Saturday!!

What a gorgeous day today turned out to be!  I met up w/another idogger today (and some other folks) for a walk in a local park through trails up and down hills.  I had no time for bringing my camera to take pictures, but I'm pretty sure someone took pics.  (As a matter of fact, I just got some linked to me!)  Gracie is zonked out sleepy after only that hike of less than 2 hours.  Guess I need to get her re-conditioned!!  Fortunately, I'll get a chance to learn some canine massage to help Gracie with her shoulders - I am very much looking forward to that. 

I need some coffee to keep myself rolling through this work - and to get warm!!! lol  Hope everyone else is enjoying a good day!  Tomorrow we're going to a Tracking Test... I wish I had my disc back from my friend so I could take pics...

 

I am super annoyed right now. First, one of the other people I work with on a team, if I have to correct her work on procedures that have been in place two years again... Ugh. Then I just had a rough time with that kid. Now I am at another kid's house babysitting. One of my friends is also here. I decided to go get on his computer so I could update his iPod touch which he uses to communicate. He needs more pictures. So, I go in to work on it figuring they're watching tv and it's fine. She follows me in and starts playing solitaire. So, I made the kid come in the room with us. He left but at first was sitting close by so no big deal. Then he went out of sight so I kept going out to check on him every time I didn't hear him for a minute. At this point I have to stay with the iPod while it updates. Then I notice she is done her game and is just watching me save pictures. Do I commented that there is nothing interesting about this activity. I mean seiously, go with him or tell me you want to update the pictures. Do not sit here and watch me save files.

Courtney, call the vet that shot x-rays of Rascal's neck & have then mail them to you.  Then find a vet who does acupuncture, & have Rascal evaluated.  Take the x-rays along for the first visit so that they can see exactly what they are dealing with, & go from there.  When I started acupuncture with Bevo, I was skeptical, to put it mildly, that it would work.  He stumbled & slipped all the way into the office.  He was evaluated (which takes a little while) and then he got needled.  He walked out of the office completely normal.  No stumbling.  No slipping across the slick floors.  Nothing.  He was totally normal.  You can also use white flower oil.  It only takes a drop or two, & you just rub it in well.  Think of it as massage oil. 

 Cher & I had a great time training today.  Cher nailed an SchH III track, & her obedience was spectacular.  Going into protection, I was expecting the worst, because she never can quite put in great performances in all 3 disciplines.  Today, she surprised me!  She ran a full set of blinds for the first time, & she stayed clean when she got to the helper.  She is usually a cheap shot artist, but today she stayed clean.  She did get all up in the helper's face during the bark & hold, but she never touched him until he engaged.  She even remembered how to out, which was really nice.  I have been questioning myself & wondering if I were asking too much of her, but after today's showing she will get more time to prove herself.

We had visitors to the club today.  They are dobe people, & they train in schutzhund & french ring.  Since Cher was still quite full of herself after training, we stayed, & worked her "french ring style."  She had a blast.  She really enjoyed herself, & in the process, she scared the crap out of the helper.  She went in for a bite, & went high.  She ended up dangling from the neckline of the helper's suit.  When she came off, the helper asked "Why is it that dobes always go high?  Why can't they just go for the legs like the mals do?"   At the end of the session, we ran her through a FR Brevet, & she did very well.  She had a minor issue with the food tossing, but otherwise she was great. 

Some days, I feel like she will never be "ring ready" and then she has a day like today, which revitalizes me, & makes me want to push harder.  While she may not have been the dog that I would have sought out, she has turned in to the perfect dog for me right now!  Currently, the evil little bitch is napping next to me on the couch. 

It's been a beautiful day here too.  Sounds like lots of fun idog meetups today! :)  I had a successful shopping trip and a yummy lunch and then a nap with Twister.  Nothing much planned for dinner because we ate a late lunch and neither of us is motivated to fix anything much. 

Need a little help if anyone can spare it.... A friend is going through an emotional crisis which is something of a chronic condition.  I have no idea what resources to refer him to, since he has no health insurance and is in enough debt that he cannot pay for a professional therapist.  As a friend, I want to help and listen and try to keep him from pursuing dangerous thoughts, but we're at the stage beyond my capacity as a friend.  Ie, I think he needs a professional giving guidance at this point.  What the heck do you do when you're broke, have no health insurance, and need to talk to someone??  My thoughts go, "Well, this isn't a drug/alcohol problem, this isn't an abusive relationship problem, this isn't a rape counseling... so, there go the free resources I am aware of... so, now what??"

I found out tonight that my dearest friend in the entire world tried to take her own life a few days ago. I'm kind of in shock. Thank god she didn't succeed.

 Paige, I don't know. I wish I knew, but I don't really know. I mean, if he's at risk of hurting himself or someone else, I guess the police can come in and he can be involuntarily committed to psych. Though, that brings with it eventual bills. 

What's up with this stuff lately?

Gosh Paige, that's a tough one. Is there a public health department that can give you any leads?

Sorry to hear about your friend, Julie. Hopefully now she can get the help that she needs.

We had a great day today! We took the kids to "Grandpa's Farm." It's a farm that's been around for generations, and they decided to start a yearly event. They had all sorts of activities - ice cream making, apple cider making, puppet show, crafts, games, animal petting area, and a hay ride to a pumpkin patch. Each kid got one free pumpkin. Any extras were only $2 each. (Admission was $7/adult, kids under 3 (I think) were free.)

Willa was totally scared of the animals! We went into the petting area. She immediately wanted to be picked up. I held her for a while, then put her down by some goats (they were behind a fence). I stayed right behind her with my arms around her. A deer came up behind us, she freaked out and stood up, slamming the top of her head into my jaw. Ow. My teeth clunked together. Luckily I didn't bite my tongue.

The hay ride was a lot of fun. We (ahem - me) ended up spending so much time picking out pumpkins that we missed the tractor ride back. So we hung out and took some pics while waiting for the next one to come.

 

Paige, it sounds like you and I are in similar situations here. My friend has no insurance as well. She found out that they wouldn't even committ her with no insurance. They stitched her up and sent her home even though her husband was like "she needs professional help!"

I don't have any advice at all. In my friends case, she has a therapist who has agreed to give her 12 free sessions as well as a lot of med samples. She has a history established though with that therapist from when she did have insuance (once upon a time).

Maybe your friend can call around and just find someone to give him 1 session and try to get him on the $5 meds. I think the more common anti depressents are pretty cheap at places like walmart.

Jewlieee

Paige, it sounds like you and I are in similar situations here. My friend has no insurance as well. She found out that they wouldn't even committ her with no insurance. They stitched her up and sent her home even though her husband was like "she needs professional help!"

 

Wow. I didn't think they were allowed to do that. I thought any suicide threat or attempt would result in at least a 24 hour hold. Sad.

griffinej5

What's up with this stuff lately?

Thinking the same thing.

DH's friend was laid to rest today. From what I gather it was truely a celebration of his life- I'm very happy about that. Growing up Catholic I've been to MANY funerals/wakes/memorials where it's drawn out and despressing and made to pull at your heart strings (despite it already being a sad situation).

Tomorrow we go to our last dockdogs competition for the season. Wish us luck!

 I was under the impression that this would trigger a 24 hour hold, if they determined that you needed it. I guess I am wrong about that.

 

Paige, you might call your state's Health Dept.  They may be able to help you find your friend some help.

Julie, I'm sorry to hear about your friend.  Hopefully, she will get the help that she needs.

Go Apollo & Stephanie!

I thought that there was a mandatory 24 hour hold after a suicide attempt.  Many years ago, I got arrested for being drunk in public, & a dwi, which was later dropped.  While I was being booked into jail, I drunkenly said something about killing myself.  I ended up being put in a padded room, in restraints, until I was sober.  Then I was evaluated & put on a 24 hour hold because of the suicide threat.  I can't understand why they wouldn't hold someone, who actually attempted to kill themselves, for at least 24 hours.

miranadobe

Need a little help if anyone can spare it.... A friend is going through an emotional crisis which is something of a chronic condition. 

How about going to a college? Most colleges have free/cheap services. There's also gambling, suicide prevention, http://www.hopeline.com/gethelpnow.html tons of hotlines, and so on. Also check: http://www.nmha.org/go/find_therapy

Hope this helps!

Jewlieee

Paige, it sounds like you and I are in similar situations here.

Yes, and he told me earlier this week that he made two unsuccessful attempts earlier this year but "chickened out".  I believe there was a therapist somewhere in the not-too-distant past, here, too.  JIMMINY CRICKETS... this just totally blows!!  I so don't want to be the friend who didn't do enough here.... as I know you don't, either.

If I make any headway, I'll let you know in case it helps your friend.  This just BLOWS!!!  These are friends who are doing the "proverbial cry for help", and we don't have the skills/money/resources to do it.  What the heck are you supposed to do?!?!

Edit - thanks for the links, guys... I will be investigating those, and unfortunately won't be able to get anywhere w/the Health Dept, since tomorrow is a Sunday and, oh yeah, Monday is a freakin' holiday!

Stephanie - I hope you and Apollo have a beautiful day tomorrow - the weather is supposed to be nice.  Give him an extra hug from me, wouldya?