Forever Buddies

What is more special in life than a wonderful dog and a wonderful Mule to spend an entire long fall afternoon in the woods with?

Nothing that I can really think of ...
[well I could think of nice things like my grandkids, or the kids visiting...that would be nice]

But I found myself alone and time on my hands....so off we went.

We make an odd trio.
A dog
A mule
A person

But we were quite content with each others company.
At one point we stopped in a meadow, I dismounted and let Badger graze while Morris ran around filling his nose with scents...
I simply enjoyed the smells and the sunshine.

And the company of my animal buddies.

I came home relaxed ... and tired.
What a great day.

A dog Just a dog...

It' Just a Dog From time to time people tell me,
"Lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled, the time
spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come
about with "just a dog." Many hours have
passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been
brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days
of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave
me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you
will probably understand phases like "just a friend,"
"just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog"
brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings
out the compassion and patience that makes me a
better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise
early, take long walks and look longingly to the
future. So for me, and folks like me, it's not
"just a dog" but an embodiment of all the
hopes and dreams of the future, the fond
memories of the past and the pure joy of
the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's
good in me and diverts my thoughts away
from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand
that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that
gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a human." So the next time you hear the
phrase "just a dog." just smile....because they
"just don't understand."
- Anonymous

I was sent this poem today via email. I read it and then began to think about it.
I've had many dogs in my life.
Of course there was Xena, my Princess Warrior dog who was so loyal to me that she didn't tolerate other people.


Today I thought about her and how much I miss her. Morris and I went out and cleaned the weeds away from her grave located in a special spot near the fence line.

Then I chuckled over the wonders of Morris.
How really special he is even if he isn't the intense devoted dog that Xena was.
In fact in many ways he is even more special.

He never objects to playing with the grandchildren.
He doesn't mind being 'bossed' around or dragged on his leash.
He is perpetually happy, although I'm not sure he even knows
what he is happy about.
He is a wonderful comedian.
He thinks children are his personal responsibility.

And then I thank the powers that be for the great dogs I've had in my life.

Long Week

Can you believe it is Friday???
Yep.
I have 2 days of rest before hitting 'training' again.

I'm pooped...I feel like how Morris looks in this picture.
Last night I fell sound asleep with my glasses on and slept through a phone call from my son!

Yikes.
I was tired.

The job is interesting and diverse right now. So much to learn and get certified in. I like this sort of challenge and have enjoyed meeting the people I'll be working with.
I can see that at times a person has to be quick thinking and very organized.

It is different to go back to a method of handwriting everything and not using computers! But that is how the operation goes.
Much of what I'm learning has to be memorized and kept in the head...policies and procedures can only be studied on site.

This is a good challenge for the brain cells, I believe.
I've got to get out and play with my cameras...I cannot believe that I haven't taken any photos since Sunday....
I'm having withdrawals.

Have a good nite!

Wow...

October is nearly over.
I can't believe it.

This means the winter is not far behind.
I'm sure hoping that we don't have one like last year.

Well on Sunday we had a fantastic day. The weather was awesome and warm. We met up with our neighbors and went riding.
Judy got to ride Fred as this was her first 'real' ride. We stuck her in the middle and gave her basic training.
Whoa
Walk
and the steering issues.

Fred was a super troooper. He never waivered nor took a misstep for Judy. He was however not happy with traveling behind Badger and had to pass him whenever possible.

Fred has been such a fantastic animal for us. Yes he is little but he has such a big heart. Okay, he does dislike being caught and pretty much ignores being curried [we know he likes it though].
He is the ultimate 4 wheel-hooved drive.

We enjoyed a special dessert afterward and apple cider!
I had to do a bunch of smiling as Judy kept saying *Wow!*
*Oh My!*
*Oh this is beautiful!*

I do believe she had a good time, and so did her husband who rode their horse Chaps.

Yep it was a *wow* day.

Job offer

My new job starts on Monday.
Yeah if you've been following this blog, you know I've been looking and had started at Wallyworld.
This job offers double the pay.
The bennies are better.

For me? No comparison.
Plus I get to see the sun rise over the Mississippi river as part of my job!

The job is in a whole new direction. Something I've never done before and have no experience in.
As I told my interviewer, ~ Consider this, I have no bad habits you have to break and I come into your company as a blank slate. You can train me the way your company wants me to be.

I had to compete with 36 other applicants.

So when I was told tonight that I was 'selected', I felt like I'd just won a prize.

My job? Security Officer.

Why? The hours please me and so does the challenge.

Besides, I've been a waitress, a teller,
a gas jockey, an insurance underwriter, a cashier,
a telephone order person, a transcriptionist, a babysitter,
a mom, a grandma, and an office worker...
so,
why not another to add to my list?

All things crazy...

Occupational Therapy.
This morning had me meeting with my OT person. She is a wonderfully nutty and thoughtful person.
She helped me get my elbow straight and the pain reduction has come to the point that I am released weeks earlier than my predicted 3 month plan. Good surgeon, good OT, and good hard work.
Considering that for the past few years I've dealt with constant pain [shoulders...and the elbow was always there, but not as bad as it had been for the past year and a half]...and now I was actually
actually
actually
[yes I am repeating myself, because I am pinching myself too...]
Pain Free.

Elana asked me what else would I like to accomplish?
I said, *Well handstands and cartwheels would be nice to work back up to.*
She looked at me~ *You are serious?*
*As serious as can be. I also would like to run a 5k in Kenosha next year when my son runs his half marathon.*
Elana's face broke into a wide smile [she has an infectious smile and wonderful attitude, she makes you feel darn right good inside].

*OhhhKayyyy...* Then she pulled me over to a table and showed me how to start some simple exercises to get my shoulders and muscle strength back. It would be a long process, but the process must be slow in order not to over use or re-injure the surgically modified tendons.

At that moment, my surgeon Dr. L. came out of a meeting with the Physical Therapists who treat his patients.

From my past 2 yrs of being Dr. L's patient AND from months of rehab on both shoulders...I knew most of them who stopped by to give me a high five.

Dr. L slid up to me and asked how it was going. I answered...and Elana piped up.
*We are working on cartwheels and handstands by next summer,* she said.

Dr. L frowned and looked at me.
*Serious?*
I nodded, *Serious.*

*Could you do them pre surgeries?*
*Yes.*

He dipped his head in thought for a moment, then looked at me and smiled. *Okay, I want you to do your handstands and cartwheels on your mule!*

All the PT stopped mid stride.
I grinned.
*Dr. L! You know I love a challenge! But gosh, I could fall...what, you want to do more surgery on me by repairing something else I mess up?*

He laughed and raised his hands, *The 4th one is free!* he quipped.
He waved at me and headed out of the department. The other therapists stood there with looks on their faces that said...
Did we just hear what we thought we heard?

Elana said, *He just said that in front of everybody!* Then she turned to me and said, *You are NOT doing that on Badger...you are not. I do NOT give you permission.*

Just to get her goat, I replied: *Dr. L gave me the equivalent of a Double Dog Dare.*

Elana said~~~
*You
Will
NOT!*

I conceded and we began to work on a plan that would get me back into fantastic shape. And gratefully no one did say...
Handstands and Cartwheels AT YOUR AGE???

Fun fun...

You know, Happy and Crazy are getting under my skin.

You should have seen the look I got when I went out with the camera, the tonka truck, and Morris's toys yesterday.
Sure...another plot thickened!
When I showed Ariel and Dennis [grand kids] photos of the toys in the Tonka, Ariel said to me...

*Wow Grandma, I guess toys can make believe too and do things.*

So I traced the hike we did over the weekend to the BIG Ravine.
Silly enough, as I was taking fall photos along with story book photos, a funny little story came to mind.

What a fun way to introduce the grand kids to adventures that are not Dora, Diago, or TV based!

Of course, Grandma Val does have a strange sense of imagination.
Sigh.
Born with it ... I guess.

Well off to a day of being employed. I orientate at Wallyworld. It is an income, better than none at all.
Have a happy day.