Okay, only one post today because there literally hasn’t been a chance to post before this.  I have American idol playing in the background, but there’s no way I’ll make it to the end. After all, it’s on an hour later here so won’t end till 10. eeek.

 

Today, it was one run, go here go there and go the next place, with hardly a chance to breathe in between. In the morning we drove to Portland. I went out first in the morning. We walked a nice six to eight block route in downtown to a coffeeshop. Then we went back a little different way to make it a bit of a shorter route. In the afternoon we did the same route again. It was quite warm, definitely over eighty degrees.

 

Petunia was wonderful Already she is beginning to relax. Her mouth is open and her tail high, sure signs a dog is feeling comfortable. We made a few minor erros and they wer easy to fix or correct.

 

After that we drove to a store to do some building work and practice moving turns. I bought a cute small like mini backpack. It’s black with multi-colored sequins. It’s just to be able to carry small things on our routes without carrying my huge purse and killing my shoulders.

 

But it felt like doing three workouts in one day and I was sure hobbling by the time we got back.

 

But now we get to start working our dogs int he buildings, and I love that. We’ve just been taking them  around on leash here in the dorm. Each little thing we do, walking from my room to the dining room or to the relieving area, having her guide me, builds both our confidence.

 

And that’s really it for today. sorry this is short but I just don’t have the energy for more  tonight. I plan to try to write more aobut my thoughts for the day tomorrow.Oh, I found out where Petunia was raised. I don’t know if her raisers are going to come to graduation yet, but I know who they are. I won’t post that for now until I know that they know about her being in class.

 

 

I am now sitting in my rooim, waiting for the instructors to bring my dog to me. I know nothing about the dog yet.

 

So, what we did this morning. We met together and got to be introduced to our class instructors. We have a great team. We talked about the schedule for the day, and about things like food rewards, obedience and guide work commands and tecniques for handling any issues. Then we each went out with the person who will be our primary instructor to practice heeling the dogs and afew issues like goiong through doors, correcting with a techniques called time out. The instructors carry a rolled up dog rug and put a collar and leash on it. That is know as juno.

 

We had a break and then met up again for a pace assessment and guide work exercise. April, my instructor tried to simulate my dog’s pace, and it felt good, so I think we will do well.

 

After that we had a fire drill, ugh, and then a discussion of how we will meet our dogs.

 

We will receive our dogs in our rooms, and later we’ll all meet together to introduce our new partners to our classmates.

 

New Dog could be here any minute!!!!

 

oh for lunch I had a grilled cheese on sour dough. and kim, my buddy, friend, partner in crime, person who has seen  me through so much and actually still likes me, she sat at my table and we had a great time chatterin.

 

And now, we all get to wait to find out who new dog will be.

 

Hang in there!

Good morning!

 

This day will have multiple posts, so check back.

 

It’s currently just about 5 am and I’ve been up for an hour. Today’s schedule is as follows:

breakfast 7:30

Meet in the fireside room with our class instructors at 8:30, bring new leash and treat pouch with about a cup of kibble.

There will be Juno obedience and guide work. for people who don’t know what that is, it’s the trainers holding the leash or harness as we practice giving obedience and guide commands, learning corrections ad such. There will also be a pace assessment so they can be sure they are matching us with dogs who fit our preferred walking speed. There will also be a fire drill somewhere in the morning.

Meeting to discuss receiving our dogs at 11:30

Lunch at 12:30

Receive our dogs at 1:30 PM! yayayayayayay!!!!!!

 

Post dog receiving:

spend time with our dogs, then practice obedience and a little guide work.

dinner 5:30

after dinner a meeting aobut something I’ve already forgotten. oops, have to listen to the schedule again. Oh yeah, the water, relieving and feeding schedule for the dogs. lol.

Last dog relieving at 8:30 and then the evening is ours.

There will be other discussions during the day but I forgot the list.

 

Let me describe the room. This used to be a double room, but now all rooms are single. so it has two entrances, two closets, sets of drawers, desks sinks and back doors. There is one bathroom with the shower and toilet.

 

When you come in the room to the right is a set of shelves. When I arrived they already held a roll of paper towels, a laundry bag, a small bin with kibble for the dog, a grooming pouch with dog brushes and such thing. Beyond that is a low set of drawers, the top one has a lock. I have my clothes in the drawers with my meds and wallet and things in the locking drawer. Problem is I can’t get the damn key out of the lock!

 

Keep moving forward and there is a desk tot he right. It’s a little high for me and the chair is a little low, so my arms hurt from trying to type without touching the mouse pad. I need and external keyboard! Keep walking straight and you run into the bed. A double bed and a little shelf above the pillows at the head of the bed. level with the pillows.

 

On the opposite of the room, there are sheves and drawers to match but no bed. In the closet is a small refrigerator. there is also a recliner and a bean bag so you could cuddle up with your dog there or sit and read with your dog on the beanbag beside you.

 

outside the external doors are a patio area and a relieving are where we will take the dogs in the second week of training. In the first week, we’ll all go to a central location to relieve so our trainers can assist us.

 

The dorm itself has an exercise room, a snack room with a microwave and soda and snack machines, a library with braille and audio books, a music room, several rooms to hang out and socialize with classmates, the dining room of course. it’s huge and beautiful.

 

I think that’s it for now. I’ll be back sometime later today. Oh by the way, my breakfast will be, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, fruit and toast I think. mmmm.

 

Hey everyone,

 

I’m here; I’m here!

 

I’m so tired, but relaxing in my room now.

 

I stayed at my friends last night and slept on their couch so I didn’t sleep

well. Not until their cat came and curled up on me purring away. That got me

to sleep finally.

 

One of my classmates actually lives a stone’s throw from

me, but we’d never known each other before. We were on the same flight and

the flight attendants switched out seats so we could fly together. We are

both nervous fliers so that made it much nicer.

 

My friendLeota met me at the gate and we had a lovely time together. Her dog Flyer, a now retired guide dog she raised,

was with them and he’s adorable. I love him. Wanted to steal him away. We

couldn’t find a restaurant for breakfast that didn’t have lines out the

door, so we just went back to their place and Rob cooked breakfast,

scrambled eggs, hash browns and sausage. And coffee, oh lots and lots of

coffee! it was delicious and exactly what I needed. I was so hungry by then.

 

And that golden puppy they’re taking care of, she’s so sweet and beautiful.

I never wanted to let her go!

 

We arrived here at the GDB Oregon campus and I got oriented to my room. Amazing rooms. I’ll describe them later. I met

the the chef and got my dinner order, met the nurse and she took my grocery store order for some coke andsome starbucks frappuccinos. I unpacked, got my network set up on my laptop and iPhone.

 

We had the meet and greet in what they call the fireside room. We have six students, all retrains. We have five women and one guy in the class. Everyone seems very friendly.

 

For dinner I had parmesan chicken with linguini and broccoli and homemade

bread. Mmmm. The food here is going to be amazing. and I hate to admit it but way better than the other campus. the chef came in and got our meal orders for the next two days. you’re all gonna drool as you hear about the food. and there’s always a vegetarian option and even options if yu don’t like what’s on the menu.

 

Later we had the dorm tour. I had been feeling pretty lost at first. I used

to run around the old SR dorm with no cane, but I’m taking that old thing

with me now. But now I’ve had the tour the dorm makes more sense to me.

 

Now I’m doing email and waiting for the night staff person, to come and

bring me a coffee maker and grab Olga’s harness. And then I’m going to

shower and head for bed! Apparently, they don’t have a student student coffee maker in the snack room anymore, so someone from the dorm staff brings down a carafe at 6, but I’m always up so long before that. they have small pots a student can have in their room, so that’s what she brought me.

 

 

 

I’m so happy to be here.

 

 

Abrief note aobut these updates. I can’t get the stupid mouse pad on my laptop to stay turned off, so if the posts are weird sometimes, it could be that this things switches focus without me knowing

Sherry

Okay, if you’ve read about Olga’s retirement, I mentioned I had exciting news to share. If you haven’t read about her retirement, please read that post too!

 

So, I’ve been on the waiting list for the right dog and in home training. But I know it can be hard for them to have staff available for in home training. So, I emailed admissions this week and told them I would be willing to go to class.

 

Well, today, I got a call from Keith, a class supervisor at the Oregon campus. He told me they have a dog for me, a very special perfect match kind of dog, and can I come to the next class!

 

Oh did I forget to say that class starts on April 27? Yikes.

 

What answer did I give Keith? Come on, can ya guess? Three guesses and the first two don’t count!

 

I! SAID! YES!

 

Oh boy, it’s gonna be just great telling work on Monday. But with my physical needs, the right dog is hard to find, and hwen it’s available I have to go.

 

So, yes, I’m going to train with my new dog on April 27. I’ll actually meet the dog the next day after working with the instructors for a while, so they can teach me any new commands–or help me break bad long time handler habits and shortcuts. I’ll be there two weeks, graduating on May 10, probably flying home the next day.

 

have I ever mentioned how much I really hate flying? Well, I really hate flying. Don’t wanna do it. Gotta do it though. Oh dear.

 

So, I’ll be quite busy, picking clothes and things and packing what I can, so I can be ready to leave in eight days. wow.

 

Wish me luck!

 

I’ll be writing here about my training so don’t forget to check back or subscribe for updates.

 

Okay, start guessing. am I getting a Labrador, a golden or a lab/golden cross.