(VICT) Re: Checking in

Hi, Shelley,

I just finished the school year yesterday!  Hurray!  But I have to 
celebrate, and rest, in a hurry, because I only have one week off before 
summer session begins!

It was down to the wire for me with annual review meetings, book ordering 
for next year, materials ordering, getting things sent to the summer 
programs for my students, meetings to try to get needed technology for my 
students, and agency, county, and school district paperwork to finish--Oh, 
yeah, and trying to keep delivering instruction to the students at the same 
time!  But now I can take a deep breath and relax for a few days--except for 
a couple of loose ends that I have yet to tie up!

Anyway, Panda and I have been doing great, except for the exhaustion that 
seems to come with a teacher's job.  I took Panda with me to the annual 
family Fathers' Day picnic in New Jersey.  The weather was extremely hot and 
muggy that day, but we tried to stay in the shade as much as possible.  As 
usual Panda travelled well, and also as usual, she was the "best behaved 
'dog' at the picnic", which this year included my brother's GSD guide dog, 
my cousin's GSD pet, and my other brother's BC/Golden pet.

I have also taken Panda to some of the elementary schools that I work in. 
It is great to have her guide services while walking through the 
unpredictably obstacle-strewn hallways--for example, one class was 
decorating the walls, and ceiling, of the hallway outside their classroom as 
a bat cave; there were ever-shifting ladders, huge sheets of freshly-painted 
craft paper left to dry on the floor, 3-D paper bats hanging from the 
ceiling and protruding from the walls, and children with waving paintbrushes 
and trays of paint in irratic motion for weeks!  Panda does a great job of 
staying focused on her work, even when the kids stick their hands out to pat 
her.  She was a great hit in the 5th grade class of one of my students.  The 
class had read Panda's book earlier in the year, and they had asked me a lot 
of questions about her, so I didn't want to disappoint them by not bringing 
Panda in to meet them in person.

Panda and I also did a talk for children about service animals and animal 
training for our local library in April, and we have a couple more library 
talks scheduled for this summer.

Shelley, I hope you have gotten oriented and settled in your new temporary 
home and internship there in Cleveland.  Are you working with adults or 
teenagers there?  What kind of things are you teaching them?  I'm so glad to 
hear that Judson's allergies are under control and that his diet has helped 
him be more comfortable.  When is your certification exam?   And what is 
your plan for after that?  Do you plan to return to Pennsylvania?

I hope everyone else is enjoying the start of summer.  I love the long days 
and the birds singing early in the morning!  I can do without the humidity 
and the bugs, but, oh well, I guess you have to take the annoying with the 
pleasurable.

Ann and Panda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 10:54 PM
Subject: (VICT) Checking in


> Hi you all it is your fearless, well maybe fearful list owner checking in.
>
> Judson and I have made some serious life changes in the last three weeks.
> We are no longer at Western Michigan University and are in fact now at The
> Cleveland Sight Center where I am doing my internship for my RT degree!
> Yeah, when I am done I will have my RT degree and am working on the
> paperwork for getting the thing ready so I can take the certifying exam.
>
> Besides that we are slowly learning the city, learning the Center and all
> its staff!  There are a lot, and slowly settling in to our economy sized
> apartment.  Imagine a dorm room with a bathroom attached and that would
> describe the apartment pretty much to a tee, is a bit of a squeeze with
> Judson and I but we are managing, smile.
>
> Besides that, well... we are working on our crafts.
>
> It took me about two weeks to get the IT guys here to install a proper
> wireless router, but it is now installed and working great.
>
> Judson is doing great, no hot spots or such as of yet, and he is on a
> benedril in the morning if he is itching, or the grass is high and not 
> mowed
> as it is right now.
>
> It is amazing how much a difference can be made in only a year, of 
> switching
> him to a proper food and learning what he was allergic too.
>
> We also discovered a Judson approved and Judson friendly biscuit.
>
> We have discovered Wellness Bars made by Old Muther Huppard, and Judson
> loves them.
>
> But I wanted to write in and say hi.
>
> I should have a complete list of commands in the near future, stay tuned.
>
> Talk to you all soon, and am hoping your Memorial Day was a good one.
>
>
> Shelley L. Rhodes B.S. Ed, CTVI
> and Judson, guiding golden
> juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
> Graduate Alumni Association Board
> www.guidedogs.com
>
> Dog ownership is like a rainbow.
> Puppies are the joy at one end.
> Old dogs are the treasure at the other.
> Carolyn Alexander
>
>
>

Other related posts: