BEAR, GONE TO THE DOGS. YIPPEE!!!

It's a darned cold morning in the land of the Bear. (For the weather details, see the note at the bottom.)

However, cold morning or not, the dogs and I went outside to check the yard, and plug in the car so J can go downtown to have lunch with a friend. (Why anyone would want to go anywhere in this temperature is beyond me. But, well. . . .) Block heaters are amazing things for helping your car's engine to start on a very cold day. Even if you just plug the heater in for an hour or so.

Oh. The dogs? Well, since you asked. . . . 

Please allow me to introduce Shadow.

He is named that because, wherever you go, he goes too. Just like a shadow. So I think that name suits him well. The minute I sit down in my chair to read, he's sitting or lying down at my feet. He won't necessarily stay there, but he never goes far. (He's sleeping at my feet right now.) I just have to make sure I don't step on him when I get up. 

And this is Salsa. 

I don't know how she got her name. She has a bit of trouble hearing, so hand signals work best with her. She likes to sleep in closed-in spaces, where (I guess) she feels well protected. Safe. 

They are both very quiet dogs. When I prepared lunch, they are right there at my feet, watching, silently. They seem to think that, if it hits the floor, it's theirs. 

And how did we get two beautiful Shelties (Shetland Sheepdogs)? Some friends are going to be away for a few days, so they left their dogs with us. 

They think we are doing them a favour. Actually, it is the other way around. These two are my "dog therapy," or therapy dogs, or whatever. That's not a joke.

There is a growing body of research that shows having a dog around is good for your health. I have read about it in the medical reports and journals I get. Petting a dog will lower your blood pressure, make you feel more calm and relaxed, help you get out for a walk in the "fresh" air, etc. This also seems to be true of horses. (Cats? Don't ask.) So they are particularly helpful for people, and Bears, with many mental health issues. A colleague of mine, a counsellor, takes her dog to work, and allows her clients to interact with the dog. She thinks the people do better because of the dog. 

Phone just rang; I got up to answer it. Shadow came with me; Salsa kept sleeping. Now I'm back, and Shadow has ultimately gone to sleep by the door. I don't know why there; perhaps he is just a "cool" dog. 

Anyhow, our animal ethics committee at the university approved a project for dogs to come on campus during exam time in April. That was at our meeting on Wednesday — two days ago. Yes, this is ethical treatment of specially-trained dogs in a well-supervised situation. We also think it will be a good thing for students, particularly first-year students who are away from home. Help them to deal with year-end jitters, and the like.

Anyhow, I have my own therapy dogs for a while. And I feel better with them around. Much better, really. I think one would be enough, but them come as a pair, so this is dandy. I'll tell you more about them, anon. 

I think this is going to be a good weekend! I can feel it already!

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends.

Today's Weather Report
Currently (noon), -27 (or -17F), but the wind chill goes to -40 (same in both languages). Tonight, -52 (-62F, if your thermometer doesn't break!). A bit cooler than usual.

IN WHICH BEAR GETS BOUNCED

It was a very grey morning, and early — about 7:30. The temperature was about -30C (or -22F). 

I heard this noise. It woke me, and since I wasn't quite awake, so I had to listen to it a couple more times.

My cell phone. My cell phone is ringing. 

Which was peculiar, because only family members (and a few others) have my phone number. (Bear is actually quite a private Bear.) So, if it's someone calling, it must be important.

Crawl of bed. Hunt for call phone. Finally find cell phone. Go to open cell phone. It stops ringing. 

This has gone from being GRrrr to being GGGRRRR. 

Wander into study and wake up computer. (It's usually about as sleepy as I am.) Find my phone book app. Type phone number into reverse look-up. Sit and wait. Finally a message comes: "no listings were found." 

Translation: it was a telemarketer. At 7:30 in the morning. When I was sound asleep. 

GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

But by then, I was feeling well and truly "bounced" — as if Tigger (friend of Winnie the Pooh) had enthusiastically landed on my bed, front paws on my shoulders, with a cheery "Good morning, Bear!" 

I appreciated the sentiment, but it was most certainly not feeling like a very good morning. I mean, have you had a Tigger "bounce" you when you were still sound asleep? Children, perhaps; a Tigger, not so much, if at all.  

I had to go somewhere, so I had breakfast, sent myself to the shower, got dressed, and headed out. I was still feeling edgy, a bit nervous. I couple of very minor things happened, but they upset me — more like threw me off course, mentally. I noticed that my reaction times were slower than usual. I was not as steady.

Anyhow, I did what I needed to do. I got home, still feeling a bit "bounced." After several cups of tea, and lunch, I started feeling a little better. 

GgRrrR!!

So, dear friends, have you ever been "bounced" by a #@&$^ telemarketer, first thing in the morning? How did you feel about that?

Sigh! I feel tired, all over again. 

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!


Today's Weather Report
Bright and sunny, with a bit of haze or very thin clouds. Temperature at -9C (16F); with wind chill, feels like -15C (5F). Could turn out to be a nice day.