18 More days!!!

Hey all,

Got 18 more days to go. Lots to do before I go. Need more summer cloths, as it is hot on the streets in Morristown,NJ. I really did not want to go in summer...but do not want to give up the opportunity to get a guide dog sooner than the end of August!!

The cataract surgery went well the other day and I do have some clarity in the left eye now. It is better than my right now....My glasses are no good any longer....gotta get some new ones. Hey, maybe I'll see the third line on the eye chart....who knows?

There are several books on guide dogs, you can check it out on amazon.com. I bought a couple to lend to some folks with kids, it will help them know how to deal with and act around a guide dog when I get back.

The Seeing Eye also will provide a video for Gary (Spouse) on how to handle a guide dog when I come home. The Do's and Don'ts. If you check out the Seeing Eye web site....you can also purchase the books and videos there: http://www.seeingeye.org/

Cateract Surgery

Cateract surgery went well the day before yesterday. it is healing well. It will take take a few weeks to see any major improvements. However, I can already see better in the operated eye than the other (That used to be my better eye. The surgery does NOT correct the disease in the eye (RP-Retinitis Pigmentosa). The tunnel vision is still there and the "Foggy vision is still ther. This is a complicated disease. See the link to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to see a good description of retinal diseases and there effect on vision: http://www.blindness.org/

Expectations

T This is SKIPPY, my Yorkie that passed away a few years ago....he is at the Raiinbow Bridge!

I have doing some research and asking a lot of questions and have a better idea on what to expect the first few days at guide dog school.

July 18th Saturday: Arrival by lunch time and orientation

July 19th Sunday: More orientation and "JUNO" walks

JUNO walk is when the instructor takes hold of the harness and leads

you around as you learn the commands and feel for the harness. This

is a grea time to learn the basics BEFORE you get the dong and maybe confuse it

with incorrect or incomplete commands.

July 20th Monday: Woo Hoo. Dogs are disbursed and I will finally meet my new friend

and companion. This happens usually after lunch.

Of course this is what has happened in the past...I will give the the real scoop as it happens.

Keep watch here for more...

Great News!

The August 29th date for my stay at guide dog school has been moved up to JULY 18th!!

YIKES...that's only a few weeks away! Lots to do before going away for 26 days! So much to do, so little time.

This is exciting, as I really did not want to wait until the end of August to get this project underway. It will be hotter than I planned to be during all the outdoor training.

As I understand it, we will be out in the town of Morristown everyday. YIKES...gotta get those summer cloths out!



Celebration time! Keep posted for more of this exciting journey! I will have a picture of me and the dog as soon as possible



School starts on July 18th and us students will get their dogs on Monday, July 20th. We have no choice of the name or breed, and won't know until that day. The three major breeds used are Labs, Goldens and Shepards.



You can check out the facility at : http://www.seeingeye.org/

Went to Atlanta to a conference and met someone who went to the Seeing Eye school in Morristown.. She was helpful in passing on some information that will be handy when I go in August! Thanks Cindy!!