Puppies and Life

This One's For You, Sam!

2009-08-25T20:08:00.007-07:00

A certain someone has been bugging me lately to do a blog post... I complained that I had nothing to update about but since she is one of my favourite people, I relented and here is what I have been up to lately.

Fielder turned THREE on August 10! Crazy to think of when he was a little mop of fur who fit into the palm of my hand. I emailed his handler, and I got back a very nice email that said they were doing well and he is a very smart little dog. She also sent a picture of the two of them at their local Walk for Dogguides!! I was VERY happy and excited to see my little man in jacket for the first time since grad. It's a little weird since I cropped out his handler to respect her privacy, but here is HED Fielder!Lately I have been really missing being an active puppy raiser, as well as the good old Samysnat and POOP Group days, so one day when I was very bored I made this picture. Hard to believe it's been a whopping 24 puppies between the four of us! Every single one of them have been so special and unique, and as much as they've affected their puppy raiser, they've also held us together and made our friendships that much stronger. No one quite understands what a puppy raiser goes through as well as fellow puppy raisers do:)

As to what I've been up to here in Halifax... the Tall Ships Festival came to town this year, and a couple friends and I went to the waterfront to see them. It was pretty cool, although scorching hot and resulting in a sunburn. This is one of the many tall ships passing through during the parade.
Last month there was a day where I saw service dogs EVERYWHERE! There was a CCI team, a yellow lab with his handler who was a young boy. I actually stalked them around the waterfront for a while because I thought the blue jacket was a SSD team from Dogguides, but was still very happy when I saw it was a CCI team. Then there was the gorgeous black lab from GDB. It was very cool to see him leading his partner confidently around, stopping at curbs and a door. Lastly, I was very lucky to run into a CVC team from Dogguides. Since they were from my school, I was confident enough to say hi and have a little chat (instead of "Hi! Your school is awesome, I know because I creep people's blogs who raise for your school!"). It was fun, and I hope to see them around sometime.

Of course, I didn't get to pet any of those dogs, and I have been extremely dog deprived lately, so when my friend Katie and I decided to randomly go on a roadtrip to Quebec, I was very happy to stop at our friend's house who has two dogs and two cats. This was my best friend for the night, Zorro:

After we left her house, we went to Quebec City where our one and only mission was to have a good poutine. (Note for my American friends, poutine is a french/Quebecois dish that is absolutely amazing- french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. Yes it is a heart attack on a plate, but so worth it). If anyone goes to Quebec, eat at Chez Ashton's. This poutine was easily the most delicious poutine I've ever eaten in all nineteen years of my life, hands down. The cheese curds were so fresh they were still squeaky, and the hot dog on top was the best idea this chain's ever had. I pretty much wolfed this down in two seconds.

We also went to the famous Chateau Frontenac and hung out there for awhile. That's me in the pink shirt!

Those are the only really noteworthy adventures from the past month or so. I've spent a lot of time working and hanging out with friends. This past week has been a bit of a bummer, though. My ear hurts pretty badly thanks to an ear infection, the boyfriend's gone home for a couple weeks, and I'm covered in itchy bug bites after a trip to the beach last week. I know, poor baby, right? ;) One thing I'm grateful for is that school doesn't start for another week and a half, and all our friends who left for the summer are slowly starting to come back. The weather, which was humid, muggy and in the 30's (high 80's fahrenheit) all of last week disappeared after Hurricane Bill passed by on the weekend, and is now a much more comfortable sunny 20 degrees. So here's to fully celebrating the last weeks of freedom before school with friends and beautiful weather!

Also, here's to being 19 (or 20, in the case of my friend)and thinking it is perfectly acceptable to build and play in a fort on a Friday night to hide from hurricanes.

ps. To Ruby, who commented on one of my posts, I don't know which and can't find it now so I can't track down your profile/contact info. School to raise for in Toronto- there are none, but the one I raised for is the closest to it, running out of Oakville (an hour away by car), and Breslau (close to Guelph). It's called the Lions Foundation of Canada Dogguides, website is http://www.dogguides.com/. Good luck and let me know how your puppy raising adventures go!

Mega Update, Many Puppies Included

2009-06-24T09:58:00.014-07:00

So I know I promised a post from home, but I got so busy with seeing friends, family and of course puppies that I didn't have any time. Here is a super long post complete with 21 pictures!! All of adorable puppies too.

On my second day home I went to Woofstock, Toronto's annual dog festival, the largest of its kind in North America. I met up with Amy and Bea, and Brooke, Cessna and her foster puppy Reece. There were many vendors for food, treats, collars, harnesses, toys, rescue groups and much more. One of the groups was giving out free doggy snowcones, which poodley Bea enjoyed, but left my hand smelling like beef after.
And of course it was tons of fun spending the day with Amy, even though on the way home we accidentally drove halfway to her house (the opposite direction out of Toronto) before we realized we had gone the wrong way.

On Thursday, I visited Dee and picked up Friday. Although I only had her for a day and a half, it didn't take her long to win me over. She is such a well behaved lovable, happy, fluffy and huggable puppy, I told Sam she wasn't getting her back by the end of the night. We had a busy day as I visited with some friends downtown. We went to the Eatons Centre, surprise surprise. On one of our relief breaks, I discovered that one of the venues for the North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival was across the street. Friday was unphased by the loud screamy band onstage and even posed for a picture.

We went to dinner at Swiss Chalet after where she curled up under the table for a nap. The manager fell in love with her too and offered her a bowl of water. Afterwards, my friends and I wandered around downtown. We ended up at one of University of Toronto's campuses and I took Fri's picture on the steps of Convocation Hall. It's like she's graduating from university! (Sorry about the terrible quality, it was pitch black except for the gross yellow lighting from the building).

One of my friends attempted to take a picture of Friday and I but Fri had weird coloured eyes in all of them. This is one of the better shots. We match in our green outfits!

We then headed home from Museum St. of the TTC which has all these cool statues.

Friday was very tired but was a trooper and took the train and escalators in stride.

I thought she would pass out, but my pet puppy Lesley enticed her into a little bit of playtime before going to bed. They loved each other and Friday helped Lesley improve her dog socialization skills a little bit.

The next day, we woke up bright and early (7 am, Sam, I'm not complaining about 10 am this time). Amy and Bea came to pick us up to visit Sam and all her dogs. Bea and Friday both wanted shotgun but the poodle prevailed and Friday was stuck in the back.

This was definitely one of my favourite days home as I spent most of the day with Sam, Dallas and her puppies!

We went out for lunch and a walk, visiting many places downtown. This is cute little Friday by the water.

That is me on the left with Friday and Sam on the right with Fiyero. Check out the loose leash action and Fiyero ignoring all the goose poop on the ground :) Friday was fantastic to walk both on the Halti and just on the flat collar, even amidst chaotic downtown Toronto.

These dogs are both so wonderfully adorable and beautiful, these pictures don't do them justice. Fiyero in the front, Friday at the back.

After lunch, we found my first geocache! It was fun looking through the trail for it, and there was lots of stuff inside too. The puppies quite enjoyed the leafy romp as well.
Then it was back to Sam's for more puppy watching!! Mr Pink was nursing upside down and I love this picture because it looks like he's waving at the camera.

Mr Yellow was my favourite puppy. He's the littlest one right now and we bonded over some cuddling time where he snuggled right down into my arms for a little nap.
It was so much fun seeing everyone again, but this time my downtime at home was made a million times better than usual because our family now has a pet dog, a mini schnauzer named Lesley. We became fast friends and she quickly started following me around everywhere, including "helping" me at the computer. I just love her big bat ears and huge puppy dog eyes, plus she is a very kissy dog and loves to give lots of licks. She is still working on her basic obedience as she's only 5 months old but she is very smart and I can't wait to watch her grow up!
Nothing says welcome home like a little puppy warming your feet :)

Summertime!

2009-06-02T17:22:00.006-07:00

Well, it's been exactly one month since my last post ...what can I say, this being a puppy blog, it's a little hard to update without a puppy.

Life has been pretty awesome lately. I got a job as a patient attendant, which means I basically look after patients in hospitals. I live in a house with three of my best friends, and most of our other friends who are here for the summer live together in another house a block and a half away. The weather is gorgeous and we go for frequent walks along the waterfront where I jealously watch many people walk their adorable dogs. We also sometimes go to Peggy's Cove, a tourist attraction which is basically a huge expanse of rocks and ocean and watch huge waves soak unsuspecting people.Amy came to visit a few weeks ago, and it was great to see her even if it was only for a day. We went out to an old military base with a few of our friends and ran around and pretended to shoot cannons at each other.Besides that, nothing very exciting has happened. It's been a very relaxing summer so far, full of friends, good food, good weather, and almost daily barbecuing. There have been many steaks consumed in this house... Oh yes, and there has been one puppy in my life- my friend's one year old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Sandy. She is so bouncy and smart and a joy to have around. She's a little small because she was the runt of the litter and was sick as a puppy but isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen? That happy puppy grin is a heart-melter for sure.In other news, I will be heading home in a couple weeks so check back then for updates on my new family puppy Lesley and puppy-stealing adventures as I visit Sam and Amy! Have a great summer break to my fellow students (and teachers too of course :))

No Day But Today

2009-05-02T08:05:00.004-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post! Life has been crazy busy since then-I had four term papers due in a week and then lots of stressful finals in addition to packing up my room and finding somewhere to keep all my stuff for a week before moving in to my new house.

Thankfully, that is now all over and I am writing this post from my new room! Four of my friends and I are sharing a house for the next year, embarking on the poor student living adventure. Just this morning I had a breakfast cupcake as it was my only option, but hopefully we'll be able to get some grocery shopping done soon. My room is a mess right now but I decided writing a blog post would be more entertaining than unpacking.

The last five days have been a whirlwind of travel and visiting people. My friend Katie and I took off after her last exam on the 25th at 8 pm and drove 17 hours to Rochester NY to see the Broadway tour of RENT. Our parents were quite convinced we were going to die, but the drive was surprisingly easy. We each took 4 hour driving shifts and managed to stay awake the whole time. Both of us have a tendency to speed (I know, bad habit, but driving on a straight highway at night with no traffic makes it easy to forget how fast you're going) so we managed to cut off quite a bit of our travel time. Also, what up New York Thruway with your million police cars and equal amount of toll- I think we paid over $20 in New York alone. But it was all worth it to get to our final destination...RENT!! What can I say- seeing Sam again was awesome, and the show was phenomenal. One of the best nights of my life for sure. Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal live and five feet in front of my face- I got chills listening to them sing and finally seeing the production live in theater. Thank you Jonathan Larson for writing such an amazing, moving musical! We got to meet Mekalea as well, which was so much fun!! Puppy raisers never run out of things to talk about when they get together :)

After the show we were hoping to get to the stage door to hopefully meet the cast and get some things signed, but they ended up doing a fundraiser after the show (where Anthony Rapp auctioned off and took off his pants on stage!) so unfortunately we didn't get to do that, but I DID meet one of my favourite ensemble members, Telly Leung.Yay! It was so awesome. Of course, being the dork that I am I blurted out that I loved his blog and he replied with an "Aww, thanks" so it wasn't too embarassing at least. It was the perfect way to end such an awesome night, and I'm so glad everything worked out. I got lots of snuggle time with Friday too, and catchup time with Sam so I was very, very happy.We also had Cracker Barrell for lunch the next day- oh happy times with biscuits and delicious food!! We had a lot of fun reminiscing about our trip to Mississippi. On the way home, we stopped by Niagara Falls as Katie had never been to them before. Living a couple hours of away from the falls, I've seen them too many times to count, but the vastness and natural beauty gets to me every time. After that, it was off to HOME at last! I haven't been home since early January, so I was definitely looking forward to going back. My parents also got a puppy the day before I got home. She's a little 14 week mini schnauzer named Lesley.
She was still in the quiet, not doing anything stage when I was home but I hear since then she's been starting to test boundaries and her place in the pack but hopefully my parents have learned something from the puppies that have passed through our house and will train her well. She is oh so very cute though, and I had lots of fun snuggling her and starting her training in basic obedience.

After three days at home, it was time to come back to Halifax, sadly. I got to meet up with lots of friends while at home though, and I will hopefully be back for a couple weeks at some point in the summer. Now it's time to find a summer job, unpack, set up my room and enjoy time with friends before school starts up again....here's to a relaxing and adventure-filled summer!

How to Cure a Nail Biting Habit

2009-03-22T12:03:00.003-07:00

Spend six hours at an ER with your violently ill friend, four of which are spent being separated only by a curtain from someone who apparently has the Norwalk virus which is so contagious the doctors are outside talking about how they have to throw everything in the room out as soon as the patient leaves.

Is it possible to bathe in Purell?

Don't Stop Believin' - Habitat '09

2009-03-01T19:49:00.002-08:00

I am back! Man, this past week has been one of the most amazing weeks of my life. It definitely alternated between really fun happy events and some very sad ones. 150 people from my school's chapter of Habitat for Humanity set off for Mississippi to build houses for people affected by Hurricane Katrina. I was on Bus 2 (of 3) with about 20 of my friends, which made the whole trip very interesting and lively to say the least.

We started off with an almost 36 hour bus ride from Halifax and drove through 2 provinces and I think 13 states to get to Ocean Springs, Mississippi where we stayed at Camp Victor. I love travelling in the states, so I was superpumped to be doing a roadtrip. There's so much more variety, especially in grocery stores, and everything's bigger and cheaper! We stopped in Fishkill, NY on our way down and everyone was seriously in awe of the Shop Rite. Also we ate at three different Cracker Barrels which we don't have here in Canada and it was delicious. But despite the many movies and singalongs ( Don't Stop Believing by Journey being one of our main songs), everyone was ready to get off the bus and start working after almost two days of being squished together on a bus.

The first day we worked was the most emotional for sure- we worked on a house that hadn't been touched since the hurricane hit in 2005. Our task was to gut the whole house, and we started in on it right away. After working all morning, we managed to take everything out of the house- furniture, toys, papers...pretty much everything was covered in water but we saved as much as we could and put all the salvageable items on a tarp outside the house. We then came back from lunch on the beach to find a little old lady digging through the her life possessions spread out on the dirt ground beside her house. It was unbelievably sad and there wasn't much to say, so we were standing around awkwardly when her daughter walked by and said "That's someone's life right there...". She had stayed through the hurricane but was forced to evacuate the next day and hadn't had the chance to come back until that day. It was hard to have to watch that, but we had to get back to work anyways and so we spent the rest of the afternoon gutting the inside of the house, which was very cool. We took out everything until just the frames were left. My friend Matt lifted me up and I punched out a wall! It was all very physical work that day, but it was tons of fun.

After we finished work that day, our site manager came on our bus and took us on a tour around the neighbourhood in Biloxi. There were still buildings that were severely damaged standing and we got to see where the water had hit, and the water lines on some of the houses. It was just incredible how much work there is still to be done, but it was also good to know that slowly but surely, things are getting better.

The next day was Mardi Gras, so our group got the day off and headed into New Orleans to celebrate. It was insane and crazy, but so much fun. Everything was so colourful and awesome, it was basically a huge party on Bourbon St. It was a very long day, we left Ocean Springs at 6:30 am and didn't get back to camp until about 10 pm, and I'm sure everyone had a very good sleep that night.

The next three days, the busses were split up- two went to build sites and did construction work, and the bus I was on went to a building site and did finishing work which means the houses are already built, but we fixed up everything to make it livable. There was some construction going on too, siding on the houses and building sheds and whatnot. I was assigned to clean out houses and I was somehow put on a team with three of my best friends, making the time go by even faster. We accomplished a lot in those three days- we cleaned out two houses. It's amazing how many little tasks have to be done in order for the house to be ready- we spent 8:30-3:30 every day touching up paint, installing appliances, putting on doors and doorknobs, caulking, cleaning, sweeping, vaccuuming, cleaning windows and putting on screens (which, incidentally, is how I found out I am terrified of being 15 feet in the air on a ladder). There are new laws now stating that new houses must be built three to seven feet off the ground, which was really cool to see- the houses are standing on wooden poles and we were able to walk right under them.

We worked with a team of Americorps and general site/construction managers which was a blast. Y'all are so nice down in the south! They have the cutest little accents and everyone we met was so friendly and welcoming. Also, we Canadians very much enjoyed Mississippi and Louisiana's 70 degree weather (that's 21 degrees Celsius)- we were romping around in shorts and tshirts even late into the night. It was hilarious because everyone we ran into just stared at us incredulously and told us we were underdressed for the weather. One of the team leaders on the job site told us one day that it was "finally beginning to warm up to spring weather". We all started laughing because that chilly spring weather is our middle-of-the-summer weather. At the end of every day, most people would head down to the beach and just chill. It was an amazing way to unwind after a long day of working.

Despite the fun factor though, there truly is still so much work to be done on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Four years later, there are still buildings that haven't been touched since the hurricane hit. One night we travelled into New Orleans, and on the way drove through the Lower Ninth Ward, one of the hardest hit areas. Some of the buildings still had identifying marks on them- X's, codes as to which organization had checked the building, the number of how many live people had been found and how many bodies were found. It was devastating to see, and a slap to reality. Four years is a long time, and people are still suffering from the aftermath of Katrina.

It wasn't all bad though- we heard some very uplifting stories from the workers at Camp Victor and witnessed some ourselves. One of the toughest guys in our group went into a grocery store just to pick up some food and came back nearly in tears because he had gone in wearing his Habitat shirt and a man had went up to him and slipped him grocery money. He of course tried to refuse it, and the man had told him to take the money or he would consider it an insult because we were rebuilding the community. Another group was thanked by an old woman who used a walker to get out of her house just to talk to them. It's amazing how people who have lost so much can still have so much faith in God and humanity and still be joyful and hopeful.

A big thank you to the hospitable staff at Camp Victor and everyone we encountered along the way- as our site manager said "It's been an incredible week seeing everyone work together- for a few days our countries merged together. There's no big difference, just a little border to hop across... with a passport and no illegal substances or drugs, of course ;)" Truly the last week has been a life-changing experience, and I absolutely cannot wait to go back and do it again next year.

Happy IWYPRS Day!

2009-02-19T22:27:00.002-08:00

International Wear Your Puppy Raising Shirt Day was a great success judging by the 50 confirmed guests on Facebook and the number of posts that have gone up! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the posts and proudly wearing my shirt around today. It was very interesting testing where to put the camera and running back while it was on timer in order to actually get pictures of the shirt, but it was tons of fun.

We begin the day with some last minute reviewing (read: cramming) for my Canadian Lit midterm...very exciting life of a student.I think I did fairly well on the exam, so after lunch it was back to the computer to send out resumes for summer jobs. (Don't mind my laundry rack in the back, I just did a load of laundry last night and have yet to complete my least favourite part of the process- folding and putting away the clothes)

Nothing really eventful happened today, so I want to take this opportunity to announce something I am VERY excited about! On April 26, Sam, my friend Katie and I will be in Rochester, NY to see the touring production of RENT!!!!!!! It features my loves original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal (the green dude) and Anthony Rapp (in blue). I am so beyond excited for this, I don't even have words to express it. As anyone who knows me knows, I just love this musical and the messages it espouses- no day but today, and accepting everyone for who they are. Absolutely cannot WAIT!I ended the day as I have for the past couple of days- Sam, being my hero, sent me her copy of "Without You- A Memoir of Love, Loss and the Musical RENT", Anthony Rapp's memoir. Seeing as how it wasn't to be found anywhere in Toronto and Halifax, I've pretty much been on a reading rampage since I got it. Thanks a billion Sam! Hopefully we can get it signed at the stage door in Rochester!My shirt ended its day in the emptyish hamper after an exciting day of being out on the town. I love IWYPRSD and can't wait to do it again next year!!!

On another note, I'm leaving tomorrow for Biloxi, Mississippi with my school's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. We're going to a build site where some of the houses have not been touched since Hurricane Katrina hit- we'll literally be the first ones to be inside after the families evacuated. I am so excited to be a part of this trip, and hope to help make a real difference in some peoples' lives. I'll be back next Sunday with lots of stories and pictures!

Because I Knew You, I Have Been Changed...For Good

2009-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today is the one year anniversary of Fielder's graduation as a Hearing Ear Dog. I cannot believe a year has passed since that day I flew home for one of the best days of my life. Seeing one of my baby boys graduate while surrounded by my best friends was unbelievable. The whole ceremony felt like an out of body experience, and I'm so glad I was able to make it back and to have a short reunion with my little Fieldypoo.

As this day approached this year, I started reminiscing about the past few years and the impact puppy raising has had on me. I think I knew this all along, but for some reason in the past week, it really hit me how much I've changed and grown as a person because of it. I can't even begin to fathom all of the lessons my boys have taught me- lots of practical things like public speaking, obedience training, and to always have poop bags on puppy outings, but also life lessons that I never want to forget- how to be patient, how to be understanding, to put yourself in one's shoes before you judge, to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and most of all (cliched and sappy as it is)- how to really and truly love- to put so much of yourself into something that it hurts like crazy to let go, but you do it anyways because it's the right thing to do.

Along the way, I have met so many amazing people- the POOP group,the best support group of puppy raisers and friends I could ask for, handlers and trainers and random people I never would've met otherwise. One thing's for sure, these puppies bring out the best in people. I've enjoyed hearing many stories from strangers that come up and share a part of their lives with me just because of the puppy in the green jacket. And of course, blogging. When I started my silly little Puppies and Life blog two years ago, I never in a million years would've imagined "meeting" and becoming friends with so many fantastic people. If you told me a couple years ago that I would have some of the best conversations and funniest moments with people across the continent in another country, I probably would've laughed in your face. But through this blog and the amazingness that is Amber's blog roll, I have been lucky enough to have done just that.

Lastly, (but definitely not least), I have to mention Sam, Amy and Amy. All I have to say is Wow. I wanted to be involved with the program because I would get to train puppies and change people's lives but I had no idea what I was getting into when I attended that infamous orientation in which I supposedly "met" Sam. They've been there for me through thick and thin and guys, I want to say a big Thank You for sticking by me through puppies, DQ's, graduations and "normal" life drama. Sleepovers, train rides, long commutes to each other's towns, huge long MSN conversations, puppy outings, being the only teenagers in the group, and of course, Eatons are some of the best memories of my life. Here's to many more years of Samysnat.

I didn't mean for this post to turn into a sappy thank you post, but now that it's written I feel like it's appropriate considering how much puppy raising has changed my life- I wish I had the words to convey how much all of this actually means to me, but I can't. It's been one of the most, if not the most defining journeys of my life thus far. I think this slide show helps since after all, a picture's worth a thousand words. These are two of my favourite songs and their lyrics remind me of puppy raising so much. The first song is For Good from the Wicked soundtrack (sung by the amazing Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth) and the second is Seasons of Love from the movie soundtrack of Rent. Enjoy!

To my boys Petey and Fielder- you are everything I could've asked for and more. I love you both so much and I'm so glad you came into my life, even if it was only for too short a time. This one's for you.

"It well may be /That we will never meet again /In this lifetime, so let me say before we part/So much of me /Is made of what I learned from you /You'll be with me/ Like a handprint on my heart. /And now whatever way our stories end /I know you have rewritten mine/ By being my friend"

Update on IWYPRSD

2009-02-05T20:14:00.002-08:00

It appears we have picked a fantastic day for our first International Wear Your Puppy Shirt Day- President Obama will be making his first official trip to Canada that day!
It makes me happy that that fits in with our theme of international friendship quite perfectly!

I am so very excited to see all the stories and pictures from IWYPRSD (or alternately, I Wipers Day because that's what it looks like).

International Wear Your Puppy Shirt Day

2009-02-05T10:47:00.002-08:00

The first ever International 'Wear Your Puppy Raising Shirt' Day will be held February 19th, 2009. Please spread the word - we hope to have as many puppy raisers (and other supporters of working dogs) participating as possible.

To participate, all you have to do is wear a shirt from any Guide/Service dog school during the day of February 19th. If you don't already have a shirt - make your own! We'd love to see what you can come up with. :)

Optionally, we would love for participants to email a picture of themselves in their shirt (if desired you can crop off your head to protect your privacy) to puppyraisingshirtday@gmail.com. Also, blogging puppy raisers are encouraged to share about their shirt's day on their blog if desired.

Most importantly of all, remember that International 'Wear Your Puppy Raising Shirt' Day is a day to celebrate puppy raising and friendship. Wear your shirt with pride! We are looking forward to sharing this special day with all of you.

For more information, please check our the IWYPRSD website (in progress). We also have a Facebook event page you can sign up on.

Also, as Sam and I are huge fans of Kraft Dinner, the consumption of KD is strongly recommended as well ;)

Another Wildly Exciting Night in Res

2009-01-28T22:09:00.003-08:00

Me: Hmmm what tv show shall we watch..
Alison: JELLYFISH SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY!
Me: AND Paralyzed and Pregnant on TLC!

Score! The rest of the night was spent wrapped up in blankets while switching between those two shows and then America's Best Dance Crew 3. We basically rock at life.

Please kiss your puppies for me...I think I'm going through extreme dog withdrawal, judging by how loudly I screamed the other day when I saw a guide dog from Leader Dogs.

Mini Tip of the Day: Don't touch box jellyfish. It'll probably kill you.

Tip of the Day

2009-01-19T21:47:00.002-08:00

Don't skip class because karma will most definitely get you back.

Last night we had a big snowstorm, followed by rain and very cold temperatures so today the road conditions were awful- half slush, half ice all covered in snow, so the police were warning people to stay off the roads. As such, the university closed until 11:30 am. Guess what time my classes start? 11:30 am. I didn't mind going to my Animal Behaviour class because it's my favourite, but seeing as how it was disgusting outside and no one had really shown up to class anyways, I decided to skip my other class of the day because I hate it.

BAD IDEA. My computer (whose name is Helga) completely flipped out when I got back; none of my programs were responding and everything kept freezing. So I restarted my computer about twenty times and uninstalled and reinstalled MSN which seemed to be causing the most trouble. Nothing. Worked. I ran a scan every time I restarted and checked some nerd forums for solutions and basically nothing happened until the thirtieth time I restarted/scanned about eleven hours later. So that was a fantastic way to spend my day. (Disclaimer: I don't actually believe that the fact that I skipped one class caused my computer to implode and fake death, but seriously- thanks for the heart attack, Helga!)

I guess according to this post it wouldn't be wise to skip class again tomorrow, but my friends and I are all doing it to watch the inauguration. In my defense, Helga, it is a historical event that is way more important than one silly Lit class. If I don't blog again for awhile, cross your fingers it's not because my computer hates my life and tried to teach me a lesson.

Matching Day

2009-01-12T22:16:00.008-08:00

Also known as "How I Remain a PR Nerd Despite Not Having a Puppy"

Sam and I realized a while ago that we have the same shirt from Dogguides and so we decided to wear it on the same day. I had forgotten mine at home last semester, so this time I made sure to bring it back to school with me and today we had Matching Day!
Here I am in my awesome shirt! Lesson of the day: It is ridiculously hard to take pictures of yourself in a mirror. I have about thirty outtakes, and this one is where I just got frustrated with everything and decided to make faces at the camera instead: It's hard to go from being involved with the program and having a puppy to only hearing of events and other peoples' puppies, so when I get lonely from being puppyless I look at my doggies and they never fail to make me smile.Not only do they represent guide dogs, they are very special to me because of who they came from. The GDB puppy was a present from Sam while she was in San Rafael doing her internship and the puppy on the right is a "Fielder" from Amy B that has a handmade HED jacket which Amy G helped with, so seeing them reminds me of some of my favourite people in the world. (And yes, they live on my textbooks. Actually, all my other textbooks had to move to other places so GDB puppy and Fielder could have a cozy, educational home).
When I was removing the tag from the GDB puppy, I realized it said Douglas and I actually laughed out loud thinking of Emily's Douglas. (Notice my animal behaviour textbook chilling in the background...best course EVER)So cute! I love the little logo and how it says "Working DO NOT PET" on the jacket. Speaking of which, I got a Christmas e-mail from Fielder's handler and he is doing very well! Good to know 'my' baby is loved and working away happily.

Plan B

2009-01-03T21:49:00.013-08:00

It seems to be Sam's and my tradition to have crazy outings - whether it's being with a million dogs and people, going on 3 hour long treks without any planned destination, spending a day city hopping or plans going awry, we always manage to have a spectacularly epic and hilarious time.

On New Year's day, Bea and I were very excited to start off 2009 by having lunch/dinner (linner?) with Sam and Friday at the Rainforest Cafe. However, that plan was dashed when we were not allowed in with the dogs despite talking to two different people. Although I understand we are not legally allowed access, it frustrates me when people don't get that in order for these working dogs to behave as exceptionally well as they do, they need to learn how to behave this way through lots of practice as puppies. We even explained about the whole PIT deal and the restaurant was almost completely empty with no one waiting to be seated either. In the end, we left and although I used to love the Rainforest Cafe, I don't intend on going back.

Being good puppies on the escalator leaving the mall- Friday has very good timing on when to shake!

Thankfully, we moved on to Plan B and headed on downtown where we did the scramble crossing outside the Eaton's Centre (twice! So we could take pictures of each other- yes we are dorks but at least we are awesome!) and took pictures down the street from the Canon Theatre, where I first saw Wicked. Sorry, it's a little far away but it's the vertical flashy sign kind of to the left of the green circle Parking sign.

We then went to the Pickle Barrel where we were almost refused again, but we asked to speak to the manager at the main entrance. Thankfully when we got to the main entrance we didn't have to speak to anyone and were seated after a short wait. The puppies passed out with Bea using Friday as a pillow.

Downtown with a polar bear!Note to self- black dogs and dark jackets are not a good combination for picture taking.

We subwayed back uptown to pick up Sam's car and drove to our friend Dee's house. It was so much fun visiting with her and the puppies had quite the blast as well.
This 'picture' is for Lindsey - um, I promise this is O'Connor Street, but my camera had a fail of epic proportions in regards to capturing the actual street sign. Someday we'll go back and take a real picture of it!

After that we headed back to my house for a sleepover. As usual we had a fun time watching How I Met Your Mother (Neil Patrick Harris love!!), clips of Wicked on YouTube and listened to Rent music. (Again, we embrace the dorkitude).
The most exciting parts were definitely planning out our roadtrips to New York to see Wicked on Broadway and either Schenectady or Rochester to catch Rent on tour with Anthony Rapp (my other love of life) and Adam Pascal. Any New Yorkers and of course any other bloggers are more than welcome to join us! We'll be trying our best to bring Friday and Fiyero along. (Fiyero of course as he is named for the character in Wicked and Friday we want to bring to eat at-what else? a TGI Friday's). After all that, I was a true dork and showed Sam the Idina Menzel forums I stalk regularly because I love her so, and in our manicness,we decided Sam should start her own boards! I'm on it already so I think all of you should join as well.

Then I decided to give Bea a little trim as her fur was getting long enough to obstruct her eyesight. Well I trimmed a little off the front ....then a little off the middle of the pouf...and of course had to match the back. All in all, I don't think it looks too bad but Sam spent a lot of time laughing at it. In my defense, it's not any worse than anything Amy ever did to her first poodle Clifford.
Also we found a pink sweater in the bag of things Amy brought over for Bea so we decided to put that on the dogs. Bea ran around with it alright, but when I put it on Friday she looked at me with very big sad eyes. Being a blogger, I had to take a picture before taking the pink flowery torture device off.

Then some random very cute pictures of Friday:
And off to sleep. The dogs had a nice little play before Sam left the next morning and then Bea passed out for most of the rest of the day. This was definitely one of my very favourite days of my break, and I can't wait until the summer for more adventuretimes with Sam!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T23:42:00.001-08:00

Bea and I wish you a very Happy (and poodley) 2009!

Marley and Me

2008-12-28T21:16:00.004-08:00

Today was an exciting day as Bea and I had plans to see Marley and Me with Sam and the ever adorable Friday and Amy and her puppysittee Ivory. (Bea felt very special as the only non-cross ;))

Before we left, I was on the computer when I looked over and saw this:

The silly poodle had dragged her towel and puppy out into the hallway so she could keep an eye on both me and my sister while snuggling with her favourite fuzztoy. Soon after, we left for the mall where we met up with everyone. We walked around and visited PJ's pet store where we posed the three puppies in front of a penguin display.Amy had to "hurry up" :P so we found a washroom and after that, just sat around and chatted for awhile while the puppies took a mini-nap. Friday and Beasley were absolutely adorable and curled up together, causing us to turn into a little show as shoppers stopped to admire our beautiful (if I do say so myself) puppies.Pretty Ivory! If you kind of squint and imagine her a little darker, I thought she looked a little like Chappelle, but maybe that's just me. Yay, finally reunited with Amy at last. I don't think I've seen her since last Christmas!

After a bit of a search for the movie theatre (I'm sorry Sam and Amy that I am stupid and can't read floor plans) we made it there in time despite standing in a long line for tickets while everyone asked us if we were going to see Marley and Me.

So, my opinion of the movie: Casting was not the most inspired choice, especially not Owen Wilson. I think it would've been better with unknown actors but Jennifer Aniston did a pretty good job. The book was followed relatively well considering movies are usually a departure on the book. The movie itself was not Oscar-worthy or anything, but as a 'dog person', I really enjoyed it. I am not one to cry at movies, but I definitely teared up during some parts of this one and completely lost it for the last half hour and bawled my eyes out. In particular, John's speech near the end was a killer and the kid who played Patrick-ugh...more tears. Afterwards I had a good snuggle with Bea and the top of her head got all wet from my tears but hey, that's one of the perks of poodle fur-soft and perfect for tear drying. It's definitely a movie that will be enjoyed by animal lovers but make sure to bring lots of tissues, it's a huge tearjerker.

We had a great time catching up with Amy and Sam and seeing Ivory and Friday again- hopefully we'll see them again soon before I have to leave for school!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T23:16:00.003-08:00

(Excuse the fake Santa hat, I have no clue where mine went :P )

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!! We hope you enjoy a fantastic day with family and friends and are blessed with happiness and lots of puppy kisses!

Surprise Visit

2008-12-22T18:56:00.006-08:00

On Thursday night, Sam asked if I was busy the next day. Thankfully I was not, so we got to see Sam and meet FRIDAY!!! Seriously guys, I know she looks adorable and tiny in pictures- she is even MORE adorable and TINIER in person!!! I wanted to stick her in my bag and take her home with me but that wouldn't have gone over well with Sam.

We met up at the Eaton's Centre (surprise, surprise :P) after a few mishaps. I called what I thought was Sam's cell three times and reached three different people and then finally got Sam. We brought the pups over to the christmas tree as per tradition and uh... attempted to take pictures. I got one good one of Bea but when we tried for both pups, it didn't really work out. It was hilarious though, especially when some woman offered to take a picture of the four of us and she said it was really nice but then I checked it and we were all blurry. Oh well, it was very nice of her to offer anyways.

Friday and Bea were troopers but are both still quite young, so they were pooped shortly after lunch. We took a little nap break where Friday tried to curl up with Bea but Bea moved away before either Sam or I could snap a picture. She eventually got pretty close though!

We trekked through the mall for awhile, but ended up being bored so we visited Missy who is puppysitting Kongo, Amy's other dog. When Bea first came, she spent a lot of time wandering around looking for Kongo, so I thought it would be a nice reunion for the two of them. Don't you know it, Bea sniffs Kongo once and runs off to play with Etta who is closer to her in age and size.We stayed for a little bit, and then Sam had to catch her train home. Lucky us, there was a snow storm that day so we ran through the wind and icy snow to the train station. After Sam left, we ran to the subway station and caught our train as well. Thanks to a malfunctioning signal light, the snowstorm and a bus that took 45 minutes to get to my station, what should've been a one hour trip home turned into two and a half house! Grrr but Bea was a little troooper and slept the whole time so she got some peanut butter and kibble when we got home. Needless to say, she then passed out for a very long time.

Despite all the transit issues, we had a very fun time seeing Sam again after four months of being apart and can't wait to visit her and Friday again tomorrow!

Home!

2008-12-16T21:18:00.003-08:00

I am finally home! After four months away, it feels very very good to be back home and eating homecooked meals.

My parents brought Bea to meet me at the airport and she looks so cute in her little green jacket! When I got home, Pepper was waiting and he got a nice long bellyrub. So far we have been having a great time together. It's awesome to finally have a leash in hand again and a furry little buddy to follow me around everywhere.

Bea was a little shy the first day but has since warmed up and enjoys prancing around the house, tail going a mile a minute. She is still puppyish at four and a half months and walks around with stompy paws which I absolutely love. She also enjoys stomping on her squeaky toy with those massive feet ;) The little trooper is very good at self-entertainment by throwing her own toys and tripping after them. She makes me laugh every day as she's still a tad uncoordinated and often slides right into her toys and froglegs before scrambling up to pounce on them.

Pepper enjoys lounging around all day and can be found staring out windows or roaming around the house. He's friendly and loves to be petted- my favourite kind of cat!

I am so happy to be around animals again, and I'll try to post lots to make up for the past four months of non-puppy related posts ;) We should be getting in some trips to see Sam and Friday, and I absolutely cannot wait! Amy, where ever you are, we miss you lots and hope you're enjoying your trip (and this post- now you can stop bugging me to post :P)!!

Christmas Break? Yes Please!

2008-12-13T05:48:00.004-08:00

I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just finished writing my developmental psych exam and I am halfway done my second year of university!! YAY!! I am so excited for the rest of today- going out with all my friends who are still here and then my flight for home leaves tonight at 8:30!! So I will be back home tonight and I will get to snuggle with none other than...

BEA!

And the countdown begins... 13 hours til puppy breath!!!

34 Things I've Done

2008-12-08T13:56:00.006-08:00

Good idea Kelsey! It's always fun to learn more about the people at the end of the leash ;)

Things I've Done. To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog- duh

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band- alto sax!

4. Visited Hawaii- one day...

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland- one of the best days ever! Met Jenny and Joanna :)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo- alone in my room I have ;)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight- just a couple weeks ago!

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort- no but i've built a snow throne!

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen an eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- several times...yay school field trips!

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - Truman's been there too!

39. Gone rock climbing- only at the indoor places though

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa- I WISH! Some day hopefully

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class- red belt in tae kwon do!

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen- does helping at a food bank count?

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- Girl Guide cookies!

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- I actually still have a ton

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square- hopefully one day!!

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper- I swear I'm not strangling Petey in that picture! He was just being a tad uncooperative :P

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Tip of the Day

2008-12-05T09:27:00.002-08:00

(Here you go Sam and Amber...)

When opening a heavy door, make sure you open it ALL THE WAY or at least enough for you to fit through with your ginormous backpack filled with textbooks and laptop or you just might find yourself STUCK IN A DOOR flailing around trying to get unstuck. Only to make it through and find an RA on the other side staring at you like you're an idiot and trying not to laugh....

One exam down, two to go! Eight days til home where a cuddly little puppy will already be waiting for me! Woohoo :)

A Message Brought to You By Camry

2008-11-25T20:29:00.004-08:00

Camry says:
aqwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwa

Joanna and Camry says:
That was Camry

Joanna and Camry says:
She put her face on my keyboard, hahaha.

Joanna and Camry says:
I couldn't get her off of it, I had to kinda pick up her face to get it off the keyboard, lol.

Joanna and Camry says:
She was like "ooooh, it's NATALIE!!! Lemme talk, mom, lemme talk!!!!!"

Joanna and Camry says:
She wanted to tell you ALL about her day.

This actually made me laugh for about fifteen minutes straight. Thanks for brightening up my day Cam!

I think the pre-finals stress is making me manic. This should be an interesting two weeks...

On the bright side, only 17 days until I have a leash in my hand again! Which means only 17 days until you all find out which blog dog I get to run away with ;) Exciting!

Tip of the Day

2008-11-05T16:03:00.003-08:00

Don't go on random sketchy sites in search of a link to watch movies online or you may end up with a trojan on your laptop resulting in said laptop going through forty dollars worth of cleanup at the university's help desk. Not to mention this cleanup takes minimum two days, which as any university student on the Blackboard Learning System (where profs post assignments, readings and grades online) knows basically means death.

p.s. Flicka cannot be found anywhere on the whole entire Internet. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

To Days of Inspiration...

2008-10-31T19:36:00.003-07:00

Five points to anyone who can guess what song my title came from!

I was at the poster sale today and was SO happy when I found this poster!!!!!!! Rent is one of my all time favourite musicals and movies, not to mention it has the amazing Idina Menzel in it.

The poster is currently hanging up beside my desk right now and I love it :)

Heading to the States!!

2008-10-28T19:11:00.002-07:00

This year, my friends and I joined our school's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. One of our friends joined last year and had the time of his life on the annual Reading Week trip build. It's a week long build where you build during the day and at night have free time to explore the culture and attractions of the place.

I've always wanted to work with Habitat, and this chance seemed too perfect to pass up. We applied and a few days ago, we found out that we all got a spot on this year's build!!!! It was orignially planned for New Orleans, which would've been awesome because we would've been there over Mardi Gras. Unfortunately, we were told we couldn't take 150 people there on this build. Fortunately, we got another build site, so in February, we will be off to Biloxi, Mississippi!!!

I am beyond excited for this trip and can't wait for Reading Week to come!!!

Dorky Post Ahead

2008-10-14T21:32:00.007-07:00

For the first time in my life I was eligible to vote and I did! Although no one clapped for me like they did for Amy...

Still totally worth it though ;) I was never one to be very involved in politics but a few years ago I realized I was missing out on a huge piece of the world by not being educated on what the government was doing when they control so much of my life and the world around me. Also, I realized if I were to go into journalism I really needed to understand and know what was going on in our own government. So I started reading all the boring articles I used to skip in the newspaper, and sometimes I still do because seriously- some of them are narcolepsy-inducing. But I finally had a handle on what was going on in Ottawa and this year, I made an informed voting decision and although I didn't expect it, it felt really good to know I made a difference. Not to mention it felt REALLY good when the person I voted for won in my riding ;)

Also? Don't want to get too in depth into politics here, as this blog is supposed to be about adorable puppies and working dogs, but I just want to put it out there that I am NOT impressed with another Conservative minority government. And way to go Ontario- a traditional Liberal stronghold for the past decade and a half unexpectedly giving the Conservatives 51 seats? Way to vote for a party that espouses outdated ideology, has a terrible platform, and oh yeah- has not cared about you until they realized they kinda needed you to win. At least it's not a Conservative majority government. And for the record, Mr. Harper? Ordinary Canadian citizens DO care about the arts.

But anyways, there's my dorky PSA for everyone- get out there and VOTE. Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a democratic society. We have the right to pick who we want to govern and represent us. Don't take it for granted. Gratuitous cute puppy picture! (aka please still love me despite random boring political post)

p.s. Fun fact!: The fire alarm went off last night at 4 a.m. Do you know what it's like outside at 4 a.m. in October? The answer would be very, very cold.

Tip of the Day

2008-10-11T19:16:00.006-07:00

When your laundry stubbornly remains wet after two cycles through the dryer, instead of having a spazztic ragefest, try calming down by looking at the pretty leaves outside your window with your best friends....

And if your friends have all deserted you to go home for Thanksgiving since they don't live three provinces away like you do, look at pictures from yesterday and pretend this is what you're doing:

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadian bloggers! Enjoy the long weekend and hug all your puppies for me :)

Surprise! Two Months in Advance...

2008-10-02T21:23:00.002-07:00

This blog is being ridiculously boring, and I apologize...school is taking over my life and I hope to be able to post some very overdue trip posts soon! But for now....

I finalized my puppy plans for CHRISTMAS today! I will be puppysitting a little cutie over my entire Christmas break, and I could not be happier!

I am going to leave you guessing until shortly before December 15 (or until I get permission from the family to post which dog it is) ...but rest assured it is a blog dog you will probably all recognize! :)

I Love Your Blog

2008-09-25T12:22:00.004-07:00

Thanks so much for the award Mekalea!! Now my turn...

These are all blogs I've followed since...well, forever and I can't imagine not checking them obsessively. Without blogging, I never would have known these people even existed and I am lucky enough to be able to count some of these people amongst my closest and best friends, so cheers to blogging and what it can do for cross-country friendships :)

Sam and Dallas and soon-to-be puppy

Joanna and Camry

Jenny and Truman

Amber and Kimora

Kelsey, Emily, Burgess and Tahoe (ohh, cheating! It's a two in one!)

Maddie and Tyanna

Lisa and Ellie

Emily and Douglas

Rules:

1.) The winner can put the logo on their blog

2.) Link to the person you received your award from

3.) Nominate seven other blogs and link to them

4.) leave a message on the blogs you've nominated

Also, I wish this award allowed more than seven links, because really? I love ALL your blogs and mostly, I love you all!!!! (Creepy...)

WORST TIMING EVER

2008-09-03T19:50:00.002-07:00

Europe trip posts coming soon- so exhausted after being a leader for frosh week but I just had to vent.

Idina Menzel just posted her Fall tour list and she will be in TORONTO in NOVEMBER.

Where will I be on November 7?

FREAKING HALIFAX.

And now I am going to go kill myself, bye.

I Am Le Back!!

2008-08-27T21:34:00.003-07:00

I got back yesterday afternoon after a longgg day of waiting around in airports and eleven hours on two different planes (the eight hour flight came complete with a screaming baby, yay!). The trip was AMAZING, one of my favourite trips ever I think. A long post with lots of pictures is coming soon but I have to get to bed now because I have an early 7:20 am flight tomorrow to head back to school.

I hope to have the post up within a few days, and there will be a fun new series I will be starting up with this vacation post so check back soon!

For now, I leave you with a few pictures of ubercute stray dogs in Athens...

I know, right? Leave it to a puppyraiser to go to Europe and take mostly pictures of dogs and kitties.

Goodbye for Two Weeks...

2008-08-11T22:31:00.005-07:00

I'm leaving tomorrow for a family vacation to Italy/Greece so I'll be gone til the 26th. SUPERpumped for the trip but am dying a little on the inside about the lack of blogs/Internet for two weeks.

Boss left yesterday and I miss him tons already. I was really bored so I took these pictures:

My favourite!! He just looks so....Boss-like!

Out come the Mickey Mouse ears.

Every doggie bandanna I could find.

Can you find Boss, Petey and Fielder? ;)

Also, I can't believe I am leaving during what will surely be two very busy weeks in the blogosphere puppywise....Best of luck in school to BOSS, Aspen, Spike, Suede, Desoto, Tyanna, Blitz, and Truman!! (I hope I didn't leave anyone out). It's been a pleasure watching all of you grow up, and while it's so sad to see you all go, I know you're on to bigger and better things and I can't wait to see where life takes you. Sam, Aims, Kelsey, Emily, Katlynn, Maddie, Kasey and Jenny- a big congratulations on raising amazing puppies and big hugs to all of you.

See you in two weeks!!!! Goodbye....or rather, Arrivederci amigos! (Yes I know that is half spanish but that is how I roll...)

Happy Birthday FIELDER!!!

2008-08-10T16:24:00.004-07:00

My little baby boy is TWO today!!!!! Can you believe it???

He grew up from a little fluff ball... to a bigger fluffball....

and eventually....into an even bigger fluffball!

And now he is all mature and working as someone's ears. I just got an email from his handler the other day and she says their bond is growing stronger and they are trusting each other more and more. Also, she said "I would lay down my life for him because he is my lifeline now". (!!!!) Totally made my day!!! I miss him so much but I know he is where he is meant to be and that makes me so happy. I love my little Fielderoonies!

I also want to wish his siblings Fawn, Fairy and Floyd a happy birthday as well!

Fawn and Fielder grew up together and were the best of friends early on. This is on pickup day and Fawn would not stop hugging Fielder! SO cute. She is now also an HED.

Fairy (L) and Fielder (R) also saw each other many times growing up. She is now a breeder dog living with her foster family. I hope to someday foster one of her puppies, although Sam is less than enthusiastic about that idea.

Me: Please steal me a puppy from Fairy's next litter.

Sam: No mini poodles! Get a real poodle! Or a Dallas puppy.

Me: Fielder WAS a real dog!

Sam: He was a cotton ball.

Me: A rather cute cotton ball.

Sam: Sure.

UPDATE! I just received an e-mail from Fielder's handler- I had replied to her last email saying I was so grateful that she keeps in touch and her e-mails make my day. She replied that having Fielder makes her life so much safer "so you make my day every day that I am with Fielder" and that she would give him a big birthday hug from me. Can I just say I LOVE Fielder's new mom??? I really could not be happier with where he ended up and I know I am beyond lucky that she chose to keep in touch this much. On that note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby boy, I KNOW you are having a good one! ;)

Toronto Island Puppy Trip!

2008-08-09T18:20:00.008-07:00

Today was possibly the most epic puppy trip I have ever been on. Definitely the most memorable by far. Missy's first time planning a POOP group trip to the Toronto Islands and what happens? Why, a torrential thunderstorm of course! Thankfully it didn't come til the end of the day when we were heading off the island. It had been drizzly and wet the entire day, but I didn't really notice because I was having such a good time. And then as we were leaving, the skies opened up, and I am not even kidding, torrential bullet-sized rain came down like there was no tomorrow. I, being a genius was in tshirt, jeans and flipflops and hadn't brought along either a sweater, jacket or umbrella. Go me. It was ridiculously epic swimming through the rain and puddles making sure Boss and I didn't drown while simultaneously running as fast as we could for cover.

Anyways, it was a smaller-than-usual but still good sized group at 15 puppies. Unfortunately, Sam and the Amys were not there today so I was dragging my feet a little this morning cause I was so sad they weren't going and I'd be the only kid. But then two other teenagers ended up going so I chatted with them. Also, I had forgotten a couple of my very favourite POOP group adults were going as well and of course I love Missy so I ended up having a fantastic day.

We had three ADS puppies,eleven DGC puppies and one pet! We were quite the spectacle especially with cute little puppy Wilco! Also there was a little mini poodle that reminded me of Fielder and made me miss him terribly. This group is just the Dogguides puppies, past and present!

Walking around the island, Karen and I spotted a tennis court and asked everyone if they wanted to let the dogs have an offleash play for awhile. Everyone agreed, so off they went.

A bunch of the dogs playing in the huge puddle. Rory the pet dog who decided to lay down in the puddle and get muddy and sopping wet. And then run at me, thus causing me to run backwards screaming while everyone else laughed at me.

Later on I had to steal Wilco for puppy cuddles! Presenting Mr Cutiefacepie:

Closeup!:

Look at those huge floppy ears! The teeny paws! The little nose! *sigh* I can smell the puppy breath.

Here is my favourite picture of Boss of the day! It's on the pier and you can see the CN Tower in the background!

Finally, after walking around and playing and working hard for five hours, we headed home and Kango, Kongo and Boss collapsed in a big wet pile of tired puppy.

Done!

2008-08-07T18:09:00.002-07:00

I think this was my least favourite of them all- it was just so long and while Stephenie Meyer's an excellent writer, her excessive descriptions have always bugged me and I think the length of this book just exacerbated it. (And Renesmee? SERIOUSLY?? No.) But having said that, I still enjoyed it of course- it was a Twilight book after all! A lot of people have said it was too predictable, but I didn't find that. I loved the ending and thought it was very fitting and the only way she could've ended it.

In other news, I am glad you all enjoyed the picture of the mail truck so much ;) Since that post, I think Canada Post has been stalking me!! I've been seeing trucks everywhere I go. Two of the more creepy coincidences was the huge mail truck that stayed in my driveway for several minutes after delivering Breaking Dawn and one that followed me down the street as Boss and I walked to the bus stop.

We have been running into some really weird people lately, I have no clue why. There have been an inordinate amount of people scared of dogs and such, especially at Eatons yesterday. I was very proud of Boss yesterday as he walked on a loose leash and perfect heel the WHOLE day!! Even on stairs he walked right beside me and on escalators there were no attempts to run ahead. Usually we walk at a very fast pace but yesterday he was content to practise walking slowly alongside me, and I heard many passerby comment on the how well-behaved he was. Go Boss! And the funniest thing ever, we walked by Lacoste where they had a huge basketball-sized tennis ball in their window and Boss just perked right up and cocked his head like "Can I have that for Christmas????" It was so cute and made me laugh. Something that didn't make me laugh though, was the man I was talking to in some store that asked "So do you do this for a living?" Umm do I LOOK old enough to be doing ANYTHING for a living mister??? I think not. But I guess I'd rather have that than my usual "How old are you sweetie, thirteen?"

And also, I had the weirdest conversation a couple of days ago about the puppies I've ever had in my life- including the time that family thought Fielder was a stuffed animal at the end of my leash (yes he was breathing). So this lady comes up to me, points at Boss and asks me why he is wearing "that". She doesn't mention what "that" means, so I assume the Halti and start explaining. She goes "No, but what is it FOR?" Confused, I explained the Halti another two times when she interrupts and says "No, I mean the green thing-is he just wearing it for fun?" and points to his JACKET. I was literally speechless before recovering and explaining that no, the jacket identifies him as a service dog in training. WOW. I mean, read the jacket, lady!

Lastly, an outtake of our Breaking Dawn pictures, just cause Boss looks like he is winking and it is hilariously cute:

Insert Interesting Title Here

2008-08-04T20:30:00.006-07:00

I cannot think of an interesting title for yet another post outlining my week so you guys will have to think creatively for this one! Shout out to Joanna though who suggested I name it either
"HELLO JOOAAAANNNNAAA!!" or "Vanessa Hudgens and the Jonas Brothers: What gives?" (The Teen Choice Awards are on and we are discussing our mutual hatred for all things HSM, Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron and the Jonas Brothers)

SO! This week...what did I do? I met up with Amy on her day home from camp and we got to catch up and gossip and all that good stuff. It was a pretty uneventful day except being approached by a crazy and possibly cracked out dude at lunch at the Eaton's Centre asking for money while holding his alchohol in a LCBO (Ontario's liquor store) bag. After we said we didn't have any, he started petting Kongo. Amy had to ask him to stop several times and he didn't until she got really mad and threatened to call security. He then gave us a "Look" and walked away (I was convinced he was going to knife Amy and was scared to death). Later we saw a bunch of security guards converge on the food court but he was gone by then.

Boss (L) and Kongo (R) outside the Disney Store at Eaton's. (Possible the two cutest dogs I've ever met in my entire life- they both have the big blocky heads and puppyish looks)Boss with a Hugo Boss sign!
Look who's alive! It's Amy! (Update your blog dude!!)

One day we went to lunch downtown with my friend and her cousin. Well while we were walking from the subway station to the Jack Astor's (a ten minute walk) it started absolutely pouring and we all got drenched. I was a little afraid that they wouldn't even let us in because poor Boss looked like a drowned rat with his jacket plastered to him but thankfully we were seated and served without a single problem. We actually never had the same server twice- everyone wanted to do our table cause Boss was so cute. Instead of a tablecloth they just have a big piece of paper covering the table that you can draw on, so I drew this! (Go ahead, make fun of the extent of my drawing abilities- stick people and generic animals. That dog is also how I draw cats, lions, tigers, etc)

We have out of town friends here for the next couple of weeks and their daughter is actually going to boarding school near Toronto next year so we have been to three different malls in the past five days doing a lot of school clothes shopping and such. He spent about half the time with a Halti and half without- most of the time he's as good a heeler out of the Halti as he is in, but I put it on anyways in the name of training. He spent a lot of time looking bored like this:

And this (in the car):

And this (also in the car..the bear is actually an air freshener thing and sometimes Boss nudges it with his nose when he's bored):

Boss has been a real trooper since we have spent many many hours walking this past week and while I have been very happy with all my purchases, Boss got nothing. Poor baby...but at one of the malls we ran into another foster puppy- Capri. She was supercute and we hung out with them for a while.

Boo, I don't know why the picture turned out so blurry but here is Capri (L) sniffing Boss (R).

So that has been our week. Besides that I have been listening to Wicked and Idina Menzel (still 24/7!! Three weeks later and still not sick of it...) And my mom finally said if I could find someone to go to Detroit with me I could go to Idina's concert on Aug 7 but none of my friends like her (BOO!!!) so I can't. GRRR!

But to end on a happy note...without further ado, a picture of one of our MAIL TRUCKS!!

Confuzzled

2008-08-03T19:07:00.003-07:00

I actually have a bit of Boss stuff to write about but right now I need to vent so that will have to wait til later ;)

Tonight my parents said that they would like to get a family pet (most likely a mini poodle). We haven't had a dog before I started raising so it would be our first dog. After they announced that, I had a tad of a psycho spazzout on them and started lecturing about midnight pees, food/vet/grooming costs, raising to be an obedient dog, take it to socialization/obedience classes and all that good stuff. This little lecture lasted all through dinner and afterwards they were just like "umm then maybe we won't get one.."

And now I feel really bad because I know I did the right thing by bringing up all that stuff but the way I did it made them feel like they wouldn't be able to raise a puppy. Which completely was not the way I meant it because I know they would be completely committed and love it to death, it's just that I wanted to make sure they knew what they were getting themselves into. (Geez isn't this lecture usually given by the parent??) I really would like them to have a dog because I've seen the difference in them between having one and not having one- they are a lot happier and less stressed and get more exercise....but again, I just can't let go of my worry of their actually raising a puppy.

What makes me feel even worse is that I know a huge part of my resistance to their plan is because I feel like puppyraising is MY thing and I won't be around to raise it/be in its life so to me it won't even feel like a family pet- it'll just feel like my parent and sister's dog. Which is completely selfish but there you go. Ugh, what a pickle. I want my parents to be happy and I know a dog will make them happy and I DO want them to get a puppy yet I want to be a control freak and raise the dog myself which is not possible because I will be away at university.

Le sigh. Anyways, thanks for listening and back to regularly scheduled puppy cuteness next post.

An Exciting Review of My Week!

2008-07-25T23:15:00.004-07:00

I know, just what you've all been waiting for!

So on Saturday Amy came and picked up Aspen in spite of my threatening to run away to California. I was puppyless for only a few days though as I met up with Sam and Boss on Tuesday at Eatons. After that we hit up the ROM where we had fun dressing Boss up as I had dressed up Aspen. I believe Sam has the pictures of Bat-Boss and Ladybug-Boss on her blog, but here's adorable DinoBoss! After that, we came home, tried to find a geocache (no success unfortunately), and watched lots of Wicked videos on Youtube and then several episodes of our favourite show, How I Met Your Mother! Boss, meanwhile, was snoozing away on a pillow/cushion thing in a corner of my room.The next morning, after waking up to my sweet chicken alarm clock (it sounds like a crowing rooster!!) we headed to meet Crystal and her CVC Toby at Union and then Missy, Kanga and Kongo at the Science Centre. It was absolutely insane in there with a million and one camp kids running around and screaming. Missy and I ended up hiding in the soundproof tunnel for a while just to escape the noise. But the puppies were all very good at focusing on working.

I got to walk Kanga so I helped her write this entry for the comment box. (The blob is an outline of her pawprint...I didn't do a very good job haha)L-R Boss, Kongo, Kanga and Toby in front of my favourite exhibit - the big tree!! Since all our puppies were black I joked to Missy that we should tell people all the puppies are black and then when they turn yellow we know they're ready to be trained ;)Me and the K sibs (and some rando kids) on some space rover thing in the Mars exhibit!

I was sad to see Sam go after as we had yet another superfun sleepover, but I saw her again for a few minutes on Friday when she dropped Boss off. Yep, I have the Bossman again! For two weeks, while Sam is on her internship in California! Have fun Sam!! Last night I brought Boss with me and my friends to watch Mamma Mia. Neither Boss or I really liked it but the difference was that I didn't come home with half a sticky head.

And lastly, my newest obsession- WICKED and Idina Menzel. Ever since our trip to Buffalo to watch Wicked I've become re-obsessed and then a couple weeks ago I discovered Idina's (the original Broadway and London Elphaba, Maureen in Rent) music and that led to a Wicked/Idina playlist on my iTunes that has been on repeat 24/7 ever since. I am so very, very glad I have Sam and Jo and a couple other friends to blather on about this with because none of my other friends understand the awesomeness of it all. I think I would actually die if I got to meet Idina and I wanted to drive to Detroit (only six hours!) for her August 7 concert but my parents won't let me....and as of now she's scheduled to come to Toronto in October/November while I'm away at school! Grrrr! But anyways, check out her songs Brave and I Stand because they're seriously amazing.

Watching the World Go By <3

2008-07-20T13:20:00.004-07:00

Day at the ROM

2008-07-17T18:30:00.004-07:00

We've had some out of town guests visiting for the past week so a couple days ago, Aspen and I took them to the Royal Ontario Museum for some educational fun! (I know I'm a dork).

We wandered through the Darwin Exhibit first, and one of the workers suggest I dress Appy up, so this is how I passed a half hour:

Ladybug Aspen!

Dinosaur Aspen! Butterfly Aspen! (You can see she's starting to get a little um...tired of the dress-up games and entertaining the many people watching so I didn't even get to dress her up as a bat).

This is Aspen and I with two Galapagos tortoises! She wasn't very interested in them, although she sniffed the display like crazy at first. I named the boy tortoise Marvin but my friend who works in the exhibit says their names are actually Tank and Penelope.

We then hit up the dinosaur exhibit where Aspen was once again extremely unimpressed since these weren't bones she could chew on ;) Nevertheless, she posed for approximately a million pictures like a good girl.

Aspen with some of her new friends-doesn't she look absolutely enthralled??

This bear, although not really an exhibit is one of my favourite things to visit at the ROM just cause it's so cute.

Me and Aspen in front of one of the statues at Museum Station in the subway at the end of the day. Aspen was pretty well-behaved and was a fantastic ambassador for our school. I'm quite certain we were viewed as our own little travelling exhibit. We talked to many people, gave out cards and kisses (me with the former, Aspen with the latter) and generally had a really fun day out.

I am really enjoying having Aspen here, she is such a sweetie and very well behaved. Joanna, I may just take you up on your offer to run away to California before Amy comes back. Also, I completed the final road test for my driving license today and PASSED!! So I now have my full license and can drive wherever and whoever and whenever I want! Yippee!!

Worst Job Ever

2008-07-16T19:24:00.001-07:00

Trying to find a poo in the dark while wearing flipflops.

ByeBye Boss

2008-07-15T21:28:00.008-07:00

Sam came to pick le Bossinator up yesterday so I am back down to one labby running around the house. (Or more accurately- lazing around the house). Boss and Aspen really enjoyed their time together and spent most of it frolicking (read: leaving a path of destruction via tail swinging and bodychecking) around the house.

They were so good together, it was a pleasure having the both of them over. Plus they tired each other out much better than I could tire even just one of them out. Not to mention that they are both such b-e-a-uuuutiful puppies! Boss with his shiny shiny fur and big blocky head and puppyish look certainly garnered many comments on his "classic Lab" features on our outings. And Aspen- what a unique looking dog with her streaked fur, yellow eyes (telltale sign that she's actually a Twilight vampire dog-I'm hoping Edward will come looking for her ;)), nosehawk and the softest brown ears ever.

Though it was sad to see Boss go, I was very happy to hang out with Sam for a while and get to meet her puppysittee Pesto! Adorable little dude :) This is the only "good" picture I have of him as every time I pointed the camera in his direction, he came running. It's a bird...it's a plane...it's Super Pesto!!!

Goodbye for now Bossman , and hope to see you again soon!!!

Evil Dead: The Musical!

2008-07-11T19:26:00.005-07:00

Yesterday Boss and I joined seven of my friends in going downtown and watching one of the musicals playing there right now-Evil Dead. (Based on the movies if anyone has seen them before).I'd gone a few weeks ago when my friend was up visiting and I loved it so much I dragged my friends to another show. It's a musical about five college students that break into a cabin to stay in for spring break and accidentally unleash evil spirits and turn into demons. It is absolutely hilarious!

I was very proud of Boss during the show- he got restless a few times but settled down quickly everytime. Most of all I was proud of him because he didn't make a peep or startle at the rifle shots, strobe lights, screaming, door banging, loud music, people "dying" and the audience cheering.

Having a quick cuddle during intermission. Right after this was taken he licked my whole face, blech ;)Boss being a good boy on the train on the way home...very good tuck-in!

As for our special guest- it is none other than the gorgeous little Miss Aspen! Amy's off camping and causing trouble for a bit so I have Aspy for the next week and a half! She is such a sweetie and just calling her name will get her tail and whole butt wagging a mile a minute. She and Boss adore each other, although we had a few humping issues in the beginning. But Aspen put Boss in his place and that was that. This morning they ran around the backyard together for a few hours and then we went to the mall. (I had my friend come with me and she walked Aspen).

As you can see they were a tad tired and took to napping whenever me and my friend stopped to browse. They were both very well-behaved although the Haltis had to make an appearance every once in a while. We brought them to the Disney Store, as Sam and I usually do and all the employees rushed us going "Boss!!!! It's BOSS!!!!!!" He's a real hit in there for sure. Aspen was also introduced and they fawned over her as well.

When we got home the two of them crashed, revived a few minutes for dinner and playing and are now asleep for the night. It's so much fun having the two of them around and they are definitely having fun with each other as well.

This and That

2008-07-09T19:35:00.006-07:00

This week has been pretty awesome so far, especially since I have the Bossinator with me.

On Monday, some friends of mine from school came to Toronto to visit. They were staying with our other friend so Boss and I went to dinner with them. Last time I had been to this restaurant with Fielder, they were a little mean so I decided to call ahead just in case. I was talking to the person and said I would have a service dog in training with me, and she goes "What?? You're going to have a diabetic?" Umm....no.

Today Boss and I went over to Missy's to hang out and boy did Boss ever get tired out. She currently has both Kanga (her own foster puppy) and AmyB's Kongo while Amy's away at camp. (Yes they are siblings). Despite the extreme heat wave Toronto's going through at the moment the three puppies ran up and down the backyard until they pooped themselves out at which point they each chose a bone and sat with them quietly in the shade. This is the best picture I could get of the three of them. L-R Kongo, Boss, Kanga

The two pretty siblings :) And lastly, for Sam- Kongo randomly puked and it just so happened that Kanga's tail was at the edge of the puddle- so that is a picture of Kongo's puke on her tail.

Tomorrow I have an interview at a vet clinic for a position as a vet assistant, so wish me luck!! Also, look for a special post on Friday about our exciting adventure on Thursday and a new guest in the house!

Happy Birthday Boss!

2008-07-04T20:02:00.004-07:00

Today is Boss's first birthday!! We didn't do anything special, but he got lots of extra lovin'. We played lots of ball, went on an extralong walk and of course he got treats.

Handsome boy :)

We didn't have a party hat at home, so I decided to make him as colourful as possible! I think a bandanna and two leis should be the new PIT uniform.

For his birthday he got a peanut butter treat sandwich from meand a bone from Sam! He quite thoroughly enjoyed both treats, licking the floor for a long time after :)

Also, in response to comments in my last post, here is the link to the cities the touring company of Wicked are visiting this year. (They also have shows on Broadway and in Chicago, LA, London, Tokyo, Stuttgart and Melbourne!) I strongly recommend you to go see it if you can, I guarantee you won't regret it! And I didn't know all your mail trucks were that size!! They're adorable! I shall try to get a picture of one of ours sometime.

Just You And I Defying Gravity

2008-07-03T20:31:00.007-07:00

Today definitely makes it into this summer's Top 10 Best Days Ever.

Usually when my alarm goes off early I try to sneak in as many extra minutes of sleep possible, but today I ran out of bed because today was the day Sam and I were going to go to Buffalo to see WICKED!!!!!!
"Welcome to New York- The Empire State" (Dear American readers, why is NY called the Empire State??)

Last week Sam surprised me with a ticket to today's matinee, so today I met up with her in Oakville and we drove about an hour and a half to Buffalo, NY! I don't think Sam and I ever run out of things to talk about- between discussing dogs, telling random hilarious stories and coming up with dog names (VOTE: Grimsby, aka Grimmy- I think it's adorable, Sam hates it) we talked the whole way there and back.

I can cross a life goal off my list now- eating at TGI Fridays! We don't have those in Canada and they always show commercials here which is completely unfair so now I can say I've eaten there. Next on my list is Applebee's and Sonic.
Outside the Shea's Performing Arts Centre :)

When we got to the theatre and went to our seats in the balcony, we found jackets draped over them and a couple told us their friends were in those seats. Confusedly, Sam and I found an usher who told us to go to the box office and tell them we had been given duplicate tickets. After waiting for a few minutes while they discussed the situation, they moved us up to the floor!! We were near the back but it was still a very good view of the stage. The show itself was AMAZING. I had seen it once before a couple years ago when it was here in Toronto but I don't think you could ever see this musical too many times. The singing, the humour, the acting- it was all excellent. I actually got chills during For Good and Defying Gravity because they were so good. I wish they would come back to Toronto so I could see it a million more times. Afterwards, we wandered around downtown Buffalo a bit where we saw:One of the ensemble members and the Fiyero understudy(dude in the black shirt)! Creeper picture courtesy of Sam.The cutest postal service trucks ever!! Look how tiny!!!For all the Twilight fans out there...EDWARD St! (Also for Amber's grandpuppy) After that we headed back home and made it to Oakville in just an hour and fifteen minutes! And as if the day were not awesome enough already, Sam gave me Boss for an indefinite amount of time so I went home leash in hand!!!Welcome back Bossinator!!! SAM- thank you times a SCRILLION for the Wicked ticket (in Joanna's words, "Best friend EVER right there!!!!") and the ride to and from Buffalo. Best. Day. EVER.

Fielder News!

2008-07-01T12:12:00.003-07:00

I received an email last night from Fielder's handler!! It was such a nice surprise. She said they are still working quite nicely together. They have been keeping very busy, just the way Fielder likes it. Among the many things they have been doing are going to presentations, their local Walk for Dogguides, and preparing for a TV presentation! She said she would try to get me copies of whatever pictures/ articles they are in.

She is absolutely the sweetest lady, and I was so proud to hear that my little poofball gets lots of compliments everywhere he goes on how quiet and well-behaved he is. She also included some examples of him alerting her to more fire alarms and such. It is so reassuring to get these emails, and I am so thankful that Fields ended up with someone who loves him so much and is willing to keep in touch. My little baby is indeed all grown up !

Look at that little puff of fur!! And now he is someones's ears :) Way to go Fieldypoo!

Graduation!

2008-06-28T13:19:00.003-07:00

On Thursday I had the pleasure to attend little Juneau's graduation as a Seizure Response Dogguide. Unfortunately, I had underestimated the time it took to get ready and didn't realize until I had settled in on the train that while the camera was in my bag, my lovely memory card remained plugged into my computer back home. So there aren't any pictures here but be sure to check out Sam's blog for some!

This was a huge night for our school- I think it was the first ceremony to have graduations from all four programs since SRD just recently became its own program separate from SSD. It was also a good night for our POOP group, and our sub-group the Poodles of Doom. Among the 17 grads were Zulu (AmyG's Zoom's sister) and Junie along with poodley Kyara! A large number of the POOP group came out to support those with grads and as usual, it was very good to see many friends I hadn't seen in a long time.

There were many speeches from the trainers, the grads, and the exec director of the school and most of them were pretty funny so I managed not to cry at this grad although it was touch and go for a while there with a few of the grads' speeches. Also, the song to the slideshow was Leann Rimes' Please Remember which reduced many people to tears. The meet and greet afterwards was pretty chaotic due to the sheer number of people but of course everyone had a great time meeting with their puppies and new handlers.

I spent the night at Sam's after a stop for delicious ice cream and got my fill of dogs. I always have fun at Sam's and that night was no exception as we watched House with Wylie and Dallas before sleeping. The next morning was rather interesting as we were awakened by the dogs' slurpy kisses and stepping on our faces. After another episode of House while cuddling with the puppies, we got up and had breakfast and then Sam dropped me off at the Go station.

It was a great grad and althouhgh I'm sad I don't have any pictures, it was fantastic to see Junie and the other dogs again, so happy with their new handlers, looking all grown up in their harnesses/jackets. And just for kicks, so this post isn't completely pictureless, the picture I made Sam's card out of ...

Sam, I know you put a LOT of hard work into raising and training Junie so a huge congratulations on her grad, and of course congrats to Juneau on being an awesome SRD! We wish you and your new handler the best of luck and a long, happy life and partnership together :)

Reunion with the Amys

2008-06-15T21:11:00.006-07:00

Last weekend, I finally got the chance to see the Amys again, both of whom I haven't seen since Fielder's grad in February. We had a pretty fun weekend planned- Saturday we went to Woofstock (North America's largest dog festival) and Sunday we attended Toronto's Walk for Autism in support of ADS.

Randomly inserting a picture of Kongo here because he is SO darn cute and always happy. I have decided I am going to steal him forever.

Woofstock was pretty fun, although I guess I would've been more interested had I actually had a dog to scope things out for. It was crazy busy and you could hardly move for the sea of dogs and people. Thankfully, most of the dogs were extremely well behaved and friendly. It was the perfect weekend for a heat wave to hit the city, with record temperatures of 44 degrees (that's 104 fahrenheit). So after a couple hours of sweating through the crowds (sounds gross, but was even grosser living it) we decided to hit up the Eaton's Centre for lunch where the dogs promptly passed out on the cool tiled floors. We stayed there and chatted for quite a while before braving the heat once again. The organizers had set up buckets every few metres for the dogs to stay hydrated, and there was a big public fountain and several kiddie pools set up for the dogs to wade in. We thought the dogs would appreciate them but apparently Ruby and Aspen don't like getting their princessy feet wet ;) Good ol Kongo was splashing around like a real lab though.
Me and Ruby!

Amy and Kongo!Amy and Aspen! The next day we set out early for downtown's City Hall where the walk would be taking place. It turned out to be another scorcher of a day so the Amys and I stayed back at the booth rather than taking the dogs on the walk. Although it wasn't for Dogguides, I really miss doing events so I enjoyed sitting there with the dogs and interacting with the people who came to the booth. (on the TTC) Spencer and Ruby being all cute with their touching paws!

Sadly, at the end of the day it was time for Amy to give Ruby back, but I hear she is already doing superbly in her new home so congrats Amy on raising Ruby and on her placement!! I'm glad I got to meet her before she left :)

Look at that face! Who wouldn't love her?

Again, after the walk we went to the Eaton's Centre to cool down before we hit Woofstock again, this time on a mission to get as many free samples as humanly possible for AmyB. We ended up with a HUGE sack of stuff and I looked ridiculous hauling it into the GO station. Like Santa on crack for puppies. Anyways, it was an uberfun weekend catching up with the Amys and seeing their puppies again! Unfortunately, short of a kidnapping scheme I doubt we'll get to see each other again for quite awhile (thanks for leaving for the entire summer AMY!) so it was a bittersweet weekend.

Amy after eating blue ice cream and looking like a little boy! But I wouldn't want to end my post with this so you all get....Another cute picture of Kongo! What a gorgeous little man he is!

Downtown Adventures Part 2!

2008-06-13T12:35:00.004-07:00

Well Sam and I have apparently developed a penchance for walking aimlessly downtown for hours at a time. We must be getting better at it too, because this time after walking for about five or six hours, our legs weren't about to fall off. On this adventure, we first met up with Missy and Kanga (Kongo's sister) since we hadn't seen them in several months. At first the puppies refused to pose nicely ...but that didn't stop us from taking pictures every two seconds so eventually they complied....

Kanga with her paw on Wylie's head- they both thought it was very comfy.

Missy had to leave after lunch but Sam and I trekked on. We hit up Chapters, where we found unusually large crowds and a massive lineup. We decided to be sneaky and went to the upper level to see what was going on. Turns out Rosie O'Donnell was there doing a signing of her new book, so we tried to take the puppies' picture with her from afar. It didn't really work, but she's supposed to be in the crowd of people at the top of the picture.

After that we wandered around downtown for several hours, somehow ending up in Corktown, a district I had never even heard of before. We mistakenly wandered past the humane society and paused for awhile to watch some handlers play with the dogs in their playground. We also found some cool stairs to take the puppies on, and they handled the grated/see-through stairs like champs.

We decided it was hometime then, and saw Sam, Wylie and Boss off at Union station. We've had a pretty good track record this summer- seeing each other once a week four weeks in a row! Hopefully we'll get to have another adventure soon to make up for the eight months during the school year we didn't get to see each other.

Walk for Dogguides

2008-06-02T14:07:00.006-07:00

This weekend I went up to Guelph to participate in their Walk for Dogguides and as an added bonus, got to hang out with Sam, Wylie and Boss the whole weekend!

I headed up Saturday afternoon and spent a fun evening with Sam and the dogs just chilling and watching Grey's and talking. We went to McDonalds to grab some food and the cashier was really nice, she asked if we needed help carrying our food since we had Wylie and Boss. In all the times I've had puppies with me at fast food places no one's ever asked me that so I thought that was nice.

I used to have a notebook I kept a list of my favourite dog names in, but it has recently gone MIA so we spent a lot of the weekend thinking up of new names -mostly ridiculous theme litters and names. I think the best theme we came up with was Stores you can see from a Guelph McDonalds, with the puppies names being La Senza, CIBC, Tim Hortons, Chapters and others I forget.

When it came to bedtime, I had to fight off some puppies for bedspace:

But that's one advantage to sleeping on the floor-having the puppies cuddle up with you overnight!

The next morning we got up quite early. Sam tried to wake me up but nothing was effective until Boss decided to lie down on my face. When I couldn't breathe anymore I decided it was maybe time to get moving. Since Sam and I were volunteering, we got to the walk early and helped set up and whatnot. We hadn't expected it would be so cold so instead of just wearing our Dogguides tshirts, we had to put them on over our tshirts and sweaters. Personally I also made sure Boss was leaning against me as much as possible. Fur=WARMTH. Also, I had to give an impromptu speech about fostering which went okay I think (slash hope).

This is the amazing posterboard that Sam made for the walk! Can you find Petey and Fielder?

During the walk I was put on station 2 with one of the Lions Club members and after everyone passed by coming back I was able to walk the last leg of the walk which was fun. Then it was time for prizes- and I won one! Most Unlikely Pair since I'm small and Boss is big!! That was a fun surprise. The best part was watching all the dogs for Best Trick- a cute little golden won it for shake a paw. Here's a picture of one of our former foster puppies showing off her perfect stay:

Afterwards, Sam, Wylie, Boss and I met up with two other foster families at a park where we walked for another hour and a half- lots of walking this weekend! We were quite the sight, five people each with a black lab of varying sizes (Tiny Wylie [sorry Sam!] to huge Quadry). That was fun to catch up with people I hadn't talked to in a very long time. Then we went back to Sam's house and lazed around in a semi-concious state watching House until it was time to catch my train. The dogs were too cute all lying around so I had to take a picture of course:

Dallas, Baloo, Wylie and Boss (Noel was upstairs). For five dogs they sure were a quiet bunch so maybe Sam's not as crazy as I thought taking on a billion dogs :P

I'm so glad I got to spend the whole weekend with Sam as we never get to see each other during the school year and that we had successful weekend of raising several thousand dollars for Dogguides!

In Which He Reminds Me of Other BlogDogs

2008-05-26T13:58:00.002-07:00

Lomax?

And also, I don't know why but I keep calling him Hobbs for no reason whatsoever.

p.s. Jenny in case you check your stats, that link is the reason why I was creeping through all your archives :P

Ravine Adventure

2008-05-23T19:25:00.003-07:00

Today I brought Boss over to my friend's house and the three of us went exploring down at the ravine. It was a gorgeous day and we spent two hours just wandering around on trails. Boss loved it, scurrying around taking in all the sights and smells.

We cut through the little neighbourhood park and Boss was scared of these stairs but after some coaxing he ran up them with no problems. We followed this trail at first which led to this dead end but at least we got a pretty picture out of it. The dirty river in which we wanted to see some wildlife but only saw ducks and a frog. We were hoping to see a beaver but couldn't find any dams.That little green splotch near the edge of the water is the cute little frog we found. On one of the trails we stumbled across this cool log bridge thing and Boss just bounded across like it wasn't even there, so I made him go back so we could take a picture :P

It was a great day minus the bugs that thought it would be a brilliant idea to fly into my mouth, yuck. Tomorrow we're off to the mall to buy a birthday present, so that should be something to do at least.

Finally!!

2008-05-21T21:42:00.003-07:00

For the first time in four months, I have a foster puppy again!! Only to babysit for a week, but still it has been a welcome change in the house. It's funny how having a dog again puts everyone in a better mood.

Without further ado, I'd like to introduce everyone to Boss! Sam and Wylie are off on a superfun adventure, and we'd like to wish them a safe flight and trip.

Boss and I didn't do much today, just hung out and got used to each other. We played in the backyard quite a bit and took a leisurely walk around the neighbourhood. I took him with me to pick my sister up from Pathfinders and he was a big hit with the moms while we were waiting. The janitor, upon passing him snoozing bellyup during the wait remarked "Wow at first I thought his jacket said Future Guard Dog....he wasn't doing a very good job at that!" No,but he IS a darn good future dogguide!!

Already I love Boss and I've decided I'm going to tell Sam he ran away so I can keep him. He makes me laugh all the time, especially when he runs up, tail wagging a mile a minute grinning a big huge doggie grin because he managed to stuff two tennis balls in his mouth and looks like a chipmunk.

He's made friends with my bird Skye and can often be seen lying in front of her cage watching her move around. The cutest thing is when he stands next to her cage and she walks over to look at him.

I have a semi-busy week planned for the two of us but thanks to the on and off rain we've been getting, some things might not work out, but I'll try my best to post regularly about the adventures we get up to!

Downtown Adventures

2008-05-15T12:10:00.005-07:00

Yesterday was one of the funnest days I've had in a while. I hadn't seen Sam since Fielder's graduation THREE MONTHS ago which I think is a record for how long we've gone without a visit. So needless to say I was very excited to spend the whole day wandering around downtown Toronto with Sam, Wylie and Boss yesterday.

After finishing a round of the Eaton's Centre within half an hour we stood there at a loss as to what else we could do. Being the very indecisive people we are (Jo, reminiscent of the day at Disneyland going 'What ride do you wanna go on?' 'I dunno, what ride do you wanna go on' :P), we ended up wandering around outside for awhile before Sam took out her GPS and we set out to find geocaches.

Let's just say we weren't very successful, although it was a lot of fun. We ended up walking to the SkyDome (recently redone by Rogers and renamed the Rogers Centre but I refuse to call it that):

the CN Tower (the little black specks would be the dogs):a park by the CBC building where the puppies took a break (I think Wylie's trying to tell me she doesn't want to be photographed):and finally, the Hockey Hall of Fame (again, Wylie with the sticky out tongue):

We then stopped for lunch, where Boss helped Sam with her banking.

Through the course of the day, we had several interesting conversations with people about the program and the puppies. All you puppy raisers know the "routine" Q&A we normally have, but today we managed to run into and have rather long conversations with people who had different questions. Amongst these were a couple from England who raised eight dogs for GDBA (my personal favourite of the day), a lady who wanted to leave her estate to Dogguides, some very enthusiastic Disney store employees ("Feel free to come back whenever you want!!! The puppies are more than welcome here!" :)) and two friends, one who fell in love with Wylie and the other who was insistent that Boss was going to attack him (while the big goof was lying bellyup for a quick snooze).

We finished off the day with a quick visit to Dee's to see West, Wylie's brother. It was quite fun and the three puppies had tons of fun chasing each other around the backyard.

And lastly, a cute one of winking Wylie:

At the end of the day, I was exhausted ( since I woke up at the early, early hour of 9), and we had walked for 6 hours all around downtown although I couldn't have had a better time talking and laughing with Sam. Yay for awesome reunions!

Science Centre Adventures!

2008-05-06T12:56:00.006-07:00

December 31, 2007 (Yes, I know....I am a horrible blogger)

What better way to end the year than a Samysnat get-together at one of the coolest places ever? Not only is the Ontario Science Centre an interesting place for humans, it has more than enough stimulation and encounters for not-so-little puppies in training. It was a particularly nice trip because all four of us had puppies that had come home for the holidays- Juneau, Cliff, Zoom and Fielder grew up together and it was nice to have them together once again.

We went through all the exhibits, including my favourite, the Sports Hall, and there were many photo opportunities we took advantage of:
Sam: I hope I'm doing this right!
Me: Well as long as her future handler's not an expert in ancient mayan writing, I think you're good.

All the pups in front of my favourite exhibit-a really old tree!

Sam and Amy working on lacing shoelaces with altered vision.

The giant with the two tiny dogs.

Look at Junie's ADORABLE feathery tail!

Fielder and I :)

Sam, me and AmyB

Cliff the exhibitionist!

Sam and Junes Smooshyface Hobbes

Fielder and Junie on the stairs outside

And finally, at the end of a long but very enjoyable day of walking around with our best friends and being exposed to new situations, Fielder passed out....

As every puppy raiser knows, a tired puppy is a good puppy!

Update from the Airport

2008-04-27T12:34:00.002-07:00

So res closed at noon...and my flight isn't until seven. I've been sitting here for three hours and have another two and a half to go. Good times. I got here to early the check-in counter isn't even opened yet.

Hey! A GDB guide just walked past! MBL, so handsome and happy :) Lots of tail waggage going on there. I absolutely love seeing working teams out and about, it really serves as a reminder of what the goal of puppy-raising is. And of course, it is always heartwarming to see the dogs so happy in harness and with their handlers.

Not much to report on now....happy to be done with school (yay for four-month summers!!) and going back home to old friends, PUPPIES, and most of all, homecooked meals. Caf food gets old fast, especially when you eat it every day.

Here's a story my friend just told me: Her mom's cleaning out her brother's closet and pulled out two things, went to her and said "Here's your underwear." Wondering why her underwear would be in her brother's closet, she took a closer look and determined that they were in fact her old swimming caps.

That is all for now....hometime soon!!!

Shortest Post Ever Updated

2008-04-24T12:03:00.002-07:00

Check out this story, I thought it was pretty neat. And can someone tell me which school the guide dog's from?

Update: Thanks to Anna for pointing out that the guide dog mentioned in this story is in fact a GDB graduate, and also the mom of Lindsey's O'Connor! What a small world...

This Blog Will Soon Be Interesting Again, I Promise

2008-04-23T09:16:00.004-07:00

Soontimes! I'm done finals on Saturday and head home Sunday night, woohoo! Hopefully I'll be able to start puppysitting soon and have time to write those Fielder posts I've been putting off for almost six months.

I can't believe my first year of university is almost over! I'm so pumped to go back home, but really, how can you want to leave school when you're a five minute walk away from this...

Throw in five best friends...And I can't wait to come back in the fall...

I'm Not Dead!

2008-03-19T14:30:00.002-07:00

I'm sorry my blog has been so boring lately- school's been crazy busy and there's not much dog news.

I heard from Fielder's partner a couple more times, and he's doing very well. They're bonding extremely quickly and he's being a good little worker.

I still have several posts to write up from months ago- when Fielder came home for Christmas we went on some pretty sweet adventures, so I promise I'll get around to those soon.

For now, I'll leave you the link to one of our friend's new blog- she's a dogguide (CVC) handler with a lab from DGC and she's also puppyraising for Autism Dog Services...go check it out at Ruled By Paws!

Fielder Update!

2008-03-01T15:12:00.003-08:00

I am absolutely over the moon happy with Fielder's new "person". She has already emailed me TWICE and promised pictures in the mail sometime after they are developed!!!!

They have been working a lot on soundwork and obedience and are bonding very well. Her entire family loves him, and it sounds like my little man is having the time of his life!

The part that made me the most proud though, was when she told me that her building had tested its fire alarm, something she was not informed of, but Fielder alerted her right away and turned in circles when he heard it, and they got out in good time. Little poofy walked down 199 stairs "like a trooper" and was rewarded with playtime outside.

Just reading these emails make me so proud of Fielder and so happy for him and his new partner. She reassured me that he would go with her everywhere because she already felt like he was an extension of her. Honestly, I am just so ecstatic and relieved now, I don't even know what to say.

Looks like Fieldypoo did indeed end up exactly where he belongs.

The Perfect Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T14:13:00.006-08:00

Hmmm where to start....there is just so much to say and words cannot do the night justice.

It was such a whirlwind of emotions, and passed by seemingly in the blink of an eye.

Grad is a special enough occasion as it is, but last night I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some of my best friends who had travelled near and far to come for support. Special thanks to Sam, who spent the time making our card and coming to grad instead of studying for her two Friday afternoon midterms! and AmyG, whose card made me bawl. Even MORE special was the fact that Amy B's Clifford and Fielder were graduating together, our poodle boys are grown up! I wish we'd had the chance to get a picture of them together, but here is one from way back when:

(Um okay, let's all pretend we can actually see Fielder, and not a black blob)

The grad itself was amazing. I had a tiny spazzout moment (okay fine I was a nervous wreck the entire drive up) due to the fact that my dad was late getting home from work, we were then stuck in rush hour traffic from Mississauga to Hamilton, and THEN getting a text from Kelsey saying if I didn't show up for grad, Fielder would be automatically disqualified. I could see the humour in it, after I recovered from my heart attack.

When we got there, it was hugs all around- a lot of people from our POOP group showed up, some of whom I hadn't seen since the SUMMER! Fortunately, Sam, Amy, Amy and I had room to sit together at the back, where AmyB and I proceeded to cry for the next hour.

One funny moment, though, was when Amy and I had both gotten our foster family envelopes containing a picture of our puppy and their handler, and a letter of thanks from the school. Amy opened hers up to read "Dear David..." We laughed so hard we cried, but since speeches were still going on up at the front we had to suppress our giggles which turned into a lot of snorting (Yeah you, AmyG) and falling over. Plus from now on, you must only address her as David.

After all the speeches and presentations were over, it was finally time to reunite with our pups and meet their new handlers. For me, this was the most difficult part-it was so emotional to finally see "the big picture", and having everything come full circle.

The good news is, Fielder's new handler is everything I could have dreamed of for my little man. She's so sweet and promised to e-mail me updates and send me pictures in the mail. She told me that Fielder was a hard worker and a people-pleaser and that she would work hard to become a good team with him. That was when the tears started flooding again. She thanked me profusely and told me that she would never forget me and what I had given her. By this time I could NOT stop crying at all, especially since she was crying too. One of the sweetest things I have ever heard though, was when she told me that even though she lived close by, she would wait until the morning to go home because she didn't want Fielder to be scared in a strange house in the dark.

I gave her the photo album I had put together, and she was so emotional that she couldn't look past the first picture because of the tears. She was so thankful for Fielder that it was impossible to not feel happy that Fielder was her's. Our reunion had been tremendously happy, as soon as he saw me he jumped up nearly to my shoulders in height and would not stop bouncing and licking me. But as I spent more time with them, it was clear to me that Fielder had already started the all-important bonding with his handler- he would keep going back to her, his little tail wagging furiously.

The hardest moment though, was obviously saying goodbye. How do you say goodbye to something you've been so attached to for over a year? I do believe that it was the perfect goodbye though. With his handler, her family, my family and Fielder's trainers looking on, I knelt down to his little level, and he gave me a big ol sloppy kiss. With a last I love you and Be a good boy, he put his paws on my shoulders and I hugged him for a long moment. After that, I hugged his handler and wished her the best of luck with him. She thanked me again, and it was the kind of thank you that had all kinds of emotion behind it. It was so hard to leave, but it was infinitely better than leaving after recall because this time I knew he was starting a new life, the life he was destined for.

To my dearest Fielder,

The day you came into my life a year and a half ago was one of the best days of my life. Little did I know that this little furball would change me forever- you have taught me so much, for which I am eternally grateful. You taught me patience, how to enjoy the little things in life, and that it's not a bad idea at times to slow down and just be. Most of all, you (and Petey) taught me the power of love, and no matter how cliche it is, it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

Except I haven't really lost you because you'll always be in my heart. I am so proud of you that you have made it this far, and that you'll continue to spread your poodly love to your new family. What a big job you have for a such a little dude, but I am confident that you have what it takes to rise above and beyond.

You'll always be my little Poofman and I'll always look back on our time together fondly, knowing that you've changed my life for the better and taking comfort in the fact that you left because someone else needed you even more than I did. I know that this is the right path for you, and that you will be happy in your new home with your new family. Congratulations, little man. We did it.

Goodbye My Friend...It's Not the End...

2008-02-14T11:01:00.004-08:00

I had gone home with my friend to Cape Breton for the weekend and we were at her brother's basketball tournament when I got the call.

The school had called my house and since I wasn't there, my mom was the one who got the news- Fielder would be graduating Thursday night.

My mom called me after and I actually screamed when I heard her say "Fielder's graduating this Thursday- can you make it home?" I knew I'd do whatever it took to make it home for the graduation so I told her to go ahead and book the tickets.

The past few days have been insane- grad still doesn't feel very real even though I'll be there in FIVE hours. Admittedly, I've been a tad of a psycho emotional wreck and my poor friends have no idea what's going on. Thankfully, I've had you guys to rant to. I actually hadn't even told many of my friends that I was going home for Fielder's grad because although they understand the whole fostering thing, they don't really GET it, you know? It's weird to talk to them about it and most of the time it feels like they don't even really care. Which is why I am so grateful for this blog and of course, real life fostering friends.

Now grad is in four and a half hours- it's weird but I almost don't want it to come, because it means the end of my part in Fielder's life. I am so glad that he is graduating and that he is changing someone's life for the better, but selfishly, that means I really have to let him go now and I don't know if I'm ready for that.

Wow this post is not turning out to be very happy so I'm just going to leave it at that. Tonight's going to be very bittersweet I think, but it will be an EXTREMELY special grad- we know five of the graduating dogs, a lot of our foster family friends will be there to celebrate with us, and most special of all- Cliff and Fielder will be graduating together- a double graduation Samysnat style!!

Don't you worry, I'll be sure to have a long post with lots of pics up tomorrow.

Detour?

2008-02-12T22:00:00.003-08:00

I was just looking at my boarding pass for tomorrow's flight when I noticed that my plane continues on to Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Phoenix andddd.... LOS ANGELES!!!!

If it wasn't my life goal to make it to Fielder's graduation, I just may have hidden on the plane and showed up at Jenny/Jo's door tomorrow night.

To tide you over til my long rambly post of all my thoughts on grad, I give you this:

GRADUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

The call came yesterday morning:

FIELDER'S GRADUATING THIS THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO excited it is insane. I'm flying home Wednesday night, so it better not snowstorm like it's doing right now. I'll make a longer post later because right now all my thoughts are still very jumbly and such. But YAY!!!! MY BABY'S GRADUATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me and Fielder Christmas 2007 :)

Superbowl Sunday!

2008-02-03T14:43:00.001-08:00

Knowing nothing about football, I will be cheering for the Patriots tonight for one reason- Tom Brady is HOT.
You're welcome.

Way Back When

2008-01-31T17:45:00.001-08:00

I was just looking through some old pictures and man do I ever miss my boys now...

BONUS: 2 points to whoever can guess who this handsome fella is!

Look What I Found!!

2008-01-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

You have no idea how excited I was to see this as I was paying for my stuff- I'd been looking for this calendar all over the place way back in December, and hadn't been able to find one. Then yesterday, I saw a little piece of the green jacket sticking out from under a pile of bags, shrieked and grabbed one.

It has a lot of good pictures in it, though longtime readers of this blog may recognize the handsome dog featured in July....

Tip of the Day

2008-01-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

Don't blowdry your hair and boil water in the kettle at the same time. It may or may not result in a complete power outage of everything in your room.

Long story short, one front desk worker, three RA's (residence assistants), one electrician and four hours later (at 1:30 a.m) my power is now back.

It is debatable whether or not I will ever blowdry my hair ever again.

Note to Self

2008-01-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

If you hate flying, perhaps choosing to go to school halfway across the country was not the wisest decision.

The Only One Who's Got Enough of Me to Break My Heart

2008-01-04T22:37:00.000-08:00

So Fielder went back to school on Tuesday. It definitely wasn't as hard as his actual recall date but nevertheless, the day before was not fun, with the pit of dread in the stomach that I'm sure all you puppy raisers are familiar with.

We had a really good break together, and I am sure that Fielder had a fantastic time-his tail barely stopped wagging the entire time! We had many outings to the mall, met up with some of our best friends, and had the reunion of a lifetime. (Yes, several blog entries are in order, I haven't forgotten ;) )

While I'm confident that Fielder is smart enough and has what it takes to become a dogguide, grad of course is never a certainty, so I am extremely happy to be able to share with all of you the news that if he is disqualified, the Poof man will be coming home! :)

But for now, we have our fingers very tightly crossed that Mr Fielderoonies will pass the program and continue to touch people's lives in the way that only a little furball can.....

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Fielder and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas- we hope you all have a wonderful day with family, friends and of course, lots of treats! Poodly kisses all around!!

He's Baaaaaaaaaackkkk!!!

2007-12-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

I'm very pleased to say that my Mr Fielderoonies is back home!! I think this will be a very long post, to make up for my lack of dog news over the past three months.

This morning I woke up at 7, and my parents and I headed out with plenty of time to spare for our 9 am appointment. The highway was actually ridiculously empty and for a while I was worried that we would get there before the school even opened. But then we hit some traffic going into Oakville, and got there only about twenty minutes early.

While we waited for the trainer to come out with Fielder, I played with the few random dogs wandering around the office. Forgot to pick up a calendar, but hopefully will remember to do that on the 2nd, when Fielder goes back.

Then, finally the moment I've been waiting for since...well, since I returned him in August...out came my wiggly poof and he was SO excited. I was so incredibly happy that he actually recognized me and was excited to see me. He was snuffling all around and jumped up a couple of times. I told him to get off but I think a few excited jumps were understandable. It was an amazing reunion :)

After that, we went downstairs to get his instruction papers and food, and I ended up chatting with Fielder's trainer for a while. I was really happy because he's in my favourite HED trainer's string, and he's with his buddies Whim and Jive. She just loves him and I could tell he liked her too, which is a great relief to know that my baby's in good hands. Of course, all the trainers are good but to know that he's training with this particular one is fantastic news for me. Anyways, I sat on the floor while we talked and Fielder snuggled into my lap and before we knew it, Sam had arrived!

In the two/four years (still debatable) that we've known each other, this is the longest I've gone without seeing Sam so you can imagine how doubly happy I was that I got to see her today. Definitely miss the good ol Samysnat days!! Hopefully we will be seeing each other a few more times before I head back to school.

We then headed back home, with Fielder's little nose shoved in my hand the whole way back. He recognized where we were when we turned onto our street and as soon as we got out, he ran over to sniff his favourite pole and tree. As soon as he got in the house, he went to work sniffing everything to make sure it was up to Fielder Standards. I guess he approved cause he soon grabbed his favourite toys and ran around with them.

We ran around in the backyard a bit, and tried to get some nice photos, although all you families out there with black dogs know how difficult that can be. I think some came out pretty nice though.

When he came back in, I let him open his Christmas present that was sent home with him. At first he was more interested in playing with his stuffy, but as soon as I opened it up for him (if he had opposable thumbs I would've let him open it himself), he sure dropped that toy quickly.

Thanks Purina and Dogguides for the yummy Christmas treats!

Now we're just relaxing and enjoying some major cuddletime. Not to worry though, there will be many more updates to come.

Oh, and one more thing. Fielder told me he would like to say hi to his biggest fan down south and thank her for thinking of him this morning.

Home!

2007-12-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

I got back home yesterday afternoon, which was good timing because we had a snowstorm last night that continued through to the morning, and it is still snowing now which as you can imagine, is wreaking havoc on all the flights going in and out of Toronto.

My flight home was pretty uneventful- I slept almost the whole way except for a few times when I'd wake up and smoke my face on the wall of the plane- fun, fun. It's weird being back home after three months away, especially when those three months were spent being around mostly people my age, and doing whatever I wanted to whenever I wanted to. Being back with my parents is a lot more restricting, not to mention I can't just go up or down a flight of stairs and see my friends. That said, it is really nice being back home with my family and I can't wait to spend the next three weeks seeing all my old friends and family friends again.

Of course, the BEST part of being back is that FIELDER comes home in FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I dropped and broke my camera on my birthday and probably won't get a new one til after Christmas, so I'll have to see if I can borrow my sister's for pictures. Oh well...Friday will be an awesome day anyways cause not only does Fielder come home, I get to see SAM and JUNIE at pickup, and I haven't seen Sam in over three months!!! It'll be a fantastic reunion, and Sam....just a warning, there may be some screaming involved.

Get This Furball OFF ME

2007-12-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

But......I lurves you

Exams Suck

2007-12-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

What I wouldn't give to be here with these awesome people:
instead of studying right now....

'Cause Baby All I Want For Christmas Is You

2007-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again- the Home for Christmas program!!! I'm quite possibly more excited for Fielder to come home than Christmas itself.

Being puppyless for almost four months has definitely been hard, and I can NOT wait for my baby puppy to come home even if it's just for a short week and a half.

We're picking him up at the Oakville facility on the 21st at 9 a.m. - twenty two days and counting!!!!

The Amys are Here!

2007-11-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

Thanks for all the concern over my last post- I'm alive! Actually, I think most of the storm happened overnight so I didn't even experience anything except that the power was out for a few hours the next day. Luckily, the residences have their own backup generators so really, the hurricane didn't affect us at all. However, there are still parts of Nova Scotia that are without power which sucks. By the time it reached over here, it was downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical storm, so it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been.

And for the record, I think it was pronounced "No-el" and not "Nole" :)

Now for the exciting part- the Amys are both here in Halifax visiting me! They got here on Thursday night and are staying til Wednesday morning. It's been a lot of fun having two of my different groups of friends mix, and of course it's been a blast catching up with news from back home. We've mostly just been hanging out since it's getting close to exam time, and as Joanna said, the last month of school is always chaotic. But I'm so happy I have friends from home here....although now I'm more excited than ever to go home for Christmas.

The only downer is that the last person in our little cult (aka Sam) was unable to make it down with them. We miss you Sam!!!!!!!! Hopefully we'll all be able to get together at Christmas with all our Home for the Holidays puppies!!

My Turn

2007-11-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

So last week I was talking to Joanna about natural disasters and such. I was saying how I had never experienced one before, and it was weird that within a week, there were forest fires in her area and an earthquake in Amber's.

Guess I spoke too soon because as of now, Hurricane Noel is making it's way to Halifax. I think it's been downgraded to a tropical storm now, but there'll still be a ton of wind and rain. It's been predicted to hit at around 4 p.m. which is in the next few minutes but so far there's only a bit of rain.

I'm so excited to see everything cause I've never been in a tropical storm/hurricane before! My mom called this morning and reminded me to 'close your windows so you don't blow away'. Thanks Mom.

Hopefully I'll get some really cool pictures I can post up here later :)

Fun Stuff

2007-10-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

In the beginning of the year, my problem in journalism was that my paragraphs were too long (as you know, in print articles, paragraphs are kept very short, only a few sentences in length, if that). I figured that was because I was too used to writing essays where paragraphs can take up a few hundred words.

So I fixed that and now I like to think I've got a pretty good handle on writing articles.

Only to find out tonight from the grade sheet of my latest English lit essay that my paragraphs are too short and need to be lengthened.

Someday I will get this one right.

Still Alive!

2007-10-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

I hate that my blog has gotten so boring, but life without puppies just isn't as interesting. The same stuff is still going on....my life basically consists of eating, sleeping, classes, homeworking, and hanging out with friends. It's fun in real life but boring to blog about.

But! Yesterday a few of us went to the Superstore and I printed out pictures and today I redecorated my room, so here are a few pics: The front/entrance of my room...pretty boring yes? Excuse the mess of towels/cloths everywhere and the hairdryer on the floor and the mess that is the sink area. Wow....my desk looks like a tornado hit it. Go me. The picture of Petey there is pretty cute though I must say. And the picture sticking up in the corner is my favourite one where I'm snuggling with Fielder :)

The Imaginus poster sale came to Dal which is where I got my three very awesome posters. One if of course, the requisite lineup up lab puppies. The second is the one of the dog above my bed. The quote underneath it says

"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure...Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" - Helen Keller

One of my favourite quotes, so I was happy to find that poster. The third one is the Procrastinator's Creed which cracked me up so I had to get it.

The Procrastinator's Creed:

1.) I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.

2.)I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.

3.)I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.

4.)I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportionto the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

5.)I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.

6.)I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.

7.)I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though infitesmally small, is not exactly zero.

8.)If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.

9.)I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I change my mind.

10.) I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.

11.) I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.

12.) I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/wait/plan.

13.) I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.

14.) I will become a memeber of the Ancient Order of Two-Headed Turtles (the Procrastinator's society) if they ever get it organized.

And lastly, I will leave you with a little gem I overheard in my hallway today:

"I don't want to be a doctor anymore. I just want to sleep in til 12:30 on a weekday. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?????"

Amen to that.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

2007-10-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for....

My "real life" friends....without them my life would suck...a lot

My blogging buddies....who are like 'real life' friends anyways

My family....who I like a lot better when they are four provinces away and not bothering me

My boys....who I hope are having the time of their lives (well besides the time they spent with me of course =P)

And most of all......

News from Amy who talked to one of the trainers. Fielder is liking the HED program and is doing well. Good job little buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love and hugs and kisses to all your puppies from a very animal deprived me :)

UPDATE!

2007-09-21T12:18:00.001-07:00

Well- it's been a while hasn't it. Though it wasn't intentional, I think that was the longest I've gone without blogging. I've been really really busy with school, lame as that excuse is. There are so many new things I want to talk about I probably won't get around to it all.

Life is good is the main thing I suppose. The first couple of days were pretty hellish in trying to settle into a new environment far from home and all aloney on my owney. Then I made a bunch of new friends and life got better. We got closer and closer and then suddenly things got a WHOLE lot better. It's amazing how close you can get to people you've only known for two weeks when you basically see each other 24/7. It's funny because I'm an arts kid, taking a bachelor of arts, but both my friends back home and here are all in sciences and engineering. I guess it's true what they say- opposites attract.

The crazy party people have settled down on my floor, although mine is still the second loudest party floor. I don't mind anymore though because now I actually know the people and can escape to someone else's floor if I want to.

I have yet to be bored in Halifax. My weekdays usually go like this: class, lunch, sometimes another class, dinner, a few hours for homework and then hang out with everyone until bedtime. It sounds pretty boring in writing but the days really do pass by quickly. Weekends are fun- so far we've done some exploring of Halifax, gone shopping, went on some 'adventures'. Tonight there's a boat cruise and then tomorrow we're going to Pt. Pleasant Park to chill which I'm really looking forward to- getting away from the city and all.

Classes are not too bad. Geography (natural disasaters) and psych are just lectures which are pretty boring, but english is interesting so far. French is a huge joke- the course description said it's for people who have at least grade eight to twelve in french, but we're learning the very basics that I learned in elementary school. I enjoy it though, as it's my one easy course I know I don't have to worry about. Journalism, however, is a whole different story. When I think of what I want to do as a career later in life, I can't really think of anything. All I know is that I like animals, and I like writing. I decided I might go into journalism, but it's so intense and competitive I don't know if it's the right fit for me. However, it's too late to drop courses so I guess I'll stick it out til the end and see how it goes. I can tell it'll be my most challenging course of the year, but hopefully at the end I'll know more about the profession and see if I want to continue on with it next year.

I really like Halifax so far- it's a smaller city than Toronto by far, but it's still a city, which I like. It's safe to go out at night and wander around without worrying. It's definitely a university city- there are four or five universities within close proximity to each other which I guess changes the dynamics of the city quite a bit.

It's funny how drastically things can change in a small period of time. If you had talked to me two weeks ago, I would've wanted to go home asap. And now? I don't really want to go home at all. I am loving the freedom and the lifestyle here, and am quite content with the fact that I'm not going home until Christmas. For now, life is good.

Spenny's Visit

2007-09-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

I had thought that after Fielder was recalled, I would be puppyless until the end of the summer. As it turned out, I had a puppy with me until the day before I left which of course made me very happy. My last puppysittee of the summer was the adorable baby Aspen. Oops- here's her face:

She was very well behaved and a little boring since she still sleeps all the time. A few times I poked her to see if she was still alive. She was dead tired because after Amy and I did a tradeoff (well i guess it wasn't really a tradeoff since Amy got nothing) at Union, I took Aspen into Oakville to hang out with Kelsey and Emmett. As you might have guessed, Aspen didn't do too much walking since she was asleep the whole time. So we just got some lunch and hung out in the food court. Then Sam, Geisha and Juneau came to visit us and we went and got very messy ice cream. I have a few very bad pictures of Sam but I won't post them because then she might get mad and not pass on my hugs and kisses to Fielder in the kennels.

Then we went back to Toronto and headed to Dee's so West and Aspen could play. Unfortunately, my camera died then and I was so mad. There were so many good photo ops, grrr.

But anyways, she is such a photogenic puppy that I took a million pictures of her over the two days. She is certainly a very unique looking lab, what with the "nosehawk" (i should get that trademarked) and green eyes. She's also the darn cutest little chubster ever.

Agreed? I think so.

Spoke Too Soon....

2007-09-05T19:57:00.000-07:00

Well the day after I wrote that horrendously depressing post I actually made a bunch of new friends and the past couple of days have actually been really fun. I think I really like it here now, but of course, classes start tomorrow so we shall see if I start hating it again :P

Thank you all so much for you amazing comments. You have no idea how much they meant to me; they honestly made me feel so much better after I read them.

Amy emailed me and the logic in the email just made so much sense, it hit me that I should've already realized this. "Slowly the bimbos will drift off and either get major alch poisoning, or get knocked up, or die, or get kicked out! So I'm sure in a while things will be different" Thanks Aims!

That might seem a little harsh, but honestly- a lot of people party 24/7, some don't even BELONG in res, and somehow ended up sneaking in and stealing a room anyways, and here's the kicker- some AREN'T EVEN REGISTERED FOR CLASSES. Honestly? That is insane. I know I paid over ten grand for just this one year of education, and while I'm down for partying, I am not going to throw away my parents' money to drink until I die. And truthfully, people have died here before of alcohol poisining. That is not a trend I'd like to continue.

But anyways, I am much happier now that I have made new friends, and even after only a few days with them, I'm pretty sure these will be lifelong friends.

( I hope I didn't just jinx everything with this sickly sweet post)

I promise tomorrow I will put up cute puppy pictures of when Aspen stayed over at my house so you don't have to put up with another boring university post.

Thanks again for the comments, they were/are VERY much appreciated.

Whining and Depression Ahead

2007-09-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

So. University life.

I know it's way too early to judge, since it's only my second day here and my first full day in res. BUT I appear to have been placed in the dumb blonde plastic people partying/drinking dorm. While I am not against parties and don't mind attending once in a while, these people are the snobby, materialistic, trashed 24/7 kind of people- I'm sure you've all run into them at some point in your life. Somehow I can't see this stopping when school starts. Our curfew is 2, and 2 on the dot is when they'll drift away, screams lingering behind. And really, I know this makes me sound like a horrendous loser but this is a hugely different style of living. Sometimes I sleep at 11, sometimes I sleep at 12 and sometimes I sleep at 2. But I want to sleep WHEN I WANT TO and not have to listen to drunken screaming outside my door AND window (room beside the entrance facing the parking lot) until 2 every night. I guess what I'm feeling right now is trapped- I can't leave here until Christmas and literally I don't want to leave my room late at night because of all the drunken people being ridiculous outside my door. I'm sure nothing would happen to me, but it just annoys me so much that I don't even WANT to go.

All this makes me miss my old life so much more. As much as I thought I wouldn't be sad when my parents left today, I had a really crappy day yesterday and so I bawled for a very long time while they were leaving and after. Embarassing, yes. But truly I wanted to go home with them that instant and just give up. Because this SUCKS. It's nothing like I imagined it would be, and the fact that the party has to happen in my hallway every night pisses me off so much. Sometimes I just want peace and quiet.

Now I REALLY wish I had chosen a university NOT an 18 hour drive and half a country away from home while knowing NOBODY. Yeah I've made a few "acquaintances" but it's not the same as having a close or best friend with you. Feeling very very homesick and wanting to go to somehwere nice and familiar right now.

Sorry to be depressing but I needed to vent somehow and really? THIS SUCKS!

Off to University

2007-08-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is the last post I'll be writing from my room for a while. Tomorrow morning, I am off to Halifax, Nova Scotia (almost halfway across the country!!) to start my career as a university student. I will be studying english and journalism at Dalhousie University.

My foster puppy plans are up in the air for now- of course I will continue to track Fielder's progress and see where he ends up. I'll also be getting him back at Christmas for our school's Home for Christmas program, providing he is still in training at the time. (PLEASE still be in training Fielder!!) As for foster puppy number three.... that depends a lot on if I move out of res second year, since they don't allow animals in residence. If the foundation and the university lets me, perhaps I will take a puppy with me to school. If not, I could start one when I get back in April and then in September, transfer him/her to either Amy G or Sam.

As for this blog, I'm definitely keeping it. I find that I like writing here more than journalling, so I'll be documenting my university life here in addition to all the puppy stuff. Hopefully you'll stick around and won't find it too boring-the first few weeks will probably be wailing away about homesickness since I won't be home for about four months.

Anyways, I'm pretty excited but I think in all honesty, more of me is kind of terrified of leaving home for so long, and not knowing anyone over there. Sometimes I wish I'd chosen a closer university so that I could still be away from home but be able to come back on weekends if I wanted to. But in the words of my favourite song ever, "Too late for second chances/Too late to go back to sleep/ It's time to trust my instincts/Close my eyes....and leap/It's time to try defying gravity"

Thank you all so much for joining me throughout my puppy raising adventures...I hope you'll all keep reading or stay in touch....sooner or later I WILL have my own puppy again :)

And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me...

Tell them how I'm defying gravity
I'm flying high defying gravity
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring meeeeee downnnnnnn

Not that I expect a wizard from Oz to bring me down, but I love Wicked too much to not quote from it at some point in my blog. Anyways, peace out homies, and see ya in a few days- next time I write to you I will be in my new home in Nova Scotia!!!

My Life, It Is Complete

2007-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Puppies + the Twilight Series = MY LIFE

Warning- This is a Post of Epic Proportions!!

2007-08-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Puppyless- and it SUCKS!! Minus the odd vacation or long day away, I haven't been puppyless for about a year and a half. Compared to other puppy raisers, that probably seems like nothing but it is a big change to not have anyone to snuggle with, take out with me, let out every few hours, or play with. Slightly depressed.

But for some good news, FIELDER PASSED HIS MEDICALS!!!!! This makes me very very happy and relieved, and now my fingers are crossed that he does well in the kennels and that he takes to the training.

This is the last post concerning my having a puppy until at least December, so I'm going to make it a long one! (Hopefully. Perhaps I shouldn't announce that before I even write the post.)

On Wednesday, we headed to my mom's co-worker's house to return Shammy. She was very interested in Emmett as was her 4 year old son. He was a very good boy and sat very still while being petted by little Luca. Then we headed to Dee's where not only we got to meet up with Dee and West, but also Sam, Dallas, Wylie, Juneau, Missy and Quizz!!!!!!

West Wylie

Emmett was so funny, he kept being beat up by West and Wylie! I have declared Wylie my little ninja goddaughter. Ninja is a good word to describe her I think, as she loves to launch herself in the air, paws up and screaming away. One time she landed on Emmett, raced around him, stole a chunk of his fur and ate it! Emmett did not appreciate being beat up by little snot nosed brats and so he exacted revenge on West by waiting til he was taking a sip from the water bucket and then putting his paw on West's head and tried to dunk him in. Oh, sneaky little poodles.

Also on Thursday, I had finally grown my hair long enough (or so I thought-it turned out shorter than I wanted), so following in the footsteps of Thing Two of This Full House and of course, Sam, I cut off ten inches to donate to an organization that makes wigs for children out of these donations, Angel Hair for Kids. Honestly, if I was a mail...person...worker.. and I opened up an envelope with that inside? I would be freaked out. Just a tad. But anyways,back to cute puppies:Then on Friday, we headed up to Amy G's since Amy B's Cottage Puppyfest '07 was on Saturday, and I didn't want to wake up early to bus and train it to Oshawa. Turns out thanks to our TV watching addiction, and needing to leave earlier than expected, we only had about 3 hours of sleep on Friday night ( Saturday morning???) anyways. Back to Friday morning- Emmett and I somehow ended up getting to Union station almost a full hour ahead of schedule.So I settled in with my McDonalds hash brown, juice and People magazine (not that I buy/read trashy mags on a regular basis, but I was desperate and usually People isn't as bad as the rest. Except this issue, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were on the cover talking about their "relationship" and, ugh, High School Musical 2, POKE MY EYES OUT WITH A HOT SPORK PLEASE. I fail to see the greatness in this production. And for the record, Zac Efron aka Jesse McCartney incarnate, is not hot. NOT HOT AT ALL).

Emmett watching the train pull in. The angle is weird which is why it looks like the train is headed straight for him. But rest assured, it is most definitely not.

Amy and I whiled away the hours with dog walking, playing ball (with the dogs), watching tv and going out to the movies and watching Superbad. Quick note here: The first time I saw an ad for Superbad was way back when I was in California and I thought it was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen and promised myself I wouldn't watch it. Thanks to the power of advertising and marketing, and my brain melting into mush during the summer,I decided I did indeed want to see it, and so Amy and I went off with Zoom and Emmett. It was actually so superbad it was good, and very hilarious. Chicka chicka yeahhhhhhhh. (That's my new phrase from the movie) Definitely not a movie for everyone though. Anyways, the funniest part came after the movies. Amy and I were sitting outside waiting for her mom to pick us up when this conversation actually happened:

Random girl: Excuse me, is he (he being Emmett) a dog? Me: *shocked into silence/trading incredulous look with Amy* Amy: Um....yes?! Random Girl: Oh okay. I couldn't figure out if he was a dog or a lamb.

Yes, because I'm so sure I would BRING A LAMB TO THE MOVIES!!!!! Silly girl.

Anyways, we spent the rest of the night talking, watching tv and having random hilarious talks with her brothers. When we finally went to bed at four, I fell asleep right away curled up with my favourite PoleyWoley (umm aka Polaris)

Hmmmm let's see... which one of these don't belong? The correct answer would be POLARIS because he isn't sitting up like the rest of them. Get up lazybum!Zoom: Pfft. You guys are so immature. Bunny ears? ARE NOT ENTERTAINING. I'm fifteen months for god's sake. I'm not even going to acknowledge you silly humans anymore. But Nat, I do love you cause you're so cool. Cuddling with Poles. On the bed. Because he's a pet now. Unlike those darn foster puppies that have to loll about on the ground. Yeah. Me and Poles- we're cool.

We woke up three hours later and then headed off to Amy's. Unfortunately, everyone in the household was asleep. We decided to go ahead and let the dogs play in the backyard which is how we discovered the back door was unlocked. So we let ourselves in, crept into Amy's room and found her asleep in the bed. Well that wouldn't do so I threw Polaris on her which woke her up real quick.

Then we finallly headed up to the cottage. For once I called shotgun first and Amy G was stuck riding in the back with the fifty million dogs. Which was only fair because approximately all of them were hers. I somehow lost my shoes on the way there but found them after a while of walking around on the rocky driveway. While waiting for everyone else to arrive, we were bored and started a little photoshoot.

Amy's sick bruised toe!!!!!!!!!!

Then people started arriving in droves and there were eighteen puppies (I think) in all. The best part was the four baby 8 wk olds, all from the same litter- Abbott, Ariel, Aspen and Addison.

After several hours playing with the dogs, having a nice bbq, and catching up on each other's lives, it was time to go home. I think Quizz sums up how we were all feeling by the end of the day:

If you've made it to the end of the post, congratulations! Sorry if your eyeballs have fallen out, but you know, we do raise guide dogs for a reason. If you've made it to the end, please leave a comment- I'm very interested to know who read all the way through this novel!!!!

A Whole Bunch of Randoms

2007-08-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Again, I am postponing the university post because I want to make that a post all on its own- sorry for the wait! I actually meant to post it in June after I graduated but this summer has been busier than usual what with everyone desperate to see each other before we all go our separate ways.

I am currently babysitting Shammy (13 yr old toy poodle) and Emmett (3 month old apricot standard poodle foster puppy). I've not been without a dog since Fielder left, but still I miss my little poodley man so much. He had his xrays done on his birthday (12 days ago), so we are anticipating a call soon. Fingers crossed everything is okay!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a little more concerned than I was with Petey just because he was such a froglegged puppy;he never lost the habit even when he was older. Everyone says this means good hips, and I believed that until a month ago when one of our friends' pup got cc'ed for grade one hipD and she was very froglegged too.

Emmett is an adorable puppy, but after babysitting constantly to keep myself occupied after Fielder's recall, I have called him:
Curly
Shammy
Fielder
Cliff
Chandler (?!)
Arghhhh whatever your name is come here right now!!!
And sometimes I even manage to call him Emmett.

Emmett is a huge cuddlebug, and his favourite thing to do is barrel up to you until his head hits you, drop into your lap and smush in as much as he can. I love this puppy :)

Fugly picture of me, but Emmett looks adorbs, yes? Plus the book beside me is one of my favourite books ever. It's called "Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self Indulgent, Surly Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?" It is absolutely hilarious and it's Jen Lancaster's second book, and I lurve the both of them. And Jen. And her blog http://www.jennsylvania.com/ Good stuff.

Anyways, back to Emmett. We've been out every day since I got him, and he's been very good for a 3 month old. He protected us from a random rapey man who was looking for emails; he had "come from Germany looking to fall in love" and was apparently trolling malls in order to find underage girls. At dinner, he fell asleep under the table. (Emmett not the creepy man)

He also LOVES Shammy's bed and his toy bunny.That is all for now folks! Tomorrow we are off to return Shammy back to his owner and drop by Dee's to see her new puppy West, grandson of our favourite Samantha Hobbes. Peace out homefries!

PETEY NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-08-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

So today I was very excited when Amy came on msn and told me that SHE SAW PETEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently he was competing at the National Dog Agility Championship(but only on a jumpers course, not like a full out agility course)!!!! Since he was heading into the contenders' ring at the time, all Amy could was chase down the lady, and confirm that it was indeed Petey and that yes, the lady liked him (undoubtedly the question earned Amy a weird look). Anyways, I am SO happy to at least hear this little tidbit of news about him. It brings a lot of comfort to know that he is happy, loved, and keeping busy. After all, I am sure that agility is the perfect discipline for Petey to be enrolled in.

He is DEFINITELY a good jumper

He sure can run fastHe's cute as heckAnd he's just an all around COOL (get it?! hahaah) dog

GOOD LUCK PETEY!!!!!!!!!

Petey Says

2007-08-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

Whatcha doin Sam?

In Love With Dallas

2007-08-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

After having babysat Curly (R) for almost a month, and Shammy(L) for a week,

babysitting Dallas the Landseer Newfie here was QUITE the change.

Dallas at 8 WEEKS- the exact same size as 7 MONTH old Fielder

Last night, I went over to my friends' Kimmy and Carolyn's house to babysit their 7 month , 70 pound "PUPPY" for a few hours while everyone was out. I am so in love with this dog it's not even funny. He is the sweetest, funniest, goofy dog ever. He's just like Beethovan minus the breed difference and need to save people.

Thankfully he is well trained and responded to our little obedience session really well, or else walking him would have been umm....interesting to say the least. He was a bit pully in the beginning but with a few corrections and making him sit and wait along the way, he was heeling like a pro not too long into the walk. Did I mention I love this dog?

I was trying to compare our sizes in this picture above, but he looks smaller in pictures than he does in real life. And I guess you can't really photograph his huge personality and prescence. But I thought this shot showed it a little better: His toy is bigger than Fielder was at 12 weeks, and you can see his long body stretched out behind him.

This is my favourite picture of the night cause he's such a comfy pillow and I love his huge head!*sigh* If only we could foster one of these bad boys! Guide dogs for basketball players, yes?

Lastly, we would like to wish Sam the best of luck as she heads off to Nova Scotia to see yet another awesome Dallas and her grandbabies!! We'll miss you and the nightly chats, but have fun, take tons of pictures and STEAL A PUPPY FOR ME!!!

Happy Birthday Fielder!!!!

2007-08-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

To my little deary:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still remember the day I met you, you were so little, and did not stop crying the whole time at Open House. Now you are a big boy (figuratively not physically =P), all grown up and ready to start training. I hope you had a happy day today, and although I so wish you were here so I could give you hugs and kisses and extra treats in person, I know Sam was nice enough to give you lots of loving today. Hope to hear from you sooon!!!!!!!!

Love,

Your One and Only Momma!(except for of course your actual mom...but besides that!)

Tip of the Day *UPDATED

2007-08-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

When going to the mall specifically to buy pants, don't wear your one pair of shoes with laces, unless you like tying and untying shoelaces approximately eleventy billion times in three hours.

-----------------------

I am very very excited for tomorrow, except for the whole waking up early part. Early tomorrow morning, I'll be meeting Sam downtown and then we will take the train together to Oshawa and we'll be spending the night at Amy's! Yay!

For once, I won't have to pack a whole huge travelling bag with me because it's just me, no puppy. I guess that's a good thing....except I kinda wish I had to pack a whole huge travelling bag...

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Amy has updated her blog for the first time in a MONTH and her post is all about MY dog! Yay! Go check it out for some very cute pictures of Fielder!

This Is What Happens When You're Puppyless, Bored and Slightly OCD

2007-08-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have converted my mini bookshelf into a dog paraphernalia organizer. And yes, the collars are in order from smallest to largest, not to be confused with the haltis that are in order from largest to smallest. And in case you were wondering, life really is one big suckfest without puppies. Surprise, surprise.

Goodbye Fielder

2007-08-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

Today Fielder went back to school. Lynn picked us up early in the morning, and Fielder got to go back with his best friend Whim and his sister Fawn. We got there a whole hour earlier than planned, so since the other puppy staff were busy, Sam, who came for moral support (thanks Sam! <3) got the paperwork all ready for us.

Then the dreaded "okay whenever you are ready...." As I bent over to take off his jacket for the last time, I started absolutely bawling. Which was tres embarassing in front of Sam, Lynn, Dee and a bunch of random trainers. After using Fielder as a kleenex a few times, I let him out into the courtyard to play with Whimmer. There was a big window in which you could see into the courtyard, so I went to stand by it to watch my baby play a bit before I left. Wouldn't you know it, two seconds after he ran in, he did a bigggggg poo. Which, obviously I told Sam was her responsibility to pick up, since he wasn't technically 'mine' anymore ;)

But then he came over to the window and started jumping up and down (cause he's too short to see over it otherwise) and crying and looking at me and then I lost it all over again. And then we left shortly after cause I didn't want to stress him out, but it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, leaving when I knew he wanted to be with me. Looking back, it was a lot easier to leave Petey cause he was all absorbed in chewing on his bone and didn't even notice.

Anyways, Fieldy- you are my very best mini poodle and I miss you tons already. But I know you will have lots of fun being kenneled with your buddy Whim and seeing your favourite sisters Fawn and Fairy everyday. I would say make me proud, but I already know you will no matter where you end up. You've been the perfect puppy for me this past year, and I love you so much. Good luck little buddy, we're rooting for you!!

Thank you Chapters

2007-07-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Before I go on with this post, I should explain that Chapters is our version of Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Anyways, what I wanted to say was a huge thank you to Chapters. With Petey and Fielder, I have travelled to many stores, malls, etc. and none have been as welcoming as Chapters. I'm a huge book nerd, hence my pups have been to several chapters (heh) of Chapters since I cannot resist entering any of the ones I see. At every single one of them, we have been made to feel welcome and wanted, which is so nice seeing as there are twice as many establishments that will be condescending, mean, and downright rude. Actually, we've developed almost a cult-like following at the main one we go to, which is always nice. And usually when we're at a Chapters, at least one or two staff members will follow us around solely because of the puppy! It's awesome, and I love it. We heart you Chapters! :)

On to another story from today...my friend and I were sitting in the subway waiting for our other friends when I noticed that Fielder could not stop staring at the ceiling. Of course, I could not for the life of me imagine why he would be staring so intently, when I looked up and realized what his fascination was:
WHO PUTS A MIRROR IN THE CEILING??? WHO????? Oh, apparently the TTC. This picture was also taken today. Thought I'd share because Fielder looks like a baybeeee and is oh so adorbs!

i hate my life

2007-07-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

So apparently I have a "small cavity"; upon returning home from the EIGHT THIRTY AM appointment, my mom calls to inform me I have to get the mumps booster shot because the place where I'm going to university had an outbreak of it (separate post on university later), and of course the impending recall.

Terrrific.

p.s. Why do dental hygenists always talk to you while they're poking around in your mouth?? If you ask me what I did this summer, I can't actually SAY California. The best I can do is mmmphhhraalgg, which, last time I checked, does not make any sense at all.

p.p.s. Do they use needles for small cavities???? Cause if they do, I'd rather be put out thanks. The IV hurts WAY less than needles in the mouth.

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