A young dog and the dog walk

Two weeks ago during agility class Magnum was running on the dog walk at full height, which is about 4 to 5 feet off the ground.  He is at an age where he still doesn’t pay attention to his hind legs.  Running on a dog walk isn’t all that easy because it is about 12 inches wide, so a dog really has to pay attention.  Young dogs like their handlers right next to them so that they can see them.  If not, the dog may turn its head to find the handler and in doing it lose their balance.  I was right next to Magnum, but he still got one of his back legs off the walk and couldn’t get back on the walk.  I stopped and helped him and he finished the dog walk.  But after he wouldn’t go on the dog walk again.  He displayed a number of avoidance behaviors.  So, we decided it best to not ask him again and wait until the following week.  Previously Magnum had fallen off the dog walk, but that didn’t faze him.  It was the inability to get his foot either back on the walk or touching the floor.

Magnum was the only dog in his class of 8 puppies (all older than him) to walk over the dog walk initially without luring him (using a food treat).  It’s his personality to be curious about the equipment and unafraid to try new things.  So I was a little concerned about the dog walk.

My instructor had told us about how Linda M., one of the current best agility handlers in the US and whose style of handling is emulated by most of us, trains her dogs on the dog walk.  She uses a very low dog walk to give her dogs’ confidence to race over at top speed.  At Linda’s level of performance a half a second is important.  So, I decided that perhaps lowering the dog walk for Magnum would be helpful.

I have an old full size wooden dog walk (dog walks are big and take a lot of space in the yard).  Alan cut the legs of it so that it is about two feet off the ground.  Later on if I want it high, he’ll put new legs on it.  Magnum had no fear and is having great fun running across it.

At class the following week, the instructor moved the dog walk, so the A-frame was in its place.  He went over the A-frame fine, but then didn’t want to again.  We used food treats and after a couple of times going over, he was fine.  We started off on the dog walk with food treats and he did it fine.  Then he started racing over and passing up the treats.  So, it appears, at least for now, he has worked out the fear of the dog walk.

Last night, December 22^nd, I finished the stocking I was knitting for my grandson, Ajax.  It was a complex pattern with four colors.  I had trouble with it and went back to the knitting store for help.  The staff person told me I was knitting left handed – and I am not left-handed.  She said it used to be the way many people were taught and thought to be elegant.  A friend who is an experienced knitter said I was not a left-handed knitter, but I knitted in the continental style,which is considered more elegant.  I use my left hand as much as I use my right hand.  My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 6 years old.  I hope the stocking will be treasured by Ajax, as he grows older.  Anyway, its great to have it completed.

Christmas Stories

I have always loved Christmas stories.  I am an avid mystery reader, so I really enjoy Christmas mysteries.  I have a lot of Christmas books and read several each year and try to acquire one or two new books each year.  There is nothing I like better than a good old Christmas murder.  I am so bloodthirsty for a peaceful person.  I believe I love mysteries, in part, because justice almost always prevails at the end.  It doesn’t quite work out that way in real life.

I also love to watch Christmas/holiday movies.  It appears that there are many who are like me because the Hallmark channel has Christmas movies on every night in December.  Some of the movies are really good and some stretch the imagination and the writing isn’t great, but I still love them.  I cry during most of them, no matter how implausible the story.  Let’s face it; there are only so many variations on the classic themes.  There are numerous stories based on “A Christmas Carol”.  I love the stories that are take-offs of “Ground Hog Day”.  In those stories you have the unfortunate individual who has to repeat Christmas Eve until they get it right.  How about the Santa stories?  He has daughters, sons, corporations, wicked elves, or others who have to or want to take over his “business”.   Some of the best stories have dogs in them. Many of the stories have a love story.

What most of the stories have in common is the element of change and redemption.  There is the belief that the holiday season works magic and people change for the better.  I do believe it is possible and many folks at least are more generous to those less fortunate during the holidays.  Many non-profit organizations receive most of there contributions during the holiday season.  The food banks, shelters, and holiday gift programs are featured in our newspapers and on radio and TV to encourage us to give.  In the YS Newspaper, they featured a gift tree at the YS Library on the front page.  Families in need write down what they would like and the library staff hang papers on the tree with items that are appropriate.  Alan and I give a lot of money to non-profits during the year.  But, when I saw the article, I had to go to the library and take a card for a child.  It just feels so good to do something for someone who might not receive a gift if not for you.  I selected a child who wants the crayola crayon machine.  I’ve seen it advertised on TV, during the Christmas shows, and thought that Alan would have wanted one if he were a kid.  How exciting to get to purchase it for a child.  Alan did confirm he would have liked it.

While I am watching the tearjerker Christmas shows, I am knitting a stocking for my grandson and am surrounded by my dogs and cats.  It really is a cozy time.  And, if I am lucky, Alan bakes cookies, which I get to sample.

It' Coming on Christmas

In the Village of Yellow Springs, we’ve had a holiday event for many years – the Christmas Tree Festival.  I’ve attended it not every year, but started about 32 years ago with my son.  The Yellow Springs High School has a school Christmas tree forest.  Students work for approximately six weeks in the summer planting trees and watering them.  When my son was in high school, he participated in the school forest planting trees and tending them.  At that time the students were paid minimal wage for their work.

The Friday night before the festival, the high school students sleep overnight at the forest, which is adjacent to Glen Helen Nature Preserve.  The students sleep in a tepee and of course have chaperones.  It is almost always cold.

The Saturday of the festival, the students make hot chocolate and have homemade bake goods to serve to families that attend the festival to pick out and chop down their own tree.  Students act as guides for the families, walking them to the tree field to select their tree and will even help cut down the tree. 

There is a tractor with a wagon to take families who find it difficult to walk to the field and to bring back trees.  One year after foot surgery, Alan and I attended and the students were very sweet helping me to get on the wagon, cutting down the tree and bringing us back.

This year my son, his wife, and my grandson Ajax attended the festival with us.  Our friend DP, a photographer, was there to document the festival and take photographs for publicizing Greene County.  He used our family for some of the photos, so I hope to have some lovely photos of all of us with Ajax (about a month and a half old).  It was a great way to begin the holiday season.  We found a lovely imperfect tree about 6 feet tall, just right for us.

Magnum is 7 months old and is a little bigger than Shadow.  I am taking him to the Vets to day to weigh him.  He continues to be somewhat shy with strangers and I think this is his personality.  I continue to take him places to socialize him.  He is the first Springer I’ve had that was shy.  He has a lovely sweet personality and is such a good and bright dog.  Last night in agility class we were practicing the weaves.  At this time he just runs through them.  He’s the only dog in the class that can be left in a stay.  I put him in front of the weaves, walked to the end and said okay.  He ran around the weaves and came to me.  So I put him back in a stay and went to the end and said, “weave” and he raced through them.  He has already learned the word weave!  He knew the difference between “okay” and “weave”. 

Harvest

Riding my bike early last week, I noticed there were still some soybean and corn crops that hadn’t been harvested.  I noticed the same thing driving my car into Yellow Springs.  The 3 large farms around me had already done their harvesting.  I believe they share harvesters. Several weeks ago, when a lot of harvesting was occurring, while riding my bike, I noticed the 3 farmers talking together in one of the fields being harvested.  I was dying to stop and join in the conversation, but thought my presence wouldn’t be welcomed.  One day I saw the young farmer in the harvester, his father driving the large truck with grain, and his 15 year old helping with a smaller vehicle.  How wonderful to see three generations farming the land.

I really enjoy watching the crops harvested and seeing the amazing equipment they use.  With corn, it is an enormous harvester that has numerous prongs at the front to cut off the corn.  The cornstalk is fed into the harvester and corn comes out through a tube into a smaller container at the back.  Once the container is filled it is emptied into a Mac truck and then driven to the farm to be put in a big silo for drying.  This time of year around crop farms, you hear the sound of the dryers blasting.

Saturday Alan and I were riding our bikes and I saw a field on the next road over (on my bike route) being harvested.  This farmer had a big truck riding next to the harvester and the corn was being blown through a large tube into the truck.  So both truck and harvester were moving right next to each other and drivers really had to pay attention.  It was pretty neat.

I heard on NPR that 80% of American farmers use no till.  The two older farmers near me don’t use no till.  The younger farmer (mid to late 30’s) and a graduate of OSU Agriculture School does us no till.

One of my favorite TV shows used to be Agricountry on Saturday mornings at 6:00 AM.  It ended when Ed Johnson, the host, died several years ago.  Ed focused on the best farming practices and I heard a lot about no till farming.  I’ve had to bite my tongue not to talk with these older farmers about it.  I’m sure they don’t need advice from me a nonfarmer.   But no till farming uses less fuel because the tractor doesn’t go over the land as much, keeps soil and nutrients from washing away, saves time, and allows the farmer to get into the field earlier while it is still wet.

So with the fields harvested, my bike ride becomes more difficult.  In the fall and winter there is a strong south westerly wind that cuts across the open fields, making the ride much harder.    I hope to continue my rides until there is snow or ice on the road.  

Odds and Ends Before Thanksgiving!

Following up on The Way - Alan has started researching walks/journeys in England.  For these walks, your luggage is sent ahead to your next stop and you stay mostly in double rooms with your own facilities.  The walks are rated by difficulty.  One that seems to interest us is fairly easy with the longest walk per day a little over 8 miles.  It’s a 12-day castle journey. It goes along the coast and through several nature preserves.  This sounds like a good one for us to start, then we’ll see if we want something more difficult and longer.

Magnum is an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy!  Okay, it is not that difficult.  He attended 8 classes (after completing 8 classes of puppy socialization and obedience), I submitted a plan for exercising him, and he passed the test.  He has rock solid sits and downs (the best in his class).  He is well socialized with his classmates.  He does get a little bored in class (he’s just 6 months old!) and tries to tug with his leash.  In agility we tug when he gets bored and he doesn’t understand that he can’t do it in obedience.  I try to keep him busy with doing tricks, but there’s only so much I can do.

For the first time in years, I have completely cleaned out my refrigerator!  Not to say that I didn’t get rid of old stuff before, but hadn’t removed everything and washed the drawers, shelves, and inside of the refrigerator.  Oh my gosh do we have a lot of condiments – and very unusual ones.  It’s the result of two cooks and one who doesn’t check out what we have.  In just one side shelf we had 2 kinds of chili garlic sauces, 2 pure horseradishes, wasabi, capers, green curry paste, 2 sweet and sour sauces, and 2 kinds of hot mustard.

In the nut drawer (meat drawer in non-vegetarian households) were 3 kinds of pecans, walnuts, two kinds of almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, 2 kinds of flax seeds, 2 kinds of shredded coconut, thick Canadian bacon (Alan’s), and organic pumpkin seeds.  Now you get the picture of my refrigerator.  It is fully stocked before shopping day.  Why do we have so much stuff and I go to other houses and their refrigerators are almost empty.  Don’t get me started on how many vegetables are in the refrigerator.  I am not sure I can pronounce all of them.  How will I fit the turkey in the refrigerator for Thanksgiving? 

I had a dream last night and in it, my Veterinarian told me Shadow had “puppy behaviors”.  Not sure what it means, but in the dream it seemed very logical.  So today I am calling her puppy Shadow!  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Way

I just saw the movie “The Way”, written and directed by Emilio Estevez, which stars his father, Martin Sheen.  It was an interesting movie about a father, Tom (Martin Sheen) who goes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to bring home the body of his only child who died on his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James).  Father and son hadn’t gotten along for a number of years.  The son (Emilio Estevez) said their differences were the difference between the life we live and the life we choose.  The father decides to make the journey of the Camino De Santiago and sprinkles his son’s ashes along the journey at various sites.  The movie provided unexpected experiences that are learned about what it is to be a citizen of the world.  This movie probably won’t be in big box movie theaters.  I saw it at The Little Art.

I have wanted to take a walking journey for some time.   Alan and I have walked parts of the Appalachian Trail, but never for more than two days at a time.  The Camino De Santiago, starting at St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain is about 500 miles.  The walking is not difficult because most stages are fairly flat, but the difficulty is walking continuously for 10, 20, 30 or more days.  

In the movie, people walked for all different reasons and this is what I have read.  Some walk for religious reasons, family, health, and to contemplate their life,

Alan will investigate various walking journeys we can take, perhaps to build ourselves up for The Way of Saint James.  We need to do it in the next few years while we have health and stamina.  Alan likes the idea of walking around England because there are various places to stay so you don’t have to carry bedding with you.  Part of the challenge of the journey is the back pack you carry and its weight.

We have backpacked on Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior for 4 days 3 nights and it was a challenge to make the pack light enough for me to carry.  I weighed every item and got rid of items that were too heavy.  On that trip we also carried all of our food and water.  We prepared for it by taking several daylong hikes ahead of time and carried our packs.

The hardest part of a long trip will be leaving my dogs.  Magnum is finishing up his second obedience class and his third agility class.  He’s doing better with meeting strangers.  He is shy with some and not with others, which is probably okay.   He is great with other dogs and very sweet with people.

Go see the movie “The Way” and get inspired. 

Liberal Rant due to Congress Inaction

WARNING: If you are not a liberal you will be offended!  I am tired of conservatives that say taxing the richest 1% is a redistribution of wealth, is socialist, and is communist.  A redistribution of wealth has been occurring for more than 30 years, which has given the wealthiest 1% a 275% growth in their wealth.  I believe that this redistribution of wealth to the wealthiest is criminal and immoral!  I might as well write them a check for what is in my savings and investments.  I pay a higher percent of my income toward taxes than many in the wealthiest 1%.  Our President has asked Congress to enact legislation to tax the wealthiest 1% at a higher level.  68% of Americans agree with him and want it enacted.  So what is the problem with our Congress?  The problem is they are part of the 1% and only care about themselves.  So they continue to be the do nothing Congress.  They don’t represent the rest of us working stiffs or retired folks (me).

I am shocked about support for Cain and his 9 – 9 – 9 taxation plan.  47 million Americans pay no federal taxes because their income is too low.  But Mr. Cain wants them to start paying 9% of their income to the federal government and he wants to lower taxes on the wealthiest Americans.  When are the rest of us going to wake up to this craziness? 

Alan says I need a soapbox to do my rant.  But where do I drag the soapbox so that ordinary folks will hear me.  Does anyone want to go with me to Occupy Wall Street?  I’ll do it around your schedule and share costs.  This would provide a great soapbox.  Email me privately if you are interested.

End of rant – I am still working with Magnum to socialize him with strangers.  Shadow was so happy to see him after he went with Alan to work.  I guess she is getting attached to him.  Saw Ajax on Monday and he is so sweet.  He has diaper rash from disposable diapers before diaper service started.  He is now using cloth diapers and his diaper rash is clearing up.  His dad, Tim, is great at changing diapers.

Hanging up the clothes

Hanging up clothes to dry is an activity that I have always enjoyed.  Somehow it represents a slow-paced leisurely way of life.  It also makes me think about my childhood, playing in the yard while my mom hung up clothes to dry.  So it has a nostalgic feel to it.  In the last few years, I’ve not been able to really enjoy hanging up clothes.  It seems I was always in a rush and had to do it quickly.  Somehow I felt cheated. 

So in retirement I am enjoying hanging up clothes to dry.  I am able to wait until the weather cooperates to wash clothes.  So this past week, I did three loads on Wednesday because the weather was good instead of the predicted rain.  It also feels like a righteous activity.  It is good for the environment, it saves me money on my utility bill, and it extends the life of clothes, sheets, and towels.  I pop towels and clothes into the dryer for a few minutes and it makes them soft and takes out the wrinkles.  In some ways, hanging up clothes to dry is like gardening – it doesn’t take a lot of brainpower and is therapeutic.

This past week I have been working on getting Magnum (six months today 10/29) out among humans to work on his shyness, which is a new occurrence. He’s gotten used to humans in his classes and at the dog club, maybe because they are with dogs. I started with walking him on the bike path where we see folks walking, biking, running, and see other dogs.  Living in the country we are isolated so he is like a country bumpkin.  He stopped on the bike path to watch men getting out of trucks doing work at Antioch.  Today we took him to the farmers’ market where he was able to meet a number of people and several lovely dogs.  He’s doing much better.  Then we took him to The Dancing Goat, formerly Brother Bear, for Alan’s java and cider for me.  He did great in doing what we in Yellow Springs take great pride in doing – hanging out – as we sat outside on a bench. 

Monday, when I go to visit with my grandson and his parents, Magnum will go to work with A.  My job for the rest of the week is to plan other ways for him to interact with humans each day – visiting pet-friendly stores, the bike path, and walking around town and hanging out.

Ajax

Ajax Arthur Razor Sharp was born on October 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM to the delight of his parents – Tim and Joanna.  He weighs 8 pounds 7 ounces and is 19 ¾ inches tall.  His 3 sets of grandparents are quite excited.  I visited him on the 21^st and Alan and I visited on the 22^nd.  I believe it was the first time Alan has held a baby.  Tim is a great dad and had even changed diapers in the hospital.  I am looking forward to spending time being a grandmother.

Magnum is now 35 pounds at a little over 5 months.  He’s about ¾ his grown up size, but is he ever a puppy.  He is a sweet dog and has been going through a shy period.  I thought we were through it, but had friends over and he was very shy, but did eventually warm up to them.  I am really impressed with his tracking ability, which is a segue into a story of a canine hero. 

Theo, an English Springer Spaniel mix, was a sniffer dog for bombs and worked with his handler – Liam Tasker – in Afghanistan.  In just five months, Theo had uncovered 14 bombs and hoards of weapons – a record for a dog and handler in the conflict.  Liam was shot dead by the Taliban and Theo was visibly distressed.  A few hours later, Theo, 22 months old, died of a heart attack.  Theo was buried with Liam.  Liam Tasker was a member of the British armed forces.  A picture I saw of the funeral showed a number of English Springer Spaniels – military working dogs – in attendance.  It is amazing how talented our dogs are and the bond that forms with us.  Theo and Liam were clearly heroes together.

I been thinking about what books I will start reading to Ajax and believe I will start with a book about dogs.  I purchased a book “A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron several months ago, but have put off reading it.  I think I was waiting for the perfect time.  Inside the book it states “This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives.”  This will be a great way to begin to share my love of dogs with Ajax. 

I am including a picture of Ajax in his car seat going home from the hospital.

Honoring Serious - 9/11 Police Dog

Nearly 100 search and rescue dogs with their brave owners worked at ground zero.  I want to honor Serious, a yellow Labrador Retriever, who was killed on 9/11/2001. Serious was inside Tower 2 working with his handler when it collapsed.  His handler escaped, but Serious did not.  He was a Port Authority Police Dog.  Search and Rescue teams are amazing in their skills and perseverance.  They go through many, many hours of training.  Few dogs succeed in making it through training.  The owners are aware of the risks and risks for police dogs are even greater than for the average search and rescue dog.  Serious was doing what he loved to do and gave his life trying to help humans.   My heart goes out to these dogs that love humans and willingly sacrifice their lives for us.

My Magnum is 4 ½ months old and getting bigger every day.  He is about half his adult size.  He is such a good puppy and learning so much.  We went to Cleveland last weekend to visit our friend Bob.  We took Magnum with us and kenneled the other two dogs.  Magnum was a really good guest.  Bob was amazed at how well he behaves. 

While I am training Magnum, Shadow likes to come and participate.  She hears the words I used with her and comes walking up.  Alan got out my regulation tunnel and I have Shadow run through it.  She looks so happy when she comes out.  It’s nice there are some activities that she can still do.  Bob told me about a song by Leon Russell called “My dog Shadow” or something like that.  I will try to find it and see if it is right for us. 

New Lesson

I’ve been retired for 2 weeks and of course it is wonderful.  The but is that I’ve not had enough time for myself at home.  I’ve had too many things going on each day.  I also realized I need to stay away from my former work place.  I went back for a baby shower and it was nice to see people, but being there made me feel sad.  I just don’t belong there anymore and need time to process it.  I ran into J at the grocery and he talked about when he retired he went on a trip to decompress.  I had thought about that but since Alan is still working I decided to wait until he’s also retired.  J agreed I should stay away from my old workplace and take time to process my feelings.  I really valued having another retiree to talk with about this.  It was a surprise the feelings I experienced when I was at my former workplace. 

So, the next couple of weeks, I will be careful to keep my days more open.  I am really enjoying my volunteer work with my local board.  I really like the staff and other board members so it is enjoyable while also fulfilling my need to contribute to the community. 

Magnum is growing bigger everyday.  His legs are longer and he looks gangly.  He struggles with coordination at times trying to run too fast or stop too suddenly.  I spent several days weeding my flower garden, which had turned into a jungle of weeds.  I kept putting off weeding and said I would do it when I retired.  So, while I worked weeding, Magnum would grab a weed I pulled and would run with it in his mouth, racing through the jungle and around the yard.  He would do this until he was ready to drop. He was so funny to watch.  Magnum and I have 3 classes a week and he is doing so well in each.  We train for very short periods several times a day.  It is just fun. I’m trying to remember to take lots of pictures.  He seems bigger each day.

So, retirement is good and has taught me some new lessons.  

First Day of Retirement

The first day of retirement was unexpected.  I started out in the hot tub, which I hadn’t done on a weekday since I got Magnum because he needed my time.  Then went for a bike ride.  I was ready for yoga and a meeting with E and let Shadow and Magnum out in the garage while I went to get laundry to hang-up outside.  When I came out there was a yellow dog, young intact male.  He looked about 9 months to a year, very friendly, but what was he doing in my yard?  I immediately put Magnum in his crate – worried about disease and other things.  The dog kept going up to Shadow and she growled and gave him an ugly bark when he got in her face.  He seemed to know something was different with her and kept putting his face next to hers.  So I grabbed Shadow and put her in the house.  In the fight or fright department, Shadow is a fighter.  With her blindness, she is unable to tell what is a real threat.  I didn't need to have my girl in a fight.

Kinsey is the mellow girl and thought, hey a new friend to visit.  I hung out the clothes with my new buddy – yellow dog.  I had to leave Shadow in the house when I left, but thought that was the best thing to do.  When I got back, 4 hours later, yellow dog was still there.  I then attempted to chase him away, plead with him, but all to no avail. He hung out in the garage and under the tree with fresh water.

I called my pet sitter D to find out what she would suggest.  From my daily bike rides, I know all the dogs in my area and yellow dog did not belong to any of my neighbors.  On my bike ride I had noticed two dog dishes  in an aisle in a field about a mile from my house.  I think someone dumped yellow dog there.  I decided to call the Clark County Humane Society because they keep dogs longer than some of the other shelters.  They said they probably wouldn’t be out until the next day.  When Alan got home, I told him I planned to feed the dog because he was very thin and starving.  Alan agreed and also thought he was a nice dog.  If it wasn’t for Shadow and Magnum, we might have considered keeping him.  Alan said he looked like he had some pit bull in him, but he was very sweet.

Alan’s perspective was good – he said he didn’t know what would happen to the dog, but we had given him companionship, food and kindness.  The Humane Society came on Tuesday morning almost exactly 24 hours after yellow dog had arrived.  We had given yellow dog 4 meals and lots of dog biscuits while he was with us.  The man was gentle with him and I feed yellow dog biscuits.  The man said the census was low at the shelter, so they would probably be able to find him a home.  Whether it is true or not, I need to believe yellow dog will find a good home.

I am retired!

I am retired and it feels good.  It will be awhile before I really know how it feels.  I am coming off the high of a wonderful cookout with staff and a lovely reception planned and carried out by the staff.  They really out did themselves and made my celebration a very memorable event.  I really appreciate all their work, thoughtfulness, and caring.  It means a lot to me. 

Friday, I wasn’t feeling well.  Something was going on with my stomach and my back hurt.  I haven’t been doing my back exercises because I’ve been too busy, so I did all the exercises, then went into town and sat on the bike path in the shade and used my computer. I don’t get good reception at home.  Also downloaded a book onto my new Kindle given to me by the staff.  Quite a wonderful gift! This made me feel like I was retired.  Several folks I know went by and there I was acting like a bum with time on my hands. 

Shadow, Magnum and I went tracking with M in the afternoon, once again in 90-degree weather.  But the dogs were amazing.  M laid a track for Shadow weaving around a line of trees.  As we started, Magnum was in the back of the car barking and I told him to watch Shadow and learn.  Shadow was great.  M said it was neat to stand back and watch her.  It really makes sense to do curved tracks because who really walks a straight line?  But AKC tracks are straight lines.  It was something different and not long.  Hank, the beagle, was great as usual.  He has some really cute ways.  At a turn, I noticed that he looks quickly in the correct direction, and then goes in the opposite direction.  So M just has to stand her ground and he will come back to the correct direction.

When it was Magnum’s turn, he was great.  His track was short and straight, but he was putting his nose down to the ground and joyfully going.  So maybe the old dog can teach the young dog a few things.  This week's plans – yoga 3 times, hopefully swimming in YS pool during adult swim, early morning (6:00 am) bike ride most days, early morning (8) walk, several meetings, and a lunch.  Sounds fun.  And tonight I can stay up and watch Curb Your Enthusiasm!!  

Saying Good By

One week left and I learned at last week’s staff meeting what will be the challenge for me – saying good by to the staff.  I presented a ten-year anniversary pin to M whose anniversary is in September, but I wanted to do it before I left.  I hired her and have always been impressed with her work, promoted her, and just like her.  Toward the end of the presentation I noticed a feeling in my chest and thought, I just may cry.  I held it together and didn’t think anyone noticed.  Then at the end of the meeting I started to thank everyone for their work and tell them how much I appreciated them and I started tearing up and couldn’t finish.  I’ve done all the planning of what I will do, saving money, financial preparation for when I retire, but how do you plan to say good by? 

My analogy for knowing my co-workers is they all represent different books that I have started reading.  They are all interesting and I an enjoying the read.  Now, the books will be taken away before I have finished.  I won’t know how each story finishes.  There will be some folks that I will see, but for the most part many I probably won’t see again.  Our paths may not cross again except for a random encounter.  This is how it works in our society and maybe in most. 

This last week will be hard.  I have a cookout at lunch one day and a reception my last day.  It will help having friends there that I will see again.  It will be hard to say farewell to co-workers and folks from agencies with whom I have worked.  I still have work to do and have been thinking about how to get it accomplished.  Really, that’s the easy part of finishing up 22 years at an agency – it’s saying good by to people that is hard.

I added the picture above for a bright spot.  11 weeks and Magnum says "I own this tunnel!"

Countdown Less than 2 weeks

Less than two weeks to go before I am retired.  I feel like I am in warp speed.  I have so much to do to have everything done and so little time.  But, I feel that the next ED and staff are fully capable and can pick-up where I leave off.  It is hard to believe the day is almost here and it is wonderful.  I am certain that I will miss so many of the staff members.  We hear each other’s stories each day and are in many ways a part of each other’s lives.  I want to know how those lives go about being lived.  Leaving my co-workers is the hard part.

Magnum is now 15 pounds – 1/3 of his expected adult weight.  He’s gained about 5 or so pounds since his arrival.  He is going on 12 weeks old.  He is really enjoying his puppy agility foundation class.  He particularly likes getting to play with classmates before class.  The older puppies are for the most part very good with him.

Shadow really wants me to spend some time training her.  She follows Magnum and me and does the things I ask him like sit, down and come.  I plan to spend time just with her and maybe even tie Magnum to a tree or something to watch us do obedience work together.  He can learn a lot.  Both Shadow and Kinsey remain very good with him.  It is so fun to watch him and to play with him.  I want to enjoy these days of his being a puppy.  

Magnum and Retirement

The last few weeks have been really busy.  A new puppy is in some ways for a few days like having a new baby.  There is the getting up at night to take the puppy out to potty and the need to constantly watch what he is doing.  I have to say we are really enjoying Magnum and he is a great puppy for us.  He is now 10 weeks.  He’s been to the Veterinarian and he started his first class last week.  He is the youngest puppy in the class, but doing better than many.  I try to work at training him several times a day for about five minutes.  He has been trained to run through the tunnel, respond to his name, come, drop stuff in his mouth, sit, down, and touch my hand.  Kinsey and Shadow are doing very well with him and are quite tolerant.  He is a well-behaved puppy around older dogs.  Someone in our class said Magnum was much more mellow than other Springers he’d seen.  This is one of the reasons why we wanted him. Here he is running through the tunnel at 9 weeks.  He loves it.

Retirement is almost here and I am for the most part ready.  Mentally I am very ready and would like to be home with Magnum. I still have some stuff to do at work.  I see myself stepping back from work and involvement with staff.  It is the natural withdrawing.  I have been slowly removing stuff from my office. My replacement is hired, the Assistant Director, and her replacement is hired.  I hope the transition will be smooth.  It will be good when the transition is completed.

Meeting Magnum

I’m at the Minneapolis Airport killing time waiting for Patty and Magnum.  I’ve never just had to wait around at an airport with nowhere to go.  It’s not a quiet place to be.  I had a great breakfast at a French Café – Meadow - and then went looking for the quiet place.  An older woman working at the information desk directed me to a space on the upper floor.  It should be quieter, but it is open to the lower floor, so all kinds of sounds are floating around along with announcements.  There’s only so much time that I can spend on the computer reading stuff.  I already knew that George Clooney would be dumping his latest girlfriend when I heard she had mentioned marriage. 

I was a little sad when I left Shadow this morning knowing that her world would be changing and there was nothing she could do about it.  I will just have to make sure she knows how much I love her each day.  Dogs are in the moment, so she needs the love every time I am around. 

Patty arrived and we went to a park to wear out Magnum and his sister Pippa (Josie) who will be flying to Florida later in the afternoon.  Magnum is just as I remembered him.  He was a little shocked to leave Pippa and Patty.  We had 4 gate changes before we got our flight, which was then 45 minutes late.  I was worn out from running from gate to gate with a 15-pound bag and a 12 or so pound animal carrier with Magnum.  He was so good on the flight and drive home.

He met Shadow and she seems to like him and is quite tolerant.  Kinsey growled and barked at him, so he got on his belly and scooted out of the room and ran to another room.  Look at this picture of Magnum and Shadow and tell what you think. They are so cute together.  Friday he was still on his good behavior, but Saturday he tried biting her ears as she walked.  I stopped him every time and let him know that rule number 2 is no biting Shadow.  He is learning quickly.  Rule number 1 is no whining/crying in his bedtime crate.  First night he woke us up every two hours.  Alan and I took turns getting up and taking him out to potty.  In fact, I only woke up one time – Alan went out with him the other times.  Last night he slept until 4:00 and Alan took him out. 

Everyone is adjusting, better than we hoped.  It is fun having a young dog.

Doors Opening

It’s the last weekend before Magnum arrives.  Next weekend we’ll be in California and the dogs will be at the kennel.  I cleaned out the garage, washed all the rugs, put stuff away, and made space for Magnum’s crate where he will be while I am still working.  Not to worry, I have a great person who will come by at noon to let him potty, feed him and play with him.  I’ll be paying about the same amount I paid for childcare for my son about 30 years ago. I set-up an x-pen in the kitchen for Magnum and put a crate in our bedroom where he will sleep until he is a little older. I want Shadow to get familiar with all the new stuff.  It’s always a challenge for her when furniture is moved; she has to remap the room in her head.  On Saturday we went shopping to get the last stuff for Magnum.  I found Evo dog food at Healthy Alternatives and I got a children’s tunnel.  Since Magnum will be doing agility, I want him to get used to the tunnel.  When I visited Minnesota, Patty had a tunnel (children’s) that the puppies played in.

I presented the towel with Magnum’s scent to Shadow and she was very interested.  Kinsey refused to smell it.  I waited awhile until she was relaxed and tried again, but she was having nothing to do with it.  Almost like she said “I don’t like puppies!”  I played the tape of the puppies eating.  Shadow was alert and attentive, listening to the sounds.  What can I say about Kinsey – she didn’t pay any attention to it.

Less than two months until I retire.  Seems like I have a lot to do.  Making lists of what I do by month, list of other responsibilities, and cleaning out files – electronic and paper.  I don’t think I have time to take on new tasks, maybe one grant proposal.  In this home stretch before retirement, I am enjoying work still, but looking forward to not working.  I am ready for retirement.  I think my head is in the right place.

Did I mention that my son and his wife are expecting a boy?  I have saved some toys and lots of books from when my son was little.  They should work very well for another boy.  I am busy knitting a blue blanket for my grandson and looking forward to meeting him.  One door closes and many more open.  Here’s a picture of Magnum and me.  

Magnum

Just back from Monticello, Minnesota to pick out my puppy.  First, if you can stand the suspense, there were 8 five-week old English Springer Spaniels.  And, they are all gorgeous.  Shortly after we arrived at Patty’s house, we were introduced to the puppies in their area of the house.  Patty has a separate dog whelping room/crate room/grooming room off of her laundry room.  She and her husband built the house, so it included this dog area.  She has a large double wide utility sink to bath the dogs.  Neat!  The puppies were in a 5ft by 12ft whelping box that included a wood chip area for them to potty.  Oh my gosh were they cute.  As soon as they saw us they started crying and little barks.  We got them all out and played with them on the floor for about half an hour.  There was another woman  there from Florida to pick out a puppy, but she wanted a black and white female. 

Late morning a Veterinarian and her daughter who is in Vet school came by to look at the puppies and pick their favorite.  I was getting a little worried because we hadn’t tested the boys yet to select ours.  We had lunch, fed the puppies and then began the testing.  These puppies and their mom and grandmother eat raw.  The concentration is on meat so that they have more muscle and are leaner.  I will probably feed a dry food called Evo, which doesn’t have grains.

We tested each puppy starting with Michael.  Michael probably got a little short changed in the testing because I got better as I went a long.  Patty thought the best dogs for me were either Michael (liver and white) or Harry (black and white).  Both were so sweet.    Michael scored a perfect score on visual startle, which is important for a future agility dog.  Puppy is placed 10 -12 feet away and an umbrella is opened and placed on the floor.  Michael immediately raced up to it and started playing with it.  The 3 other males scored lowest and avoided it.

After testing the males, we took them outside for their first time.  They were so cute racing around playing.  Their mother Kelly was out with them and played with them.  We played with them until they started going to sleep.  Michael and Kate curled up on Alan’s lap and fell asleep.

So, Magnum is Michael! He had the highest score, even with not getting a fair shake in testing. I will be picking him up in 3 weeks when he is 8 weeks old.  I rubbed him with a towel and put it in a plastic bag.  I will share the towel with Shadow and Kinsey to get used to his scent.  

Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day, the day of remembrance, I want to remember the dogs that are my foundation dogs – the dogs that taught me how easy it is to fall in love with dogs.  I was a friend with Lucky when I was about 4 years old.  Lucky was a black American Cocker Spaniel and is the reason I have had a love affair all my life with spaniels.  My memories are of going outside in our backyard and looking toward Lucky’s house – the Schultz’s – and yelling “Lucky, Lucky!”  The Schultz’s backdoor would open and out would come Lucky.  We would greet each other with squeals of delight, kisses, and lots of petting on my part.  Oh how I loved Lucky.  We seemed to be in our own world playing together, but I am sure my parents were keeping a close watch because they performed what I believe to be the most essential jobs of parents.  They didn’t neglect me, physically or sexually abuse me, and they protected me from all forms of outside the home abuse.  Lucky – I remember you with great fondness.

Several years later when my family had moved to the country, my father brought home from work an 8-week-old Beagle that we named Itchy.  Itchy and I were the best of friends.  I remember trying to do obedience training with Itchy, although I didn’t know it as obedience.  I just knew that I wanted Itchy to be well behaved.  So, I would take Itchy out for walks and practice the things important to me – walking with me and not pulling on the lease, stopping when I stopped, and starting when I started.  Not bad for a little girl with no adult direction on obedience training.  I still have dreams of being reunited with Itchy.  He definitely stole my heart.

My dogs I remember from adulthood are Maddy (a rescued all American), Sherlock H. Stiles (English Springer Spaniel named for the great fictional deceive, Sherlock Holmes and nicknamed Locky as a homage to Lucky), Molly Dogpaw (rescued English Springer Spaniel named for fictional Cherokee detective Molly Bearpaw), and Sam Spade (rescued Beagle named for Dashiell Hammett’s great detective).   May you remember on this Memorial Day the dogs that taught you all you needed to know about life – the love of a dog.

Why a puppy?

When I got Shadow from a breeder in Michigan, there was a big hole in my heart that only a Springer could fill.  3 months earlier I had lost my 4-year-old Springer Molly to an immune disease and it broke my heart.  I still had two dogs, but they were very independent and not as affectionate as a Springer.  Molly was always waiting for me when I went anywhere.  She would race up, bark, and tell me how much she missed me.  The other two dogs would sometimes barely raise their heads and glance in my direction when I got home.   I needed the love of a Springer.

So now I am getting another Springer and I still have my wonderful Shadow.  Coming home from work, she is sitting at the end of the driveway with her head pointed in the right direction, even though she can’t see.  She hears the car and starts barking hello.  I give a little beep of the horn and she keeps barking hello, while getting out of the way – moving toward the grass and waiting until the car is in the garage.  Then she is at the car wanting to be petted and to tell me how much she missed me and adores me.  It would be hard to top this. 

I had planned to get a puppy and begin agility with it before I knew Shadow was going blind.  I hoped that for Shadow’s last year competing in agility, we would have the puppy with us to watch, learn, and begin agility.   Maybe we would even have a few trials with both of them competing at different levels.  But fate stepped in and it all changed.  What hasn’t changed is my desire to do agility.  It is an exhilarating experience with your dog.  I also love tracking and do plan to take the puppy with Shadow to track.  Just as the puppy would have learned about agility, I believe it can learn from watching Shadow track.  My friend M said she would bring her other beagle Vinnie along with Hank, Master Tracker, and the puppy and Vinnie will learn together.

Last Friday there was a horse event at Twin Towers where we track.  So we laid a long straight leg for each dog.  They both did great and we practiced with them at 20 feet out on the line the way they will need to track for a test.  Both dogs did very well.  It was great for them to be successful after the awful time before tracking that we blamed on the change in weather.  We decided that maybe we need to mix it up for them with simple tracks sometimes so they can be successful.  Here’s William a black and white Springer.  Do you think he might be my Magnum?

Is it the weather?

Two weeks ago, M and I went tracking with Shadow and Hank.  I asked M to lay a blind track – no markers except at the beginning, so the handler has to completely rely upon her dog.  Shadow was outstanding.  A couple of times I thought she was off, but she refused to get off her track and she was right.  Just shows I need to follow the axiom “Listen to your dog”.  Shadow and I tracked again a couple of days later with a blind track laid by Alan.  Again she was outstanding.  I was thinking that she is ready to get certified – a judge will lay a track, and if Shadow does okay, the judge will issue 6 (or about that number) statements of certification to be submitted when I enter her in a tracking test.  Most dogs don’t pass the first test or even several, which is why you get 6 or so certificates.

So Friday we tracked again with M and Hank.  Friday was mid 80’s, windy, and muggy.  Shadow did okay the first couple of legs of the track, and then she was awful.  She kept her head up and didn’t seem to know where to go.  Hank was also pretty bad.  So is it the weather?  Each change in the season takes adjustment for a dog.  They get used to one way the scent is held in the grass and with the change in season it is different.  Also, there are lots of different smells to distract them.  I think hot and muggy is the worst.  Shadow had a big drink of water before she started, but was really thirsty when we finished.  Dog’s noses get really dried out when they are tracking. I should have had water with me to offer to her when I saw her losing the trail.   I’m going later today, but today is wet, so the scent should be easier to track.  But, that’s easy for me to say because my nose isn’t to the ground.

So here is a picture of the puppies at one week – still trying to imagine which puppy will be Magnum.  

Exercise and Retirement

I plan to be active when I retire so that I can run with my new puppy as well as hike and bike with my grandchild.  Since I am about seven weeks out from getting the puppy, I am working on loosing weight.  Over the last month, I’ve lost 5 pounds.  I am determined to lose and keep off another 10 pounds.  So I have decreased my calorie intake to between 1200 and 1400 per day.  It takes about 1600 calories to maintain my current weight.  I am also increasing my exercise to 300 minutes a week as Bob Green recommends in his book 20 Years Younger.  At work, I am trying to walk about half an hour at lunch, and then ride my bike after work.  Today I hiked for an hour, rode my bike for half an hour between raindrops and went tracking with Shadow. 

So, both the reduction of calories and increase in exercise are important.  I’ll let you know how I am doing.  I hope to start short jogs with Shadow in the yard this weekend.  This will help to get me in shape for agility with the puppy.

Patty asked me what I wanted in a puppy.  I told her and then decided to visit to pick out the puppy.  So I am flying to Minneapolis on June 5^th and coming home the next day.  I’ll then return the last weekend in June to take the puppy home.  Patty has kindly offered to let me stay overnight in her guest room.  Above is a picture of Kelly and her 8 puppies.  Wonder which puppy will be mine?

Puppy for Retirement

Is there anything cuter than a newborn puppy?  My ESS friend Patty in Minnesota just emailed that Mach 4 Kelly had 8 puppies– 4 boys and 4 girls.  She sent a picture of the new mom and puppies.  They are so sweet.  Patty then emailed me and asked what I want in a puppy.  I guess the puppy is actually going to be a reality for me and for Shadow.  I am interested in a male because I think a male will fit in better with my two females.  I am interested in health, temperament, and physical ability for agility.  Color’s my last consideration.  I’ve always had liver and white ESS, but I am certainly open to a black and white. 

I will be rereading “The Focused Puppy” so that I can be prepared for all of the things I should be doing with a puppy to prepare it for being a good companion and performance dog.  

I am excited about Kelly’s puppies.  I believe I have found an exceptional breeder whose dogs are passing on genes for agility.  Kelly’s mother Mach 5 Brooke has just retired from agility.  The dogs are great athletes.  The Mach title before their name represents a title at the master’s level in the American Kennel Club (AKC) for 20 double q’s (qualifying in a standard run and a jumper run on the same day) and 750 speed points.  So Kelly has accomplished 80 double q’s and 3,000 speed points, while Brooke has 100 double q’s and 3,750 speed points.  An amazing accomplishment!  Patty is also an awesome competitor.

I checked the mileage and route to Patty’s house in Minnesota – 13 ½ hours.  A long drive, but well worth it. 

Grandchild

What’s a great way to spend time in retirement?  Possibly spending time with a grandchild.  I just learned from my son and daughter-in-law that they are expecting a baby and I will be a grandmother in October.  The timing is perfect.  I will be retired and able to make myself available to help with my grandchild.  I have wanted a grandchild.  I have even told my friend E that she is so rich in grandchildren (5) that surely she could spare one for me.  She only laughed, but never agreed. 

Wow, lots of thoughts and dreams.  My son is a little less than an hour from me, so very a drivable distance.  I believe I will be a fun grandmother.  We will hike, ride bikes, go to museums, canoe, travel, and of course lots of reading books.  How wonderful to have a grandchild close enough to be apart of their life. 

We had dinner with them when they told us on Monday, then had dinner in Columbus on Thursday.  After dinner we visited a shop called Sprout Soup – a baby boutique.  It’s a wonderful shop for hip and environmentally aware parents.  Lots of choices for clothe diapers, natural fabrics, handmade toys and clothes, and all kinds of carriers to have your baby close to you.

My choices for retirement have expanded!

Racing to Retirement

Notice how Shadow’s ears are almost standing straight up and her fur looks like it’s blowing in the wind.  She’s just crossing the finish line of the 2008 ESS Agility Challenge in Dallas and has flown through the course with a clean run (no mistakes).  She’s looking very happy and looking toward me running on her right.   Whether she placed first or not, she was very pleased with her run.  (She did place first!) This is how I want to look as I race off to retirement. 

So, you may ask, how do I get there?  Maybe in some ways it is like training for agility with Shadow.  We played and practiced hard.  I set goals and we trained for them.  A couple of years ago, I was a part of a women’s circle that meet twice a month.  When it was my turn to talk, I talked about my thoughts on retiring.  I began to think through how I wanted my life to be.  How did I envision spending my time?  And, I am talking specifically about what I planned to do – not just to end world hunger and homelessness.   Were there activities that I currently do, but would like to have more time for them?  Are there new activities that might require training/education? 

A number of the activities I love – hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, reading – don’t require interacting with others.  I enjoy interacting with others, but where I live is isolated.  So I realized that I needed to plan activities that would provide opportunities to be with other people.  I also wanted to expand my group of friends. I had been a part of a reading group that ended, so I thought I could get involved with a group again – combining friends and reading.  I contacted a former reading friend and together we started another reading group.

To help my transition from very meaningful work to retirement, I decided to get involved with several organizations about which I’m passionate.  Serving on the boards provided the type and level of involvement I wanted.  I would be challenged mentally, contribute to the community, feel useful, but have time for the “fun” activities.  It's the beginning of my race.

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, which was the birth date of my first ESS – Sherlock H. Stiles.  Back from Cleveland Clinic - surgery went well except for me having a cold.  So, it’s hard to tell what symptoms are from the cold and which aren’t.  High doses of calcium, which I am taking, cause a headache and so does a cold.  The area around the incision is pretty swollen.  In fact my resident told me I rated in the top 10% on swelling.  I do like to be in the top percent, but not sure if this is what I had hoped.  Feeling tired and yucky, but probably from cold. 

Before surgery, I was told my surgeon would huddle before the surgery.  I guess a huddle is bringing all participants together and being sure all are on the same page.  Once I was brought into the surgery room, the surgeon (Joyce) stood next me and said let’s huddle.  Yeah I thought, I get to be a part of the huddle.  Being a former cheerleader I thought I could get into this.  Joyce said my name and birth date and gave the anesthesiologist a knowing look.  That is the last I remember until being in recovery.    The night I was in the hospital, Alan had a great evening with Bob and his son.  They went out to dinner and stayed up to 11:00 talking.

It is great to be back with the dogs and cats.  I will be taking it easy for a while – no driving or riding the bike.  Bummer.

Shadow - Good News

I got home from work late last Wednesday due to a meeting and the nice guy also had a meeting so he missed yoga.  He was just finishing feeding the dogs when I got home and said if I wanted to ride my bike, he would walk the dogs and fix dinner.  Leaving on my bike, I saw him walking in the yard with Shadow and they started to run.  It was delightful.  Blind dogs don’t run often because they need to be careful so as not to run into stuff.  Shadow has gotten comfortable on the lease because she knows we will keep her from running into things.  It was so wonderful to see Shadow running and looking happy – like she used to look.   After the bike ride I checked for phone messages and my Vet had called and said amazingly, Shadow’s blood levels are normal.  Her levels had been elevated and pointed to renal problems.  The change may in part have to do with the special renal food she is eating.  And, the growth on her ear is nothing to worry about and will probably crust and fall off.  Yeah!!  

A Woman - Back-Story

I don’t know if you are like me, but my story just seems so boring to me, hence the dog’s back-story first. Yada, yada, yada and I am falling asleep thinking of my story.  Okay – I was raised in Springfield (no, not where the Simpsons live) and had a relatively normal childhood.  My family has had its tragedies like most families.  If you think most families are dysfunctional, then mine probably was.  My dad was a WWII veteran, so like many of my friends’ dads, he thought you should pretty much salute and do what you were told.  My parents loved me and cared for me.  I wasn’t physically abused or sexually abused.  They paid for me to attend college and I didn’t have to work for spending money.  I think I was lucky.

I married a college sweetheart, had a baby, and moved to Oklahoma for several years.  Moved back to Ohio and my husband had an affair that caused the end of the marriage.  Divorce was probably good for me because it made me look at my future, my interests and my ambition.  While working at what is now called Family and Children Services, I started our county’s battered women’s program.  My interest was heightened from seeing women come into the office who needed help and the realization that my high school sweetheart whom I got involved with after my divorce was abusive.  I loved the work and was the director for about nine years.  I created a lot of innovative programming, but responsibility for all funding and grant writing fell on me.  I didn’t see a way for me to get out from it and began to feel burned out.  I left that position to become first an assistant director, then ED of a public entity from which I will be retiring.

Along the way I got my master’s degree, remarried, raised my son, took up cross country skiing, got into dog agility, did a lot of traveling, camping, hiking, bike riding, canoeing and most recently took up yoga.  I’ve kept my involvement with the domestic violence program and another non-profit that focuses on housing for low-income folks.  I have tried to have meaning in my life while doing activities that I enjoy.  Remember – not waiting for tomorrow because it may never arrive.  My personality is pretty positive and I have never suffered from depression except after my divorce.  This isn’t to say that I am always happy – but many days are awesome!!  So in a nutshell, that’s my story.  Not quite as exciting as the dog.