i just re read janine' book  about the start of SDP... it is a pretty funny book about  some of the antics that went into animal episodes and then sdp... somewhere along the line i think she re wrote some of it to include some of our training proceedures....  simple as they are, they work... ---like don't let them tighten a leash....(book = dogs donkeys and circus)

reading over some of  her comments toward the end about buying fancy clothing full price instead of at the good will industries second hand store  indicates some moral deficiency.

i just don't understand how some people function....  a very long time ago,  i went into the ralph lauren factory outlet in lawrence, expecting to find bargains... and they had a big  bin of  great savings "t-shirts  only  $80.00 "  there must be people to whom that is a bargain-- but i shore ain't one of them.  i can not immagine how  anyone could  believe $80 t shirts are a bargain... and they vote !!

*****

there is anotehr   "i dunno"  i got going on yesterday..... i don't know how anyone can get ahead if they  don't manage to be able to deduct some of their necessities as  business expense.-- home office is the biggie--- especially with so many people working from home....  an ofice is an office-- and a percemtage of the heat, light, phone, showplowing  etc.  sure- you  may get audited... but if you have a business  office-- you have an office " in the pursuit of income"  -- 

by no means am i a tax expert---  i took the IRS statement that it is my responsibility to find  any legal deduction....   very seriously... i found, you don't have to be illegal, there is so much screw up tax language that loopholes do legally exist

 i had an irs   agent come here to audit  us once...  the only thing he fussed about was  ---my husband saw the occasional  patient here,  so i deeducted part of  the house as an office expense--( it had baindaids and a stethoscope) ---that was no issue, it was that i then deducted his mileage to the   hospital as "travel between places of business"  ( deductable)  and the  IRS  considered it commuting ( not deductable). 

one of my most cherished memories was when the agent said  "give me a break , i have been here 3 days, i have to find something"   so i paid the $320 and have never heard from them since. ....a good investment.

****

******

i re read janine's book  on that kindle thing michelle sent me--- i am enjoying it---- or at least i was until  it began to aquire more books than i  wanted... i bought 2 books... and somehow there are 7 on there... plus when i turn it on .... it tells me of another i should buy...and i am not sure if/or how i paid for them....

what is a perfectly simple  wonderful concept  has been taken over by the advertising industry as one more chance to flash something in front of me  with hopes th at it's subliminal effect will cause me to buy it 2 months from now without knowing why i am buying it.

******

i get up in the morning all full of dog things i need to do today... and tehn i wear out--- and i hear that haunting phrase my husband used too frequently " if you weighed 20 pounds less you wouldn't have  so much trouble....."

probably true    i know if i pick up a 20 pound bag of dog food, it is more difficult to do most anything. with the possibel exception of finding my way to the left over cake...

****

i am ashamed to say i have not even tried to pair up these dogs in those harnesses so tehy learn to walk together.... which they did normally in that photo of the 4 of them on the ramp...perfectly in step...

****

i love it when one of our dogs has a mulitplyer effect---  the service dog seen by teh guys  and staff in the va hospitals... or  teh teachers service dog who helps some kid overcome her fr=ear of dogs.  or even bentley visiting a home bound patient and just giving them something to think about...  (and to watch on  camera)

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

Hi Carlene,

Carson here, just wanted to give you an update on the beautiful Goldie girl. She is doing fabulous and has stolen the hearts of my entire family! I can't begin to explain all she does for everyone in my family. 

As you may know my family has been a foster family for years and is constantly taking in children in need from around the area. A few weeks Goldie made a huge impact on one of our kids. Unfortunate circumstances lead this little girl to staying at our house and one look at Goldie changed her entire demeanor. She was absolutely fascinated, never having seen a dog as big as her she immediately took to her, and Goldie sensed this little one was in need of some Dane loving. 

They spent the entire weekend sleeping together on Goldies bed watching movies. This little girl did not want to leave Goldies side. You can see in the picture I've attached that Goldie was hanging off the side of the bed so this little girl could fit on with her. I still can't believe how attuned Goldie is to the feelings of others, she seems to gravitate towards those who need her. 

Goldie is so sweet and loving to all the children that come through our home. She is constantly surrounded by little hands looking to pet her and give her treats and the love she gives these kids blows me away.

Once again I can't thank you and all the SDP peeps enough!! 

june 20 2015

i had  a bunch of really great ideas for  this daily doggie... then  my mind was consumed with the process of making coffee- and i forgot.

so much for  the lumosity telling me my memory is better than 86% of my age group...  if that is true.... heaven help us !!

*****

i finally opened mimi's kuranda beds at mail call last night... problem was... 2 beds come wrapped in  about a box with only an 8" end so when it got stuffed under a desk. i didn't see the 8" square   and it went 2 days without gettin gopened...

***

there are 2 texan  cp's here who put it together  after i went to bed.  bless the help of the cp's

i shutter to think where we would be without them....  and their  brick buying..  

*****

i listened to lynne's talk on emergency personell and service dogs...--- it is a good take....

i do have a problem with when she gives human charteristics to her dog.  

 to imply a dog thinks like a human is a terrible come down .

a dog's thought process is so far superior and free of  "the human elememnt" 

if i was her dog i would be very insulted.

human intelligence is such an oxymoron.  humans mayb be considered  intelligent,

 but on top of that are a whole bunch of  complicating factors-- 

like - competitive-  jealousy- domineering - which reduce that intelligence to a negligable amount.

often !!

********

projects of the day....

1.  figure out the kids schedule for the summer --- we have 3 kids   give each 3 days a week  with minimal disruption of  family  vacations, horse shows- soccer games, parental driving  services, knee surgery ( laura's mom and meatcutting steve)  it ain't easy.... it is supposed to be a learning experience... and the first of it is committment.  i must erase from these children the concept that being  1 minute late for work... or for for an airplane will work for them.

2. get someone else to polyurethane the new tables ---- texas nanci????-- so they are not wet for tomorrow-- and we can second coat them after open house???

3. get the giraffe flag hung ---- texas nanci's husband???

4.  write to bheiss about the roll of  "stuff" she donated... it is industrial something or other kind of mat-- any rate it is perfect under the new chicks... just enough traction and washes off well..  ( bailey likes to walk on it  too--)

5. i forget if steve is coming today-- if so-- then it is a costco run for the lambchops..... to go with the leftover cake....

that is a start....

*****

Hi Carlene,

Just wanted to give you an update on Denim.

My latest reason to be proud of my girl is how she has been helping me at my son's track meets.  Last year when I had just got her, those meets were traumatizing!  Her reaction was like, "I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE!  TOO MANY PEOPLE! I HOPE THEY DON'T TOUCH ME! WHAT WAS THAT GUNSHOT? WHY ARE ALL THOSE KIDS RUNNING? ARE THEY RUNNING TOWARDS ME? I WANT TO GO HOOOOOOME!!!!!!

But this year has been so different!  My son is doing really well so we've gone to some really big meets, such as a State Championship in Fitchburg and a New England Championship in Saco, Maine.  And at these meets, it's been more like, "Oh, not another one of these!  Oh well, we can do this.  Grab hold and I'll maneuver you through this crowd, then make myself comfortable in those bleachers (thank goodness you always bring me something to lay on on those metal bleachers, and water to drink in this heat!)  I'll just lay here and watch for signs that we're finally going to leave (it's been hours!!!)..."

Donna & Denim

******

 i think i have to read   "walden"  there are alot of  thought provoking quotes-- maybe i should read the whole thing..

“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.” Henry David Thoreau

 Thoreau realised the importance of awareness  and decided life was often frittered away by detail. 

(i.e.   i must not let accreditation interfere with producing  life saving - nearly perfect dogs - with details like having a thermometer in the first aid kits.  )

june 19 2015
 time to celebrate the 19th !!!!     monster cake day !!!!

what time is cake time?????  we should  set one like 1:19pm

time to blow out the candle...

that is when most of the people are here...

so be it....

and with luck there will be some left for breakfast...

that will take care of all birthdays-- aniverseries and  whatever else needs celebrating this month

**********

now...... it is about kids birthday partys  and candle blowing

was this just the antique way of vaccinating your kids?

i know my mother went out of her way to have my 2 sisters and i 

 play with anyone who had  the measles... so when we got older and pregnant

we would  be immune to measles...

she was concerned that measlea as an adult would cause birth defects 

we went that road with mumps too-- and chicken pox type things...

so a kids birthday party for a kid coming down with the measles might

be an effective way to ward off birth defects.

it is a stretch... but there is a thread of logic there..

********

speaking of threads--- someone got me playing this lumonisty brain training game

 and i have to report-- i find their statistics baffleing they have decided after 

 one week, that i am in the 86th percentile for memory compared to my age group.

boy that sure doesn't say much for my age group !!! my memory was never even adequate

and now it is worse.... so if the 86th percentile is correct, be careful of all the 77 year olds wandering 

around the streets wondering where are  thier glasses/phone/hearing aid/or any other detachable part of aging. 

****

some woman from the next town ( of course i can not rememeber her name ... see above...) came here

her mother once had a dane.. and was now not doing well on oxygen etc...

 would i??? of course... so bentley and i went to visit..  he enjoyed it-- so did the family..

sooooo. of course i started them on the web cameras...  the daughter stayed  here for mail call

 and before leaving said "you have changed my life and outlook" 

 nutty crazy acres wins again !!

*******

i am reminded of some poem??

 most people live a life of quiet desparation

unfortunately i can not remember the rest of the poem- or it's message

but i do look on crazy acres as a method of opening  mental  doors that have been closed far too long.

it is a  serious calling-- to jar people loose.

*********

projects of the day...

our new tables should be here-- and if it is not windy ( dust etc) we will coat them with polyurethane..

they are a thing of beauty... and round... much more conversational--

 even if you are not deaf...it includes more people 

 the standard picnic table  3 on  a side becomes 2 conversations

****

which reminds me i must make a reservation  for  dinner when the  accreditation sheila gets here.

i have to use up  xxxx per month in the dining room or they charge me anyway...\

they only reason i keep a membership is  the food is decient and  i can make a reservation -- with no standing  around,...

plus they have a room witha square table which is perfect for meeting type dinners...

 2 or 3 on a side is 12 people and one conversation.  it is 3 miles away.  

one meeting type dinner and i am all set for 3 months.

******

bless hunter for bailing me out with a poem about wendy, his dog.

 (hunter  is  in 3rd grade )

  Wendy the Dog

 She is a gentle giant,

 Soft and black with white markings.

 Big dark eyes And a heart so big. 

She helps me walk, 

Working so hard. 

But when she starts to get tired,

 She takes a nap.

 I have to feed her,

 Give her water, And let her out. 

If I don't, she is sure to tell me. 

Wendy is a great big help,

 A true friend. 

So glad she is My gentle giant.

june 18 2015

you all  know i  realize how totally dependent i am to the reliability of my trash collector...the amount of trash generated by me in the course of the day is disgraceful-- i try-- and i used to be  better--but i am thwarted at every turn... furthermoreindustry is not being held to any degree of homesty... i may be wrong.. but....

i used to buy a big - costco size- box of cherios.-- it contained 2 plastic pouches of  cherios (which if you put one pouch 2" x 9"x11" of extruded  o's    into a blender  you would get about 1 cup of dust/powder-- which is another whole problem  but back to the packaging)the 2 pouches came in one box.  then-- for whjatever reason... the company changed packaging so instead of one carton... they took 2  "normal " cartons and glued them together  they say "2 pull apart boxes" .... they must have had some complaints because they then put on tht box that this method of " 2 pull apart  boxes" saved the universe by requiring less material---

maybe some people believed it -- but i would like to have them prove it to me....   they  glue together 2 pieces  of cardboard... (2x( 9 x 11))= 198 sq inches  that are totally unnecessary  i believe... someone do check my math

i know the some  boxes used to say it saved cardboard--i was mad when they asked me to believe that...  the current already pulled apart box that i now have   does not say anything... so  ???? i am being asked to forget it???

if they lie about the content of the cardboard, are they lying about the cereal too???  who checks on this stuff??? do we as a cp community have a retired lowyer who can start a class action suit  to finance sdp on the backs of  general mills????

dawn this is a perfect job for your kids...  you write to general mills and see how far your kids get 

that could be fun !!!

*****

where i started to go with this is in depth study on trash... it is a fact that a car without a trash  container of some sort.. with become a mess.. likewise  near my  desk...... or in the t tent ... or in the  gt ( giraffe tent)... which i noticed yesterday-- there was no trash so 2 soda cans and some papers ended uop left on the tables..   that is just the beginning of the end...

proper trash collection is critical to  society in general ( remember new york during the strike??)  

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

mariah-- report...  there are those who say she is needier---  needing more affection...  i have heard that kind of thing before...

 i do know as she was riding around on my golf cart and we rode past opal, it was opal who was ready to attack !!  so we might have that wrong...

just becuase opal got the worst of the last fight does not mean she was the innocent bystander  when the fight started.  could be she picked he fight and lost.  at any rate she is all healled.... now all she has to do is grow back the hair.

*********

little concerned for the chicken bricks....  we are behind in sales-- mostly because the shatting sunday was  so far into this month   ( teh 7th) so it is a short month and we need another push.... the big push to impress teh accreditation  person, letters and packages for mailcall are ni ce... but teh chicken bricks are critical !!!..

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

i need to have someone specificalluy in charge of the thermometer on the freezer which shows the  progress of brick sales....

june 17 2015

the phone rang at 4:30 today -- i was awake and listened quickly-- i didn't hear any barking and grabbed for the ohone expecting some irate neighbor calling to complain about barking.... it was my daughter on her way to work-- she knows i get up early.. she works for the boston hospitals somehow-- the interesting part is .. she moved to north carolina-- and still works for them..

i commuted on  a vespa scooter from cambridge mass-- to burlington mass-- in all kinds of weather.. and she clicks on her various  tech devices hanging off her   and commutes from nc...... is spared  commuting in blizzards.... progress ! 

i told her i was enjoying my kindle and was having no problem with it..  she said she had trouble-- when she reads on her back and fell asleep it landed on her nose and turned pages so she had trouble finding where she was. ...such problems.

**********

i get up woth such enthusiasm about training   and wear out...  i want to work on ariot with grace...

we need to get her to recognise a white flag-- i used to use a fly swatter with a kleenex to train my first deaf dane...

and he did really well-  i see ariot running madly around looking for grace.. and i know we could direct her if we got the communication better...

after all the best agility dane in the country was a white deaf dane.   "nico"  

problem is grace is so busy  we can'ty get in step..

among everything else.....grace is baby sitting hte guinea chicks... and we need to get some different feed--

in my opinion

 i know...you have to start regular chicks with  "medicated chick starter" or they begin to die off -- i don't know why

with these....i was just going  on the advice of  the person who gave these to us.. but i am not sure she is an expert..

online it says medicated turkey starter-- so i better go get some... 

we lost one chick and i am told a second one did nt look good yesterdqay

grace looked up one source and they siad medicated rturkey starter--- sounds right... but i am no expert either.

the one who may be is bonnie-- if you are reading this -- we could stand some advice

  bonnie-- dvm..phd...i forget exactly  what she is an expert on ... but it had something to do with improting many hundreds of thousands of chicks to indonesia -- or something like that...

hoepfully she can help with our 11  (?10) guiinae hens

******

feast or famine.... no cut and paste

but i have to go to the feed store..... now

june 16 2015

lotsa cut and paste... which is more interesting than my sports bra purchase...

NOW   THE SEAT OF THE PANTS CONCEPT !!  --- THIS IS A  SERIOUS ONE...

We had the opportunity to visit Service Dog Project yesterday which is where Willow came from. She LOVES going there and seeing her old friends and her first home. While there, we had the opportunity to speak to a group of new volunteers about Service Dogs. It was great fun for all.

In the course of the conversation we spoke about why Great Danes make such amazing balance and mobility dogs. They're the right size of course! We also spoke about why a dog? Well, as I've explained before, a cane just falls with you. A dog, stops you from falling. Also, god forbid if you do fall, the dog is trained to brace to help you get up. That's the short explanation it really is more in-depth than that as I explain in our first blog entry.

What really struck me though was something else that came up during the conversation that I often forget about. The same woman (Carlene White) who had the "Crazy" idea of using Great Danes as balance and mobility dogs and who founded Service Dog Project also had another "crazy" idea. She's had many over the years and as I always say, "crazy" changes the world. Since Carlene has spent so much time working with mobility challenged people and being the keen observer she is, years ago she realized that to assist someone walking it's better to offer them your back pocket rather than your arm for stability. It was one of the first things I learned from her when I came to the farm and I've always insisted on it if for example someone is helping me off a MRI table and Willow is not there. Why? Because it works!

Imagine if you will or even try it, you have balance issues. Have someone extend a typical bent arm to assist. Notice that as to go to grab that arm, your shoulder lifts potentially throwing you off balance from the start. As you walk with them they're normal movement is to "sway" their arms. Even trying consciously to avoid this, it's not a "steady" platform. Now, Stand up and place your hand grabbing in the top of someone’s back pocket or waistband. Walk. You're straighter, the "platform" is more stable (provided they wear pants that fit :) ) and your gait is much more "balanced". It's so simple yet so genius and just another of Carlene's "crazy" ideas that are changing so many lives.

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

Hi Carlene, I just wanted to update you. Bella had her surgery last Tuesday. George did awesome for our overnight at the hospital. We made him a nice bed on the floor and he chilled. Bella was nervous to have him in bed with her because of her knee. The physical therapist was amazed at how well they walked together. The day after surgery they wanted her walking and putting as much weight as possible on her leg, so she used one crutch and one George. She was so impressed with them. By Friday Bella dropped the crutch and just used George. She would go in her wheelchair for any long distances and he walked right next to her. Today they are back in school just like before surgery. No crutch or chair just an absolutely amazing George! We can thank you enough for letting George become part of our family! The Burtons.

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

SDP accreditation Lady, I hope you are listening!!

Me too!! Because what this person needs to know is that this site, these Danes, Carlene, volunteers and All Cps that have made a Huge difference is the lives of our young and yes I said our young because they are our future! They will be our deciding force! My kids have learned compassion, courage( through the journey that our Danes have begun with their forever partner). They have seen the joys ( Bella and George making their way through the educational bureaucracy). They have seen the caring ( people whom they have never met wanting to be a part of their lives via pen pals. Many of which my kids have missing parents for whatever reason.) They feel they are loved and cared about. They feel their letters are brightening an others' day even thought their day or home life is a mess! This person needs to know that SDP goes beyond placing Service dogs, this site is a forever family that rely, depends and most importantly loves each other, both 2 legged and four legged. Because of Carlene and SDP my kids believe that they are able to make a difference in the lives of others where others in their lives may have failed. This site and Carlene's work is breaking down the cycle. People, All people, matter and have something to offer. Sorry for the rant!! Just had to get it out! Love you All!!

problem is she, and   ADI want to be certain we are very professional about preparing a dog for service...... which we are.(.even if it is someetimes well hidden.)

june 15 2015

ok... today's rant.....

.. and this will pertain to the training of children (devin   laura and connor)

i put in that time clock because people did not seem to be able to write or remember what days they were even here...

it is so bad it is comical...

so executive decision #2879  

 you will be paid by what is punched on those cards.  and... as was true at the  day care here i had to pick up colby.... every minute late was worth $5 off

 in  volunteering , you may come and go as is convenient--- but when you are on the payroll...there does exist a schedule...

thiese time cards... two people do it right.. but let me tell you ... without names  this is  what theresa has to decipher

card #1  one punch of 8:37-- 2 days  handwritten "8:00- 5:00" and was here 5 days.

card #2  handwritten in--- punched out

card #3  one day 7:09am to 7:10 pm  2 days punche in 7:08 and 7:15  with no punch out

card #4  all handwritten

card #5  2 days written   "HERE"

card #6  has one handwritten date on it.. no times at all

card #6   times handwritten  only

cards #7&8  times totally random  not the 9 to 2 or 8 to 12  off by hours--- not close.

cards #9 and 10  every day late by just a few minutes EVERY DAY   7 min 4 min 10 min  every day

do you honestly think that all those handwritten times were "ontime"????

that is just plain -  sloppy living..  and is terrible training for the "interns"

 for those of you punching in  consistantly 5 - 7 minutes late every day 

 then leave home15 minutes early so if you hit a red light you can still be ontime.

for those wandering in  hours late -- it may happen once in a while... but a couple  of you do it all the time

making it very hard to plan.  it was fine when we were small-- but we are no longer... 

and we need to be able to make  plans.

  pam works hard on scheduling so we can have the coverqge we need...

 so it is not ok just to decide to change your hours.  

the other reason  we put in that time clock by the front door... is so we get to pass information at the start

things change around here so constantly--  and it is nice to know who is here and not here.

like today.. the tractor is blowing fuses--so i should be the only one to dirve it until we  ( bud) figures out why.

the time clock is there-- use it- 

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

today i will go and buy some  more sports bras  so i can carry my new kindle around... i am loving  it.. !!!

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

Hi Carlene,

Time for a Pandora update.  All of our snow is gone...all 7 feet.  Pandora is just loving the good weather and is outside running around everyday.  I have included three pictures from one of her adventures at the elementary schools.   She went to work in three of our special education classes.  Here she is with  our Kindergarten and Fist grade class.  The children just loved her and one little one cryed when we left.  The children thought she was amazing and the teachers couldn't believe how loving and gentle she was.  I told the story of  SDP to everyone and they promised to check out the site and the chicken bricks. 
Our new superintendent is moving my office from our district building to the high school.  When everyone in the building found out they were very upset.  Was it because they would miss seeing me and the work I do?  Was it my shining personality they would miss?  Or maybe the important support I give all the offices?  NO and NO.  They were upset that Pandora would no longer be visiting their offices.  She is going to be missed.  I promised I would bring her by once in a while.  And of course she is allowed to be with me at the high school.
Mike and I have never had such a wonderful companion.  Now that our chocolate lab is gone Pandora is an only child.  If you have another fabulous failure that could be a therapy dog, just let us know.  Pandora would love to have a brother or sister.

Hope all is well with you,

 keep the dream going, 

Debbie from Buffalo 

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

this may be carrying coals to newcastle..cindy's husband works in animal control.HI CARLENE,I MADE IT BACK TO GEORGIA TODAY AND CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK TO CRAZY ACRES AGAIN. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I ADMIRE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND NOW I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT BEHIND SDP. I ALSO WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AFTER SATURDAY'S CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND CARSON I COULDN'T GET THE IDEA OF GIVING BING A HOME OUT OF MY MIND. I VERIFIED WITH KATI THAT SHE CAN BRING HIM TO GA JULY 1ST. WOULD THAT STILL BE OKAY WITH YOU? I SENT PAM AN EMAIL TO CHECK WITH EVERYONE AND SEE IF THAT WILL WORK. I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU TOLD ME TO TALK WITH ABOUT A FUTURE WHITE PUPPY(ANN ?). SO HOPEFULLY PAM WILL KNOW WHO THAT IS. THANK YOU FOR EVEN CONSIDERING IT!!! CINDY