Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

It may look like Summer here on Locomotive Ln, but the Christmas spirit reigns!

Sierra Nevada Winds Concert

Another wonderful musical experience. Front row, center. The big difference here was knowing the performers (well, at least one very special one, and others that I met just recently).

(click on photo to enlarge)

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING: As in most cases, flash photography was not permitted, so I have no photos. And, no, Joss did not conduct this orchestra. The inset photo is of Joss in action as a music teacher in a middle school.

In this production, Joss played oboe, english horn, and percussion. The music was stirring and the entertainment tops.

Grandparent's Day Lunch

I was thrilled to have lunch with Granddaughter Kyleigh on Wednesday. This beaming 9-year old met Grandpa Clark at the appointed time in the Coyote Ridge Elementary schoolyard and off we went to lunch in the multipurpose room. Mom had packed a wonderful lunch for the two of us, so my worst fear of having cafeteria macaroni & cheese was put to rest.

Thank you Kyleigh for making your proud Grandpa feel so special and loved.

Happy Birthday Ellie! 3 Years Old!

This photo was taken on October 29, 2006 when Ellie was almost 1. How she has grown since then! My hope is that I get to see her and all the East of The Mississippi Family this year.
Have a wonderful birthday girl…especially this year when you have an additional family member to help you celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Lori!

...from the guy in the funny pants and weird glasses...

Photo Quiz

Name the person, the year, the place & the circumstan-ces.

Hint: The background is a red vinyl back seat of a station wagon and notice that there is no child restraint...

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Well, for a long time now I have wanted to see Point Reyes --and I'd still like to.

The weather forecast was accurate: Sunny and warm, high around 78F. I have no reason to believe that it was not sunny and warm --somewhere above the fog. We had intermittent glimpses of the shoreline far below the point which suggests that it really must be spectacular to see!

Getting to the lighthouse (or rather, back from it) is a challenge. After walking about 1/2 mile from the parking lot -which we enjoyed- one is greeted with a sign that warns that the return climb of 302 steps (not including the long inclines) is the equivalent of climbing the stairs of a 30-story building. We decided to take this vertiginous challenge, even though I had serious reservations. Taking it "slow & easy," the climb was not all that bad. We did stop and rest occasionally. I experienced no pain or dizziness and just a little puffing. Walking the hills of Penryn is about equivalent.

At one of the "Historic [letter] Ranches" on the way to the Point, we saw a cow birthing a calf. On the way back we stopped and watched as the mother was cleaning her newborn. They were close to the fence where we parked and we could see the whole nature show up close.

We drove out of the fog as we returned to our cottage just south of the town of Inverness. The Bayshore Cottage was an experience. What I at first thought was the cottage turned out to be the owners' home. The cottage itself was a little shed behind the home's carport. Funky is the best description we came up with. But it was fine and reasonably clean. We shared a back yard with the owner but didn't actually see anyone except their two dogs "Lulu" and "Freebs." From the back yard there is a path about 100 yards long through a garden to an old, run down gazebo at the marshy end of Tomales Bay. It is described as one that is in regular use by the local birdwatchers as a viewing location for their bird counts. Uh, OK.

If you read the description at the website http://innformation.com/ca/bayshore/ you might get a little different feeling. That is to be expected, of course. Also the living area in the photo is enhanced because the Murphy Bed is folded up (described in the write-up as a "queen sized Eurobed").

Funky. But, really, we enjoyed it a lot and have no serious complaints.

Because of the clouds and fog, we decided to leave Monday mid-morning and take a leisurely drive home. Instead of returning via Sir Francis Drake Blvd., we went over the hills toward Petaluma and cut back to Highway 37 through Novato, through Napa and up the mountain to Lake Berryessa. It was a fun road trip as we both like that kind of thing. We stopped at Monticello Dam, then continued our normal route home through Winters and Davis.

We grabbed a turkey sandwich at my local Subway and had our lunch on my patio picnic table. Joss was anxious to get home to mail a Halloween thingy to Sara. In spite of the fog, we had another wonderful, relaxing California road trip.

Photo credit: The photo was saved from the following website:
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=66

A night out at the theatre

Dinner at the Esquire Grill and a fun musical. Life is good!

California Sightseeing

At first glance, the photo at the left doesn't look like much. At second glance it looks like something brown and green with a red, snake-like line on it. So, let me explain: While enjoying a 2-night, 3-day stay at one of South Lake Tahoe's finest resorts (Thanks BLK!), we decided to explore the beautiful scenery a few miles south of Tahoe. When we informed the resort's concierge of our plans, she replied, "Oh, there's nothing out there!" Right! Nothing but nature's beauty. And, oh, is it breathtakingly beautiful! (Maybe the young lady at the concierge desk meant "there are no video games or racy bars with loud music -out there?).

This is a satellite's eye view of the mountain peak at Monitor Pass -less than 2 miles from the Nevada State line (or about 8 miles by road). On the peak there is a fire look-out station. A narrow and boulder laced road leads to the station from the pass. We decided that OBABIE could handle being Off road BABIE if we drove slowly and carefully. By slow I mean 1 -2 MPH and zig-zagging between boulders. No harm done. Unfortunately there was a locked gate near the summit. Now, do we hike the remaining 300 yards up to the station in 45 degree air at 9,000 feet? Compromise: we walk about 100 yards, take a couple of pictures, and retreat to the car.

Now, the red line: I turned on my wrist GPS gadget while we ventured up the road on foot, and left it on until we reached the Monitor Pass road. The vistas looking down on California, Nevada and Lake Topaz in between were incredible!

Dull, huh, Ms Concierge lady?!!? ;-)

OBTW: for those of you who can access Google Earth on your PC, type in "Monitor Pass, CA" When the view comes up, you can click on the camera icons and get several views of the area.

TTFN,

JJ

Taking a step back in time…

We decided to do that yesterday at Ehrman Mansion Open House at Sugar Pine Point State park at Lake Tahoe. This magnificent mansion and beautiful grounds on the West shore of the lake, once owned by a wealthy banking family from San Francisco, are now maintained by the California State Parks, Sierra District. The mansion is open to the public just one day a year during Living History Day. The highlight of our day was the casual tour of the mansion, where visitors experience the house as it was in the 1930’s. Costumed interpreters are everywhere to answer any of your questions.

The grounds are breathtaking. The property shoreline is about 1-1/2 miles long. Two boathouses --separated by about 1/4 mile of beautiful beach -- house elegant watercraft preserved since the 30’s. Parked on an expanse of lawn near the mansion were vintage vehicles owned by Tahoe Collectors -automobiles of the type in which wealthy visitors used to make the trek from San Francisco in the 1930’s.

So why just a photo of a tree here? I guess it’s just a summary statement of the feeling one gets visiting this beautiful place and setting one’s mind back to that time when only the very wealthy could walk these grounds.

Thanks to my friend Joss, I discovered something I hadn’t known about in the 10+ years living in this area. For a closer look into this place, visit http://www.laketahoelivinghistory.com/.

Happy Fourth of July!

It's a beautiful day in Roseville. 'hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful holiday!

Happy Birthday Donalyn

Here is a composite photo of us celebrating Donalyn's 39th* birthday at Poggio's in Sausalito on June 25th. Getting together with "Uncle Don" and BJ made it a very special evening. A good time was had by all -especially the "Birthday Girl" (that's her hiding behind the guy in the blue shirt).

For those unfamiliar with Poggio's, it is a very nice Italian restaurant that doesn't serve spaghetti & meat balls (I know that doesn't make sense to the folks from Rome, NY) but the food is excellent! Before Donalyn, Kevin, and I called a cab to return to Greenbrae, we took a tour of Don and BJ's room overlooking the bay and with a panoramic view of Angel Island. A beautiful sight on a most wonderful night.

*give or take

Once a sailor…

…always a sailor.

As an old Prindle 16 catamaran sailor and one-time racer, I remember sitting on the beach in Southern California just praying for wind. In the God-given “perfect” weather of San Diego, a breeze seldom materialized before noon. And, when one did, it was rarely more than 6 – 8 knots. Sometimes our races looked more like a Sunday afternoon social sail. We heard of the great breezes in Northern California and some of us were lucky enough to have experienced the wild rides on the lakes there.

Yesterday, I was invited by a special friend to sail on her Prindle 15. She lives on a small lake in Sacramento County and her boat sits on her beach, raring to go. Life vest in hand and wearing my “squishies,” I had great thoughts of, once again, that old cat thrill: knifing through the water at an exhilarating speed, heeling just off the water; a refreshing spray in the face…

So here we are: Northern California, private lake, two experienced sailors, and a sleek cat ready to go. And, what!? …TOO MUCH WIND!??! As we used to say: “blowin’ like snot!…just blowin’ lids off trash cans! Yee hawwww!!!” To much wind! ‘gusts up to 35 knots. We wouldn’t have stood a chance. So, we sipped wine instead and knew there’d be another day…

By the way, for those of you with a sharp eye and may have wondered: Yes, the cat pictured IS a Prindle 15 –specially rigged with a jib.

Jackson is back...

...for a day.

Jackson spent part of the morning with his owners and big sister Lucy at the Roseville Dog Park. So, by the time he arrived at Loco, he was somewhat "de-energized."

After he took a little nap at my feet, we walked to the pond and around the block. Jackson heeled very well. He is a joy to walk and to be with.

He is again napping at my feet as I type this.

Happy Memorial Day 2008

It's a little cool & breezy, but otherwise a beautiful Memorial Day in Roseville.

Today is the quiet day of remembrance and celebrating. Yesterday was the party day. We had a great picnic and dual-birthday celebration with the cake and food supplied by Donalyn & Kevin. Sara & Kyleigh entertained each other almost constantly for 2-1/2 days and joined in a fun game of tag/hide&seek with the Clark girls on Sunday afternoon. Later in the evening the adults played musical chairs with neighbors (sorry, too crazy and involved to go into details on this one!).

Now, on to the next party...

Paradise Bay...

...sounds like a body of water, doesn't it? Actually it is the name of a very nice restaurant in Sausalito, California on a beautiful body of water -part of San Francisco Bay. I met Anne here for lunch today. We had a great lunch and a wonderful conversation. We discussed life, love, politics and everything in between. We went real light on the politics...after all, a Republican in Marin County has to be real careful what he says and how loud he says it. Joking. We really had a nice conversation about politics, current and past. Anne gave me great insight into life in France. She confirmed that which I have felt strongly about for the past few years: that history is not taught to the children in that country with as much emphasis as should be given to the great sacrifice of Americans during WWII to liberate their country from Nazi Germany. People of our generation, both in France and the USA, fully recognize the extreme sacrifices made for freedom during that terrible war. Then again, I sense that the younger generation of this country may not appreciate those sacrifices -and cherish freedom -as much as they should either.

In all, it was a beautiful day on the bay -and two people each came away with a new friend.

Reno Trip

I expected to post some photos from our Reno trip, but have none at this time. It was a fun trip. Doris, Smitty, and I enjoyed the drive both ways. We stopped in Truckee for lunch at "OB's" on the way. On the return trip, I showed them the Foresthill Bridge and the American River near Auburn.

The reunion was fun. Smitty and 3 others were the only in attendance that served aboard the USS Manatee during WWII. We saw a good show while there. The hospitality room was the social center of the reunion, where people sat around talking and reminiscing and, like all good sailors, told lies known as "sea stories."

Maybe our next time with Doris & all will be at Piseco Lake...

Coast-to-Coast Excitement

My sister Doris and my brother-in-law George "Smitty" Smith are flying in from Tampa tomorrow, and believe me, we are all excited. Although I've visited them "back East" quite a few times since then, this will be the 1st time since 1969 that they have been here. We remember the date, July 20, 1969 -when Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon- as we sat in the back yard on Hillgrove Drive in San Diego, sipping our wine and looking up at that big, bright Moon. I remember thinking at the time, "Wow, its happening right there, right now!"

The photos here were taken at the Piseco Lake Darksiders' annual clambake. George looks a little serious here, but he should, as he has the responsibility of navigating that party boat.

After 2 days of relaxing and visiting family and friends in Roseville, we're heading to Reno for 3 days to take part in a convention of George's shipmates who served aboard the USS Manatee during WWII (when he was 10 ;-)).

We'll keep you posted with more photos and stories.

Tide Pool Condos

Last night was a fun one at Kyleigh's 3rd grade play called "Tide Pool Condos."

The play was about a real estate developer, Elizabeth [Kyleigh] who was scoping out an area, which included tide pools, on which to build condos. Poseidon and his ocean friends were concerned about losing their tide pools and commenced to try to convince Elizabeth to change her mind. With song and dance and reason, they were able to convince her to abandon the project (albeit her loss of probably millions of dollars!) and all sang and rejoiced.

* * * * * and two thumbs up!

Congratulations to all the kids in this play/musical for a job well done in providing an evening of pure fun and entertainment!

Jackson: Calm, lazy dog...

Well, not quite. But as I type this, and Jackson is sound asleep at my feet, I can't help reflect back on what a different dog he was in early February. I went back in the postings to February 14. To think that it was a chore to get him in and out of the car and to somehow try to get him to stay in the back! Now he never attempts to get into the front, and getting him into and out of the car is a breeze.

Jackson is staying with me for a few days while his owner's enjoy a little vacation in Las Vegas ("My owners went to Las Vegas and all I got was this lousy training collar!" --Jax)

We'll be going for a walk this afternoon. Fun, lazy, Sunday.

Another Romp with Jackson

We took Jackson on another romp today which I will illustrate with some satellite photos.

Photo 1 shows the general area including Loco, the drive (yellow) to the training/romp area, the area including the ravine, and the satellite track (red).

In Photo 2, the red GPS track in the ravine appears as a bunch of squiggly lines because Jackson and I walked back & forth, Jackson fetching, etc.

I mentioned in my post on April 8, that Jackson leaped in the "high, green grass." All that brown you see in the upper left is actually green now -the satellite photo was probably taken last fall.

In my post on February 26, I described a road “about 1/3-mile long.” Photo 3 shows that road which is actually 0.33 miles according to my GPS tracker. As you can see, this is an ideal area for training as there are few distractions and a safe place to let a dog run.

Jackson did very well again today. As it was wall-to-wall sunshine with a temperature of 84F, we were both pretty thirsty when we returned to Loco Ln. He wasted no time getting to his drinking fountain.

Jackson has a ROMP

Today was a pure fun day for Jackson. Knowing that he will now come when called, we felt it was safe to let him off leash for a little romp. I have included a satellite map for today’s activity. It might be hard to read, but it shows an overall track of our day (The track was made by my new Garmin wrist GPS device. After a timed outting, I connect the Garmin to my PC and am then able to upload the track to a website that can be utilized to publish such documents. Click on the photo for a larger view).

I picked up Jackson at his home and we drove to the street practice area (note his house in the lower-right portion of the photo, and the street practice and romp areas in the top center).

After heeling for just a block, we proceeded to an area in a ravine where I knew it would be safe to let Jackson free. Wow, did he ever enjoy that! He literally romped about excitedly. Occasionally I would throw a stick into the field where there is high, green grass. Jackson reminded me of a jackrabbit as he searched for it, jumping and leaping over the tall clumps. The great news is that when I whistled and called to him, he immediately high-tailed it back to me. ‘lots of praise then for him (I’d forgotten to bring treats today!).

We heeled back to the car, where Jackson sat, stayed, and waited for me to open the back door and then tell him “up.”

We returned to Loco Ln where I gave him some treats. He is now sleeping on the floor next to my chair.

It was a fun day with a GOOD DOG.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXVII

I was just kidding! --for those who might have skipped the comments on my 1 April post (April Fools' Day.)

Today we went back to the houseless community where we practiced basic things like stay and heel. While on-leash, he automatically assumes the heel position. We still (and probably always will) come to a full stop at each crosswalk -and Jackson automatically sits and waits each time.

We spent a little playtime in an open lot having him fetch a tennis ball. Today he was only interested in going after the ball, picking it up, dropping it almost immediately, and then commence sniffing the ground all around for those wonderful scents that only a dog can detect and enjoy. But free time is free time and we didn't insist on his completing the fetch properly.

Jackson is just hanging out with me now in my office. He hasn't left the room for over an hour and a half.

C'mon Jackson...lets go out and play!

Jackson Graduates from Boot Camp!

Jackson has completed his basic training ahead of schedule. He is now completely trained and is an exemplary canine. He obeys 100%. He is perfect in the sit, stay, down, come, and heel. He no longer chews things that are not his. One can leave food on the coffee table and he will not touch it without permission –even if left alone for long periods of time. When visitors come to the house, he sits quietly and waits for attention.

How do I know that he is completely trained and needs no further work? Please see the “comments” section for further explanation.

Good boy, Jackson!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXVI

Jackson enjoyed hanging out with me on Loco Lane today. We heeled for about 1 mile around the neighborhood. He did great in ignoring the usual distractions. Here at home we practiced the stay. Twice he stayed two rooms away as I disappeared from sight for about 5 seconds. He continued to sit as I re-approached him and gave him a treat and lots of praise.

The rest of the day we just relaxed and even snoozed a little. Jackson explored the yard for a while, but mostly stayed close to me. He gets an A on the day!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXV

Today was nearly a carbon copy of the last session. Both dogs were happy to see me. Both sat as I treated them individually. On our walk, Jackson did well and seemed to ignore barking dogs more than ever.

Have you ever noticed others when they walk their dog? Check it out. Most of the time the dog is walking his "master." The dog stops when he wants to and the dog goes when he wants to. To all you loving dog owners out there: do you find this fun, or do you do it just because the dog finds it fun and you feel obliged to walk him/her?

Jackson and I have fun when we walk. He doesn't stop to sniff. He doesn't stop to pee. He doesn't decide which way to go. He enjoys his outting and so do I -and so will his owners, who will enjoy walking their dog rather than vice-versa.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXIV

We heeled for 1.3 miles today, some of it on new streets. Before going out and after returning, we (Jackson, Lucy, & I) had little treat sessions in their domain. During the walk, Jackson sat every time at halts, and only broke once when he spotted some children nearby. He stayed perfectly when I asked him to. I think he deserves an "A" today!

The treat sessions were so gratifying: Both Lucy and Jackson sat while I alternately gave each a treat. No hogging. No scrambling. Lucy amazes me. She is such a lady. Jackson, on the other hand -whom I described earlier as a rascal- has actually become a quasi gentleman. These are two great canines and I am happy to be part of their lives.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXIII

I picked up Jackson and we walked around the “big block” twice today –about a mile. He did so well, I was tempted to give him an A grade, but I will give him a B+ for a couple of reasons. In all I was very pleased with his obedience and his ever-increasing resistance to distractions. The biggest improvement was in virtually ignoring the cars and trucks swishing by on a busy boulevard –something that spooked him when we first walked there. His biggest distraction is the presence or voices of children. Why not? He’s just a kid himself!

We were both somewhat distracted as we paused on the sidewalk and someone’s sprinklers suddenly came on. Jackson turned to get a drink, and then we proceeded on our way. Good session, Jackson.

Jackson goes on liberty!

Jackson’s owners are home from vacation now and have picked him up. He’s always welcome here, but needs to be with his CO and shipmates.

He demonstrated his new sit-stay and heeling for his family. Then he eagerly jumped into the family vehicle and rode off.

We’ll resume training soon, but meanwhile…enjoy your liberty Jackson (and try to stay out of trouble!)!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XXI - XXII

Yesterday was another session in Jackson’s socialization training. I think he did a little better in not going in the direction of the distraction –but was aware of most of them to be sure. I think he will continue to improve as time and practice go on…

Today, it was back to basics. I wanted to see if his social experiences of late had any effect on his learned obedience. I was pleased to find that he has not forgotten a thing and responded very well to all commands. Only once during our 25-minute session did I have to press gently on his hind quarters to have him sit.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XX

In these past few days, it has become very obvious that the "socialization" of Jackson is going to be the most challenging and time consuming part of his training.

When all else fails read the manual! So, today I referred to the new training manuals which I purchased recently. Just judging from the pages devoted to this subject (9) as compared to the pages devoted to heeling (2), one can come the conclusion stated in the first paragraph.

In light of the above, Jackson gets a B+ for today's mile+ around the neighborhood. I had to correct him several times, but he is a smart dog who I know really wants to please deep down in his puppy heart, so he will improve with practice, practice, practice.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XIX

Teaching Jackson to use the drinking fountain was not part of his obedience training, but was done for convenience (mostly mine), and the fountain was already in place (thank you, Maggie!). It took just one application of a little peanut butter on the actuator to instill the idea in him that licking on that thing produces cool, clean, refreshing water.

Yesterday I graded Jackson for the first time and that was a B+. On a scale from F to A+, I would give him a B today. Now, a B is a pretty good, passing grade, but indicates room for improvement. Of course! We are just 18 sessions into his obedience training, and he is doing well.

Jackson has the basics down, and now it is mostly a matter of socialization and repetition (and calming down somewhat as he goes from puppyhood to doghood). We heeled 1 mile throughout my neighborhood. He was distracted by the usual: barking dogs, passing cars, and people. When you mix friendly people with a friendly dog, controlling his excitement is a big task. After the excitement and petting, Jackson sat and heeled away like a champ.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XVIII

As bootcamps go, Jackson had a pretty easy day. We decided to see how his socialization is progressing. So, we heeled near the barracks…going only as far as the pond around the corner. This is a lot different than practicing this dicipline in an area where there are virtually no distractions. Walking down Loco Lane, around the corner and down the street, he was presented with plenty of distractions: barking dogs, cars, people walking nearby, golf carts, etc. Jackson is a super-friendly canine and wants to be everybody’s best friend, so he is very prone to people distractions. With that in mind, I would say that he did very well. He did halt with me at street crossings and he did automatically sit –most of the time. Although I haven’t “graded” him to date, I would have to give him a B+ today.

The photo, above, has nothing to do with bootcamp. It has to do with logistics. I needed to go to the grocery store today to pick up some staples. Instead of putting Jackson in his crate, I thought it would be a good idea to just confine him and Lucy to their back yard and let them romp while I shopped. One thing I hadn’t considered -actually had no idea- is that today was lawn sprinkler day at the Dings. So, after completing my shopping, I stopped by to pick up Jackson. But instead of finding a white Yellow Lab, I found a black and not-so-white Lab. Apparently these dogs dug deep into the black muck (I don’t even want to look!) in the back yard. After we arrived back at Loco Lane, I cleaned him up as best I could but the doctored photo, above, is pretty much what he looked like. Also, before the sponge bath, he smelled a little bit like a swamp.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XVII

Instead of taking Jackson someplace special today, I decided to have him heel around the "big block" near his home which is exactly 1/2 mile. He did well, even through all the usual city distractions. Then when we returned to Loco Lane, I had him sit-stay all the way from the kitchen to the office. I take 1 slice of bread and divide it into quarters. When I hold up a piece for him to see, he automatically sits. I tell and signal him to stay and then I walk away -about 10 feet. He sits like a trooper until I say and motion for him to come. Four of these and we are in the office.

The photo, above, is one I took just now just for this posting. I had him sit on the sidewalk (he knew I had a treat in my hand), stay, and then I went down the sidewalk steps and snapped his picture. He stayed without moving a muscle until I gave him the command to come.

Its Sunday morning and I’ve the time to write if you have the time to read. So, I just want to summarize and elaborate a little bit on some of the tricks to having your dog heel perfectly.

First of all, as you know, it all starts with long-line training. That’s when he learns to keep his eye on you and watch your every move. From the long-line you now move to the leash and training collar. Next, if he doesn’t already do it, he must learn to sit on command. And, he must stay on command. Now he’s ready to learn to heel. He will sit and stay on your left side, in line with your legs, and face forward with you. You step off with your left leg and at the same time say firmly, “dogname, heel!” That’s all there is to it! Well, almost all.

Most dogs –especially young, energetic puppies- will try to walk ahead of you. That’s fine if you are just going for a walk. But, heeling is not “going for a walk.” It is a discipline that will eventually allow you to walk with him safely in busy areas and not be distracted. So, there are a few tricks that you can use until he realizes his correct position beside you. The first trick is to be where you can walk in a circle to your left –in an open area someplace. By walking in a counter-clockwise circle, if he tends to get ahead of you he will constantly be experiencing being bumped by your left knee. Now when you do walk in a straight line –such as on a sidewalk, there are several techniques that will eventually sink in. One is to suddenly make a brief, sharp left turn followed immediately by a sharp right turn –staying on the sidewalk as you do this. Pretty soon he will back off a little so he can keep an eye on your leg movements. If he still tends to get out front a little, here’s one that gets his attention back and will usually straighten him out: With no warning and without speaking to him, make a sudden, right U-turn followed by another right U-turn. In a matter of seconds you are both walking in the same direction that you started, only now he will (usually) magically be back further with his nose and eyes next to your left knee.

And that’s what we did while heeling around the “big block” this morning. Jackson needed very little correction as described above, and he now automatically sits whenever we halt –whether it is at intersections or in the middle of the block.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XVI

Today's session was a carbon copy of yesterday's except Jackson seemed to lose concentration more often. It was very calm yesterday but there was a pretty good breeze today. I think the breeze brought in more scents and that's what was distracting him (that's my theory, and I'm sticking with it).

In all, Jackson did very well during our 1/2 hour session. He was especially good about automatically sitting whenever we halted.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XV

SUCCESS!!! I PROMISED YOU BOLD CAPS WHEN JACKSON AUTOMATICALLY SAT AS WE HALTED AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE HEELING…WELL HERE THEY ARE!

We started our training session right after lunch today in a new development where there are a number of city blocks but no houses yet. Streets, sidewalks, fire hydrants, curbs, crosswalks…but no houses. After letting him out of the car, we started a heeling session immediately. We walked for one block, then abruptly stopped on the sidewalk at the 1st intersection. ♫♪ BUTT DOWN! ♪♫ -just like that! After lots of praise and treats, we proceeded to heel across the street. We turned and headed down the sidewalk. Again, we stopped at the next intersection and BUTT DOWN again –without a word from me!

We continued this pattern for about 20 minutes, always stopping at each intersection. Only on a couple of occasions did he not sit automatically –probably momentarily distracted by a bird, scent, or a sound in the distance. Each time, just a slight push downward on his hindquarters reminded him to sit.

GOOD BOY, JACKSON! We’ll practice some more tomorrow!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XIV

Jackson spent a good deal of the morning with sister Lucy, romping in their back yard while I did some errands. By the time I picked him up, both were "Dog Tired."

He had just enough time for a little begging at my computer (see photo, above) before we went back out for a half hour of training. More sit-stay-come and sit-stay-heel. For funtime we played fetch until Jackson decided to eat the stick instead of bringing it back to me.

A friend joined me last evening to watch a little TV and ended up mostly rolling on the floor with “that adorable Jackson.” Well, that burned up what was remaining of his energy for the day! He went into his crate voluntarily and slept –door open- all night without a sound out of him. Coincidentally, that’s what I remember most about boot camp –out of energy at the end of the day and sleep deprived. I think, though, that Jackson likes his D.I. better than I liked mine.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XIII

This photo-story of Jackson is part of his "indoor" training. Jackson now routinely stays for longer and longer times and up to 10 feet away.

We returned to Fiddyment Farms today…same development, different “block.” We don’t want Jackson to think that he has to be obedient in only one geographical location –although I doubt if that would be the case. More sit-stay & heel. He’s really getting it now. He sits almost majestically and waits for my command to come. If he doesn’t get a treat, he gets a pat with a “Good Boy, Jackson!” Also, he is good about sitting at my side, facing forward with me, and awaits the “heel” command. I think he heels very well for a dog who normally goes at the speed of light. When he first automatically sits as we halt at intersections, I will rejoice and report the occasion in bold, capital letters! Earlier, we went to visit Lucy. While she ate her breakfast in peace in the garage, Jackson and I played in the back yard. Then Lucy joined us and the two of them had a romp for about ½ hour. We’ll repeat this procedure for the next 10 days. I think it helps that Jackson has burned off a good deal of energy before his training session begins.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XII

Same Boot Camp, New (temporary) Barracks.

Jackson’s stay on Loco Lane is not only good for all his human friends involved, but is also good “socialization” training, i.e., he is expected to be good and obedient around someone other than his owners on a 24/7 basis (actually 24/11).

After thoroughly inspecting his new surroundings, Jackson settled in and was an ideal companion for the evening and night. He followed me around and slept at my feet whether I was watching TV in the family room or at my computer in my office. He happily went into his crate at bedtime and slept throughout the night without a sound.

Today we concentrated on the sit-stay and heel exercises again. He showed a remarkable improvement in the stay: actually sitting up and alert, watching me as I backed up as much as 6 feet –then not moving until I gave the “Jackson. Come” command. I should be able to back away a little further each day while he remains motionless.

He still does not automatically sit when we are heeling and halt at a curb. But, he responds very well when I push him into the sit position, and very importantly, sits still and faces forward until I give the heel command.

A little improvement each day, that’s all we expect.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XI

This was mostly a fun day for both Jackson and Lucy. Barbara confined both of them to the back yard while out on some errands. I stopped by with some treats and Jackson's training collar. They were both happy to see me and get their treats.

I then took Jackson around the "big block" for his heeling exercise. Again, he did real well but did not automatically sit at intersections. The best part of this session was that Jackson was good in actual "city training" with its usual distractions of traffic, people, and other dogs.

A little more playtime for Lucy and Jackson in their yard and we called it a day.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part X

Today was pretty much a carbon copy of yesterday's session, except Jackson did some fetching during his playtime.

It occurs to me that I believe I haven't stressed one important aspect of training enough. That is, I believe that the dog should sit and listen to each command before following through (this may not be a universal belief, but I think it is important) -before stay, fetch, heel, etc. Before fetching his long, bright yellow piece of plastic, Jackson was required to sit first and he did very well. I understand that he has always fetched promptly, returned the article, and dropped it at the throwers feet, so I can't take credit for that.

Jackson did not automatically sit when halted at the curb during heeling exercises again today. That will be a happy occasion when he does. Otherwise, he is excellent at heeling. At each halt, I push his rear down and, as I mentioned yesterday, it gets easier and easier. The great news is that after he does sit, he stays in that position longer and longer and waits for the heel command. Today's longest pause at this position was between 5 and 10 seconds -but he sat absolutely still, facing forward, and stepped forward immediately upon my command. He gets lots of praise for this.

After our session today, Jackson came home with me and was allowed to explore my house and yard. He was very happy to do that and didn't get into any mischief. Good Boy, Jackson!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part IX

Today we returned to our original wide-open area in the Fiddyment Farms development. Remember, this is a large, undeveloped lot surrounded by paved streets and sidewalks. It affords great “city training” but without kids, other dogs, or numerous other distractions. The sidewalks and intersections provide a perfect setting to practice heeling. We heel, stop, sit, then resume heeling across the intersection. Jackson halts with me but hasn’t quite yet learned to automatically sit. I noticed today, though, that it takes less pressure on his hind-quarters to remind him to sit when we halt.

Maybe you’ve wondered why Jackson’s training days are numbered in Roman Numerals. Here’s my reasoning: As soon as Jackson’s Roman Numerals catch up to the Super Bowl’s Roman Numerals, he should be very obedient and well trained.

So, here we are about 1/5 there. Progress report:

Feb. 14: Jackson tangled himself, me, and any vertical object within 50 feet with his long-line.
Feb. 27: Jackson no longer is tethered, except when we have him on-leash.

Feb. 14: I wouldn’t think of letting him out of the car without having a firm grip on his leash.
Feb. 27: I can let him out of the car and expect him to stay near me or, if planned, watch him run to a family member or friend.

Feb. 14: Jackson would come to you if he felt like it. And, he felt like it largely because he (a) hadn’t seen you in a while or, (b) suspected you had a 5-lb. rib roast in your possession.
Feb. 27: Unless he is totally focused on something else, like a strong scent he has just come about, he will generally run to you upon command –even if you don’t reward him every time with a treat.

Feb. 14: Jackson, on-leash, would take YOU for a walk.
Feb. 27: Jackson, on-leash, heels almost perfectly and seldom needs “correction.”

Super Bowl and Super Dog XLIII, here we come!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part VIII

"Jackson Drive."

This is the area we have been using for training lately. As mentioned in an earlier post, this is a paved area about 20 feet wide and about 1/3-mile long through what will probably be a housing development someday. Right now it is an ideal area for early training of Jackson during wet weather as it gives us plenty of room to work in with no distractions other than an occasional Jackrabbit.

The top photo is the trainer's view of Jackson sitting still for a few milliseconds. The center photo is of Jackson taking an unscheduled swim in a small pond during playtime. The last photo is “Jackson Drive” -my name for the area. The sign has been drawn in.

Today we concentrated on the sit-stay again. Jackson does not like to sit very long. He will place his butt on the ground just long enough to solicit a treat. He sits a little better at my side before given the command to heel. It looks like we’ll have to keep working on the sit-stay every day for a while.

We ended today’s session with an extended heel exercise. We crossed back over the road leading to this area, to where I parked my car. Here, there are a few paved blocks, with sidewalks, in a new development where just a handful of houses have been built –none in the area we walked. We were able to practice one of the more important aspects of the heel routine: stopping and sitting at each curb before crossing the street. The idea is that when the trainer halts, the trainee should halt and sit immediately. Jackson, having learned to watch my every move carefully, does pretty well in the halting category but still doesn’t automatically sit. I have to hold his collar and push down on his hind quarters to get him to the sitting position. After praising him, we again resume the heel.

Near the end of the session, another Jackrabbit suddenly appeared about 20 feet ahead and to the right of us. He hopped and ran away toward "Jackson Drive." Again, Jackson made a move in front of me toward Mr. Jackrabbit but went right back to the heel position after colliding with my left knee.

In all, he is doing very well. We look forward to tomorrow.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part VII

As mentioned in our last post, today we will concentrate on the sit-stay…not easy with such an energetic, lively young Lab.

The Dingfelders are all under the weather today with colds, so we devised a little plan to pick up Jackson with minimal exposure to the trainer of any cold’s virus. It was all based on the assumption that dogs don’t transmit or transport human viruses. If that’s not accurate, so be it. The plan was to let Barbara know when I pulled up in front of the house and when I opened the rear, curbside door, she was to open her front door. I would then call Jackson and he would bound across the lawn and into the car. Guess what? It went exactly according to plan, except I didn’t have to call him. Jackson was in the back of the car in a flash and ready to go!

Jackson actually sits very well upon command –especially if he knows you are holding a treat. Getting him to stay is another thing. Picture this: with a treat in my left hand, I face Jackson, point at his butt and say “Jackson. Sit!” Jackson sits. Then I place my open, right hand -palm in front of his nose and say (now this is all according to the book), “Jackson. Stay.” Jackson goes straight up into the air –off all fours- and turns inside out. Jackson returns to earth and seems to say, “OK…where’s my treat?” Sorry, Jax, but no treat for that little showing of exuberance.

So, I repeat the above until Jackson actually stays for an extended period of time, say, 10 milliseconds or more, then he is rewarded with a little treat. This is where patience comes in. I’m sure he’ll get the message in time.

Today we gave him a lot of playtime mixed in between the sit, stay, and heel exercises. This was new to Jackson and he really seemed to appreciate it. Again, we are in an area where he would have to run for ¼ mile before we’d be in trouble. I completely released him from any tether and said “Go play, Jackson!” and pointed away. He was a little confused at first and then ran and jumped through the fields. I believe the furthest away he ever got was, maybe, 100 feet. Most times he would stop, look around, and then make a B-line back to me with no coaxing. After doing this for a few minutes, and with him several feet away, I called, “Jackson. Come!” He put a big smile on my face when he ran up to me and stopped. He looked at me as if to say, “OK…what’s next?”

We finished up by heeling a couple hundred yards and then returned to the car. I am not quite ready to do this in a neighborhood yet, but I felt very safe and confident to let him off-leash near the car and then just let him jump in.

We reversed the procedure at home. Barbara was waiting and opened the door as soon as we drove up. I opened the rear, curbside door. There was a yellow flash and Jackson was in the house. Home –safe and happy.

Good Boy, Jackson! ‘see ya soon!

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part VI

We changed settings for today’s session. Because of all the rain lately, I decided to find a hard surface someplace –one with as few distractions as possible. I remembered one place I had been to on a walk. It is only about a half-mile from here –a long, paved surface about 20 feet wide and a quarter-mile long through an open area which will probably soon be a new housing development.

So, the format changed somewhat. I could walk in only two directions. The good news is that the long-line training has been so successful that I will probably discontinue it shortly. Jackson seldom moves away from me enough to tighten the rope. Today I shortened the rope by 20 feet to 30 feet. Next time I may use that 20-foot section to further shorten the line from 30 to 20 feet. After that I will use only his leash and training collar.

Today we concentrated on heeling. Jackson heels very well and needs very little correction. The biggest problem is getting him to sit and stay at my left side before stepping out and telling him, “Jackson, heel” (a very important step).

I was very proud of Jackson today and his reaction/obedience to one of the greatest distractions that a dog could face –ever! Shortly after he started heeling, suddenly a big ol’ Jackrabbit hopped across our path –at first only about 20 feet away and then ran/hopped away and to our right. Jackson jerked on the leash just once or twice and then resumed heeling! Don’t get me wrong…he kept his eye on that Jackrabbit until it was out of sight and wanted desperately to chase after it, but did not!

Next session I will concentrate on the sit-stay…not easy with such an energetic, lively young Lab.

A (rainy) Day of Rest

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part V

This dog just doesn't seem to run out of energy. The way he greets me each day tells me that he likes me and -more importantly- that I have not done anything to discourage him. Today's depiction of Jackson is a lot more representative of what this young canine is like. Jackson seems to really enjoy his training exercises. Today was pretty much a carbon copy of yesterday. Jackson really does well. Stay tuned.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part IV

I thought I was picking up a Yellow Lab called Jackson this morning. It turned out to be more like a Yellow Bucking Bronco! Here is a virtual picture of him as we tried to adjust his collar –hoping to prevent another Houdini act on his part.

Once in the car, he was a good boy. He didn’t attempt to jump over the console and onto the front seat as he did the first couple of days. And when I exited the car he was pretty good, but jumped forward then immediately back so that I could let him exit from the rear passenger side door.

We walked to the center of our open area on a short leash. Then I attached the long-line to his training collar but didn’t loop it around me at first. What happened then was amazing and totally gratifying: Jackson would not get more than a couple of feet away from me no matter how quickly and frequently I would make U-turns. A visible result of only 3 training sessions!

Next, after only about 10 minutes of the long-line exercise, I set him free. He ambled about 10 feet away, but did not run. I then said, “Jackson. Come!” He immediately ran to me. Wow, I’m feeling good about now! We then spent another 5 minutes or so practicing “sit!” He did well and the little treats helped. We then practiced the “Jackson. Come” routine. The only difficulty I had was to get him far enough away from me to make the come command make any sense! I finally had to throw a treat a few feet away, let him get it, and then call, “Jackson. Come.” Immediate response!

We spent the last 10 minutes learning to heel. Jackson did extremely well and was rewarded with some play time, some hugs, and a ride back home.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part III

TD4 was a simple training exercise in the Dings back yard. It is called the Recall Game or teaching the dog to come on command.

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-training-come.html

You can get a good idea of how it works by going the link, above, scrolling down to and playing the video. Just substitute Barbara, Kyleigh, and me for the people involved. The dog looks a lot like Jackson.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp! Part II -cont'd

TD3. Once we arrive in the training area, rope untangled, the fun, easy part begins. Jackson knows the routine and pretty much shadows me right from the beginning.

At one point however, the rope tightened. So, I glanced over my shoulder to see what was going on. Was the rope caught on something? Did Jackson spot a squirrel or something else of interest? None of the above. Jackson was just sitting there looking at me as if to say “what is this nonsense all about? Are we going somewhere or what?”
With just a gentle tug on the rope and my hurrying off away from him, this little rebellion was over.

Now you must picture this setting: We are in an open lot in a new development. No construction going on within hundreds of yards. No cars. No people. No commotion. Just Jackson and me and almost ghostly silence. All of a sudden there is a loud “CHIRP, CHIP, CHIP, CHIRP!” I look all around and finally spot its source. It’s a lone Mockingbird above us, flying in a circle and just chewing us out! I imagine it was protecting either a nest or possibly young offspring. Finally it landed –about 75 feet away and continued to chip at these intruders to his domain. Now Jackson is extreemely interested. Consider what we have here: An antagonistic bird, just 75 feet away. An 8-month, 50-pound highly excited dog, an 882-month, 185-pound highly worried man, a slack 50-foot rope –rapidly being taken up by Flash Gordon as he makes a B-line for this feathered creature! Will I be the yanker or the yankee?!!? This has never happened to me before! With only a second or two to spare, I held onto the loop of rope around my waist and leaned away from the charging Jackson as best I could.
WHOOMP! Jackson did an outside loop, the Mockingbird flew away (probably chuckling to itself), and, miraculously, I was still standing. I think this whole, impromptu exercise probably reinforced Jackson’s newfound realization that he cannot run freely without consequence.

So, TD3 came to an end. Jackson visited me for a few minutes at Loco Lane, had some water, and received a few little treats while getting just a little more training in the “sit” command.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp! Part II

In the instruction manual, under long-line training, there is a statement something like, “Take your dog to a wide open park area and connect a 50-foot rope to his training collar…”

Yeh, right! That’s like a cookbook stating, “mix ingredients in a large bowl.” It gives you little idea about what you had to go through to get all those ingredients in the first place and then prepare them so that you can get to the simple mixing statement, above.

Let’s just take a look at TD3 and see what its like getting to the “wide open…area.”

To fully appreciate this, you must first know a little more about Jackson. Yesterday we mentioned that he was a rascal. We should, perhaps, expand on this a little. Jackson is a rascal that moves just a bit slower than the speed of light. And most of the time, what he wants to do and what you want him to do are diametrically opposed wishes. And remember we stated that he is a Yellow Lab? Well, yeh…partly. Jackson is 100% Lab and about 50% wild mustang.

Barbara brought him over to Loco Lane around 8:30 AM (again, “brought him over” is similar to “mix ingredients…” –but only Barbara can tell you what she went through to get him over here).

First thing, Jackson barged through the front door without so much as an “excuse me…” but Barbara was able to hold on long enough to take him around to Maggie’s area. It was my idea to hook the loop of his leash around a water pipe just to keep him in place long enough for us think about the next step. I didn’t realize he had Houdini qualities and Jackson was out of his collar in a flash, bolted around the yard, bolted through the garage, bolted through the dog-door into the house. Jackson then proceeded to inspect four rooms in less than four seconds. Somehow we were able to get him out of the house, back into his collar & leash and into the back of Sadie (Sadie is a car).

The drive to the open area in a new development known as Fiddyment Farms was comparatively uneventful. Jackson loves to ride (at least for short distances) and is happy to be able to stick his nose in the air through an open rear window. He has learned (somewhat) to stay in the back seat after two days of a loving elbow in his chest and a sharp “BACK!” command. What he has not mastered is staying in the back while I exit the car and go around to get him out curbside. This is where the Theory of Relativity comes in…his speed relative to mine. If his speed is just a bit slower than the speed of light, my speed is just a bit faster than an old tortoise. Not a match. It’s “Jackson, BACK! Jackson STAY!” Then I try to slip out the door and close it before “Flash Gordon” can squeeze by me to beat me out of the car. Believe it or not, I have been quite successful at this. As soon a Jackson sees me go to the back door on the passenger side, he is right there chomping at the bit to get out. This is not an easy step in this whole process! Consider my options: (1) I can simply let him out un-tethered (not a viable option…can’t take a chance on him running off). (2) I can open the door slowly and hope to grab his leash before he pushes me back and runs off (not a good option…remember the Houdini trick mentioned above?). Finally, (3) I learned from TD1 and TD2 that it is NOT a good idea to attach the long line before we are in the center of the open area, as it will invariably get tangled around some lurking, vertical object. When this happens, the dog does not simply wait for his trainer to untangle the line. On the contrary, he will continue to compound the problem by entangling his trainer and even himself! It can take from 10 to 15 minutes to get out of this situation. So how did we get him into the training area today? I opened the door, grabbed his leash, and moved with him as quickly as I could to prevent him from pulling on and slipping out of his collar.

Other than that, getting to the center of the training area was, well, pretty uneventful.

Jackson

This is Jackson, daring you to sit in his chair.

This picture was taken f6.2, 1/1,000,000 second.

Jackson Goes to Boot Camp!

If you don’t know him, Jackson is an eight months old Yellow Labrador Retriever owned by Barbara, Lee, & Kyleigh Dingfelder –and, oh yeh, the “little brother” of Lucy, a Black Lab who is 3-years old. Unlike Lucy, Jackson is a rascal. Lucy is calm, sweet, and gentle. Jackson is a sweet, beautiful canine. Did I mention that he is a rascal? This photo was taken shortly after he had a pillow fight with his Big Sis in the family garage.

Having recently lost my wonderful, Canine-American Furperson, Maggie (Golden Retriever), I asked the Dings if I could get involved in Jackson’s training. After careful thought over an extended period of, oh..., about 3 milliseconds, they gave me a resounding “YES!”

I have some experience in this area. Jeanne and I trained Sam, Maggie’s predecessor, and I also trained Maggie. Now, you must understand that Sam and Maggie were calm as new puppies; Jackson is calm-NOT. Did I mention that Jackson is a rascal? I love this dog and I am happy to take on the challenge. The first thing we are doing to train Jackson is the "long-line" routine. The purpose of this part of his training is to teach him to never get more than 50 feet away from you and to keep an eye on your every move. This is done by tying one end of a 50-foot rope onto his training collar and the other end looped around the trainer's waist. Then the trainer and trainee go to an open area -ideally a grassy area with at least a 100-foot radius and no vertical obstructions. The trainer then just walks away from the dog. At no time should the trainer speak to the dog, touch the dog, or even make eye contact with him. At first it is expected that a rambunctious dog (like Jackson) will run and soon come to the end of his rope. He will then (usually) run toward you and (usually) right on by you. When he does this, the trainer does an immediate U-turn and walks in the opposite direction. The dog soon learns that if he goes in a different direction from his trainer he will get a sudden and somewhat uncomfortable (not painful) jerk on his collar. Because the trainer remains quiet at all times, the dog responds to just one stimulus. He soon learns not only to stay close to you but will keep an eye on you as long as you are moving! Each session should last 20-30 minutes.

We have completed Training Day 2 (TD2) . In a word: textbook! It is almost unbelievable. At the end of TD1 he was already shadowing me. Today, the rope tightened only twice -once when he stopped to poop and one other time when he chased a blowing leaf ('probably thought it was a squirrel)! We will probably keep up the long-line sessions for about a week. After that number of sessions, he will most likely stay near me at all times. Then we will go into the 2nd phase: heeling. Because he will already be staying near me*, it should be pretty easy to teach him to heel.

Be sure to check back daily for more episodes of "Jackson Goes to Boot Camp!"

* ”me” turns into anyone who is involved with this animal –not just the trainer.

A loving farewell salute to our wonderful Maggie

Painfully, we had to say goodbye to Miss Maggie today. After 11+ years with her loving master, family, and countless friends, this beautiful animal reached the end of her Circle of Life.

Maggie became very ill on Saturday, February 9, 2008. Barbara, Kyleigh, and I were able to get her to an emergency Veterinary Clinic on Sunday morning. They were able to determine right away that she had growths on her spleen and liver and was bleeding internally. Only by giving her blood transfusions were they able to keep her alive long enough for all of us to make the terrible but unavoidable decision to let her go. She was sedated and was to be put down peacefully by the vet.

You will be happy to know that right up to this past weekend, Maggie was still quite vivacious –enjoying her daily walk to the pond near her home. She would eye the ducks and geese, then go about her task of sniffing the grass and shrubs around the pond. She would still do her “barrel rolls” on the lawns as we returned to the house. In the morning on the way to her breakfast in the garage, she almost always did a barrel roll on the carpet between the dining and living rooms –expecting a little scratch on her belly or chest.

Maggie will be missed by many; not only by family members –especially Kyleigh and Sara- but by all who knew her. She acted like everybody’s best friend and greeted neighbors, family friends, delivery people and all with a great deal of excitement. She was truly “Locomotive Lane’s Dog.”

The photo of this magnificent canine was taken circa 1999 when Maggie was about 2 years old.

"♫ San Diego, Super Chargers ♪ ♪"

OK, so its been 44 years of heartbreak. But, I have to admit that the Chargers are imbedded in my heart --broken or not. I have 'given up' and I have tried to switch allegiance. 'didn't work.

Last week, that team redeemed themselves in my viewpoint. With 2 minutes to play and leading the Colts by 4 points, I thought "OK...these are the Colts, World Champions. Its probably over for the Chargers. But you know what, John? This is a great team and they played one helluva game today. Win or lose, I'm proud of them." Then, I held my breath and paced for the last two minutes of the game. They won.

And now, in about 3 hours they face the Perfect Pats. No one thinks they can win...but they can. Win or lose, I will be proud of them. I won't be happy if they pull bonehead, game-losing stunts like they did last year against this same team. But undeniably, I will still be a Charger fan.

Good Luck, Bolts!

♫ San Diego, same old Chargers ♪ ♪

43 years of Heart Break. At least they are consistent.
Note that this post is time-stamped before the game was half over.

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing all a wonderful Healthy and Peaceful New Year. May God Bless us all in wonderful ways in 2008.
Love,
your ________,
John