My Journey

Todd planted some really neat sunflowers.  Enjoy some of our pictures.

I have more if anyone is interested.

This year my elementary school class had a reading challenge.  They each had a reading fluency goal.  After practicing their book at home they could read to us in class.  If they met their goal the earned a sticker.  When they mastered all five stories in their book, they earned a smiley on the One Minute Reader Club bulletin board.  The ultimate reward was a bowling party and they needed to successfully master six books to be invited.  My little friends were reading machines.  Thanks to those $1 kitchen timers from the dollar store and a grant from the Falcon Foundation for the books, their reading dreams came true.

Another neat part of the bowling party was the ramp for those in wheelchairs.  Most bowling alleys have them, just ask.  The ramp pulled right up to my lap.  The kids sat the bowling ball on the top and I pushed it down.  I didn’t get a strike, but I sure felt like it! 

A DIY project by Todd.  It started out as a simple rock fountain and a five gallon bucket and turned into a wine barrel complete with live plants.  The sound of the water trickling down the rocks is very relaxing.  Way to go Todd!

Yes, that is a fourth grader as a guest speaker for my night class.  His topic was cleft palates.  The night class was a special education course titled Introduction to Exceptional Children.  This exceptional guy is a student in my other class at the elementary school that I teach.  This little professor put together a power point and along with his mom, and educated the class on things they should know about teaching students with cleft palates. 

I was speechless and as proud as a teacher could be.  Thank you for sharing yourself, Professor Cade.  Continue to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

We took Jockey to visit Todd’s family.  This was his very first motel stay.  We packed his bed, toys, and bowls.  Of course he didn’t use his bed because he slept with me.  I didn’t mind one bit because he is a good boy. 

When we visited George and Linda, Jockey made himself right at home.  Yep, he was in the kitchen acting like he hadn’t eaten for days, begging for any scraps that Linda would give him.  This black dog could win some sort of theatrical award for his “please feed me” acts. 

As the evening went by, he curled up under the table with his blanket and his new friend Anna.  What a great end to a fun day.

Just because Jockey is “part” lab, doesn’t mean he has to like the water.  This summer we bought our good boy his very own swimming pool.  From previous adventures I knew that Jockey does not have a love of the water like others of his breed.  Actually once the water gets too deep, Jockey will doggy paddle, but to the nearest place to get out.  That being said, Todd filled the little blue pool with about 4 inches of water, just enough to cover the top of his feet. 

We encouraged the little lab into the pool.  A couple sniffs and a few good licks are all we got.  Plan B.  Todd brought a couple bones out in order to “bribe” him to get into the pool.  He only put three paws in, took the treat, and got right back out.  Next, we put the bone in the water where it floated into the middle.  Four paws in, but the black dog jumped out right away.

Plan C.  Toys.  Todd put the yellow duck, purchased from Bath and Bodyworks, into the pool.  After lots and I mean lots of coaxing, he jumped in, rescued the duck, and jumped out.  Well it kind of happened like that.  He didn’t jump in; rather, he carefully placed one paw at a time into the pool and basically tip toed in after the duck.  Gently picked it up and got out as fast as he could.  The fast exit caused some splashing so he ran around, rubbing his head on the grass to dry himself.

I was laughing, too.  Toward the end of this adventure, Jockey did get in for at least a 5 minute block of time.  While he was in, he was after pieces of grass and leaves floating around the water.  He even used his paws to scratch at the designs on the bottom of the pool.  It was a fun time.  He may not be a swimmer, but he is still a good boy!

Sometimes it is not fun when Jockey chases wildlife in the backyard.  A few weeks ago, Todd stuck a piece of butterfly bush into the band of the device I use to type.  I had to hold real still which wasn’t too hard for me considering I’m paralyzed. A pretty yellow butterfly landed on my branch.

Pretty cool, huh?  Until…

Good bye butterfly!  Oh Jockey.  I guess he wanted a closer look. He’s still a good boy.

What can I say, he offers unconditional love and the best therapy around. Good boy!