MAY 14,2014

I GOT SIDETRACKED  BY A BUNCH OF COMMENTS ABOUT POOR CHAOS-- THAT IS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT  WE HAVE ONLY ONE HOUSE CMAERA-- AND WE CAN NOT RESTRING THAT TO ALL THE PLACES ON THE FARM--- WE DO THE BEST WE CAN  WITH IT IN THE HOUSE---  AND THE SOUND STILL NEEDS  ATTENTION... I WILL GET TO IT EVENTUALLY--

---

ALL TEH DOGS GET OUT EVERY DAY AT LEAST ONCE-- AN MOST GET IN SOMEONE'S CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE    ----BUT IF YOU THINK I CAN CARRY BENTLEY AND CHAOS IN HEAT IN THE SAME CAR, YOU UNDERESTIMATE BENTLEY'S TALENTS

*******

WE ARE BACK AT CALENDAR MAKING TODAY-- BILL WAS AROUND YESTERDAY TO SCOUT  POSSIBLE SHOTS- AND WE WILL BE DOING SOME IN THE ARENA TODAY-- I THOUGHT WE COULD SHOW IT  BUT BILL WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING OUT OVER THE INTERNET-- SO AT SOME POINT WE WILL DRAPE A TOWEL OR SOMETHIGN...

ANOTHER SHOT MAY INCLUDE MY REFRIGERATOR IN THE HOUSE  SO LORD KNOWS WE WILL HAVE TO CLEAR IT OUT... NOW THAT COULD BE A MONUMENTAL CHORE..

WHY ARE FREFRIGERATORS DEEP-- AS IN LONG SHELVES-- WHATEVER IS IN THE BACK STAYS THERE-- LIKE LAS VEGAS.

I WOULD LOVE A FRIDGE  2   FEET DEEP WITH 1 OF THOSE FEET ON THE DOOR SHELVING.  THEN NOTHING WOULD TURN GREEN  WITHOUT BEING SEEN..

*******

VAN SWAPPING IS THE DEAL OF THE DAY-- THE BIG VAN IS APPARENTLY PAINTED-- AND THE SMALLER VAN NOW FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY - ( IT HAD A LOOSE WIRE INTHE STEERING COLUMN SO WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP  VARIOUS ELECTRICAL THINGS WOULD HAPPEN  LIGHTS WOULD FLASH-- WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN   ETC..)

GOTTA LOVE THESE MODERN DEVICES..

OTHER THAN THAT...

ON THE PUPPY HILL CAMERA YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE GETTTING READY TO POUR A CONCRETE "PAD" FOR THE MEAT PROJECT-- AN OUTDOOR FREEZER AND A CUTTING ROOM WITH  WASHABLE WWALLS AND FLOOR...  SUMMER IS  COMING  AND MY GARAGE  HAS A DISTINCT ODOR TO IT.

THE INSIDE OF THE BARN IS TORN ALL APART GETTING READY FOR CONCRETE AND 6 NEW "STALLS" FOR THE DANES.  THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION..  BIG HUGE EXCAVAORS -- PILES OF "MATERIAL" 

*****

AND THEN THERE IS THE WHOOPIE PIE BIT-- SOME FRIENDS FROM  NEW YORK BROUGHT UP SOME SUPER WHOOPIE  FROM   "BAKED BY SUSAN"   A BAKERY IN CROTON ON HUDSON, NY...  I HOPE WHOEVER SENDS US WHOOPIE PIES FIGURES OUT HOW TO SEND THEM FROM THERE..   THEY DID NOT EVEN LAST THRU MAIL CALL,  

******

FROM TINA

Someone asked me what we actually DO at the retreat - 

this was my response - I'm hoping it might help someone else decide to join us...

Hi,

We go to the Service Dog Project farm in Ipswich, Massachusetts to experience what they do, how they work, how great the program is.

We participate actively in cleaning, feeding, petting, playing - everything that volunteers do on a daily basis. We also get to meet all the amazing employees and volunteers, plus recipients with their paired dogs + each other.

People come from all over the US. This year we also have a couple people from Canada and one from Norway on the list!

We talk, eat, joke, eat, take photos, have photos taken, laugh, eat some more, have sessions with questions and answers.

The CPs are involved in the Chicken Brick game that day, and we do a gift presentation to SDP - something special from all of the CPs, those there in spirit, as well as, physical attendees.

I think many would join me in saying that last year's retreat was a life changing experience. I cried when I left... and plan to be there every year for as long as they host us!

Hope that helps,

Tina

MAY 13,2014

I AM GOING TO WRITE A BOOK--- OR MAYBE JUST A LONG DAILY DOGGIE

WOULD YOU BELIEVE A SHORT PARGRAPH???

MY SON-IN -LAW IS ALOT OF THINGS-- AND AMONG HIS MANY TALENTS- HE IS A SUPER "HOUSE HUSBAND"-

HIS WORK IS CYCLICAL SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN HE IS NOT WORKING-- AND MY DAUGHTER LOVES IT.

WHEN SHE GETS THRU WORK , HE PICKS HER UP IN A CAR THAT HAS BEEN "DETAILED" DRIVES HER HOME WHERE AN INTERESTING MEAL HAS BEEN COOKED AND IS WAITING, THE CANDLES ARE READY TO HAVE A MATCH PUT TO THEM, LAUNDRY IS DONE FOLDED AND AWAY, THE  LIGHT INTHE CLOSET HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE GRASS IS CUT, THE MAIL OPENED AND BILLS PAID, WINE CHILLED ,  SCRAP BASKETS ALL EMPTIED, APPETIZERS  SET OUT

 AND KITCHEN GLEAMING.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO SERVICE DOGS....?    WELL-- A PERSON WHO TAKES GOOD CARE OF THEIR CAREGIVER WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF ONE OF OUR DOGS... AND A PERSON WHO  DOES VOLUNTEER WORK  TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY WILL  LOOK BETTER ON THE APPLICATION-  

MANY APPLICANTS DRIVE  WHICH IS ENOUGH OF A TALENT TO BE ABLE TO HELP ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T.

 THERE IS AN INTERCONNECTION OF PEOPLE THAT IS MISSING. .... WELL FIGURE IT OUT  SOMEHOW !!

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

NOW ON THE TOPIC OF COOKIE AND PANTING...

 

AND HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE ( INCLUDING ME) JUMP ON SOME CONCEPT AND IGNORE THE OBVIOUS....   SHE IS PANTING ALOT LESS SINCE WE TURNED ON THE AIRCONDITIONER... I.E  IT WAS ALMOST HOT YESTERDAY...

TRACY IS COMING TO VISIT HER TODAY  ABOUT NOON...-- THAT IS TRACY - DOG  AS OPPOSED TO TRACY-COSTCO WHO  IS A REGULAR HERE...

***********

THE 14 MEN I EXPECTED TO BE HERE FROM THE BANK TO WORK DID NOT GET HERE-- AND 4 WOMEN DID-- SO THEY CLEANED UP THE USED CAR PASTURE AND BABVY SAT THE PUPS.

...

RUSHING - PER USUAL

BIG DAY=

ALSO WE SHOULD GET THE NEWLY PAINTED VAN TODAY..

CARLENE, THANK YOU FOR SUCH A MEMORABLE WEEK AT SDP. IT WAS A PLEASURE GETTING 

TO KNOW YOU LAST WEEK.  YOU CAN DRIVE A MEAN BACK HOE. I WAS APPREHESIVE NOT 
KNOWING ANYONE BUT GOT OVER THAT REAL QUICK.  EVERYONE WAS EXTRA NICE AND 
HELPFUL. I KNEW IT TOOK A LOT TO RUN IT BUT HAD NO CLUE UNTIL VISITING HOW MUCH 
TIME IN A DAY IT TAKES JUST TO GET THE NECESSARY CHORES DONE, MUCH LESS EXTRA 
THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE. WE SEE VERY LITTLE ON CAMERAS. FEEDING AND CLEANING 
BOWLS, WATERING A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY, CLEANING KENNELS, WASHING BY THE LOADS, 
ROTATING DOGS, TRAINING OFF SITE, KEEPING THINGS STOCKED UP, VETERINARIAN APPTS, 
24/7 CARE OF PUPPIES, SCOOPING POOP CONSTANTLY.......THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.  I 
NOTICED HOW THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE VERY COMPASSINATE WITH EVERYTHING THEY 
DO AT SDP.  EVERYONE GIVES 100%. I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE, USUALLY STINKING BY END 
OF THE DAY. I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH I HAD TO DO IN THE DAY.  I KEPT THINKING 
...VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED EVERYDAY !!!!! I HOPE MORE AND  MORE VOLUNTEERS WILL 
PLAN TO COME BECAUSE FROM WHAT I EXPERIENCED, THE MORE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME WILL 
HELP LIGHTEN THE LOADS FOR THE STAFF AND HELP THEM STAY ON TRACK.  I WILL 
RETURN.  MY EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGH AND I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!!!  THANKS AGAIN 
FOR A WONDERFUL WEEK.
KARI JOHNSON

MAY 12,2014
NEWS HEADLINES

I BELIEVE THE BANKERS ARE COMING TO REPLACE THE FENCING RAILS TODAY.

AND 

MY TELEPHONE CAN NOT FIND MY BRACELOT SO THERE IS NO WAY I CAN BREAK MY PERSONAL RECORD OF 2800 STEPS

REMEMBER I GET TO ADD A ZERO TO COMPETE WITH THE REST OF THIS TRIBE  

THAT WOULD BE 28000  WHICH IS NEAR MARIA.S RECORD

I PUSHED THE BUTTON ON IT... AND IT KNOWS IT IS DAYTIME...  IT ALSO KNOWS THAT THERESA TOOK ONLY 2476 STEPS YESTERDAY..., SHE MUST BE ILL BECAUSE HER DAILY TALLY IS MORE LIKE 4000

WHEN MARIA IS HERE TRAINING IT TELLS ME SHE TAKES SHE TAKE HIGH TEENS IN NUMBERS-- AND HER HUSBAND TOLD ME YESTERDAY WHEN SHE STAYS HOME AND DOES LAUNDRY THINGS SHE ONLY GOES ABOUT 5000

AIN'T TECHNOLOGY WONDERFUL???

HER HUSBAND WAS HERE YESTERDAY AND COOKED BREAKFAST THINGS FOR SUNDAY STEW..QUICHE, PANCAKES, BACON-- LOTS OF BACON.. FRUIT... IT WAS QUITE A SPREAD.

*******

THE OTHER  NEWS OF CONCERN IS  COOKIES FAINTED LAST NIGHT-- KEELED RIGHT OVER WITH A BANG AND WAS OUT FOR ONLY SECONDS----- PERKED UP  AND WAS FINE...

  THE INTAKE/OUTGO REPORT WAS UNREMARKABLE-- SHE ATE, DRANK  PEED, POOPED  WE WILL TAKE HER TEMP TODAY WHEN MEGAN GETS HERE ( SHE IS OUR #1 REAR GUARD) --MY ONLY SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL OBSERVAION  SHE IS PANTING-- BUT RUMOR HAS IT THA CAN HAPPEN WITH MILK PRODUCTION-- AT LEAST IN COWS

GEORGE????? SHE IS ON MEDS..

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

THE ONLY OTHER EXCITEMENT IS THAT WE WILL ONCE AGAIN DO THE DUMP RUN...  LOAD TEH HORSE TRAILER AND GO TO THE "TRANSFER STATION"  TO BE WEIGHED IN AND OUT  AS STEVE STARTS NORTH TO GO HOME  TO MAINE-- IT IS ON THE WAY...

*********

I THINK THE COA VAN IS PURPLE AND READY T O COME HOME...

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

SOUND AT MAIL CALL WAS INDEED SIMPLE ONCE WE GOT THE CAMERA FUNCTIONING...  I STLL NEED TO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED...  LIKE IS THAT LITTLE BUTTON A FOCUS FIXER LIKE THE LAST ONE?...

MAIL CALL WITHOUT SOUND LOOSES IT'S FASCINATION FOR ME AT ANY RATE... ACTUALLY IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT I  REVERT TO MY PREVIOUS STATE OF THOUGHT MINUS SOUND.. A WHOLE NEW  WAY OF THINKING.

*****

THAT -- AND I CLEANED MY DESK

I DID THAT BECAUSE--- LONG STORY--- A COUPLE HIGHSCHOOL FRIENDS SIAD THEY WOULD BE ALONG TOMORROW AFTERNOON...

LAST TIMIE I SAW THE GUY, HE WAS PRESIDENT OF HIS COMPANY ( WHICH IS NOT THE CRITICAL PART.) IN HIS OFFICE WE FIGURED OUT THAT I HAD PROVIDED THE GOOSE FOR A COMMERCIAL FOR THE COMPANY--- AND.... HE SPUN IN HIS CHAIR OPENED ONE OF MANY FILE CABINETS, REACHED 1/2 WAY IN THE DRAWER  AND PULLED OUT THE EXACT PIECE OF PAPER THAT HAD THE GOOSE ON IT.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SHOCKED... YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH MY ABILITY TO MISPLACE EVERY FACET OF MY LIFE.

SO... IN A FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO NOT SHOCK THEM,  I CLEANED  OFF THE TOP OF MY DESK...

MAY 11 2014

MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE MORE COURAGE THAN I DO...  DENIM IS WITH DONNA ONLY A VERYT SHORT TIME-- SO WHEN IT CAME TO GETING ONSTAGE FOR HER SON'S EAGLE SCOUT THING, I SUGGESTED SHE LEAVE DENIM IN THE AUDIENCE AND TAKE SOMEONE'S ARM  TO GET UO THE RICKITY STAIRS ON TO THE STAGE..

SHE DID NOT LISTEN AND DID FINE !!

Just wanted to let you know that this afternoon was my son's Eagle Court of Honor, and Denim did wonderful! I was even able to go up and down those rickety steps to the stage that had no hand rail!

Life with her has proved to be so wonderful!  We can go for walks and I  can 
actually look around now.  I used to have to constantly watch my feet.

Donna

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

COOKIES AND CREAM AND FAMILY ARE DOING VERY WELL--  WHY SHE DOES NOT LIKE MY SHOES I DON T KNOW.. BUT THE ONLY ONE SHE HAS BITTEN IS ME--ON MY FEET-- OTHER THAN THAT I HAVE BEEN ABOLE TO HANDLE TH EPUPS FINE.. SO HAS COLLEEN--- AND I GUESS SHE IS ACCEPTING ANNIE AS WELL

*********

EARLENE HAD CHAOS ALL SET TO BE SPAYED, AND SHE HAS COME IN HEAT... SO THAT HAS TO BE PUT OFF.

***********

STORY OF THE DAY----- SOMEONE ASKED HOW I CAME TO HAVE 4 DANES--- ONE STUD AND 3 FEMALSE THAT GOT BRED BY MISTAKE

LONG STORY

AN ANIMAL CONTROL  PERSON IN ANOTHER TOWN PICKED UP A HARL MALE- AND DID NOT HAVE ROOM FOR HIM IN THE TOWN CAGES-- SO SHE LEFT HIM HERE IN A HORSE STALL WITH A NOTE-- NICE DOG-- KEEP HIM... AND I DID-- HE WAS A NICE DOG-- SO I DECIDED TO BUY A DANE PUP- AND AS I LOOKED AROUND EVERY BREEDER I WENT TO BRAGGED ABOUT THE BMW BLOODLINES IN THEIR PUPS... I DECIDED I BETTER GO LOOK AT THE BMW KENNEL IN THE FIRST PLACE...  IT WAS IN LONG ISLAND-- 

LAURA WAS THE OWNER- AND HER DOGS WERE A YARD AWAY FROM ANYTHING I HAD SEEN AROUND BOSON.. TURNS OUT  SHE SHOWED THE BIG TIME AND WON WESTMINSTER WITH HER DANES...  AFTER LOOKING ME OVER SWHE OPTED TO SELL ME A FEMALE MANTLE ( BLACK WITH A FULL WHITE COLLAR) 

TIFFANY   WAS LOVELY-- AND THE DEAL WAS LAURA WOULD PICK THE STUD IF I DECIDED TO BREED HER AND I WOULD GET HALF THE PRICE OF ANY PUP SHE HELPED SELL. FINE... WE DID THAT ---

 SHE BRED TIFFANY TO HER GENETIC BROTHER :"JOHNNY" AND I HAD 8 NICE PUPS-- LAURA ADVISED ME ALONG THE WAY-- SHE CERTAINLY WAS AN EXPERT-- AT ABOUT 6 WEEKS , IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION I SAID I  THOUGHT I WOULD KEEP ONE OF THE HARLS-- SHE QUICKLY INTERUPTED ME AND SAID I COULD NOT KEEP HIM, SHE HAD ALREADY SOLD THE ENTIRE LITTER...  BUT IF I ALLOWED HER TO BREED TIF AGAIN I MAYBE... MAYBE COULD HAVE A PUP.

THAT WAS NOT HOW I HAD READ OUR AGREEMENT.  IT WAS --- IF SHE SOLD ANY-- IN WRITING... I VERY QUICKLY DECIDED I WOULD KEEP THE ENTIRE LITTER... AND I DID-- THAT IS THE BUNCH IN HARNESS.... THAT I CONSTANTLY TOOK INTO BOSTON  FOR CHOWDERFESTS, HARBORFETS,, 4TH OF JULY ETC... ON THE FAMOUS BED.... WHICH WE STILL HAVE....$1000 PER DAY-  IT WAS FUN.

I DID SELL ONE---BUT THE REST WERE HERE...

AS LIFE WENT ON 6 OF THOSE 8 DIED WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER FROM A CONGENITAL KIDNEY PROBLEM -AT ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD.... REMEMBER TIF HAD BEEN BRED TO HER BROTHER- TEH TWO THAT WERE OK--- MAYBELINE AND DOTTY WERE EVENTUALLY BRED BY ME AND "DEVELOPED"  MY OWN STYLE BY IMPORTING STUDS FROM EUROPE.  EVENTUALLY LAURA FORGAVE ME AND DECIDED I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING

EVEN TODAY 25 YEARS LATER, MOST OF THE WELL BRED DANES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE ALOT OF BMW BLOODLINES IN THEM.. AND LAURA HAS SINCE DIED.

SHE HAD SOME GREAT DOGS... AND NAMES FOR THEM-- SERINDIPITY, PANDYMONIUM, .. I HAVE A COPY OF HER HAND WRITTEN BLOODLINES -- SHE INTERBRED CONSTANTLY-

may 10 2014
i forgot the dd

for those of you still getting older... old age is not for the meek

not only do i forget amazing things,

i now worry about forgetting  them

that is stage 2.

********

the camera---- i don't really know why we are changing-- i think the new one has sound, and at least the zoom can be controlled from nebraska-- or wherever..

in the process of having sound and camera in one black box with lens, i think that eliminates trying to mix the sound and picture  thus taking up less wires in this wireless nonsense.

b ut what do i know.

wireless  computing is  very much like paperless offices.

you have to make a paper copy of everything just in case

and you have to string an awful lot of wires to achieve wireless cmmunication.

in my opinion....

just to establish this camera's personality and indepenence, all of a sudden last night it went to black and white...

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

megan and sheila did a wonderful job in the barn with the bucket of wires and 5 pages of instructions.. 

sheila said it was too stressful..

that caused me to think...... that kind of thing is not stressful to me--- a bucket of wires 5 pages of instructions and a live tech support guy on the phone....  eventually i know i will get it right-- it may take a very long time-- but the elements  for success are there.....

as opposed to having everything on my computer getting smashed into a 3 inch square in the corner of my screen    and 6 or 8 experts standing around  saying  "i dunno" while the  wireless printer spits out 1/2 a reem of paper with a  pink "X" onto the floor.

**********

i think they got one calendar picture done yesterday--  the details bill goes thru are amazing-- but the outcome spectacular.... as we all know..

***********

odd idea for the day

try and uncover the very first explore camera that we considered having attached to my golf cart..- and using that  as this construction progresses...

given enough monster excavators a they can do amazing things quickly--- the back of the barn is being transformed from a topsoil producing mud pit to an orgqnized swale????  the amt of rain off that arena roof is being re thought,,  when they say there is an inch of rain..... that arena is an awful lot of inches which slide off into a gully -- which the horses then walk thru and churn up.

that is the story of the last 30 years behind this barn--- that "topsoil" goes down 3 feet...- or it used to ... now it is in a huge pile and he trucked in othr stuff..

i think the camera... if we can find it and make it work might be interesting 

tho i can not think of exactly who..

it is one of those    " it is here... let's experiment  and see where it leads"

MAY 8, 2014
I CAN ALMOST FILL THE DD WITH OTHER STUFF

SOMEONE POSTED THIS STORY

In Ipswich, MA, lives 76-year-old Carlene White. For many years, Ms White owned and operated Animal Episodes and provided trained animals of all sorts for movies, television, and advertising. Then, one day, her male Great Dane jumped a fence and impregnated three of her female Danes. Never one to pass up an obvious opportunity, Carlene founded an organization called Service Dog Project. SDP provides specially trained Great Danes for those who suffer from balance and mobility issues as well as therapy dogs for those suffering from PTSD.
As fascinating as Carlene's life is, there is something else going on under the surface at SDP which is just as wonderful. Service Dog Project was approached by Charles Annenberg Weingarten's Explore.org and asked for permission to install webcams at the Ipswich farm. 
During the short time the cameras have been online, thousands of CPs (camera people) from 25 countries have become fans of SDP, and a sort of family of dog lovers has developed. A short time ago, one of those camera people died, leaving behind two beloved dogs with nothing but death at an overburdened shelter to look forward to. But an army of Service Dog camera people rose up and said, "No!"
I don't, personally, know how it was done, but those hundreds of people--most of whom have never met--saved those two dogs from certain death, combined forces to transport them across the country, and saw them safely delivered to their new forever home.
These are the people who deserve the attention of a grateful nation. All those every-day people in all those small towns who do good every day, one step at a time.

AND THEN THERE WAS CAMERA MARK'S STATS

The numbers are pretty impressive:

As of today, SDP has 13,549 people who “like” the page. 

 Normally get 100 – 200 new likes each week.

88% are woman and 12% male

By Country:

11,610 USA

421 Canada

316 United Kingdom

149 India

119 Australia

52 Germany

43 Brazil

34 Netherlands

31 Mexico

26 Egypt

26 South Africa

Total of 45 Countries

By US Cities:

196 Boston

148 Los Angeles

114 New York

101 Chicago

86 Houston

71 Atlanta

63 Las Vegas

62 Philadelphia

59 Washington D.C.

57 Portland, Oregon

56 Austin, TX

54 San Diego

54 Seattle

53 Phoenix

53 San Antonio

53 Baltimore

51 Orlando

49 Pittsburgh

49 Dallas

46 Tampa

Etc.

Just shows how wide the reach is on Social Media and Explore.

Mark

*********

FOR THE NUTTY PROFESSOR TODAY I WANT TO PUT TOGETHER A MINI TIPI  BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRIANGLES I WAS TELLING DEALING WITH LAST WEEK/

I CAN DO THE MINI LIVE-- BUT I KNOW THERER IS A VIDEO DONE BY SHEILA OF US ERECTING THE BIG ONE.  

SO THAT IS MY CHORE TODAY-- GO FIND IT... IT WAS A GOPRO FILMING.

GOTTA BE SOMEWHERE..  ?CLOUD?

HER KIDS SENT ME PHOTOS OF RE-DOING MY STONEHENGE EXPIREMENT IN BIG PLASTIC GLASSES WHILE DRESSED IN BIG WHITE SHIRTS... PRETTY FUNNY,,, 

KEEPING UP WITH THIS MAIL CALL TAKES SOME ORGANIZATION WITH BOTH TUESDAY  AND FRIDAY  WE ARE BUSY.

**********

DOGS ARE BARKING-- THAT MEANS THE  RAILS FOR THE FENCING ARE ARRIVING-- THAT WILL BE AN ONGOING PROJECT-- COUPLE A DAY AND WE STILL WILL HAVE SOME LEFT TO DO BY THE RETREAT.

*********

DIGGING BEHIND THE ARENA HAS STARTED  BIG TIME-

WHATAMESS

**********

EARLENE AND PC GOT THE BED READY FOR COOKIES AND HER PUPS   -- WHO WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW MORNING ABOUT 10:30ish 

  

***********

THE CAMERA-- WE WILL TRY AGAIN TODAY-- YESTERDAY THE "OLD" CAMERA WENT OFF LINE BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO DIDDLE WITHIT-- SO I DID NOT CAUSE THAT--  WE DID TRY NEW AND OLD  BUT TIM WAS OFF SITE AND COULD NOT DEAL AT THE MOMENT -  HE SUGGESTS WE TRY AGAIN TODAY... WHICH I WILL DO

*********

AND THEN THERE IS WILLIAM ARRIVING TO DO SOME POSSIBLE  CALENDAR SHOTS

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

AND THAT IS ALL I CAN REMEMBER

MAY  8 2014
I WANT TO GIVE HIGHEST PRAISES to this group.IS THERE ANOTHER GROUP ON THE INTERNET THAT you could blinldly give a phone number too,   AND NOT GET 15  IMPROPER CALLS AT MIDNIGHT????... i was prepared to take the phone off the hook,  but i had only one call just as sheila had requested... and it was from  NORWAY---  WHAT A DELIGHT !!  AND SHE IS COMING TO THE RETREAT AND STAYING WITH SOMEONE FROM ?IDAHO?? AND SHE COULD NOT  WAIT TO GIVE EVERYONE A BIG HUG...  PERFECT !!

LAST YEAR IT WAS GREAT FUN--- AND VERY LITTLE PLANNING- OTHER THAN ORDERING A PORTAPOTTIE AND THE LOBSTER DINNER, I REALLY DIDN'T DO A THING.  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR....

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

NOW AS FOR BUSINESS... 

MEGAN AND I WENT TO MAINE TO MEET WITH THE SCHOOL WHERE HUNTER WILL BE GOING WITH WENDY NEXT YEAR- THE ONLY MESSAGE I HAD TO DELIVER WAS "IGNORE HIM UNLESS HE ASKS FOR HELP."  WHAT AN INDEPENDENT KID !!  AND WENDY LOVES HIM.

THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS I REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS..

NUMBER ONE... HE IS NOW USING A "NORMAL" LEASH WITHA LOOP AT THE END-- AND HE SLIPS HIS ARM THRU THE LOOP..

 THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NO IN MY WORLD...  

 YOU  NEVER TIE YOURSELF TO ANY ANIMAL BIGGER THAN A HAMPSTER.  I WAS SHIPPED ACROSS COUNTRY TO BE WITNESS IN A LEGAL CASE WHERE A LITTLE BOY WAS KILLED BY WRAPPING A CLOTHES LINE AROUND HIS HAND AND THE DONKEY JUST WALKED OFF DRAGGING HIM AND HE HIT HIS HEAD.  HOWEVER UNFORTUNATE THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOT BECAUSE THE DONKEY WAS MEAN  OR VICIOUS... THE MOTHER HAD GIVEN THE CHILD THE CLOTHESLINE AND ATTACHED IT TO THE  DONKEY THEN BACKED OFF TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE KID AS HE WRAPPED THE LINE AROUND HIS WRIST.

SOOOO HUNTER MUST STOP THAT IMMEDIATELY---- LOOP A LARGE AND WEAK ELEASTIC BAND  THRU THAT LOOP AND USE THAT AOUND HIS WRIST-- THEN IF HE FALLS THE ELASTIC WILL BREAK AND AT LEAST ELIMINATE THAT POSSIBLE DISASTER...

MY   OTHER CORRECTION IS THAT DAD, IN HIS CONCERN... AND I CAN NOT BLAME HIM AT ALL. HE IS HANGING ON TO WENDY WITH A SECOND CHAIN COLLAR--- AS AN EMERGENCY BRAKE-- AND I CAN NOT BLAME HIM  ONE BIT... BUT I DID SEE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN HUNTER CORRECTED, WENDY RESPONDED WELL...

SO AS AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION HE NEEDS A SECOND LEASH ATTACHED TO HER HARNESS... HE WUOLD BE ABLE TO STOP HER BY HER HARNESS IN AN EMERGENCY, -- MAYBE EVEN A LEATHER COLLAR AS THE EMERGENCY BRAAKE.....BUT SHE COULD CONCENTRATE ON HUNTER ALOT BETTER IF HE WAS NOT IN THE MISDDLE.. AND SHE IIS TRYING...   HE WENT UP AND DOWN A LONG FLIGHT OF STAIRS I WOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED.. AND HE DDID IT WELL.

THERE ARE DETAILS FOR THE SCHOOL TO DEAL WITH-- LIKE GETTING HIM OUT IN  A REAL FIRE-- NOT A DRILL-- HE WEIGHS 50 POUNDS-- PICK HIM UP AND GO AND HOPE WENDY DOES NOT THINK YOU ARE STEALING HIM... BECAUSE SHE WOULD INTERFERE I AM SURE---

SO IN THE CASE OF A FIRE--- EXCITEMENT WILL BE HIGH AND I AM SURE SHE WOULD AT LEAST TAKE THE ARM OF THE GRABBER-- PROBABLY NOT BITE DOWN-- BUT IT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING SIMILAR AHEAD OF TIME...

NICE DOGGIE  -- VERY HAPPY DOGGIE.. DOING A GREAT JOB... AND TAKING THAT JOB SERIOUSLY--  SHE IS VERY VOCAL IN GIVING OPINIONS-- AT ONE POINT THE PT WATCHED THEM COMING DOWN THE STAIRS BY STANDING AT THE BOTTOM MOTIONLESS AND STARING AT THEM... WENDY GAVE A QUIET GRUMBLE SORT OF  "I DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU  STARE LIKE THAT-----THIS IS MY KID AND WE ARE COMING BY YOU---  JUST STAY OUT OF OUR WAY"  

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

BARKING.... LOUD... GOING