Earl Update
My life is definitely going to change, for the better. I may have already said that but it is really sinking in. Turns out that Earl was in a training program at Western Correctional in Cumberland MD. He would train with an inmate all week and spend the weekend with volunteer families in the area to expose him to multiple settings.
ID photo day:
Our classroom:
It is good to have someone who needs you to keep them safe.
America’s VetDogs is a huge and marvelous organization. A non-profit NGO, they invest over $50,000 in every dog and provide their services to the vet for no charge. I make no solicitations but there are many ways to get involved if you love dogs. From puppy raising to training to sponsorship. I’ll be figuring out how as I learn more, but for starters they are going on my monthly donation list.
We lived at the America’sVet Dogs’ campus for the two weeks of what I would term emersion training. With our dogs 24/7, we ate at their “Cafe” for three meals a day with the dogs at our feet. I’d have to wake Earl when the meal was over; the only food smell that ever caught his notice was (of course) bacon and even then, I think it was mostly curiosity.
We settled into a routine quickly around the dogs with plenty of excursions to experience the real world with them. When we would both get it right we would give them an enthusiastic “Yes” followed by a treat. The “treat” is one piece of their daily kibble ration and it is subtracted from the day’s intake so they stay on their diet.
Port Richardson: L-R Reggie & Reed, Snoopy & Eugenio, Pattie & Mike, Your’s Truly & Earl, Shadow & Earnie.
The duck pond, with some of the gang on the bridge:
Watching for the Swans to swim into view on the right:
Here’s our instructors, Mike and Maria:
They seemed to live at the campus, I’m sure they have lives of their own but we got the majority of their waking hours. They would shadow us and keep us out of serious trouble. I found myself trying to earn a “Nicely done” like Earl trying for one more treat.
Earl’s favorite was the only female in the group. Actually, she was the class star:
We visited Stony Brook University campus to check out the Theater and Art Museum:
Below: Earl complying with the “rest” command. Pretty hard to ignore that face:
One of the last outings was to the regional airport ISP to meet with representatives from Jet Blue and American Airlines to discuss navigating commercial air travel.
Baggage claim:
Travel day was the 31st. The first real test of our training. Earl and I had two flights to get us to Anchorage. He was very interested in all the new smells in Alaska.
Shuttle pick up:
After a night at the Dimond Center Hotel we drove down to Homer. It was apparent that the front seat was going to need modification.
First a bed with fold down step:
It gets modified daily. I’m trying to avoid removing the front seat completely but seem headed in that direction.
Humans ride in the back. Chauffeur excepted, of course.
He’s met the family dogs Eli, Rudder and Shade. And there is a newer guy on the block.
Say hello to Betty. Bill and Shellie’s newest:
At three months she’s even more adorable than she looks.
Had a nice morning at the beach so Earl got his first introduction to Bishop’s Beach:
Baby steps.
The weather is perfect for it!
All y’all stay safe, ya hear.
So far I've reached acceptable proficiency at the following, in chronological order: Silversmith, infantryman/door gunner, helicopter pilot, fireman, carpenter, residential contractor, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist and crotchety old retired guy. Currently, I'm learning to fly again and that is what this is all about. 7/7/2020 edit: As I have had the opportunity to reflect (old people do that a lot) on my actual proficiency level at the above occupations, I feel adjustments are in order. The term "acceptable" depends on the observer, their own proficiency and experience level. Acceptable to me might be woefully deficient to the master. I think it would be more accurate to claim that I have earned a living wage at all of these occupations but never got rich. Actually, I feel that I have gotten rich at the last one. I have what I need and am profoundly grateful for all of it. The future looks bright indeed, as I have learned to fly again. For that I have all of you to thank. Thank You!
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