Best Day Yet

Today was awesome! Absolutely delightful and relaxing.

We played Mission Impossible -- as a group we coached each other on the best way to do an assigned task. The exercise was planned extremely well and helped us brainstorm and talk through several ways to help us make the task successful for the dogs.

For a couple weeks we've studied, had lectures, practiced incessantly (which we needed) and today it was apparent that we really do know our stuff. It was playful, relaxing, informative and insightful to see how each of us have become confident in doing the commands, fixing the problem when we mess up and everyone of us respect the others.

TOMORROW is the big day. At 9:00 we take our written test. We've had daily quizzes so we all feel comfortable with the material. At 1:30 we go back to the mall and do our practical test. We've had plenty of time to practice with the instructors, tons of open practice sessions, we've helped each other and we are all confident that our dogs know their stuff if we present the commands correctly.

We decided that cramming for the test would be a bad idea, so instead we had a blow-out BBQ. Kellene made amazing fried green beans. Susan did a tasty salad. We had baked potatoes that weighed 1 lb each, James did sirloins, fillets and huge hamburgers on the grill. Shannon made to-die-for apple dumplings. We had a little nice wine, beer and sodas. Every one was in the kitchen laughing, helping and just relaxing.

(That last paragraph sounded like the Promontory News.) A good time was had by all.

Todd, Patti, Simi and Joe came and spent the evening visiting and telling us their personal stories. (More to come on that.)

And we left the dogs in our rooms! We needed the break.

Then after dinner a few of us took our dogs in the training room, closed the doors and let them play until they couldn't do it any longer.

I have lots of pictures and some stories but I need to get to sleep early tonight (stayed up until 2:00 last night blogging).

Pause.

Eeeewww. I was just thinking about how many great friends I've made the last couple weeks and was just about to bear my testimony that I love them. I'll spare you that Snow College-esk tearfest.

But I do. and I think there are several that I'll stay in touch with for years.

Send good vibes to Oceanside on Thursday.