<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I find it remarkable that, after having
lost your document, you were able to get this one together so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This is an important chapter to your
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It has a good balance of information and
human interest. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It kept me engaged all the way. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">There are a few instances of not giving
enough details for a layperson to understand some of the things you know and
take for granted. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I’ve pointed out a few of them. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">There might have been 2 typos, if they are
typos. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Everyone Needs a Little Dark Chocolate in
There Day<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">When I arrived back at the Seeing Eye to train with my eighth dog, the
trainer who had trained <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Griffin</st1:city></st1:place></font><font size="3">
told me he had a German Shepherd he thought would be perfect for me. I
explained that I didn’t want to put another shepherd in to the hostile work
environment my agency posed for any dog who was the least bit vocal. Shepherds
are natural talkers. They have a wide range of squeaks, yodels and woofs for
any occasion. I wrote the following essay about this characteristic desire to
communicate when I was still working with </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">.
</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Conversations with My Guide
Dog(It was first published in the Anthology <i>Two Plus Four Equals One, By
Kathy Nimmer)</i><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">First
of all, my dog's portion of this conversation is expressed in grunts, squeaks,
snorts of disbelief, tail thumps and let us not forget, various positions of
those lovely German shepherd ears. So this record of my half of our
dialogue is not simply the ramblings of a disordered mind. Then again,
perhaps you might not agree if you too don’t get into conversations with the
nonhuman members of your family. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Good
Morning to you too. I am sure it will be a wonderful day, and I know you
need to run outside as this house doesn’t provide indoor plumbing for dogs, but
I think it’s raining and I need shoes and a raincoat. So please stop dancing
around until I get myself together. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">You
could wipe your own feet before coming in all muddy you know.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 2in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I
know you are highly intelligent, you did graduate from one of the best dog
guide training programs in the country. So how come you always manage to
get your front paws tangled in your leash like this? <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 2in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 2in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">No,
I don’t believe you were trying to play cat’s cradle.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“You
must know that eating grass or kitty excreta will give you gas, so why do you
always look offended when you are the one fumigating the room?” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I
love you, but I don't like being used as your napkin when you have dunked your
muzzle in your drinking bowl. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">–-No,
I don't think water does taste better when imbibed from a toilet! <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I
just know so and don't have to try it!” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Shaking
fur all over a restaurant isn't funny. It isn't another way to say I’ll
be seeing you again.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I
don’t own the whole sidewalk or every place we go in to conduct business, so
don’t think we have a right to be first. Now, I know that putting your
cold nose on them makes people move, and let us get to the front of the line,
but we can wait our turn.” “<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes
I understand that he said something rude to you, but it's his yard and you are
a professional, so just walk past and ignore him.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“No,
you can't take your toys with us, you are working! Behave yourself or
I'll put this harness on the cat!” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes,
we are shopping again, and the object isn't to go in one door and find the exit
as fast as we can and no you can't just pick up things and expect me to pay for
them.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I
brushed you this morning and you don't have fleas, so stop scratching and
jangling your tags like that! You are interrupting the meeting!” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Wake
up, I know the sermon was extra-long, but snoring is impolite.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes,
that's your dinner and I know mine looks better, but yours is well-balanced and
nutritious. Besides, it costs more than a dollar a pound, so it must be good.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“You
are very smart to remember this place, but we aren't going there today.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Don't
huff at me, I am not being ridiculous and yes I do too know where we are going
and it isn't back the other way! <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“It
isn't alright to chase the neighbor's cat out of your yard just because it
isn't our cat.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Because
it is on the floor doesn't make it yours. So give it back right now!” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes
I know where the dog biscuits are and you are not getting another one.
Your harness is getting tight.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I know everyone
says you are beautiful and clever, but you don't need to thank them all for the
compliments. Let’s get going! Dog <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Biscuits aren’t free. You have to work for
a living!” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">”Hey
you, yes you in the dog suit! We’ve got a bus to catch, so put down the
ball and get your harness on!”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“You
can too fit under an airline seat! Okay, you win, being half in my lap is
reasonable when you get scared.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 1in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes,
you are the bestis dog in the whole world.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As always, my school
took my concerns seriously and matched me with a totally different dog from
Olsen.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I have placed below the
journal I kept when I returned for my eighth visit to The Seeing Eye. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Seeing Eye Journal</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">11/27/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I am going to write short entries to track my efforts to
begin the process of transitioning for the 8</font><sup><font size="2">th</font></sup><font size="3"> time with a new dog. I
am struggling to deal with the ending too soon of the bond I have developed
with Olsen. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I haven't let myself get excited. I dwell on the
here, this minute, get it done and don't think about the pain that is with me.
Sweet Olsen, It was only two years we walked in tandem. I shouldn't
feel your absence like a yanked wisdom tooth leaving the bloody hole where
a tooth should be. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Saturday I will be driven two hours to <st1:city w:st="on">St.
Louis</st1:city></font><font size="3">, board a plane to </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Newark</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
and be taken to a place that has welcomed me seven previous times. For
almost three weeks, I will have beautifully prepared meals. A maid will
clean my room. I will work hard and be exhausted by the struggle to learn
to read the language of motion in synchrony with another. It won't be you
and I will have to fight to move on. I will meet another writer whom I know
only by exchanged e-mail. I will walk in all kinds of weather and be
matched with the one who will share my life's journey for an indeterminate
time. We will explore the shape of our natures and begin to build the bond that
will tear another hole in my heart when it too ends. I will be attending
class once more to train with a Seeing Eye dog. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">11/28/09 </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Then And Now</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I was just out of high school
when I first traveled to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3">.
Having never flown on a jet plane, I thought of the journey as a fabulous
adventure. Numerous pet dogs had been a part of my childhood, so it only
made sense to join my steps with a canine friend as I set off to conquer the
world. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now I am a grandmother who still
finds it hard to believe she has actually become a grown up. The trip is
much the same as it was the very first time, one of excitement, anxiety and
anticipation. Of course there are differences, like a room to myself.
Different amenities like a Moshi talking clock and fancy satellite radio are in
my room. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">11/29/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">New friends and old
companions.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Ralph Malatesta gave me my lovely <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">, he isn't my instructor this time but
he does have a beautiful gentle shepherd in his string that I got to play
with. Ralph says he is mine if I want him, but I can't put myself or him
through the heart break if he too starts to alert bark. So no big gentle
shepherd, no dainty little shepherd girl either. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">My instructor, Sue M. says my
new dog has a name that starts with the letter R. She says he is unusual.
I tease her that she is planning to give me a Sharpei named Rambo. Rollo?
Roscoe? <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
and Rondo are possible too. She says that four of us have dogs with names
ending in the letter A. One dog's name ends in an O. When Sue keeps saying he
when telling me things about my prospective dog, I guess the chances are that
the O is mine. Not too many male names typically end in a letter A.
</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">11/30/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My favorite!</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reno</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">! Will you take a
gamble on me? Little labby boy with eyes of gold and dark chocolate fur. Who
wants milk chocolate, when you can have rich dark chocolate? It is loaded with
antioxidants to keep me young. No, the bed is mine, yours is the matt in the
corner. Our first walk is different. You are smaller but you have a nice
pace and pull. No, you can't play with your leash or chew your tie down cable.
It’s okay if you need some time to decide if you can take me on as a
friend. My heart is ready for you so I can be patient.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/1/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Hokey pokey</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">We can do this, I know you are worried. Sue is
still back there, just trust me and I will try to trust you back. Oh, I
must not be doing this right. My shins are stiff and ache with each step. I
must be unconsciously walking tentatively with tense muscles. Today is
only our first full day together. “Put more enthusiasm in your voice please.
Don't step out in front of him, let the boy move first, click and treat.”
I don't remember it being this hard to learn to dance before, but I know it
must have been. Last park and this grandma will need to get some rest to keep
up with the coco puff puppy.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/2/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I am alive!</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This morning I am actually rested. I had no trouble
sleeping. You woke up when I got up once in the night to beat the heating
register with your tail. No sleepy labby boy you. Maybe I am a little tired,
but not exhausted. Sixty-one isn't quite so long after nineteen today. I may
actually feel like I can make it. Lukas taught us the concepts of the
clicker last evening. As always he made me laugh and feel like I was in the
presence of one of my insane brothers. Love and friendship never dimmed
by time and distance are a part of coming here. So many faces are gone, Judy
D., Pete L. and Doug R. are just the latest friends to have moved on to a
life outside this enchanted Shangri La, where human and canine animals learn to
combine forces to become greater than they would be separately.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">This time there is dark chocolate and one nut to make an
Almond Joy. Ouch, I caught my heel on a raised slab of sidewalk and took a
sliding header on our trip in town. Poor chocolate is worried and isn't
pulling into his harness. I think the issue is that I am wandering around
the building leading the coco puff puppy without even a cane to tell me where
the stairs are. I am using my feet to explore the floor. That would also
explain the shin splints I am having. Tense muscles ache because I am not
walking relaxed. I asked Curt to send my walking shoes instead of these boots
with heavy treads. I don't need snow boots since the sidewalks are clear for
now. I've got to get my act together to make progress. It feels as if I
am doing the soft shoe shuffle while <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
is trying to waltz.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/3/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One foot in front of
the other.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">We were choppy in our movements, but I managed to follow
and let him lead without rushing his moves. It wasn't perfect, but at least we
were finding the beat and if not quite in step, we were hearing the same tune.
Jennifer from the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Colorado</font></st1:placename><font size="3">
</font><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">School</font></st1:placetype></st1:place><font size="3"> role model team is
here and got a shepherd male. She is working in </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">Alabama</font></st1:state><font size="3">
but still makes it back to </font><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Colorado</font></st1:place></st1:state><font size="3">
often. Jerry was in my class with dog three, and he too has a shepherd.
Don got the shepherd I worked with on Sunday from Ralph's string. Bonnie has a
cute little lab and Tessa a medium sized female shepherd. None of them are in
my team under Sue. In my group, there are two people from </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">New
Jersey</font></st1:state><font size="3">, one from </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">New York</font></st1:state><font size="3">, and
one from a suburb of </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Boston</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">.
My class picture is going to be interesting since we will have one black lab, one
golden retriever, one yellow lab, one dainty shepherd and the coco puff.
The December training group is made </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">up of17 people who are returning for successor
dogs. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I had a chance to catch up with
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tula</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">, who was
in my first class. She was between her junior and senior year at college and I
was an entering freshman when we first met. She volunteers to assist people in
class getting set up in the computer room. She is still working the shepherd
she had two years ago when I was last in class. Like many shepherd handlers,
she says she would never accept another breed. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sue, my instructor, says she understands the difficulty
of going from a lab to two shepherds and then back to a lab. I think my biggest
issue is the change in size. There is a difference in how the two breeds move,
but my last three dogs were close in height. After three large dogs I am
working with one who is at least three to four inches shorter. He
does have a bouncy walk rather than the flowing walk of my two shepherds, but the
shorter height is also matched with a decrease in body length. Sue has
given me a shorter handle which brings me closer to his shoulder when we walk
and that is helping. At least it feels more like the usual two left feet issues
whenever you have to learn to read the body language of a successor dog.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My instructor left after dinner
and we worked with Lukas </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">To use the targeting technique
with a clicker to start patterning our dogs to the smaller dining room for
tomorrow. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
got upset when tapping the bell with his nose didn't make it ring so he could
get a treat. He grabbed the bell in his mouth and tried chewing it.
This target behavior is going to be useful to teach new tasks. Each dog
has a basic skill set when they are placed with a handler, but a lot of customizing
takes place to teach additional tasks specific to their blind person's
desires. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I
think you should say more about targeting. I’m not sure what it means.</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/5/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oh Solo Mio</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">We did our first solo today and it went relatively
well. There were a few miscommunications. I lost my partner Tulia
for a few minutes while she dealt with an unplanned park time.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Am <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">I to asume that </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">‘park time is a pottie break?</font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Is a partner someone
who goes on a walk with you, having her own dog? <o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Why didn’t she tell you
what was happening. Could you have waited for her?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reno</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> doesn't have the
confidence to be decisive when I need to move over, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">What does it mean to
‘move over?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">but he is happy in
his work. I tried a simple modification on the harness to take some of
the play out of it until we get our new harnesses. This is sure a quiet
class. Maybe because we are for the most part aging baby boomers.
Jen is probably the youngest at thirty-five.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/6/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The visit</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Today was so busy. We got to sleep in an extra hour, and
the time flew by. We were issued our dog boots,<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">What are dog boots?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">bell and after
lunch some were able to practice obedience and learn about their puppy. I
had visitors. Robin and Thomasina raise puppies at </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Rutgers</font></st1:placename><font size="3"> </font><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">University</font></st1:placetype></st1:place><font size="3">.
Robin has a puppy taking his mid training town walk. She decided to drive
down a day early to visit Jen and me. She brought Nyla bones for our dogs
and a plate of gingerbread men and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. It was
wonderful to have visitors and to meet someone I have enjoyed reading messages
from for some time. After dinner, I got my puppy's statistics. He
is going to be 19 months on the 29th. He was born March 29th 2008, a couple of
days before I was matched with Olsen. He has nine siblings and his
parents are Barney and Marlow. He was raised in a family of three children by
the youngest, a twelve year old boy. They lived in the country and had
other dogs and a cat. He weighed a pound at birth. He is a great puppy
and scored well on all his important tests and was gentle with his toys.
Tomorrow we are back in town working our dogs and making more progress in
winning them from their instructors.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">you mean to write ‘weaning?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After dinner we worked on food
distractions. Sue walked past each of us tossing garlic bread sticks down
on the floor in front of us. One pup caught it in midair. Others
dived after the treat and were corrected until they could remain sitting
quietly beside their handler. My pup wanted to hide. He pressed his forehead against
the back of my calf and was drooling. He wanted the food but also wanted
to avoid the temptation. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/7/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A Longer Route</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">in the morning we started the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Elm street</st1:address></st1:street></font><font size="3"> route which is pretty long and
did some freelance work to practice escalators, revolving doors and narrow
crowded aisles. I had a chance to buy some light weight socks to make my
street shoes more comfortable and some bath salts to do some hot soaks for sore
muscles. It was a pretty good day. I need to work on my voice when giving
commands. He is happier with a more forceful style than I used with the
timid shepherd boys.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/8/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Observers</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Today we have a class of O&M students <o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">What is an O and M
stujdent?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">visiting. We also have an apprentice instructor who
stays with us all day under blindfold. She works with a dog and has her
meals with us like another student. Seeing Eye has made it a policy to
bring in students studying mobility so they can understand the dynamics of
guide dog work if they ever need to orient a dog user with a new
environment. Each instructor works their dogs under blindfold near the
end of training as a readiness test. Apprentices experience living under
blindfold for a week to understand how a blind person might feel. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Does that mean rediness
of the dog or or the stujdent?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Roger Taylor was manning the
lounge this morning and it was great seeing him. I don't think he knew
who I was at first, but after he remembered coming out to work with me and
Gentry with our llama He even remembered to call me Quietwater when I hugged
him as I left the lounge. I am still having some trouble getting the pup
to find the curb and to stop at the up curb. We did some nice work around
barriers and he is not at all dog distractible. We went to the courthouse and
worked on lots of twisty turns through people, up and down stairs. I am still
off on my following and reading his body language. At this point most of
the problems are mine. We got our harness pieces in the evening and had a
lecture by Lukas on the principles of clicker training and how it can be
used. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What
are harness pieces?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/9/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My Shoes and His Boots</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I got my extra shoes from home yesterday. It looks
like Curt didn't want to take chances, and sent four pairs. Add those to
my three pairs of boots and one pair of airport moccasins, and I have more
shoes than good sense! I lent one pair of snow boots to Bonnie since she
didn't have any with her. The weather has taken a turn toward real
winter. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Jim and Tulia will leave on
Monday and get a couple of days of work in their home areas. Both live
here in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3">,
so that will give them freelance work at home. They will go in to </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Manhattan</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> on Sunday to
fit that in before leaving us. Irene is also going to leave ahead of the
rest of us with follow up provided at home in </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">New York City</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in;"><font size="3"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reno</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a lovely, gentle,
funny pup with excellent work skills. We will be using our new harnesses
by Friday, so I will need to be putting a lot of time in oiling today. I
managed to get the first coat on last night before heading to bed. We
take our class pictures tomorrow. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">We took the train a short way. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> trembled while we waited inside the
station and I wondered if his tight short coat was not enough protection in the
cold. We went to Pet smart instead of taking a bus this afternoon. This
gave us a chance to work on sniffing, dog distraction, and close aisle
work. I bought </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
a collar tag brass bone with his name and my phone number on it, a propeller
squeak toy for Christmas, some oatmeal baking soda shampoo, ear and teeth
wipes. He did beautifully at all of the challenges including sitting
quietly near the cat enclosures, walking past hamsters and birds.
Actually all of Sue's dogs did a great job with only Luka sniffing dogfood bags
and Simba breaking a sit when a large lab charged him. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> was quiet, mannerly and totally focused
on me through the whole time. We got our vet lecture this evening and I
sandwiched in some boot practice and obedience. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> acts like the boots hold his paws glued
to the floor. I put them on him for a short time yesterday and he lay on
his side claiming to be in force field restraints and unable to stand.
When I fixed his dinner, he clomped in slowly and started to eat. I was
able to lift each foot and remove the boot while he ate standing on three
legs. This evening he walked slowly and carefully to and from the lounge
three times. I made a cup of decaffeinated tea, got my harness pieces to oil
and returned empty feed pans to the counter. He says the boots are magnetized
or gravitic to walk on the outside of space ships.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Are the dogs required
to use boots?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/10/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Smiles</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Our <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Elm
Street</st1:address></st1:street></font><font size="3"> solo is tomorrow. I worked in team
with Irene, who uses a support quad cane in her right hand. She is matched with
Simba, the large golden retriever. It was crowded out there with us
overtaking and getting tangled with Bonnie and Cathy from Ralph's group.
There were also some dog distractions, some obstacles blocking the side walk
and quite a bit of pedestrian traffic. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When we returned, there was time to get my laundry back
upstairs, put my new harness together and change for our pictures. Sue
teased that she looked like a slob compared to us all in our finery. This
afternoon Pam and I will be working together I think. I've changed back
from my velvet skirt and vest to burgundy sweats for warmth. It is
chilly, but sunny which is much better weather than the rest of the country is
experiencing.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After lunch, the whole team of five of us went to
Wahl Mart. Reno is really good at following particularly when it is Sue he
needs to keep track of down the aisles. Pam, Tulia and I waited in
McDonalds while Jim and Irene went in to the store first. We ordered
coffee and tea while we waited for our turn to shop. Pam was the adventurous
one who went to the counter to order for the three of us. She had the
frustration of being told that the straws were over there by the napkins. As we
sat enjoying our drinks, a mother and child passed behind my chair and the
little one begged to pet the dogs. His mother dragged him on saying
"No, they have germs." I wasn't sure if she meant us or the
dogs. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When it was our turn, we went
to the handicrafts section to buy yarn and knitting needles, hand lotion, and
small zip lock bags for me. Tulia needed cookies and place markers for a poncho
she is knitting. Then we went to house wares to look for a kind of
silverware holder for Pam and she ended up buying a magazine about soap operas
on television. She has quite a bit of useable vision, but of course that doesn't
mean it is enough to travel safely. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Tulia, Jim and Pam all had
their vet visits today. I am busy writing a skit about how the dogs view
being matched with a person. Of course, they don't understand the process
at all, so this is just some light humor to entertain myself. I am not
using any actual dogs or people in this class as characters.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/11/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Changing Partners,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I was teamed with Pam for the solo on Elm and it went
very well. The new harness is working as I had hoped. I thought it
would enable me to feel more of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">'s
movements. As my ability to follow him increases, his confidence improves. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">After lunch, Sue took us to The
Shops on Pine, which is a sort of mini mall of small arts shops. There
were a lot of hand-made items with dogs but most of them were out of my price
range. We went to another shop near the crossing of <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">South Street</st1:address></st1:street></font><font size="3"> from Dehart. It sold wind
chimes. I found a beautiful box with a dragonfly on the lid for a Christmas
gift for my sister-in-law Terry Lynne. Pam was looking for earrings. She
couldn't find what she wanted. I had asked Curtis to send me some of the
ones he makes for GDUI. They have closed down the catalog and I thought the
small shop off the lounge that sells Seeing Eye items might like to stock them.
The public can enter from the street and students from the lounge. I got
back the sample ones I had shown to Pepper for consideration for the shop.
Christen Lake wants two of the pairs of shepherds, but I still had the fresh
water pearls and one set of plain </font><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Labradors</font></st1:place><font size="3">.
When we got back to the school, Pam decided to buy the last set of German
shepherds. I got a skit written, but couldn't get the computer to cooperate to
print it from my thumb drive. One station isn't talking at all. One
refuses to see the drive and another has zoom text instead of a screen reader
loaded. I was able to send a copy to Lukas and have inserted it here.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">School Days</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">The scene opens with four dogs comfortably relaxing under
a table in the dining room at Seeing Eye. Roxy is a petite German shepherd,
Arthur a larger shepherd with black predominating in his coat. <st1:place w:st="on">Milo</st1:place></font><font size="3"> is a lab golden cross with the golden silkiness to
his fur. Heidi is a small black lab.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Milo</font></span></st1:place><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">: "Roxy! Who did
you get? I got this older lady who talks baby talk to me!
She looks like a real softy. Bet I can wind her around my little paw in no
time! You know as a cross, I have my golden
retriever daddy's charm and the determination of
my <st1:place w:st="on">Labrador</st1:place></font><font size="3"> mama! She doesn't stand a
chance!"</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Roxy: "That sounds cool <st1:place w:st="on">Milo</st1:place></font><font size="3">.
But if I were you, I'd wait to work on her until you go home and there aren't
any trainers around to set her straight. Mine is this guy with huge feet. He
doesn't seem to know what to do with them. He has already stepped on my paw
twice and it's only been one afternoon. Still, as a shepherd, I did expect to
get a person who requires real talent in his guide."</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Arthur: "That is true, we shepherds either get
someone who needs a lot of looking after or one who will require
professionalism in his guide. I have a lawyer working for the government--very
hush-hush you understand."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Heidi: "Boring, I got a guy who keeps missing his
mouth. Boy am I going to clean up! Heh heh heh. Um Roxy, I don't see your
litter mate Rocco."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roxy: (Sigh,) "I warned him that if he kept peeing
on his trainer's shoes he wouldn't get picked in the first draft. He might make
it next month if he can learn to control his squirrel addiction. The trainer
has put him in the 24 step program. Oh here comes my kennel mate Silka. I am so
glad she got a match."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Silka: "I made the cut! I got this chubby lady with
interesting smells on her shoes. I detected cat, horse and I think llama. That
trainer Dave Johnson has one of those and I've smelled that scent on him
before. As a golden, I don't know if I would like living on a farm. There will
be all those burrs and stuff to get tangled in my pretty fur. Anyone want to
trade? I can slip my tie-down tonight. We could make the switch and see
if they notice the difference. How about it <st1:place w:st="on">Milo</st1:place></font><font size="3">?"</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Milo</span></st1:place><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: "It would be
fun, but since I'm a male and you're not, I don't know how long we could keep
up the joke. But hey, it might be a blast to try."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Arthur: "Last night, they brought in an older fellow
who was coming home to retire. He kept me awake half the night talking
about the real world. Personally, I think it will be interesting to get on with
my career. I have walked the streets of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Morristown</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
so many times I could do it in my sleep. Even going in to The Big Apple gets
stale after awhile.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Silka: "I can hardly wait! I'll miss my trainer
though."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Roxy: "Me too, I didn't eat tonight because the
thought of leaving her behind and having to take charge of big foot all on my
own seems a little scary."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Heidi: "No skipping meals for me thank you. I can
hardly wait to get out of here with all these trainers watching. My ambition is
to fill out the extra folds in this oversized labby hide of mine."<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Did you mean labby<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">or flabby?</font></span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Arthur: "Let's have a little professionalism please.
As graduates from the most prestigious Ivy League of dog universities, we have
a proud tradition to uphold when we go forth."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Milo</span></st1:place><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: "Sure, Sure,
don't get your tail in a knot, we will uphold the dignity thing, but what I am
really looking forward to is the freedom part!" Sleeping on beds, chewing
up socks and let us not forget counter surfing here I
come!" Oops, heads
up, everyone look sharp, here comes a trainer."</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This peek into the under the table scene has been brought
to you courtesy of Dog-house Productions starring the Hambone Players. The
names have been changed to protect the guilty.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/12/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Slow Saturday</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Irene went to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
York</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3"> this morning and brought back bagels for
everyone. The rest of us went out in the afternoon to do country work. It
isn't really country, but suburban streets with no sidewalks. We walked
in the gutter. There was a lot of snow still and some ice. The sun was shining
though, so it wasn't too bad. I was again teamed with Pam. I finally got the
computer to read my drive with Russell's help. He teaches technology in </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">Washington</font></st1:state><font size="3"> but lives in </font><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Idaho</font></st1:place></st1:state><font size="3">. I talked to Vicky C. and her husband
when they came to visit Bonnie. She gave me Alice Z.'s contact information. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><font size="3">Alice</font></st1:city><font size="3"> was in class with me when I trained with </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/13/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sunday down day.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Jim and Tulia went to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3">. It was turning very cold and Tessa
and Jen fell on the leisure path. It had started to rain by morning park time
so I chose not to try walking the leisure path. In the afternoon, Chris Sutton
came over with a power chair and we were able to give </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> some time to get used to it. Later Sue
used a manual chair in the lounge to try to get his unease down some more. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I missed several phone calls and talked to Mike T., and
left messages for Ron and Lisa B. I have spoken to my dear friend Kae, and
written a letter for my puppy's raiser. I hope he will understand that <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> will be loved and
enjoy many adventures.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/14/09 </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The homeward Bound</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Today Jim, Irene, and Tulia left for home. Pam and
I had our vet visits and Pam had her exit interview. Then we went for a long
walk in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Morristown</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
with lots of poles, dumpsters, and other obstacles. In the afternoon, we went
for another long walk and revisited the courthouse. Our comfort level is
improving as our dogs begin to read us better and our communication
grows. The thing to remember is that these dogs are still green and need
a lot of praise and feedback. Less training is done on teaching them to find
things like stairs. Inside, Outside, are still taught. Other changes include
the bringing around of both the dinner and the breakfast feed pans in the
afternoon. One is put away in a drawer or closet for morning. </font><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Shannon</font></st1:place><font size="3"> is taking students out by twos after last park
for night work. Our class lectures are given to us on an MP3 player which makes
it easy to listen to them while we wait our turns to practice routes.
Most training groups average four students to one instructor. We are no
longer asked to dress in business casual for lunch for the benefit of visitors.
We don't address our instructors by Mr. Mrs. or Miss followed by a last
name. Few donated dogs of unusual breeds are being accepted and trained.
More emphasis is placed on freelance work to fit the dogs for the varied
situations they are going to experience once they go home. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Christmas trees went up
today. It appears that the staff brings toys and food items in for distribution
to the community. The toys go under the tree. Margaret keeps the food in
her office. I think there is also some sort of book drive going on too.
Michelle Drolet is back from vacation, which, means there was no session on
losing a guide since she was gone. I was surprised they didn't distribute the
CD or anything. Targeting and click and treat techniques are being taught
as an optional tool. One of the instructors taught some of us how to play
with a dreidel and we participated in a lighting of the Chanukah candles.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/15/09 </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The endless day</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">After breakfast, Sue Tom and I worked with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> on wheelchair
desensitivity. We made good progress. Then it was off to the city where we
walked our feet off. Crowds, subways, city buses and walking past as many
city notable locations as our feet could stand. Pen station for
escalators, time square, </font><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size="3">Columbia
Circle</font></st1:address></st1:street><font size="3">, </font><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size="3">34th
St.</font></st1:address></st1:street><font size="3"> and </font><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size="3">Fifth
Avenue</font></st1:address></st1:street><font size="3">. We walked past Tiffany's, Bergdorf's,
Macy's NBC and ACB studios. We did some Christmas shopping in the kiosks at the
edge of </font><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Central Park</font></st1:place><font size="3">. We encountered
Rolling racks, street vendors of soft pretzels, hotdogs, and Broadway tickets
scalpers. There was Christmas music, singers, horse drawn carriages giving us a
traffic check. We stopped for lunch before tackling the eight blocks to the
Port Authority to find the car for the drive back to the school. After
dinner and the lecture on dog attacks and harassment, park time and some night
travel in </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Morristown</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">.
</font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> did it all
with a wagging tale and a sneezy nose. Several of the dogs in class have
caught some kind of cold. Sneezes and reverse sneezes abound. The vet checked
several of them and none are running fevers or have gone off their food. She
thinks it will run its course and clear up in a couple of days.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>When you
talk about wheelchairs, are the dogs trained just not to be afraid of them but
also how to guide someone on a wheelchair?</u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/16/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Last Day</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Pam Sue and I walked a bit in the country but it was
really cold. I started packing. Dr. Cohen sent <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reno</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> a good-bye card and box of homemade dog
biscuits. He also got a series of drawings from one of the children in
his puppy raiser home. He has obviously imprinted several hearts on his
way to me. In the afternoon, there was a trip to town for Pam to have her
nails done and some walking for the Reno and I to work on curbs followed by Hot
chocolate and buying funny pasta for presents. The shop had a rack of
packages of pasta in the shapes of dog bones and paw prints, shapes for
girlfriends and cats. </font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Shannon</span></st1:place><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> wanted us to have our
packing done so she could weigh bags. Naturally my big case was too heavy and
my small one was light. We worked to even it out. I had to get a box to
mail home the snow boots and extra jacket so the rest would fit in the
suitcases. I got Karen to check my bags online and print out the boarding pass.
I had my exit interview, which gave me a chance for goodbye hugs for old
friends Jim and Ginger, a kiss on the cheek from Lukas. Tomorrow it's time for
this lady bug to fly away home.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">12/17/09</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The rest of the story</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">I was up early to finish jamming things in the smaller of
my two cases since that is the one that is under the weight limit. I sat on it
to get the zipper to close. I had a last breakfast with Pam, Tessa, Butch and
Rob. Then there was A trip to the airport with an apprentice named Kaylin and
Butch. Our gates are two apart. We found seats between them. Butch is
flying to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3">
and his flight is delayed, so I am actually the first to leave. I am in
the bulkhead row with no one else; </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
sits up or rests his head on the seat beside me. He trembles and drools a
bit. I carefully ignore his unease and try to seem calm and assured. When
we land, I slip his harness on and accept my carry-on bag from the
stewardess. We quickly leave the plane and I sit at the gate waiting for
a meet and assist person to arrive. My cell phone lets me talk to Curt
and when I am finally allowed out of the secured area, he finds us and we
collect my bags and leave for the two hour drive home. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> meets the family at home and we begin
the rest of our lives with a slow gentle introduction to my grandchildren, two
family dogs and cat. The next day we are off to the office for a half day
ending with a restaurant meal with co-workers for our office party. Except for
one friend who is still smarting on my behalf for the loss of Olsen, all are
impressed with the </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Reno</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
puppy. Jill says he isn't as pretty as Olsen. She too loves German Shepherd
Dogs. We are still slightly out of step, but have only each other now to try to
make the communication flow easily and naturally. A birthday party for my
grandson is going on upstairs, and we will soon go to meet and greet, but I
hope to keep Mr. Chocolate calm and well-mannered as this is part of his job
description. The magical door of the safe zone the Seeing Eye provides with its
trainers has closed and the world awaits. We step off together to discover what
it holds for our almond joy team.</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reno</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> had lovely amber golden eyes
like Tammy. </span></font><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">He was as gentle
as Teddy, as sweet and cuddly as <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
with a loving joyful personality. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One of the first things
he showed me was that he thought he was a lapdog. I came in from a training
trip and clipped his collar to the tie down next to my bed. When I woke from a
nap, I discovered he had slipped out of his collar and moved up to curl against
my back with his head on the pillow. When I asked him what he thought he was
doing, he wagged the end of his tail apologetically.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When he returned home
with me, he charmed everyone we met. At a dental appointment, he worried when I
made a noise while having my teeth worked on. He climbed up on the foot of my
dental chair and stretched out to place his head on my stomach and wrap his
front paws around my waist. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At staff meetings, he
often got bored. If I was busy taking notes on my braille notetaking device, he
would quietly standup and put his head in my lap. One front paw would follow.
Then, he would put the other front paw up there too. Eventually, with his chest
and front half in my lap, he would get one hind paw up there as well. When he
tried to get the remaining hind paw up, he would run out of room and go sliding
off on the floor with a thump. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Reno</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> loved squeaky toys, wrestling
and most of all cuddling. When he found the demands of my job too stressful, a
break for a cuddle and a bit of praise got him back coping with the noise and
confusion of being a political disability advocate.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p align="center" class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">He guided me on protest
marches, helped me cross and recross the exit of the state senators’ garage
driveway while we protested the end of session without dealing with the health
needs of the disabled. He guided me along with three other blind people to </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><font size="3">Washington</font></st1:city><font size="3"> </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">D.C.</font></st1:state></st1:place><font size="3">
He only worked five years because he was extremely timid and eventually his
tremors when frightened and his</font></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">reluctance to be harnessed told me it was time to let him
move in to a new career. He is now working with my friend who does respite and
hospice care. His affectionate loving nature is much better suited to bringing
comfort to the terminally ill than it was facing the challenges of complex
traffic and the rolling thunder of summer storms. Even when he was cringing and
shaking with fear, he never left me in the lurch. However, I could see how much
it cost him to bravely soldier through. Because my dogs give me so much, it is
my responsibility to return that gift by knowing when it is time to let them
hang up that harness. My Little chocolate taught me to think of the needs of
others even if it means toughing it through a difficult situation for me.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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</font><p class="yiv6769061009msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
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