I loved hearing about Raydar!!  The dog trainer gave me this trick which has been useful.  Get a coke or other aluminum can, wash and dry it thoroughly.  Use a hair dryer to make sure the can is dry inside.  Add 15 pennies to the can and duct tape the opening.   With a couple of shakes and a strong "no" this can break up a fight between dogs ( like when we are watching TV and our two decide to play fight at our feet);  a couple of shakes of the can now keeps Beau and Buddy from entering this room ...  did it once and once more when they tested me;  a couple of shakes kept Beau from jumping onto my 84 year old father when we visited a week ago ..  he remembers his 8 week old self enthusiastically greeting granpapa'  and doesn't realize his 8 month old 45+ lb self could knock granpapa' off his feet!  

 

I am making a few more can shakers to keep handy.  One on the dining table to use to deterr Beau from putting his paws on the table to see what tasty morsels his humans are eating or what fascinating papers/books they are staring at!   Another to carry in the car to use when they decide to play fight in the back seat.

 

When my two "speak",  I get up to see what they are barking at, say "thank you" and then "ok..  all is fine"  and make a hand motion, palm down and sweeping to the side.. similar to my "enough!" hand motion

 

We are working on the "down-stay" command.  My younger son worked with Beau this morning.  I have a bad headache and wasn't calm-assertive enough for Beau.  Buddy, the Pug, did his best to have Beau jump up the second time by barking at someone walking his dogs outside, by walking past Beau with his chew bone, etc.  Beau did very well on attempt #2 and stayed down while son and I chatted on the couch watching Beau's reflection off a cabinet's glass.  Beau is really smart. We could see him looking around to figure out how we could see him!  Then, he caught our reflection!  Clever fella..  he sighed and then settled down for the duration; only glancing up with his eyes now and again.

 

Next is to have him go into and keep a "down-stay" when someone comes to the front door.

March has been a roller coaster month for me.  I am not fond of those roller coasters that turn one upside down.  About five years ago I was to the point that I could no longer ride the "wooden" roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk because it jarred my neck.  So, even smooth roller coasters are not my cup of tea these days.

 

The first week of March my 24 year old son broke up with his girlfriend and we allowed him to come home and regroup.  He has attempted to join the Marines, but yesterday found out he didn't pass the drug test.  At the local testing he came up with low levels of TCH or whatever it is called and he was told to drink two boxes of Certo pectin and a gallon of water after each packet.  In San Antonio, the testing is more sophisticated and they found the "masking agent"...  the pectin.  He found this out yesterday afternoon and was devastated.

 

My 25 year old who is a sweetheart normally was a stinker this morning when I asked him about running the spybot program which he installed.  This is the second nasty comment about virus software on my computer when I ask him to run it.....  When he installed the programs about a year ago, he told me that rather than teaching me how to run them, he would do it himself.   A couple run in the background but need updating.  He will be moving to San Antonio with the company he is working for.

 

Last week, three people I know made their transitions.  The 80 year old mother of a highschool friend, a 55 year old highschool classmate and the one who hit closest to home:  my husband's 25 year old greatniece. 

 

On Sunday, I made a quick trip to Uvalde to check on my father and bring his tax info in order for my husband to prepare the tax return.  It was a great visit, but I ended up leaving my bite guard there and have been getting by with a Wal-Mart one.  I hope the other one fits when I go back for it on Monday.

 

Yesterday the dog trainer was here.  It is more to train me on how to walk my dog without his pulling on the leash ...and pulling me with him!  Or, how to break his distraction when he wants to play with the dogs behind fences.  My sweat Beau had his toe nails bleed when the trainer pulled him hard around and his rear paws hit the fence boards.  He left blood all over the sidewalk at the two Boxers' house!  Pug Buddy walks past dogs who bark at him without blinking an eye, but not Beau!

 

I remember how only a year ago I was terrified of dogs.  All sizes.  I was used to Pug Buddy, our senior rescue Pug whom we have had for nearly 3 years now.  Now, I no longer feel that paralyzing fear when I see or hear a dog.  On Sunday afternoon, I even plan to participate in a "million mutt march" at a park to show my support for a dog park!

 

May April's showers be gentle and cleansing ones.

Am feeling housebound.  I want to scream!  I am the type of person who needs and welcomes solitude.  It is like breathing to me.  When my sons were young, I would take those moments at the end of the day when my husband came home.  I would either retreat to my room with a book, if I didn't have a migraine by then, or go out shopping...  just to look.

 

I now have Beau who I would leave in his kennel for a couple of hours.  Unfortunately, I cannot do that these days since son #2 came back.

This blog's category could also be under 'parenting'.  Well, I have been interrupted. so... 

 

to continue...

 

Yesterday was my first visit to MHMR and I was fascinated by the place.  I hated that the security, a woman with a too tight uniform and doing not much more than sitting, told one of the waiting patients to leave.  He was there before us and was getting fidgety so he would get up and move to another chair, or straighten the entry rug, or straighten a chair, or go out the door to call someone who had been called and was not inside. 

 

I overheard a conversation between three or four young people about what their diagnosis was.  They were all Bipolar and had been referred.  A couple by the judge.  Two had been in prison they confided.  One was also schizophrenic.  One was living at Charlie's Place, a drug and alcohol rehab facility.  Another was living at the Good Samaritan.

 

A couple came in.  I overheard the man greet another client/patient and comment that "they" were running them away from all the places.  I gather "they" meant the city police.  He said he didn't know where he and his mother would sleep that night.  The mother walked in, signed up and promptly walked back outside where she sat on the floor until her name was called.

 

I remember people like some of these when I was growing up.  The man who weaved down the street, in worn out clothes, and looking older than his years.  The man sitting on his porch talking to someone unseen by us.  The woman, a classmate's mother, who used bright red lipstick overgenerously applied and rouge that left bright red spots on her cheeks.  Don't stare because she will let you know she doesn't like you even glancing her way....  some days.

 

I wondered what thin line keeps me from being like some of these people?  What about this son of mine?  He was assessed and found not bipolar but told if he were to go to a private psychologist he would be diagnosed bipolar and medicated.  We recently learned that he has a couple of biological brothers with the diagnosis.  Will this 24 year old son continue going from job to job?  Will he continue going from relationship to relationship?  Will he one day have a "situational" episode and end up in prison?  I hope not.