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

Long time, no see!

Dad,

Sorry for not writing as often as I should, but life here has been pretty laid-back and I've been trying to catch up on some sleep. I'm on guard duty for a few hours a day and I must rest alot so I'll be ready, just in case someone tries to break in. So far, so good. My only problem is that nobody has clearly identified what I should do if there ever is a break in.....perhaps I'm expected to just lick them to death; I'm not really sure... but I keep my 50-caliber hollow-pointed tongue wet, warm, ready, locked and loaded, just in case. Whenever Sayer comes home with Gary, well, I sure get a chance to play hard and that tires me out some more. I love Sayer so much but sadly, I heard Gary tell Vicki that come March 22 he'll likely be sent away to San Rafael for advanced training. Gary has been getting emails from GDB asking about some of his missing paper work, like the paper that proves he's neutered. Gosh, all any body has to do is look and they'll know he's missing some pretty important parts. But Gary found the paper work and is going to email it to them tomorrow. He was also told Sayer needs more Rabies shots before I'm sent back and so he is scheduling that too. I'm beginning to wonder what kind of place it really is up there in San Rafael. I mean do they all run around with rabies or something? Dad, guess what? I'm going to get another job pretty soon. Gary and the others have been checking into the requirements for me to become a Delta Society dog, which is a type of therapy dog. I know I've always been considered a member of high society but this will make it formal, and they'll even get a photo ID of me as proof! Once I'm trained for this program, I'll get to go to hospitals and retirement homes to let people pet me, which I love so much. It'll be good therapy for me to get out and around some more, and they say it's good therapy also for those that will get to pet me. Sounds like a pretty good program, don't you think? Well, I hear the ice maker grinding some ice so I better go check out what's going on. I wouldn't want to miss my nightly ice cube. Say Hi to all, especially Claudia and Grandma and of course that little rug-rat Cuzzie. I miss you all so much.

Love and wet slobbery kisses from dear sweet loveable Zane.