June 22, 2005 - 9:25 PM
It's hard to believe that over 3 weeks have gone by since Geneva and I first met and that we've been on our own now for 2 weeks and 2 days. Wow!
Sometimes, I get up in the morning and feel like I should pinch myself to see if this is all real. Geneva either lays on her bed until I say good morning
to her and then she'll get up and run across the house to find a bone or toy to show me, or she'll jump up on to the bed if I invite her and lay down with
me until I'm ready to get up. Since off work, it's been usually the latter. smile
One of Geneva's favorite treats is ice cubes. She just loves them and will come running if she hears me at the fridge using the icemaker. She doesn't
play with them; she just munches away on them. "Crunch, crunch, crunch."
Since Thursday was my last day of work for the summer, I have been trying to get out of the house each day to give Geneva some work, which isn't hard for
me to do since I like to keep busy anyway.
On Friday, Amelia drove us to the Harborside area, down near the Bremerton Ferry Terminal so that I could take my friend Michelle out to lunch for her birthday.
We parked on 4th, so had to walk a couple of blocks to the Harborside area. Amelia was a sweetheart and oriented me quite a bit to the area so I feel
much more comfortable going back there on my own. Nick and I had worked around there a little, but then I was much more focused on working Geneva and
not on my surroundings. We got food from Subway and ate it outside near the fountain. We then went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. It was a warm
day and I really liked working around there. I'm going to try and go down there once a week throughout the summer to give Geneva and I more work.
On Saturday we didn't do much. I did go to Costco for a couple of things and that wasn't our greatest work session. Geneva was a bit distracted by the
people outside and rammed me right into a cement block while we headed toward the entrance. "Ouch! My knee!" It was very crowded inside too, and she
just didn't seem to be very on the job. But I guess we're all entitled to an off day.
Sunday we took Lyle out for breakfast. We were in Poulsbo and the girls just had to take Lyle to the Garlic Store which was below where we ate. While
there, they each bought him something for Father's Day. Oh yes, and they had to go to the bakery and bought a doughnut to share. We then came home and
barbecued steaks for dinner. It was a sunshiny Sunday, outside and in our home too.
Monday, Geneva and I took the Access bus to visit my friend Clair. They've been in their home a year and this was my first time to see it. We walked down
to a local restaurant and had a nice lunch and visit then took the city bus into the town of Poulsbo and walked around for an hour. We bought latte's
and visited while we waited for the bus to take us back to her house, then visited some more. I notice that Geneva works much better when she's walking
in front of my friends rather than behind, following.
Yesterday was a lazy, do nothing day. And a good day to be lazy too as it stormed all day with lightning, thunder and lots of rain. Oh yeah, well I did
cook dinner. grin
And today I went to the Mall with my young friends Michelle and Chelsea. These are both very special ladies to me because they have both been my students
in the past and I am proud to call each of them my friend. We ate a little lunch and then went to a few stores. Just hanging out together was nice.
Geneva does some of her best work at the Mall. Thank goodness. Since it is one of my favorite places to go.
I did call Nick today and asked if he could come out hear to work with Geneva and I with using the Gentle Leader. He's coming out on Tuesday. I don't
know if I'll need to use this tool in Las Vegas, but I want to feel comfortable with it just in case, and Geneva and I really didn't get a chance during
training to try it out. I've never actually used one on a dog before, other than for one outing in training with Spud, so I know I'll feel better having
Nick show me the proper way of working Geneva with her wearing it.
Well, I will now bring this lengthy entry to a close. I hope that you can all imagine the smile on my face as I write about my daily journeys with Geneva.
Oh yes, and of course picture Miss Geneva herself as she jaunts back and forth through the house showing off her bone and wagging her tail. We are a
happy pair!
Hugs & wags,
Cindy & Geneva
