Sad Update

Hi guys, This update is going to be a sad one. this past year has been very hard for me. I'm now really really scared of thunderstorms. I can't explain it, but the storms scare me so much that I can't stop shaking and panting and sometimes... and I'm really embarrassed to admit this, but sometimes I go potty on the floor cause I'm so afraid. Mom has tried everything. I'm on something called Prozac to calm me down and I have another medicine which makes me very sleepy I take when the storms hit. Mom calls that medicine Valium and she hates giving it to me. I also have something called a thunder-shirt. It feels a lot like the coat I used to wear as a puppy when I was with my raisers, but it wraps much tighter around my body so I feel safer. I have all of these things, but I'm still just too afraid. This winter, when there were no sthunderstorms, I was afraid to sleep or even go into my crate. Mom didn't know what to do. She eventually called Guide dog school and after talking to some people over there, they all decided that it was best that I retire. Mom is sad and so am I, but she tells me that she wants me to be a happy dog, not a sad dog and I can't do that living here where there are lots of storms. So, when Mom goes to get a new dog I'll come with her and go back to live with my raisers in California. I'm really Excited about that. I love Tiffany and Kim and I know I'll be happy there. I know I'll miss Mom, and you guys won't be able to read about my adventures anymore, but Mom says the new dog will have adventures that you all caan read about. I just wanted to let everyone know what is going on and also tell you that I'll keep updating until it's time for Mom to go back to guide dog school. She has a home interview with her Instructor from guide dog school tomorrow, so I have to show off and be extra awesome at my work when we go for a walk. Well, I think that's it for now, but I just wanted to keep everybody in the loop. Torpy

The Fair, the Pariad and the Bath

Hi guys,
Yesterday, Mom, Auntie Julia and Adam took me to the Minnesota State Fair. I was so happy to come with and get a really good workout in because I hadn't been able to do that in a while. We had to wait a long time for the free bus service to come pick us up, but it wasn't too hot outside and Mom kept giving me water to drink. At one point, she took what was left in the cup and dumped it over my head... sigh. I know she says it's supposed to keep me cool, but really Mom, you know how I hate water.
The bus finally came and I was a good boy, as always. There were lots of people who wanted to pet me, but I just ignored them, even when they did pet me. We got to the Fair and when we got off the bus, there was this big parade coming through the street. We had to get up on the sidewalk and it was really crowded up there. I was scared because there were so many people and I couldn't guide Mom anywhere.
Mom just kept telling me I was a good boy and she kept petting me to keep me calm. I could tell she was a little worried though, because there were lots of people yelling about how they wanted to get out and get moving. The parade ended though and we were abl to move. Both Mom and I were relieved.
After that, I guided Mom through the Fair and we met some of Mom's friends. We walked around and Mom and everybody got lots of good things to eat. Of course I couldn't have any, but Momdid slip me the last bite of her hotdog... yummy! She said it was because I had been such a good boy during the parade. After that, we went and sat own for a rest. Mom kept making sure I had fresh water when I wanted it, and kept making sure I had times to have a bathroom break. When we sat down though, there was all sorts of yummy bits of food on the floor. I kept going after them, and Mom kept correcting me. Sometimes I would stop, but most times I couldn't resist and I ate those little bits. Mom didn't seem too mad though, she said I was practically lying in a taco salad.
We did some more walking and finally made it back to where the bus would pick us up. By that point... I was sooo tired. I just laid down in the parking lot and went to sleep. Mom let me do that, but each time we thought a bus was coming, she made me stand up. She said. I was very dirty from lying in the dusty parking lot and so she said I needed a bath when we got home. I pretended I didn't hear that...
When we got home Mom fed me and then she took me upstairs for a bath. I tried to fight her on getting into the tub by becoming an absolute dead-weight. She couldn't lift me on her own, so she got Auntie Julia to help... damn. Well... she bathed me and so I no longer smelled like the Fair and dirt. I smelled like shampoo and cream-rince conditioner.
I was really sleepy after that and Mom let me nap the rest of the evening. She only woke me up once, to take me to my crate. I fell asleep right away and Mom says she could hear me snoring.
Mom has to go out again today, but she can't bring me with her because the friend's house she's going to has people living there who are alergic to dogs. I wish people didn't have dog alergies. I love people and the friend Mom is seeing today loves me, but can't be around me a lot because of the alergies. Mom has alergies, but not to me... YAY! She's alergic to hay though. She found that out when she went to the Fair on Friday and saw all the animals in the barns. She says her head got stuffed up and her eyes felt like they were burning.
Well, I think I'll end this for now. Mom just got through brushing me... ah I love that and I think I'll go find a nice place to rest.
bye for now,
Torpy

When Humans Are Sad.

Sometimes... you just have to be a cuddle-bug.
Mom and i were out working today when the people who had interviewed Mom the day before called her back. She said they didn't give her the job. Mom's been sad all evening. She's kind of angry too because she says she thinks it might have been an issue of accommidation. Mom says that means that they didn't want to do the extra work they needed to do so she could do the job cause she's blind. Haven't they ever heard of extra work before? I do extra work for Mom all the time... sheesh.
Anyway, Mom has been down all afternoon and I've just been next to her, letting her pet and snuggle me. She says I have magic lab fur. She says it's softer than any other lab fur she's ever petted. I don't know where I got it, but all of my sisters had it too. One of my sisters, Trisha, who was at guide dog school with me had the same color fur and everything, but she was smaller than me. Anyway, Mom's been petting me a lot and of course I love that. Maybe we'll find another place that wants to do extra work for Mom without it being a problem. Of course Mom can't prove that was the true reason she didn't get picked for the job, but she think's it's very likely because of places only wanting people that can do the work right away without any help.
She says we'll keep looking and in the meantime, we're moving back into the house we lived in before very soon. Mom and I are both so excited about the move. We've missed it so much... YAY!
Well, I'm sleepy, so i think I'll go for one last bathroom break and then find my crate and blanky and curl up in it.
night all, and keep good thoughts coming for Mom, I don't like to see her sad.
T-force

The Cabin and Mom's job interview

Hi Guys,
Wow what a week I've had! Member last time, how I told you I was going to the cabin with Mom? Well we went last week and just got back this past Sunday. When we drove up there, I couldn't ride with Mom in the same car. I did not like that, cause I'm always with her and it made me nervous. I watched her as she drove away with Auntie Julia. I still kept looking for her, but I settled down once I figured out that my other human, Adam, and Mom's mom, Katie, were taking care of me. I know them and so I felt safe, but I still missed Mom.
Mom said she couldn't take me in her car because she and Auntie Julia had to take my little brother Romeo. Auntie Julia adopted him last fall. He's a miniature dachhound and he's got long red fur. He and I get along well. I was very good about not barking before he came along though, and now, I'm not. Hey... if he barks at something, I wanna know what he's barking at. Mom doesn't like it and so now, we both have those horrid bark collars... eww!
Anyway, we got to the cabin and had lots of fun. I got to smell all the new animal smells and Mom took me for walks in the woods. On one of the days, Mom took me down to the lake. I had an idea that she wanted to give me a bath because I saw the shampoo bottle come out, so when I was standing on the dock, I jumped right in the water. Mom hadn't been expecting it, but she gave me praise because I was being good.
I didn't like the water and I'd forgotten how to swim, but Mom was very patient with me and I remembered how after about a minute.
I swam around a little bit so I could get wet and then Mom gave me a bath. She says I was better behaived during this bath than others I've had. I don't know why she thought that, maybe because there were fishes in the lake I could watch.
after she'd gotten my fur all sudzy, I swam around again to let it rince out and then I was done.
Mom took me up to the cabin and I had to stay outside on the porch while I dried off. I did not like that at all. I barked a lot to let everyone know I was mad. I also really... really had to pee, but no one was paying attention, and so I peed a little bit on the floor. I know, it's a huge no-no in my house too, but I just couldn't hold it anymore. Auntie Julia took me out right away and I went out there. Everyone felt bad that they hadn't been paying attention to me, and so no one yelled at me... sigh... I wish humans understood us sometimes.
After that day, Mom's brother Peter, came up with his girlfriend, Megan, and her sister, Nicole. Mom's niece zoe came with too and so the house was crowded. They also had three other other dogs with them. Pete and Megan own two dogs named Cash and Carter. They're both mutts, and much younger than me, but they like to play and so do i. Megan's sister Nicole owns a Boston Tarier named Bass, and he and Romeo played, cause they're the same size. We all had fun playing with each other.
The morning after they came up, another dog came into the yard. None of us had ever seen him before, but I got excited because I knew he was another yellow lab like me. He was this really dark red color, darker than me and he was nice. None of Mom's family knew who he belonged to, but he had a name and number on his tags. His name was Firestoker and Mom's brother called the number on his tag. They found the owners and took him back home.
I would never want to run away from my home like that. I'd miss my mom too much, but I guess he liked to run away. Mom says it's because he wasn't "Fixed" She says it means he can have puppies with a girl dog. Mom says I can't. She says I got fixed when I was seven weeks old. I don't remember that, cause it sounds weird, if not painful.
Anyway, we had to leave the cabin the next day, and again... I couldn't ride back with Mom. Romeo whined a ton before we left and I couldn't figure out why. Was he excited about the car ride? I know i was. I love car-rides. Was he afraid we would leave him? Come on... they'd never do that. I don't know what it was, but I was calm and just went with whatever Mom had to do. I missed Mom on the ride home though, but Katie said I was good and that I stayed quiet. Of course I did... I, unlike Romeo, have class... Ha-Ha!
Anyway, after we got home, Mom started telling me about this thing she had to go to today called a job interview. We went this morning and for the most part, it was really boring, at least for me. Oh sure there are all sorts of new smells to investigate, but when I'm working of course I can't smell them... nooo! All I got to do wwas lie there while Mom talked to a bunch of people. I know, I was being good, but it was boring. I do hope Mom gets the job though, cause then we'll have somewhere to go everyday.
Well, we're home from the interview now, and I think I'll end this for now. I think it's nap time for Mom and me... we've had a long day today. I'll update more soon.
bye for now,
Torpy

Stuff I forgot last night

Hi Guys,
I forgot to tell you about where we're going next week. We're going to this great place called the cabin. It's Mom's Grandma's cabin. It's far from our house and is by a lake. I love it up there. I get to smell all the new smells and there are lots of smells I don't usually get to sniff around the house. Mom loves it up there, but here's the weird thing that she likes to do. She likes to swim. I hate swimming. I don't like water at all, as most of you know. Mom says I'm a weird dog because I'm a lab and I'm supposed to like water, but I just don't. She tries to take me into the lake when we're up there, but I always fight her... I hate it. She's persistant though and usually gets me in. She doesn't take me above my head though and I feel ok with that, but guess why she wants to take me in the water? She wants to give me a bath... BOOO! I hate baths so it's twice the insult. First the water, then the bath.
One time, I was getting a bath and I got all soapy. Mom didn't know how to best get me into the lake, so auntie Julia picked me up as best as she could and threw me in!
I was so scared and I splashed around for a few minutes, but then I calmed down. that was the day Marlin taught me how to swim. I just watched him and saw how he swam and then I copied him. I wish he was here to teach me again... I miss my big brother and so does Mom.
I hope she doesn't take me into the water this time, but if she does, I'll be a good boy and not try to run away... I mean I'll try to try.
Other than the water, I love being with Mom at the cabin. She says she's gonna get me some special treats so I can have good things to eat up there. I love car rides and we get to go on one when we leave next Monday yay yay yay!
I'll tell you all about the cabin when we get back. For now, it's almost time for dinner... even bigger yay!
bye for now,
T-force

Toys and the cabin

Hi Guys,
Mom got me the greatest toy ever! Member how I said she got me this toy called a Bob-A-Lot? Well I got it and I've been playing with it and it's the best ever. It's this big round thing that is heavy on the bottom and so it rolls around, but here's the great thing, it spills out food! Mom puts my dinner or breakfast in it and the food comes out. I just love it. When I first got it I figured out how to unscrew the top part and try to get at the food that way, but mom keeps stopping me cause she doesn't want me to break it. I still try to unscrew the top though, cause I'm a very smart dog.
Today, we went to Starbucks, by the house we're moving back into soon. Mom had a meeting with a nice lady named Caitlin. She's going to help Mom find work. they talked while I enjoyed the cool floor... and the crumbs from Mom's blueberry muffin. I just laid there and watched people come in and go out. Lots of them looked at me and tried to talk to me and pet me, but I ignored them because I'm just like that in harness. Mom says I'm aloof... what ever that means. i only stood up twice, when I saw Grandma, Mom's mom, walk by and when I saw Adam, my other human, come over to get Mom.
I hope Mom can find work soon because I really like getting out of the house and I know Mom does too. After we got home I just rested until it was time for dinner and then I let Mom know, loud and clear, that it was time to eat.
I'm really into barking for food now. Mom doesn't like it and when ever I bark she puts this terrible thing called a bark collar on me. It's the worst thing because when I bark, it sprays me in the face with this gross smelling stuff. Mom calls it citronella and she says it just smells like a mix of oranges and lemons but it's nasty to me... ick! So... I don't bark when it's on... I whine instead... hee hee! No wonder Mom calls me a Stinker.
Anyway, after dinner, mom and I watched the baseball game on the couch and then we went off to bed. I'm getting very sleepy now though, so I think 'll go, but you guys had to hear about my toy.
I'll be back soon.
torpy

I'm Baaack!

Hi you guys,
I know it's been forever since I updated, but lots of things happened to me and Mom and so I couldn't write for a long time. Mom was living in her house with auntie Julia like before, but then, in the middle of the summer of 2008, Mom's dad said they had to leave and take care of Mom's mom, Grandma. Mom's dad, Grandpa, was leaving Grandma and moving into their house and so we had to go live with Grandma and my brother Marlin.
It was ok, but Mom was very sad. I remember she cried a lot and I had to give her lots of cuddles. She also talked on the phone to this guy she knew named Adam. I wanted to meet him cause he sounded nice. Anyway, Mom and me and Auntie Julia lived at their parents' house for a long time and Mom was very sad. I tried to play with my brother Marlin to make me feel better, but he didn't want to play anymore the longer it went into Fall. Mom thought it was just because he was getting old, but in the winter, we found out he had cancer on his throat. He was in a lot of pain and didn't want to play anymore.
Mom talked a lot to her vet and they decided to give him medicine to make him feel better, but not to give him medicine to make the cancer better, because they said they didn't want him to suffer. He was happy for a while and wasn't in pain anymore, but then, in the early spring of 2009, Mom saw that the tumor on his neck was infected and leaking some bad smelling stuff.
The week she noticed it was a busy week for me. Remember that guy Mom had been on the phone with? Well she had gone to see him and she couldn't take me with her because he had loose dogs on his property and she didn't want me to get hurt. I was sad when she left because I always go with Mom, and when she got back I was mad at her for a day. I got to meet the guy though. His name is Adam and I love him! He cuddles with me and talks to me and gives me all the pets and treats I could want. Mom loves him too and he's living up here now, but back to when I first met him...
He was here when Mom noticed the bad infection with my brother Marlin. She and Grandma took him to the vet and they decided it was time to put him to sleep. I think he was happy for the pain to go away, and happy to get this huge cone off his neck. He had been sad about that all week and Mom hated seeing it on him. On Friday, March 20th of 2009, we all got into the car and drove to the vet's office. Mom, Marlin, Auntie Julia and Grandma all went into a little room. I stayed outside with Adam, but I was really sad because everyone else was. I just looked up at him and whimpered a lot... I think sometimes it would be nice to use words.
Mom was very sad for a while after that. I remember she cried a lot and hugged me a lot. I miss my brother Marlin, but I'm glad Mom let me sniff him after he'd died, because then I didn't wonder where he was and why he wasn't coming back.
Things have slowly gotten better for Mom and me. We went to work last summer at a hospital. Mom did research for the hospital and wrote a lot. Mom's coworkers all loved me and they said I was their office Mascot. We both liked the work and were very sorry to see the job end, but everyone has been saying that the Economy is bad... whatever that means. Hey, as long as I get food, I'm happy.
Earlier this Spring, my leg started to hurt me. Mom had to figure out what it was but we found out that I had some weak muscles on my back left leg. I had to go back to physical therapy to fix it, but I was so happy to see Dr. Julia and Jenny again. They worked with my leg to fix it and now I feel much better.
Well like I said before Mom's boyfriend, my other human, Adam, moved up here and he lives here now. I love it that he's here cause he makes Mom very happy and me happy too. Mom just had a talk with her parents a couple of weeks ago and guess what? They've all decided that Mom, Adam, Auntie Julia and me can all move back into the house we lived in before! I'm so happy about that and so is Mom. We can't wait for that. I'll have my room and my crate and my potty spot back. I haven't changed much, but there is this one thing... Well... I'm really scared of thunderstorms. i try to hide behind Mom when they start and I whine and pant a lot. Mom puts me in my crate with a blanket thrown over it when they come and I like that. She also bought me a new toy called a Bob-A-Lot and I love it. You push it around and food comes out, it's great
Well, that's what's happened with me and Mom, and I'll try to update more, but right now there's a thunderstorm coming so I wanna take cover.
bye for now... EEEp!
Torpy!