all the way back to the airport cargo area and be allowed ot get your  pup out of the crate and go home.

****

sunday stew-- and we have not cleaned  the fire pit up from the last sunday stew.  where we tried the shopping cart on it's side..

my how time flies when you are trying to grow grass,

may 19 2018
also cake day....

 SHORT DOGGIE

*****

WE NEED TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF SHIPPING PUPPIES INTO THE USA AGAIN-- AND DON'T SAY "REMEMBER?"  BECAUSE I DON'T. I KNOW ALOT OF VAGUE RUMORS LIKE  RABIES NOT NECESSARY IF TEH COUNTRY IS RABIES FREE?????

...  THE PUP FROMN CZECH  LOOKS GOOD,AND IS GETTING READY TO SHIP IN A FEEW WEEKS..

SO NOW WE NEED TO KNOW......  #1  IS CZECH A COUNTRY THAT IS FREE OF RABIES AND DOES THAT AFFECT THE AGE WE CAN SHIP THE PUP THIS TIME.?  BECAUSE I THINK I HAVE REAQD SOMEWHERE  THAT RABIES SHOT CAN  BE GIVEN AFTER 12 WEEKS  -- AND SOMEWHERE ELSE... A VET EXAM WITHIN 24 HOURS OF FLIGHT?   

I WILL CONTACT PETAIR IN FRANKFURT- AND SEE WHAT THEY REQUIRE... WE MAY HAVE 2 SETS OF RULES - CZECH/GERMAN  TO FOLLOW WHERE TEH FLIGHT STARTS IN FRANKFURT ( A NON STOP TO BOSTON) 

 I DO KNOW  ---MAYHEM WAS BORN 12/30 2017 AND SHIPPED  3/7/2018- SOUJNDS LIKE MAYBE 10 WEEKS OLD? BUT THAT WAS GERMAN /GERMAN... 

AT ANY RATE IT WILL TAKE ME HOURS OF EMAILING    TO  SOLVE ALL THIS AGAIN...

****

MISCHA IS NOT SPAYED YET..  HMMMMMM ( AND NOT IN HEAT EITHER-- NOBIDY SEEMS TO BE CYCLING NORMALLY...)

****

mystery solved......AN EXPLINATION OF STRnge boxes at mail call... 

kathy ( of grover... ca)  said her company has a list of  no longer needed  items  which if she thin]ks we coudl use, she grabs them and sends them-- wonderful --this  explains how we ended up with  unbelieveable  number of cartons of  sponges, work gloves, and wipes-- which we will use !!

***** 

ALONG WITH GETTING READY FOR THE STAFF PARTY TONIGHT...  USUALLY GOODS FUN

I HAVE A FEW DETIALS TO WORK ON... 

may 18 2018

I LOVE IT WHEN A CP FINDS OUR DOGS SOMEWHERE-- LIKE  EVE AND FINN WITH THEIR LEMONADE STAND MEETING SONJA BENGTSON.  WHAT A GREAT SUMMER PROJECT 

EVE AND FINN

Another successful lemonade stand for the Service Dog Project! We had 10 gallons of lemonade and we sold out by around 6:30!!!

I just got around to mailing the check from the first stand so CPs you can look for that in mail call in the next few days! I wanted the girls to go to the bank together to get the cashier’s check and write letters the next thing I knew we were getting ready for another lemonade stand so .... oooops... but it went in today’s mail! 

And now we have another check to send!!! We are already almost to the goal we set for the entire summer!!! We will be at the Farmers Market a few more times this summer and I have at least one other BIG event I’m hoping they can get into. 🤞🏼

Again the girls had a great time, made many new friends and talked about the Service Dog Project! But Eve and I agree our favorite part was that CP Sonja Bengtson and her hubby came to visit!! We didn’t get to chat too much when she was at the Faahion Show so this time we had more time! Her husband even told me a story about Finn when he was in New York that I hadn’t heard before! Gosh I can only imagine how much FuN it would be to make it to dog fest! Hoping to make it a priority in the coming years!!

THE PICTURES ARE GOOD--- WITH FINN LYING  ON A MAT  AT HER FEET WITH HIS WATER DISH RIGHT THERE-- I AM SURE HE HELPS DRAW THE CUSTOMERS TOO.

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  INSERTING  PICTURES???  --- I TRied

Y AGAIN...IT IS/WAS A PICTURE AND NOW IT IS A LITTLE BLUE SQUARE WITH A QUESTION MARK....  THERE IS SOOOOO MUCH I DO NOT KNOW.....

I HAVE HAD LINDA/DONNA AND OTHER STAFF VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEMS MY COMPUTER PRESENTS ARE UNIQUE EVEN WHEN THEY PUSH THE BUTTONS.

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I AM TOLD... BY THEM AS KNOWS--  THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO WATCH ALL IN THE FAMILY ON TV-- SOMEWHERE AMID THE 1500 CHANNELS- NIGHT TV IS PAINFUL--  ESPECIALLY THE 2 TO 4 AM VARIETY.. I TRIED LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF SHOW....BUT---- SPENT MOST OF THE TIME WAITING TO SEE WHAT SHOW IT WAS AMID THE ADS SO I GOT NO WHERE. 

MY TV IS SUPPOSED TO BE SMART--  UP TO THIS POINT I HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO TURN IT ON AND OFF- AT WHICH TIME IT REMINDS ME IT IS A "SMART TV..".

SO I GOOGLED  WHAT IS..... -- AND GOT  " A SMART TV IS  AS  SIMILAR TO A COMPUTER AS A WRENCH IS TO A HAMMER"  THEN SECOND   "It's undeniable that smart TVs are now obsolete, "   HECK I DIDN'T EVEN LEARN TO USE THAT YET..

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I BOUGHT SOME BOOKS ON TAPE-- TRIED TO LISTEN ON MY COMPUTER- THEY GOT DOWNLOADED AS SONGS IN "ITUNES" WHICH I CAN NOT OPEN BECAUSE I HAVE 9 DIFFERENT  EMAIL ADDRESSES WITH EVEN MORE ITUNES ACCOUNTS.  SO I GO SIT IN MY CAR And listen  ,.... and nap...

it works

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so far watson's pups are looking good,,, THEY WENT FOR THEIR RABIES SHOT YESTERDAY  AND A VERY QUICK LOOK OVER-- ONLY ODDITY WAS ONE HAS A LARGE TUMMY  OF UNKNOWN CAUSE.

AND STILL NO FEMALES IN HEAT....  WE ARE FALLING BEHIND....  IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO  SOME UN NAMED PEOPLE THAT A FEW TOO MANY DOGS HAS A FAR BETTER OUTCOME THAN NONE.. IF THEREE COME IN HEAT AT ONCE-- HERE WE GO AGAIN.... IF TEH SECODN COMES IN HEAT BEFORE WE CAN VERIFY THE PREGNANCY OF TEH FIRST  I AM INCLINED TO BREED THE SECOND... 

 BREEDING 2 FEMALWES COULD GIVE US 20 PUPS... --  BUT IT COULD ALSO GIVE US 2..--NOW THE CP'S LOVE SEEING PUPS AND HAPPILY  HELP US  SUPPORT THEM.. SO MY INSTINCT IS TO BREED 2 NEXT TIME ROUND...

 NOW IF ONLY MOTHER NATURE WOULD GET THEM CYCLING....

I CAN'T SEE WHAT IS THE FUSS... WE MANAGED 4 LITTERS AT ONCE WITH ONLY MINOR CONFUSION...  IT'S SIMPLUY A CASE OF FEAR BEING WORSE THAN THE FACT...

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AT THE MOMENT   THERE ARE NO DOGS IN THE CONDO-- ALL THE PUPS HAVE GRADUATED TO THE BARN KENNELS- SO THE OVERNIGHT PERSON GOT A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP...

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PN TEH PUPPY HILL C AMERA ---YOU CAN SEE THE ONE TARP  THAT GOT PLACED-  24 MORE TO GO....  AND WE NEED TO CUT A  STRATIGALLY PLACED  DRAIN HOLE IN EACH-- ONCE WATER STARTS TO COLLECT WHEREVER IT WANTS  IT CAN GET OUT OF HAND...

TOMORROW  NIGHT IS THE  SDP PARTY-- USUALLY FUN.... --- AWESOME ANNIE WILL BE HERE MANNING THE SHIP WHILE EVERYONE ELSE GOES TO DINNER-- SHE MAY HOLD MAIL CALL-- -- I DUNNO-- IT IS UP TO  HER.

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NOW FOR THE FYI-- JANINE CALLED YESTERDAY AND SAID SHE HAD A DONKEY SHE THOUGHT WAS GONG TO FOAL- AND I SAID I COULD PUT IT  IN THE BACK STALL IF SHE REALLY NEEDED ME TO... I NEVER H=EARD MORE TIL 2 MINUTES AGO... JANINE IS ON HER WAY TO THE AIRPORT... "SOMETHING " WOKE HER UP AN HOUR EARLY  AT 4AM TO GO TO THE AIRPORT AT 5-- SO SHE WENT TO CHECK TEH DONLKEY- AND TEHERR WAS TEH NEW BABY NURSING AWAY - AND STUFF FALLING OUT OF MOM'S REAR... ALL ON SCHEDULE... WITHOUT HER HELP

THat is the normal....

MAY 17 2018

i recieved alot of commentos on my  grommet replacement lecture at 5PM mail call last night...-- for those who missed it... you  take a small stone/rock/ ?2" diameter-- put it behind your tarp/whatever  put a noose around it and  you can tie it down better than any grommet...lots of remarks ... would i please do that kind of thing every night...

well that would demand a certain  experttise of which i am sorely lacking...  i do have a collection of  "incidental intelligence"  but it is  pretty incidental..  same with teh nutty professor-- i run out of ideas--  i may  see some brilliaqnt idea i could copy at mail call involving coffee cups and straws..., but  by mail call i will  wonder why all the straWS AND COFFEE CUPS NEXT TO MY COMPUTER.-

TAKE THISW MORNING-- WONDERING WHAT TO DISCUSS ON THE DD  -- SO AS I GOT DRESSED I MADE NOTES ON A POO PICKER  - TEH ONLY  ONE I CAN MAKE OUT IS  THAT MY BLUE JEAQNS WEIGH 1.6 POUNDS.

 THERE IS NOT ALOT I CAN DO WITH THAT FASCINATING DETAIL.

I DID NOTE.. I SHOULD WRITE A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF TEH DONKEY FEEDBAGS SDP IS  NOW SELLING  AND PUT IT IN  WITH THE MAILING........-- BESIDES BEING VERY USEFUL, THE STORY BEHIND THEM MAKES THEM INTERESTING....

WE ARE ACTUALL;Y USING  6 OF TEHM TO FEED OUR DONKEYS..... BECAUSE  IT MEANS THE MORE SUBMISSIVE DONKEYS CAN RUN FROM THE DOMINANT AND TAKE THEIR BREAKFAST WITH THEM-- AND THEY DON'T WASTE AN OAT...     interesting ly.... all feedbags are made so that if the donkey goes to get a drink, the water can drain out- 

 for $15 plus $5 postage you can have a really handy "day bag"   that you can see what is collecting in the bottom.    these also come with a tough pouch of  stuff that usually collects somewhere... like 1  plastic glove, - packet of 2 tyelonol-- 2 asprin( in case of heart attack) - pen-- 1 paper clip- useful  things like that. WE HAVE GONE THRU 200 ALREADY....

i did send a supply to  the "save your ass" charity-- and a like organization in germany...

the donkey  embroidered on it was drawn by janine at a very early age-- less than 5-- an d becalme the logo for aNIMAL EPISODES

JANINE NEVER DREW ANYTHING ELSE RECOGNISABLE  IN THE FOLLOWING 50 YEARS SINCE THEN.

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THE ONLY OTHER THINGS I CAN FATHAM ON MY DAILY POO PICKER... SOMEBODY ON TV SAID INNOVATE OR EVAPORATE---AND A NOTE ABOTU ADS ARE WRITTEN 27 WORDS IN 10 SECONDS .

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ERICA GAVE US A GOOD CUT AND PASTE

... I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS A "BROADWAY MUSICAL" FAN ALSO...

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erica and asher

I GOT TO LIVE A DREAM LAST NIGHT, AND ASHER HAD A BIG "PAW" IN MAKING IT HAPPEN.

FIRST, TO FULLY APPRECIATE HOW THIS WHOLE THING CAME ABOUT, WE NEED TO GIVE YOU THE BACKGROUND. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (PPAC) HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE VENUE TO GO SEE A MUSICAL - IT'S SMALL ENOUGH TO NOT BE OVERWHELMING FOR ME TO NAVIGATE ALONE, IT HAS AN INTIMATE FEEL TO IT WHEN PERFORMERS TAKE THE STAGE, THE PERFORMANCES OF BROADWAY NATIONAL TOURS ARE ALWAYS FLAWLESS, AND IT HAS A PERSONALIZED FEEL: I'VE BEEN GOING TO PPAC OFTEN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, ENOUGH THAT THE DOORMAN KNOWS WHO I AM AND, SINCE BEING MATCHED WITH ASHER, MOST OF THE OTHER STAFF DOES TOO. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I BOUGHT MY TICKET FOR SATURDAY'S MATINEE PERFORMANCE OF SOMETHING ROTTEN!, WHICH HAS BEEN ON TOUR FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS COMING TO PROVIDENCE - LAST MAY, I STUMBLED ACROSS THE SCORE WHEN I WAS IN A FUNK AFTER MOVING TO BRISTOL, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY SONG HAD ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD WHILE I UNPACKED. SO TO SEE IT PERFORMED ON STAGE AFTER SURVIVING MY FIRST YEAR IN LAW SCHOOL - AND IN A TINY TOWN THAT'S, WELL, FAR FROM MY FAVORITE - WOULD BE SUCH A TREAT!

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AFTER I RECEIVED MY TICKET, PPAC ANNOUNCED A CONTEST. ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS IN THE SHOW IS CALLED "RIGHT HAND MAN," AND SO THEY WANTED TO KNOW, WHO'S YOUR RIGHT HAND MAN? THE IDEA WAS TO TAG A PERSON AND THEN THE WINNER WOULD GET TWO TICKETS FOR THE OPENING NIGHT PLUS AN INVITATION TO THE CAST PARTY AFTER THE SHOW.

I LOVE MUSICALS. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM - THE PERFECTLY CHOREOGRAPHED DANCING, THE SONGS AND LYRICS THAT DEVELOP THE PLOT, THE FLASHY AND NUMEROUS COSTUMES, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE OBVIOUS AND PALPABLE CHEMISTRY OF THE CAST ON STAGE. IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE I WAS IN THE ENSEMBLE OF A COUPLE, AND NOTHING COMPARED TO THE FEELING OF PRACTICALLY LIVING AND BREATHING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS WHILE WE REHEARSED EVERY DAY UP UNTIL OPENING NIGHT. MULTIPLY THAT BY TEN OR SO FOR A NATIONAL TOUR, AND I REALLY CAN’T IMAGINE A JOB THAT’S BETTER THAN THAT. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, I HAVE SHOW TUNES PLAYING FOR HOURS AND IF I’M NOT WORKING OR STUDYING, I’M USUALLY SINGING ALONG (PERKS OF LIVING ALONE, I GUESS?). BUT I WON’T BE DANCING ACROSS THE FLOOR ANY TIME SOON, SO IT’S A DREAM THAT WAS NEVER TO BE. INSTEAD, I TELL MYSELF THAT I’LL JUST STAY AS CLOSE TO MUSICAL THEATRE AS I CAN, AND I HOPE THAT MY FUTURE CAREER WILL GIVE ME PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE GOING TO SHOWS AND SUPPORTING THE PERFORMING ARTS I LOVE. BUT FOR NOW, A CHANCE TO WIN AN INVITE TO SPEND THE EVENING WITH THE CAST? SIGN ME UP!

NOW, I HAVE A FEW GREAT FRIENDS IN MY SMALL CIRCLE, AND THERE ARE ONE OR TWO I FEEL LIKE I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT. BUT THERE WAS ONLY ONE FRIEND THAT I FELT DESERVED THE TITLE OF MY RIGHT HAND MAN, AND THAT IS ASHER. SO, WHY NOT TAG HIM (VIA THIS PUBLIC PAGE) AS SUCH? A COUPLE WEEKS WENT BY, AND IN THE CRAZINESS OF FINAL EXAMS, I FORGOT ABOUT IT. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED WHEN I GOT A MESSAGE LAST FRIDAY THAT I HAD WON!

SINCE ASHER TECHNICALLY DOESN’T NEED HIS OWN TICKET, HE GRACIOUSLY GAVE HIS TO OUR BEST FRIEND WE MET IN SCHOOL THIS PAST YEAR, AND WE HAD SUCH AN AMAZING NIGHT. THE SHOW WAS WONDERFUL AND SO FUNNY, AND WHEN IT ENDED, WE HEADED UP TO THE PARTY TO MEET THE TALENTED PERFORMERS WE HAD JUST WATCHED FOR THE PAST TWO HOURS. WE GRABBED A TABLE AS THE CAST FILTERED IN, AND I KEPT ASHER BEHIND MY CHAIR WHILE WE GOT OUR FOOD AND DRINKS. THE PPAC STAFF CAME OVER TO SAY HI (BECAUSE “DO NOT PET” RULES JUST DON’T APPLY WHEN YOU’RE A DISTINGUISHED GUEST AT AN EXCLUSIVE PARTY!), AND THEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THAT I WAS THERE BECAUSE ASHER AND I HAD WON THE RIGHT HAND MAN CONTEST – THEY EXPLAINED THAT MINE WAS THE BEST ENTRY THEY HAD GOTTEN SO THEY JUST COULDN’T NOT PICK US – AND THE CAST TOOK NOTICE OF ASHER IN HIS TIE AND TOP HAT. WE WERE PRETTY POPULAR AFTER THAT.

MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS IN THE SHOW WERE BEA (NICK BOTTOM’S WIFE WHO SANG “RIGHT HAND MAN”, PLAYED BY MAGGIE LAKIS) AND PORTIA (NIGEL BOTTOM’S HILARIOUS LOVE INTEREST, PLAYED BY AUTUMN HURLBERT), AND BOTH MAGGIE AND AUTUMN WERE SO FUN TO MEET AND SPEND THE EVENING WITH. WE TALKED ABOUT ASHER (OBVIOUSLY), AND ALSO ABOUT THEIR LIVES ON THE ROAD. NEITHER AUTUMN OR MAGGIE HAD BEEN HOME FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, ON TOUR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE RUN TO THE VERY END, WHICH IS THIS SUNDAY HERE IN PROVIDENCE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE TWO CHARACTERS WHO WERE MARRIED ON STAGE, BEA AND NICK, ARE ALSO MARRIED IN REAL LIFE! ROB MCCLURE, WHO PLAYED NICK, IS SO TALENTED WITH SUCH A PRESENCE ON STAGE, AND TO MEET HIM AND JUST HANG OUT HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND EVERYONE WAS BEYOND THRILLING (APPARENTLY ASHER WAS A LITTLE STARSTRUCK TOO – HE JUST COULDN’T TAKE HIS EYES OFF OF THE CAST FOR THE CAST PHOTO!).

ASHER HAS PRESENTED ME WITH MANY INTERESTING EXPERIENCES, BUT I THINK THIS ONE MAY TAKE THE CAKE TO DATE. WE’LL PROBABLY HEAD BACK TO PPAC ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO SEE THE MATINEE SINCE I HAVE THE TICKET ANYWAY AND SINGLE TICKETS DON’T USUALLY RESELL, SO WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A DOUBLE FEATURE! WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF LAST NIGHT, AND I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN SOMEDAY. MEETING THE TALENTED PEOPLE WHO SPREAD SO MUCH JOY AND LAUGHTER WITH THEIR HARD WORK ON THEIR TOUR WAS SOMETHING WE WON’T SOON FORGET!

may 16 2018

apparently  there is a trick the people in california don't know about how to make it raIN... you go out and spread grass seed and it draws a huge gully washing storm right to  the spot of your grass seed and takes it all down hill ... where it germinates  into lush green swamp..

i knew that storm was coming-- every alert system was 100%-- people love to pass around disaster information... so even  thne guy at the gas station warned us...

so i went home and got down on my knees with my screwdrever and soup spoon  and tried to redirect teh stream  that the last storm had defined--   all i needed was about a 6 inch barrier to get the water on down the driveway and not across was was to be the new lawn...  i don't know if i was succdessful-- stay tuned...

alot of my existance has been  water related -- especially the downhill kind of water-- after my house burned down i couldn't leave the property because  i had a barn full of animals-- so i moved in a house trailer and  connected it to the water source which had been to the house ...-- being january first, we could not immediately dig the 4' hole to run the water--- so we laid it on the ground and burried it in  2 feet of horse manure-- which had enough heat in it to keep it from freezing if we left it dripping. the pipe to the barnh was ok .. and down 4 feet  to a "gate valve" dowwn 4 feet  that waS ON-OFF and drained the pipe below frost level.. GWEN AND JANINE- AGED NOT TOO OLD.(6 AND 4?)  ... WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR WATERING AT NIGHT .. 

the only problem was... ocasionally  one or two  drops of water would freeze the handle- and it was sometimes possibel for 2 children to cup their hands and breathe on it to loosen it... it was discovered that every small child has about 1/2 cup of warm fluid which can be used to loosen the handle. PROBLEM SOLVEDD.

an error of construction of the" new house"  meant the  upstairs "deck"  tipped slightly toward the house which collected considerable water and sent it down into teh "sitting room"  - sometimes a trash can would hold the deluge... but if a large overnight storm was predicted  i found i could fill two trash cans at once with careful siphoning.  that lasted for a while til i finally realized i could drill a 1/2 inch hole in the floor and put a funnel in it to run the water down into the garage.  this took up alot less room - and didn't seem to bother th  horse we had in the  garage- but that is another story .

 we did try and fix it, but it was a huge lesson in "water will do whatever it wants to do"I AM TOLD THERE IS MORE WAter due here today.

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 now about this soup spoon and screw driver for digging devices...  i have all manner of  post hole diggers- most notably 2 hinged shovel thyp things you pound down into t he proposed hole and lift and separate which removes  a shovel full of dirt-- that is in the pictures of  the ads that sell the things... however... this is new england-- and all you need is one pebble to hold those shovel things apart, and you will remove only the pebble and leave the dirt in th hole.

i know a bit about post hole digging... object is to make the hole as small as possible--- put in th e post-- stuff rocks in next to the post with handfulls of dirt-- an d it will stay there ---  alot around here were done  by me  in the 1980's  the spoon and screw driver worked as well as anything... til i got a tractor with a  back hoe.

the hole with a back hoe is easily 2 feet wide so teh  rock wedging  process is out- the object became ---mix concrete and pour it right  around the post .

and as i got older and older--  i got wiser and wiser and  lazier and lazier--- i found if i got the bottomn of the post solidified  the fence would hold teh top steady and with time.. and rain  dirt would get packed in all the vacancies.

and i got even lazier... i found -- dig the hole-- stick the  post in- tie some hay strings to keep it verticle   break open a bag  or two of cement-- throw the torn bag and contents in the hole-- add a bucket of water-- cover with dirt--- and go to the next.  

it seems to work... all the posts around the pond are done that way,.

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the fence that needs attention is the split rail stuff..  the 30 year old posts have  finally  rotted. has to be done "commercially"  and is awfully expensive- i honestly don't know what is keeping the donkeys from pushing that fence flat...  prayer???

MAY 15 2018

WE ARE NOW IN POSSESSION OF THE EXPLORE.ORG CHECK FOR $150,000-- WITHOUT WHICH WE  WOULD BE A TINY TRAINING OUTFIT....--- TRY AGAIN... WITHOUT WHICH WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE AT ALL........ I REMEMBER....... BACK WHEN  I WAS STARTING-- AND GOT THE CHICKEN BRICK IDEA, I WAS THRILLED TO SELL "TICKETS" AND WE MADE OVER $500-- THEN JANINE GOT THE IDEA TO DO IT ONLINE- I THOUGHT SHE WAAS NUTS AND  I  INSISTED WE SELL BOTH PAPER TICKETS AND DO THE  ONLINE THING... WE FIRST MADE $1417.50  ABOUT $1400 ONLINE AND $17 WITH THE SCREWBALLED  MESS OF NUMBERED P[APER TICKETS.  IT STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL THE EXPLORE.ORG  CAMERA CROWD JOINED US - 

NOW 86 CHICKEN SHlTS LATER WE ARE A STEADY $20,000 PER MONTH.. AND WE HAVEE GROWN TO  INVOLVE A PAYROLL  EXPENSE OF $350,000... AND THAT IS WITH ABOUT 100 VOLUNTEERS...

WE HAVE LEARNED ALOT.... MOSTLY THE "WE"  THAt have learned is made up of  not only a board of directors   like ADI says i must have.... but a very bright cheerful  steering committee of people who wander into our community- without which we would not be either...  and then there is GOLDIE - GHOST OF THE LEFT HAD DRAWER.  SOME MIGHT CALL IT DUMB LUCK, BUT THAT HAS NO CLASS.  

THIS CRAZY ACRES  IS STRANGE- PEOPLE WHO COME HERE SAY SO... PEOPLE WHO WATCH ON THE CAMERAS ARE CONVINCED HALF TEH PEOPLE HERE ARE A BIT DRAFTY ( AS THEY WOULD SAY IN SCOTLAND)   THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF BRING IT ON/ LET IT HAPPEN/ WE WILL MANAGE... WHETHER IT IS 4  puppy LITTERS at once-- or 4 feet of snow... somehow... we manage... our steering committi is not only the actual volunteers physically here... but a core of "CP's"  who 's suggestion, ideas, verbal  contributions are taken very serioiusly..  

is there aNOTHER NON PROFIT INTHE WORLD WHO CAN GO ONLINE AND  TALK ABOUT A PLUMBING PROBLEM AND WITHIN DAYS HAVE A STRANGE COLLECTION OF BRASS AND PVC ARRIVE AT MAIL CALL??  -- I LITERALLY HAVE A RED BUCKET OF PIECES OF PLUMBING NEXT TO MY DESK ALL READY TO ATTACK SOME OF THE PLUMBING PROBLEMS AROUND HERE...  AND WE HAVE MANY...   LIKE PARTICULATES IN THE WATER WHICH CLOG THE MISTERS... SPRINKLERS... AND  POWER WASHER.  TOWN WATER IS WONDERRFUL WATER--- WITH MINOR GRAVEL--  THE WATER OUT OF OUR WELL HAS SMALL BOULDERS AND SMELLS LIKE DEAD FISH-- FROM 500  FEET DOWN.-- BUT IT IS GOOD FOR WATERING THE  FLAT FIELD IF TEH BOULDERS DON'T CLOG THE  SPRINKLERS-  OUR WONDERFUL FAn driven  MISTERS ARE TERRIFFIC  OUTDOOR AIR CONDITIONERS UNTIL THE LITTLE HOLES DON'T MIST. if we open the sprayers to accomodate teh gravel,...  the strream means it is like living in a rain forest.

DONNA COMPLAINED ABOUT A QUEEN SIZE MATTERSS BEING TOO BIG FOR one of  OUR SOFAs  AND  PRACTICAL HANDLING-- SURE ENOUGH ONE ARRIVED LAST NIGHT AT MAIL CALL.  it's heaven ( and fugan) sent.

my plumbing plans aRE   FAN DRIVEN MISTERS IN THE T TENT AND G TENT--  AND THEN 2 30 FOOT MISTERS ALONG KENNEL 1-10  WHICH HAVE THE MORNING SUN-- THE 11-16 ON HOLD TO SEE IF NECESSARY.. SO FAR I HAVWE 2 SIGNIFICANT FILTERS TO TRY ON THME

THEN THERE IS POWER  SPRAY  OF THE WALLS OF TEH ALLEYWAY-- IT IS BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE ADORNED WITH BIRD DROPPINGS-- WE HAQVE A POWER SPRAYER WHICH WILL MAKE HOT WATER POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PEAL THE PAINT OFF  A CAR...-- SO IT SHOULD MANAGE BIRD POOP.    POWER SPRAYING INVOLVES BUD AHD TANNER...  ?SUNDAY?

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Dear Carlene, 
Just look at this girl. She truly is a Miracle. She’s doing so great. I’m so proud of spirit and will to fight. She’s beat the odds and never gave up. She looks better then ever. She eats and eats. She is so full of life and pure happiness. 
We have her follow up Wednesday and I can’t wait to hear her doctor report I just know in my heart it’s going to be a good one with seeing the light shine through her eyes, the energy level increase and just overall how well she has been doing. To top all that off I can’t wait to see her weight. She looks as if she gained weight back and she’s really been working on that with her eating skills, boy does she have a great appetite and I couldn’t be happier for her. We are even back to the easy way for meds and not the old school way for her. 
Here’s a phew photos of our precious fighter and our Miracle. 
Stacy and Pixie 

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HOPEFULLY PIXIE WILL JUST NEED MONITORING FROM HERE ON

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FYI  SWEET POTATOES ARE MORE INTERESTING THATN WHITE OR YELLOW ONES....IMO