[nagdu] Amount of walking

Tamara Smith-Kinney tamara.8024 at comcast.net
Wed Mar 17 18:49:21 UTC 2010 

Well, I have to admit that talking to your dog is a step up from talking to
your cane.  Which I have also done.  /lol/  Or to a tree because you "see" a
shadow of something and have a long conversation with it thinking it is the
person who is standing nearby talking on the cell phone you also don't see.
/grin/  Okay, so I've only done that once.  The other time, it was a sort of
bush, I think, not really a tree.  /grin/

I would rather talk to a tree than run into one!

You do have a point about the cell phones, though.  Especially with those
people who have tiny, tiny cell phones and nearly invisible headgear to talk
into, even to eagle-eyed sighted people.  There is no way to convince
yourself those people are not completely insane, even once you figure out
what's going on.  /lol/

Having spent too much time living in a small town, I have an automatic
"smile and say hi!" respsonse, because of course that's just what you do
there because everyone else does and, well, that's just what's done.  /lol/
Portland has sort of retained a "small town friendly" atmosphere, so it's
not as weird to smile brightly and toss off a cheery hello here as it would
be in a more uptight city environment.

There's nothing wrong with talking to your dog, per se.  Lots of people do,
even if the dog isn't guiding them or isn't a guide dog at all.  To me, it's
perfectly natural; I used to talk a lot to my horses when I was out riding,
too.  /smile/

I think when I will suddenly realize it seems odd for me to be carrying on
an extended discussion with my poodle is in those situations where people
and their dogs generally aren't.  So it's one thing at the dog park.  It's
another thing to pick something up at the store, feel it, frown, and say,
"What's this? Toilet paper? Or paper towels?" to your dog.  Not wrong, just
not what people normally do.

I lost some ground in identifying things easily by touch because of the
numbness in my hands, which is now mostly gone, except for every now and
then when I will suddenly be so clumsy I can't stand it and drop or knock
over everything I touch until I figure out it's one of those days I just
don't feel stuff to find out what it is.  /smile/

Anyway, there I will be in the store, absent-mindedly examining something
with identifying features and textures I can now feel, asking Mitzi
questions about it, while she looks up at me and grins and wags her tail
because she's just a very conversational dog.  Then it will suddenly click
that I know what *it* is, and I will exclaim excitedly, "Oh! That's not
toilet paper!  It's potato chips!"

Then I will hear a scuff from nearby and realize what I've been doing and
what I just said and, well.  I will feel very foolish and silly, and my
cheeks will get all hot, and I know I'm blushing like mad, which makes me
feel even more foolish...

What is my natural response to feeling foolish and nervous in a social
situation?  I giggle!  Like a little kid who just heard a grown up make a
rude noise.  /rotfl/  I can be on my mostdignified professional behavior, in
a power suit and everything, impressing the heck out of a group of
businessmen who don't believe women have any right using computers, then
slip up and say something that just doesn't come out right and...  You
guessed it!  Blush and giggle.  Oddly, this seems to turn out well for me.
Doesn't stop me feeling like a complete dolt, though!

Actually, while I appreciate the inherent absurdity of a grown woman in a
grocery store asking her dog for advice on purchasing decisions, the scuff
of feet from my silent audience generally turns out to be a result of their
doubling over in laughter and trying to stifle it.  Apparently, my life has
become a highly entertaining comedy routine!  /grin/

Or I will decided to just move on and recover what's left of my dignity.
Then, three aisles over, some very kind woman will approach me.  "Excuse
me," she will say politely.  "I couldn't help noticing how good you are with
your dog and how well you do.  I saw you over there on the potato chip
aisle..."

So I blush and giggle...  Then will have a quite pleasant conversation with
the person.  So it's all good and everybody is happy and amused.

I still feel like an absolute fool, though, every time I realize that
someone has been watching me.  And I blush and giggle, every time, too.  My
life as a Tami, I guess.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 9:39 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

How is talking to a dog any different then say somebody talking into a
cell phone? Just because someone is on a cell phone talking, doesn't
mean they're talking to anybody. And, a lot of cell phones are so tiny
you can't really see them, making it look as if the person is talking to
themselves. So, basically what is different about talking to a dog?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 12:01 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

Joy,

Oh, yeah.  I discuss the route, what I perceive of what's ahead, wonder
which way we want to go...  I ask her questions about it and about what
she
wants to do, then I answer myself as if she answered me first...  Quite
the
conversationalist, my poodle!

Then, of course, I will realize that someone I didn't know was there is
quietly tiptoeing away from the crazy blind lady.  /lol/  How
embarrassing!
Or someone will suddenly giggle and try to stifle it.  Or start
answering
back.  Of course, that will be the first time I will realize I was
talking
out loud because it's such a habit by now. /lol/

Like you, I use it to stay focused, and Mitzi is used to it, so she
listens
like she understands every word and will sometimes do a little woof if I
mention someplace she would rather go because she knows it by name.  I
didn't used to be such a big prattler, but I think that the sound of my
voice also gives me additional sound cues about what's out there...  A
sort
of echo location.  Yup!  I really do talk just to hear the sound of my
own
voice.  /grin/

I do it more when I'm a little off for some reason, although I have
fewer
and fewer "off" days as time goes by.  So I'm trying to curb the habit.
We'll see how that goes.  /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Joy Relton
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 3:00 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

So Tami, are you one of those crazy adventurers who talks to your dog
about
the area and the great possibilities? I've been known to talk with my
dogs a
little. It kind of keeps our focus together and they mostly put up with
my
craziness, but I'm not sure about the neighbors.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 12:57 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking


Oh, indeed! My favorite going out and getting lost buddy is moving away
this
summer so I'm bummed.  I love just going out and adventuring, and it's
fun
having someone else to figure out the challenges with.  /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Joy Relton
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 7:33 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

Tami,

I wish that we lived closer together because I think that we would have
a
lot of fun together. For me, jogging is pretty much a quick walk and my
dogs
have had no problem with it. I currently am hoping that my walk will be
fast
enough for my new dog who I will be meeting on the 29th, if all goes as
it
is supposed too. By the way, little old lady jogging is lots better than
sitting in front of the computer. I need to do much more of the former
and
less of the latter. .

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 12:33 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking


Joy,

If it weren't for Mitzi, I would be physically fused to my computer.  I
am a
bad, bad girl!  /grin/

Walking with my guide dog is also way more fun than walking with my
cane,
and I get better overall exercise by being able to just stretch out and
walk.  We're starting to do a little jogging together, with her in
harness.
It's not a regular thing yet, but I've been surprised by how well our
short
little trots go.  I'm usually with our little buddy or her older cousin,
our
medium buddy, and they get a kick out of making fun of my little old
lady
jog.  /lol/  They're encouraging at the same time, so it's fun teasing.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Joy Relton
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 4:33 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

Well, Tami, I suspect you are a bit like me and need a dog or some other
living creature to keep me on the straight and narrow--like walking and
getting some of that pent up energy out. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:03 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking


Joy,

Mitzi still turns into a royal snot monster when she doesn't get out
enough,
so she keeps me motivated.  I can get away with bieng lazy for a day or
two
now, but then I pay for it.  /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Joy Relton
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:31 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Amount of walking

Oh Tracy,

I think that I'm going to be discovering a different level of walking
needed
for my new partner when we are matched so that one to two miles that I
usually walk might not cut any more. I know that Belle would insist that
we
get out and walk and it was always better for both of us. It is true
that as
the dog puts on a few years their need for long walks on a daily basis
lessens but the need a regular walking of some kind definitely
continues. It
does for us as well. 


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