[nagdu] skiing and guide dogs

[MS S TILLETT]

I have been going to the Land of the Vikings regional ski for light program in Sherman Pa, and it is really a wonderful place and a lot of fun.  They don't want the dogs out where folks are skiing but they do welcom dogs who are okay staying in the room while you are skiing.  

It is a very rustic lodge and the rooms are small.  It has a really nice livingroom with a round fireplace with couches and chairs all around it.  It is laidback and relaxed.  

This year we have more guides signed up than vips, so I thought I would write to urge some of you to come.  It is the last week of January I think from Sunday the 25th to Sunday February 1st.  You can fly, or take a bus to Binghamton New York, which is about 45 minutes away, and someone will pick you up.  Some of us do a shorter version from Wednesday to Sunday and they will do pickups on Sunday and Wednesday.  

If we don't have snow we hike.  It is so quiet and peaceful, the food is wonderful, and at night we play board and card games, and some of us bring instruments.  My friend who comes as a guide, plays piano and accordian and folks like to sing around the piano.  I decided to learn to knit this year so that I can sit by the fire and knit.  

Anyway, it is good fun, not clicky, and everyone wants to get to know everyone and is friendly.  You can call me at 609-924-7489, or she-mail me at 
suetillett at verizon.net 

I hope one or more of you will join us.  

Sue, and Wonder 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Angie Matney 
  To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
  Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 6:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [nagdu] opinions of other blind people


  Hi Marsha,

  Yes, it does make sense. I know it can be hard to get past the guilt of retirement. My first dog retired and 9.5, and I had to deal with guilt from that, since, after all, some people's dogs work untill they're 11 oar so.

  Anyway...it's hard to move past that, but you can trust your own judgment. If you're just not sure, try to imagine what an instructor would say. And even if you happen to make a mistake at any point, it's not the place of your friends to tell you how to 
  handle the dog. Putting a dog on tiedown or in a crate is not abuse.

  Best,

  Angie



  On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:13:40 -0500, Marsha wrote:

  >Oh I know that SE would have told them that if the dog is working well, if
  >they are being fed and parked, and seem to be happy then whatever. It just
  >seems I have run into this much more here than any where else. I should make
  >up SE cards and hand them to a person when they try to do this to me. 

  >But I guess as a good handler, I say good because I think I am very good
  >with my puppy, that when ever people say something to me it makes me feel
  >guilty. It makes me question what I am doing, how I am doing it, and so on.
  >I just do not want to be wrong, I am on my second guide, and the first was
  >retired, and yes there is a lot of guilt there. I just want to be doing the
  >best. So for me it is a fine line between being right knowing what I am
  >doing right is really right for me and then defending what is right. I do
  >not know if that makes any sense? 
  >Marsha 





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