derrycats posted: " Here we are at the end of 2021, a year that was more similar to 2020 that I had hoped. The pandemic is still front and center, even if we're not in lockdown anymore. I'm not one for making resolutions going into the new year, but it is my hope that 2022 "
Here we are at the end of 2021, a year that was more similar to 2020 that I had hoped. The pandemic is still front and center, even if we're not in lockdown anymore. I'm not one for making resolutions going into the new year, but it is my hope that 2022 brings a downturn in Covid, or at least an easier time living with it all around. I doubt it will disappear entirely...maybe not ever...but I would welcome it being more like the flu than the killer it has been for too many. And you can bet that whatever boosters to my vaccines are recommended, I will be first in line when it is my turn!!
Looking ahead, I've been reflecting on my *hopes* for the upcoming year, rather than resolutions.
With more free time in my world since we retired, I am hoping to spend more time on education. I recently finished the Fear Free Shelter course, which gave me some good info on helping my fosters. And I'm in the middle of completing the Fear Free course on teaching a dog a chin rest -- to stand with chin on a stool or other object that is chin height - so you can work on nails and other care for the dog. I'm thinking that I will sign up for a Karen Pryor Academy course in Concept Training, which covers things like teaching a dog to match a sample (pick out the right item you've asked for), counting, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Gracie needs some new challenges since she's basically finished all the courses offered locally, and I need the challenge too, so that might be our next adventure.
I'm going to keep working with Gracie on lots of things, since she didn't get as much training time while Bucky was here. She's doing very well with getting her teeth brushed daily. It's taken us awhile and it isn't perfect yet, but using what I've learned about "cooperative care" (giving her a choice in whatever care I'm trying to provide) she'd opting in mostly and we're able to spend a few minutes daily on tooth care. She really doesn't love the toothbrush - she's got such a small mouth. But there are several brands of dog toothpaste that just need to be applied to gums and teeth so it can break down bacteria and prevent plaque formation, and Gracie really doesn't mind my finger in her mouth putting this on gums and teeth. She loves the taste, so a little win for her, and right now, she still gets a treat for letting me apply the stuff. We're getting there.
I hope to get back to a better exercise routine too. While Bucky was with us, particularly once he was able (and needed) to walk I got in lots of steps daily, often 15K. With Bucky very happily settled in his forever home I've gotten to be a bit of a slug, and the gray winter days aren't helping that either.
Bucky has quite the wardrobe in his new home - here is his Christmas outfit!
Gracie doesn't care about walks all that much, though I can get her out for shorter walks daily, but convincing her to do a 6-7K walk is a little bit of a challenge. <g> I need to get off my butt and come up with some movements that are fun.
With Bodhi not doing well, we decided not to go to Alaska in May. We just aren't comfortable not being around if he needs us...end of story. Our amazing travel agent actually got us a refund on our flights, which was a surprise, and we will take a small hit rescheduling Alaska for 2023, but that's okay. If Bodhi is still doing okay we will go to Massachusetts in early May - the trip we cancelled last year because of Covid and Bucky - and look forward to seeing some of my blogging buddies along the way. If Bodhi isn't well, we can cancel easily, and if he has problems while we're gone, we can drive back in a day. So that's the plan.
Other hopes for next year...maybe more opportunities for dog therapy if Covid calms down. Gracie enjoys the time with people. We'll be visiting my accountant's office weekly during tax season as long as Covid isn't crazy. I'd like to do some other volunteering too, if opportunities start to open up. We will continue to foster kittens, of course, but no dogs.
The kittens at dinner. I got them a bigger bowl now, and they have colored collars now too so I can tell them apart!
Bodhi doesn't need any additional challenges at this stage of life. We've gotten some throw rugs for the hardwood floors in the living room where he hangs out, and a sling for his hind end for when he needs help getting up. We have some dog beds with rubber covering under the cloth coverings, for when he is incontinent, and some custom belly bands as well. All stuff we can wash as needed to keep him comfortable. He starts with physical therapy 1/11, and hopefully that may slow the process a little bit.
Otherwise, I can only hope that we, as a country, start figuring out who to live better with each other. My mornings start with coffee and Heather Cox Richardson's Letters From an American (https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/) which is my lifeline to a bit of sanity and understanding in the very crazy and corrosive political environment these days. Enough said.
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