Advisory Chooses Southeastern Guide Dogs

I do have the best advisory there is.  I always do.  And for the past three years, I have had a wonderful group of very talented and funny girls and boys.  They are all juniors now and will be heading into their senior year next year, which makes me a little sad.

We had a spirit day today and all the advisories were supposed to pick a theme and dress up in costume.  Our kids decided to dress like Southeastern Guide Dogs.  Julia told them all "to wear black pants so they would look like Corky."

The Southeastern Guide Dogs (Girls only) with Corky and two Puppy Raisers (Me and Mrs. Fletcher).

Now you might notice in the photo above that there are just girls.  The girls got to wear the glitter letters and Caroline made headbands with felt dog ears on them for them, assuming the the boys wouldn't wear them.  This was confirmed this morning when Wade said, "Yeah, I'm not wearing that" and it was echoed by three other of the boys.

Good call Caroline! Julia brought nose paint, but not everyone was into that.

Just the girls who did nose paint, Caroline, Julia and Kimberly.  They rock!
Caroline made the ears and Julia made the shirts. Kimberly got it all to school on time.

 So, we took a photo of just the three who went whole dog, so to speak! 8-)

The whole advisory group. Everyone participated!  Such a nice group.

Here's the whole group.  I think they all rock.  They all participated and were great.  They are a very sweet group and Mrs. Fletcher and I have a lot of fun with them.

Coach's First Game: We Won!!

Friday was the Bucs first game, although not an official game, it was a pre-season opener against Out of Door Academy (ODA).

Coach is sitting by Fred who is standing by a chain link fence looking out at the football field.

We arrived a little into the first quarter and the Bucs were already up by one run and had just scored another.  Coach's sponsor Austin was getting ready to kick the extra point, which he did!, and he made the extra point.

Close-up of Coach's face with some fence and the field in the background.

We parked ourselves on the front row, so that Coach could see the action, but would have plenty of room.  I'm not sure if that is the best place.  Fred thinks it is.  Fred thinks Coach can see better from the front row.  I think perhaps a row up is better as you don't have people walking back and forth.

Coach is lying on the bleachers and the football team is seen in the distance through the chain link fence.

It was a hot night, but it did cool down later in the evening.  The Bucs kept making touchdown, after touchdown.

Fred with Coach sitting between his legs on the bleachers.  Coach has one ear laid back.

Coach was very calm and good on the first row.  Even when kids ran by, he generally stayed lying down or at a sit.  he never jumped at anyone.  Woot!

Photo of Coach's sponsor, #30 Austin as he waits to be called out on the field to kick.

Coach's sponsor, #30 Austin, is the kicker and he made all but one of the extra points.

Coach lying on the track with the boys football team practicing at half time behind him.

During halftime, Coach was able to meet Austin's grandparents and dad, who had not met him yet.  It was pretty cute.  We were sitting on the bleachers when two very lovely ladies came up and said they were Coach's grandmothers. They really wanted to pet him, but they knew they couldn't because he had the coat on and they were really good and didn't.  

What you blog readers might not remember is that football game several years ago that Fred and I went to with Bingo.  Fred kept saying I should take the coat off and I said, "No.  We'll be mobbed."  Fred didn't believe me.  (Note: This often happens! 8-) So, I said, "OK, let's take it off."

Once that coat came off, children came running out of the darkness like we had rung a bell and screamed "Free candy and ice cream! Come now!!!"  After the initial rush, we put the coat back on and I must admit I did say, "I told you so."

We don't take the coat off at football games.

Photo of the football team on the field with the dark clouds looming.  

I just love the look of the sky in the above photo.  It wasn't storming, it actually got a little windy.  Hopefully, not a portent of Isaac to come.

Coach at the end of the night, lying down with a tired look on his face.

At the end of the third quarter, we were ahead 41 - 6 and Coach was dragging.  He was a hot dog.  And believe me, he had had some refreshment earlier.  So, we called the game a winner and headed out for the night.  The final score was 41 - 12.  

Yea!  Our first home game was a success: for Coach and the football team!

Coach's First Day at School

Today Coach went to school for a full day of work.  Because of his car sickness problem, we decided that a delayed breakfast was the best choice.

Coach is sitting at the far end of the kitchen by the pantry (magic) door.  He looks wistful and a bit hungry.

Coach didn't agree and sat most of the morning close by his dog food and the magic door where the dog food lives hoping that breakfast would be served.

Coach at the bottom of the passenger wheel well all curled up.  He's not asleep, but not looking at the camera either.

On the car ride in, I cranked the AC down to freezing and blew it just on Coach, because he is the most precious cargo.  He just sacked out and fell asleep.  But no puking!  So, that plan worked.

Coach is sitting on the floor beneath our bulletin board.  The board says, "What's Your Favorite Book?"

Here's Coach under our end of the year bulletin board where we asked everyone to write in their favorite book.  We got some great responses.  No one put in any dog books.

The Headmaster is seated and leaning over a bit to pat a sitting Coach on the head.

Later that morning we stopped in to say hello to the headmaster.  Coach was just as calm and sweet for Mr. Seivold as he is for everyone (sigh of relief!).  

I'm kneeling by Coach, who is seated and looking up at Coach Dom.  Dom has just opened his office door and is seeing his namesake for the first time.

That afternoon we drove over to the Straz and knocked on Coach Dominick Ciao's door to see if he wanted to meet his furry namesake. 

Coach is sitting in the locker room box with a #30 blue jersey behind him.  You can also see a blue helmet.

 We even got a tour of the locker rooms.  Coach got to sit in Austin's dressing area with his #30 jersey! Austin is Coach's sponsor.

Coach Dom and I are talking and I am holding Coach (the dog) in my arms.

Coach Dom asked some detailed questions about the puppy raising program at Southeastern Guide Dogs, like how long coach would be with me (until about May or June) and what do I teach him (basic obedience and socialization skills.  We also talked about what the trainers at Southeastern teach and what happens to Coach when he gets called in for training.

Coach Dom is holding Coach.  Coach (the dog) is staring into the camera.

I do think Coach Dom was pretty impressed with how laid back and calm Coach was. They seemed to get along very well.

Coach is sitting next to a sign that says Play Like a Champion Today!

Coach seemed ready for the start of the football season!  Go Bucs!