Zip’s Dog Blog (2.0)

Most of you know Dad’s hatched this scheme to climb the 48 4000 foot mountains here in New Hampshire. You probably
also know about his application to become a Teva Life Agent which would apparently bolster this quest with a $10,000
award for the project. Teva tweeted that the decision would be made within the next two weeks and this would certainly
help make the hiking schedule real for the coming season. The Teva project in particular is a hike up Mount Washington
which is the tallest here in N.H. and legendary for it’s challenging presence. I got my first look up close and
personal this weekend as we attended an AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) course on Wilderness safety. THis was held at
the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch which is right at the eastern base of the Mountain. We drove up very early on
Saturday and as we wound through old route 25 in Tamworth the Mountain loomed before us impressively. The weather was
glorious and Tracy wanted to stop and take pictures it was so majestic. Well Majestic is one word, I’d like to suggest
Daunting or Intimidating as equally valid words. I love walking, walking in the woods, hiking and even climbing
mountains yet on the crystal clear morning with 113 miles of visibility being reported from the summit, I was impressed
with the work ahead. Fortunately I learned we weren’t trying to climb in the snowy top but would rather make that a
summer quest later this year. This trip was about Wilderness Safety.

Early on we learned that some people were taking the course for Woofer certification and as a champion “Woofer” I was
hopeful. Apparently this is Wilderness First Responder and I didn’t quite qualify but I did groan out my interest when
they asked. One Woofer there was Brady – a guy we met at a Pats game when he brought Brent Bell to the game. That
meeting has had a lot to do with the UNH Pemi traverse this May and in fact sparked some of the 2020 Vision for hiking
the 48. The world is small and strange…that is unless you are looking at a ’small’ piece of it named Mount
Washington. I still say that’s a huge slab of rock.

A little over half our time was spent in a classroom with windows letting us constantly look up at the Mountain in the
beautiful weather which made it seem enticing. Bill Kane of Solo was our primary instructor and he had a great blend
of humor and teaching to make the process go well. He and Frank would lead us in and out to practice senarios of
injury treatment geared for Wilderness situations which basically means remote enough that quick transport to full
medical treatment isn’t possible. The inside stuff was sort of boring to me since my ‘treatment’ plan for Dad is to
rush over and lick his face if he should fall to the ground. I did later learn I have already masterred something they
call ‘decrumpling’ but that was an advanced technique for Sunday. So imagine my discomfort when we all head out and
Dad puts me to the side in a ’stay’ and then proceeds to flop onto the ground seemingly unconscious as part of their
scenario. I play this game all the time with Dad and I know my job is to rush over and lick him n the face or
ocasionally roll him onto his back with my snout so I can lick him. This isn’t any part of my formal Guide Dog work
but a game Dad developed with me which once proved meritorious when he whacked his head on a support column in the
basement. So immediately I get Quinn worried face and watch concerned as Tracy and a few others began the various
rounds of ‘treating’ Dad. He didn’t come up nearly as quickly as happens when I’m on the job so I didn’t much like it
but I learned to get used to it as we repeated this many times.

On the flip side, it was very exciting when Dad and I got to be part of a rescue team. Roughly one third of the class
would flop onto the ground and I’d have to lead Dad to his person to save. I had a formula for this which usually
involved taking him to the closest down person I already knew. Apparently though I wasn’t supposed to try and save
Kara and we left her to move onto Tracy. I took him to Tracy but as he squatted and felt with his hand for the ‘body’
we found Judy instead because the two of them had rather carelessly collapsed very close to each other. Someone was
helping Judy already but they went quiet as we approached so they could watch me do my part. When Dad checked to the
other side he found Tracy and put me into a sit-stay while he treated her. Again I’m certain my technique would have
had her up in no time but instead it was his laborious series of explorations and time delays before finally he got her
up. We repeated this in many ways and I was glad when they started bringing me a mat to lay upon because laying still
on the snow isn’t as warm as you might think. The temperatures weren’t that cold but wet snow isn’t ideal. Dad had
brought my jacket and we used it later. Sadly I learned that my winter coat can also double as emergency splint/sling.
THis is reasonable except if it’s used for such guess who goes without a coat! Harrumph!!

After the primary class on Saturday most of the group stayed for a CPR certification course and Dad now is certified
for the next two years at least. I think he was certifiable from the moment he hatched this climbing scheme but I
guess the many good things coming from this which comprises the entire 2020 Vision Quest is worth it all. Class
finally over for the day we went to have dinner together. This AMC lodge was amazing with a great main room, friendly
and fun people as well as food they said was fantastic. I had my usual but at least I didn’t miss meals while roughing
it in the Wilderness. After dinner we took Dad to the most amazing raised relief map he’d ever felt. It was just the
Mount Washingto area but it was huge and detailed allegedly created by someone named Washburn. Watching Carrie trace
Dad’s finger along the route we would be climbing under her leadership later this year was…well amazing. She traced
several of the trails for him as we discussed the options for routes which he hasn’t yet selected. Apparently the
mountain is so big there are many multiple trails up it, an auto road and even a train called the Cog Railway. It’s a
lot of Mountain that has so many ways up it! Carrie was awesome with the description and detail showing the intended
journey to the AMC hut at Lake of the Clouds. Hearing them and watching him even I got excited for the climb though
mostly I was excited to greet several of the folks asking for a chance to say hello during this time. We did get
several tips on the best hikng ‘boot’ for me as there are apparently Rangers who use labs on the mountain all the time
and have found an ideal boot. Frank is going to get us the information though I bet Dad will have to follow up to
ensure I’m fully prepared. I think Teva funding should include top quality Quinn boots for the shale and quartzite top
of Mount Washington. My vet had said he only wants to ensure a boot has good traction and these apparently have just
such a thing. I can’t wait to test them and see if they are better than the boots I wear when salt is high around
home.

Saturday night we all relaxed in a side room and shared a Quaiche and conversation. It was fun hearing everyone’s bits
of appreciation and we got to interact a little with some folks like Aman Doyle an impressive guy taking the course for
some quality time with his Sister. The fun was partially interrupted when the call arrived sending Kat and Kara home
early because Allison was having her baby and they were going to be there supporting and savoring the process. They
made it there in time and there is a new addition. Allison hiked up Mt. Osceolla with us while pregnant and so there’s
a little cycle completion in a way. Congratulations to John and Allison. We missed Kat and Kara on Sunday especially
since Kat was doing some preliminary filming of the Documentary and I do love a camera. It did give us a chance to
work with different folks like Cheryl and Meghan during the practicals. Ultimately our group of Tracy, Kara, Carrie,
Kat and Dave had a great excursion and will be more prepared to handle many safety components while hiking. Let’s hope
we need to use these skills as little as possible! Next round I’d like more dedicatin to Quinn playtime and less to
coursework. The lodge was good and all but I was well under utilized for my preferences.

Perhaps in part of the atonement I had a good experience this morning. We went for an early morning run together.
Tracy led the way and I followed keeping at a brisk walk or jog as the terrain dictated/allowed. We did the Farmington
Loop which was good and even though it was a mix of fast walk and run, I totally loved it. It might have even been as
much fun as the tug of war play I got on the return trip to the house. Running with all my pack always makes me happy
and I hope we have a lot more of this going forward. One note of disappointment is about the Osgood Street corner.
RIght on the sidewalk as you step up someone broke a thick bottle and broken glass makes for a puppy paw hazard. Tracy
was there to alert us and steer us around but without her I’d have had some seroius concerns. I know my blog readers
aren’t the type to do such things but I’m also hopeful this might inspire all of us to consider not only the ‘not
doing’ of such things but perhaps the undoing of such things. A bag and a dustpan could make short work of it and
leave a safer world for Quinn paws as well. We can’t always travel with such things but if we find a problem we might
be able to remember and see to it getting resolved on a future trip…the sooner the better.

Dad’s done his calls with the lawyers for the 2020 Vision Quest Charity so I have to give him the computer back. Be
Well!

Quinn the Mighty
Woofer Certified

Who needs dancing with the stars when Dad can bring you his own rendition of a more exciting event! Monday evening we
went to the University of New Hampshire in Durham where I’m told Dad spent four years of his life in getting his BSEE –
whatever that means. What is apparent is that he’s forgotten a lot about the location and/or it’s changed tremendously
since that time. He worked in the M.U.B. for all four of those years yet didn’t know the building was no longer a
rectable but now an “L” with an enormous addition. Here it was that Sherpa John’s Documentary “48″ was on display for
the fifthe year anniversary of the release. Since we are poised to climb the 48 it seemed a natural to take a look –
particularly since the rumors are we have a Documentary being filmed of our project as well.

So there we were with Tracy strutting our stuff on the college campus and sleeping through most of the Documentary, hey
I’m a doer not a watcher! When all was said and done, introductions, farewells and all that we started out and Dad was
a little distracted as he was talking to Brent Bell while we walked. We could hear Brent’s wife Beth explaining to
their Birthday boy son Holden about my stopping at the top of stairs to warn Dad. All seemed in perfect order except I
might point out Dad had slept only six hours in the prior 72 because he’s been a might busy with the 2020 Vision
Quest’s foundation and other such things. So after seemingly for him managing all the flights of stairs I took him to
another set…which he decided to interpret as a curb rather than the first step of a long staircase. Sure I imagine
for the blind the difference between a curb and the start of a staircase is confusing at times but the non-distracted
are aware this is a real danger and so pay attention. Particularly when wearing his size 14 winter hiking boots which
can, and did, dwarf the individual steps. Now amidst the precursor events for this moment was also our Sunday 5 mile
run which I’ll cover in detail later but suffice it to say he was walking a little gingerly from some apparent muscle
soreness which had converted his normal legs into lead rather than the gold most alchemists might prefer. So stepping
off a curb usually has a little more distance to the step then the tightly stepping staircase requires. Thus when his
first step put his heel on the edge of the first step and it tipped quickly down such that his towe went past the next
one…we had disaster in the making. I really couldn’t tell you how many steps existed, though it was not
inconsequential, because for the next many steps by both him and my four paw drive, there was an incredible dance
routine by Dad. No railing in reach, hand on my harness and big feet flying to keep under his downward hurling form
and yet never able to catch solidly on the too small steps. Tracy watched in horror as did Brent since the only
outcome expected was a trip to the hospital to see how much damage he could do by this maneuver. I, however, had other
plans. I rode it out with him giving him a steady supply of harness tension and support such that at the bottom of the
stairs, Dad was still on his feet, reeling a little and stunned at how he’d managed to not sprawl anywhere in the
process. Tracy later described his “graceful dance” as somewhat akin to watchng the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.
All neurological inferences aside, it’s probably an apt analogy!

So in Guide Dog terms I did my job taking him to the edge and stopping. Where he should have tapped with his foot and
then proceeded he stepped and I just made up the difference of adjusting n the fly (literally). I hope he recognizes
this in future interactions with edge detection because my job is a lot more challenging if he doesn’t. After all, I
am in charge of his safety…which brings us to that five mile run. Sure we have been jogging the Matt Goldwyrm loop
on occasion but not often enough and not recently enough for a five mile run to be a great idea for him. We walked the
route on Saturday and I did a pretty solid job of showing him I had the route well in paw. Alas on Sunday he had some
weird based bole harness which Kara wore as the group of Dad, Tracy, Kara, Derek, Carrie and Scottie all began the
trek. To my amazement and considerable concern, Dad was not with me, rather relegating me to just a leash and Tracy.
I expressed my concern continuously and moreso as they headed off at the higher pace and left us behind. I was not a
happy dog. I have spent my entire life training for the purpose of Guiding him, I am on duty 24/7 and lately we seem
to almost tax that extent. So when I see him putting his trust in a human not given to quite my pedigree of
deservedness, I see disaster as likely. Let me tell you it was clear early on she didn’t get it either as she would
swing out too wide on corners and a couple of times even crossed at non approved points for crossing. I wanted to be
with him and ensuring his safety. Now admittedly he seemed fine albeit perhaps desirous of an actual running shoe for
the next trip. Still when I caught him n the return trip I had been passed off to Carrie who was pretty fun if I
wasn’t so worried about Dad. We ran with him for a ways and I was whining and trying to tell him I wanted to be his
Guide. Finally he paused for a moment to tell me all was ok and I immediately tied him up with the leash to keep him
from getting away. He untied me and I did it again, I take my job seriously. He used those thumbs of his against me
though and soon he was untied and out of reach and back to the run. I was reassured though and kept with him for most
of the rest of the trip. During their cooling walk I actually joined him directly and life was right once again. I
think we should re-open the union talks that might keep the wrong folks from doing my job…the economy is not so flush
I can risk the competition! Where would a Lab go for work and kibble supplies if humans start invading our work
territory?!?!

So that’s the quick hit gist of my recent trek. I will tell you that Dad just read “A Sense of the World” by Jason
Roberts. This non-Fiction piece details the life of the World’s Greatest Traveller – a man from England who went
totally blind at the age of 25 and yet was the most prolific traveler of his era (1786-1957. All this blind travelling
without the merit of a Guide Dog! Sounds too incredible to believe and despite amazing accomplishments and celebrity
during his time, it’s perhaps more amazing history had almost erased his record if not for the research to unveil this
2006 Best Seller. Read on and realize my Dad’s got a lot of ground to cover if he wants to impress!

What are these Frosty Paw things Dad is trying to hide from me?
The Mighty Quinn
& his tall blind lug

Once in a great while Quinn allows me to post on his blog and this is one of those opportunities. As Twitter intimated today, Quinn did have a brief bout of sore paw though it was actually fine within moments. Rock Salt may do wonders to help make our roads and sidewalks more safe but it is not ideal on dog paws. In the worst of locations I either put dog boots upon Quinn’s feet, which he greatly disliked, or I have to clear his paws frequently. This can be done with a romp into fresh snow, mud or water. A towel can help a bit as well though this particular morning I had him join Tracy for a run while I was enjoying a visit with Dave M. He made it to mile 4 (almost) when the paw got sore and mud soothed it before the ride arrived. Much to his dismay his run ended and he returned to me but we’ll have plans to manage that better going forward. He’s got to get his endurance up for our future climbs…which is mostly a joke as his endurance is already well into the right range and mine is the challenge. That said, the Teva Life Agent page has really done tremendous things for awareness of the impending climb up Mt Washington as well as the Non-Profit venture we are on the verge of founding. Towards that end I thanked the many people on Facebook and on the Teva Life Agents comment page: www.tevalifeagents.com

I thought I’d share that same bit of gratitude here for the folks reaching out from here to there and beyond. Thank you all:

I am Overwhelmed and entirely appreciative of the tremendous support and amazingly inspiring comments I’ve been receiving both on The Facebook page and on the Video comments for the Teva Life Agent Application. I have been reading them steadily and often listening to them multiple times and I already know that should my drive or confidence ever waver even a little I need only remind myself of the tremendous kindness and support you have all shared with me here. These comments have made a tremendous impact upon me and I thank you for the emails, comments and the many just joining the Facebook Fan Page.

My Teva Life Agent Application is a hopeful outreach to get a significant boost into both the very challenging Mt. Washington hike and the impending 2020 Vision Quest. I have little doubt that I will find the means to bring all of these goals to reality and hopefully along the way accomplish many very positive additional goals. Whether I receive the Grant or not, Teva has already helped provide a tremendous bit of inspiration into the project by providing a venue for this outreach to get such a fantastic start.

It’s been less than a week and already I’m overwhelmed. I cannot wait to observe how this continues and grows which is in large part to many of you helping us spread the word.

My 2020 Vision is absolutely not just about hiking the 48 4000+ foot mountains here in New Hampshire. It’s about Developing a Vision and finding the many means of using this vision to achieve new heights. Hiking is a glorious experience and excellent analogy for one of the many messages I hope to share. The Non-Profit I am in the process of founding will not only bring some intended messages of inspiration and motivation but also to raise funds for both the New Hampshire Association for the Blind and Guiding Eyes for the Blind, two organizations which I particularly credit with helping me become the more confident and adventure capable person I choose to be.

Thank you all – and for the Firefly fans – “you can’t stop the signal!”

Randy

& the Mighty Quinn

www.zipdogblog.com

Hello all,

Quinn’s letting me take a quick moment at the keystrokes while he naps after a difficult morning of waiting warm
inside while some of the snow was removed from his driveway.

Apparently there is some benefit to folks viewing the video and leaving comments on the Teva Life Agent page so here’s
a link for viewing if you are so inspired and comments are appreciated as you are inclined:

http://tevalifeagents.com/2010/02/16/teva-life-agent-submission-randy-pierce/#comments

I’m really overwhelmed by how many people have reached out to “Boost the Signal” and reach a few more folks with the
link. The comments here and on Facebook (where I do not as yet roam) have been overwhelmingly supportive, touching and
appreciated. Somehow this reached people I hadn’t realized were still out there and attentive. I hope I have the
chance to reconnect with more than a few of them. I’ve been working on growing connections through LinkedIn, Quinn’s
blog and Twitter accounts as well as (gasp) the real world. When we launch 2020 Vision Quest as the Major Charity and
program we intend, it will be helpful to reach more people to boost the signal again. The Teva Life Agent Grant wold
certainly help us prepare for this and whether we win or not I think we shared a quality message as we prepare to
launch this project either way.

I will summit Washington and I will do so with plenty of proper planning and respect for the serious nature of the
mountain and climate. I believe it likely Quinn will be a part of that experience though that decision will be made in
full consideration of all factors to ensure it is safe for him and for all involved. He was fantastic on our prior
hikes and leads me to believe he will be a major part of this process. I really look forward to the full release of
the Vision Quest and sharing more about it with all of you. We are getting very close and it’s a very exciting time in
my life.

Thank you all for the many kind words and great support. I am truly one of the most fortunate people in the world.

Randy
& the Mighty Quinn
www.zipdogblog.com

Snowflakes are a fallin’ on this Tuesday afternoon and it’s amazing how much can occur in just over a week from the
previous post. I miss more things than I remember to report it seems and as such I’ll try to make Tuesday afternoons a
regular posting time going forward.

So Teva has come up with a contest for which they accept Video entries or essay entries. The contest could end at
absolutely any point so we had to really work to get it in under the unknown wire. Basically they are looking for life
agents who have an Adventure Project worthy of their $10,000.00 grant to help the project reach completion. Dad’s 2020
vision Quest continues to be a forward moving reality but as it has a ten year plan it doesn’t quite fit into the Teva
plan. One of the climbs does it it’s sufficiently challenging and so we made our entry. It was our first day with the
new Digital Video Camera needed for the filming as well as the first evening exploring video edits to lin the three
segments which made the piece. If Dad could have run it all together in one shoot it would have helped but I admit I
may have impacted the first segment when I began to grandstand with my nyla-bone wishbone! So the lighting wasn’t
ideal and the new explorations made it challenging but Teva is clear it’s about content more than video quality. Let’s
hope they like us:

Personally I think I need more of a role – if Dad thinks I might help lug him up the most dangerous Mountain in the
lower 48, reputedly, then he better start giving me even more due play!

I think I told you that we’ve singed up for a Wilderness First Aid course with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).
It’s the March 6 weekend up in Pinkham Notch and they were really good about working with Dad and his blindness…as
well as being appropriately knowledgable about my role in all this. They cannot certify Dad but they will certify
anyone he brings and let Dad attend the course pro-bono as a good will gesture of support for the project and for his
pro-active approach to safety leading into the 2020 Vision Quest. Ultimately there’s seven of us heading up there,
Dave, Carrie, Kara, Kat, Tracy, Dad and of course me. We’ll stay at the Joe Dodge lodge and by the end of the weekend
will know a lot about WIlderness First Aid. I’m betting I have to help lead Dad to a lot of folks and work through the
treatment practice. Contrary to popular desires I’m apparently not getting the Brandy Barrel for under my collar. I
do want to particularly thank the AMC for making us so welcome and especially Penny Miller!

So while we are on the notion of three letter acronyms being cool, we had to flesh out some equipment to ensure a safer
winter experience both for the course and for many future hiking potentials. We had made a few trips to the local
Nashua based EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports). In the most recent they not only recalled us (several of them relaying
their lab loving ways and noting what a fine dog I am btw!) but they also recalled the 2020 Vision Quest. Their staff
was very helpful and knowledgable as well as fiscally conscious. They gave us a very respectable discount to promote
the cause even though they are aware we do not yet have the legal completion of our impending 501-C3 status…bet you
didn’t know a Guide dog was so learned in Charitable Laws! So here is a particular shout out to Les the Assistant
Manager and Christina who helped us a fair bit. I even have a dog ‘halo’ light to wear on my collar for any potential
emergencies.

We snuck off to Karate as usual this morning and the falling snow was intermittent between intense and non-existant but
they assure us this storm is still a comin’ I’ll look outside the window when I finish this but I really wanted to get
you all the video peek. Tonight I may be off to Valhalla, Ben’s LARP concept not the actual mythological location. If
the weather dampens it then a night to elax after a busy weekend for Dad and Tracy. The next three days in a row all
have me making a trip to Concord for a Walk meeting tomorrow, the Legal presntation for 2020 Vision and finally for an
Empowerment through Technology Screen Reader edition on Friday. That should keep me busy but we still aren’t moving in
up there. Perhaps tonight may get us the stealth trip to do some sledding as Dad’s promised but not yet provided.

Be well and share my video since pup-ularity may matter!
Mighty Quinn

Last night I took Dad and Tracy to Studio 99 in Nashua where we caught the act of Liz Longley. I actually took them
there on Wednesday to get tickets and also to listen into the Brian Thomas led Jazz Jam. Fun and friendly environment
which encouraged folks to join in or to sit back and enjoy…we did the latter! So the place is directly off main
street in Nashua though the entrance is around the backside of the building off Mechanic Street and this is very close
to our stomping grounds though I might have missed it without Tracy there to help. I think I’ve learned the route now
though and there seems to be parking pretty regularly! I added them to my twitter of course but you can look them up
here:

http://www.studio99nashua.com/

Liz is a young songwriter from Philadelphia now finishing up her Berkley education and travelling to perform
frequently. She’s got some Blues, a little jazz and a fair bit of original folk style. You can find samples all over
the web and I’ll leave that to you and google with the caveat my tail wagged several times and I relaxed and watched
her perform while Dad and Tracy appreciated the show. Thanks to Rachel for sending us the tip to catch this
performance.

So each time we’ve gone to Studio 99 we’ve met some quality people and it seems this is a theme of intent by the Woman
who runs the venture, Elise MacDonald. She’s a contact of Uncle Rick’s from waaaaay back in the Nashua Flute Choir
original days. Last night we met a couple raising a Lab, beast, as a Service Animal for their daughter and they may
check in on here occasionally for updates on me and insight into a working dog world. Good luck Beast, at 15 weeks
there’s plenty of fun work ahead for you!

This was a lazy Quinn morning and as such comes the title of this post. We sat out in the sea porch with my memory
foam dog bed in front of the fire and in the sun while Dad and Tracy pulled up wicker chairs and talked. A pup is
never as content as when surrounded by ‘the pack’, warm and cozy with plans for future play. I could use a few more
slow days like this to appreciate the busy times. Plus I’ve already played Hedgie, tennis ball and taken a stroll to
get Dad some fresh air this afternoon. It’s a good day!

Quinn the leisurely

Guiding Eyes is on Twitter and I’ve added them recently to my ever growing Twitter list. My first post from them was
their request for Puppy Raisers pictures of the youngsters in the program. I wanted to blog it immediately as several
puppy raisers do read here but alas I didn’t get to in very timely so it’s a few days old now. What I did manage
timely was to visit with the Guiding Eyes belated Holiday party so that I could demonstrate a little of my skill but
mostly so Dad could tell them how much I mean to him. When called to talk he left me behind and strolled to the end of
the hall using his antiquated cane. “Tap…tap…thunk…tap…tap” is a far less friendly sound then the pitter
patter of Guide paws. He asked if anyone wanted to pet his cane before extolling the many virtues and shortcomings of
the cane. It’s really a tremendous tool he says which only magnified his level of praise for me when he explained how
much more efficient, warm and wonderful I was in doing all the tasks of the cane and more. Soon afterwards but not
soon enough for my liking he called me to a heal and we were the team again to explain the benefit. It was good fun
and there are some great people there many of whom we got to speak with at length. Puppy raisers are an incredible
group so to those of you reading here or telling others about it – thank-you for raising pups to become Guides for
people like Dad. Thanks particularly to people like Bill LeBlanc and Pat Graham for giving us invitations to join the
local Puppy Raisers and share company with so many excellent and welcoming folk.

That morning we had a good walk before the meeting and as we did the Framingham loop not too far from our home it meant
we had no sidestreets and thus an easy job for me. Frequently when we take this loop I like to ask Dad if we can jog
and he almost always obliges. Now I have to tend the icy patches carefully, keep tight within reason to the road side
and of course be attentive to the branches and other hazards for his trusting gait beside me. Sure we officially
understand that Guide School does not encourage us running together and it is only in carefully selected locations we
do this. That said, Dad was listening to a book on his Victor Stream and so as I slowed up he paused the player to be
sure he heard the footsteps of the jogger ahead of us which had caused me to slow our pace. He gave a hearty “Good
Morning” to the jogger who wished us the same and asked if Dad wanted to pass. Dad explained that he thought so but
hadn’t ever done such so just wanted to give a heads up and with that he gave me the “Hop-up Quinn” which I readily
took and moved out a bit to have room to pass as I picked up the pace. Apparently having not looked at us, the man was
a little surprised by us and asked Dad if he was blind and then clarifed with “totally blind?!?” He then laughed to
himself as we were passing and moving onward. When Dad asked about the laugh he explained that he expected a little
ribbing when he got home to his wife and explained that he had been passed by a blind man and his Guide Dog that
morning on his run! Not something which happens to folks very often I guess…but look out when Quinn is around.
Freedom!!

I suspect some of you are curious about the title so I’ll catch you up to date on some of our activities. Dad has his
Bardic appreciation and one aspect is apparently the birth date of Robert Burns, the Bard of Scotland. So on Monday of
this week he donned his kilt, had a few folks over to the house and shared a toasting with his new Quaiche as well as
Haggis and home-made Scottish Oatcakes. Surprisingly almost everyone tried the Haggis and generally all liked it.
Tracy’s Oatcakes were also well appreciated and thanks to Lori Pigeon for donating not only an as yet unused towel kilt
but some very well appreciated “Haggis cookies” which are a commercial Oatcake for appreciating the Haggis. Next year
there’s a crock pot Haggis recipe from Teresa which will get some serious consideration.

Tuesday we headed out to Ye Olde Commons for the Will and Rowan Bardic which was an excellent evening and great way to
wrap up the Burns celebrations. Rod drove us out, dinner with Cathy and Rod was fun and then the fun of many too
rarely seen friends and plenty of good music. It’s a good warm up for the Spring Bardic here at our home on March 20
so get your invites if you haven’t already and come appreciate how strange my Dad and his zany friends prove. Rumors
of Haggis Jacobian are dubious but not denied as of yet.

We’ve had a lot of other adventures already in the new year but I’d rather close by sharing a tale of my dedication.
We aren’t talking about Greyfriars Bobby work here but I still think I’m fairly impressive. Many of you are already
aware of my legendary aversion to water. Thus in the deluge of rain from recent days it may interest you all to know
that I leash lead Dad to the step that goes onto our new, mostly finished, porch. The rain deflector on the roof is
one of the missing items and as such the water drips rather heavily at that point – at least when a weird January
monsoon is rocking Nashua. Leash leading is harder because you can’t push on a rope as the saying goes and so Dad only
really knows I’m leading when I’m pulling and thus has to interpret a slack leash more carefully. Still I need to be
precise in showing him the step so imagine the annoyance and frustration as I stand with my head directly under the
drip so he can figure out I’ve stopped, tap the step and then make the step up safely. Only after he does this can I
move out of the drip which I so dislike. Now that’s loyalty and dedication!

Thanks for still reading along with me, hello to Jessie a young lass getting ready for her trip to Guiding Eyes in
July for her first Guide Dog. At the young age of 17 she’s done impressively and is really excited about getting to
read this blog from the early start way back at Guide School to present. Hopefully we can help her prepare a little
and later she can bring her pup into our home state!

Be Well!
the Mighty Quinn

Well this is a tired Quinn finally getting a few moments on the blog after keeping folks updated a little from the
Twitter account. Let’s start with a link for you in which you can catch me flirting with an NECN reporter who loved
the waggin’ tail prowess of this Golden Lab:

http://necn.com/Boston/Health/2010/01/11/Study-involving-blind-patients/1263244960.html

We spent all day Monday at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and that meant leaving home at 4:45…so I got an
early breakfast after a long day Sunday. This meant I spent much time sleeping though obviously I found the energy for
the meet and greet with NECN. Fortunately while Dad talked to the doctors I got to sleep most of the time. It was fun
leading him all around the hospital which is huge like a mini-city. I really grasp the concep of elevators well and
could find them almost anytime much to the delight of people around me. My memory of where we’ve been was solid so I
led Dad out and about to the cafeteria, the outside, the lobby and the offices with Quinn confidence. It was a solid
bit of work and many took notice and talked to Dad about it. Still my main goal was getting rest and that was in short
supply until now. So enjoy the video and forgive my brevity please.

Sunday was cold and I spent most of the pre and post game tailgate in the car which was warm enough but boring.
Leading into the game was fun as usual but three hours of sitting in the cold isn’t enough fun for me even with
multiple blankets. People kept coming over to say hi to me and Dad would have to continuously reset my blankets. I
wouldn’t have been anywhere else but it sure would have been nice if the team had shown up so I could have been
surrounded by many happy folk not to mention a belly full of Charlee Bears. Last tailgate of the year though so now an
offseason of missing some of those friends.

Today was back to karate and some normalcy but I’m still not fully recoverred so I think I’ll get some rest and be
sharp for tomorrow’s morning walk. Good work by Dad who has kept it up so far this new year. In fact gameday morning
we did a jog around the neighborhood as I thought it was cold enough to warrant the double time Quinn work approach.
We almost have Dad back into pre-holiday shape!

ttfn,
The Mighty Quinn

The last entry was entitled WBZ and Beyond. At that time I thought the Beyond was the rest of our travels but that’s
not quite it I guess. The most recent buzz involves some interesting repurcussions from Dad’s medical world. He gets
migraines on occasion where normally the on occasion part means once every other month or so. His recent neurological
episode has seemingly increased that dramatically with him having to grab his migraine meds, lay down and lose an
entire night at a rate of roughly twice per week. This isn’t so good but is probably his brain healing a bit from the
impact of the neurological episode of his mysterious condition. There’s a quote Dad loves that says something about
keeping the keys to your happiness in your own pocket and not in someone else’s pocket. As such he has explored every
opportunity to better understand and potentially impact his situation. We took a trip to Beth Israel Deaconess over a
year ago to meet with a Migraine Specialist doing research and wanting to have Dad be a subject. The notion of that
work is the impact of light in migraines and pain. Dad has absolutely no light sensitivity and as such his pupils do
not react to light and are generally exceedingly large. When a Migraine is starting or his risk for it begins to rise
tremendously his pupils constrict and can actually pulsate even though there’s no shift in lighting. This makes for an
interesting neurology in general but all of that is getting way too indepth for my Canine Comprehension anyhow.

The salient point is a major release is coming from the study and Dad has already done an interview with Scientific
American (last night) and will be heading to the hospital to film a short piece with New England cable News on Monday.
His part will be small as will sadly be mine though I bet I do charm Latoyia Edwards! The benefit is that this might
expand the work of Dr. Rami Burstein and help him get funding for further exploration of Dad’s brain. It also puts
Dad’s name out there for a lot of the medical community which can often lead to other connections of merit for his
unique neurologicalcondition.

Well that’s enough about Dad for me. Our morning walks have remained vastly intact here on day 9 of the New year and
it continues to be fantastic. yesterday morning we even hit the woods near the house and Dad let me have a full puppy
spaz out in the silent snowy wonderland of the woods at 56:00 a.m. This snow stuff is plenty of fun when you get to
romp in it as opposed to having to fight the salt off your paws armed only with a tongue (blech) or Dad carrying a
towel for tha tpurpose. Still nothing clears them like a rinse and that just isn’t easy in the winter. I think I have
Dad convinced that prancing in fresh new snow is a rinse of worth though!

Patriots Playoff game at Gilette Stadium on Sunday. Temperatures are reputedly going to be in the teens so I’ll have
my coat and a few blankets ready for the excursion but I’m going since it’s sunny and above single digits. Dad better
be ready to keep me warm with lots of Charlee Bears. I wish the Pats could see me catch my football since with my
jukes, speed and catching ability I’d be Brady’s new favorite receiver until Wes can return.

Last note in my disjointed Beyond post is the New Year’s Eve viewing of “Up” with Tracy and Jennifer. The dogs in the
movie have collars which let them talk and this is supposed to be a marvel. When they get their own blogs they can
come talk to me. Still the movie, albeit farcical was touching and enjoyable. I wonder how many balloons it would
take to lift Quinn off the ground and I wonder how much I’d rather keep my four paws on the ground except when I leap
under my own power to catch a toy!

Be Well and…I’ll be hunting Ravens on Sunday!
the Mighty Quinn

Hello and Happy New Year one and all!

Firstly best wishes to poor Wes Welker who is often called a Labradour Retriever by Tom Brady and others. That was a
particularly awful injury for a guy who deserves far better. I hope he can tend his injury and be back to full form as
quickly and safely as possible.

Aside from the Wes sadness my New Year is going reasonably well. We had a snowstorm all weekend that didn’t drop
ridiculous amounts of snow but just kept snowing which means no walking Dad into plows…or more specifically no
walking with Dad until the plows are done threatening us to a game of chicken in which we either hit the snowbanks or
lose badly.

As Dad mentioned we are getting a resurgence of our walks though he’s slacked it into the afternoon twice on me.
I’ve been an enthusiastic four paw drive kind of dog and with his new boots I feel comfortable pulling him along if he
slacks a bit. We went to Alec’s Shoe store in Nashua where I have some friends and where you can find the best shoe
store in all of New England…at least for my money…which as you know is usually spent on Charlee Bears and toys.
Thanks to John Normande for the help and if you go you should ask for him and tell him you know the Mighty Me! He’s a
hiker and had some good information for us and ultimately kept Dad’s feet toastier even if he did slip into a size 14!
Why should that be of concern to this blog you might ask? Imagine you have to curl up at his feet in small spaces and
that his boots just got a little bigger? Yikes!

Curling up can be challenging in the winter anyhow. yesterday we rode the bus back from karate only for me to find
that sitting was rough enough. The floor was wet, snowy, muddy and generally not QUinn appropriate. I sat the whole
ride and used Dad’s knee and my chin to hold myself up at many points. Yuk! At least I conned a quality grooming from
him as a result.

Anyhow the focal point of this quick post is that for many you have seen or will see my WWBZ piece which has been
airing intermittently on TV 4 out of Boston as well as TV 38 out of Boston. It’s a 30 second spot of Dad talking about
Pats and me looking keenly at the camera and at Dad. The camera guy was of courseholding my squeeky football so he had
my attention! if you see the piece and like it you should drop them a note at:

http://wbztv.com/contact

Evan made the piece and he gets credit for such notes dropped which is good since he was really good to both Dad and
myself. I hope you do get to see it and if it ever becomes possible to connect to it online I’ll make sure to post a
link like I did with the PSA from Foxboro.

I’m getting a video library and Dad says this may increased with the advent of the 2020 Vision Quest. I’ll keep you
updated but I hope he won’t expect me to type MORE than I already manage! I’d much rather be out playing…speaking of
which…

Be Well and Go Tug with a Friend!
Quinn the Mighty
www.zipdogblog.com