133/365 The Universe is not Random

In the service dog world there is a service dog team Wallis and Caspin. They are somewhat legendary in our circles. Wallis is an amazing college student who was matched with great dog named Caspin. They have traveled across the US and to other countries, Wallis has taught Caspin to do commands well above and beyond what they learned in Team Training, and Wallis continues to give back to the CCI community.

Caspin was raised here in the Sacramento area by a wonderful puppy raiser Mary Ellen. She is a wealth of information, and as a new PR she has been a great inspiration and helped me with my pups. I don't think that it was a random event or some sort of weird coincidence that several years after raising Caspin - Mary Ellen raised another dog named Tina IV who just graduated as a CCI Skilled Companion. Tina was named in memory of Wallis's mother.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Tina was destined to graduate.
I don't think it is a coincidence that Tina was raised by Mary Ellen.
I think it was meant to be, it was the way it was written to be.

Congrats to team Nick and Tina - I have a feeling that great things were written in the stars for you.

Mary Ellen and Tina reunited before Tina starts her life with her new partner. 

132/365 Outside

This year we are having the most fickle weather that I can remember. Today however, I will celebrate the day and the sun instead of wasting it complaining about what is coming this weekend.

There was a time when I generally didn't care for summer, and then as today despite developing an affinity for summer, spring is still my most favorite time of the year. Something about all the bulbs coming up, the crisp mornings and evenings and warmer afternoons, and of course Easter. This year I am longing for the warmth of summer so we can get some more swimming in and probably most importantly to get the tomatoes off to a good start!

Tomorrow is the Northwest Region of CCI's graduation. 17 graduates!!! That is the largest graduating class ever and 7 of the dogs graduating were raised right here in the Sacramento area. Before making the trip to Santa Rosa decided to get the oil changed, which comes with a free car wash. While I was sitting outside enjoying the sun I saw this great shadow on from the picnic table...

131/365 More Gratuitous Puppy Pictures

It would be very easy to make this the 365 Dog Photo Challenge. I have tried hard not to do that. This week will be an abysmal failure on that front, especially with CCI Graduation coming up on Friday. At least that is all of the  bad news - the good news is that they are cute to look at.

They are both aspiring service dogs, and apparently they had worked so hard they couldn't even get to their crate before falling asleep.

130/365 Sleepin on the job

This is aspiring service dog Yalu. She is hanging out with me for a few days, and going to work. I see she has been hanging out with to many of us government workers! Sorry Barbara, I am not trying to wreck your dog. =)

129/365 Carpooling

Carpooling is pretty cool, Dave and I are going to do it whenever we can. I am thinking 3 or 4 days a week (I only work 4 days - so that would be the max!). The downside, is that my camera was ready to be discharged from the spa at about 1115. Normally I would have imposed on someone to take me to the store to get my camera, but I exercised some self control. Never mind the near breakdown in the car after Dave picked me up because of the traffic. Needless to say I got there in enough time to have a lovely Cannon v Nikon debate (friendly of course) with the staff.

Then I had a board meeting to get through and the picking up of a puppy we are sitting (Yalu, who will probably make and appearance at some point this week.) Then after all that waiting a picture!!! Took it out (of my newest Crumpler) and found the subject of today's pic. Crisp and clean pics (yay! thank you camera spa workers at Pardee's Cameras - www.pardeescameras.com ). About today's pic - this is some left over salt-water taffy from a recent street fair. I can't stand salt-water taffy. Mostly because I don't know what flavor it is going to be - too much risk of getting something horrible like popcorn (which shouldn't be in taffy) or god forbid something melon flavor.

128/365 Elburt's Final Word (If you really knew me Final Installment)

While I would hate to admit it, my cousin Heathburt may have been right about this being a most spectacular garden. It seems my garden's mistress may have understated her gardening abilities in an earlier post this week and I too may have had unnecessary doubts. I have spent much of the past weeks observing her, and one can get to know one's garden mistress quite well over a short amount of time. I would like to be clear on two things before I share what I have learned: 1- Garden Gnomes, especially one as prestigious as myself, would never neglect my garden duties to make note of these learned things, they have been learned over the course of my garden overseeing duties; and 2 - Do not mistake my observant nature for spying. Spying is an undignified endeavor and as I mentioned I am just observant.

If you really knew my garden mistress you would know: she pretty much loves all flowers but has an affinity for tubers and bulbs; she is (thankfully) pretty strict about where the four-legged beasts uh - "hurry" as she calls it and keeps them out of the garden; she hates the smell and taste of all things purple grape, rootbeer, and melon; she loves to sit and dangle her feet in the side of the pool; volunteers for make a wish; she loves to hear the marching band practice and the pee-wee football game announcer as it wafts into the backyard; thinks that her sisters are the most amazing women; tells people she has been swimming all day when she means she has been on the floating thing; still licks the beaters when making cookies or cakes; that we have an obligation to help those who are willing to help themselves; she is most happy out in the garden - especially if the radio is playing (although her singing leaves a bit to be desired); she loves when friends and family come over to eat, swim, or just as you yanks call it "hang out"; worries due to her family history that she is likely to get breast cancer;  learned long ago that "brutally honest" is just a cover for being "brutally rude" - today she is just honest; she tolerates the "icky" bugs that help her garden but are merciless when it comes to the slugs; loves jewish food; everyday she can't believe she is married to the most wonderful man - and certainly can't believe it has been twenty years; that there is not much on this earth that is worth having if it means hurting someone's feelings or intentionally makes them feel bad; prefers to be barefoot; is deathly allergic to bee stings (which is why the barefoot thing is a problem; tries to keep the drama to a minimum - mainly by surrounding herself with wonderful people; is religious about applying sunscreen and wearing the most appropriately Queen approved wide brimmed gardening hat; secretly hopes that her friends and family will do their own "if you knew me" so she would know them better; loves to teach (and really only wants to teach when her partner in crime Sherri is involved); watched the most recent royal wedding as she did Charles and Diana's 30 some years ago; has thankfully learned that one can not withdraw more than she has deposited in not only bank accounts, but in friendships as well; she is a sexual assault survivor; that she reads the newspaper cover to cover, and pretty much anything else she can get her hands on; doesn't mind left overs - once; thinks sundays are the best day of the week; her favorite color is purple; she hopes that her loved ones know how much they have meant to her and works to make sure they don't forget; and lastly while I am not spying but just happen to catch a glimpse inside the house - she is happy more often than she is sad, she is grateful more often than she is wistful, and that she is confident and content more often than anything. There isn't much more that a Garden Gnome could want in a garden mistress.

127/365 If you really knew me PT VI

As this week of "if you knew me" is almost over, it was today when I had the privilege to share it with some of my newest "family members" I realized I had forgotten to talk about one of the most important things to me. My family.

Today's picture is a group of dedicated volunteers for Canine Companions for Independence. They are puppy raisers, breeder caretakers, as well as CCI graduates who are teamed with a fully trained service dog. In two short years I have met some of the most giving and charitable people who I am proud to call my friends and my GRC Family.  Next Friday and Saturday, across the United States, classes of service dogs and their partners will be graduating. Graduation marks the end of the journey for puppy raisers as they see their hard work meet their goals and expectations. However graduation is also a beginning for the graduate team who will go out in the world working together to be independent and live life to its fullest. (www.cci.org)

If you really knew me you would know that I am one of three sisters - but if I didn't tell you would never know we are sisters from other misters =); that I could not have been born with sisters as great as they are; that I am blessed to have shared special relationships with my grandparents.

If you really really knew me you would know that I attribute who and where I am to my "other mothers" (Jeannine Klock, Gail Kleve, Linda Jeffery, Jane Bruner, and Cindy Enloe) - without them I wouldn't be the woman I am today; that I hope I can be the same inspiration and support to another young woman as they were to me; and they are where I learned that family is about love not blood.

If you really really really knew me you would know that I feel blessed everyday that I have such wonderful friends who share their love and families with Dave and I, that I am grateful that I got the dad I did - I couldn't have had a better one; that I also completely lucked-out in the in-law department.

If you really really really really knew me you would know that I am completely sincere when I tell people I don't have children because I just have never felt the need to, that I am not going to "come around" one day and have them (seriously people 20 years of marriage and no children I would think you would get a clue), and that I am absolutely in love with the children in my life despite not having my own.