First Walk of the NEw YEar

Well, it has been a good morning so far. Took Baxter to the park – we walked around the track SIX times – that is three miles. I have to say, I could have gone another round if it hadn’t been so damn windy. Baxter, however, wouldn’t have made it another time without a break.

The first time around we walked fast to get the exercise in. The second and third, we walked slower but still at a good clip, allowing Baxter to sniff a tree or two every quarter of the track. The last three we did fast again. The fifth one he stayed at my side most of the time and didn’t jerk the leash falling behind or trying to get ahead. The sixth time was the best – I had to look down a couple of times to make sure he was still with me because he didn’t pull on the leash at all.

The problem is that by the sixth time, he was so exhausted that when he got in the car he threw up. There is such a fine line between him being exhausted and exhausted to the point of illness, that I sometimes forget where it is. Throwing up in the car is nothing new for him – he does it a lot. I need to buy a crate for him.

Now, at home, he is so exhausted he is sleeping with his bacon jerky treat half in and half out of his mouth. He sure does have a lot of energy for such a little dog. It’s great in many ways but not always because sometimes I just don’t feel like walking him that long.

Internet Problems Still

I have been working with Verizon to get my internet working again. Hopefully, we will have it figured out and my internet will be up in no time. It is going to cost me a lot and I feel like that is unfair, but I did end up with a deal because I procrastinated about buying the box I needed. I hate spending the money when I want to move soon but what can I do about it? I need internet at home.

I look at the catalogs I’ve been getting in the mail and wish I had the money to buy a lot of those things but no point in that as I don’t want to move stuff in a uhaul when I do move. I want to ship what I can and take the rest in my car.

I let Simon outside for the first time tonight. My goal is to get him to start going out so I can get rid of the litter box. He didn’t go very far but I think he will as he gets more confident. I put a collar on him so no one will take him. I need to get his county tag put on it so if he gets lost someone can find him and bring him home. He isn’t micro chipped.

In that book it says to walk long enough to exhaust the dog – Baxter is so tired he drank water then plopped down and hasn’t moved since. Simon went over to harass him but Baxter just ignored him.

I need to, thank goodness, stop leaving food out for them all the time. The book talks about times for them to eat so I’m going to start putting food out for twenty minutes and then put it away so they will get in the habit of eating when I want them to. Then food doesn’t have to be out all the time attracting those little knats that drive me nuts.

Discipline in the New Year

I’ve been reading the book “Cesar’s Way” by Cesar Millan on “understanding and correcting common dog problems.” One of the things Cesar brings up is the way we walk our dogs. I have to say, it makes a lot of sense.

One of my coworkers brought it to work and I read the chapter on leash walking. I went home and practiced the advice in it on Baxter’s nightly walk. Lo and behold, it WORKED! Once I established the pack leader role with Baxter, he was perfect. No more yanking my arm out of the socket or fighting me to go the way he wanted. No more stubborn fits where he’d lay down refusing to move. He was an angel.

Now, every time I take him out, I have to re-establish the role again but he is starting to catch on faster. Plus I’ve started practicing it at home so that helps when we go out.

What I found reading the book (I checked out a copy from the library) today is that I need more discipline in my life. Not just as a dog owner but in general. I look around my house and see where I have become really lax in a lot of areas…a lot of areas. It is rather disgusting and sad.

So one of my new year’s resolutions is to become more disciplined in my life…in exercising, eating right, saving money, paying bills, cleaning, appearance, etc., etc. I use to want to join the Army because I wanted to learn the discipline they offered. That didn’t happen but there is no reason I can’t bring more discipline in my life.

Seriously, I can’t believe how slack I’ve become. When did all that happen? I think it was being depressed – I let it all fall apart. Now that I know I’m moving home, I am starting to feel those character traits I liked about myself coming back. What good is it to live in Paradise if I don’t have a joyful spirit?

Out of the Cave

I’ve been invited over to my supervisor’s house for New Year’s. I really don’t feel like going but I am going to make myself. No, it has nothing to do with her – I think she is sweet and appreciate very much being invited. It is my “cave” mentality in play – where all I want to do is hibernate and pretend the outside world isn’t there – but I have to get over that.

The cave mentality started when I moved in my apartment. It got better for awhile – I made myself go do stuff with one of my neighbors even when I didn’t want to – but then I stopped because she was bringing me down with all her negativity. Rather then replace those outings with someone else, I retreated to my cave.

It took me awhile to say that I really do love my job – yes, it can get on my very last nerve sometimes but I do love what I do. During that time I needed my cave as a reprieve from the stress created by being in training and having traumatic calls.

Susan has been really on my case about getting out to do things with friends and for myself. I use the excuse now that I’m moving soon so why cultivate friendships when I’ll be gone? But friendships can last a lifetime – even at great distances.

So I will make myself go out for New Year’s Eve – and I will toast the new year in with friends – and then I’ll come home and go to bed.