I've been sort of lax on my blogging, but since I linked you to cute manatee pictures and a feel good story, I hope you forgive me.   It's been a crazy busy week, which is a poor excuse, but the only one I have tonight.

Nat and Pyxi went to work with me every day this week.  At the dolphin center, we run a series of week-long, college accredited educational programs.  For the advanced training lab, the students work with our training staff and some of the dolphins to learn how to assess behavior, train behaviors, provide positive reinforcement and enrichment, and also how to present the dolphins in a session to the public.  However, so that each student also has the individual experience of training a behavior from beginning to end, each of them works with a staff member's dog.  So, Nat and Pyxi were canine instructors.

I'm happy to report that they did a great job.  Pyxi's student taught her to offer her paw for a paw-shake.  Nat learned how to spin.  Today, the students presented their dogs and demonstrated the behavior.  Well, sort of.  It was very hot out and there were a lot of distractions, so most of the dogs had difficulty maintaining their focus.  Nat kept looking around at everything but the student.  (Since he demonstrated the behavior for me up in the office, I know he knows it!)  Pyxi was a star pupil.  She sat right down when asked and held up her paw.  I'm so proud of both my furkids!

It was interesting to have them with me all week.  My office isn't very big.  The large travel crate cut the available space in half.  I learned the fine art of swiveling around in my chair without moving the wheels so I didn't accidentally run over any paws.  Except for a couple of minor squabbles and some protective barking, both pups behaved very well.

The routine of going to work, doing three short training sessions a day, and taking more walks than usual wore them out.  Every night when we got home, they were ready for naps, early bedtimes and, best of all, they slept through the night without waking me up in the wee hours for a quick trip outside.  I hope that behavior continues!

In other news, I'm about to start a new remodeling project.  Okay, technically, it started.  My contractor, John, ripped out my center hall bathroom.  It's just one empty room now -- a space waiting to be redesigned.  I have only a few vague ideas right now.  I open the door periodically and stare, opening myself to inspiration.  So far, inspiration isn't answering the call.

No worries.  I know it will come.  Any day now.  Really.  In the meantime, at least I have the master bathroom.  Once I download the pictures out of my camera, I'll share the "before" shots.  Trust me.  This bathroom hasn't been redone since it was first built over 30 years ago.  It's long overdue.

The quest for a local dog park passed its first hurdle.  Parks and Recreation approved a motion to forward the proposal to City Council.  My new career as a community activist continues. *g*

So, that's a brief recap about what's going on in my life.  I promise to be a better blogger in the weeks ahead!  Thanks for continuing to drop by and read, even when there wasn't much going on.