Spies, spies, everywhere!

All this week we've had many, many field trips. Wednesday was a big day. We had a field trip to the city bus depot, a movie, dinner and the Wednesday night street fair. The bus -oh my goodness. We had practiced the whole bus routine the day before, but this was the real thing. We were given a specific bus to ride with it's departing and returning times. We also got to ride with a partner. However, when Grant (my partner) and I wheeled up to our bus, there was already a woman in a power wheel chair there waiting. So, our instructor bumped Grant to another bus and I got to ride by myself. A little nerve racking at first but it all went ok. I had a tricky time maneuvering into the correct spot, but the driver was kind and patient with me and the other woman in the chair said "It's ok, you can crash into me if you like!" I did make it without crashing into her, only, the spot where Chrissy is supposed to sit (in front of my chair between two ratcheted straps) was far to small for her. So she wedged herself between my wheelchair and the wall, which was a space about 4 inches wide, and stayed there for the entire 55 minute bus ride. The rest of the day progressed smoothly, but was just LONG and EXHAUSTING.

Yesterday, we did a great exercise. We were taken to the mall (with dogs and wheelchairs of course) and given a separate schedules. The schedule was written out like a scavenger hunt. We had to be in specific stores, doing specific tasks at specific times. For example, at 2:30 go into Sears and proceed directly to Aeropostale. At Aeropostale, put the dog into a down stay and look at clothes. Find a mirror and have your dog practice turns. At 2:45 leave the store and proceed to the Disney store. At the Disney store, ask the clerk to help you and your dog with counter retrieves (the dog has to hand money to clerk and bring you back your change and hand you a bag). At 2:55 go to Starbucks and have your dog touch the automatic exit button....etc. We all had a really good time and the entire exercise only lasted an hour. We returned to the school and all these strange cars and vaguely familiar people started showing up. Turns out, these people were spies and each one of them was assigned to each one of us. We met in the education room and each "spy" reported on our public perception and whether or not we followed through with all our tasks. It was a great time and really fun to hear back about what our spies had to report.

Today, we went to Dillon Beach, which is an off leash dog beach. Holy cow, you want to talk about total canine joy! The dogs were SO excited. When they were let off leash it was like kids getting out of school on the last day. Thirteen dogs running full speed, ears flappin', tongues hangin' out, tails waggin-straight into the surf and then all over the beach rough housing, playing, running and having the time of their lives. It was a good time!! I will post pictures of beach day soon!!

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