Rowdy Partners Reunion - Part 1

Good morning pups,

Phewwww, I am pooped. Dad has had me working like a crazy dog! And there has been so many new dogs in my life! What a whirlwind weekend this has been. Oh yes, some of you may not know that this Memorial Day weekend is what Dad calls the Rowdy Partners and Pups weekend.

For those of you who have not heard, Dad's classmates from around the country have descended onto Denver and have been having such a great time renewing relationships and just having fun.

Thursday, Kae & Larry first came in on the bus from the airport and we met them at the Hampton Inn. Kae hadMiss Melody (Meli as Kae calls her a lot) and Larry had Oxford leading him into the hotel. They are such good looking Golden Lab Retrievers, Melody is sleek like me and Oxford is such a BIG hunk, 95 pounds of fire-breathing love.

Dad and I had prepared some baskets of goodies for them and stocked their refrigerators in their room with a few beverages as well. Megan arrived with Allard a couple hours later and we all got together for some Mexcian food at El Parral that evening. It was so great to meet GDB guide dogs. It was almost like I was back at Guide Dog School in Boring, except all these good-looking dudes came from San Rafael.

On Friday, we all got up early and prepared for our hike at Williams Park adjacent to Dinosuar Hogsback. Steve of Blind Outdoor Adventures led the 4 of us along a "two-butt" path up and down through rolling hills and brisk running streams of water. We had to move to the side many times to allow runners or bikers to pass as this was a very active trail. The wild flowers were everywhere in bloom, the birds were chirping their songs of the Spring and the prior night's rain provided a fragrant smell for all to smell. I did not show Dad some of the rocks or logs that we crossed, but I kept working myself around them and Dad walked over them!

Meli and Oxford were really good at marking the rocks and steering their handlers aruond the rocks in the path. It was truly an interesting path. After about a 1.5 mile walk in, we stopped to rest and have some wine, cheese, trail mix and water before retracing our steps back to starting point. It took us about 3 hours to complete the trek which was a totally fun experience.

We had lunch on the deck outside the Platte River Pub. We had great burgers and beer, well I should say I was hoovering for dropped napkins and pieces of food! Most of us were so pooped we just layed down and rested while our partners ate their tummies full.

Everyone tooks naps to recover and rest before a great BarBQ dinner at Brother's BBQ in the evening. We needed to rest and recuperate before the big meeting on Saturday.

At 8:30 on Saturday, people began arriving for the Rowdy Partners and Pups meeting at the Hampton Inn. Additional GDB partners joined us for this great meeting. I met Elway, Yelllow Lab, and Vicki; O'Connor and his handler, Chris and Roanne and her handler, Veronica. And to add to all the fun there were three different puppy raiser clubs from the area!

The puppy raisers that joined us were Have Paws Will Travel, Liberty on Leashes and Dogs with Vision. They brought several puppies to share their stories and demonstrate their "got to bed" and "layover" routines. We had some retired guides as well and some career-changed dogs to be part of our party. There were 17 people in all in attendance and 14 dogs. Wow! what a party!

Lots of pictures were taken and lots of stories were shared. Several people expressed interest in a GDB alumni chapter in Colorado which Dad will coordinate and get them moving.

We all had lunch at El Parral next door and got a chance to fellowship some more. This was just like college, having all my buddies around to rest while our handlers enjoyed their food and fellowship. We did do an obstacle course around the parking lot and took a big group picture which I can't wait to share with all of you!

After some more naps, everybody came over to our house for food, fun and fellowship and frolicking and rolling on the floor giving each other lots of kisses! After a brief 30 minute rain, we took off around Arapahoe Lakes and enjoyed the fragrant smells and goose poop along the route. We sat on a bench near the lake and waterfall, while Kae took our picture. So many great shots to share. Dad and all his rowdy partners shared stories about lots of funny things we have done. There was lots of laughter!

So today we have breakfast together at Gunther Tootie's and then head to downtown Denver to stroll along the beautiful 16th Street pedestrian mall, check out the Denver Arts Festival and who knows what else.

That's all for now. I'm heading back to my kennel cage to get some rest before we head out!

Lots of love to Class 680 and all those pups that are rocking their partner's world! Parka

Television Career? Colorado & Company

Good morning, fellow k-9's,



On March 19, the 3 of us went to 9News in dowtown Denver to
promote our upcoming events in the Denver area. Dad included a
picture of us after the TV spot on Colorado & Company. You can
go the 9news.com and you might find the segment on-line.

I felt pretty proud of my good-looking, sleek, fashionable self as they
seemed to be so enamored with me. I thought Carmen was a lot
better looking than me, but I am a pretty HOT sumber. I could see
myself on the BIG screen TV that they had in the room and that camera
man just kept focusing on me as Dad and Carmen talked!

In the picture are Carmen Swick, VP, Fundraising and Event Chair for the Blind Tast of the Rockies & Auction which will beheld on June 4 in a corporate jet hanger for the jet-set! Dad is there with me and Mark McIntosh who is the host of the show. Carmen knows him so she got us on for a 5-minute spot. Is this how Marilyn Monroe got her start?

In face, they wanted to do a teaser spot prior to our coming on, so they sat Dad down in a chair with me in front of him and we just made magic to draw in the 100,000+ viewers in Denver. Wow, I'm a star!

I was not nervous at all and I was a perfect, young lady. Everyone just oohed and ahhed as I did my thing!

Love to all and I know you are jealous! Miss Parka

Parka Express - Adventures update!

Good morning & Happy Easter!



I'm sorry that I have been a little out of communication. You know, Dad has been using that "gentle leader" on me a LOT! Well, it kinda keeps my muzzle wrapped pretty tight, so I've not wanted to do a lot ot talking. I've been busy keeping my mouth shut and doing my job. I still sneak in a little "hoover time" as we walk, but it is much more difficult for me and Dad is really trying to break me of that habit. What can I say, I'm just a hungry girl!



I was sick last week and had to go see the Vet for an upset tummy and lots of other things, that are too messy to talk about. Dad first put me on "chicken & rice, very bland," but was that a nice change in diet. I've been eating a lot of lamb & rice, but it was nice to scale down and eat chicken. Then after seeing the Vet, she gave us some canned food that she claimed was high in fiber. I'm not sure about that, but it was high in ymmy-ness!



My weight was down to 52.5 pounds! I feel more like a racing dog now...sleek and fast! Well, that's why Dad calls me the Parka Express! Dad feeds me 4-5 times per day. It sure seems like I'm getting a LOT of food, but I know it's only 2 heaping cups per day, but I sure do love eating several times per day!



We had a great adventure to San Antonio & Houston, Texas in mid March. What a trip! Dad really packs in a lot of things to do on a trip and we spent a lot of time with a really nice guy named Aaron. Dad said that he is the Event Manager for the Rocky Texas region. We stayed at his house in early February and I really enjoyed their house dog.



Mar. 13: landed in San Antonio, took a cab to Marriott near the River Walk. This was a very nice hotel and I found a good place to potty in the court yard! Aaron, Kristin, Antonea, Dad and I went to dinner on the River Walk and they had yummy Mexican food while I behaved under the table.



Mar. 14: We got started at 5:45 a.m. to attend the San Antonio VisionWalk and I led Dad through the darkness while we set up for the BIG event that morning in Breckenridge Park. A river ran throught he park and Dad and I walked around the area and I chased a couple of ducks away from our path. Over 200 people attended a very cold and rainy morning, in fact, we built a fire in a fire pit under the pavilion. We raised over $120,000 to fund research this day. What a fun time.



We flew to Houston that afternoon and had dinner at Bonnie's with the Houston chapter board. 25 people attended this dinner, board meeting that Dad set up. Once again, I behaved, while everyone else ate!



Mar. 15: We checked out the park where the Houston Walk will be held in the Fall, then went to a meeting at the Houston Lighthouse where 120 people attended to hear the program set up by Dad and Aaron. Wow, I'm getting tired just relating this story.



Mar. 16-17: We met lots of people that Dad used to know when he lived in Houston and even made a presentation to the Harrisburg Rotary Club, where Dad was president in the mid 90's. I was proud of Dad as he made his presentation to the 60 Rotarians in attendance! I was strutting my stuff.



OK, it's time for my grade update for this trip. If you recall, my overall grade was "B-" before:



Following commands and acting when asked to do so: A- (was B+ last time)

Riding in vehicles and staying calm when asked: A (was A last time)

Hoovering in normal harness and leash: C (was D- last time)

Hoovering with gentle leader: A- (was B+ last time)

Recall of paths taken in hotels: B+ (was C+ last time)

Advising Dad of curbs, obstacles, people: B+ (was B+ last time) (still forget curbs sometimes, and run Dad into people when I should shlow down, got to work on that!)

Synchronization and working as a team: 80% of the team (was 75% last time)



Overall Grade for this trip: B (was B- last time)



Dad uses the gentle leader most of the time with me. I wish I did not have such a hunger drive, but you know, I'm just a hungry girl. There are so many things that look appealing along the path. Dad did walk to work with me without the leader, but I kept hoovering and lunging for food a little bit too much and lost my freedom again.



I'll try to be more communicative in the future and I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. In fact, I hope I get to play with Cuzzie's squeaking bunny this weekend! I love taking that toy away from her. I've been giving her a lot of kisses lately, so I'm starting to like that little bundle of excitment!



Lots of hugs, licks and kisses to Becki, Ashley & Caitlin up in Washington!



Love to all, Miss Parka