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!”
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:
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.
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!
MightyQuinn54: @VodafoneUK your link as an answer did not address my question. Wayfinder refund . No swift code from bank here in US any other refund optim 7 hours ago from Tweets60
So here is a particular shout out to Les the Assistant
