Mid Decembrrrrrrrrrr Cold snap ahead
Good Morning to my many friends out here in my blog world. This is my first post as a five year old and let me tell
you I did indeed have a great Birthday. It started a little earlier than normal as Joy Weiss picked us up on Friday
before 7 so we could head to the J.R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham MA. We’ve gone to visit this school every
year for the last three years and it was fun how many of the kids remember me. It was a pretty cold day though not as
cold as what’s ahead starting tomorrow and running through Christmas if I understand it correctly. Anyhow, Dad had
told me we only had to talk to two grades this year and I thought what a leisurely day. What he didn’t know or mention
was that there were three classes for each grade which meant I had six classes of work – that’s a pretty full day at
school! Each talk was 45 minutes and we were talking to third and fourth graders. The fourth graders had just read
the book “Mom’s Best Friend” by Sally Hobart Alexander. Mom in this book is blind and after the death of her beloved
Guide Dog has to go and get another Guide although she went to the Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ rather than my school
of Guiding Eyes in Yorktown Heights, NY. Dad was asked to emphasize the process of going to Guide School and given
that he lost Estend before coming to get me, he was able to answer many of the Children’s questions about the whole
process. I am after all Dad’s Best Friend so it was fitting and we really had some good questions from the kids. I of
course still showed my stuff as usual…even when Joy tried to trick me while Dad had me in a stay and was
demonstrating my behaviour.
The third grade class was learning to understand managing challenges, problem solving and consequences. Dad talked to
them about how as a team we are problem solvers on a daily basis. He talked to them about how blind people solved
mobility problems progressively through their cane work, orientation and mobility and eventually through the Guide dogs
with the benefits and detriments of all the aspects. I can’t believe he suggests there are detriments to the Guide Dog
world but there are many people for whom a Guide isn’t appropriate and that was part of the discussion as well as the
question and answer session. All this was fine and fun including the many students and teachers wishing me Happy
Birthday. Still the best part of the day came after getting home.
Tracy and Dad took me to Pets Choice in merrimack and we went on a toy hunting spree! I got a new Hedgie which means
the barking hedgie sound is back in the house and I really love that! We also got me a new tug toy which was the
original contraband from way back at Guide School. It’s the thick rope figure 8 loop with the plastic middle piece and
it fits perfect in my mouth with no pinching. I love this tug! We also got a triple rubber ring tug toy which is
fantastic as well and has some entirely different aspects. Add in Turkey and liver Charlee Bears and a back-up bag of
food and it was a perfect trip! I couldn’t wait to get home and play though Dad and Tracy did take their time in
getting there. Getting there had a package which was from two great people who actually gave me my name by being my
sponsors at Puppies Behind Bars. They are incredibly nice and sent me a Birthday care package which had a pair of
wrapped presents. I was very interested and nosed each present a lot as Dad and I opened them together. There were
two more new toys. A new Flying Squirrel which had to be play tested in the house due to the cold but Dad and I
managed! Then there were these cool squeeky tennis balls. I love squeeky toys of all types and whether Dad and Tracy
want noisy presents or not they do seem to laugh when I squeek them at warp speed! All the new presents opened and in
the house, we had play after play until I was nearly exhausted…nearly meaning I could have gone on for hours if Dad
and Tracy hadn’t worn themselves out. It was an ideal Birthday…now to explore this world of being five!
Sunday was a little challenging as Dad listened to weather about cold rain on the home Pats game against Carolina. He
decided for me that I couldn’t join him and Coach and would stay home with Tracy and all the new toys. It wasn’t so
bad after all and though they weren’t so good for most of the first half, the second half got me a few of the Charlee
Bear rewards and a victory. This means Dad was in fine spirits on his return and so I mugged him but good to let him
know I missed him even if I wasn’t pining away given all those toys!
So in closing ahead is the cold weather week which starts tomorrow. Temps below 20 and wind chills down to low single
digits means I don my Full tilt full time coat and head out with Dad on our missions. I hope we get plenty of warm
fire time when not outside. My favorite method for this is to have my memory foam bed in front of the fire on the sea
porch…it puts me right in front of the fire and right next to the Patriot christmas tree which still smells
fantastic. Give Dad a cup of coffee and a little Holiday music while I snooze a bit and keep tabs on him from the
full comfort of my new favorite place for the season. Stay warm yourselves and I’ll catch you soon!
The Mighty Quinn
& Dad too I guess
