Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!

I started taking my dogs to 'school' 3 weeks ago. Buddy is doing very well. Brutus can do well when he stays focused. He has a heard time staying focused (on what he is supposed to do) when he is focused on getting a treat or going for a walk (which he stays very focused on). But I think he is actually getting better. He seems to believe that maybe I am the 'alpha dog' after all! He gets life rewards when we are working on walks and getting out the door to walk. For example, if we are trying to get out the door for a walk and he is going bonkers with excitement (which he always is), I make him sit until he calms down. Then he makes it 3 steps closer to the door and I usually need to have him sit again. Getting to take a few steps is a 'life reward' for being calm (sort of calm for him!). On a walk we are working on loose leash walking. He can play and have fun as long as he is not pulling on the leash. He is beginning to understand that when he pulls we stop. If he doesn't pull we get to keep going. What a great reward! Buddy is great at loose leash walking so he thinks we're crazy for all the stop and go :-) We're having fun amyway.

Happy Birthday 100th Presbyterian Hospital

Presbyterian Hospital was established 100 years ago in 1908 by the Rev. Hugh A. Cooper who was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church at the time. He came to Albuquerque in 1903 seeking healing for his tuberculosis. He was one of the fortunate ones who did recover. He started the San, as it was called back then. Many people from Presbyterian church were intimately involved in getting Pres Healthcare started. I thought you'd like to see pictures of the church today. Mom and Dad you might be able to tell which part is the huge addition to the church building if you remember what it used to look like. We had a very nice service in the sanctuary complete with pipe organ and choir. Then a wonderful spread of food at a reception in the fellowship hall. The service was in honor of Rev. Cooper and Mrs. Van and their dedication to Christ that has had such a tremendous impact on health care here in NM. It was a very well done service and celebration. Tomorrow we will have a special celebration luncheon at work for all employees. Happy 100th birthday Presbyterian Hospital!!

Some of you know that I joined Curves recently. It has been a great addition for aerobics and resistance training along with walking my dogs. (When I am going I have to put my tennis shoes on in the bathroom with the door closed so Brutus doesn't know what I am doing!) They occasionally have something extra going on at Curves just for the fun of it. Today was a scavenger hunt for a variety of items throughout the place. If you found 20 of the 25 you got a prize. Well I did get a prize. I have a photo posted for you. In honor of breast cancer awareness month they bought pink 'you-know-whats' with chocolate nipples from The Candy Lady. I just ate my prize - mint flavored! I have been to The Candy Lady store once in Old Town. Once was more than enough. My prize today was nothing compared to the seriously XXX rated candy she makes. But, considering the occasion it was a cute idea for prizes this month.

Roses are . . . pretty!

I never have thought I would enjoy having a garden at all. But now I'd have to say I am spoiled. I'm going to miss my roses! All summer here at my new place I have had the luxury of a fresh rose opening in a vase sitting on my table every day. Each one lasts about a week and then I step out to my back yard and find another one. And on top of that I have had a abundance of blooms to gaze at on the bushes. It has not been hard to keep the bushes pruned, and has been so worth it. So now I hope I can learn what I need to do to put them to 'bed' for the winter since it seems to be rapidly aproaching. I sure want to do it right so I'll enjoy the bounty again next year!

I really like this!

I did a little rearranging at my house today. I decided I was tired of the microwave in the living room (which is where it has been for 5 years now!). So I made room in my kitchen cabinets for the food & stuff I had stored in the cabinet the microwave sat on. I moved the coffee pot to where the toaster used be (Kara has the toaster in Brazil.) I moved the microwave to the counter by the sink where the coffee pot has been. One of these days I'll get a smaller microwave - but it'll work for now. That gave me room to position the table parallel to the wall. It really opens up the entry area and the living room! I moved the cabinet that had stored food and stuff over by the entertainment unit. Now it is a toy box for Em! I think she'll like that. This blog only let me post 5 photos. I had one of the inside of Em's 'toy box'. Maybe I'll post it separately. Come see my newly arranged place. I have a great guest bed for anyone who wants to check it out!

Hitting the books

It is a little hard to tell, but this is a picture of Brutus on my lap while I am at my desk doing homework. I have been hard at the books each evening this week. I will spend a lot of time here on my day off today. He apparently feels deprived of our usual lap time. Often when I am at home I spend some time reading in the recliner. He loves to lay right beside me when I do that. So now he begs to get on my lap when I study. I guess that way he still feels connected! I love my little snuggler. I love Buddy too. He is happy to curl up at my feet.

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School

I have struggled a lot lately with what to do about school. I have lost the momentum and excitement. I asked for prayer at church today for God to show me what to do. Jeannie and Coach prayed with me and had some good words of wisdom (sort of a kick in the behind too!). It helped a lot and I came home encouraged. I mapped out what I need to do to have school done by Spring of 2010 so I can graduate that Fall. Your prayers would be appreciated. I will have to really keep my nose in the books to get it all done, but I know I really need to. If I finish all the course work by Spring 2010 I will have finished in my alotted time and won't owe any additional tuition. That would be a good thing too.

African Breakfast

Our church (which we be came a part of recently) has had an outreach to African kids in the area for several years. Now some of us who are new to the church are getting involved. I have agreed to provide transportation some of the time and to provide breakfast some of the time. Today Cezanne and I did breakfast. We were told they were picky eaters, but they like fruit and rice. Cezanne checked to see if Rice Krispies would work and Kathy (wife of one of the pastors) said it would.


Well it felt like chaos when they arrived, about 12 to 15 kids ages 8 - 15, all together. But we managed. They weren't impressed with Rice Krispies at all since it has no sugar on it and they really didn't want to add sugar though they finally did. I had brought several kinds of fruit. They devoured the mangos and bananas and weren't at all interested in oranges, apples or kiwi. They ate the mango with salt - a LOT of salt. They tried salt on the kiwi and decided they didn't like it with or without.

So it was an interesting whirlwind of black kids in the kitchen for about 30 minutes, talking (English and their native language), laughing, complaining, thanking us and eating. And then suddenly it was done! So I guess Cezanne and I will be doing this about once a month. I think we'll learn a lot!

Geocache

Emery was over here all last weekend and again on Thursday. I knew some of my little things were disappearing. I discovered where they have been going (see photo in prevoius blog). Bookmarks, business cards and drapery weights fit through the vent slots very nicely! So I wonder if Kevin and Jenn have been teaching her about geocaching. Perhaps people will begin showing up at my door with their GPS in hand wanting to know what treasure is buried in my living room vent. We'll see if she figures out how to post directions on the web. She can already turn my CD player with the dance music on and off whenever she wants. So I'm sure web posting is not too far behind.

Geo-cache? See my next blog for an explanation.

Alltel has no control over, and is not responsible for, the content or use of this picture or the accompanying personal message.

She won't let me feed her any more. She likes to do it herself!

Alltel has no control over, and is not responsible for, the content or use of this picture or the accompanying personal message.