July 15, 2008 - Weary Bones

Ugh! I have CCD legs!

What's CCD legs? Well, when I was younger we used to go to Catechism classes on Wednesday nights and my legs would be so tired they would ache down to the bone. It happened ever Wednesday night, without fail.

Today I got CCD legs shopping with 4 other girls from class. Yesterday the girls tried to shop at Costco, even got inside without a membership ID, but got shut down at the check out stand. So I agreed to get the ladies inside to shop using my pass.

Among the 5 of us that went to Costco we bought 8 dog beds, countless cases of soda pop, and 10 big bottles of rubbing alcohol. Then we raided the concession area and got frozen yogurt and berries. All that was fine, but then we headed to Petsmart and that's when I wore down.

I have never seen people more analytical about whether to buy this tug toy or that, this collar or that, these vitamins or that. We were there 2 1/2 hrs. I finally sat down on the shelving and just waited and rested my CCD legs.

Finally I am back on campus and Mik and I have been having some fun. She's been playing with her new toy, a fleece rope tug. Then we did some free shaping where she played with a skate board while I give her treats every time she put her paws on the skate board to reinforce the behavior. We'll keep free shaping with the skateboard over several sessions and maybe she'll end up riding the skate board like that English bull dog that was on Oprah last year.

We also worked on Mika walking right next to me on a leash. The objective is for her walk close on my left side, so in tune with me that when I turn, she stays right in step.

I've been getting lots of great help from one of the Master students. I am so grateful for her help because it gives me a chance to make mistakes in front of someone who isn't judging me or grading me. It really takes the pressure off.

It's hard to believe that I get to wake up and do this everyday. I am blessed that God gave me this opportunity and that he put so many people in my life to help make it happen, especially my family who pushed me to seize this chance when I would never have thought it feasible. It's not easy to go live your dream when you have debts and responsibilities, but because of their insistence I am here. I am truly blessed and loved!