home, picking up dad, the child and a few thoughts

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April 13th 2011 10:15 am
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Yesterday was Jojo day. Mom, dad and her left together. I think Josephine wrote about it in her diary already.
I was home with the cats. Boy was that boring..
When mom got home, I was really happy to see her. I checked out Jojo thoroughly. She smelled like our pal Anya and was really sandy. I knew they went to the beach! *huff*
The three of us spent some time at home in the afternoon. At some point mom picked up a vest and her stuff and asked me whether I wanted to go on a train ride :o) Is sure wanted to!! I did a bunch of dancing and bouncing and picking up random things, which I tossed over to where mom was standing. Mom rolled her eyes and so did Jojo. I have no idea why, but well.. who cares. Right? When mom held out the vest I literally jumped through the opening. Josephine said that I looked like a circus dog jumping through a fire-loop! There was no fire.
Half dressed I bounced out the door to the car and waited in front of the passenger side nicely. Mom finished putting the vest on outside and told me to calm down. I did for the duration of the ride to the train station :D I was really cool and important at the train station, but once we entered the train, I told everyone how much being there meant to me. I did play bows and howled out of joy, I wagged my tail so hard, I bumped into everyone. Then when mom sat down, I jumped right up on her lap to lick her face and howl some more. I don't quite understand why, but mom's face was really dark read. People around us thought I was the funniest dog they have seen. Mom thought I was the happiest Service Dog she has ever seen. She held me tight for a while and told me that she was really proud of me and all is ok.
Then finally I took a deep breath, got off her lap and settled. I did two more howls and was very satisfied with myself. Mom smiled.
The ride was not the nicest, because everyone seemed sick on the train. Mom is not a fan of crowds in closed rooms, because of all the germs.. Mom covered her face and was glad she was on a bullet train....
While we were standing in the little area with the doors, the train man came. He got all excited over me. He used to have Cattle Dogs in the 70th! They are not alive anymore, but he talked like they were. I got loads of pets. He thought that my flyer was really cool, too :o)
When we got out, we took the vest off and went on a walk.
I was so happy to have been on the train and then on campus. I love this place. We went to our cafe, where mom did some working on the computer. At some point dad came, too.
He took us to his car and to Trader Joe's. Mom invited me in the store for some slow shopping. I am telling you, I gave my best super cool Service Dog behavior.
Mom could not find the corn, so we had to circle one of the shelves 3 times! The entire time a little boy ran after us and squeaked! No kidding, he was so hyped up, he did not know where to put all his energy. He circled the shelves with me. The entire time he tried to hug my butt. I did not mind. Whenever he got a hold of me, he tripped. So I stopped and made sure he did not fall. Once he was safely on all four, I kept walking. That game went on for 5 min. His mom was desperate. He could not calm down and she chased him like he was a little rabbit. He was the cutest little guy, but way too active. Remember me on the train? That was him in the store. I don't mind when kids hug me from wherever. Especially when they have no control over their energy. I mean, what can you do? At some point dad came. We all ended up circling the shelves with the little guy and his exhausted mom in shlep. At some point the boys dad came walking in the door. He caught the little wild thing and held him the way mom held me on the train. That calmed him down. He and his mom left the store.
A little later a little girl came and asked whether she could say hi. She was very sweet and gentle. She gave me the sweetest pets.
Once we got everything we left the store and drove home. I am so glad mom took me..
I have not worked/done strenuous work in several month because of my carcinoma and the surgery. The months were very stressful and I have no endurance for working all day and going to all the places mom goes to. Remember when we went to Macy's the other day? Macy's is pet friendly so I did not have to "function" perfectly. I did anyways but I was really exhausted after the visit. Lot if sits and downs.. Cancer sucks!
Mom said that we will start with the less strenuous places and short intervals with little physical impact. Yesterday was perfect. Mom said that by the end of May I will be back in shape. I trust mom. I just need some sort of a responsibility..

Today we will take dad to the Dr. Nothing to worry about, just a dentist visit for some cleaning. All fine.
Then mom will go for some shoe shopping. Going to the Derby sounds great mom says, but in reality it's just spending money for a sport mom is not 100% fond of. So many Thoroughbreds are being dumped or slaughtered or if they are lucky, sold when they are not useful or don't race. Many of them end up injured or overused when they are still very young. Just a very small percentage will live a life like Zenyatta or Secretariat or Seabiscuit or the other big names. So few.
Mom had a racer, a trotter, when she was young. He was a winner and retired when he was about 7. Great horse, very successful. He was not a happy camper when he came to mom. It took her a very long time to get him used to people treating him well, to trusting, to slowing down, to being happy. He was in lots of emotional and probably physical pain, too. They wanted to kill him, because the owner could not ride him after his time on the track. She gave mom the horse for free and said that she would get him killed otherwise. Well, he worked out very well. After several years of training, mom could give him to a young, blind girl, who helped her work with him for a year. The two were in love. He had a wonderful life with her. Nice story, right? But not the norm.. Many of those horses are very special, but they require some work and effort. They run and make lots of money or not, then they don't succeed anymore and become useless. Not all, but the majority.
Why does mom go to the Derby? I think, we can tell you after the Derby.
However.
I am glad I am back in business. Even if it is less than what I am used to..
Happy woofs and be good :o)