<p>dte - D will be doing performance and quality improvement. She’ll be moving buildings to the same one as the hospital President/CEO. She’s totally stoked. Glad you had fun in Newport. We usually stay away in the summer since it gets so crowded, so winter can be a great time to visit.</p>
<p>D1 started her temporary job in HR today. Of course she had to leave 2 hours early as we are in the midst of a snow storm. Hope she made it on time!</p>
<p>Hey - great news northminn!! </p>
<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>Junkying out on the Olympics, though I did get out for a great walk today. Just beautiful.
Good to hear about all the kids moving forward. </p>
<p>My own Olympic event this morning was a) getting TO the hot tub…picture wading bare legged in a robe…and b) then realizing the water was getting low. Rather than hook up the hose in the new studio and make a mess, I thought I’d be quite ingenious and simply shovel the huge piles of snow INTO the hot tub.</p>
<p>Which worked…had it filled in no time. Of course, said snow dropped the trmp by 40 degrees! But despite the pristine white appearance, said snow was harboring leaves and what not. Which meant I had to net out and vacuum the whole stupid thing 
so I’m soaked, and simply not up to re-breaking trail on the hill this a.m.!</p>
<p>But I guess you could call it a workout.</p>
<p>To quote an old hs pal in the doldrums of winter “I want to wear sandals…I want to be normal again!”</p>
<p>D1 had a good day at work. She had really missed being in a professional setting and talking with peers. She was out the door at 7 this morning and looking forward to another productive day. I hope things start to look up for her and that she also finds the perfect permanent job soon. She is so grateful to be back in the working world.</p>
<p>That’s good to hear, NorthMinnesota!</p>
<p>kmcmom13, I can’t help but think of I Love Lucy. Thanks for the laugh at your expense.</p>
<p>Aww… northminn, I am so happy to hear that.
kmc - what a visual you have given us! Ha!
dte - I missed your post earlier. Sometimes, they can really surprise us, huh? I’m glad he did it. It’s good to feel really cherished every now and then.</p>
<p>Yet another snow day here. A few years ago, the board of ed took away the February vacation because of increasing numbers of snow days. Good call, considering we have been out since last Thursday!</p>
<p>Good morning all. I will try to catch up later…is the CC iPhone app ever going to work?</p>
<p>Back from a trip to younger D’s university. Was there for a vocal audition that didn’t happen…no voice at all…she could barely speak. Actually it is good that she got worse instead of better…no way the prof could have thought she was faking it. She happened to audition for the honor choir at a choral director’s convention next month, and she happended to make it, and the guy who is doing the college vocal auditions happens to be attending, so she will audition for him there next month.</p>
<p>She did have a nice meeting with the school’s disablities department. The school is a state university that is not all that selective, so they have loads of experience with ADHD, the lady had a nice list of accomodations she will recommend, even assistive technology, no pushback, such a breath of fresh air!</p>
<p>That’s good news missypie! I was worried about her facing yet another disappointment. Keeping my fingers crossed for success with the future audition. </p>
<p>sabaray…where are you??? I need some dog advice. D1’s dog must not be happy D1 went back to work. She knocked down her gate for the first time yesterday while everyone was gone and proceeded to grab socks, underwear and slippers from throughout the house and take back to her designated area. She didn’t destroy them but had quite a pile in her room. Today I thought I had really secured the gate but she escaped again and had a pile of socks in her room AND I discovered a puddle she had left. This dog has never had an accident in the house since she was house trained! I had only been gone for 90 minutes and she had been outside before I left. She knew she was naughty as I found her in her kennel when I came home. She used to be home by herself all day when D1 previously worked. Ugh…</p>
<p>NM, I am so happy for your D. Oh poor puppy…is she bored? Have you done some of the usual things such as leave the TV on or a radio. Does she have something to do such as a toy with treats in it? Is she going through her adolescent stage?
MP, how nice that the U has so much to offer. Is this your D’s school in the future?</p>
<p>Of course, the auto shop has not found a used door and D has to leave the area for 7 weeks next week so I wonder what exactly is going happen. I think this will start to go sour again soon but I hope I am wrong,</p>
<p>Rain, rain, rain. Grey. All anyone can say is “at least it is not snow”. A young man I talked with yesterday said he loves it here. He just moved from upper state NY.</p>
<p>CBB haven’t been been to the new building, but you never know…NM how about crating? dogs wont go in their crates and they are contained. More snow today we were supposed to get a dusting but it is more. I am not very into the Olympics. don’t know why. I have been off for 10 days don’t want to go back…
NM as part of healing, distraction can be so helpful, you daughter will get her mojo back as she settles into her new life. </p>
<p>Well, I’ve been off having a pity party but I think I’m better now. I’ve been thinking alot about all of you! </p>
<p>NM, your poor grandpuppy. Her life as she knew it changed pretty abruptly! Dogs are creatures of habit, we all know this. Her home, her routine…all gone. While she knows you, she doesn’t yet know that she’s living with you for the foreseeable future. Her routines are a little different now. Everything your D is going through, pup is going through as well. </p>
<p>Here are some things I would try barring any medical issues (like a UTI). I would not trust the gate now that she knows she can get around it. I would take an article of your D’s clothing and place it in the crate. For several weeks when leaving the house, I would crate pup. Reinforce it as a positive experience. I tell Sabapup “time to go in your room” or “Mom has to go to work”. Sabapup runs to her room and sits. Why? Because she knows I’m going to give her some cookies. She goes in and lies down until lunchtime. Same drill everytime I leave unless someone is home. I did that with Sabadog until he was 18 months. Now he has a mat and I just tell him to “go to bed” when I want him to settle down. </p>
<p>I know your D has been through a lot recently, but it sounds like you’ve assumed a lot of dog care. If that is the case, I think it’s time for your D to return to being a more active Dogmom. It will make her feel better AND it will make pup feel better, too. Not that you’re unstable, NM, but pup needs her mom. Pup might also like a Kong. Does she have one? If not, buy her one and you will become her most favorite person. Put a little peanut butter inside, place in the freezer and give it to her in her crate when you’re leaving. She will be happy and content working away to get that peanut butter out. </p>
<p>Finally, suggest to your D that she pay for a day of doggie day care. I’m sure you have that in your area. A play date with other canine companions might just break her out of her funk. Too bad you can’t bring her over here…we could have some wine while the dogs ran each other silly! </p>
<p>Good to hear from you, Sabaray.</p>
<p>Sorry you were having a bad time sabaray! Hugs to you! Thanks for the suggestions. This lovely puppy has been very spoiled and loves to be petted and snuggled ALL of the time. D1 has done this for the past 8 weeks so she is really missing her at the moment. She will " kennel up" when told but hadn’t needed to since she was here as she didn’t challenge the gate. This dog has a huge bladder and never has accidents so I believe she was making a statement to me this morning as she was missing her mom. When I told her she was naughty she ran to her kennel and laid down. Very cute and I tried not to laugh! I will try to make her stay in the crate while I exercise for a bit until I trust her again. She has Kongs so I will try that too.</p>
<p>Labs are definitely like that. Maybe you should get her a puppy to snuggle with! 
You could also suggest to your D that she could crate her in the morning when she leaves for work - just like she did before. Then you could be the one to “liberate” her when you’re done with your errands, etc. I bet a frozen peanut butter Kong will help too. </p>
<p>Sabadog actually had UTI back around Christmas - you might want to check on that if the puddles continue. </p>
<p>Don’t worry, I haven’t been sitting in any dark rooms with a bottle, but the kids are busy, the dogs don’t talk back and H still works as much as he ever did! Stress over my mom and my MIL only adds to it, so I decided I could keep feeling sorry for myself or try and change things, so I enrolled in some courses at our local CC. So, I work about 30 hours a week, work with the dogs, train for the half and now go to school two nights a week. Keeps the days fuller, at least. </p>
<p>Full days indeed, Sabaray!</p>
<p>Virtual puppies are so well behaved. (My family had a real dog when I was growing up – he’d go into the garage, root through the (huge) pile of dirty laundry to find something my sister had worn, and snuggle up with it. We always knew she loved her best.)</p>
<p>Great news on the college front, MP. What’s PieSon up to?</p>
<p>PieSon is busy waiting until the last possible moment to apply to the 4 year school to which he wants to transfer…but no surprises there.</p>
<p>mp - LOVE that description – “busy waiting until the last possible moment …” I’m sure you’re not loving the reality of his procrastination, though.</p>
<p>Aaaack! All this dog talk is making me remember what we (actually, make that “I”) went through with our previous puppy – and wondering if we’re just nuts to be doing this again. She arrives on March 13, flying into Boston. We’re having “what should we name her” discussions via email with D & S.</p>
<p>Remember my episode of missing the last step coming downstairs in the early morning about a month ago? Well, I finally went for an x-ray yesterday because my foot, while much improved, is still sore. Oh, yes, I did, in fact, break/displace the little toe on my left foot. The doc at the walk-in center where I had the x-rays referred me to an Orthopedist since he’s concerned that healing may have started and I may need a pin or something equally horrible. Gr-r-r-r-r!</p>
<p>Cbb hope you don’t need a pin, I am wondering if I need an xray on the foot that I dropped the bottle of oil on. sabaray distraction is my main source of comfort. I do miss my kids. My dog loves me the best. Everyone knows it. I think it is because, I took care of him when he first came to us. when I was sick he just laid by me all day, would poke his head up and check on me. such a sweetie</p>