Good News!
Mountain Mama's family have plane tickets to come for Thanksgiving! From a real ticket site this time and not from scammers! Our family is thrilled that they will be joining us after all. (And I am looking around at my house and realizing that I'd better get some cleaning done!)
Not Good News
After a three month hiatus and settling back into my normal life's routines, I had two migraines yesterday. I had suspected that this might happen as a few of the symptoms had recently resurfaced, but I was hoping I was not going back into the daily migraine(s), droopy face/speech issues, and lack of hand coordination routine again. That was a seven months that I'd rather not repeat, but in reality I had suspected that whatever this is would ultimately return.
Fingers crossed that the recent symptoms are just a fluke. Prayers and good thoughts are welcome and appreciated!
Helping News
My friend and former teaching colleague, Kathy, became ill and asked me to take her to the doctor. She brought her guide dog, Tate with her, but left him with me in the waiting room while she saw the doctor.
I always love to spend time with a guide dog - they are the smartest of the smart, passing many tiers of intelligence tests before qualifying to be trained as a guide. They are even taught "intelligent disobedience," which means that they will refuse to do something that puts them and their blind partner in harm's way. (Such as refusing to go forward into the path of an oncoming car.)
Tate slipped under my chair as trained and I pulled out my Kindle to read while we waited.
Except that there was a bit of a problem. Tate is one of the biggest Labrador Retrievers I've ever seen and he needed two chairs in order to fit underneath as his training dictated.
He shifted around quite a bit before he was happy that he was finally completely underneath. It was sweet and funny at the same time. Good dog, Tate!
Celebratory News
Speaking of guide dogs, our dog Pepper retired from her guiding partnership and came to live with us four years ago October 30.
She's an amazing dog and is very bonded to me now. Guide dogs are trained to focus on and be with one person, and while she loves Craig, I am the one she has transferred that strong allegiance to and keeps tabs on.
Even now, at 5:00 AM, she has followed me upstairs and is lying by me as I write. Trained as Tate was, she used to go under my desk while I worked, but I retrained her that it was okay to be next to me instead. There just wasn't room under my desk for a stretched out, snoozing Lab and my feet together!
Happy Anniversary, Pepper. I cannot imagine life without you.
Horsey News - Can You Help?
Did you know there are wild horses in Missouri? I did not until yesterday. Hawkeye Daughter Sarah, a wildlife photographer, is going there next week to photograph them and asked me for information about them.
Since I don't know anything about them, I'm reaching out here. If you do, or have links to information about them, please send them to me at horsiemama8@gmail.com. Thanks!
