Jan 20 - training

Owner training, that's what they should call it.  It's all in the training of the owner.  The dogs know what to do when you hold a treat out.  Sit, stand, heel, attention, don't bend over to the dog, treat with left hand to heel -- watching our teacher, even the new dogs did everything correctly; that's why it should be called owner training.  Sandy sat at the sidelines and had a good laugh. 

Big dogs.  This was basic training, not puppy training.  These were all older dogs.  I expect that the biggest was close to 125-150 pounds.  This is good for Cassie, getting used to big dogs around her.  Abby was never socialized with big dogs and was always skittish around them if not downright submissive lying on her back.  Of course everyone loves a puppy and a golden especially.  A couple of the dogs were repeats -- their owners had failed basic training :).

Earlier in the day, what did I do earlier in the day ... my taxes first cut.  That went better than the stock market.  I'm in good shape with the estimates that I've already paid.  That's a first.  I can now let this sit until I get all the tax slips.

The final pieces of the Merc 25 came in the mail, the cowling lock lever, and that is now fixed.  It had rusted out.  Now I just need a boat for the motor ...

I did some work on the Cracker Swamp, back and forth with Paul commenting on things and working on budget.  That's coming close.  I haven't looked at his "interested list" for a couple of days but I imagine that it's large and growing. 

I did not go to the gym yesterday; abs were hurting from the day before.  I did go this morning; hoping to get into a routine.  I'm mostly working on core but also the leg press.  I need to go in and use the stair stepper with some intensity; that would benefit my cycling.

I have a new project ... I want to collect a few interesting espresso cups from our travels.

I got this one for Sandy at Christmas, spotted it at Starbucks --

I ordered this one online and it arrived yesterday --

I know.  It's silly.  We actually have some espresso cups here as part of our formal dining set that we haven't even used here in Florida.  The set was used in Philly when Sandy did Ladies Gourmet as part of the Newcomers Club.  I think that we used it in Mississauga a few times. 

Our Royal Worcester dining set is quite formal, unlike us (well, really me ) -- here is the espresso cup and saucer to give you an idea --

What will happen to this kind of stuff when we're gone ?  Our kids don't really value these.  Craigslist ?  Seems a shame but I guess that once we're gone we won't care ...

On a totally different subject ....

I need a new fork for the Litespeed.  I sent emails to Aaron and the supplier looking for some advice before I finalize the order.  That's a work in progress.  Surely there was something else that I did yesterday and it will come to me the INSTANT that I press PUBLISH on the blog.

Being late, we ate at the SYC on the way back home.  We'll probably do that for the next five weeks as well.  Cassie snoozed in the car, no doubt tired out from all the training excitement. 

Onward !