Sunday, December 27, 2015
Holiday Update
Christmas was
nice. Got to visit with mom and grandma and had a nice dinner. It just
didn't feel like Christmas though, in a lot of different ways. It was
80F here. In December. Up where Mike is in the mountains in NJ, they
have always had snow by this time of year, but not this year. It was
around 50F and Mike said he had the windows open. It's so warm there
were tornadoes in Texas, in winter (bless those poor people ). I
distinctly remember Decembers down in the 20F range with freeze warnings
and wearing heavy coats as a kid even in Louisiana. I don't understand
how people can keep denying global warming or climate shift. Anyway,
hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Canine Partners Client Interview
(TLDR Version) I went and met with trainers and staff at Canine
Partners. I had a chance to work with some of their dogs in the special
mobility harnesses they use. They think I'm a good candidate for a
service dog through them. I have been added to their waiting list.
They're going to start looking for a dog partner that matches my needs.
So excited! Now I just need someone who can come with me and stay
during the month of team training.
If you'd like to help, please consider donating to the fundraiser and share it:
http://www.youcaring.com/brittney-steptoe-428674
The hotel we stayed at. Funny enough the decor was almost identical to the one we stayed at years ago for training when we worked for Verizon. We had our geek-on with Fallout 4 111 hoodie and Pipboy bag, and Firefox bag. Ember completes the set as Dogmeat ( her nickname ).
Ember laying in her famous "dogball" position at the hotel the morning of the CPL visit. She was minding her own business idly watching us. Then I said "Watch me" to her.
Creek behind the hotel. It was dark when we arrived, but we swore we heard water. Past the parking lot was vast pitch blackness. We found a rock and threw it, to moments later be rewarded with ther ker-SPLOSH sound of water. This is what we found the following morning.
The drive over wasn't too bad. I was playing with my new phone and a holder I got for extended range for photos and video. Maybe pictures with me in them will be less rare now that I can more easily take them myself. Ember sits weirdly and cutely when riding in vehicles.
Sitting at the CPL office waiting to be called over for the client interview. We were a little early. Taz the office cat kept us company and the staff was friendly. I didn't want to be rude by aiming my phone at everything, plus they have privacy policies like doctor's offices do. So behold, Ember and my braces.
We met with the trainers for my client interview. They had 6 or 7 of their own dogs present between the different rooms, and you'd have never known it without seeing them. We settled in and they asked me a lot of questions and we went over various details about their dogs and program. I got a chance to meet and work with two of the dogs directly, whose names were Amber and Moose. This allowed the trainers to see how we moved together, and let me try out their special mobility harness. I basically need a dog around Moose's size that moves at Amber's speed. I asked them if it was okay to snap this picture while we waited for them to get their dogs ready.
Ember was uncertain what to make of all those labs and a doodle present. She was a little concerned when I handed her over to Mike and stepped across the room to work the other dogs, not understanding why it wasn't her helping me. My body was acting up, and Ember alerted during the interview and again when I started to get up to work with the CPL dogs. My meds hadn't quite kicked in so I was hurting and my neurocardio quirks had me riding my personal roller coaster. Thankfully I managed not to fall or run into anything and my joints didn't give out on me in any embarrassing ways, so I think I did pretty good. All the dogs got treats at the end and everyone was happy.
Next we went over to the kennel area for a quick tour and to meet some of the other dogs on site. I decided it was best to leave Ember in the car and use my cane, so she wouldn't get over stimulated by having to ignore the 20 or so dogs in the kennel run and they wouldn't be overly excited by her presence. I didn't get a chance to take any pictures in there as I was too busy keeping myself in an upright position and listening to the trainer showing us around. I had a chance to do some interacting with the dogs, and play the "whoever stays quiet gets a yum" game. Many of them were fresh from their puppy raiser homes. The kennel was actually more empty than normal because a lot of the dogs had gone home with volunteers for the upcoming holiday. So we only got to see a small fraction of the dogs they normally have coming and going at any given time. Overall a very nice facility and the dogs are obviously well cared for.
If you'd like to help, please consider donating to the fundraiser and share it:
http://www.youcaring.com/brittney-steptoe-428674
= = = = =
The hotel we stayed at. Funny enough the decor was almost identical to the one we stayed at years ago for training when we worked for Verizon. We had our geek-on with Fallout 4 111 hoodie and Pipboy bag, and Firefox bag. Ember completes the set as Dogmeat ( her nickname ).
Ember laying in her famous "dogball" position at the hotel the morning of the CPL visit. She was minding her own business idly watching us. Then I said "Watch me" to her.
Creek behind the hotel. It was dark when we arrived, but we swore we heard water. Past the parking lot was vast pitch blackness. We found a rock and threw it, to moments later be rewarded with ther ker-SPLOSH sound of water. This is what we found the following morning.
The drive over wasn't too bad. I was playing with my new phone and a holder I got for extended range for photos and video. Maybe pictures with me in them will be less rare now that I can more easily take them myself. Ember sits weirdly and cutely when riding in vehicles.
Sitting at the CPL office waiting to be called over for the client interview. We were a little early. Taz the office cat kept us company and the staff was friendly. I didn't want to be rude by aiming my phone at everything, plus they have privacy policies like doctor's offices do. So behold, Ember and my braces.
We met with the trainers for my client interview. They had 6 or 7 of their own dogs present between the different rooms, and you'd have never known it without seeing them. We settled in and they asked me a lot of questions and we went over various details about their dogs and program. I got a chance to meet and work with two of the dogs directly, whose names were Amber and Moose. This allowed the trainers to see how we moved together, and let me try out their special mobility harness. I basically need a dog around Moose's size that moves at Amber's speed. I asked them if it was okay to snap this picture while we waited for them to get their dogs ready.
Ember was uncertain what to make of all those labs and a doodle present. She was a little concerned when I handed her over to Mike and stepped across the room to work the other dogs, not understanding why it wasn't her helping me. My body was acting up, and Ember alerted during the interview and again when I started to get up to work with the CPL dogs. My meds hadn't quite kicked in so I was hurting and my neurocardio quirks had me riding my personal roller coaster. Thankfully I managed not to fall or run into anything and my joints didn't give out on me in any embarrassing ways, so I think I did pretty good. All the dogs got treats at the end and everyone was happy.
Next we went over to the kennel area for a quick tour and to meet some of the other dogs on site. I decided it was best to leave Ember in the car and use my cane, so she wouldn't get over stimulated by having to ignore the 20 or so dogs in the kennel run and they wouldn't be overly excited by her presence. I didn't get a chance to take any pictures in there as I was too busy keeping myself in an upright position and listening to the trainer showing us around. I had a chance to do some interacting with the dogs, and play the "whoever stays quiet gets a yum" game. Many of them were fresh from their puppy raiser homes. The kennel was actually more empty than normal because a lot of the dogs had gone home with volunteers for the upcoming holiday. So we only got to see a small fraction of the dogs they normally have coming and going at any given time. Overall a very nice facility and the dogs are obviously well cared for.
It was a really nice experience. I'm
thankful that CPL was able to accommodate me and schedule a visit early
since I was already in the area, and that we found out with enough time
to change my flight home. It all fell into place just when it needed
to. Huge thanks again to CPL trainers and staff for helping make it
happen!
They are having a graduate support class in
March that also lines up perfectly with a trade show we want to go to,
so we're making plans for me to fly out for both.
Overall, they think that I am a good candidate to receive a service dog from them. I have been added to their waiting list. They're going to start looking for a dog partner that matches my needs.
So excited! Now I just need someone who can come with me and stay
during the month of team training.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Back In Louisiana
Apologies for the delay updating this past month. I ended up
staying in NJ longer than expected because I went to meet with a service
dog organization for a client interview for a new dog. I was sick
while I was there with a flareup, and came home sick with a sinus
infection turned into bronchitis and upper respiratory infection. Went
to the doctor and got antibiotics and an inhaler. It's been pretty
miserable but I am starting to feel a little better. That said, I am
getting back to work on the projects I left off with and will be sharing
progress along the way on Patreon.
Christmas / Yule
cards are also on the way, for those who asked or sent them last year,
since my whole plot of silly "Christmas in July" sort of got botched,
they are actually on time for this year's holiday haha. I think I'll
send another batch randomly at some point too just to make up for it.
Because we all need cheer year round! Hope everyone is doing well.
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