At A Glacial Pace

YAY HTML!

2012-01-31T22:39:00.000Z

This is Jess's IT supervisor. The Yummers page should now be working properly. At least is it on my end. If anyone is still having trouble getting to the Paypal page through the "Give" candy link, please comment below and let us know so we can make sure it's absolutely operational for all :)
Thanks!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

2012-01-31T21:27:00.000Z

Do you hear that?
That is the sound of time ticking by. And do you know what that means?
It means that we are that much closer to the launch of the Kissing Booth and the King and Queen vote!
However, you still have a few hours to get your photos in. So, if you were a bit shy, but have been thinking that you want to join the fun, send your photos to:
purple DOT tidalwave AT gmail DOT com
so we can enter you! We don't want anyone to miss out!
***
Also,
Shasta
you may want to check out the "Loved recipients" page. There is a message for you. ;)

Going once, Going twice...

2012-01-31T14:10:00.000Z

The deadline is quickly approaching for your smiling faces to be added to the Kissing Booth or the Valentine's Day King and Queen vote. In approximately fifteen hours, the entry will close and the pages will be posted for your viewing/kissing/voting pleasure.
So, if you would like to be a part of our Kissing Booth or have a chance at being voted Valentine's King or Queen, don't delay in sending in your photos to Jess and Glacier at:
purple DOT tidalwave AT gmail DOT com
There is no cost to have your photos added, but remember, that each kiss and each vote costs 1 American dollar.
We'd love to see you!
*Note: prizes are being awarded to the lucky creatures voted Queen and King*.
P.S. Thank you to Amber for letting me know that the Yummer's "give" button is not working. We are working on it. If anyone else is having any technological problems, please do not hesitate to send me an email to the address above. We want this to go as smoothly as possible and to be as fun as it can be. So, send in your questions/comments/suggestions.
PPS: To those of you using a screen reader, I personally couldn't get my screen reader to interact with the "give" buttons. I am not sure if that was because the buttons just weren't working or if they are not blind friendly. If it the latter, please let me know and I will find a way to make sure you can participate. :)

Fur My Sweetie: By Roscoe

2012-01-30T09:28:00.000Z

Guess whats everyone?

I haves a date to the Blogville Valentine's PAWTY and hers is a very lovely Lady. I'm sure you all knows hers too! It's the beautiful

Maggie Mae!

Isn't hers beautiful?

Can you believes it? Hers said she wanted to go dancings with me. With me! I am sooooooo excited! Mom said hers will give me dating lessons so that I am a complete gentleman for Maggie Mae. Mom says I needs to learn hows to open doors and hold them for my Lady; I haves to get hers her drinks at the PAWTY; I also needs to learns hows to hold my arm so hers can walk with me. There's so much stuffs to learns!

And do you knows what else?

It's Maggie Mae's birthday today! So, I gots hers a present.

Do you likes it Maggie Mae? It's a Yummer just fur you. I knows that theys are fur Valentine's Day, but I thought that you should have a yummer fur your birthday too.

I hopes you haves a wonderful birthday!

XOXO

Roscoe

Say Cheese

2012-01-29T16:18:00.000Z

Can you believe it, Blogville?
Just over two days for you to get your photos in for The Kissing Booth and vote for Valentine's Day King and Queen.
The pages are coming along very nicely and everything should be ready to launch on February 01. That means, if you want to pawticipate in the vote or in The Kissing Booth, then you need to get your fabulous faces into me by midnight January 31. That is not very far off.
Email your smiles/puckers/pouts to:
purple DOT tidalwave AT gmail DOT com
*There is NO cost to enter your photos*!
This also means that voting and kissing can start on February 01. Each kiss costs 1 dollar American and each vote also costs 1 dollar American, which will go towards helping Dog Foster Mom pay for the necessary privacy fence.
So, what are you waiting for?
Send us your photos and hurry.
We don't want anyone to miss out.
Happy Sunday :)
P.S. Don't forget that the Yummers Fur your Sweetie shop is open. Stop by and check out our (virtual) selection of treats and pick one for your honey. Or, there have been a few birthdays in Blogville as of late; maybe someone would like to get a plate of cookies?

A Valentine's Request From Roscoe

2012-01-27T12:17:00.000Z

Hellos Blogville:
This is Roscoe, doing this Blog thingy. I haves never done this before, but Glacier says it's easy. Easy for himms. I ams still confused by this typing thingy. Hims says he'll spellcheck for me when I'm done; whatever that is.
Anyways, I haves given up my very impawtant job of sleeping on the couch and protecting my Mom-Hers is my Mom, but Glacier's girl; very confusing-to ask a very impawtant question. And that is:
Are there any available ladies still left in Blogville?
When I saws that everyone was getting dates, even Glacier, I decided that I hadn't been practising my dance moves fur nothing. No, ssirree. Since I don'ts do this Blog thingy, I don't knows any of you lovely ladies and so would be most honoured if one of you wanted to take me-oh no, wait-if you would go with me...that's right isn't it? I take you rights?
Anyways, I knows I would be the most pawfect escort because I have the same job for the Daddy that Glacier has for my Mom; AKA hims girl.
I'm a guide dog. I would be ables to keep your paws from getting stomped on and make sure you didn't run into anything while we were grooving. Very impawtant stuffs.
Oh, Glacier says I shoulds show you who I am since you don't knows me. So, here it goes:

Here is me.

Me is so handsome. Wouldn't I look good on yours arm? Erm, you on mines. I am telling ya! This dating thingy is almost as confusing as this blog thingy. I ams a fast learner thoughs. I'll take dating lessons befures the PAWTY and be the pawfect date.
What Glacier?
Ohs another one.

Heres I am agains.
As you can sees, I ams a dog of many talents. I can snuggles, plays computer games and...erm, I don't knows whats I was doing in that other photo thingy. The Daddy has a sick sense of humours sometimes.
Anyways...Ladies?
Would someones likes to go to the Blogville Valentine's PAWTY with me? I pawmise, I'll take dating lessons befures February fourteens.

My Girl Can't Sit Still

2012-01-26T16:42:00.000Z

Hi there: Glacier here. I don't know if any of you have noticed, but my girl has itchy feet: she can't sit still. It amazes me that she can sit down and read a book without jumping up to do something.
Right now, hers is doing 87 million different thingies! No, really.
Hers has started volunteering with Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland; hers is constantly doing thingies for the Blogville PAWTY; hers has another blog (you can read it
here. and hers Highness Crazy Lady is training for a triathlon! And, now! Hers has decided it's a good idea to train for her triathlon AND raise moneys for the Labrador Retriever Rescue Scotland.
I tell ya! Hers doesn't know how to stay still!
Can anybodies come and tie hers to the couch?
XX
Glacier

My Dog Dream

2012-01-25T19:16:00.000Z

Things with the Labrador Rescue have been moving right along at a very quick pace. C has been amazing and hasn't said "no" to any of my ideas/suggestions, which has completely surprised me. Some of my ideas/plans have been a bit ambitious, but she just keeps giving me the green light and encouraging me.

This woman is truly Heaven sent. Where has she been all my life?

Actually, I'm glad it's taken me this long to find her. It has given me the opportunity to learn more about dogs, fundraising and a lot of other things that I think make me a better volunteer for the rescue.

Before Mr. K and I moved to Scotland back in August of 2011, I had created a website called

Furdemonium

that Mr. K designed for me. I haven't done much with it since moving to the Uk because I felt that I wasn't quite equipped to enter the world of dog training. I didn't have any contacts, no resources and I really wanted a mentor. After speaking to C over email today, I think I will be resurrecting Furdemonium and breathing some life into it.

C has given me the "go ahead" to be a follow-up resource for the people who rescue from Labrador Rescue. I will serve as a go to person to help with settling a dog into a home, training enquiries and other dog related issues. C even added to my duties by suggesting that I act as a resource for people who are thinking of re-homing their Labrador. She says often, a phone call or two can rectify a problem a person is having and she thinks that if she could send me to the person, that perhaps even more re-homings could be prevented. I just can't believe she is giving me so much responsibility with regards to the dogs.

One of my other tasks is to find a company willing to free source clickers to Labrador Rescue. I had asked C if she gave out starter kits with the re-homed Labradors and she said that in fact they did. However, clickers were not provided, which was something I suggested be in the package, and she said I could start looking for a "clicker sponsor" of sorts.

Other organisations wanted me to hand out posters and here C is encouraging me to train dogs.

All I can say is "wow."

Furdemonium will be used as a tool for aiding Labrador Rescue as well as providing a resource for owners. Who knows where this adventure will take me, but perhaps my dreams of working in the pet industry will come true. I'm just so excited that I can do what I love so much and help out such a wonderful person, C, and organisation.

A Whole Lot of Excitement

2012-01-25T17:43:00.000Z

There is so much going on that I hardly know where to start. So, here are a few updates, just in case you may have missed them.
First of all, the Yummers Fur your Sweetie page is open. This is where you may go and buy a (virtual) treat or two for your sweetie for Valentine's Day. You fuzzy creatures stealing your Mama's "plastic thingies," don't forget your humans. :)
All you have to do is go to the page, pick your treat and hit the button underneath it, which will bring you to a Pay Pal page. The cost of a treat is 1 US dollar and all proceeds go to Dog Foster Mom and helping her build her privacy fence.
*Note: Please remember to fill out the comment section on the Pay Pal page. This way, we know who bought what and for whom. If you don't want to be recognised, no worries. Just don't fill out that comments section. Once your payment has been confirmed and I have read your comment, I will make it public that so and so has bought a treat for so and so. There is a separate page for that*.
That brings me to my next thing. There is a page that displays the Yummers bought for sweeties. Please check this page as you may have received a Yummer. If you decide to purchase a yummer, please feel free to take the image of the yummer, display it on your blog and tell your sweetie yourself that you bought something for him/her.
Next item of business:
If you are unable to participate in the Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY, or just want to contribute more to Dog Foster Mom's fence fund, a "general donation" button has been added to the Updates and Information page found on this blog. This button allows you to select the amount you want to donate.
Thus far, all of the photos sent in for the Kissing Booth and King and Queen vote have been added to their respective pages. I'm gonna tell ya Blogville: we have some very lovely four leggers out there. There is still time to get your photos to me and we welcome them. If you have a photo for the Kissing Booth and/or for the Valentine's Day King and/or Queen vote, please email them to:
PURPLE DOT TIDALWAVE AT GMAIL DOT COM
You have until midnight on January 31. Got it? :)
Also, if anyone is looking for a fuzzy one to go to the dance with, I know Roscoe is looking for a date. Tune in tomorrow because he will be taking over the blog for the first time...ever!
I think, for now, that is all. If you have any questions about any of the activities, please do not hesitate to contact Jess and Glacier at the email address above. We always love your suggestions/comments/questions.

Good Stuff

2012-01-24T14:30:00.000Z

Glacier and Roscoe have been on a raw diet for just over two weeks now. Mr. K and I decided to go with a pre-made food for now as getting the ingredients for a raw diet may prove difficult as of right now. The food we selected, after many hours of research, was Natural Instincts and let me tell you, we, the dogs included, are very happy with the food.
As most of my readers know, Roscoe has a few allergies and commercial kibbles often make the allergies flare up. We had found a wet food, Nature Diet, that seemed to work for a while, but his stomach seemed to disagree with it after a while as well. His ears would become stinky and overly waxy after a few weeks, which would require the use of an ear cleaner. Both dogs' "deposits" were small, but the consistency wasn't quite right. So, I went on the hunt for a high quality, raw, pre-made food. Natural Instincts has a "Working dog" line, which we feed the boys, not only because it has more vitamins, but also because, for some reason, it is cheaper than the other Natural Instincts Options. I also like it because there is a variety of proteins to pick from and so the boys may get chicken one day, turkey another and beef yet another. The shipping was incredibly fast and the food arrived still frozen in little coolers. Their customer service is also quite satisfactory as I emailed at one point, wondering where our order was, and they phoned me back within a few hours of me sending the email. Yes, the food is a bit more expensive than what we were originally feeding Glacier and Roscoe, but I calculated it and they are eating 1100 grams of food less a day. That is huge. That means, that they are metabolizing the food better and actually using what is put into their systems.
Their coats are thicker and shinier, ears are clean, no paw chewing, poop is itty-bitty and their stinky doggie breath isn't nearly as bad. And, the boys love it! I mean, they are Labs and would probably love anything I put in front of them-Glacier has eaten velcro-but they are so excited for their meals now, I can hardly contain them.
At first, I thought they were starving and that I wasn't feeding them enough. The quantity of food I was feeding them had dropped drastically and I was concerned that they were not getting enough food. So, to experiment, I doubled their portions one day and they still acted crazy when it was meal time. It wasn't that they weren't getting enough, it was that they loved it so much.
Both boys know when it's close to meal time, as I am sure all dog owners can relate to. Roscoe starts prancing about and if I'm not fast enough, he will start talking to me. Ever since we made the food switch, he prances even more vigorously, even to the point where he runs around the living room like a mad man and talks even more vehemently. Glacier will move around, plunking into a sit and then moving to a new spot. He knows he has to sit for his food and perhaps he thinks that if he sits adamantly, then I'll feed him faster. This is at supper time. The mornings are a whole different story.
In the mornings, both boys start tap dancing next to my side of the bed and thrusting their cold noses under the covers. Glacier is tall enough to get his head on the bed without putting his paws up. If I am unresponsive, and Mr. K isn't in bed, Roscoe will leap on to the bed and start stamping on me and snuffing my face. If I move at all, indicating to him that his antics are working, then he starts hitting me with his front paws. The instant I throw back the covers, Roscoe has launched himself off the bed and lands in front of the bedroom door, where he resumes his tap dancing. I can't get the door open fast enough for the two of them. They both hold their "sit, stay" while they wait for me to dish it out, but they are quivering with anticipation.
Basically, we, all of us, are very satisfied with the food we have chosen. The dogs love its taste and the humans are happy with the results. I think we may have found a winner this time around; let's just hope it stays that way.
*Note: the opinions expressed here are mine and I have not received any kind of endorsement from Natural Instincts for my review; although, that would be nice*. :)

Anyone Hungry?!

2012-01-22T23:36:00.001Z

Hi everyone: Glacier here and I am here to make a huuuuuggggggeeee and excitin' announcement.
Are you ready?
Perhaps you should sit down...
Are you sittin'?
Okays...
Guess what?
My girl and one of her very bestest furriends, the human kind, worked and worked and played with 'puter thingies all night and
*takes deep breath*
the "Yummers Fur Your Sweetie" shop is open!
That is right Blogville. Treats right at your claw tips. I've seen them and they look fantabulous! The best pawt is that you can buy a Yummer, or two, fur your sweetie and all of the moneys will go to helpin' Dog Foster Mom.
You get to eat and help someone else. It doesn't get any better than that.
So, fur all of you snackers out there, stop in to the Yummers Fur your Sweetie page and purchase a treat fur yourself or your sweetie.
Here's what you have to do:
Go to the "Yummers Fur your Sweetie" page, under the heading "The Furry Family," and click on the page. (Don't ask why my girl decided to call our "pages" the "Furry Family." Hers is bonkers or somethin'). Then, all of the delicious yumminess will be right before your eyes. You scroll through and find the pawfect Yummer and then hit the Pay Pal button under it. Once you've made your purchase, or purchases, then go on to the comments section and let my girl know that you have bought a yummer and who you bought it fur. My girl will list everyone who bought treats and who received them. You are also encouraged to take the image of the yummer you purchased and display it on your own blog and let the special someone know that you were thinking of him or her.
Easy enough right?
What are you waitin' fur?!
Go on and start sniffin' around. You won't be disappointed.
***
Note from my girl: If there are any technical difficulties with the Pay Pal buttons, please contact me immediately so that I can work on rectifying the issue. I've never done this before, so bare with me. Thanks. :)

"Good Things Come to Those Who Wait."

2012-01-21T17:59:00.001Z

That statement couldn't be truer. Sometimes it feels like waiting will never end or that what you are waiting for will never come, but my stubborn, determination to work with a dog rescue has finally paid off. I have emailed countless organisations, both rescues and service dog organisations, in the hopes of being granted the opportunity to volunteer. Some have said flat out no, others have not returned my emails and others have told me I could help by doing door to door fundraising. None of these answers, or lack thereof, were very satisfying; not even close. Most recently, I had an organisation tell me that I could hand out posters at events. I'm sure that is a very necessary job, but I was looking for something that was a challenge and put my dog skills to the test. I also wanted to learn about dog training.
Well, my wait is finally over. It's been a year or two in the making, but the opportunities I have been granted with this rescue are beyond my greatest hopes. It's been in the works for about a week now, but I didn't want to say anything until things were a bit more permanent. I was worried I would jinx it with my enthusiasm. :)
Today was the day that solidified my spot as a volunteer with the Labrador Rescue of Scotland.
The woman who runs the rescue, we'll call her C, has been so incredibly open minded and willing to allow me to be involved. We had an hour long chat on the phone this afternoon, that was followed up by numerous text messages and emails. She's already assigned me a few projects that I started working on today. Some of them have to do with fundraising and others have to do with dog training. I feel very privileged to have found C and to have her embrace me as a whole, capable person. She's even asked me to draw up some training techniques I would use or exercises that I like for training that she wants to incorporate into her training classes.
My first project is to work with a low vision man and his rescued Labrador on some basic house manners. Apparently, she likes to jump up and so our first task is to teach her to keep all four paws on the floor. I was so shocked and excited that C was actually going to let me be a part of the training process. The man and I are supposed to meet at the beginning of February to discuss what he would like to accomplish with his dog and then to create a plan of attack.
I'm still in awe that this has actually happened. C keeps saying that I am "Heaven sent," but I think it's the other way around. :)

Sneakings and Discoverings

2012-01-20T14:36:00.000Z

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog for a very impawtant news release from our under cover Dachshund who has boldly gone where no Dachshund has gone before, or should go. To give you this impawtant report, our very own Glacier.
Take it away Glacier!
****
...Is this thing on...?
Helllooooo...
Oh, ahem.
Hello Blogville. This is Glacier reporting to you from a very secret location. It is so secret that my camera dude, Roscoe, was not allowed in.

What?!
What does that thingy have to do with my very impawtant report?
Why is we showin' our readers that our agent stoles my bone?!
Watevs...
Where was I? Oh yes...
..
We have received a very interesting report from our under cover Dachshund that the construction of the Valentine's Day Queen and King crowns is well under way. Our agent risked his life to bring us the report that the crowns are still in their beginning stages, but that he saw a lot of shiny stuffs in the room where the crowns are being held.

Our agent. Isn't him handsome? He's quite brave too, ladies.
He had to traverse rough terrain, fighting gale force winds and deep snow.

And had to be the sneakiest of sneaky as the crown making room is under heavily armed guards.

*shudders*.

Brave, brave Baloo, erm, I mean, Special Agent Spotty Man.

This is all of the informationals Special Agent Spotty Man was able to give me as of right now, but he plans a sneakier, secret attack on the Crown Making room. So we will know fur sure that the crowns are bein' made and that the armed guards aren't just keepin' the shiny stuffs for themselves. Thank you Special Agent Spotty Man for going where no Dachshund has gone before and should never go.

This is Glacier, signing off fur now.

A Quick Reminder

2012-01-19T11:26:00.000Z

Hello everyone: Glacier here to give you a gentle reminder. *nudge, nudge*.
My girl is a bit worn out from running
six K yesterday,
so she asked me to make this a short and sweet post. So, here it is.
We are still needing, and wanting, your beautiful kissable faces for The Kissing Booth. Quite a few cuties have sent in their adorable mugs, but we need more.
Also, our Queen and King vote candidates are a bit sparse. As of right now, we have three beautiful single ladies, including my lovely Nola, for the Queen vote. That isn't many. We've added a new category to the vote as well. If you are a couple and want to be voted for together, then send us a photo with the two of you together. We have a few handsome couples already.
That is it for today. My girl has a massage client coming in and she needs to get ready. Come back tomorrow to see the lovely award we were given. :)

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T10:44:00.000Z

Baby Glacier

Just a Shy Guy

2012-01-17T09:52:00.000Z

Hello everyone: Glacier here with a very impawtant question.
Oh, I am so nervous.
*Ahem*.
It would seem that Blogville is really gettin' ready for the big PAWTY and my girl and I are very excited bouts that. Seems like everything is comin' together and now that we know this thingy is actually happenin' I began to notice that
This guy

has been cruising around Blogville and working his magic.
It seemed like everyone was lining up dates; everyone except me.

*This is me. Just in case you didn't know*.
But then, I noticed this lovely Sable girl and gots to thinkin' that maybe, just maybe she'd want to go to the PAWTY with me.
*shuffles paws nervously*.
I first saw hers when her photos came in for the Valentine's Day Queen vote and the Kissing Booth. I didn't know then that I was allowed to ask anyone to the dance, so I was thinkin' I'd just give her a smooch in The Kissing Booth. But, after
Max
asked
Puddles
and
Max, DaOdder Weenie
asked
Anna Rose
I gots to thinkin' I should ask my Sable girl too.
So...
*Ahem*.
Dachshund Nola
I may be 66 pounds bigger than you,

See? I'm kind of big.
but
I am a gentle, shy guy who would love it if you would go to the PAWTY with me?
Please?
My girl always says "please" goes a long way. Here's to hopin' she's right.
Oh! I almost furgot....
These are fur you!

Any Takers?

2012-01-16T10:09:00.001Z

Hello everyone: Glacier here, doing my girl a favor.
She has been so busy puttin' photos on to a page thingy, sendin' out email thingies and all sorts of excitin' thingies for the Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY. So, I told her to give her fingers a rest this morning and I would type for her. She's off in the kitchen makin' some coffee. That's one of the only thingies that the Daddy lets her make. Hers is not so good in the kitchen. Anyway, gotta type fast befure she comes back. I have some favors to ask and I need to tell ya the truth so that you understand how desperately I need your help. She won't like it! So, here it goes.

With all of the excitin' plannin' my girl seems to have missed one very impawtant detail: if we're gonna be dancin' we're gonna need music. She has sent me on the hunt for a band or a DJ. There has got to be a band or a DJ somewhere out there in Blogville? Mayor Frankie suggested Puddles could sing "Rain drops keep falling on my head" over and over again if we can't find a band. So, I am hopin' we can find some music for our dancin'...no offense Puddles.
My girl thinks that maybe she could teach Fiona, Plato and Yoda to play some instruments in two weeks if she had to, but those flying Monkey thingies she calls Sugar Gliders give me the creeps. Just the other day Fiona pulled one of the Daddy's keys off of his keyboard in search of treasures. They have thumbs!
Thumbs I tell ya!
I'm thinkin' that they probably could be trained, but there's no tellin' what they'll do. So, is anyone out there musically inclined in any capacity? If not, the Flying Monkeys may be our only option.
More concerning than the Flying Monkeys performin' at the Blogville PAWTY is that my girl needs to bake a birthday cake. She won't tell me whose, but it's someone's birthday on February fourteenth and she thinks that all of Blogville needs cake to celebrate. I like cake! Oh, wait. I've never had cake...my girl is thinkin' that it should be a critter friendly cake. Now, listen very carefully, my girl may be able to teach the Flying Monkeys to play instruments, but that girl should NOT, under any circumstances, be allowed to bake!
I repeat! Under no circumstances!
She and the kitchen disagree. She's lit the stove on fire, boiled a sponge into her pasta salad and dogness knows what else!
True stories! I wasn't there, but my girl's first guide dog, Jetta, told me all bouts it.
So, please Blogville! I am beggin' ya! Can someone bake a critter friendly cake?
Pppppllllllleeeeaaassssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't let her do it!
Just don't!!!!!!
Oh, hers is comin' back. Gotta hurry.
If you can bake a critter friendly cake for February 14th, can you email my girl at:
purple DOT tidalwave AT gmail DOT com
Don't tell hers I warned ya bouts her cookin'...okay?
*****
Update: Glacier back again. Have you seen what Mayzie is doing fur the PAWTY?! Hers needs a date and she's turned it into a contest. I was going to enter, but brother Roscoe saw her photo and is smitten. So, I will back off.
If you're looking for a date, gentlemen, go on over to her
blog
and enter, but just be warned, Roscoe is entering too.

I'm A Working Stiff

2012-01-15T15:53:00.001Z

No, really. I am. There's no shame in it. I live for my job and work for my life; and my girl's life too.

You don't believe me?

Let me tell ya all bouts it.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Glacier. Not Iceberg, Ice cube or Blizzard as some would like to call me: it's Glacier. I know it because it was the first thing I learned. It's the first word that leaves my girl's mouth when she's giving me a cue. Cues like, "Glacier forward," or "Glacier find the curb."

That's right. I find curbs and a whole bunch of things. Curbs, chairs, doors, stairs, escalators, elevators. I even know how to "find the Daddy." My girl taught me that one because both her and the Daddy's eyes don't work so well. That's why my girl has me. That's why I'm a working stiff.

My training started when I was a little wee guy. I lived with a really great family who taught me all the things I would need to know to be a working dog. Then, I moved into a school for six months and started learning a whole bunch of new things; things like watching for cars, moving safely around obstacles, ignoring food/people/other dogs. That ignoring thing was the hardest thing to learn. I'm a Labrador, how can I possibly ignore food?

But I do because it is my job. If I stop to pick up that tasty french fry off of the ground, my girl could walk into a pole or even out into traffic. I'm expected to be aware of my surroundings and ignore them all at once. It used to be confusing. Now, it's just my job; a job that I love.

My job has let me do some pretty cool things. I get to go into malls, grocery stores, ride on trains/planes/buses. Anywhere my girl goes, I'm going too. I was even there when she carried the Olympic torch. How many dogs can say they got to help carry the Olympic torch?

As soon as my girl gets my harness off the hook by the door, I am right at her side. I won't let her go anywhere without me. She might get hit by a car if I don't go along. So, she can just put that notion out of her silly head that she's leaving me at home. My girl seems to think she makes the decisions, but it's really me. She may tell me where we're going, but dude, I'm the one who doesn't let her walk forward if there's a car coming. I'm the one who finds the door when it's time to turn in. What if I didn't want to go to the gym today? Did you ever think about that little missy?

I'm a working stiff and proud of it. Don't believe me?

watch this!
I am ready to go to work; boots and all! (Did she really have to put those on me? And the coat? Oh the shame!
*****
This is Glacier's entry for the
Mango Minster 2012
Working Stiff category.

Blogville PAWTY Updates

2012-01-15T13:34:00.000Z

Are you getting excited?
Have you been practising your moves?
How about picking out the pawfect outfit?
Things are heating up around here, Blogville!
How so?
***
Pictures have been coming in for The Kissing Booth, and let me tell you, four and two legged kind alike are going to have a hard time dragging themselves away.
For those of you who don't know about the Kissing Booth, allow me to fill you in. The Kissing Booth is going to be set up right here under the title "The Kissing Booth." Pretty simple so far right? On February first, the booth will open with lovely ladies and real gentlemen for your smooching pleasure. Just simply scroll through the page of "Kissables" and select the one you'd like to smooch. From there, you click "smooch" and you will have planted one on the pup, cat, crab, hamster, horse, Sugar Glider Etc Etc of your choice. Now, if there are just too many fabulous faces out there that you simply cannot resist, then smooch as many as you'd like. Each kiss costs a dollar, but all of the proceeds, minus Pay Pal's fee, will go towards assisting
Dog Foster Mom
build her well deserved and very needed privacy fence.
Now that we know what The Kissing Booth is, is there anyone else out there who'd like to be a "kissable?" If so, send me your photo to:
purple DOT tidalwave AT gmail DOT com
with the words "Kissing Booth" somewhere in the subject line. Also, don't forget to tell us who you are so we can put your name up with your picture at the booth.
*Note: The deadline for photos is January 31 at midnight*.
Photos for the Valentine's Day Dance King/Queen vote have also started arriving in my in-box. If you need more information about this activity, or you would like to pawticipate please contact me at the email address above. (I heard roomers of prizes for the winners of the King and Queen titles, respectively).
Information about all activities can also be found on the Update page found on this blog.
*****
On to the new stuff!
Yummers fur Your Sweetie has been added to our activities for the great Blogville bash.
Sarge
suggested that snacks would be welcome at any PAWTY. Glacier fervently agreed and so "yummers" can be purchased for a dollar for your special someone. You know Labradors and their stomachs. As of right now you can go and gawk at the mouth watering treats that are on sale, but they are not quite ready for purchase. Ordering will soon be available. Once you can place your order(s), I would encourage you to take the image of the treat you purchased, display it on your blog and let whoever you bought it for know that a treat has been purchased for him/her. Also, I will keep a list of who bought the treats and for whom they were purchased and make that list public. So, you will be able to check if you got a Yummers; or two.
*****
Our raffle prizes just keep growing. A wonderful donation from H Gibson, a Scottish artist has brought our prize count up over ten prizes. H Gibson has generously donated three prints of her work and two hand painted/dyed scarves. Photos of all prizes will soon be available on the Pawsome Raffle Prize page. If you have anything you would like to contribute to our raffle prizes, please do not hesitate to contact me at the email address listed above.
Currently, I am awaiting a response from Nylabone and a few other pet product companies to find out whether or not they would be willing to donate raffle prizes.
***
I have also heard roomer of the Valentine's Day King and Queen crowns being crafted in a secret location where no one will be able to find them until February fourteenth. I have heard, from a very reliable source, that armed guards have been put on patrol to ensure the safety of the crowns. I will give you more information when my informant has gleaned details from his snoopervising assignment. He's a Dachshund, so I am very confident in his snoopervising abilities.
*****
So, isn't this all exciting? The plans have been made and we're going to give you a great PAWTY!
As always your suggestions, comments, questions Etc, about any of the activities are welcome.
Oh, and don't forget to take the PAWTY badge for your blog if the fancy to write about the PAWTY should strike you.
Happy Sunday, Blogville. :)

Striding Along

2012-01-13T18:24:00.000Z

Today was a busy day for Glacier and I. . I include Glacier because when I have things to do, that means Glacier has things to do. There aren't many places I go without my big, Yellow Fellow striding along at my side and today was no exception. Our first stop, the gym.
We left the flat around 12:40, fighting the lunch crowd clogging the sidewalks. The sun was shining this afternoon, the first time in probably a month and the weather was mild. People probably wanted to soak up as much Vitamin D as they could. I can't lie, I probably would have enjoyed staying out longer and running outside instead of at the gym if I had the means. The sun felt good soaking into my skin as Glacier and I made our way to the gym.
I had left the flat a bit jittery as there is a crossing just two blocks from the gym that makes me incredibly nervous. The crossing is very busy with buses and cars turning and I've nearly been hit by a bus there. There isn't a way to control the traffic and so you have to wait to hear a lull in the traffic and then run across. Not my idea of safe. I got myself so worked up into a tizzy, I barely noticed the sunshine at first or the crowds of people. Glacier and I made our third crossing, a busy intersection that is currently under construction, and in my nervousness I steered us in the wrong direction. I couldn't tell you where I made the mistake and I can't tell you how we got out of it, but at the time I knew how to get back to the street we were actually supposed to be walking down. The jolt of getting lost, momentarily, made me realise that fretting about the crossing that was still far off was not going to get us there safely. I started paying attention, noticing the sun finally, the people bustling about and Glacier's easy, comfortable trot. I began to enjoy myself.
We arrived at the gym without incident. At the crossing that had befuddled me so early on in our walk, an older gentleman assisted me across the road. He was very nice and asked if I was crossing before telling me it was safe. I appreciated his unassuming demeanor and that he asked. Once across that street, it was smooth sailing.
After pounding out over 5 K on the treadmill, I collected Glacier from the office and we were off again. I was impressed at his composure when we passed a playground filled with screaming, squawking, crying, laughing pre-school kids. Some of them were even riding little toys that made a racket and even though Glacier glanced at the madness behind the fence, he didn't flinch, despite the overwhelming noise.
We made it back across the dreaded crossing with the assistance of the same gentleman and met Tenie and Carmen at our specified meeting location. Then, it was on the bus for us to stop at the girls' Letting Agency, to the bank and then a stop for a bite to eat for the humans. Glacier was a super star ignoring the hordes of people out and about and curled up and behaved himself on the bus rides and at the little Italian restaurant we stopped in at. Can I just say, delicious!
On the ride home, I was impressed to discover that the bus we were taking talked to its passengers, letting them know where they were and what stop was coming up. Apparently, all of the UK is working towards making all of the fleets of buses talk, which would make my life so much easier. Taking the city bus means asking the driver which bus it is before getting on and then asking the driver to let you know when you reach your stop. It is easy to worry the whole ride whether the driver will remember or not, or if you will even hear him/her over the noise of the bus and its passengers. The talking buses are fantastic and I'm glad to see them finally being put out on the roads.
The four of us, hopped off at a different stop so that we could stop in at the vet. Guide dogs that are registered with The Guide Dog Association here have their medical expenses covered. In order for that to happen, a health book is used to document the dogs' medical information and any procedures/vaccinations Etc that may have occurred. Glacier and Roscoe's books had come in just before Christmas and we had to get them to the vet's office so that the vet could actually get paid for caring for the boys.
It was home time after that quick visit. Glacier had met a little puppy named Charlie who liked to whack Glacier in the face with his paws. At one point, Glacier popped Charlie on the head, the way he used to do with Baloo, but I put a stop to that. I don't care if Glacier whacks my dogs on the head, but he should not be bopping other people's puppies; unless he knows them of course.
We walked part of the way home with Tenie and Carmen, chatting away. We eventually reached the corner where we go our separate ways and Glacier guided me safely home. His curb work was excellent and I made sure to give the correct directions this time. I think I've said this before, but it is amazing to me what a little patience and consistency has done for Glacier and I.
In October I thought I would have to retire him. Our independent travel was definitely unsafe and Glacier seemed disinterested in keeping the two of us safe. It's something he and I have struggled with since day one, but the last couple of months he's come a very long way. I know now that his nervous/anxious reaction to big changes is to shut down, but knowing that allows me to give him what he needs to get back on his paws, so to speak. Traveling around a big city, such as Edinburgh, is so much easier for me with a guide dog and I am just glad Glacier and I were finally able to figure each other out and continue to work together.
I think Glacier enjoyed his day out as much as I did, but after I showered, fed him and Roscoe, took them out and got the Sugar Gliders' food ready, we're both crashed out on the couch; settled in for the night. Being a guide dog isn't easy, I would think; especially if you are my guide dog and i get myself so worked up about something trivial and get us temporarily misplaced. They never truly rest when we're out in public even if they are just lying under a table at a cafe. Glacier stays on alert for when I get up and when we're walking, it's his job to be watching for the both of us. I can't blame him for needing a nap after all of that.

A Wee Update

2012-01-11T18:24:00.000Z

Oh, no! It's happened! I am talking like a UKer. I tried to take that word "wee" out, but it just sounds so much better with it in...Anyway, on to today's business!
*****

So, guess what?
! VIP has come through for us! That's what.
I don't know what the product is, but it is to be shipped to Mr. K's Mom's house, since a US address was needed. Once it arrives, I'll fill all of you lovely people in on what it is.
Thank you
VIP!
Do you know what else?!
Our very first photo for the Kissing Booth has made its appearance in my In-box. I won't tell who it is, but all I can say is: you better pucker up boys! She's a beauty. :)
And, last but not least: your hostess-that would be me-has this little thingy that effects her ability to tell what things are. That's right: the blind one got the Kong products mixed up. It wasn't until last night when a friend with working eyeballs was over, that she clarified my mistake. So, let's go over what Kong actually sent, and not what I thought they sent. ;)
1 Kong Senior (I thought it was a bit soft),
1 XXL red Kong Classic,
1 Kong Wobbler (there was no mistaking that),
and the three mini Kong key chains, which my friends tried to make off with last night. And they're not even crazy dog people like me! That is how cute these key chains are. I'll be making the corrections on the Pawsome Raffle Prize page.
So, that is it for now. I think it has been an exciting couple of days with The Kong Company's generous donation; our first Kissing booth photo arriving; and the surprise donation from VIP. I think this is going to be one Pawsome PAWTY!!!

On The Hunt for Food

2012-01-10T13:04:00.000Z

My dogs' health is always a concern for me. Their diets are an integral part of their health and finding the right food for both Glacier and Roscoe has always been a struggle. Ultimately, Mr. K and I would love to raw feed them, but we run into two concerns.
1. The cost. From what I can tell things might be more pricy. Currently, we have estimated we are spending around 75 pounds a month on a commercial, complete wet food called Nature Diet. I think it is a brand exclusive to the UK as I've never seen it in North America when I was doing dog food research before.
and
2. Our flat is small. Providing a place that could be easily sanitized after meals poses a large problem. There just isn't the room for crates, or even one crate for that matter.
The biggest problem we are finding is that nearly every food we have looked at in the UK has rice in it. I don't know what the obsession with feeding one's dog rice is, but it's everywhere.
Dear dog food manufacturers: dogs don't need rice! Where the crap did they get rice from when they were roaming free?
Ahem...anyway...
We had them on Orijen, a food common in North America and actually Canadian made, but whatever they do to it here just does not agree with our boys' systems. While eating Orijen, a high quality dry commercial food, they became stinky, Roscoe's coat started falling out in clumps, their eyes were constantly oozing and Roscoe's ear issues flared up again. Not to mention, we were paying more for poorer results. I had wanted them eating a kibble, even if only at every other meal, to keep their teeth clean, but after those results Orijen was scrapped from the menu. We went back to Nature Diet.
The problem with Nature Diet is that I'm not sure I trust the packaging process, or perhaps the store we are getting it from is not storing it properly, but whatever the reason, ever since switching them back to Nature Diet Roscoe has had slimer, runny poop three times; just randomly. The food doesn't smell bad to me when I dish it out, but he'll start whining at us to take him out. Sometimes he has to go almost immediately after or it will be hours later. This has happened on more than one occasion when Mr. K and I are 100 percent sure he didn't have any treats, bones or eat anything playing off leash. So, it has to be the food. We can't have a guide dog who randomly has diarrhea. Well, no dog with diarrhea is very nice, but Roscoe is expected to go into public places. We can't risk him having an upset tummy and him exploding all over a mall.
Thankfully, he's really good at warning us, but the other morning his warning wasn't enough and I wasn't able to get him out. He pooped all over our foyer floor. Have you ever tried cleaning up runny poop off of a wooden floor? Yuck! It was that time that I had had enough. Before that, his horrible poop was flung at me during a wind storm and ended up caking my jeans. It was the mess on the floor that decided me: we needed a new food.
I spent the greater part of Saturday researching commercial foods. What I really want, if this were a perfect world, my dogs would be eating raw, but meat isn't cheap. So, I researched probably close to ten different brands. Out of those brands, and the dozens of others I dismissed because I already knew they contained rice, I found only two that didn't have rice or grains. These foods are considered to be a part of the BARF diet and contain only a protein source and some fruits and vegetables. It's so expensive though.
Mr. K and I ordered just under what we would normally pay for a month's supply of Nature Diet and are going to see how long it lasts us. There is 18 kilograms of frozen dog food supposedly headed to our flat. My only concern is where we're going to fit it all. Well, I'm also wondering how the boys will take to it, is it going to be more expensive than the Nature Diet and will Roscoe's tummy approve? The brand we're trying out is called "Natural Instinct." I have never heard of it before my incessant researching, but that doesn't mean anything.
If this food fails, I'm not sure what we'll do. Maybe I'll go to the local butcher and see what he can offer us. The only thing is I think his prices might be a bit outrageous. Someone told me that he charges close to ten pounds for a rabbit. Ten pounds! I have two dogs both weighing close to or over seventy LBS. They'd eat one rabbit for a meal between them. I just hope this new food works and one day, when I am rich and famous, we'll be able to raw feed our dogs. Until then, let's hope Natural Instinct (Working Dog Beef/Chicken/Turkey) doesn't break the bank or Roscoe's intestinal tract.

Are You Ready Blogville?: The Unveiling!

2012-01-09T17:54:00.000Z

Look at it!

Isn't it beautiful?!

This, Blogville is the badge designed for us, by Baloo's now Mama, for our Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY. It's your badge too, so feel free to display it proudly. :)
Now, if you'll excuse me: I have a badge to add to a few pages. ;)

Baby Pictures

2012-01-09T09:02:00.000Z

I've promised a few of you that I would post photos of our little Flying Monkeys. I'm not the photographer of the family; in fact, I'm sure some of you can attest to my non-photo taking abilities, but Mr. K seems a bit more talented in that department. If you are wanting to see our newest fur kids, you can see a couple of them on Mr. K's blog
here.
There is one labeled "Superman" and that is Yoda at the top of our blinds in our flat. Another is labeled "rockin' out" and that is Plato coming out of Mr. K's guitar. I missed all of the fun last night because I went to bed at 6 PM-thank you creeping crud-but it sounds like Mr. K and the babies had a good time.
As for Glacier, Roscoe and I: we spent the evening and whole night curled up in bed. I was so tired and felt so crummy, I fell under the covers wearing my clothes and woke up this morning still fully dressed. They did a great job of sandwiching me between them; ensuring I was warm and secure. Both boys left me long enough to have Mr. K take them out to "park," but came bounding back on to the bed once let back in. They promptly took up their snuggle positions and slept until I woke up this morning. I do feel quite a bit better-the pain in my head/face/neck has subsided-but I think I may be going back to bed for a while longer. Thanks for all of the well wishes and happy Glider watching. :)
*****
Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY Update: the badge is almost ready. I will let you know once it is posted on the Information page. Once it's up, please feel free to take it to display it on your blog.

Glacier's Grumblings

2012-01-08T14:02:00.000Z

I said, "I would like to go for a walk please?"
What do you mean you need to drink water, sit on the couch and blow your nose loudly? Come on! Fresh air will do you some good; I promise...!
At least, I think that is what Glacier is telling me. If that is what he's saying, he's probably right. I haven't got him out to work for a couple of days, except for a ten to fifteen minute walk on Friday when a rep from the Guide Dog Association was around for their yearly check in.
It seems like, ever since we moved, I'm more sick than I am healthy. It's strange because normally I'm quite healthy; getting maybe one bad cold all winter season. This season though, it seems like every month another bug has attacked my system.
I think part of it is because all of these colds/flus are completely different strains my body has probably never fought off before. It's like I have to build a new immune system because of our move. I think another issue may be that the weather is so wonky. One day it's pleasantly warm out and then the next you're bundling up to your eyeballs just to take the dogs out to relieve. I've also noticed that whenever I've been away from the gym-either due to training outside, or because I took a week off as a break-I end up getting sick as soon as I go back. I don't know if people aren't wiping the machines off or what, but it's like clock work. I go to the gym and about five to six days later, I've got the creeping crud. It's more annoying than anything.
I do think, though, that it is relatively warm outside today-almost reaching 50 F-and so I may venture out for a short walk. Not only to get myself fresh air, but to let my big yellow fellow stretch his legs. For the last couple of days, he's been curled up next to me, patiently enduring my sneezing, nose blowing and groaning. I bet "snuggling extraordinaire" wasn't outlined to him as a part of his job description, but he's taken it like a champ. :)

*****
Side note: If you haven't noticed, two pages related to our Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY have been put up. The "Pawsome Raffle Prize" page is still under construction, but feel free to take a gander at both and let me know what you think.

Thank You Kong!

2012-01-07T11:22:00.000Z

Well, Blogville. We wanted raffle prizes and we got some. Yes, that's right: I said "some," but let me start at the beginning just in case some of you don't know what I'm talking about.

On February 14th there is going to be a Blogville bash like no other. Not only is it Valentine's Day complete with PAWTYING, but all of the fun will benefit

Dog Foster Mom

and all of the wonderful adoptable animals she has in her own home. A page is going to be added to my blog with all of the details so that if you want to know anything about the PAWTY, like what time it starts or what fun things you can pawticipate in, you can just look on the page displayed at the bottom of this blog. Of course, I'll still let you know about updates, but this will allow you to find all of the information in one place.

Speaking about updates: I have a very exciting one to share with you.

A pawty just wouldn't be a pawty without raffle prizes. We've had a few generous donations from some great people, like Fiona and *angel* Gus's breeder, and today our pool of prizes just grew immensely.

The Kong Company

has donated three, count 'em, three prizes for our raffle draw. I had contacted Kong originally asking for a product to be donated for you lovely folks to win and when the package arrived this morning I was shocked at how big the box was! In fact, it was so large, I didn't think it was the box from Kong until I opened it and found:

1 Classic Kong red,

1 King Kong black,

1 large Kong Wobbler

and 3 mini Kong key chains.

Can I just say, those key chains are adorable?!

Not to mention, the Kong Wobbler is one of Glacier and Roscoe's favourite toys. They were both confused when I put the box away without sharing the goodies inside with them.

With three larger Kong products paired with three mini Kong key chains, there will be three prizes for your ticket purchasing pleasure. Photos of the raffle prizes and the ability to purchase tickets will soon be available.

All I can say is:

"THANK YOU KONG!" Your generosity completely blew my mind.

With this great news, I'm off to create our "information" page.

I know I'm excited: what do you say Blogville?!

When Flying Monkeys Attack

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000Z

Okay, perhaps our Sugar Gliders-Yoda, Plato and Fiona-didn't attack, but they sure were plotting.
Last night was another successful night in the tent. Fiona, Yoda and Plato were not entirely impressed that Mr. K had put them into a carrier to be transferred from their cage to the tent, but once they were out of the carrier and roaming free, all complaining ceased. After returning from
the gym
Mr. K and I climbed into the tent for another bonding session with our flying monkeys. The evening started out with the usual gliding, climbing, jumping, scurrying Etc. All three gliders were in great moods; especially Fiona, who was climbing the tent walls more than she ever has. She was also good about not chomping as much-she only chomped me twice-and was more concerned with giving Mr. K's hand a bath. She even hopped up on my shoulder and did her little "squeak tsk" thing she does when she's playing or happy.
Both boys were zooming around like the crazy little guys that they are. Plato was racing as fast as he could and Yoda was contented to scurry about and then come back to chill on either mine or Mr. K's back. Originally, Mr. K had one of his shirts in the tent because that is where all three Gliders had been asleep when he removed them to the tent. Plato kept trying to get back in it and then crabbing angrily whenever he got snuggled in, so I pitched it out of the tent. His crabbing stopped.
Fiona found a new fun game that entertained her for almost the whole time we were in the tent. We've put a fleece blanket on the floor of the tent to make it more comfortable and also to reduce the crinkling sound made by the bottom of the tent. We read somewhere that the sharp plastic noise can scare the Gliders at first and to reduce that, a blanket spread out is a good idea. Last night, Fiona decided that tunneling under the blanket and running from one side of the tent only to pop out at the other end was great fun. I'm not sure why she did this, but she was so happy, sneaking from one end to the other. Well, she thought she was sneaking, but the little "tick, crinkle" of her claws gave her away.
After being in the tent for nearly two hours, Yoda came to perch on my shoulder. Earlier he had tried to burrow in my pocket, but I think the space was a bit too small for him. After a minute or two of just hanging out, Yoda started moving close to my neck and hair. I thought he was going to groom me, but suddenly he started burrowing under the neck line of the hoodie I was wearing and disappeared down the back of my shirt. He would not come out. I think he was off to take himself a nap. Plato soon discovered his brother's hiding place and every time he tried to burrow in, Yoda crabbed at him. Finally, Plato found a spot closer to my other shoulder and settled in. He wasn't as tucked in as Yoda was, but the two sat and crabbed at each other from my two shoulders.
I couldn't stop laughing. First of all, it tickled so much. The Sugar Glider's fur is so soft that it felt like someone was rubbing a cashmere sweater on my back. Plus, their little feet tickle and Yoda kept rooting with his nose so that he could get in further. I was trying not to move and tears rolled down my face in the effort of keeping my laughter in check.
By this point, Mr. K and I had thought of getting out of the tent, but we couldn't figure out how to get Plato and Yoda out of my hoodie. Fiona was scurrying around on my back looking for them and both boys were still having their crabbing war. Plato was mostly in the hood of my hoodie, so Mr. K suggested taking my top layer off. I thought Yoda was in that superficial layer as well, but when the hoodie came off and only Plato could be heard crabbing in the sweater, we knew Yoda was still tucked in for his nap.
Mr. K suggested pulling my second shirt off, but as my shoulders are a bit big from when I was a swimmer, pulling shirts over my head is difficult at the best of times; never mind when there is a flying monkey going to sleep on my back. I tried three different ways to pull the shirt off and finally succeeded by yanking my arm through the hole and then my head. Off came the shirt, but still no Yoda.
Since we had been at the gym, I had my sports bra still on and he had managed to wiggle under the thick strap and down under the back. He was determined that he was staying on Mama for his sleep. The problem was not only did we need to get out of the tent, but Fiona and Plato were already in the food box, ready to be transferred back to the cage. We always bring the carrier in with their food-AKA a Glider kitchen-when we are ready to get out. That way, the gliders usually hop in, we close the lid and they are moved back to their cage safely. But, Yoda was convinced that he was just fine where he was.
Hoping to scare him off, I put my hand on my shoulder and petted him. Instead of leaving, he rubbed his head against my hand. It was so darn cute that I didn't want to move him, but by this point all of the water I had drank at the gym had kicked in and I knew Glacier and Roscoe probably needed out for their last "park" time of the night. Mr. K tried scooping Yoda off my back and even though Yoda let Mr. K pet him, he was not coming unstuck from my sports bra. Finally, I put the shirt I had taken off over him and gently scooped him into it. He crabbed a bit, probably wondering how he had been captured, and we were able to transfer him into the Glider kitchen with the others. The instant Yoda noticed there was food, he stopped his complaining and chowed down. The lid on the carrier/Glider kitchen was closed and our little stow aways were returned safely back to the cage.
Our little flying monkeys never cease to amaze me. They are so much fun and both boys have such a sweet demeanor. Fiona is making bonding strides and we are so glad that she actually likes us again. If having Yoda stuffed down the back of my shirt is what it is like to have a bonded Glider with you, I'm ready for it; just without the strip routine. :)

Blogville Valentine's Pawty Update and Reminders

2012-01-04T11:22:00.001Z

I'm gonna sing it from the mountain tops; yell it as loud as I can:
Blogville is having a Valentine's Day PAWTY!
Do you remember the date yet? No? Perhaps I should remind you.
On February 14th, Blogville is gonna have a pawty like no other; at least that is the plan. ;)
The only way that's gonna happen though is if everyone is there. So, tell your furriends to get their best dresses out and their dancing shoes on so that this Valentine's Day Pawty Benefit will be a huge success.
If you already didn't know, and even if you did, the Valentine's Dance is being thrown to benefit
Dog Foster Mom
and the wonderful foster animals she loves and cares for.
Since we want this event to be huge there is a lot of planning to do. This is where we stand so far.
-Raffle Prizes: I put up a call out on my personal Facebook page yesterday to see if anyone would be able to contribute a pawsome prize. To my great surprise and pleasure, Fiona and *angel* Gus's breeder said she would donate an item for you lovely folks. What a sweet and generous thing for her to do. I'll let you know more about the item once I have more details.
I have also been in contact with a few big names in the pet industry in the hopes that they may donate a few items for prizes, but I've only heard back from one such company and since I'm not a registered charity, they will not donate. Let's keep our paws, fingers, toes, claws, Etc. crossed that The Kong Company and VIP comes through for us.
The page for the raffle tickets still needs to go under construction.
-Photos: We need 'em. There are two activities at this pawty that requires your smiling faces.
1. The vote for Valentine's Day King and Queen needs contestants. Send me your photos to:
purple.tidalwave@gmail.com
with your name within the body of the email, a photo of you in all of your Valentines Day glory and the words "Valentine's Day Queen and/or King vote" in the email's subject line. Easy enough right?
2. The infamous Kissing Booth is going back up. So, if you think "you gots the moves" then send me your photo to:
purple.tidalwave@gmail.com
The email must contain your name, the most kissable photo you've got and the words "kissing booth" in the subject line of the email.
*NOTE: If you want to pawticipate in both the Kissing Booth and Vote just let me know and your wish is my command*.
The deadline for photos for both the Vote and Kissing booth is January 31 at midnight. Got it? January 31 at midnight. If anyone knows how to set up a page with "vote" buttons" and Pay Pal, would you like to give me a tutorial?
-The badge: That is currently under construction as we speak. I've got a very techy friend of mine-Baloo's new Mama-on the job. So, have no fear.
-Yummers For Your Sweetie: Another page that needs to go under construction.
So, as you can see, we have a lot of work to do, but it is so worth it. If anyone thinks they can lend a hand, paw, talon, flipper...even if you think it's in the smallest way, please let me know.
Now, I better go find Glacier: I think he's practising his dance steps...no one's told him that "the Sprinkler" is so 1980's. ;)
*****
Update: Right after this post was published, I received an email from Kong stating that they will send an item for the raffle prizes. Way to go Kong!

A Sugie Surprise

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000Z

We did it: last night, Mr. K, Fiona, Yoda, Plato and I entered the infamous, or not so famous, tent for some quality bonding time. A lot of the literature on Sugar Glider bonding suggests that you begin your bonding process trapped in a tent with your Sugies to ensure a safe environment where the Gliders can get to know you on their own terms. Both boys let it be known that they were not happy about being trapped in bonding pouches, but once the zippers were undone, it did not take them long to emerge. In fact, Fiona didn't take long to pop her little head out either. Mr. K and I used to have to wait at least twenty minutes for Fiona and Gus to decide to come out. It was almost amazing how quickly the three Sugar Gliders decided to grace us with their presence; at least in Fiona's case. She thinks she's gracing us with her presence. That little stinker has become a diva. Perhaps she was always one, but ever since these two boys arrived, she's been waiting for glass slippers and a sparkling tiara to be added to her cage.
We probably spent close to two hours squished into the tent with three little fuzz butts jumping from one of us to another, climbing the tent wall and dropping from the ceiling on to our heads/faces and just general Sugie silliness. It is an awesome thing to see each individual personality display itself. Physically, the boys are difficult for Mr. K and I to tell apart, but their movements, sounds and general demeanor are so different that it clues us in to who's wriggling down our shirt collars.
Plato is a little dare devil who isn't afraid of anything. We should have called him "speed racer" because he does everything at top speed. Even when the other two are tuckered out, Plato is still awake running his little heart out in one of the two Wodent wheels we have in their cage. He was no different in the tent. He would scamper up the side of the tent at top speed, launch himself at our heads or faces (they need their claws trimmed) and then run as fast as he could around our shoulders/head only to glide to the side of the tent and race back up it. It was easy to tell who Plato was when he was hanging out on you because he didn't really hang out. He was too busy running around as fast as he could. That said, he's very sweet and even lets Mr. K pet him while he hangs off of the tent's roof from his back feet. Considering that the boys' breeder wasn't able to handle them very much, our two boys are impressively friendly; especially Plato.
Yoda is sweet too, but in a calmer, laid back way. However, he is always on guard and I think kind of takes on the protector role. He is the one who crabs the most when the sleeping domain, containing all three Gliders, is disturbed and yesterday he lunged at Mr. K and grazed Mr. K's face with his teeth. When neutering time comes, he'll be the first to have the procedure done. He shows, to my untrained eye, too many signs of alpha manliness and so we don't want that to get out of control.
He too enjoyed cruising around the tent, but was more satisfied to sit between my shoulder blades and hang out. At one point, we thought he escaped the tent-not sure how-as we couldn't find him anywhere, but turns out he was just chilling on my back. He had been there so long, I couldn't feel him through the thick sweater I had on. To make sure he was doing all right, I offered him a yogurt drop which he accepted and proceeded to eat, still perched between my shoulder blades. I was even able to gently pet him while he sat on my back, which was the first time I've really had a good "look" at our, or any, Sugar Glider, despite having Gliders for over a month. He was very good about not biting and both he and Plato seem to be past that horrible "chomping" phase Miss Fiona is gradually growing out of.
Speaking of Miss Fiona: how is she?
Well, as I stated above, she is the queen and definitely rules the roost. If she crabs at all, even just a little bit, both Plato and Yoda go scampering to check on her. Yoda sometimes fusses at her if she has been awake before the other two and climbs back into the pouch, but she chitters at him and he quiets right down. Pretty soon, she'll be perched on the edge of the hammock expecting the boys to be her man servants, bringing her yogurt drops and paying her compliments. She's a sassy girl. It seems all of the girl fuzzy creatures in my life have an element of sass to them. I wonder why that is. ;)
Fiona is doing so much better since the arrival of her new brothers. She chirps and is much more active. She lets herself be moved from her sleeping place to a bonding pouch which she had started refusing to do after Gus died. Her chomping has decreased and she has started licking more than anything. Last night we had a break through when she first groomed me, by pulling on my hair and combing it out with her little fingers, and then doing the same for Mr. K. She's never groomed either of us and it was so good to know that her bonding is progressing.
It's already been a wild ride with these three "flying monkeys," as we like to call them, and I'm sure there is much more in store for us. I don't think it will take long for them to bond at all. Plato escaped the cage yesterday when Mr. K was attempting to scoop the three of the Sugar Gliders into a bonding pouch. Instead of running away and hiding though, Plato scurried around on the couch where Mr. K sat and eventually entered the cage on his own. The first time Fiona escaped out in the living room, she hid for two hours under the couch. Plato's already even sat on top of Roscoe, not minding the shaggy dog trying to sniff him.
The last few days have been great, watching Fiona come even further out of her shell and getting to know our two newest family members. As I've mentioned before, bonding with these little flying monkeys is definitely a process, but a very rewarding one. They aren't the easiest pet to keep as they require a lot of patience and persistence, but I would definitely recommend them to people, or a person, who has a lot of time and patience. In the long run, you will have a little companion who will be by your side, quite literally, for many years to come.

The To Do List

2012-01-03T09:14:00.000Z

Oh, look, it's a human typing this time. I had to wrestle the Laptop away from Glacier. I think he was enjoying this blogging thing quite a bit; especially since he got to tell everyone what a flake I am. Since he's right and I can turn into a flake when I am trying to do too many things at once, I am going to write out a to do" list for the Blogville Valentine's Day dance. This is to help me keep things straight, but also to ask help from the members of Blogville.
Just in case you missed yesterday's post here's a quick recap:
On February 14th 2012, a Valentine's Day Dance is going to be held in the Blogville banquet hall. All of the proceeds made from this fun filled event will go towards helping
Dog Foster Mom
build a privacy fence. Currently, Dog Foster Mom has seven foster dogs living in her home as well as cats. She is incredibly dedicated; keeping one foster dog for two years until his forever home could be found. The privacy fence is necessary as her fosters have managed to get out of her temporary fence and the neighbors have said they will shoot the dogs on sight. Not to mention, Dog Foster Mom is working hard to keep these animals safe: if they are out roaming in the streets, they are no longer safe. So, I have asked the wonderful members of the blogging community to come together to throw an event that will benefit Dog Foster Mom and her foster animals.
Here are the activities to be held in conjunction with the dance.
-A vote for Valentine's Day King and Queen. In order for this to be a success two things must happen.
1. If you would like your beautiful girls or handsome gentlemen to be available for voting, then please send a photo of your contestant with his/her name in the email. Please put "Valentine's Day Vote" somewhere in the subject line of the email.
Please send your photos to:
purple.tidalwave@gmail.com
2. A page needs to be set up with our handsome fellows and gorgeous girls where people can vote for them. If you, or your mom/human/momster, feels that they are technically advanced enough to assist with this page please send me an email to:
purple.tidalwave@gmail.com

-Kissing Booth: That's right. We're bringing it back. The same two things must happen as the vote above in order for this Kissing Booth to be a success. Please send your photos to the above email address with "Kissing Booth participant" somewhere in the subject line. Also, if there is someone who is technically inclined who would like to assist with setting up the Kissing Booth, please let me know. Again at:
purple.tidalwave@gmail.com
*NOTE: The deadline for turning in photos for both the Kissing Booth and Vote for Valentine's King/Queen is January 31 at midnight. We want to have the Kissing Booth and vote open on February first. So, please. If your dog, cat, crab, elephant Etc. thinks they've got what it takes, send me your photos, but NOT after January 31 at midnight*!

-Raffle Prizes: A pawty just isn't a pawty without raffle prizes. I thought I would do raffle tickets a bit differently, since I am in the UK and postage is expensive and slightly unreliable. I will set up a page with the prizes, a Pay Pal account and whoever wants to have their name put in the draw can pay for tickets electronically. Every time tickets are bought, the purchaser's name will be added to a jar where the winner will be drawn from. Photographic updates on how full the jars for each prizes are getting will be displayed. What do you think? Again, if anyone wants to assist with this aspect of the Valentine's Day dance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

-Yummers For Your Sweetie: This was a great suggestion from Sarge, but I am not entirely sure how this page will be designed. Any takers?

I am also going to work on a badge for the Valentine's Day dance that willing Bloggers can display. Is there anything you would like to see in the badge? This is your bash Blogville, let me know what you think and I will work to make it happen. Along the same token, if there is an activity that you would really like added to our line up leave me a message or fire off an email.

This is going to be a great event, benefitting a wonderful human being and her foster animals. Please help out where you can, but most of all, please come out and have a great time on February 14th. :)

My Girl Is A Flake: written by Glacier

2012-01-03T08:10:00.000Z

Hi everyone!
Glacier here; again! Can you believe it? I got full control of this blog thingy for two whole days! I'm here today because, as my title states, my girl is a flake. No, really. Hers is. Let me tell ya bouts it and you can see fur yourself.
*****
A lot of people thinks that it's me, but really, it's my girl. Hers is always trying to do too many things at once and then bad things happen; flakey things. This is not a new thingy apparently. So, it can't be me.
Backs when my girl was but a wee thingy-I thinks hers was at this place called high school-hers went on a trip with hers choir. Hers and hers friend, my Aunt, was sharin' a room and my girl was gettin' dressed for the day. Hers was half asleep because, as always, had tried to do too many thingies at once and hers did not get enough sleep. Hers friend, my aunt, heard my girl throwin' stuffs around hers bottom bunk and mutterin' to hers self and my Aunt asks hers what's hers pawblem. My girl says that hers can't find hers socks. Hers had looked and looked, but they were nowhere to be found. No socks! Socks were needed for the day! My Aunt, being the bright girl hers is, hung over the edge of the bunk bed and told my girl that hers socks were in hers lap.
In hers lap! With all hers searching, hers didn't even notice hers socks sitting on her lap. Good thingies my aunt was there or else my girl would have cold feets!
My girl's socks are not the only victim of hers thinkings too much. When the Kyo came to lives with my girl and I, him was a bit of a difficult dog. I tried to tell my girl that we were fine, just the two of us, but hers kept sayin' that him just needed some training. The thingy that Kyo was the worst fur was rushing the door when it opened. We thinks it's because him thought people would leave him by hims self too much befores him came to live with us. One night, my girl prepared us fur "park" time. I always went out first because my girl said that I was there first and Kyo had to know that I was a special dog. Well, of course I'm a special dog...erm...ahem...
So, my girl takes me out and didn't even notice the 85 pound moose of a dog sneak past hers out into the night. Hers lost an 85 pound dog! How does one do that? It was probably close to twenty minutes befores hers realised her mistake and hers went runnin' down to see if Kyo was still around. Hers was worried because him was a rescued dog and hers thought him would run away, but Kyo was sitting on the front steps waitin' for hers to let him back in. Hers loses everything! Even 85 pound dogs!
Now, you see, such incidents are not a thingy of the past. Oh nonono. Like I saids, my girl tries to do way too many thingies at once and hers is thinking bouts a million different thingies at once and then flakey stuffs happen. Take the other morning for example.
My girl likes the morning. Hers gets up early and hers routine goes: use the human park place, feed me and brother Roscoe, turn the coffee on whiles we eatin', gives us water and then we go to the dog parkin' spot. My girl was so distracted the other day with hers own thoughts that hers managed to takes us out in hers slippers. Yep. Down 43 stairs, out the front door, down the street and across the street. Hers didn't notice hers was wearin' the slippers until hers was half ways cross the road. When hers reached the other side, hers made me stand and wait for the light again and then cross back over so hers could wear shoes to take me to park. How hers got outside and across the street in slippers I don't know. I tried to tell hers, but hers imagination was takin' hers away somewheres else.
There are so many ways that my girl is a flake and it all comes back to hers brain doing too many thinkings at once. Hers has run the coffee maker without filter or coffee; locked Roscoe and me out in the foyer because hers wasn't payin' attention and left us out there for almost an hour; hers was so deep in hers thinkings that when the mail person knocked on the door hers jumped so high, whacked her elbow off of the water filter thingy and broke the lid. No matter how long my girl has been in the door, hers always loses her stuffs. Hers will put the gloves down hers has just been wearin' and then ask the Daddy wheres they went and it's only like twenty-six seconds later. I swears, hers would lose her head if it weren't attached, or worse! Hers would lose me! Then what would hers do? My girl wouldn't know where hers had left anything and hers wouldn't have me to guide hers down the road; a very unsafe combination.
So, do you see? my girl is a flake. Hers would be lost without me; quite literally. As my flakey girl's guide dog, I have to work twice as hard just to make sure hers remembers impawtant stuffs like where my treats are at. Fur reals; my girl is a flake!

Our Pawsitively Exciting Announcement: Written by Glacier

2012-01-02T08:49:00.000Z

Hellos everyone!
Glacier here to tell you about the most exciting thingy ever! But before I tell you all about it, I want to wish all of my furriends a very Happy 2012. I know my girl has already put in hers two cents, but I think it's very impawtant that you hear it from me too. So, from the bottom of my very big heart, happy 2012. Now, onto the very exciting announcement.
Oh boy, oh boy! I am so excited I can hardly type. I'm shivering from my tail to my toes! It's all too exciting! Let me take a minute to compose myself.
***
Whew. Okays, I think I can tell you now.
We are gonna have a pawty! A huge bash that everyone is invited to. Yes! Everyone! Whether you have four feet or two, paws, wings, feathers, furs, skin...I don't care! You are invited. As I've heard my girl say, "the more the merrier."
Oh, I am soooooo excited! I am havin' pawblems typin' again. Give me a minute.
*****
Okays, so...the pawty...
On February 14th 2012 Blogville is gonna rock the socks off of Valentine's Day.
Wait, does Valentine's Day wear socks? Oh, whatevs.
Any dog, cat, mouse, horse, bunny, zebra, rat, bird, hamster, Sugar Glider, human...okays, you get the point...are invited to the Blogville banquet hall for a fantabulous Valentine's Day Pawty. There are so many exciting events planned, but I'll let my girl tell you about those because apparently hers needs help-lots and lots of help-and I'm not all up on that helping jargon. I just know I'm ready to pawty!
Besides the dancing, eating, kissing...erm...anyway, besides all of that do you know what the best pawt is about this Valentine's Day Pawty held in the Blogville banquet hall that everyone is invited to? (Did you like my little public plug there? I'm gettin' good at this stuffs).
The whole thingy is being planned to help out a very impawtant person who is needing some help. Hers is, are you ready,
Dog Foster Mom.
Yep. That is right. We, here in Blogville, are going to help Dog Foster Mum build a privacy fence for all of hers wonderful foster animals hers keeps in her very own home. Hers is a pretty cool person and if I ever had to be fostered, I think I'd pick to be fostered at her house. Hers has so many other doggies and kitties to play with who all need new homes and hers takes them to classes to teach them to be good and jump over thingies. Anyway...the point is, hers needs a new fence because hers has some very curious foster dogs who have gone a-walkin' and the neighbors have threatened to shoot them on sight; especially the Pit Bulls.
SO VERY NOT COOL!!!!!
If you haven't read all bouts it, you can
here.
Dog Foster Mom gives so much to hers fosters that we wanted to lend a paw in gettin' that privacy fence built for hers. Hers job was eaten up around the same time the pups went adventurin' and hers is, and rightfully so, worried about being able to pay for the fence.
Mayor Frankie
has approved our pawty and
Sarge
and his Mom are ready too.
(My girl just reminded me to thank Frankie, his mom, and Sarge and his mom for teaching hers a thing or two about plannin' a Blogville event and fur being so cool to let us use the Blogville Calendar and Banquet hall).
So, what do you say Blogville? Are you ready to pawty, socks or not, and help out a very deserving human? Ladies you best be gettin' those dresses you've always wanted and gentlemen you better be dustin' off those dancin' shoes. I am thinking Roscoe and I will need lessons, but anything to help Dog Foster Mom build hers privacy fence.

Oh, and one more thingy before I'm off to start my dancin' lessons: my girl is fantastic, but hers is not so talented with the 'puter thingy. So, if there's anyone out there who is wanting to help out with this event, my girl would greatly appreciate it. You can emails hers at:

purple.tidalwave@gmail.com

Hers will be back to tell everyone about the fun thingies planned for the pawty.

Now, I must be gettin' to my lesson. I'm gonna need all the help I can get-my feets are too big.

Signing off fur now:

the very excited and needin' to learn how to dance,

Glacier

Human Carelessness Causes Dog Suffering (Re-posted from Dog Business: It's Your Dog's Health).

2012-01-01T11:42:00.000Z

Dawg Business: It's Your Dog's Health!: 18 Starving Dogs: Let's Help These Babies!: Where Hope Lives Human Society is attempting to save these dogs. They are not safe unless funds can be raised. *** We were contacted by...

Fiona and Friends: A Smooth Sugar Glider Introduction

2012-01-01T00:32:00.000Z

Mr. K, Glacier, Roscoe and I headed out this morning, taking a train to the Southern part of Scotland to pick up Yoda and Plato. Down town Edinburgh was a bit crazy with the city preparing for its huge Hogmany celebration this evening. To be honest, I don't know much about the celebration, which is just one huge street party, but I will definitely have to look it up. Because of this celebration being so large, the train station was over flowing with people and their suitcases. Most of the streets into the station had also been blocked off due to the nature of the party and our cab driver had difficulty getting us in. That bit of our trip was a bit stressful, but once we arrived at our destination, all stress subsided.

Yoda and Plato's breeder was very nice and she and her daughter and husband sat and had a coffee with us while we waited for our train back to Edinburgh. We chatted about Sugar Gliders and Mr. K and I asked a few questions. Domestication of Sugar Gliders is so new that it seems the best way to gain knowledge is to ask people who deal directly with Sugar Gliders questions. There aren't tons of books published on the topic and a lot of the articles on the internet are conflicting. So, when I get someone around who knows Sugies, I ask an incessant amount of questions.

Some websites said to introduce strange Sugar Gliders on neutral ground and to be ready to break up any sort of fights. They said, in order to be prepared for fights, one must have a small bowl of water and gloves at the ready. If the Gliders fought, then you were to dunk their bottom ends or paws into the water. The gloves were meant to keep your hands safe from biting and scratching and the water served to shock the Sugies so that they stopped their scrapping. Most articles agreed that strange Sugies should be placed in separate cages far enough apart to guarantee they couldn't reach one another, yet close enough so that they could smell one another and talk to each other. This method also suggested that sleeping pouches from each cage be swapped every night to give the Sugar Glider's each others' scent. Once the Sugar Gliders were "talking" over the gap, it would be safe to introduce them on neutral ground and then move them in together; as long as the meeting went well. There were several other scenarios laid out on different websites for various situations, but none of them addressed our specific situation exactly. We could take bits and pieces from each technique, especially the one where the Sugies were housed in different cages for a while, but that technique was prescribed for a joey who had always been alone and if you were attempting to give it a new friend. None of them talked about what to do if your Glider was in mourning and desperately needed a playmate.

The last couple of days Fiona's behavior has gotten progressively more aggressive. I attributed it to her loneliness and my thoughts were confirmed when we returned from collecting Plato and Yoda today. Mr. K had attempted to put her in the bonding pouch so that she could accompany us. Her contact with us has decreased drastically with each passing day and today was the worse. Normally, Fiona is a great sleeper and Mr. K is able to scoop her into the bonding pouch. Ever since Gus died, she doesn't sleep soundly and wakes up as soon as Mr. K gets the cage door open. Today was no exception and she manage to evade him. He probably could have caught her, but we didn't want to pursue her and stress her out anymore than she already was. When we got home, she was sitting on the edge of her cage waiting for us to come into the living room. She so desperately wants attention, but is just not ready to receive it from us. We didn't want her to be alone any longer than she needed to be and we were both worried about transferring her to the secondary cage while she was awake. If we thought getting her into a bonding pouch was difficult when she was awake, convincing her to go into a strange cage would be a hundred times worse. However, Plato and Yoda's breeder gave us a suggestion for introducing the three Gliders and we decided to give it a try. We were a bit nervous, but if it worked, then it would produce the best situation.

When I asked her how she would introduce Sugar Gliders, I thought I'd get the same information that I had found online. I had asked just to see if she had a way to make it easier and also to boost my confidence in attempting to introduce them. However, her answer was the complete opposite of everything I had read.

The breeder told us to put Plato and Yoda into the cage and try to put all three of them together while they slept. They usually slept so soundly that they wouldn't even notice another Glider being added to their ranks. She said that a breeder who had handled Sugar Gliders for years had told her to do it this way. She had bulked at first, but tried it and it worked. He had explained to her that the Sugies would smell each other when sleeping and associate the other's scent with warmth, safety and sleep. When they woke up, they would have accepted each other. I was a bit weary, but if we tried this and everyone was happy, then Fiona wouldn't have to move out of her home and she would have new friends sooner than later. I think we decided then and there to give it a shot, but when we got home and Fiona was awake, we both hesitated. The breeder had not said anything about awake Gliders. It was much too early for Fiona to be awake, but as I said, she's not been sleeping properly since Gus left us. Mr. K took a chance and put the sleeping boys, bundled in a fleece pouch into the cage.

Fiona walked around a bit more and I think Mr. K and I both held our breath. Mr. K waited by the cage just in case he'd have to perform an extraction. We figured that there were two who already knew each other and therefore Fiona was at a bit of a disadvantage, but, on the other hand, it was her home. We kind of hoped the two would balance each other out. Within minutes, the most amazing thing happened: Fiona crawled into the pouch with the sleeping Plato and Yoda and went to sleep.

No crabbing. No fussing; just sleeping.

Since then, they all have been awake and moving around the cage. I heard a bit of crabbing from time to time, but it was short lived and petered out quickly. Fiona has been making her happy chirping noise that she had stopped making and there was definitely some grooming going on. Grooming is a very good sign as it indicates acceptance. One of the males-the one we've deemed Yoda-is much more vocal than the other-who is consequently Plato. Yoda crabs when you get near the cage, but we'll just have to work with him. Plato, on the other paw, may be much quicker to come around. He already moves close to the front of the cage and willingly takes treats from Mr. K with no crabbing. We will probably leave them to their own devices until at least Monday, but after that the tent will be put back up and all bets are off. It is just a huge relief that all three can live together and Fiona no longer has to be on her own.

*****

The above technique worked for us, but as our situation was unique, I would suggest consulting a breeder before attempting introducing Sugar Gliders in this manner. Our Sugies are all joeys and therefore acceptance is much more likely. We also took a chance by introducing our Gliders this way. However, we are very happy with the results and so is Fiona. :)

Dear 2011

2011-12-31T06:51:00.000Z

Dear 2011:
I cannot believe that you are already drawing to a close. So much has happened this year. So much so, that I have no idea where to begin. I think, besides the first year I made the Paralympic Games in 2000, or perhaps my first year of university in 2002, you have been one of the busiest, craziest years I have had. So many wonderful and amazing things have happened and for those I m grateful. There have been a few tenser moments, but I am just as grateful for those as well. The harder moments have taught me much about myself and have helped me grow. Looking back, I am still in awe at half of the things that happened and feel very blessed.
***
2011 In All Its Glory
1. In January of 2011, Mr. K and I lived in a house that was not ideal; not even close. The water shut off nearly every other day and was off for at least two to three days at a time. We started looking for a more suitable living arrangements even though we had intentions of moving to the UK as soon as possible. We had four dogs living with us: Glacier, Roscoe, Aria and Baloo.
2. In February we moved into a much better dwelling and Doc joined our ranks. It was then that I really started noticing problems with Glacier's working. This was also the month that solidified our plans to move to Scotland. Before Doc moved in, we had Roscoe, Glacier, Aria and Baloo Tider tested in order to begin the paperwork to bring everyone to the UK.
3. March was filled with puppies and their pooping issues. Dachshunds who were potty trained decided that they liked the carpet of the new house instead of going outside. We knew all three Dachshunds could not come with us, as we had originally bought Doc for Mr. K's sister, and the more we looked into it, the more we realised that we should re-home our little family members. It was a painful, and difficult decision. Glacier's guiding issues were becoming more apparent. I contacted Leader Dogs for the Blind in the hopes that they could help Glacier and I.
4.. In April, I headed home to Canada with Glacier and Baloo. Glacier and I were going back to Leader Dogs for the Blind for retraining and Baloo would be finding a new home with a high school friend; as long as they liked each other. It turns out, they fell in love almost right away and Baloo moved in with her just days after getting to my parents' house. Glacier and I worked hard for twelve days at LDB and left a much happier, confident working team.
5. May came quickly and I spent the majority of the month getting things in order for mine and Mr. K's wedding. I loved being home with my family, but I missed Mr. K terribly. May was also the fateful month that started making my triathlon dreams into a reality. Our wedding was fabulous and I couldn't have asked for a better day or husband, for that matter. May was also the month that saw Doc and Aria re-homed as well. It was difficult and parts of me still wishes that I could whisk them across an ocean to be with us.
6. June was a crazy month, attempting to finalize my passport and my Portuguese identity card. It was this card that would allow us to move to the UK without having to worry about Visas. I also found out that I could in fact get pregnant, but that it was not medically advisable.
7. Glacier and I returned to SC and sweated the month out,packing and planning to leave. We had vet appointments and we tried to sell, or at least, give away our belongings that we could not take with us. My parents visited for a while and helped us get a lot of things done in preparation for the move. The house felt so empty with only two dogs in it.
8. August snuck up on us and we worked feverishly to ensure that everything was set for our departure. We ran into a few glitches, such as the State vet saying that we may not be able to fly with our dogs because things were not documented correctly on our forms. We nearly watched seven months of planning go up in smoke. I worked to get as much of the house packed up as I could and some patient friends assisted with getting the rest of the stuff out once we had flown away. We ran into a small glitch in Boston when we tried to transfer flights and the guy assisting us through the airport didn't speak english. Then, on top of that, the airline didn't have record of our guide dogs, despite Mr. K speaking at least three times to them about it over the phone. After standing at the counter for almost an hour, we were cleared. Our flight was pretty good, considering we were flying so far and we had no issues once we entered London England. We spent a few days touring London and almost walked our feet off. We arrived in Edinburgh and stayed in Tenie and Carmen's flat, which they shared with two other girls. We stayed there until we could get things straightened out for our own flat. We did a few touristy things, like going to the zoo and a few festivals as well.
9. It was in September, after some waiting and assertive conversations, that we were able to move into our own flat. Tenie and Carmen had picked it out before we had even arrived, but it took nearly three weeks for us to be able to move in. When we finally did move in, the hot water didn't work, but it was resolved. We spent the month settling in and getting to know our surrounding area.
10. It wasn't until October rolled around that I started feeling more comfortable with walking around on my own. Glacier and I experienced a huge regression in his guiding when we first arrived, which followed us basically through September. I worked hard with him, being consistent and resetting my mindset. I was to look at him as a working dog, not a pet. I knew that, but somehow in the move, I had lost that perspective. We celebrated Halloween dressed up in the Steam Punk fashion.
11. November was a great month for me. Triathlon training really started coming together with me finding a guide and receiving a whole lot of help from various sport minded organisations. Mr. K and I also brought Gus and Fiona home, our two little Sugar Glider joeys.
12. December was a month for the Holidays and even though Mr. K and I didn't go home, we had a good month. We went to the Christmas market and had a great time experiencing the food, drinks and crazy crowds. Gus and Fiona joined us that day in their bonding pouch, but Glacier and Roscoe stayed home as we figured the crowds would be liable to crush them. We had a few dessert parties with the people living at Tenie and Carmen's flat and went out for drinks one night, sampling nearly every festive mixed drink they had on the menu. The night before the girls headed home for the Holidays, one of Tenie's flat mates had us over for a delicious dinner and we were able to say farewell to everyone. Mr. K and I spent Christmas together and it was enjoyable, despite our families being far away. Even though December was a joyous month, it also brought sadness when Gus passed away due to an unfortunate accident on Boxing Day.
As for today, December 31?
Mr. K and I will be going to pick up Yoda and Plato, two new Sugar Gliders, so that Fiona may have some playmates. Tonight, we may wander to a local pub and have a few celebratory drinks and talk about 2011 and maybe even of 2012 and what it will bring.
To everyone out there: Happy 2012. May it bring you joy and be everything you hope it to be. :)
Love,
Jess, Glacier, Roscoe, Fiona, Plato and Yoda

Friends for Fiona

2011-12-30T08:24:00.000Z

Tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow we bring home Fiona's new brothers, Plato and Yoda. The boys are brothers and are a month "out of pouch" a month before Fiona. That's fancy Sugar Glider talk for, "they are a month older." Some of this Sugie jargon first threw me for a loop and sometimes I have to ask a million questions to understand, but I think I'm getting there. That sort of language is almost second nature for me when it comes to dogs, but there have always been dogs in my life and so I think that makes the difference. Sugar Gliders are a very new thing in this house.
I think the sooner we bring Yoda and Plato home the better. Fiona has been awfully confrontational and so it's been hard to give her the attention I know she needs. She will often lunge at our hands, crabbing very loudly, and if she can get a good hold she will bite. She was always a bit less bonded than Gus, but her biting was subsiding and she didn't lunge anymore. Ever since Gus passed away, she's regressed. However, Mr. K and I are as stubborn as she is and are not allowing her poor behavior to deter us.
Technically, when handling a Sugar Glider it is suggested that you do not wear gloves. Since the Gliders bond through scent, if you are wearing gloves it could be confusing. I've also noticed that the more bonded the Glider becomes the more willing they are to touch your skin. At first, both Fiona and Gus didn't want anything to do with our hands. They would run down my arms and stop at the cuff of my sleeve and pick an alternative route. Gus was at the point where he didn't mind hands and Fiona was getting there, but her biting has forced us to resort to wearing gloves.
Now, we don't wear the gloves if we are putting our hands in the cage to give her a treat or to play with her. She seems less likely to bite/lunge when she is able to approach you on her own. We do need her to be in the bonding pouch during the day though, as our body heat will help her and she needs to continue the bonding process, despite losing her brother; now probably more than ever. Mr. K wears the gloves to get her out of her sleeping place to put her in the bonding pouch. If he does not, she latches on and even drew blood.
I completely understand why she is acting this way. I don't blame her at all, but we can't let her be by herself. Sugar Gliders are such social creatures that too much time alone could be detrimental to Fiona's health. I carried her around in the bonding pouch yesterday; even when we left the house. She lunged at my stomach at one point through the pouch, but thankfully the thick fleece kept her little chompers away from my skin. She is so jumpy now. It makes me so sad that she is so out of sorts. I'm sure, at least in the beginning, bringing Yoda and Plato into the picture may throw her off a bit more, but in the long run it will be good for her.
We will be busting out the tent again and setting it up in the living room to facilitate bonding with all three Gliders. It's also better to introduce joeys, or even grown Gliders, in neutral territory and so we think the tent will be a good place. I've read of a few different ways to introduce your Sugar Gliders, but since all three are still joeys we shouldn't have too many problems. One article suggested placing a small drop of vanilla extract between the shoulder blades of each Sugar Glider. They like the vanilla and that way they all smell the same. It also will encourage them to start grooming each other; a sign that they have accepted one another. I know this technique is often used to encourage mama animals to take on orphaned babies. I may use this technique as a precaution.
When we first brought Gus and Fiona home I remember being nervous and this time around, I'm a bit nervous as well; for totally different reasons though. We know what to expect with regards to owning Sugar Gliders, whereas, when we picked up Gus and Fiona we were clueless. That nervousness is way laid. I am a bit worried though as to how Fiona, Yoda and Plato will all take to one another. I'm also concerned that we won't know the difference between Yoda and Plato. We could tell the difference between Fiona and Gus because she is smaller and they moved differently, but Plato and Yoda are both boys, will there be physical indicators we will be able to pick up as blind people? Realistically, I'm sure eventually we will. Mr. K and I can usually tell the difference between Glacier and Roscoe most times without touching them because they move differently, make different noises and Glacier is bigger. So, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. What I really should do is change my perspective: this is exciting. We are bringing new babies home and Fiona will be a happy little girl.
Speaking of happy little girls: Fiona would like to remind you that a very big event will be taking place in Blogville. She, Yoda and Plato will be there and she hopes you will be too. She would like me to tell you that she's not called a "Sugar" glider or "honey" bear for nothing. She says that "sugars" and "honeys" are very impawtant to this event. ;)
With that, I will leave you for today.
Happy Friday everyone. :)

Finding Joy

2011-12-29T09:20:00.000Z

It's funny how the smallest things are what bring the most joy. I've written about it before and probably will again. A package arrived from my parents yesterday and it brought joy, but not for the reasons you would think.
The package had a few items for Mr. K and I-ornaments I used to hang on my parents' Christmas tree; a new Tinker Bell ornament; my kitchen rooster (it is Portuguese tradition to have a rooster in your kitchen. Apparently it brings good luck); a singing Snowman that goes in the bathroom and harasses your guests while they are doing their business Etc. I loved every single gift, including the small Christmas house that plays music that Santa, elves and a train move to, but the funny thing is that the towels wrapped around everything made me the happiest.
Towels are a great gift. I mean, everyone could always use more bath towels, but it wasn't their functionality that made me happy. When I pulled the towels out of the box, careful not to drop any of the breakable items wrapped in them, I caught a familiar scent. I pressed the towel up to my nose and breathed in deeply. Not all of the gifts in the world could top the aroma of your childhood home. Sounds a bit silly, but breathing in the fire smoke that helps heat my parents' house made me a bit giddy. There is not another house that smells like my parents' home; at least, not one that I've found. Being on a completely different continent and being apart from my family for the Holidays for the first time, smelling those towels made me feel so much better. It's so funny because now I don't want to use them or wash them because they will lose that smell.
It's not easy being so far from home during the Holidays, but the smallest-or smelliest-of gestures brings so much happiness.

****
On a somewhat unrelated note, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be making an announcement soon about an event I, and other members of the blogging community, will be hosting in order to, hopefully, bring joy to someone else's life. I will definitely be needing help in order to make the event a success. This particular person is a truly impressive individual and I hope that we will be able to assist her. She gives herself so fully to others and I hope that we can give back to her in the name of thanks for what she does. It should be a really fun event. So, stay tuned for details. :)

Rally Thoughts

2011-12-28T10:09:00.000Z

When I was reading another blog just the other day, my thoughts were brought back to rally obedience. I had taken a class when I lived in SC and had thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun for both Glacier and I and I think it would be something to get into again one day. The operative words are "one day." A few things need to change in order for me to do rally obedience training and perhaps some fun competitions.
First, I need a dog to do it with. Glacier is such a sensitive guy and needs structure to be able to work at his best. Asking him to also do rally obedience is confusing for him and is detrimental to our working relationship. We also cannot have pet dogs where we are living right now and that is why we have invested so much into our Sugar Gliders. Even if we could have dogs I'm not sure I'd want another one in this flat. I love this flat. Its location is fabulous and it's actually quite cute and has a lot of character, but there is no way we'd be able to fit a third big dog in here comfortably. I try to pretend that we could, but really, it would make things squishy. Sure we could fit a small dog like a miniature Dachshund, but they are known for their big barks and our neighbors would not be impressed. This building is old and not very well sound proofed. So, I'd have to get a dog.
Second, we'd have to be living somewhere else or perhaps I'd have to have a venue to practice in. This problem is a bit less of a concern since there are plenty of parks around us where I could practice, but the weather is unpredictable in Scotland and I'd need an alternative indoor practice area. If we had a bigger flat, or house, with a "garden" (AKA yard), that would be ideal.
If I am being realistic, I probably wouldn't have the time to dedicate to rally obedience properly in the upcoming year anyway. I've applied to the University of Edinburgh for Performance Psychology and if I get in, rally obedience on top of studying, classes and training for a triathlon might be a bit much.
With all of this in mind, I had a bit of a brain storm last night as I took the boys out for the last "park" of the night. Why not train Roscoe? Not right now, but Mr. K and I are pretty certain he will retire himself young, sort of the way Jetta did, and if that is the case he will still be young enough to enjoy something like that. He loves to please and even though he may choose not to guide anymore, I think he would be happy to have a fun job. I asked Mr. K last night when I got back inside and he agreed. That made me pretty excited.
By the time Roscoe retires, I'll be done with school and hopefully working. I'll probably still be training for the triathlon, but I'll be a more established athlete and it won't take up as much of my time as it does now. Besides training, I spend a lot of time researching the sport, social networking and many other things. Being blind means that I have to learn about the sport by either doing it or reading about it. So, I've been doing both. With this learning process out of the way, it would open things up for me to do something as a hobby that would be relaxing and fun. Not that I'm saying that I want Roscoe to retire early just so I can train him in rally obedience. In fact, if he works until he's old enough to be satisfied just being a couch potato, that will make me very happy. However, if he retires as young as Jetta did-seven and a half-we better find something else for him to do.
Life has a funny way of working itself out though and I'll read back on this post one day and probably have to remove my foot from my mouth. Roscoe will decide to work until he's an old man and I'll have to actually find a dog to work with. Either that or Glacier will retire early and he'll go back to rally obedience. That said, the guide dog trainer made a comment to Mr. K when he watched them work that he thinks that Roscoe will retire himself young.
Roscoe loves to work; that is, after you get the harness on. He reminds me of Jetta in that sense. He backs away from the body part going over his head, just like Jetta. He takes off like a shot once you lift the handle off his back and does a fabulous job, but when he's mad about where you're asking him to work, you know about it; again, just like Jetta. He also has become more "sniffy" as he's gotten older; just that little bit more distracted. Jetta didn't necessarily use her nose more, but she definitely became more and more distracted as she lost interest in guiding. The funny thing is, even though it was difficult retiring Jetta at such a young age, I felt so much better knowing she decided for herself. I almost wish this would be the case for Mr. K because that would save him the anguish of making the decision to hang up Roscoe's harness. I saw so many other guide dog owners retire their dogs, dogs who had worked for eight or nine years, and they eventually had to choose for the dog. I was lucky that I was saved that difficult decision, but this time around, I think I won't be spared. Glacier would probably work until his paws didn't work anymore. Of course I wouldn't let it get to that. He's such a good boy and deserves a great retirement. For Glacier, at least, I think retirement is a good few years off, but we'll see what Roscoe decides in two or three years. That's another reason to get that fenced in garden.
If Roscoe retires early, we'll have one working dog and one not. Mr. K hasn't decided whether he is getting another dog after Roscoe and I think he may make that choice long after Roscoe retires. When Glacier retires, I most certainly will be getting another dog. I feel safer traveling with a dog for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I can't see at all and because I am basically deaf in my right ear. The dog acts as a safety net for me. That means, we'll have three big dogs at once, unless Mr. K gets a dog and that will make four. I really don't want to re-home Glacier and Roscoe if I can help it. The two of them will have to stay together; especially since they have been together from day one. Separating them would be very cruel. Also, if they retire at different times, what do we do? Hold on to the one who retired for a few more years until the other is ready to stop working and then re-home them? That also seems cruel. I think our best bet would be to find a flat with a limited amount of stairs-so that it will be gentle on two aging dogs' hips-with a fenced in yard. That way, we could keep both boys and I could also have my new working dog. Besides, if we give Roscoe and Glacier up, who will I rally obedience train?
Wow. This post really digressed. My whole point was to talk about my excitement to train Roscoe in rally obedience, but I guess all of the factors of life had to be considered. Whatever may happen, I hope we have a few years still to get things in order so that we can keep our boys and Roscoe and I can be rally obedience buddies.

Can We Help? (Reposted from Dog Business: It's Your Dog's Health).

2011-12-27T23:17:00.000Z

Dawg Business: It's Your Dog's Health!: Miracle Needed for Sam and Gracie: Gracie is a 10-year-old Yellow Lab and Sam is a 6-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They are docile, well behaved, housebroken and good w...

1 + 2 = 3

2011-12-27T20:28:00.000Z

So... guess what?
Our Sugar Glider colony is about to double. We will be bringing home not one, but two little fuzz butts to be at Fiona's beckon call. She's the princess, so of course her two new brothers will have to do her bidding. My dad laughed at me when I said we were getting two joeys. He said,
"good thing they didn't have six; you'd have them all; trying to save the world."
Mr. K spoke to the breeder this afternoon and she was satisfied that we were well researched Glider owners. Mr. K told her that as soon as we have an appointment scheduled to have the boys neutered, we will be in touch to arrange a date for us to pick them up. Mr. K promptly purchased a second smaller cage to house probably Fiona in order to provide her a space to call her own until she and the two new boys are adequately acquainted. Not to mention, it can serve the purpose of a "hospital cage" if the need ever arises that a Glider needs to be housed by him or her self due to medical issues.
It would seem that we are moving a bit quick since Gus only left us yesterday, but the sooner we have the new boys neutered the better. As well, the sooner they are introduced to Fiona, and to Mr. K and I, the better. They are a bit older than Fiona-about a month-and fast approaching the end of their best bonding period. It's not that they won't bond after this time, but it is most ideal between eight and twelve weeks of age; similar to a puppy.
There are a few ways to introduce Sugar Gliders to each other, but since all three are babies, there shouldn't be any aggression issues. We've decided to have the boys neutered before introducing them as well to also reduce the likeliness of aggressive behavior. Fiona will stay in the smaller cage since she is by herself and we will place the cages next to each other. That way, they can get used to one another from a distance and once everything is settled-babies are talking to each other and neutering done-we will let them all live together. If the boys were at sexual maturity, then they would have to be housed separately for a month as they could remain fertile. However, these boys shouldn't be at that point just yet and so will be able to live with Fiona sooner rather than later.
So, have we picked names?
The answer is yes.
Mr. K thought it would be a good idea to name them "after the two greatest thinkers of all time," and so they will be named:
Plato and,
Yoda.
These two boys are not meant to take Gus's place as he was a special little guy, but I know they will fill our lives in their own unique ways and give Fiona the companionship that every Sugar Glider needs to be at his/her happiest.

Moving Forward

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000Z

Today I feel a lot better; much better. The kind and thoughtful comments left by you have made losing Gus so much easier. Gus and Fiona's breeder has actually been fantastic and incredibly supportive, understanding and kind. She has a waiting list for her joeys, but she has put us in touch with another breeder that is actually closer to home. This new breeder has two sets of joeys ready to go and another just "out of pouch." We could technically wait for the two just out of pouch because they would be in a better stage to bond, but I don't think we can wait that long for Miss Fiona's sake. Those joeys won't be ready to go to a home until February or so and that is much too long for a Sugar Glider to be alone
Fiona seems a bit lost, but Mr. K and I are making sure to play with her and we both took our turns carrying her around in the bonding pouch yesterday in order to give her a warm body to be near. I also make sure that her Snuggle Safe pad is always warm and tucked up under one of Mr. K's shirts in her cage. That way, if she is feelin she needs some warmth, it is there. This might be a bit easier if she was a bit more bonded because we would be able to have her out of the cage perched in a pocket even when she's awake, but she is not quite there yet. She did come out and run in her Wodent wheel quite a bit last night; she ate her food and took treats; and played with us and the feather toy we got for her and Gus. We're trying our best to keep her occupied and give her the interaction she needs to be a happy, healthy little Glider, but I think a fuzzy companion is going to be necessary in the long term.
We are supposed to get a phone call from the new breeder later today and then we'll go from there. It would seem that the tent is going to be put back up in our living room and we'll start this process all over again. However, that may not necessarily be a bad thing for Fiona. I think she could use a bit more time in the tent. Because the tent is so small, she is forced to interact with us and I am sure that will help her bond further. I am not sure how many "brothers" Fiona will end up with as Sugar Glider breeders prefer to sell the joeys in pairs since Sugar Gliders are so social. Our cage is definitely big enough for three Sugies as it is taller than Mr. K and wider. Sugies also do not seem to react poorly to having odd numbers as some other animals might. The breeder only has males available so we will have to ensure both are neutered very quickly. They are a bit older than Gus and Fiona and so will reach sexual maturity much faster and that will cause two problems:
1. They may fight as there is only one female,
and 2. Fiona may become a Mom. No thanks. :)
So even though the last 24 hours have been quite tough, and I still get a bit teary from time to time, we are doing much better. Getting Fiona a new companion will make me feel much better as well because that will provide her with the stimulation and companionship that she needs.
Again, thanks all of you so much for your comments and virtual hugs: they mean so much to Mr. K and I.

Good-bye Gus

2011-12-26T09:06:00.000Z

I know to some he would be considered just an animal. I know some wouldn't understand how a human would grieve for an animal, but he wasn't just an animal to us; especially not to Mr. K. Gus was Mr. K's little buddy. Mr. K worked so hard to get to know Gus, to teach him to trust Mr. K. How is it that one minute, he is running around the living room, chasing Fiona through the Christmas tree, and the next, somehow, he is gone? How is it that we missed him leaving? We still don't even know how he got out into the bathroom. We read all of the warnings; we knew. I was usually so attentive to make sure the toilet lid was down, but for some reason, this morning I didn't check.

Gus left us this morning some time around 7 AM. He died in one of the ways we were warned a million times about; he drowned in our toilet. Thinking about it makes me sick. When one is charged with the responsibility of another's life, it is difficult to accept that you have failed as a care giver; that you have failed to keep him safe. It happened so fast and all of the "what if's" keep running through my mind. I feel responsible because I suggested letting Gus and Fiona out to roam the living room this morning. I feel awful knowing that his breeder entrusted his little life to us and Gus is gone. I feel horrible. I think some of the grief I feel towards his death may have to do with giving up our Dachshunds seven or so months back. I never really grieved re-homing them. Some of the grief comes from knowing that Mr. K is hurting. and some of it comes from knowing that our little Gus is gone.

My heart hurts, but it hurts more for Mr. K and Fiona than for me. How do you explain to someone that you hurt for them; that you grieve for them? Gus was Mr. K's and it hurts me that someone that I love is so sad.

I feel horrible for Fiona because she is alone now. She doesn't understand, and part of me is glad she doesn't. Thinking about how Gus died brings tears to my eyes. Sugar Gliders are colony animals: how is Fiona going to do on her own? We could get another Sugar Glider I suppose, but right now I feel like I don't deserve another one. I feel like I don't deserve Fiona. I think Gus's death is so hard to handle because it was so unexpected and because usually we're so careful-it just takes a second and everything can change.

Never in my life have I wished I could turn back time; not until now. This is so hard to take because it could have been prevented. The tears just won't stop coming; tears for me, tears for Gus, tears for Fiona and tears for Mr. K. Even though we only had Gus for a month, he touched our lives and taught us great lessons in patience, persistence and love.

Rest in peace Gus and I am so, so sorry.

Our Furry Christmas Day

2011-12-26T06:07:00.000Z

I hope everyone out there had a day filled with love, laughter and good food; how ever you may have celebrated. Mr. K, Glacier, Roscoe and I had a very enjoyable day, with each other for company. It was odd not gathering with family and stuffing ourselves, and if I can next year I'd like to get back home, but despite it just being us and the fuzzy ones, it actually was quite nice.
The day started with a phone call from my mom waking me up from a nap. I have been having a hard time sleeping as of late and so her call brought me out of a deep sleep. We chatted and she told me of her and my Dad's night. After we hung up I went back into our room and jumped on the bed, telling Mr. K "to wake up! Santa was here!" (Hey, we don't have kids. Someone's gotta play the part). As he woke up, I brought both boys out for their second bathroom trip of the day and upon our return, Mr. K was ready to open gifts. I had wrapped most of his gifts the night before, watching the 1964 version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
There were many gifts under the tree for Mr. K as Santa was very generous. Okay, perhaps it was his wife, but you know. His stocking still hasn't arrived, so I, or should I say Santa, filled an empty dog food box with many varieties of chocolate, including a bar filled with Whisky; three mini bottles of Iron Brew (a soft drink that is native to Scotland and is the only soft drink that outsells Coke in Scotland); a water bottle for the gym; and a few other edible goodies. Wrapped under the tree was:
a well aged bottle of Whisky,
a whisky sifter (are you sensing a theme)?,
the extended version of Lord of the Rings box set,,
all of the Star Wars movies,
winter gloves,
a Jack Skellington cookie jar and
a Build a Bear Dachshund dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi (who I named Obi Doc Kenobi for Doc our miniature dachshund we had to rehome when we moved to Scotland). The best part is that his Light Saber makes noise when you move it.
Santa (AKA Mr. K) had brought me my Iphone early and I had Snow White and the Seven Dwarf jammies and Body Shop products to unwrap from Mr. K. My parents also got me a high quality running jacket for my
triathlon
training. Mr. K and I also received a Crock Pot and a nice set of sheets from my parents.
How did Glacier and Roscoe make out?
They both were given banana and blueberries with their breakfasts to start the day off right. After Mr. K and I opened our presents, the boys were given some new fish treats that I had picked up when I was at the vet. The treats are chunks of dried fish and both dogs love them. Then again, they're Labradors, there probably isn't much they won't like. After their treats, they were given a gigantic Bull Knuckle to share. It probably weighed close to three pounds and was definitely big enough for them to share. In the first five minutes, Glacier broke a chunk off and the boys each had their own bone. Leave it to Glacier to break a bull knuckle apart. They chewed for nearly three hours and made a huge mess of our living room's area rug, but it was Christmas and they were so happy. To finish the evening off, we took the boys down to a walking/cycling trail nearby. It was a warm night, despite the wind gusting strongly. Mr. K brought his White cane and we let the boys off of their leashes so that they could have a good off leash run. They were fantastic, coming when called and sticking close by. I think they may still have felt a sense of duty since Mr. K and I were alone and there wasn't a sighted friend with us. When we take them for off leash runs with other friends, they sometimes venture almost too far off. Last night they would run ahead and then turn around and check in. We returned home with two very tired and happy dogs.
The only glitch we ran into last night was that we had planned on ordering Chinese food for supper, but all of the Chinese places closed up early and the pizza places weren't open at all. We had a great lunch of chicken wrapped in bacon and baked in Ranch and cheese and just had sandwiches for supper. It was a very pleasant and enjoyable day/evening and I am glad I was able to share it with Mr. K, Glacier and Roscoe. Gus and Fiona were here too of course and they did make an appearance in their bonding pouches while we opened presents and watched The Santa Claus. (They are actually running about our living room as I write this).
It was a very furry Christmas indeed.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T07:57:00.000Z

Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the flat, not a creature was stirring not even a rat...
There better not be any rats in this flat, and, who am I kidding? All creatures are stirring; Gus and Fiona are nocturnal. They'll just be able to wish Santa Paws a Merry Christmas when he comes down our chimney. As for Roscoe, I'm sure he'll be waiting for reindeer sightings. If he weren't a guide dog, he may have made a good hunting dog. And Mr. G? Well, he'll probably be scheming on how to eat Santa Paws's cookies for himself. He likes to eat you know?

From our furry family to yours, four legged or two,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

Glacier's 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-23T04:54:00.000Z

Hellos everyone,
Glacier here to sing to you my version of The 12 Days of Christmas. I hope you enjoy.
*Clears throat and blows note on pitch organ*.
Ahem...
On the first day of Christmas my girl gave to me: A dose of flea prevantitive,
On the second day of Christmas my girl gave to me: two big hugs and a dose of flea preventative,
On the third day of Christmas my girl gave to me: three teeth brushings, two big hugs and a dose of flea preventative,
On the fourth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: four long walks, three teeth brushings, two big hugs and a dose of flea preventative,
On the fifth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: *in a big voice sings*, five doggie cookies, four long walks, three teeth brushings, two big hugs and a dose of flea preventative
On the sixth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: six nails trimmed (she couldn't get the others), five doggie cookies...Etc, Etc
On the seventh day of Christmas my girl gave to me: (actually it was Dad), seven minutes of showering! (What kind of Christmas gift is that)? Six nails trimmed...grrrr this song is long
On the eight day of Christmas my girl gave to me: eight tasty hot dogs...oh, woops that is what I am wishing she gave me,
On the ninth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: nine presies I can't unwrap yet, eight tasty hot dogs, seven minutes of showering...you get the point
On the tenth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: ten Sugar Gliders. Oh wait, we only have two-I wish we had ten. I like watching them...nine presies I can't unwrap yet, eight tasty hot dogs, seven minutes of showering, six...erm, I forget. Moving on.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my girl gave to me: eleven more dog cookies...that may have been in my dreams again
On the twelfth day of Christmas my girl gave to me: twelve minutes of snuggle time on the bed, (That is more like it). eleven more dog cookies, ten Sugar Gliders, nine presies I can't open yet, eight tasty hot dogs, seven minutes showering with Dad, six hamburgers? Erm, no, six nails trimmed. Oh right, that is why I walk sideways.
*Deep breath*
Five doggie cookies!!!!!
Four long walks, three teeth brushings, two big hugs and a dose of flea preventative!!!!!!
Merry Christmas!

Grrrrrrr

2011-12-22T13:44:00.000Z

That's right: I said, "grrrrr." If you can't tell, I'm slightly frustrated; not in the least bit surprised, but annoyed and a bit perplexed. Sometimes I hate political correctness or people being polite for the sake of maintaining a business-like manner. If you have something to say, just say it. At least that way, I can deal with the root issue. At least then, if I feel so inclined, I can educate the ignorant and dispel some misunderstandings that seem to plague our society.
Last week, I got that itch of wanting to be involved with training dogs again. It's an itch that I have not really been able to scratch, and even though I know that realistically that is not a feasible career option for me right now, I thought that volunteering would be the next best thing. Not only would it give me the opportunity to work with dogs, but also to learn about dog training and give back to the community. I spent nearly an entire afternoon researching service dog organisations local to Edinburgh and sending out emails, enquiring about volunteer positions. I didn't say anything to anyone-not even Mr. K-because I had a sneaking suspicion I would run into the same bias I have practically everywhere else.
PAALS
where Kyo is currently still in training, was one of the only organisations to give me the opportunity to begin working with the dogs. A lot of my tasks were not dog related, but I was able to "pup sit" from time to time and also groom the dogs when I was on site. I was even granted the opportunity to watch different training sessions and ask questions.
It was no surprise to me then, when one of the emails came back denying my request to volunteer with the dogs. The only reason why I was a bit taken aback was because the decision was made on a 12 to 15 line electronic form I filled out. There was no follow up call or enquiring email. The email just said that I was not suited to work with the dogs. I was informed though, that if I wanted to help the organisation, I could spend my time handing out posters or maybe working local events. Gee, thanks. "'Cause that is what I listed as my preferred work.
The reasons for not allowing me to work with the dogs?
Reason Number 1. Apparently I work too much.
Whoa. What? Where is this working too much that I am supposedly doing? I'd like to know because if I was working too much that would mean that I should be making a whole bunch of money and I would be able to purchase that 2 grand tandem bike I wanted, or that 250 pound wet suit.
I put on the application that I was working 2 hours a day, six days a week. This is about how much my triathlon training takes up as of right now. In total, that is twelve hours a week. Some people work that in a day! Who are they looking for? Retired people? Unemployed people?
Reason Number Two: We have working dogs already. Why do I bother telling people that? As soon as people find out I have a working dog myself, the answer is automatically no. One of the jobs I had checked off to do was to be a handler for a demonstration dog. That means, you take one of their dogs, bring him/her to events and demonstrate his/her training. And why can't I do that with a working dog? Glacier can stay home for such things and I can use a White Cane. There are ways to work around problems-it's called problem solving. Also, and I think this is what works me up the most, if I were accepting applications for volunteer positions and someone with a working dog applied, I would interview that person to see how he/she interacts with his/her working dog. If that person was a capable handler, with a successful dog, then perhaps they would be the best person to handle a demonstration dog. If they are already familiar with the importance of treating dogs as working animals and not pets, would they not be a good fit? That person would already know how to handle a dog/pup out in public and would know how to do it correctly. Sure, each organisation does things a bit different, but the basics would be there and new behaviors could be learned.
I just don't think either of these reasons are grounds to say no; especially if there isn't any follow up communication to gain some clarification. I kind of feel-and please excuse me puppy raisers because you know I love you and what you do, but I am just annoyed right now-that disabled people should be grossly involved in the raising of service dogs. We as disabled people know what we need better than anyone. I'm not saying go out and hire any disabled person just because they have a disability, but I feel strongly that "we" need to be involved in processes that eventually effect "us." It's something that I have been advocating for a long time now and the dog thing is just a byproduct of a greater problem: quite often, and not always, but more frequently than is acceptable, able-bodied people think they know what disabled people need better than the person with a disability.
Okay, my apologies for the rant. I'm sure they have reasons for doing what they do and please do not think that I devalue the work that puppy raisers and trainers alike do because I am not. I am just frustrated and needed to blow off some steam.

Who's That Dog?

2011-12-21T09:42:00.000Z

Look very closely. Who could this be, training so hard?

A Festive Feeling

2011-12-20T20:08:00.000Z

With Mr. K and I remaining in the UK for Christmas by ourselves, I have been attempting to keep the festive feeling alive. Christmas has always been about traditions for me, but I suppose it is time to make some new ones.
Last night Mr. K and I sat down to build a gingerbread house. This was something we did the first year we started dating. I thought it would be a fun way to walk down memory lane, while being festive. Tenie had picked up the kit for us before she left and even though I thought the package appeared a bit flat, or void of stuff, when she handed it to me, I just assumed gingerbread house kits were different here. Weren't we surprised when I busted the plastic off and all there was inside were the cookie pieces. Mr. K and I had a good laugh and had dessert. We have plenty of house left and have been slowly munching on walls, windows, roofs and chimneys.
For me, music has always been a huge part of my life. I used to perform when I was really young and miss singing in that capacity. Around Christmas time, I am always humming a Christmas tune or blaring it out of some kind of speaker. Last night, while we were in the tent with Fiona and Gus, we played Christmas carols on my Iphone for entertainment.
The selecting and giving of gifts always gives me great pleasure at this time of year as well. I have finished all of my Christmas shopping, finishing it off this afternoon with Glacier and Roscoe's present. I have wrapped some presents already, but the rest of them will wait for when Mr. K and I wrap our gifts for one another in front of each other.
Along the same line of gift giving, Mr. K and I thought it would be nice to make little gift bags for the other flats in our building. I picked up Christmas themed gift bags on an outing with Carmen and spent a good part of last night making Cinnamon Apple foot soaks and T-tree, olive and peppermint oil hand soap. Mr. K added red flowers to the surface of each bar to make them a bit more festive. The soaps need to sit and solidify, so I spent part of this morning wrapping them in Christmas paper and adding ribbon as a finishing touch. Tomorrow Mr. K and I are going to make peanut butter fudge, which is a tradition in his family, and add that to the bags as well. We've already written up a list of ingredients that will go in each bag just in case people have allergies.
Gifts for us have been arriving as well. My parents bought gifts online and had them shipped directly to us. Most of them have been gift wrapped, but I've had to wrap up two already and stuck them under the tree. A box from Mr. K's mom also arrived today, filled with goodies that we can't purchase over here, such as Ranch salad dressing and my favourite Cinnamint lip gloss. It's these small things that makes having to be apart from our families for Christmas that much more tolerable.
Christmas Eve is only four days away and even though this Holiday season is going to be very different for both Mr. K and I, we will keep doing little things to stay in the festive spirit, with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer needing to be watched and a few other Christmas classics. Not to mention, we are not completely alone; we have Glacier, Roscoe, Gus and Fiona all to keep us company and entertain us on Christmas morning. :)

Fiona Breaks Free

2011-12-19T13:17:00.000Z

It was bound to happen. Gus has already escaped his cage once, why shouldn't Fiona?
Last night I was awakened by Mr. K close to 3 AM. He's been a bit of a night owl the past few nights because his semester is over and also because the new Star Wars game was just released. He came into the room, telling me softly that Fiona had escaped and that he had herded her into the bedroom. The bedroom is probably the most Sugar Glider safe room in the flat right now. They probably could be free in our living room, but there are way more hiding spots than our bedroom, or so we thought.
Fiona is not nearly as bonded as Gus. It was only this week that she felt comfortable enough to sit in my hand for more than half a second. Petting her is still difficult as she is usually only obliging when she is asleep in her bonding pouch during the day. Gus on the other hand, grooms Mr. K quite frequently in the tent and likes to hop on Mr. K's arm and hands whenever Mr. K opens the cage at night. Gus is definitely not bonded yet, but he is further along than Fiona.
Mr. K closed the door behind him and was horrified when she disappeared under the bed. Our bed is not very high off of the floor, but there is enough room for a Sugar Glider to hop underneath. Glacier and Roscoe maintained their sleepy positions in their bed even when Mr. K and I started calling to Fiona and trying to coax her out. They are such good boys.
I dangled my hand over the edge of the bed, not entirely convinced I wanted to get out of the warm coziness that was my bed. I called Fiona and she came out to sniff my fingers, but then promptly went back under. We could hear her moving around and chewing on things and so we became a bit concerned. Mr. K shut the power bar off as we thought she might be making a snack out of the power cords that run behind our bed. I continued to call her, but I think she was a bit too frightened to come out. Mr. K thought we should move the bed to try and get her, but I disagreed. Everything I have read says not to move the furniture because you risk crushing the itty bitty Glider. Eventually, I gave in as my reasoning wasn't convincing him and he moved the bed; nothing happened. I mean, nothing. Fiona didn't come out; she didn't scurry around; she didn't make a sound. I started freaking out. I was convinced we had crushed her.
I plopped myself down on the floor beside the bed and waited. And waited. I think I sat there for a good ten minutes before she came scurrying out at the end of the bed. Those were some of the longest ten minutes I have ever experienced. Upon her emergence, I tossed Mr. K a blanket to scoop her up in, but the motion traumatized her further and she hauled butt back under the bed. I sat back down and waited some more. Mr. K and I threw around the idea of getting Gus. Perhaps he could make her feel safe and get her to come out. Maybe he could distract her from her fears and they would start playing. If that happened, we would be able to trap them both in a blanket and put them back, safe and sound in their cage.
Mr. K went out to get Gus, but that didn't go as planned either.
I sat with my hand partially under the bed, with a yogurt drop balanced in my palm and honey on the tip of my index finger. I hoped that Fiona would smell the treats and come out to investigate, but no such luck. My bum was sore from sitting on the hard wood floor for so long, but I refused to move. I have learned very quickly that patience and persistence is the way to win these little fuzz butts over. I heard her little claws clicking on the floor just beside me and fought the urge to snatch her up. One wrong move and she would go further under the bed.
Meanwhile, Mr. K was having Sugie troubles of his own. Gus came out of his cage all right, but not on to Mr. K's hand as planned. Gus had other ideas. He climbed to the top of the cage to investigate what was up there. He hung out up there for a while, not coming any where near Mr. K. At one point, Mr. K thought he had lost Gus too because he wasn't moving and Mr. K couldn't hear him, but Gus was still perched on the top of the cage. Eventually, he came down and went to frolic on the couch next to the cage. Mr. K didn't want to frighten him and so patiently waited until Gus climbed on to his hand.
All of this took long enough for Fiona to come out from under the bed. If Sugar Gliders could tiptoe, I would say she tiptoed behind me. I felt her sniff my back and again fought the urge to catch her. She flittered around behind me for a few minutes, sniffing my back and then backing off again. When I knew she was right behind me, I moved slowly in the hopes of scaring her under the bed side table. The bottom of the table is enclosed all of the way around except for a small area at the front. If I could get her under there, I could at least block her in. My small movement worked and she ran to hide. I placed my hand and forearm in front of the opening and waited for Mr. K to put Gus back in the cage. I knew I had trapped her for sure when she crabbed at me and then darted forward and nipped my finger hard. Miss Fiona is having biting issues as of late. I'm not sure if she nipped me out of fear or if she was playing a game-she thinks darting in to nip and then running away is a game-but I have never felt so relieved to have her little teeth clamp around the tip of my finger. It confirmed for me that she was indeed trapped under the bed side table.
Back out in the living room, Mr. K was able to carry Gus balanced on his hand over to the cage. Gus climbed up his arm and on to his shoulder and Mr. K was able to turn his shoulder to the cage. Once near the open door, Gus happily and willingly hopped back into his home. That was actually a really rewarding part of the early morning,, or late night depending on how you look at it, adventure. Some day, that sort of thing will be common practice and we won't have to trap our little fuzzies under furniture to retrieve them.
Mr. K returned to the bedroom and handed me a T-shirt which I stuffed into the opening of the bed side table. We needed a way for us to keep Fiona there, but that would allow me to move. With my hearing loss I have a hard time hearing where the Sugar Gliders are and so retrieval was left up to Mr. K. He laid on the floor and unstuffed the table and slid his hand up to the wrist in. Fiona was not happy about it. She didn't crab, but backed under the table. Mr. K waited. I suggested opening the bonding pouch in the mouth of the table and wait for her to get in by herself. In the tent, Fiona likes to get into the pouch on her own and hang out. It turns out, we didn't need the pouch. Fiona came out and climbed down Mr. K's shirt and he stood up, both of us pinning the shirt to his body. He got Fiona into his hand and even though she decided she should bite him, he got her back to the cage all in one piece. When she got back in she and Gus started playing immediately.
Glacier and Roscoe were angels while this whole drama unfolded. They went where they were asked to go and held very good "down stays," when asked. Roscoe did crawl to the edge of the bed, sniffer working, when I sat down and called Fiona, but other than that he stayed where he was told. I think Glacier even fell asleep, curled up on Mr. K's pillows. The boys aren't usually allowed on the bed and probably thought it was a great treat. Good thing they don't have thumbs because they may start opening the cage to let the Sugar Gliders out so that they can have a good lounge on the humans' bed.
Mr. K and I had discussed at the beginning of this week that perhaps Gus and Fiona were ready to graduate from the tent to a designated and Sugar Glider proofed room for our evening bonding sessions, but after last night, I think we both realise that Fiona needs a bit more time. I suggested that we try putting them in separate bonding pouches during the day. That way, they are forced to turn to the human for warmth and safety rather than each other. I think they know us enough to be okay with being separated for part of the day. Plus, The two pouches could be set side by side and they would know the other was close. I thought the separate bonding pouches would make it easier to pet Fiona when she was asleep, increasing her contact with human hands. Also, Gus and Mr. K seem to be buddies and Fiona has taken a small fancy to me and the separate bonding pouches would allow Mr. K and I to carry a Sugar Glider each.
So what have I learned from this experience?
1. Do NOT move the furniture when your Sugar Glider hides under/in it. There are two reasons for this: A. You really could crush them without knowing it. I think they freeze when they are really afraid and no amount of noise or movement will get them to move.
and
B. That sort of upheaval traumatizes them even more than they already are. This sort of fright is not conducive to bonding or retrieving the escapee.
2. Fiona needs a little more one on one bonding time.
and 3. Patience and persistence really do pay off with these little critters. Actually, that lesson could probably be applied to any kind of animal. This lesson I've learned before, but it is good to have it reconfirmed.

A Little Down Time

2011-12-17T20:55:00.000Z

Tonight Mr. K and I went out to dinner to celebrate the end of semester for him. We ate at a little restaurant that we both enjoy, but save for special occasions since it is a bit out of budget. Glacier and Roscoe accompanied us of course, carefully guiding us around the other people out for the evening. There were a good many more people than normal, even for a Saturday night; probably because its the Saturday before Christmas and people are trying to fit in holiday parties. The meal was delicious and both Glacier and Roscoe behaved themselves very well; Roscoe lying next to Mr. K's chair and Glacier sprawled under the table.
On the way home, we stopped at the grocery store to grab some bread and then at a beer and wine specialty shop and bought a few Winter Ciders. Again, both dogs were very good, finding doors when we asked and keeping their noses, for the most part, to themselves in both stores. They also traffic checked at two crossings that normally are empty of cars. They are usually quiet side streets that we cross multiple times a day without seeing a vehicle, but again, I think there were more vehicles out due to holiday parties. Glacier and Roscoe have both been very good as of late and Mr. K and I haven't had the opportunity to let them have an off leash run. So, when we got close to the park across from our flat, we turned in, relieved the boys and went into the fenced in area to give them a good romp.
Both dogs were asked to "sit and stay" and they obliged, muscles quivering with excitement. Glacier had to be told "no, stay" twice because he kept leaning forward as if he were about to spring away. After Glacier had settled enough to hold a good "sit stay," we released them. They took off like shots, spraying up wet wood chips behind them.
They raced around the enclosure, chasing each other and circling back to Mr. K and I. Glacier and Roscoe are probably matched for speed, but Roscoe being smaller, can turn on a dime and usually loses Glacier on the corners. They raced and chased and played hard. Their scrambling paws and snorts made me smile. Glacier also decided it was great fun to "stop, drop and roll" in the grass, all four paws in the air. Roscoe thought that Glacier shouldn't be doing that and pounced on him. They were off and running again. The "stop, drop and roll" routine was performed a few more times. I'm sure if I could see, I would be able to see grass stains on my white dog.
After about ten or fifteen minutes, they both slowed down to start sniffing. That was about the time Mr. K figured they were done and we called them back. Both boys returned, tails wagging and tongues lolling. Glacier could have probably run for another hour, but at least he got "some of his beans out;" as we like to say. The enclosure is perfect and children aren't using it this time of year, despite there being no snow. Next time I take the boys to run, I think their Toughies Ring-one of the only toys that made the trip across the pond-will be coming with us. Our flat is much too small for them to play with the ring properly. So, the fenced in park will give them an opportunity to really have a good game of tug with each other.
Both boys are now curled up together; Glacier with his tail over his eyes and nose and Roscoe with his head flopped on Glacier's back. When I reached in to give Glacier a snuggle, I got a strong whiff of damp earth. Yep, I'm sure he's grass stained. :)
These two dogs work really hard for us and they deserve some down time; time to sniff and run and to be just dogs; even at the risk of smelling like dirt.

A Fuzz Butt Frenzy

2011-12-16T22:42:00.000Z

It's been a while since we've had a Gus and Fiona update. Gus and Fiona will have been home with us for three weeks exactly tomorrow and it is amazing to see the progress in bonding. It is a task that requires patience and persistence, but once these two little Sugar Gliders are fully bonded, I think it will be a wonderful thing.
Our living room still contains the one person tent, set up for the purpose of providing a safe place for Mr. K, Gus, Fiona and I to play and bond. We try to get in the tent every night if possible in order to increase the amount of time Gus and Fiona are exposed to us. Mr. K has been great about handling the joeys in their cage and the crabbing, which is the noise they make when frightened or mad, has decreased. If there is crabbing at all, it can usually be calmed by the humans clutching the grouching glider close to our bodies and talking softly to the little furious furry one. Due to schedules and such, the tent hasn't been a go every night since Gus and Fiona have arrived in our home, but more often than not, we are spending anywhere from an hour to three hunkered down in the tent. If we are not able to get into the tent, Fiona and Gus will spend at least part of the day snuggled in a bonding pouch, slung around either mine or Mr. K's neck. All of this time is paying off.
The interesting thing is that we think Gus and Fiona may be bonding to Glacier and Roscoe as well. This happens and we're not really surprised since the dogs' scents are everywhere in our flat. Sugar Gliders, as I have mentioned before, bond primarily through scent and Glacier and Roscoe probably have a very strong scent. A few nights ago, Gus made a great escape from the cage when Mr. K was leaning in to adjust some of the sleeping pouches. We were both a bit concerned, but Gus hung a left and scurried over to where Glacier and Roscoe were curled up together sleeping. Gus leapt on to Roscoe and didn't crab or even try to run away when Roscoe looked at him confused and then proceeded to sniff him. Mr. K was able to catch Gus in a piece of fleece and he was returned safely to his cage. It was just interesting that Gus chose to go straight to the dogs instead of out into the rest of the flat.
Tonight we climbed into the tent to two free Sugar Gliders. We had placed the bonding pouch in the tent while we finished supper and the two little stinkers managed to open the zipper on the pouch and free themselves. Did I mention they have opposable thumbs? Scary smart little monsters. The tent was zipped shut and there were no great escapes at least from there. Mr. K and I were not long in sucking down our suppers and climbing in with the frolicking "flying monkeys," as we like to call them. We spent a good solid two hours letting Gus and Fiona climb on us. We are now able to move slowly and pet them and quite often Gus thrusts his head under Mr. K's palm to have his head rubbed. It is adorable. Both Gliders were also fascinated with Mr. K's pocket and more than once he had two sugies clamoring over each other to climb in. Gus even climbed on to Mr. K's shoulder tonight and began grooming Mr. K's hair. I think those two are going to be little buddies.
Fiona is a bit more skittish than her brother, but she is coming around too. Up until this week, she would avoid getting on your hand. She would run the length of your arm and stop just at your wrist, refusing to go anywhere near your hand. Tonight she was climbing all over my hands. I am still not able to really pet her, but she is becoming more tolerant of my fingers brushing her as she runs by. Everything we have read says that the more you handle them, the better. So, we try to touch them as much as possible.
Whenever I am wearing the bonding pouch, I will unzip the pouch and pet the babies. Since they are such good sleepers they hardly notice. It used to be that if they heard the zipper, they would crab, but now I can unzip the pouch and pet without any protests.
Not only are they becoming more friendly, but the two little monsters are growing. They aren't really getting any bigger per se, but their bone structure is becoming much more dense. Their fur is incredibly soft-kind of like petting a bunny-and it is getting thicker as well. It's like watching puppies losing their fuzz and it being replaced by grown up dog fur.
Quite honestly, they are some of the coolest little creatures. Sitting on the floor with your feet falling asleep for two hours is so worth being able to play with them in close contact. They are highly entertaining. When we were in the tent tonight, Fiona ran up my back, perched on my shoulder and barked at Gus who was being petted by Mr. K. You just never know what they are going to do next.
They are both now fast asleep in their cage, tucked in their hammock with their Pet Safe Snuggle pad, but give them an hour and they will be out running in their Wodent wheels. Yes, I said "wheels;" plural. We bought a second because they enjoyed the wheel so much and it allows them to both run at the same time. Fiona also loves running in one and then gliding over to the other, where she continues her running. I think she is trying to show me how to really train for a triathlon. Do they need two? No, probably not, but they're our babies and they can be spoiled a little bit. Right?

"Santa Paws is Coming to Town!"

2011-12-13T12:06:00.001Z

Hello there Blogging community,
It is I, Glacier, here to spread a little Christmas cheer. We at my house, or flat as my girl now calls it, love Christmas and my girl has said that Santa Paws is coming to town...very soon! I'm not sure whether or not to believe her, but today at the dogtor, my girl bought tasty treats and told me to cover my eyes. She said they were for Christmas.
Is it Christmas yet?
The dogtor said my leg looks like it is healing, but told my girl to keep an eye on it. I'm not sure how she's supposed to do that-I am her eyes! Anyway, I'll leave that up to her to figure out.
After the dogtor my girl and Auntie Carmen stopped to shop a bit and they bought things to put in Dad's stocking and also some shiny bags with Christmas pictures on them. My girl says that the bags are for gifts that she and Dad are making for the rest of the people in our flat building. I think those bags should be filled for me! I deserve treats; especially since she humiliated me by putting reindeer antlers on my head in the store. I am a dignified working dog! I wear a harness, not horns! ...Ahem...
When we got home, my girl snuck around the flat hiding things for Dad's stocking, telling me not to tell. I guess things that go in stockings are supposed to be a surprise? Hmmmm. I am thinking I may need one of these stocking things....Wait...she is telling me something...
Oh, right. I am supposed to be telling you about our Christmas decorating.
The flat is quite small, but we have a five foot, skinny tree. Dad bought my girl pretty shiny balls, stars and other things to hang on it. I thought that perhaps the bigger shiny balls were for me, but she said that they belonged on the tree. Dad was smart and bought all "shatter proof" decorations. Roscoe has a mighty tail and has knocked near to ten things off the tree already.
Dad also got her a Gingerbread house; whatever that is. She seemed very happy about that and they are supposed to put it together. It looks like you could eat it, but apparently it's not for eating. Why would you buy something you can't eat? Hmmm...you humans are strange beings.
Besides the tree and Gingerbread house, our house does not have anymore decorations. A box is supposed to arrive, hopefully before Christmas, and I am told that those weird stocking things are in it. Apparently Dad's is Jack Skellington-whoever that is-and my girl's is Tinker Bell: I think that is some shiny, flittering bug thing I'd like to eat. Then again, I like to eat pretty much anything.
My girl told me to make sure I have a nap this afternoon because we're going Christmas shopping tonight. Unless we're going to buy things that I can eat, I think we should stay home. It's crazy windy out there. My girl would have blown away today if she had not been holding on to me tightly. I don't think my opinion counts in this matter though.
My girl also said she's going to be busy making soaps and bath salts tomorrow. They are supposed to be gifts. Again, they are not edible and I say, why bother? She says they smell good. If something smells good, doesn't that mean you should eat it? I am so confused....Oh, well-moving on.
In the Christmas spirit, VIP has sent us a coupon that we cannot use since we are in the UK. Apparently VIP has added at least 50 new toys to their product line. Wow. That is a lot! If there is anyone out there in Canada or the United States who would like this 8 dollars off coupon, please let us know in this blog's comments by telling us about one of your favourite decorations in your house or traditions. The first person to comment, letting us know that they would like to be considered for the coupon, will be sent the email with the promotion code in it. We look forward to hearing about your decorations and/or traditions. :)
Anyway, that is all I have to tell you today. I should go take that nap so that I can be at my best for my girl when we go Christmas shopping tonight. Santa knows I'll have to move people out of the way for my girl and make sure she doesn't run into those silly displays everyone puts out at this time of year.
So, for now, this is Glacier signing off: reminding you that we only have 11 more shopping days until Christmas.

A Christmas Cookie Party...or Two

2011-12-11T11:52:00.000Z

Friday night was planned as our "get together" night before everyone heads home for the Holidays. We had just had a Canadian/American combination Thanksgiving a few weeks before, so instead of cooking a huge meal, we decided to just make baked goods. That way, everyone could enjoy each other's company as opposed to cooking/cleaning/suffering from food coma. The party was set to start at seven, but as the evening progressed, more and more people were not able to make it. By the time eight o'clock rolled around, it was just me, Tenie, Carmen, Mr. K and a friend who is visiting who also attended the Christmas market with us. Despite our dwindling numbers, we went ahead with the party and the five of us had a great time. Since there was baking involved though, of course there were mishaps and it was decided that Friday was a good practice for a repeat party Saturday, when more people would be able to attend.
First of all, I attempted to bake a traditional Ginger cookie from Finland. My grandparents are Finnish on my dad's side and I have very fond memories of baking/eating these particular cookies with my cousins, Grandma, aunts and Mom. Grandma would make the dough the night before, as it needs to sit chilling for at least 8 to 12 hours. I had forgotten this part until Tenie and I tried to bake them Thursday night. Thankfully, we had the forethought to get some baking done the night before and the dough was able to chill for the suggested amount of time.
Once the dough has chilled, it is supposed to be rolled out really thinly on to a floured surface and we kids used to go crazy using cookie cutters of various shapes and sizes. Some of us would race to see how many we could make, but I was more concerned with how perfectly my shapes came out. It was very important to me that my bells looked like bells, my Christmas trees like Christmas trees and so on and so forth. If the shape was even a bit uneven or the lines weren't straight, I'd crumple up the dough into a ball and start all over again. I think it used to drive my family nuts. My cousins always tried to hurry me along because, as they pointed out, we were just going to eat them. My argument was that this was not entirely true because some of them we would bake longer so that they were a bit harder and would loop a piece of string through a pre-made hole and hang it from Grandma and Grandpa's tree. They were some of the nicest smelling tree decorations I can remember.
The problem is, I didn't remember all of this until we started attempting to bake the dough. I made two mistakes:
1. We couldn't find "dark corn syrup" and substituted it with some molasses based product. I think it made my cookies dry.
and
2. We didn't roll the dough out thin enough and so it took longer to bake them. Again, drying them out.
The first cookie was tasted after I'd baked at least a dozen or more an they were immediately dumped into the garbage. The cookies were kind of like eating ginger flavored saw dust. They were much too dense, dry and did not have the harder, sweet outer shell with the soft middle I remember. My cookies were a bust and so Mr. K and I provided some liquor and mix instead of baked goods.
The second problem of the night was Carmen's brownies. She first made the Raspberry Cheesecake brownies for a Christmas party we held at our house when we lived together for university in Canada. She had never made them in a convection oven and so parts of the chocolatie goodness ended up burning. There were still pieces that were salvageable and so we ate those.
Tenie made a traditional Scottish dessert that is made with cream, whisky, raspberries, honey and roasted oats. She went a little heavy on the whisky the first time around, but we all enjoyed it immensely.
We spent that night eating the desserts that actually turned out and playing "Things in a Box;" a board game that asks the players a question, such as "what is something that should not be on a Valentine's Day card?", and each player writes his/her answer down. The answers are then read out loud and people have to guess who wrote what. It was a lot of fun and my tummy hurt by the end of the night from laughing so hard.
The best part about our Christmas Cookie party was that it never ended; we repeated the dessert eating last night, only with more people.
I didn't bother baking anything since my cookies kind of flopped; or should I say, crumbled. I was going to make peanut butter fudge, a favourite at Mr. K's house during the Holidays. His mom always makes it and I had it for the first time last year and I couldn't stop eating it. The problem was finding marsh mellow fluff. Apparently it's sold somewhere in Edinburgh, but it is not easy to come by. So, again, we provided liquor and mix.
Carmen attempted the brownies again and they turned out wonderfully. Tenie made her dessert with a bit less whisky and I'm pretty sure it tasted better than any of the stuff I've tried in restaurants. Two other friends joined us bringing bottles of wine with them. We spent an enjoyable evening eating and chatting. Both nights were low key as far as Holiday parties go, but the intimate setting made it better than most parties. We were all able to talk to one another and laugh with each other, which I think are some of the key elements for a good Christmas party: good food could be considered another and since we had plenty of that, I would say it was a success.

My Confession

2011-12-09T10:39:00.000Z

I really can't make any excuses. My reasons will sound hollow and insincere. I, Jess, have been a bad blog friend.
Yes, that is right, you heard me; a bad blog friend.
I have been posting and reading the comments left for me, but I have not been reading your blogs. Why is that you ask?
Well, to be honest, I've been buried in a book; technically three books. That's the honest truth. Ever since I started The Wheel of Time series, I have not been myself. My hands shake when I do not get enough reading time; when I am not reading my brain is puzzling out what will happen next; I sneak off to read little bits wherever possible; and so on and so forth. I think I may be addicted-an intervention may be in order. Every waking minute that is not filled with triathlon training, Glacier, going out with my friends here, bonding with Gus and Fiona or spending time with Mr. K is taken up by those blasted books. Even Mr. K would argue that I am not spending enough time with him. If Glacier could talk, he may say the same. I only started the series a few weeks back and I am already on book three, which says a lot considering book three alone is nearly thirty hours of listening time. The books are just that good; at least if you are a fan of the Fantasy genre.
With the Holidays coming up, things will actually calm down here. Everyone except Mr. K and I are heading home for Christmas. That means, a lot of time for me to read not only my books, but I'll get caught up on your blogs as well.
So, if anyone missed me out there: have no fear, I'll be back...once I've gone to book rehab first.
*Runs off and immediately plugs ear phones into Iphone and pushes "play"*.

Eleven Years Today

2011-12-07T11:15:00.000Z

Dear Jetta,
Happy birthday to you. You are eleven today and even though I am sure you are unaware of the significance of this day, I celebrate for you. People speak of children being born as blessings, and I am sure they are, but your birth, my beautiful, little Black Lab, was one of the biggest blessings thus far in my life. So many factors played a role in whether or not you would become a fully certified guide dog and then another host of them determined our partnering. Somehow, we were matched and my life has been changed forever because of it. Even though you are far away this day, your birthday, I think of you fondly and miss you dearly. I know you are enjoying a happy retirement and that puts me at ease, but I wish I could be with you for your eleventh birthday. It is quite a mile stone you know?
So, have a very, happy birthday and know, that even if you appear to some as "just a dog," you are more than that to me.

****
Eleven Amazing Things Jetta Did While Working
1. On multiple occasions, people would move my bag in the changing room at the pool. The first time it happened, I completely panicked. The changing room was empty and I had no idea where my bag had gotten to. Preparing to search each locker and bench, I picked up Jetta's harness handle and even before the "forward" command was out of my mouth, she had picked a direction and stopped directly in front of my bag. Can this dog read minds?
2. Jetta's innovative spirit did not always lend itself well to a well behaved dog. Tenie had bought a chocolate bar and a few other treats for herself during an essay writing marathon. She pushed them up against the back of her dresser as close to the mirror as possible. She knew Jetta stole things from time to time and being the good friend and roommate she was, she was aware of where she put things. Later that evening she came into my room to use my printer and within five minutes we heard a weird scrambling sound. We both charged from the room and burst into Tenie's only to find Jetta crouched with all four paws on Tenie's dresser, candy in mouth. All we can figure is that she got on the bed, stepped on to the bed side table and then on to the dresser from there.
3. All of the dogs from Leader Dogs for the Blind, and many other schools, are taught to "traffic check." This is a concept that I've talked about before. Traffic checking means the dog will stop you if a moving vehicle crosses your path of travel; the car endangering you both. Jetta had many fantastic "traffic checks" in her time, but I clearly remember the first one. We were at LDB still in training and her instructor zoomed in front of us in a van. Jetta slammed on the brakes and I was amazed that such a small creature had so much force. I was caught completely off guard by the traffic check as I had only taken about five steps after tying one of my shoes. I dropped to my knees beside her and threw my arms around her. It was such an amazing feeling knowing that a dog cared enough about my safety, and hers too of course, to stop us from walking into danger.
4. Once, and I think I have told this story before, Jetta and I were in the airport bathroom. It was one of her last trips as my working dog and I remember trying to commit as much of it to memory as I could. We came out of the bathroom and my guide, who had said he would be waiting, had left. Slightly irritated, I moved away from the bathroom. I thought that perhaps he couldn't see that I had come out. We walked a bit and then Jetta stopped, so I stopped too. I had learned early on that nine times out of ten, Jetta was right and the times when she was wrong, she was only half wrong. My guide returned a few minutes later and said, "oh, you made it back." I was confused and he told me that Jetta was standing right next to my suitcase. Again, does this dog read minds or perhaps luggage tags?
5. There was one time, while I was on the university campus, when I think Jetta came close to saving my life. We were walking out of a parking lot we traversed on a regular basis and a semi-truck was backing up. I could hear the beeping that indicates that the truck was reversing, but I had no idea where to go. We were surrounded by pavement and other cars and there wasn't another living human being around to ask which direction was safe. Jetta slowed her pace to a few steps at a time, eyeing up the truck. Suddenly, she stepped sideways into the lawn and planted her paws. It was only then that the driver noticed me and a yelling match ensued. I've actually written about that incident and it's buried somewhere in this blog's archives. It was another time in my life when panic completely took over and Jetta stepped in and guided me to safety.
6. Jetta always had amazing curb work. The more I get to know other guide dogs, the more I realise she was a bit of an anomaly. If she jumped a curb ever in her working career, I can't remember it, which says to me she didn't. She also always crossed straight. I never had Jetta try to diagonally cross once. It was an every day thing, but it was an important every day thing and the simplicity of it is what makes it so amazing.
7. Jetta's "follow" cue was impeccable. Not all dogs have a good "follow" cue as it is difficult to teach. Roscoe is a great follower, but Glacier? Not so much. I could tell Jetta to "follow," point to the person I wanted her to follow and she would do it. It didn't matter where we were-a busy mall, crowded sports playing field, cramped pool deck-I always knew I would get to where I needed to be. Following can be a scary thing to do when you can't hear the person you are following due to a noisy crowd, but with Jetta, I never worried she would lead me astray.
8. There wasn't anything Jetta wouldn't try once. Sometimes she wouldn't do it a second time, but she would never shy away from something that was new. We were in Vancouver Canada for a swimming training camp and on one of our off days we went touring. Part of our tour was one of the largest suspension bridges spanning a small canyon. Jetta didn't even hesitate when I asked her to "forward" on to the swaying bridge. She could see through the slats of the bridge, but she still went. Some dogs don't even like open backed stairs, never mind a swinging, suspension bridge.
9. Jetta's brain was always working. Whenever her winter boots came out for the first time, she would sneak away on silent paws and hide in one of my roommates' rooms. When I would find her and finally get the boots on, she would let me know that she was not happy. She would walk me inches from a wall, just getting me close enough to be nervous, but never brushing it. She only ever did this the first couple of times she had to wear her boots, each winter. It's a good thing she doesn't have thumbs. She would probably take over the world and all winter booties would be thrown into a gigantic bonfire, or else she would rally all guide dogs everywhere to walk their unsuspecting handlers dangerously close to objects.
10. Jetta became a pro at guiding through wintery conditions. Each year she got better until it got to the point where even if there was a thin layer of ice on the sidewalk up ahead she would slow down and walk gingerly; indicating to me that it could be unsafe. There was one year that was particularly bad for snow and many times we attempted to go to class or swim practice while wading in snow up to my knees. Jetta was so short that she would have to hop over the snow to keep us moving, but it never stopped her. After one swim practice we came out to an extra foot of snow covering the already mid-shin deep snow that had not been removed yet. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get home because I had no idea where the sidewalk was anymore. With no other choice, I asked Jetta to "forward" and followed her home. She kept me on the sidewalk, despite the two and a half feet of snow we were wandering through, and stopped perfectly at every snow buried curb. That was a day when she truly amazed me. There wasn't a defined path and somehow she kept us right where we needed to be.
11. I think the most amazing thing Jetta did was that she worked for me for six years, never complaining even though I flew her around the world and asked her to do strange things. When she was getting close to retirement, I asked her to give me five more months and she did. I don't know if she actually understood my words, but I think she worked as long as I needed her to. Jetta worked more in six years than most working dogs do in nine. We traveled to many places together and she made me feel secure in my independence. One of my most memorable trips with her was to White Horse for an athletes' conference. I attended the weekend without a sighted human guide and at first was incredibly nervous. As the weekend progressed though, I became much more comfortable and realised what a great guide Jetta really was. She truly made a huge impact on my life and I am grateful for the six years she gave me.

So, here's to you Jetta: happy eleventh birthday. :)

I Need to Stop Watching Crime Dramas

2011-12-06T12:40:00.000Z

*Plays Law and Order theme music*.
I had a small incident last night that has me a bit on edge. When I look at it from a logical perspective, it really doesn't bother me, but when I let my imagination wander, I'm not going to lie, I get a little freaked out. I don't actually know if it's too many crime dramas for me or if it's my womanly cautiousness kicking in, but I'm taking a few more small precautions when heading out on my own.
Last night Emily and I attended another swim session with a local triathlon club. The practice starts at seven and by the time I get back to Tenie's flat to retrieve Glacier to walk home, it is after nine. Normally this wouldn't be so bad, but it gets dark right around four or so at this time of year and so I'm already a bit nervous. The route I take to and from the girls' flat to mine is well lit and is along main roads which makes it safer, and I've never felt uncomfortable walking it before. There are always people out walking and cars on the roads, but last night I got a small scare.
Before leaving the girls' flat, I stopped at the park across from their flat and had Glacier relieve himself for the final time of the night. It was late enough and I knew once I was home, tucked away in the warmth with a cup of Sleepy Time tea, I would not want to leave. Looking back on it now, I am really glad I had the forethought to have him do his business because it meant when I reached my flat, I could just go right in without having to stop in the small park across the street. This small thing was a bit of a saving grace.
We turned out of the park and walked briskly along the outside of the huge park. There were a lot of cars driving and so I didn't feel worried about being so close to the park. Our whole walk up until about three blocks from my flat went very well. Glacier had fantastic crossings, was excellent at guiding me around obstacles and stopped at curbs cleanly. Even at our quick pace, he is able to stay alert enough to avoid scaffolding out on sidewalks and puddles that have accumulated. It started snowing/raining, a little thing I like to call "snaining," but I didn't really mind. I had had a good practice and was still warm from the earlier physical activity. Not to mention, our speediness also leads to elevated heart rates and consequently, warmth.
Upon reaching the busy crossing that leads to the bridge I have spoken of before, a young man approached me and asked me for the time. I was slightly caught off guard, but got my Iphone out and told him. Most people in Edinburgh are usually quite friendly and forward, so I initially didn't think much about it. He said something about it not being as late as he thought and I confirmed that was good. He said something about being more buses, which struck me as odd as the buses don't stop running until after midnight and even then there are "night buses." The "night buses" cost a bit more, but they are still available.
The crossing at the bridge is quite busy and slightly complicated. Sometimes it is hard to tell when it is safe to walk, so I made the mistake of asking the man if the "green man was up. I have asked people this question before at this crossing and so thought nothing of it." He said it was not and then stood there talking to me until the green man appeared. Then he insisted on walking me across the street in order to ensure I got there safely. I have had people do this before and didn't think much of it. As long as no one is holding on to my elbow and hauling me across the street or in the opposite direction, I usually allow people to walk along side me. I figure there's no point in being rude and maybe one day I'll actually need help. If I am rude to those who ask to help me now, they probably won't be around in the future when I really need them. Once across the street and on the bridge though, I started feeling uncomfortable. The man kept talking to me and asking whether or not he could walk me home. I insisted quite fervently that I was fine and that I knew where I was going. I almost said, "I walk here all of the time," but caught myself.
I fell into my quick step in the hopes of losing him, but no such luck. He walked across the bridge babbling about where I was going and that I should really be careful because drivers are crazy. We got to the next road and I thanked him and said I would be good from here, but he wouldn't leave. We walked along, me urging Glacier to "hop up," which means "go faster" and the man yammering away. He asked me a few questions about myself, but I answered vaguely. When he asked my name, I gave him a fake one, one that I can't even remember now and I again told him that I was fine to walk from here. We past one of the many pubs that line the streets that lead to my flat and he suggested we go in and have a drink. I mentioned about getting home to my husband. I thought it would get rid of him, but it didn't. I wish I could say I stopped and told him assertively to please stop following me. I wish I could say that I told him to scram, but I didn't. He was creeping me out and my brain was a jumble. The block that my flat is on was coming up next and all I could think was to get home. A thought of walking further than I needed away from my home crossed my mind, but we had passed through the area I knew well and I was worried about wandering down a street that I was unfamiliar with.
In hindsight I realise that I could have turned into one of the bars, ordered a drink and called Mr. K to come meet me. That plan would have stopped the man from seeing where I live and also got me an escort home. But, your brain doesn't always work when it needs to.
I crossed the street, thankful I had parked Glacier before leaving the girls' flat. If he had needed to go he would have turned left into the little park, instead of turning right to find the curb and bring me home. I didn't want to be in the park with this stranger that I could not get rid of. As we walked I had managed to calm down enough to notice that he slurred a bit when he talked and I had deduced by the construction of his sentences that he probably had a mild intellectual disability. This comforted me at first as I figured that it probably meant that he could not completely comprehend proper social interactions and that he was violating social norms by following a strange woman most of the way home.
He started asking me if I had Facebook as I waited for the light to change and stop traffic so I could cross the street. I told him I didn't and he said that I should get it and look him up. He told me his name and spelled it. This kind of solidified the notion that he had an intellectual disability. For some reason the light wasn't changing and I was getting impatient. There was a lull in the traffic and even though the audible signal was not indicating it to be safe to cross, I ran across the street. Before I fled, I thanked him for walking me home and that I hoped he caught his bus safely. There was no need to be rude; I wasn't sure how well aggressive behavior would effect him.
When I was across the street, he yelled his name to me again and spelled it, saying again that I should look him up on My Space and Facebook. I waited for the traffic to start moving before I walked down the sidewalk and turned the corner of the building that I live in. I wanted to make sure he couldn't follow me across. My thought was that if the traffic was moving, it would give me enough time to get inside just in case he decided to follow me to my door.
This whole exchange took probably less than five minutes, but it had me all worked up. Part of what makes me nervous is that he got that close to where I live. I have no idea if he crossed the street after me or not. I also have no idea what he looks like. I could be out walking and have no clue he's around. Plus, Glacier and I are not hard to miss. I am a smallish blind woman with a huge white Yellow Labrador. We do not blend into a crowd easily. There are a few things that make this uncomfortable situation a little more comfortable. The first is that I do not go outside without a dog, whether it is Roscoe or Glacier.. Glacier is a big pussy cat, but he is big as far as Labradors go and hopefully his size is a bit intimidating. Roscoe will growl or bark at people if he doesn't like them and they are getting too close to me in the dark. I've taken him out to "park" during the late evening and he growled at a guy across the street who was yelling drunkenly. The dude was actually just singing because he had one too many pints, but I know that if I take Roscoe out with me, he'll at least sound scary. I also go out with Mr. k and he is also a good shield because he is huge and he usually has Roscoe. A big man with a big black dog is scarier in the dark than you think. The other thing is that I carry my phone on me at all times and when leaving places to walk home, I always text Mr. K to let him know I'm on my way. I also text the girls if I am headed over. So, if I don't show up within twenty minutes of my text, they would know something was wrong; let's just hope it doesn't come to that.
Again, I am kind of over reacting a bit and writing it out like this makes it sound a bit scarier than it is. It was just a good reminder to be aware of your surroundings and to let the people you are meeting know that you are on the way. It's not going to stop me from leaving my flat, but it will make me a bit more hyper vigilant for the next little while. I know I am well taken care of and even if Glacier appears to be a big push over, I wouldn't want to tick him off. He IS the dog who tore strips off of a hockey puck in less than seven minutes. Guide dogs are not aggressive by nature. In fact, they would not become guide dogs if they were, but even the nicest creature, human or dog, could become protective if his/her family was threatened. So, I will continue to go about my life, but with a bit more caution and may stay in the next couple of nights to ensure he doesn't see me out around the same time.

Glacier Goes to the Dogtor

2011-12-05T12:07:00.000Z

This morning was Glacier's vet appointment to have the cyst-like lump on his left, front elbow examined. I had made the appointment on Friday and although there was an available appointment Friday, I said I'd wait until Monday because I wanted to see if it would resolve itself. I had ben putting T-tree oil on it twice a day and even though the lump shrunk a bit, it did not completely disappear. So, we braved the cold and slippery sidewalks to get to the vet's office.
Glacier and I walked to Carmen's flat to meet her so she could walk to the vet's with us. I have only been there once before and I am not 100 percent sure about the route. So, to ensure we made it there, I asked her to go with us. Glacier did very well on the way to Carmen's flat. There is a bridge we cross over all of the time and I nearly fell on my butt this morning when I first stepped on it. Glacier and I walk at a very fast pace and the momentum we had nearly sent me skittering. I dropped his harness handle, stopping him in his tracks and a nice gentleman came over to me to show me that there was a hand rail that ran the length of the bridge to the next crossing. I didn't necessarily need the hand rail, but was grateful that someone was actually being helpful. He told me that the bridge was "very frosty" and I had to agree. His choice of words made me smile. In North America we would have said "icy" or "slippery," but not "frosty." I may have to use that some time.
The rest of the route was fairly ice free and we moved along at a good clip. At one point, we got stuck behind a mom and her two little children, but she pulled over to let Glacier and I pass. Her one child was completely enamored with Glacier; probably because this giant dog was staring him right in the face. I said, "excuse me sir," and the little boy moved over. We picked up Carmen and walked the rest of the way to the vet office.
The vet was different from the last time we were in, but she was very good. She was gentle and quite thorough, checking Glacier's weight, ears, eyes, heart and lungs. Glacier still weighs 33 kilograms and she was very happy with his health, aside from the lump. She looked at it and figures it's a cyst, just as I had suspected. It is red and there is puss in it though, so she gave me anti-biotics for Glacier and instructed me to bathe the lump with warm, salt water twice a day. If the lump resolves by next week, we're in the clear. If not, Glacier has another appointment to go back in and he will probably have to have it surgically removed. I really appreciate that she is attempting to clear the lump up with non-surgical procedures before putting him "under the knife." He has already had today's anti-biotic dosage and I'll be bathing it with the salt water shortly.
After we went to the vet, we stopped in at the pet store and ordered Glacier and Roscoe boxes of their food to be delivered tonight. I also bought 150 biodegradable poop bags and a small bag of treats. The biscuits in the bag are even smaller than most kibble, so it is a nice, low fat reward for the boys when they are doing stellar work or just being good boys.
Our trip finished off with a stop in at one of our favourite cafes for coffee and a sandwich. Glacier behaved very well in the cafe, lying calmly by my chair. He had been a bit of a goober in the pet food store, continually sniffing everything in sight, but eventually settled into a very nice "sit stay" at the counter. He didn't even move from his sprawled position on the cafe floor when an unknowing customer stopped to pet him. The man was very apologetic when Carmen politely asked him to "please don't pet." Normally, I would have said something myself, but as Glacier didn't react to being fawned over, I didn't even know he was getting attention and therefore could not speak up.
Our walk home was mostly just cold. We did meet another guide dog user coming from the opposite direction. I didn't even know he was there until our two dogs stopped in front of each other. The other handler was the one to realise that we were both blind as I was busy telling Glacier to "leave it" and to "left, left," which means to move to the left without a sharp turn. We both laughed when we realised our dogs had stopped working because they wanted to be friends, but then encouraged our respective boys-his dog's name was Mitch- "forward" and we were on our way.
Aside from the vet visit being a bit stressful, it was a very nice outing. I was very proud of Glacier's work and am still in awe of the changes I have seen in him since we've arrived. He loves working and keeps good pressure on his harness, whereas before, he was unsure and would sometimes stop guiding entirely.
Good boy, Glacier.

"It's Christmas Time in the City."

2011-12-04T12:03:00.000Z

This is mine and Mr. K's first Christmas in Edinburgh and we are both totally amazed how festive the city becomes. The decorations are just unbelievable and it brings a whole new meaning to "a magical time of the year." All along Princes Street, one of the main drags in Edinburgh, lights are strung up and 3D snowflakes are hanging from the wires criss crossing over the street. Businesses are completely decked out with lights, snowflakes, wreaths and huge trees. Yesterday, we went out with Tenie, Carmen and one of their friends and were able to enjoy some of the festivities Edinburgh has to offer around this time of year.
Our destination was the Edinburgh Christmas Market and it did not disappoint. The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the Christmas Market was the little Santa inspired train/car driving up and down Princes Street. We aren't exactly sure what its purpose was, but we think it's some kind of courtesy shuttle. It was so cute with it's little horn tooting.
We may have made a small mistake venturing there on the first Saturday it was opened, but we really enjoyed the whole experience. We left Glacier and Roscoe at home, to their dismay, as we were worried they may get crushed in the crowd. We also wanted to take advantage of the Ferris Wheel and if the boys had come, someone would have been left on the ground holding their leashes. So, it was a trip the two guide dogs missed.
The crowds were absolutely crazy. In some areas it was so over crowded that you would end up at a stand still when trying to reach certain booths. Despite there being so many people, the majority of the crowd was very cheery and it made being in a crowd that large tolerable and even a bit pleasant.
We found one of the German booths selling authentic food and had sausages for lunch. We ate our food hunkered down underneath a small overhang, hoping that the bit of rain attempting to escape the sky would subside by the time we had finished eating. Thankfully it did and we were able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon rain free, but it was so cold sometimes wandering back into the huge throng was in order just to warm up.
After lunch we found a vantage point to take pictures of the entire market. We climbed up on to a raised wall, later to find out we were standing on a skylight that went down into the art gallery. We weren't the only people standing up there, so we weren't concerned. From atop the art gallery Mr. K was able to take photos of the whole market below, with it's wooden stalls, hordes of people and twinkling lights. We asked a passer by to take a photo of all of us together and ended up chatting with him for a bit. Most people were feeling the Christmas spirit and were quite friendly. It was a feeling that I think some places attempt to produce, but never quite make it. This Christmas Cheer feeling was genuine and not forced or commercialized. Yes, a Market selling Christmas products could be considered commercialized, but the atmosphere was, as I said, genuine and that makes all the difference.
With our hands and toes freezing stiff due to standing still too long, we went off in search of warm drinks. We stopped at one stall selling mulled wine and hot chocolate with different types of liquors in them. Tenie, Carmen, Mr. K and our friend opted for the wine, but I was feeling extravagant so I ordered a hot chocolate with cream, cinnamon and a shot of liquor in it. The drinks were a bit on the pricy side, but if you returned the mug upon finishing your drink, you were given part of your money back; a few of us decided to keep our mugs as a keepsake.
A little warmer, we moved slowly to a few booths selling Christmas decorations. One such stall held glass ornaments that were hand painted in every variety you could imagine. We didn't do much browsing though as it was incredibly crowded and getting near the goods was nearly impossible. None of us were very disappointed though as we had come for the food and ultimately the Ferris Wheel.
While we browsed briefly, Tenie had braved the crowd to bring two of the mugs back and stopped in to purchase some candied almonds. She shared with everyone upon her arrival and we all enjoyed the warm nuts. We then wandered over to the Ferris Wheel where we were bombarded by some great Christmas tunes and still others that were slightly frightening. I'm not one to judge, but dude, they like their seventies disco music in Edinburgh; seventies disco Christmas carols anyone?
The five of us crammed into one car of the Ferris Wheel to the strains of "Santa Baby." The Wheel started moving and we were slowly hoisted into the air. Mr. K was cramped with his knees nearly to his chest and our other friend was as well. Both men are quite tall and with five of us in the same car, space was a precious commodity. Tenie is afraid of heights and she told anyone that if they made the Ferris Wheel sway she'd kill them in their sleep. Mr. K used to be afraid of heights and he is to some extent now-like if the Ferris Wheel swayed-but going blind sort of erased that fear for him. The car climbed up to the top and I was told it was a great view. You were almost on level with the castle and Christmas Edinburgh sprawled out below us. If we thought we were cold before, that was nothing compared with being way up in the sky. The wind was bitter cold and our fingers and noses were frozen stiff, but we had such a great time that we hardly noticed. The Ferris Wheel did get swayed from our friend twisting about to take pictures, or at least that is what he is claiming. I think Tenie still may have murderous intent since his claims of moving for photo taking were a bit weak.
Back on the ground, we headed again for more food. There was a booth selling "Dinky Doughnuts" and we stopped in to grab a bag or two of the tiny, sweet deliciousness. Again, they were warm and very tasty. I feel like all we did was eat, but it is a Christmas market with strong German influence, so I really shouldn't be surprised. Carmen's family is German and whenever we went to visit, all we did was eat.
After our Dinky Doughnuts were consumed, it was time to return home. Gus and Fiona had been riding around all day in Mr. K's sweater, warmed by his body heat and layers, and they would be waking up soon. It's one thing to carry a bonded, sleeping Sugar Glider around with you, but it's quite another to carry an awake, unbonded Sugar Glider. So, We headed for the taxi cue since we were all freezing and ready to get home. We spent the rest of the evening watching movies, eating pizza and getting warmed up by mine and Mr. K's gas fireplace.
The experience of the Edinburgh Christmas Market was one that I think everyone should have. Sure, it was a bit over crowded, but most people were in great moods and the press of the bodies kept you warm. Of course things are a bit over priced, but a lot of the vendors travel from Germany to Edinburgh to take part in the Market and so I can kind of understand the prices. Climbing into the sky crammed into a Ferris Wheel with four other fantastic people was an experience in itself-I don't think I stopped laughing until our feet hit solid ground. Carmen and I have made a date to go back on Thursday to browse some of the merchandise and since the market has free entry, I kind of feel like "why not go more than once?" There were so many different food vendors that you could eat there every day of the week and you would never try everything available. It was the perfect start to our first Christmas season in Edinburgh.

A Small Worry

2011-12-02T11:35:00.000Z

A few weeks ago, both Glacier and Roscoe were examined by their new vet to ensure they were healthy. The vet said they were in excellent condition and told the Guide Dog Association as much, so that Glacier and Roscoe could be considered certified guide dogs here in the UK. Everything is actually going smoothly with that process and all Mr. K and I have to do is head to the public library in order to pick up our bus passes that will allow us to ride public transit for free. However, Glacier has developed a strange lump on his left elbow and I'm a bit concerned.
Emily, AKA E, was over Wednesday morning after our 12 KM run and was sitting on the floor with the boys. She noticed Glacier had a bump on his elbow and he was not very happy about people touching it. I've also been fiddling with it and he still is not happy about it being touched. Yesterday it looked to me as though it had grown a bit, but with things like this it's hard to tell: did it really grow or is my imagination running away with me because I am worried? I put two rounds of t-tree oil on it yesterday in the hopes that it would clear whatever is in there out. T-tree oil has anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal properties and I wondered if it was an infected area from something getting stuck in there. I haven't done any t-tree oil today, but I'll put another bit on and see if it makes a difference. I'm also going to phone the vet to see if they want me to bring him in today or to wait until Monday.
The bump is probably about the size of a dime in diameter, but actually quite raised. It moves with the skin, which is a good sign and is also quite hard. Both of these sequela indicate that it's not cancerous or anything serious like that, but your brain always assumes the worse.
Jetta developed a lump on her knee when she was still working and I remember being completely freaked out. I was so worried, I didn't sleep until I got her into the vet. Her lump was smaller than this and a bit more boggier feeling. They took a biopsy and she was fine. Eventually, the lump disappeared.
Some might say it's a fat lump, but it's on Glacier's elbow and I have felt fat lumps on dogs before; this is not a fat lump. That said, I kind of wonder, due to its positioning, if maybe he leaned on something when he laid down and it got stuck under the skin, causing the lump. Either way, I'll leave this one up to the experts. I am all for treating your animals naturally, but if the T-tree oil is not having any effect, it's time to call in the "Dogtor."

There's a Tent In My Living Room

2011-12-01T12:53:00.000Z

Mr. K and I don't live in a huge flat. In fact, it's a smallish 1 bedroom, but somehow we managed to pitch a one person tent in the middle of the living room floor last night. Why would we do such a thing? Let me fill you in.
As I've mentioned dozens of times before, the bonding process with your Sugar Glider is incredibly important. A "tame" or "bonded" Sugar Glider will be willing to hang out on your shoulder, in your hair or in a pocket even if out in public. Gus and Fiona were introduced to people and being handled when it was appropriate, but they don't know us. We have to work very patiently and diligently to get them used to us and our scent.
One of the ways we have been doing that is by using a bonding pouch. Mr. K has been scooping them into the zippered pouch every day and we've taken turns carrying Gus and Fiona around. We started this on Monday with much "crabbing" from both Sugar Gliders. Fiona was the fussiest and sometimes if you shifted wrong, she would crab at you from inside her bonding pouch. After a few days of using the bonding pouch, Mr. K and I thought it was time to let Fiona and Gus get to know us while they were awake.
Enter the tent.
A lot of what I have read online has suggested using a small tent, large closet or a very contained, controlled environment in which to release your Sugar Gliders when working on the bonding process. Spaces like the tent or large closet would ensure the safety of the Sugar Glider while allowing them to roam and play. At first we were going to block off our front foyer, but one of our friends said she had a tent. Mr. K pitched it last night and we crawled in with Gus and Fiona. Everything we had read had said to be prepared for sitting in there for a few hours. So, we put reruns of Home Improvement on and settled in. Oh, the benefits of being blind; watching television from inside a tent you can't see.
I can't say it was the most comfortable place to be. We were squished into a one person tent, pitched on a hard wood floor. Glacier and Roscoe weren't amused either. They kept circling the tent and snuffing, trying to figure out why we were in the little room and they weren't.
When we first went in, we opened the bonding pouch Gus and Fiona were in and put it down a ways from us. Both joeys crabbed loudly and we weren't entirely sure they would ever stop. Eventually, they began to calm down and Gus was the first furry creature to emerge. He scurried around the floor of the tent and ran up and down the walls. He practiced his acrobatics and leapt from the ceiling to the floor and back again. He happily scurried up my sweater and down my arms. He took a yogurt drop-a treat-from my shoulder and chirped happily.
Fiona took a bit longer to warm up to us, but after about 40 minutes, she joined her brother in frolicking around the tent. The best part was when Gus thought he should encourage her along and would jump on the pouch that she was hiding in. He kept doing this, with intervals of racing about, until she finally came out. We let them play for about n hour and a half and it was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. They jumped along the walls, climbed Mr. K and I, groomed Mr. K and just generally had a great time. We didn't really pet them, but it was so cool to feel their little paws on our hands.
Eventually, Mr. K and I were getting very sore from sitting squished into the tent and we decided it was time to get the little fuzzy fools back into their pouch. Originally, I had suggested bringing their food into the tent, tucked in the carrying box we brought them home in. That way, when it was time to get out, we could open the lid, they would hop in and we could transport them safely back to their cage. In all of the crazy gliding and hopping, Mr. K had thought they might be hungry and had opened the food container. They both jumped in as I had hoped, but it was too early and so we hadn't taken them back to their cage at that time. Because of this, getting the little munchkins out safely turned into quite the adventure.
Gus at some point hopped into the pouch and Mr. K was able to zip it shut. Gus crabbed quite loudly and persistently because he was ticked about being in the pouch. He wasn't done playing; especially since his sister was still free.
Fiona took much longer; probably another 40 minutes. We tried coaxing her into the food box, but she would dart in and out much too quickly for us to shut the lid. We spent much of the time playing with her, by moving our hands towards her and having her skitter away. She's a fast little stinker and I think she was having a good time playing Cat and Mouse.
After about 40 minutes Mr. K and I were much too warm to stay in the tent any longer. I took Gus in his pouch prison to the cage to let him out. I didn't think it was fair that he had to stay in there with Fiona bouncing around like a maniac. I unzipped the pouch, closed the cage door and he almost immediately popped out.
While I was busy with Gus, Mr. K managed to convince Fiona to get in the box, which is more like an insect aquarium, and close the lid. She too was returned to her cage and released.
Both joeys were so happy to see each other after their separation. They chirped and began playing with one another.
It was so cool to be a part of something as special as getting a little animal to trust you. Today when Mr. K scooped Fiona and Gus out into the bonding pouch, neither of them crabbed. Fiona even gave Mr. K kisses on his finger. This is a complete 180 from the previous days. Fiona was the hardest to get out of the cage and would crab long after she had been tucked safely into the pouch. It's amazing to think that a few hours of hanging out in a tent, squished like a human pretzel could make such a huge difference. The funny thing is, no matter how uncomfortable I was, I'd do it all again if it meant that Gus and Fiona would trust us more. We still haven't really petted them yet, but I think that day will come sooner than we think; just as long as we keep what we're doing and don't force Gus and Fiona aggressively.

Sudo Snuggle

2011-11-29T11:06:00.000Z

Gus and Fiona seem to be settling in a bit better. They were quite active last night, coming out to eat and run in their Wodent Wheel with Mr. K and I sitting very close to the cage. Gus has even sat in Mr. K's palm for a brief moment and has let himself be pet a bit. Fiona is a bit more timid, which was what we read about the females, but she is becoming braver by the day as well. Working on the bond between Sugar Glider and human can take up to three months, so we'll just have to be patient.
One way the bonding process can be sped up is to wear the sleeping Sugar Glider around your neck in a "bonding pouch" while he/she sleeps during the day. We have two bonding pouches and after some effort, Mr. K was able to shuffle Fiona from her sleeping spot in the fleece tunnel into the bonding pouch. I wore her around my neck pretty much all day yesterday and she only fussed at me once.
When Sugar Gliders are afraid, they make this crazy loud noise called "crabbing." It kind of sounds like a giant locus. It can actually be quite intimidating, but if you ignore it and soothe your little fuzz butt, it usually subsides quite quickly.
We didn't manage to get both joeys into the same pouch because Gus realised what was happening and woke up. He crabbed quite loudly at Mr. K, so we left him alone. Once he was back into a deep sleep, Mr. K scooped him out of the tunnel into the other bonding pouch and I wore him around for the rest of the afternoon. The joeys are so light you hardly notice they are hanging from your neck; even if there are two of them. Gus crabbed at me once as well because I moved the pouch that he was in and took the blanket covering them away so I could get up off of the couch. I gently cupped him against me and his crabbing slowly stopped.
We have also read that it is important to make sure your Sugar Gliders have a means of staying hydrated while in the bonding pouch. The best way to do that is to put a thin slice of fruit-an apple or pear-into the pouch with them. Mr. K cut up two slices and I put them in with each joey. Gus moved around quite a bit and I thought he had eaten some of his, but Fiona hardly moved. I assumed she just stayed asleep, but when we put them back in their cage and looked in the pouches, Fiona's apple had been consumed far more than Gus's. Perhaps she's a dainty eater?
Both Joeys are tucked away asleep in their cage right now. I've thought about scooping them out into bonding pouches to work on our bonding, but I'm not brave enough to get them out. They are so small I am terrified of squishing them by accident. Plus, I don't like being yelled at: I don't want them to crab at me. :) That said, perhaps after lunch I will get up the courage to get them out. The more the Sugar Gliders smell you and associate your scent with warmth and safety the quicker the bonding process will go.
Tomorrow evening we will try letting them out of the cage with us locked in the foyer of our flat. Some suggest putting up a pop up tent and releasing the Sugar Gliders in there with you. The tent would be a safe place for them to roam and to get used to you, but we don't have a tent nor do we have the space to put one up. People have also suggested a big closet, but our closet is not big enough for both Mr. K and I. So, the foyer will have to do. We will have to stuff towels under the door jams to ensure Gus and Fiona don't wiggle out into rooms we don't want them in as well as blocking off the kitchen. Bonding must be done in a positive way, similar to dogs, and starting in a safe, controlled environment is the way to go.
So, I technically still haven't pet Gus or Fiona, but I have technically snuggled them; even if it was through a polar fleece pouch and I loved it. These little guys are so fascinating and I am so glad we have added them to our family.

Blog Alert

2011-11-28T10:15:00.000Z

Over the lat few weeks triathlon has started taking over my life; in a good way. However, E and I were talking and we decided that perhaps we needed a different platform to chronicle our triathlon training adventures. So, instead of bombarding this blog with triathlon talk, we have started a new blog and I would ask you to check it out. It's not entirely finished, but the basic template and two posts are already up. Please come and check on our progress from time to time and stay a while if you like what you're reading. You can find the link to
Sea, Land and Tires
here.
Thanks from E and I both in advanced for your support.
Happy Monday :)

Welcome Home to Our Fur Kids

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000Z

Just a little over 24 hours of having our two Sugar Glider joeys home and things seem to be moving right along. Mr. K, Tenie, myself and the dogs met with the Sugar Glider breeder at the train station and went to a nearby Tesco (grocery store) and sat and had a drink to discuss the fur babies. The breeder was incredibly knowledgeable and more than willing to lend us any assistance if needed. She handed Gus and Fiona over in a small carrier covered in a cloth bag to block out light and wind. We were also given a pedigree, which she said most breeders are not in the habit of giving, but that she wanted to track her babies' lineages. We learned that Gus and Fiona's Dad's name is Mongo and their Mama is Dixie. We had a good chat and her two young children came over to check Glacier and Roscoe out and then the family were on their way, minus two Sugar Glider joeys that were safely cradled in their Auntie Tenie's arms.

After our meeting, we found a restaurant and went in for some much needed lunch. Fiona and Gus slept peacefully in their carrier, never stirring. Glacier and Roscoe were well behaved, but both dogs knew something was amiss. Glacier kept trying to vigorously sniff the carrier, while Roscoe minded his own business and expressed his anxiety through other means. He walked quickly and today he's been practically up Mr. K's butt: we both think he just needs assurance.

The train ride back to Edinburgh was completely uneventful. Glacier and Roscoe slept under the table that was between our seats and Gus and Fiona slept on top of it, tucked safely in a pink and floral polar fleece pouch in their carrier. We opted to take a cab from the train station as we were experiencing the tail end winds from gales and it was bitterly cold. We wanted the joeys to be warm and we weren't exactly excited to go back out in the wind, having fought with it all day.

Upon arriving home, Mr. K, with the help of Tenie, gently lifted the sleeping pouch from the carrier and carefully attached it to the wall of the cage; all without Fiona or Gus waking up. We put their food out-a blended mixture of fruits and vegetables over three cat food kibble-and waited. The breeder had told us that they were probably emerge around nine, but the first movement occurred around eight.

Both joeys slowly emerged, carefully exploring their surroundings. Tenie had left by this point, so all Mr. K and I could do was guess what they were doing by the noise that they made moving around. Surprisingly, Fiona and Gus are pretty quiet and it was hard to figure out what they were doing. They rarely make noise, but we think it's because they are still getting comfortable.

Sugar Gliders actually make a lot of different kind of noises, including barking, crabbing-which is their mad noise-and a few others. We have been trying to let them settle in with as little stress as possible, but there has been some crabbing. The first happened last night when one of the joeys must have startled the other as they were sleeping. The crabbing wasn't very loud and they had not emerged from the sleeping pouch yet.

The second one happened when Mr. K was talking to one of the joeys. It was very curious and kept coming close to the side of the cage where Mr. K was. At some point, Mr. K got distracted and stopped talking. The joey must have lost interest because it hopped back in the pouch and scared the other joey who crabbed.

There was a lot of crabbing today when Tenie, Mr. K and I returned from being out. We got back right around the time when the joeys would have just started coming out and we may have startled them. One crabbed at Tenie the instant she walked into the living room and more crabbing ensued when Mr. K got too close. They have since calmed down and have been quiet.

One of the joeys, we are assuming Gus because apparently the males are a bit bolder at first, is quite active. He/she keeps coming out and running in the Wodent Wheel and eating some of its food. They both were big fans of the polar fleece ladders that Mr. K made and the sticks collected from the park across the street have been big hits. As I type this, both Gliders came out of the pouch and were running about. One little fuzz butt loves the wheel and the other came up to the edge of the cage and licked Mr. K's finger.

It's so hard not being able to touch them. I am so used to puppies where the instant they are handed over, they are squirming in your arms and licking your face. These little guys need a bit of patience and space. It's also difficult not being able to hold them because I can't see them and have no idea what they actually look like or how they feel. It's all very exciting.

Tomorrow we may try transferring them from their sleeping pouch into a bonding pouch while they are fast asleep so that I can wear them around my neck. The bonding pouch has a zipper and keeps the joeys safe, while also allowing them to be close to your body. This way, they can learn your scent and associate it with warmth and safety. They don't seem to mind us moving around as much, so we'll see where we stand tomorrow.

Glacier is particularly interested in Gus and Fiona. He keeps going close to the cage and watching them. I always knew when they were awake last night because Glacier was on his paws, peering in at the joeys. They don't seem to mind him. I take it as a good sign that they have not crabbed at him yet. Apparently, Sugar Gliders can bond to other animals in the household. There have been incidences of Sugar Gliders curling up with a sleeping dog or sharing a snack out of the same dish as a cat.

It's been a great 24 plus hours and we haven't even touched Gus or Fiona yet. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Maybe I will actually get to feel their little furriness finally?

Bringing the Babies Home

2011-11-26T08:39:00.000Z

Today Mr. K, Tenie, Roscoe, Glacier and I will take a two hour train ride into the Highlands of Scotland to pick up our Sugar Glider joeys. The breeder has said she'll sit down and have a chat with us before we take the little beasties home. I am super excited, but as with most new things, a bit nervous. Here are these little creatures that we will be responsible for, who can glide around the room and cling to something as little as a piece of paper taped to the wall.
We think the cage is ready and I hope that it is. Mr. K even went across the street to the little park and got branches for Gus and Fiona to chew on and run up. Two sleeping pouches have been also put in the cage as well as the Snuggle Safe heating pad. I am just going to fill the two water bottles we have for them before we leave to ensure they have a fresh water supply available as soon as they get home.
We're not supposed to touch them for the first two days, which I think may be a bit hard. I love fuzzy things and fuzzy things must be pet, snuggled and squished.
Anyway, I best be getting off as Glacier and Roscoe still need to relieve before we trek over to the bus stop.
Lots of Sugie updates to follow.
Wish us luck. :)

A Time to Laugh

2011-11-25T10:12:00.000Z

Wednesday Carmen, Glacier and I hopped a bus and headed out to a shopping centre to try to get some Christmas shopping done. It was a blustery day, but the three of us didn't really mind, being able to find shelter in the different stores. Upon arriving, we stopped in at Starbucks for coffee and a sandwich; sustenance is important to maintain perfect shopping form. We then tackled a few different stores, looking for winter boots for Carmen and gifts for her family.
We spent quite a bit of time in Hobby Craft just browsing the different aisles. I looked at the soap making supplies and was not happy with their selection, but was very interested by the mosaic tiles and supplies they carried. Mosaics have always interested me, probably for a couple of reasons, but it is something I just haven't done yet. It may be a new project for the new year though. Carmen made her purchases and we were off to Boots in search of perfume prices, hair ties, body wash and other essentials.
The first thing we went to look for was the perfume I have fallen in love with. Of course I forget who it's by, but it's called Midnight Rose and it is such a lovely scent. Usually I am not a big fan of things that claim to smell like roses, but this fragrance actually really has no hint of roses. We found the section and Carmen quickly spotted the perfume. We went back to it and she was examining the bottle and the other products surrounding it. Me, being the assuming blind person, figured we were in a perfume section and that I should smell other scents. So, I plucked one glass bottle off the shelf, unscrewed the lid and sniffed. It stank. Not deterred, I replaced the lid and the bottle and moved on to the bottle next to it. I again, unscrewed the lid and sniffed; simply stinky. At the moment Carmen started speaking, I realised my mistake:
"Jess? You know you are sniffing foundation right?"
All we could do was laugh: a perfect Blind moment if there ever was one.
"I was just making sure you were paying attention." I told Carmen between fits of laughter.
That night when I relayed the story to Mr. K and Tenie, I could hardly get the happenings out because I was laughing so hard. They both laughed and Mr. K shook his head saying,
"only my wife," in his tone that means he thinks I'm a nut, but that he loves all of my antics anyway.
I've had "blind moments" before and they are all experiences I recall with a grin plastered to my face: I am sure this one will be no different.
So, to all you blind folk out there, or sighted folk too I suppose, when out Christmas shopping for perfume, please make sure you are sniffing perfume and not make-up!

Grooming Routine: Ears

2011-11-24T10:03:00.000Z

There are many aspects to grooming your dog, whether a working or pet dog. Tuesday we talked about the importance of oral cleanliness for your dog and today I thought we'd talk about ears.
Dogs ears are not designed in the same way a human's is; especially if you have a floppy eared dog like Glacier who is a Labrador. The floppy ears serve a lot of functions, including keeping debris and other foreign bodies out of the dog's ear canal, but those floppy, fuzzy ears that you love so much also keep things trapped inside. Bacteria and fungus like to grow and live in dark, warm, moist places. Your dog's ears are the perfect breeding grounds for unwanted friends if not properly cared for.
The first time around at Leader Dogs for the Blind, we were instructed to lift the dog's ear and wipe out the inside with a tissue. We were also encouraged to push the tissue as far down the dog's ear opening as possible in order to reach any lurking ear wax. I have taken this practice and added to it as I felt that just pushing a tissue into the canal would push the wax further into the ear. I honestly don't know what we were told the second time, six years later, as I wasn't obligated to attend that lecture. Since my first experience at LDB though, I took what they taught me and read up on more ear cleaning practices. From all of that information, I came up with my own ear cleaning routine. As I said in the post about teeth cleaning, this is what works for my dogs, Glacier and Roscoe, but may not necessarily be the best routine for your dog's needs. A poodle, for example, has fur that grows in his/her ear canal that needs to be trimmed/plucked out in order to keep the ear clean. Labradors obviously do not need this more intensive ear cleaning.
I first have the boys sit and I then stand behind him with my feet planted on either side of him. I can also do this sitting on a chair or couch and sometimes do it that way as well. I start by wiping out the outer ear with a clean, non-abrasive tissue. I find toilet paper or a Kleenex works just fine. I never use the same tissue on a different ear. This is to ensure that infection or dirt does not spread from one ear to another or from one dog to another.
After the outer ear has been wiped out, I use an ear cleaning solution and gently dump it down the dog's ear canal. A vet should be able to show you how if you are uncomfortable doing it. Because I can't see the ear canal, I slide the tip of the ear cleaning bottle into the hole and let the liquid pour in. The boys aren't really big fans of the ear cleaning solution as I imagine it's cold and probably blocks his hearing for a brief moment, but the solution is really important; especially for Roscoe since his ears always create way too much wax. After pouring the solution in, I gently massage the base of the ear to ensure the solution has entered the ear canal. I don't let the dog shake his head until I am sure the solution has penetrated deep enough. Some may splash out when the dog shakes, but as long as you got solution in and it remained in for a short time, it should do its job.
Selection of the ear cleaning solution can be slightly confusing as there are several different types on the market. I usually buy mine from the vet as they are more often than not made from natural ingredients and have a lower alcohol content. The bottle is about ten Canadian dollars and lasts six to eight months, depending on how often it needs to be used. I had ear cleaning solution last me so long that I had to pitch it because it had expired. I am also a huge fan of Halo's ear cleaning solution, but Halo is not available in the UK. It is all natural and works very well from my experience. There are also home made recipes that you can use floating around on the internet and I've used them as well. I've had to tweak a few as they asked for some strange things, but when in a pinch, I made one from water, alcohol and vinegar. It doesn't smell so nice, but it does the trick. Roscoe had a full blown ear infection and when I used this home made concoction twice, his ears cleared up. That said, ear cleaning solutions do not take the place of vet visits and anti-biotics if the dog's ears are really infected. I'm all about treating your animal naturally where possible, but sometimes vet advice and assistance is necessary.
A word of caution with regards to ear cleaners: a lot of them have a high alcohol content which can dry out the dog's ear. This in itself is not healthy. Dogs, as do humans, need ear wax. It is a defense mechanism against foreign bodies entering the ear and causing sickness. Roscoe is a special case because of his wheat allergy and so has his ears flushed out with cleaner probably every seven to ten days. Glacier on the other paw, only needs his ears flushed out once a month with cleaner. I still wipe his ears out with a tissue, but the cleaner is used sparingly. This is a prime example of how each grooming routine must be tailored to your dog's particular needs.
Another thing to be aware of is that if your dog is getting frequent ear infections, then perhaps something in his/her diet is not agreeing with him/her. Roscoe's body does not like wheat/grains, and we've most recently discovered, something used in dry kibble. In order to reduce the amount of ear wax his body produces, we avoid foods/treats with wheat/grains. We've also added a teaspoon of unpasturized honey to the boys' diet and have noticed a huge difference. Unpasturized honey has anti-bacterial properties and seems to help with Roscoe's reaction to wheat/grain. I first discovered how helpful honey could be when researching how to go about feeding Glacier and Roscoe a raw diet and was reminded of it when reading a fellow blogger's blog. Knowing that it helped, we gave it a shot and it has made a difference. I even tried taking him off of the honey after he'd been ingesting it for about a month and the wax build up in his ears increased again. So, unpasturized honey was added back to his diet.
Jetta is another example of what a diet change could mean. When she was about four or five I noticed that she was getting ear infections nearly every three months and her mouth smelled yeasty. Upon talking with a friend, who is as much of a dog lover as I am, I began to realise that she might be allergic to chicken. She had eaten chicken all of her life and so her body had stopped metabolizing it properly. It made sense: people don't eat the same protein source every day for their entire lives. I switched her to a grain free, fish based food and her ears cleared up and her mouth stopped smelling like yeast.
My point with all of this rambling is that ears need to be cleaned, but if they are requiring multiple vet visits a year due to ear infections, it may be time to examine the label of your dog's food bag. If you read the post on teeth cleaning, I may sound like a broken record, but your dog's diet is the utmost important preventative measure you can take. If you feed your dog a quality food that he/she can metabolize well and clean his/her ears regularly, you will reduce the vet visits you make and hence save you a few bucks as well.

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree..."

2011-11-23T09:46:00.000Z

Is it too early for that? Maybe, but I love Christmas and I will find any excuse to start the Holiday season early. Just the other day, while out working with Glacier, I found myself humming Christmas carols just walking down the street. It's like this primal urge that takes over around this time of year and there is nothing i can do about it.
Mr. K and I are going to be spending Christmas here in Edinburgh, just the two of us. All of our friends are heading home for the Holidays and our families are not able to come to visit this year. We will have just brought Gus and Fiona, our sugar glider joeys, home and Glacier and Roscoe cannot go back to North America without having to stay there for another six months and under go expensive blood tests. So, we will be staying here.
I really don't mind. Sure, it's going to be a bit strange, but it allows us to start our own new traditions. Last year, for example, we started the tradition of wrapping our presents for each other in front of one another and then opening them. It's something that probably only two blind people could get away with. I'm sure this year we'll have a bunch more traditions to add to that list.
The one thing I was concerned about though was that we had left all of our Christmas decorations in North America. I had been slowly collecting Christmas Village parts, stockings and whatever else I could get my hands on. I even had two reindeer tree ornaments wearing a cap and goggles and a swimsuit. Some things I had packed away in a box to be later shipped to us, such as my Tinker Bell stocking and Mr. K's Nightmare Before Christmas stocking, but we are still waiting on the arrival of that box. Worried that we'd be treeless and decorationless, I started searching around and found a five foot, skinny tree for ten pounds on Amazon and it arrived yesterday.
It's not exactly the most handsome Christmas tree out there, but I love it. It's mine and Mr. K's first Christmas tree together and that makes it that much more special. I haven't pulled it out of the box yet, but I examined it and it looks like it might actually be quite full for a ten pound tree. Mr. K knows how much I love Christmas and surprised me with decorations for the tree as well.
I was out at a meeting with the Edinburgh Road Club last night with E, discussing how they could assist us with our triathlon goals. The meeting actually went very well and when I got home Mr. K said he had a surprise for me. He and Tenie had been out buying him a hoodie without a zipper or buttons because he is joining a Judo club and in the process of purchasing the hoodie he managed to find me some tree ornaments. There are white and purple sparkly balls and differently shaped blue, green and purple ornaments. I love them. They refrained from buying garland and lights as both types of decorations could prove fatal for Sugar Gliders. The ornaments are shatter proof to also ensure Fiona and Gus have a safe Christmas too.
So even though Christmas is just over a month away, I am definitely in the Holiday spirit. We have planned our Christmas get together with Tenie, E, Carmen and a few other friends; our tree has arrived; Holiday cards have been bought; and plans of a Gingerbread house making extravaganza is in the works. What could be better?

Grooming Routine: Teeth

2011-11-22T09:13:00.000Z

In light of last week's successful vet visit-and a good question from Jen who writes Paws for Thought-an examination of my dogs' grooming routine seems, to me, to be a good topic. By no means is the routine I do with Glacier and Roscoe the only way to care for your dogs and I think different things work for different dogs; I've just taken what I've learned through trial and error over the last nine years and used it. The grooming routine actually does not take that long to perform, but my reasons behind each step are numerous, so I thought today we could talk teeth.
When I first went to Leader Dogs for the Blind in 2002 and was matched with my first guide dog, Jetta, teeth brushing was encouraged, but not emphasized the way it is now. We were told to just wrap a piece of gauze around our finger and gently rub the dog's gums/teeth with it. The rough material was supposed to remove plaque and all other things you didn't want on your dog's teeth. We were also told to let them chew on Nyla bones and the chewing action would also help with the cleaning process.
I found this all fascinating as we had a Yellow Labrador at home named Sasha who was almost 13 and aside from my silly, little self thinking that dogs needed their teeth brushed, he had never had his teeth brushed. I remember being very small and finding an extra tooth brush in the bathroom drawer. Knowing how important it was for me to brush my teeth, I went off to brush Sasha's. My parents told me that wasn't necessary and that I should stop brushing his teeth. That dog was so patient that he just sat there letting me scrub away even though he had never had it done before. I learned a few things from both of these experiences.
First of all, dogs do need their teeth brushed. I kept up with the gauze for a year and then thought that it was ridiculous. I had seen doggie toothbrushes and toothpaste in pet stores and so on my own steam, I went and purchased a small, soft, finger toothbrush for Jetta. I also continued to let her chew on Nyla bones and a few other edible, natural chews such as Bully Sticks. Leader Dogs for the Blind, and a few vets, had told us that around age five the dog would need to be put under for a teeth cleaning. When Jetta turned five, we checked her teeth and the vet said that the cleaning was not necessary at that time. That saved me five hundred bucks. He told me to carry on. It was just by chance, but I had selected the correct toothpaste for her and that in combination with her hard kibble and bone chewing had kept her teeth shiny.
Upon my second visit to LDB to get Glacier, the tooth brushing routine had changed a bit. A soft toothbrush similar to the one I had for Jetta, was given to each student with a tube of doggie toothpaste. We were shown how to properly brush their teeth and were told that when selecting a doggie toothpaste to make sure there was "an active enzyme" listed on the label. It is this active enzyme that keeps cleaning the dog's teeth even when you are done brushing. Do not rinse the toothpaste off as you will be removing this active enzyme. Try not to brush their teeth right before food eating time or water drinking time as both processes could remove the active enzyme. Also, never use a human's toothbrush on the dog's teeth. The bristles are much too rough and could tear up the dog's gums. Some people choose to use a soft bristled child's toothbrush, but that is your choice and I personally don't do that.
So what does Glacier's and Roscoe's teeth cleaning routine look like?
I try to brush their teeth at least three times a week. Am I always successful? No, but I really try because it could save a very expensive vet visit to have their teeth cleaned by the vet later on.
The brushing lasts for at least thirty seconds on each side of the mouth. If you just sort of stick the brush in there and wiggle it around, you are not doing anything for the dog. Think about how long you are supposed to brush your teeth and try to apply that to your dog. Sometimes it's hard because you may have a wiggler, but be persistent and make the experience positive.
Make sure you get both sides, top teeth and bottom and front teeth as well. To ensure this happens, you could always start on the left side of the mouth at the top and move around to the other side. When you've reached the right side, switch back to the left, but start on the bottom teeth. These bottom teeth are a bit more difficult to get because of the way they are placed. I usually have to replace the toothpaste when I reach the bottom teeth as it has either been used all up or Glacier or Roscoe has licked it all off. Dogs like the toothpaste and they will probably spend more time trying to ingest it than letting you brush.
Roscoe lets me brush his teeth with him just standing up and I stand beside him. While Glacier sits with his back to me, my knees on either side of him. From there I can reach around to both sides of his mouth. I always come from the side of his face and not over his head. Dogs are not big fans of people/animals coming at them from above their heads or head on.
I use a small, soft finger toothbrush, a different one for each dog. If Glacier has a mouth disease that we are unaware of, I do not want it spreading to Roscoe and vise versa. I have purchased toothbrushes here in the UK and have not been happy with them. Perhaps it the type I bought, but despite being a finger toothbrush the outside is hard and clacks around against the dog's mouth. They are also much too big. Glacier and Roscoe will be adding toothbrushes to their Christmas list as these ones are not satisfactory. The banging on their gums could potentially damage them and also probably does not feel good. Also, with the toothbrush being so big, it stretches the boys' cheeks out too far; again, not comfortable. So, when selecting your dog's toothbrush, keep the size of their mouth in mind and the material of which the brush is made.
Bones, Nyla and natural, are all an important part of the boys' teeth cleaning routine. They are allowed and encouraged to chew on bones in order to get the spots I may have missed. Plus, chewing is a stress reliever for your dog and both of these dogs need that from time to time, since they are always guiding Mr. K and I around. They also eat a combination of wet and dry food, but not served together, to ensure they are chomping kibble. The chewing of the kibble is supposed to clean the inside of the dog's teeth as well as the bone chewing. That means, as long as you feed your dog a hard food and let them chew on bones or edible chews, the teeth brushing only needs to focus on the outside of the teeth.
With all of this in mind, it is important to note that bad breath does not only come from a dog's, or human's for that matter, mouth. Eating poor quality food can lead to stinky breath as your dog is not metabolising it well. So, if you are a consistent brusher and your dog's breath is still horrific, perhaps an examination of the label on their food is in order.
All complicated reasons aside, brushing your dog's teeth is a very good practice to get into. It also gives you a reason to spend some time with your dog, and if done properly, can strengthen the bond that you share. Dogs always have stinky breath and there is no way to completely eradicate it, but a few simple steps can reduce it and also improve your dog's health. So what are you waiting for? Go and grab a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste complete with an active enzyme and get brushing! :)

Less Than A Week

2011-11-21T08:33:00.000Z

I know I just wrote about how the time flies, but as I sit down to write this morning, I am again amazed at how quickly time really is going. In less than a week, Gus and Fiona will be coming home. Yes, that is right-Mr. K and I have named our two Sugar Glider Joeys Gus (after the mouse in Cinderella) and Fiona (from Shrek). So, do you know what that manes? That means that L^2 of A Dog's Eye View is our winner for the babies' name guessing game.
*****
We interrupt your regularly scheduled blogging program for a very important announcement. Congratulations to L^2 for using the clues and cleverly guessing both Joeys' names.
L^2 and I will have to work out the prize as originally I had thought I'd give away some of the soaps/bath salts that I make, but I'm thinking the travel may be rough on the items. So, L^2, please send me and email and we'll discuss further how we're going to get your prize to you. And for those of you who haven't read her blog, you really should go over and check it out. It is full of a lot of interesting and eloquently written thoughts on life and a lot of adorable pictures that she takes herself. (A link to her blog can be found under the heading "Impawtant Places").
Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging program.
***
I can't believe it's been nine weeks since we spoke to a Sugar Glider breeder and were told we'd be able to bring our newest furry family members home. The cage has been assembled for almost a month and we've been slowly adding necessary items to it in order to provide Gus and Fiona a safe environment in which they could thrive. Last night Mr. K even got a bit creative and braided fleece into two ropes that both babies can use for climbing. He also made his own version of a sleeping pouch, which took some patience as far as I can tell. He also attached a sheet of dark fleece to the roof of the cage that dangles down the back to serve not only to block out drafts, but also to ensure Fiona and Gus keep their food and other such things in the cage and not on the flat's walls. Apparently they can be messy eaters. Even though Mr. K woke me up at 3 AM to view his handy work, and I am sure I did not show my enthusiasm then, I am incredibly impressed at his craftiness and I think it's great he's as excited about bringing these fuzz butts home as much as I am.
I'm not going to lie though: I am also scared sh**less. Here we are bringing tiny creatures with opposable thumbs into our home. The breeder sent us photos this week, as she has every week since we sent our deposit in, and there was one of one of the joeys clinging to a piece of paper on the wall, just hanging out. All I can say is that this is going to be an interesting ride.
I wonder what Glacier and Roscoe will think. E has just acquired three phairits and Glacier has been introduced to them on more than one occasion. He is very curious, but is gentle and is good about minding his manners when I ask him to "sit" or "leave it." I know Sugar Gliders aren't exactly the same, but at least I know his prey drive isn't that high. I think he wanted to play with them. So, I think Glacier will be interested by Gus and Fiona, but I'm not really worried about him. Roscoe won't be a problem at all. He'll be curious at first, probably a bit wary, and then want to get as far away from Gus and Fiona as he can. At least, these are the reactions I think our boys will have to little flying squirrelish things invading their flat.
Regardless of being slightly terrified, Mr. K and I are both quite excited. Tonight we will order the fruits and vegetables we need to keep Fiona and Gus healthy and set aside a night this week to chop, blend and freeze a month's supply of food. The breeder also wants to sit down with us and have coffee before we take the Joeys home and that puts me at ease a bit. As I said above, I can't believe how fast nine weeks has gone by. I am excited and scared, but I suppose these are all feelings first time parents feel when they are about to bring a human baby home. Puppies I'm more excited about and less afraid as I kind of know what to expect, but Fiona and Gus are a whole new species of animal and I'm just hoping that we can look after them as well as we do our dogs.

A Ten Out of Ten

2011-11-17T15:13:00.000Z

The boys' vet visit couldn't have gone any better. I was impressed at the cleanliness of the building and all of the staff including the vet, were incredibly friendly and helpful. When the vet came out and introduced himself, he offered me his elbow and guided me back to the examination room. Normally, I would have just had Glacier "follow," but it gave me a chance to talk to the vet without being interrupted by giving Glacier cues as we walked. E ever so kindly had given up her afternoon to walk Roscoe to the vet as Mr. K is still fighting off the creeping crud I may have dragged home from the gym. Both boys were very well behaved and that put me at ease.
The Guide Dog Association has agreed to take us on, and although I believe our dogs are stellar, I kind of feel as if we are under a bit of scrutiny to ensure we measure up. I don't think the Association views it this way, but it was a relief when the vet proclaimed that both boys were a "ten out of ten" with regards to their health. After listening to Roscoe's heart beat he said that it was "a heart of an athlete" and was absolutely amazed at Glacier's shiny, white teeth. He asked about any health history that he may need to know about and I told him about Glacier's velcro/string/pen cap/everything else eating that resulted in surgery a few years back. He looked at Glacier's small, neat scar and was impressed by how well it had healed and how clean the incision had been.
I went on to tell him about Roscoe cracking a tooth when he was a puppy and having to have it removed at Leader Dogs for the Blind and also about his wheat allergy. He asked how the symptoms manifested and I explained that paw chewing and ear infections ensued if Roscoe ate anything with wheat in it.
I asked the vet to check the boys' claws and if he could trim any that may be too long. It turns out he was satisfied with my human toenail clipper trims and only took the tips off of both dogs' do claws. Glacier and Roscoe received their annual vaccinations, minus the rabies shot since theirs is good until 2014 and I was sent home with packages of dewormers and flea/tick treatments. What was interesting to find out was that Heart Worm does not exist here in Scotland. That means, Glacier and Roscoe do not need tablets to ward this mosquito born disease off. That said, fleas are quite prevalent and they will need flea/tick treatments every month, whereas in Northern Ontario the treatments were needed only every two to three months.
When we were finished, the vet told me that his only suggestion would be to continue doing what I'm doing. He was very happy with their weights-Roscoe weighing in at 29.9 kilograms and Glacier at 32.9 kilograms-and said that he had no complaints. After weighing Glacier he laughed and mumbled something about me having a lot of dog to handle. He complimented the dogs on their outgoing personalities and fitness. He asked about the dogs' food and I explained that they were on Orijen Adult in the morning-a hard food to help clean teeth, which also happens to be grain free-and Nature Diet, a wet food also with good quality ingredients. The best part is, we walked out without having to pay a bill.
Some schools in North America cover vet costs, but Leader Dogs for the Blind does not. That is a factor that should be thought about before selecting a school in North America. The Guide Dog Association also pays, or assists with the cost of, dog food for their dogs, but Mr. K and I chose not to put Glacier and Roscoe on the brands that are provided. I read the ingredients for both brands and was not happy with the ingredients. One food's ingredient list starts off with "maze and maze flour," which means the first two ingredients in the food is corn; completely unacceptable by my standards. It is a personal choice what a person feeds his/her dog. That choice may be taken away by necessity, but Mr. K and I have the choice and so Glacier and Roscoe will continue to eat premium dog food, minus the maze.
All in all, I am so happy with our visit. The vet and his staff were great and I am very grateful that the Guide Dog Association is willing to take us on. It is really nice to have your efforts validated by a professional. I work really hard to ensure the boys' teeth stay shiny, their coats brushed and clean and their claws filed down. It's not a whole lot of work and it is a labour of love for sure, but again, it is so nice to be recognised as a good handler who takes very good care of her charges.

Vet Visit

2011-11-16T07:14:00.000Z

Glacier and Roscoe have been fairly lucky in the last little bit in that their vet visits have definitely decreased since we got all of the DEFRA vet paperwork situated for our trip. That is all about to change. The guide dog Association has agreed to take us on as clients, which gives us legal protection against access discrimination and a few other perks, and so today the boys' presence is requested at the vet's to ensure they are both healthy. It's probably about time they were introduced to their new vet anyway. Guide dog schools and pet dog experts alike, suggest that you should take your dog into a vet when it is healthy. That way, if something should happen, the vet knows what your dog looks like healthy and has a reference point.
Both boys are blowing their coats, but other than that I can't see anything that the vet may notice about them. Their claws do need trimming though and I am hoping the good doctor will be able to do that for us. I have been using human toenail clippers to take the tips off their claws, but the claws are way too thick for me to get all that needs to be taken off. Dog claw trimming tools make me nervous, especially since Glacier is horrible about having his claws trimmed. So, it's the vet or a groomer's job to cut those down. Otherwise, Glacier and I may end up not speaking to each other for a few days.
Yesterday was grooming day here and so both boys have clean teeth, ears and brushed coats. They are ready to wow their new doctor with their good looks and charms...well, Roscoe may be ready to charm, but Glacier is just a big oaf. As long as the vet clears the boys, we will be able to sign on with the guide dog association, hopefully sooner rather than later. It's also a timely visit as both dogs are due for flea/tick/dewormer treatments.
Despite there generally being negative feelings surrounding the vet-for some animals any way-I think this visit will be relatively easy. Ear/eye/lung/heart check and they are good to go. I don't think the vet even has to get a fecal. I'm sure Glacier and Roscoe would be relieved to know that. Then again, the claws do need trimming so it may be a bit more stressful than I originally thought. :)

"The Waves of Time Pass Us By"

2011-11-15T06:55:00.000Z

I woke up early this morning feeling rested, hungry and a little sore from yesterday's run on the treadmill. Normally, I like running outside better, but E and I thought that if we ran on the treadmill instead of the road, we'd get a better gauge of how far we're going and how fast. We set the treadmills at a five percent incline to try and simulate outside running and I managed to run five kilometres in 36 minutes, with a 30 second walking water break at the 2.5 K mark. The break gave me time to recover a bit, but the water part was lost as I ended up dumping the water down my front instead of into my mouth. That's a way to cool off. By the end of our run, the treadmills told us that we had also run up 23 metres. I was very pleased with my results. I wasn't even sure I could run 5 kilometres at all. I know when we get outside, things will be a bit different and reaching that 5 K marker is going to be harder, but I was excited to know that I could reach my goal with relative ease. That said, that time has got to come down.
Speaking of time: aside from my slightly groaning leg muscles and a grumbling tummy, I was surprised to be reminded by my phone's date function that it was almost three months ago to the day that Mr. K and I embarked on our great adventure and flew to Scotland; Glacier and Roscoe in tow. I think I talked about being surprised at how quickly the time had flown by last month, but I guess it is still slightly startling. There is still an excitement to the place, but a certain comfort as well. Sometimes I feel like we've been here forever and at others it seems as though there is a new cafe to try or a new park to discover just around the corner.
Time really never slows down for anyone and lately it definitely has wings where my life is concerned. If I stop and think about the fact that somehow Mr. K and I managed to get everything in order to move to another continent and that we're living here, my heart still flutters. It's just absolutely amazing and I am thankful to have been given the means to make my wish of living in Edinburgh come true.

A Reading Fiend

2011-11-13T13:55:00.000Z

I would have to say that most of my symptoms have cleared up. I'm a still a bit stuffy and a little weaker than I'd like, but I'm definitely on the mend. The thing about being sick though was that I needed something for my brain to do. If I was lying absolutely still, minus the one day I spent sleeping, I felt all right and couldn't turn my brain off. I wanted to be doing things, going places, seeing people...you get the point. I'm a "doer" and don't stay still well, even if I feel like death warmed up. A solution to my problem was a good book.
Books, especially audible books, that are read for pleasure don't take much energy. If it is a good book, then I am invested enough to forget that I have to lie still and heal. I have always loved books and I think it stems from a teacher I had when I was a kid. She taught me how to read braille and my treat for doing well on homework/tests was that she would read to me. Personally, I love books in braille and I think it is a very important skill for all blind people to learn, but that can be discussed elsewhere. Getting a hold of braille books though is a bit more difficult than going to a Chapters or Amazon online and picking out whatever you want. So, the next best thing is an audible book. The only problem with audible books is that a bad narrator could turn a perfectly good book into a cheesy piece of junk.
Luckily for me, Mr. K managed to find The Wheel of Time series in audible format, read by two great narrators for me. I have just started reading the first book about two days ago and am already more than half way through it. The book is incredibly well written and the characters are very well developed. If you are a fan of the Fantasy genre, I would say that this series is a must read.
In fact, I had heard that for a long time, but had refused to join the band wagon. I was sort of the same way when Harry Potter came out. A lot of the times, if a book/movie or anything like that is trendy, it is usually not very good. Okay, maybe not most of the time, but I think some times.
I finally buckled with Harry Potter and fell in love and the same has happened with Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time." I can't put the stinking thing down and the best part is that there are twelve more books to read after this one.
So, even though it's not in my preferred format, braille, The Wheel of Time series is a hit so far and is a recommended read; at least from me it is. :)

The Creeping Crud

2011-11-12T10:28:00.000Z

Sick of me posting about being sick yet? Well, I'm sick of being sick. :)
All I want to do is drink coffee, get a good workout in and stay up past 8 PM. My sore skin has turned into a full blown head cold. Mr. K made a wonderful dinner of duck and mashed potatoes last night and I couldn't even taste it. I was so sad.
This morning I woke up to my nose dripping freely and some seriously watery eyes. Besides not being able to train, we're supposed to have a combination American/Canadian Thanksgiving supper today and I probably won't even be able to taste it.
I've decided I'm still going, but I'll just have to hope that some of this congestion disappears by then. I really want to be able to taste Tenie's pumpkin pie! I also think it will be good for Glacier to work over there and then have people other than Mr. K and I around to provide some stimulation. I thought that maybe I'd be better by today, but this one seems to be holding on. I guess the best thing is to accept my fate, keep snoozing on the couch, drinking more tea than I have ever in my life and hope that things will be better tomorrow. I am sure the vitamins and orange juice I've been consuming by what feels like the truck load will eventually kick in. Not to mention, the facial steam I've given myself with ukaliptus oil should also start moving this crud out. As one of my very perceptive readers pointed out: it's like your body has to break down, once you've started a heavy training regiment, in order to be stronger. This happened to me every time I came back from summer break to swimming. So, I suppose this is no different.
Anyone have a tissue?

Sick Day

2011-11-11T18:09:00.000Z

Perhaps there is a flaw in my philosophy. Then again, maybe I'm fighting off a modern version of the plague. I thought that if I took an entire day off of training, then I'd be a lot better today: I was very wrong.
Yesterday I was up for a wapping four hours before I crawled back into bed and stayed there for pretty much for the rest of the day and night. Mr. K made tacos for supper and I managed to dig myself out from underneath my pile of blankets to eat a good amount of taco meat, rocket, carrots, cucumbers, cheese and taco shells crumpled all into a bowl, but I promptly fell asleep on the couch while trying to watch reruns of Home Improvement with Mr. K. He woke me up at the end of the first episode and convinced me that I'd be better off back in bed. So, back to burrowing beneath the covers I went. I slept solid until just after midnight and was back in bed by 2 AM.
Mr. K woke me up this morning around 6.30 because he had made me a gigantic fruit smoothie. I thought I was feeling better. That is, until I took Glacier and Roscoe out for their morning relief time. By the time I got the second dog-Roscoe-back into the flat, I had had enough. I had Mr. K download the first book of The Wheel of Time series on to my Iphone and then climbed back into bed. I managed just two chapters of a book that I was really enjoying before I was back asleep. I snoozed for another four hours and only woke up because Carmen texted me to say that she was coming over to pick up the turkey that is being cooked for tomorrow's combination American/Canadian Thanksgiving dinner.
Thankfully, Carmen came baring gifts of de-congestants and pain killers. I have been fighting a fever since yesterday morning and that has made my skin extremely sensitive. It is so bad that just my clothes brushing against it is painful. The pain killers have taken the edge off of my sore skin situation, but my sinuses have taken up the attack.
All I can keep thinking is that I'm wasting valuable training time. I know that is silly because I know there is no way I'd even be able to walk to the gym. Just walking from the couch to the kitchen to retrieve more tea or orange juice is more than I can stand.
Besides my guilt over training, I also feel bad for Mr. G. He's been such a good boy this whole time, curled up on his bed beside me. I also woke up at one point yesterday sandwiched between Roscoe and Glacier. I vaguely remember Roscoe hopping up of his own accord and so I just invited Glacier. I just needed the comforting warmth and weight of their furry bodies. I slept soundly with my boys squishing me. I know Glacier would rather be working or out for a run, but he's been patient with his bathroom breaks being his only escape from the flat in the past two days.
Regardless of what my mind wants to do, my body is not cooperating. I may be stranded on this couch tomorrow as well. I really hope I start feeling better, but this feels like just the beginning. That said, if I hav to take the weekend to recover in order to get in consistent and quality workouts for the next two months, I will do it.

Listening to Your Body

2011-11-10T11:20:00.000Z

Yesterday was a beautiful run. Not only was it a crisp autumn-feeling day with fallen, crunchy leaves and the dogs running like crazy men, but the run itself felt so good. E and I are still on intervals of running and walking, with the majority of it being running. Our intervals have jumped up to three minutes running and one walking eight times through, which makes a total of 32 minutes actually dedicated to the workout. It's not incredibly far, but it is where I am at and I feel good about it. In a week and a half I have gone from two minutes running/one minute walking to almost doubling the running time. I know E is a bit further ahead in her running fitness, but we both have our strengths and weaknesses and we are working together.
Glacier and Roscoe were beside themselves with excitement. As soon as E arrived both boys started hopping around and wagging their tails. We snapped their leashes on and I think they knew where they were going. They both tried pulling us down the street to the start point of our run, but I was having none of that. Excitement is okay, but controlled excitement is better.
As soon as we reached a crevice in one of the old walls that lines our route, Glacier and Roscoe were put in a "sit stay" and the leashes detached. E tucked the leashes away in the wall where no one would find them and the boys were released. They took off like shots and ran the entire way. They met other dogs, pedestrians and even stopped to say "hello" to a man feeding bread to the ducks. Glacier even leapt gracefully over a walled entrance way in order to not be left behind. It was quite impressive.
On the way back, Roscoe was pretty worn down and kept pace at my right heel, while Glacier sniffed about; the same as last week. I knew they were both worn out though because when the leashes were put back on, neither boy was trying to drag us down the street. They both drank their fill of water upon returning home and passed out for the rest of the afternoon.
The first two sets of our run yesterday felt a bit tough. Our muscles were cold from the chilly Scottish wind whipping off the "Waters of Leith," a river we were running beside. Once we had struggled through the first eight minutes though, things started feeling good and we ran smoothly. The minute recovery felt great and we both recovered quite quickly. On the seventh interval we even raced up a short but steep incline and although it challenged us, it felt great. I felt like I could have probably gone a few more rounds, and I think E did as well, but I didn't want to over due it. Just because you feel good, it does not mean you should go crazy every time. We're just in the beginning stages and it is really important that we find a balance between pushing the envelope a bit and over doing it.
Being too aggressive could be detrimental to our progress. It could cause injury, which would lead to time off or it could also lead to a depressed immune system. A depressed immune system then leads to sickness and missed sessions. Training consistently and solidly is more beneficial than going-excuse the expression-"balls to the wall" every time and inconsistently because you've made yourself sick or fatigued your body. E says sometimes that she feels we are not working hard enough, but I explained to her that aerobic fitness is more important than bulking up quickly or sprinting crazily through a workout. A lot of the time, slow, controlled workouts show more results than mad dashes. For example, moving slowly through a sit-up works more muscles and uses more energy than if you do them quickly. The slower movements is thus more effective than the fast movements. We're not trying to be sprinters, but rather, long distant athletes. Even when I was a sprinter when swimming I swam kilometre after kilometre for races that lasted less than thirty seconds.
The funny thing is, here I am talking about knowing how far to push in order to get the most out of your workout and make sure you don't get sick and I am pretty sure I am fighting off a fever. I don't know if it was too much too fast-working out six days a week on the second week may have been a bad idea-or what it was. I can definitely feel it starting, but I keep telling myself "mind over matter." Right now I have my feet soaking in a bowl of hot water, a few essential oils and some epson and dead sea salt in the hopes of boosting my immune system. I have also been devouring oranges and sucking down water, hoping that the Vitamin C will ward off the evil brewing in my system or that the water will flush it out.
The interesting part is that I'm not too discouraged by it. I'm sure I'll end up feeling horrible, but it's just part of the process. I have to get my body used to training again and I'm pretty sure it's just really mad at me right now.
E and I have a session at the gym this afternoon with a personal trainer and will probably get a good cycle in. I plan on going and pushing through, but if things get worse before we're supposed to leave, I will spend the day curled up on the couch with tea. It is my philosophy that missing one day to recover is much better than missing a whole week because you didn't look after yourself. It's also probably better to take a day off and make sure you are well instead of having three crap practices in a row because you didn't give yourself time to heal. I read an article somewhere that addressed "taking a day off in stride." It basically reinforced my feelings about giving yourself time to recover. That said, there is a balance between giving yourself time to get better and pushing yourself to work hard because it will benefit your training in the long run. Training for an elite sport is meant to be challenging and it's really important to realise that sometimes you just have to suck it up and get it done. I kind of sound like a contradiction, but I think what I am trying to say, in a long convoluted manner, is that balance is important to be a successful athlete.
Scratch that, balance is important for success in anything.

Swimming Session Number One

2011-11-09T07:27:00.000Z

Yesterday was the first time E and I hit the water together. Usually the pool is quite empty in the mornings, but of course, it was a tad bit full. We still managed to find a spot for the both of us and after E warned one swimmer that I couldn't see and that he might want to avoid me, we were off.
We swam almost a kilometre in total and I am very happy with our efforts. Sure we have a long way to go, but the swim is the hardest part for E and I am really proud of her for accepting the workout I had laid out and attacking it with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. We both worked hard and made a few changes to E's stroke. She is a self taught swimmer and was breathing at the wrong part of her stroke, which was causing her to choke on water and gasp for air. With the small timing change she implemented, she swam faster with less effort and wasn't nearly as fatigued when she reached the wall. She accepted my suggestions and really dug down deep for the small anaerobic bit of workout I had scheduled in. It was just short distances, but it broke up the workout a bit and gave our minds something else to focus on.
E can run me under the table as I am still a swimmer at heart. I feel the most at home in the water and had been so excited about yesterday's workout. I definitely need to build up aerobic fitness. I can't believe how much I've lost. However, I felt great after yesterday's water session and I know improvement is possible; for both of us. I covered a bit more distance than E in order to keep my body challenged, but I feel we both accomplished what we needed to in the pool.
Today is our run accompanied by the dogs. I can't believe a week has already gone by and that we'll be running with Glacier and Roscoe again. Sure our workouts are challenging, but you know you're doing the right thing when time just seems to fly. I really appreciate our dynamic. We push each other where appropriate and hold each other accountable during workouts and after. We make sure water is consumed afterwards and I always remind E that she is no longer a regular citizen and that she needs to increase her caloric intake. She jokingly calls me the "food boss." This is our second week and we will be working out six days now. After today's run, we will be half way through the week's workouts and I already feel so much better at this time this week than I did last Wednesday. I love what we're doing and I am so thankful that I have been given the means to reach my goal of training for, and eventually racing in, a triathlon.

P.S For those of you who may need more of a doggie fix-I've been talking more about triathlons and Sugar Gliders as of late-below is a link that will take you to a beautiful tribute written by a British MP about his guide dogs. It's a heart warming "tail" and is probably one of the best tributes I have read.
MP's Tribute to Guide Dogs New and Old

The Glider Give Away Name Game

2011-11-08T20:45:00.000Z

Based on popular vote, it would appear that we have a guessing game on our hands, or paws, whichever you may have. The game is simple: guess the names of our Sugar Glider joeys due home November 26th.
The rules are pretty simple as well:
-five guesses per joey (I.E., 5 per baby girl and five per baby boy for a total of ten guesses),
-if I have told you their names already, please sssshhhh
The winner will be announced next Tuesday and depending on where you are located, prizes will be discussed. If only one of the Joeys' names is guessed, prizes will still be awarded to the person who is correct.
Here are your hints.

Baby Girl Hints
-The first letter in her name is F.
-This name can also be a person's name. (I know, I know. I broke my own rule of not naming animals people names).
-Think kids' animated movies out in the early 2000's

Baby Boy Hints
-The boy is named after a famous mouse
-His name is no longer than five letters long, but no less than three
-This too could be a person's name, but I've yet to meet a human with it.

I hope you have fun guessing. Take your time and think about your answers as you have a whole week to come up with your answers. All guesses should be left in the "comment" section of this post.
Happy guessing. :)

The Body of An Athlete in Training

2011-11-08T06:42:00.000Z

I've been down this road before, but it's been a while since I've eaten my weight in pasta or sweated so much that my shirt could be wrung out. I'm not necessarily at these extremes yet, but I know they're just around the corner. I know the day will come when I will order the biggest meal out at a restaurant, polish the plate till it shines and still want more. I also know the day is coming when the clothes I just bought won't fit properly anymore and the time will come too soon when I'll need to purchase new runners because the ones that are only two months old have been worn down to the bare minimum. Yet, I keep doing it, despite all of the changes. Some of them I welcome and others are just a byproduct of engaging in way too much physical activity that I learn to live with.
For those of you who have ever begun a new exercise regiment, whether for leisure or to get fitter, have you ever noticed that the first place for you to lose weight is in your boobs? I mean, really now. Why is that the first place for it all to start disappearing? I think it is some kind of unfair law that says, "you ran and/or walked today so it's time for your chest to shrink." How does that sort of activity even effect your chest anyway? I have been blessed with a very good metabolism and so I don't feel I need to lose weight, but there are a few squishier spots I wouldn't mind tightening up. Of course, these aren't the places that tighten up first; go figure. Let's take the one place on my body that doesn't need shrinking and shrink them! The irony of it all.
The funny thing is that some body parts are shrinking while others are expanding. When I was swimming my back was quite wide at the shoulders. After being out of the water for three years, my shoulders look more feminine, but after using a Gravity Machine twice in the last few days, I can already see my shoulders slowly expanding out again. Today our workout is in the pool and I know that in a few months my shoulders will have filled back out because of all of the water sessions.
There is another thing that is not shrinking and that is my appetite. When I was still training and competing in swimming, I ate like a horse. I probably weighed about 120 pounds and could out eat guys three times my size. I can remember coming home from practice one day and shoveling in six chicken legs, two huge helpings of salad and mashed potatoes and probably three pint sized glasses of milk. The food just kept coming and I just kept eating. Another time while out with friends for chicken wings, I ordered twenty and ate them all, including the celery and carrot sticks and plate of fries that came with them. The server was astonished and told the table of guys behind us that they should be ashamed because "that little girl over there just ate more than all of you."
We aren't even that far into our training regiment and I already ate a sandwich and a piece of cake for breakfast. Okay, perhaps I could have foregone the cake, but when I get hungry like that I just eat whatever is available and the cake was right there! Eating is something I should not stop doing though if I am going to be training in triathlon. It is a long distance event, utilizing three different sports, which employs a whole bunch of different muscle groups; feeding those muscle groups so that they can recover and continue on training is so important. Sure, if you are working out to lose weight you should adjust your diet and make a healthy lifestyle change, but when you are training for a sport, calories are important. That said, they have to be good, high energy calories. I don't think that cake I ate this morning is included in that category, but it was right there!
Not that this is a particular change to my body, but I also need to be aware of my water intake. calories are important, but if you are not hydrated, your body is not able to process anything you have just eaten. Our bodies are made up of 75 percent water, it's no surprise then that keeping oneself hydrated during exercise is an integral part of training. I think a huge mistake most athletes make, me included, is that as soon as you're out of the training environment it is easy to forget that water bottle. I'm really good at having my water bottle on me at the gym and on the pool side during swim practices, but as soon as I get home, I get busy and forget to keep drinking. Just because the workout has stopped doesn't mean the after care, such as hydration, should stop. Actually, that is probably the time to be hydrating. Having a glass or a water bottle around and sipping from it all day long is a really good and easy way to stay hydrated. Guzzling a glass of water really doesn't do much since your body pretty much just passes it through your kidneys and you just pee it out. The small, spaced out sips allows for better absorption and thus better hydration.
None of the stuff listed above is inherently bad. In fact, they are more changes than anything and I don't view them as negative changes. These changes just come with the territory of training seriously for a sporting event. I am just astonished that only after a week and a half, these changes are already apparent. Perhaps, if I hadn't been an elite athlete before I wouldn't be as sensitive to the changes as I am, but it is still interesting to me that your body responds so quickly to physical activity. So, despite the sweating, sore muscles and needing a whole crap load more food, I am very excited about my progress and can't wait to see where all of this takes me.

Sugie Gossip

2011-11-07T11:17:00.000Z

In just under three weeks Mr. K, Tenie, me and the dogs will hop a train and be off to collect our new furry bundles of joy. Mr. K and I are getting increasingly more and more excited to start bonding with the two Sugar Glider joeys that we purchased from a Scottish breeder. We've had a bit of time to prepare our flat and ourselves for the babies' arrival, but now feel that we're about as ready as we can be. I am not under any illusions that everything will be smooth sailing or that we won't have a million questions and perhaps a few freak out moments once the joeys are home, however, I'm really looking forward to the experience of raising two well mannered, well bonded Sugar Gliders.
I feel like all I've been doing is reading forums, internet articles and browsing Sugar Glider specific online shops. I've asked a lot of questions on the Sugar Glider forum we joined and can't really do anything more but wait. Owning these little guys is nearly as complicated as owning a dog. People say it's not, but we've had to purchase a lot of stuff that is Sugar Glider safe and make sure we have the right environment for the little fuzz butts. That said, I think an amount of work goes into owning any kind of pet and if a person wants an animal that is low maintenance then perhaps they shouldn't get one. Even fish require particular conditions to thrive and some species can be even more complicated to take care of than a cat.
Sugar Gliders are technically considered exotics as they have not been domesticated long enough to be considered otherwise. As far as I can tell, they have been popular pets for about twenty-five years in North America, but only about ten in the UK. That means, there is a lot of conflicting information about diet and such things. I have gleaned, from everything that I have read, that feeding the Sugar Gliders a diet that, could be compared to a raw diet for dogs in its quality rather than specific foods, is the best way to go. There has to be a specific ratio between vitamins and minerals, otherwise the Sugar Glider's health can be compromised. What makes the diet a bit easier is that it can be blended and frozen into little ice cubes to be served later. So, preparation may take some time on a Sunday night, once a month, but that really isn't that bad. People who feed their dogs a raw diet would find these preparations a breeze as there is no raw meat to be concerned about; just fruits, vegetables, eggs and a few other supplements. All of these ingredients have specific ratios of course.
Food is not one of the things we have ordered for these little munchkins just yet. We want things to be as fresh for the joeys as possible. However, the cage is up and assembled with a Wodent wheel already in the bottom. Ladders and a hammock have been added to the cage for some climbing fun and there are two water bottles located at each level for optimal hydration opportunities. To add to the cage's homey feel, we've ordered a tunnel to hang from the roof, a sleeping pouch and a Snuggle Safe heat pad. This heat pad has gotten rave reviews and can be apparently used for puppies, kittens and/or small animals such as rabbits. The pad has a scratch/bite proof cover that you place over the pad after heating it up in the microwave. It stays warm for up to 10 hours and all of the reviews back this claim up. The pad is safe because there aren't any electrical cords for chewing or accidental shortages and the animals can't burn themselves because of the cover. The important thing to note when using it with small animals, or any animals in a cage, make sure they have room to move away from it just in case they get too hot.
Mr. K and I have also ordered two bonding pouches, which are little pouches with a zipper at the top and a mesh ventilation window that the Sugar Glider sits in when sleeping during the day. This pouch allows the Sugar Glider to be close to you-you wear the pouch-and get used to your scent without you handling them before they are comfortable with you. The zipper ensures no escaping, even though most Sugar Gliders aren't going anywhere during the day as they are completely passed out. So just think, any time I'm just sitting around messing about on the internet or maybe even doing the laundry, I'll be waring a little pouch containing a tiny sleeping creature or two.
We opted for the cage pouch over the nesting box that some would suggest because we think the pouch will be easier to keep clean. Sugar Gliders need a dark, warm place to sleep in during the day, especially if you are not carrying it around in your bonding pouch. The cage pouch is to act as that safe, warm spot for snoozing. Nesting boxes apparently are more difficult to keep scent free. If you do not put it up against the ceiling of the cage, the Sugar Gliders may decide the roof of the box is a good potty area. The sleeping pouches can be removed and just thrown in the laundry, whereas, a nesting box has to be taken out and sprayed down. A lot of nesting boxes are wooden and wood holds in stink. The sleeping pouch also seems cozier and these little monsters are all about comfort, warmth and snuggling.
Besides the pouches and tunnel, we also purchased some yogurt drops, which are a treat for the Sugies. These treats are used to help with the bonding process as well. If you've got a nippy Sugar Glider, you distract it with food. Sounds simple enough? I'll let you know. Sugar Gliders aren't really biters unless you continually provoke them, so hopefully Mr. K and I won't end up with too many nipped fingers. We also purchased the supplements needed for maintaining a Glider's health and are just waiting on all of that stuff to arrive. In the mean time, we'll keep "glider proofing" our flat-similar to puppy proofing only a bit more since these guys can climb/glide-and wait excitedly for November 26th.
There is one thing I forgot to mention: we have finally decided on names. Should I tell you, or shall we make it a guessing game?

"And Listen to the Music of the Night"

2011-11-06T13:08:00.000Z

Yesterday was my best friend Tenie's birthday. A surprise party for her has been in the works for the last week and a half and I'm happy to say that we managed to pull it off. All of the important elements for a surprise party were utilized; deceit, lies and secrets.
We planted a fake party idea of going out to eat and dancing, which we eventually did, but we left out one important detail; the fact that the party was a masquerade party. Mr. K and I told Tenie she was to come to our flat around 5:30 and the three of us would take a taxi together to our dinner destination. Glacier and Roscoe would be staying home and we told her we needed a set of working eyeballs to help us get to the restaurant. Sometimes being blind has its perks: you can use it as an excuse to deceive your best friend. She was also told not to peak in the bag she was carrying to our flat because her outfit for the evening was hiding in there. She arrived quite promptly and Mr. K and I gave her gifts in the hopes of keeping her busy for an hour and a half while the other girls decorated her flat.
Around 6:30 I figured we could start getting ready and pulled out Tenie's bag of wonders and presented her with two outfits to pick from. Both were fancy dress, but very different in style and she was very confused. She settled on a knee length black dress and a pair of boots. I pulled on a halter dress and a pair of black wedges and we were off. Mr. K took Roscoe out to "park" and called the cab, telling the company Tenie's address. When the taxi arrived, we made Tenie wait outside with my hands pressed over her ears while Kim told the cab driver to take a long, crazy route to her flat so that she wouldn't be suspicious. Just as she was about to hop in I pulled her sleeping eye mask out of my pocket that I had pilfered from her bed side table the day before and told her she had to be blind folded until we reached our destination. She accused me of being a thief and then was a good sport and put the sleeping mask on.
Upon arriving at her flat, the cab driver parked a ways down to further the confusion. Mr. K had brought his white cane and so guided both Tenie and I. Tenie's not good on heels when she can see, so we took it slow to the flat door. I had to remind her at one point that she was not guiding me for once because she was guiding me out into the road, despite holding on to my elbow. At the door we had another bout of me covering her ears singing "happy birthday" loudly and annoyingly while Mr. K buzzed in. We didn't want her to hear her buzzer because she definitely would have known where we were. We were let in and Tenie knew the instant her booted foot hit the first step that she was at her flat, but the blind fold stayed put.
We reached her living room where I faced her into the room from the doorway and she took her blind fold off. Everyone said "surprise" and the sparklers on her cake were lit. She quickly had to blow them out as her very, over sensitive smoke detector went off. We all laughed as that smoke detector goes off even if you turn the stove top on. It just made the whole thing that much more perfect. For her birthday, one of her flat mates had bought Tenie her own mask and they disappeared to fashion it to her head. My mask had gigantic peacock plumes sticking off of the forehead and Mr. K wore an elephant mask while we were at the flat. He had to take it off once we left because his pupils do not dilate and he needed to put his sunglasses back on to avoid a migraine.
Once masks were secured, we ate very, tasty, rich chocolate fudge cake. I couldn't even finish my piece because it was so rich. We had ordered it from a local bakery-the woman who owns it is a chocolatier-and it was decorated in shimmers, black and whites to match the masquerade theme. We had black and white garland around the flat and other decorations. Phantom of the Opera was also playing on the television. We drank some pink sparkling wine and then it was time for Tenie to decide what she wanted to do for dinner. We gave her the choice of staying in and eating pizza, which she found funny as we were all dressed up, or going to a nearby Indian restaurant. She opted for number two and we were off to stuff our faces.
The food was delicious and surprisingly inexpensive. I ate so much I could barely move and was glad my dress had an empire waist line as I felt like I was going to burst. Once our plates were polished clean, we readied to go dancing, but not before the owners of the restaurant could take pictures with us. The masks were definitely a hit.
We found another taxi that seated six and headed downtown to dance, masks and all. When we first arrived, the club was practically empty and we enjoyed a lot of extra room on the dance floor. I'm not sure if it was because it was Guy Fox Day, also known as Firework Day, but the club stayed quite empty for a while. Towards the end of the night though, it was pretty full and we finally decided to go because people had sore feet and there were just too many extra bodies squishing us. So, it was off to find a taxi again. We waited for a while, despite having phoned for one, and got the thumbs up by the police as they drove by for our dress.
Eventually, we found a six person cab and I was dropped off at home first. I loved wearing the mask, but my nose was so itchy from where the mask had sat all night. It had actually been heavier than I thought as well and so I felt sweet relief once I had untied it from the back of my head.
I think it was a great night. It was so nice to be able to celebrate Tenie's birthday with her again. Ever since she moved here in 2008, we obviously have not celebrated birthdays together and that was a bit odd at first as we've spent every birthday together since the age of seven. To me, the night was perfect: good food, good friends, great cake, fancy dress and masks and fireworks that kept going off randomly. It wasn't my birthday, but I think it was one of the best ones I've been to.
Happy birthday again Tenie. I hope you had a great night. We love you.

My Poetic Life

2011-11-04T19:49:00.000Z

A friend and I were conversing via email and he pointed out something to me: he defined life as having a realistic and a poetic side. I had never thought of it this way, but as I reflect on this statement, I have come to the conclusion that he's incredibly right. What's even more interesting to me is that I have a tendency to mix the two. Sometimes this gets me in trouble, but I think it's also the reason I can continue living my life as a blind person in an able-bodied world. I've been called a dreamer and a romantic as if those were bad things, but I wonder what is so inherently bad in actually enjoying life? It is this poetic side of my life that enjoys the beauty of crunching fallen leaves; a dog nudging me along when out running and my legs hurt; it's the giddy excitement I feel when decorating for Christmas or when a friend opens a Christmas gift. It's the part of my life that makes me love fairies and watch Disney movies and enjoy them just as much as I did when I was a kid. I also think it's the part of me that tries to believe that there is good in every person. It is the part of me that feels that ordinary life events can be extraordinary and magical. The best part is that, for the most part, I have people surrounding me who let me indulge in my magical moments and giggle along with me at ordinary things made extraordinary. This afternoon was one of those magic moments for me.
I'm not one to follow celebrities about and harass them. I do not read magazines to find out who is doing what, but ever since we have arrived in Edinburgh I wanted to have lunch at
The Elephant House
where JK Rolling wrote the majority of the beginning of the Harry Potter series. I love little coffee houses and to be in the place where one of my favourite book series was written was magical to me. This afternoon, after Tenie had a meeting with her potential PhD advisors, we finally made it to the Elephant House for lunch and a great cup of coffee; or two.
The Elephant House is way bigger than I thought and is, of course, extremely busy. Since it is located relatively close to the university, students are everywhere sipping tea and satiating their need for caffeine. There are the inevitable tourists mixed in too, tucked into delicious dishes just enjoying the atmosphere. There are elephants everywhere-the website states over 600 of them-including one table set with elephant carved chairs. The Elephant House also has a great view of the Edinburgh Castle and the Grey Friar Graveyard where some of the characters' names and the inspiration for Hogwarts Castle came from. I'm not sure what it was about the place, but I am completely tickled that we finally got there. Perhaps a coffee house is not poetic to some, but to me it was absolutely perfect.
I believe there is value in taking the time to enjoy the magical moments that life offers. I am completely aware that reality trumps dream land, but I think that as grown-ups we lose some of our ability to be poetic and that is sad. Find your magical moments and live in them. Sure reality is necessary, but so is poetry. Your poetic moments may not be the same as mine, or even your partner's, but that is the beauty of it all; share them with someone and give them the gift of living in the present and embracing beauty where it occurs. Our world is too full of horrible/terrible things that, of course, we cannot ignore, but never noticing the beauty is, I think, detrimental to one's health.
What are your poetic moments?

Very Proud

2011-11-03T07:49:00.000Z

It's been a while since we've had a Kyo update, but through my powers of observation, I would say he is still in training and doing well.
Last night while perusing Facebook I discovered that a new photo of Kyo at a Chamber of Commerce meeting had been posted. All I can figure is that he is demonstrating his mad skills as a service dog in training, but as I can't see the photo I can't be one hundred percent sure.
The photo of the Moose at his very special meeting can be found
here.
For those of you who may not know, Kyo is a dog I rescued from the Guelph Humane Society in March of 2009. He came to me morbidly over weight, terrified of traffic and having no house manners. With a lot of patience and some training, Kyo became a well behaved, well adjusted member of society.
Upon our move to SC it became quickly apparent that our move had been too much and that I was not able to provide the stimulation he required as we were living in the middle of nowhere. Kyo was used to getting walked twice a day, participating in obedience training sessions with me throughout the day and just sitting out on the front lawn people watching. We had a huge backyard in SC, but he really needed structure and because of being blind and living in an inaccessible area, I was not able to give him what he needed.
He reverted back to his old habits of destroying things when he was bored and his separation anxiety also returned. He was becoming aggressive towards Glacier when out playing in the backyard and this was effecting mine and Glacier's working relationship. I knew that he was very trainable and a great dog, but that he needed a new environment. So, I started searching for the right home for the Moose, as he was fondly known.
In October of 2010, PAALS said they would take him after Mr. K and I had paid for his hips/elbows to be checked for soundness.
When I was living in SC I tried to volunteer with PAALS as often as possible and would get updates because I was there. Since being away, I haven't heard much, but was really excited to see this photo of him up on the PAALS' facebook page.
All I can say is that I am super proud of him and the people working with him. Kyo was a great dog for me, being the best snuggle bug a person could ask for, and I really hope he can go on to be a fully certified service dog in order to make someone else's life easier. Even if he doesn't make it and he becomes someone's pet, I know he will be well loved and he will thrive. There is no way someone won't fall in love with him: one snuggle session with that 85 LBS dog and you will never want to let go. :)
Good boy, Kyo! We miss you and are proud of you. :)

Day Three: Sunshine and Tired Dogs

2011-11-02T22:07:00.000Z

Yes, that is right: I said tired dogs. Of course the people were tired too, but Glacier and Roscoe had quite the romp this morning under blue skies and sunshine.
I am waiting for our luck to run out with regards to the weather, but so far, every time we've been out to run it's been gorgeous. That is a blessing in Edinburgh, especially since it's considered winter here now. Winter usually means dark clouds, biting winds and rain; at least that is what I've been told. I've yet to see it, but I've probably gone and jinxed it now by running my mouth.
So, with good weather and the notion to try a new running path, E and I strapped on our new shoes and hit the pavement around 11 AM. The path E had picked for us is pretty secluded from roads and she said she's seen a lot of off leash dogs running along it. We both decided that the boys may enjoy a good run too and so with permission from Mr. K, Roscoe was allowed to join E, Glacier and I.
I can't tell you how good it felt to jog along the path, the wind blocked by old stone walls and foliage and Glacier and Roscoe galloping on ahead. E and I both laughed when she noted that it's good to know that our average pace was fast enough to keep up to a dog's quick trot. Sure, speed may not be our forte yet, but with each run I can feel my stamina growing. We were able to run for longer sessions and I recovered a lot quicker on the walk portions of our route. I think we'll probably be able to bump up the amount of running on Friday; our fourth run. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
The trail was much busier than our regular route, with cyclists, pedestrians, dogs and children in prams. It gave E and I a lot more time to work on working on moving together and getting successfully around obstacles.
The boys usually ran ahead, sniffing bushes and greeting every willing or unwilling passer by. They ran so hard that both of them had slobber plastered across their faces. When E and I were actually running, they were more inclined to stick closer to us, crunching happily through fallen leaves, but as soon as we slowed into a walk they were off exploring everything in sight-or not in sight.
After our eighth interval of 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking, we turned around to head back home. Roscoe was completely worn out and ran perfectly at my right side. We joked that he was pacing us. Glacier, on the other paw, ever full of energy despite a lolling tongue, was busy sniffing and greeting. He would fall a ways behind, too interested in the smells of a bush, and would come hauling butt when he was called as if to pretend he was always right beside us.
It was a fantastic workout and I am so incredibly impressed with both mine and E's progress. We are not only becoming stronger physically, but as a cohesive unit and that is so exciting. I don't know if E will ever know just how much I appreciate her joining me on this journey. Quite frankly, and with the risk of sounding sappy, I would not be able to do this without her. It would be physically impossible. I am even more grateful to her for being a dog lover and not even flinching when I asked her if the boys could join us on our run. Hearing those skittering paws racing up from behind us, or beating out a path ahead of us made the workout all the more enjoyable.

Running Feet

2011-11-01T20:44:00.000Z

I hit the ground running both literally and figuratively Friday morning and have barely stopped since. Friday's run went well considering both E and I are new at this whole running attached to each other thing and Tenie came over for some chill out time that evening. She is up on an archaeological dig from Monday to Friday and usually gets back Friday evenings. We had thought to take a bus out to Hobby Craft to get a few bits we still needed for our Halloween costumes, but time was not on our side.
So, bright and early Saturday morning, Tenie, Glacier and I hopped that bus and ended up out at Hobby craft, searching the aisles for cogs and charms that would make our costumes look more Steam Punk. We didn't stay long as we had a hair appointment and were back on the bus not long after making our purchases. We stopped briefly back at Tenie's flat where I sucked down a cup of coffee and Tenie attempted to paint our goggles black and gold for effect. We weren't there long before we were on the move again.
On the way to the hair salon, we tried to mail off a broken guitar Mr. K needed to return and a ziplock bag of cloth with mine and Mr. K's scent on it for our Sugar Glider babies to have in their sleeping pouch, but the post office closed just ten minutes before our arrival. We back tracked to the salon and enjoyed an afternoon of hair cuts and Tenie had some highlights put in.
After our primping it was time to scarf down some food and get our costumes on. I think I found time to have a nap somewhere in there before heading out. Tenie and I dressed up Steam Punk style and Mr. K, Carmen, Tenie and I ended up at a pub called "The Auld Hoose." AKA The Old House. It was an enjoyable evening out and I pretty much collapsed into bed when we got home.
Sunday I slept in, but Tenie arrived mid afternoon and we were off again, making a few purchases from the drug and grocery stores. Mr. K was making American style biscuits and gravy and we needed a few more supplies to make them complete. I also grabbed a peppermint foot lotion from The Body Shop as E, Carmen and Tenie were over for foot soaks and foot massages.
We ate our fantastically unhealthy, but tasty meal and I made a foot soak for all of the girls to enjoy. It was incredibly relaxing.
Monday was another early morning for me with Glacier and I heading out to E's flat to start our second triathlon training session. The weekend had a few late nights, some sweets and a few alcoholic beverages, so mine and E's bodies were protesting the whole way through the core workout. I felt like my bum was too heavy and E's arms complained the whole time. I was glad to discover though that the sheering pain I had endured all weekend in my calves due to our first run had subsided. This meant, a pain free run.
Our second run went very well. We are still running with my arm draped over E's forearm, but will soon switch to a tether to keep us together. I want us to be moving smoothly as a cohesive unit before I wean us off of the arm attachment style. That said, we were very much in sync the whole run and didn't even break stride when I had to step behind E three times when other people passed us. Her verbal warnings about uneven ground are well timed and I'm really starting to learn to read her body language. I'm very excited about and impressed with our progress in such a short time.
Both days out we ran into our own cheerleading squad. It is amazing to me that complete strangers are so supportive of us just out running. The first day out an older woman walking her dog saw us, smiled and then gave us the thumbs up. The second day one of E's friends came to the park during our workout to shout words of encouragement at us as we ran past. He used to be a marathon runner and so his encouragement was really appreciated. Another older woman told us that she was impressed by us as we ran by.
Today E and I met at a local cafe to talk with a representative from Scottish Disability sport. Basically, this guy's job is to assist disabled athletes get their needs met with regards to training within an able-bodied club. We talked about how to get a tandem bike and what clubs I should try to join. Our conversation lasted over an hour and E and I both left feeling encouraged and excited. We have the support we need. The rep stated at one point, "I ask the hard questions." I'm really glad we have his assistance because I feel that clubs/sporting organisations are going to be more obliged to help us out with a professional on our side.
E and I also had a heart to heart after the rep left. She told me that she recognises the seriousness of this commitment and my goal to make the 2016 Paralympic Games. She went on to say that if, at any point, I am out performing her to tell her and I can find a new guide that is more suited to my needs. I was very impressed by her professional attitude, but I'm quite certain that that won't be a concern as long as we both stay as committed to this as we are now. I too have a responsibility to her in that if she decides that this is way too much for her, then I need to be willing to let her back off and find another guide. Again, I don't think this will be an issue any time soon.
Tomorrow is another running day and we may also be off to get me signed up with the local gym. We discovered that people with disabilities get a significantly discounted monthly fee and that makes both Mr. K and I feel better about the cost.
So, all in all, it's been a very busy few days and I'm not sure it's about to slow down. E and I purchased brand new running shoes to get our training "off on the right foot" so to speak and we get to try them out tomorrow morning. Of course, mine are predominantly purple. Tomorrow I also have a few errands to run, such as getting registered with a surgery (AKA Doctor's office), but I will make greater efforts to update more frequently.
E and I are also going to try a new route for our run tomorrow to keep our growing guiding/guidee relationship challenged and sharp. I figure the harder we make it in the beginning, the easier it will get. So, wish us luck with our new shoes and new route tomorrow. :)

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

2011-10-28T07:28:00.000+01:00

Last night I went to bed probably the earliest I have since we've gotten here. I was worn out from the day and knew I'd be getting up a bit earlier than normal to meet E for our first triathlon training session. However, I didn't think I'd get up as early as I did.
To be quite honest, I am a very heavy sleeper. I am usually quick to fall asleep and usually, once I'm out it's hard to wake me up. I know I'm incredibly blessed in that regard because most people don't have the luxury of sleeping like the dead. So last night when I passed out just after ten, I didn't plan on springing to life at 5 in the morning. I got up and peed and then stumbled back to bed, half awake and a bit chilly. I laid in bed for another two hours, but just couldn't stay still any longer. Thoughts of the upcoming practice kept flittering through my mind and also of how I'm to solve the rest of the logistical issues of training.
I know it's the excitement of starting training that wouldn't let me fall back asleep. I am looking forward to running outside and enjoying a cool autumn morning with a friend. When I was training for swimming, the only fresh air I got to enjoy was walking to and from practice. Pools are usually quite hot, humid and stink of chlorine. I can't wait to actually run. Running as a blind person is contingent on either having access to a treadmill or to a guide. Up until now, I haven't had a guide and don't think I've run outside for enjoyment since high school: that means it's been about ten years.
I know there will be days when the novelty will have worn off and it's freezing and/or raining out and I just won't want to drag my butt out of bed. For today though, I am content to enjoy the excitement of running outside and also to enjoy the feeling of finally beginning real triathlon training.