Dog days of summer arrive early

Posted on May 24, 2014 by jeffcuz

The dog days of summer have arrived a bit early in Central Florida with temperatures climbing into the mid-90s just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Paige managed to get Karina in J.P.’s bed with him after he awoke, and he was thrilled to get so close to his skilled companion dog.

It was a very busy day at work, so I was glad to get home in time for some of the heat to dissipate and still get the chance to get in a 5K run before dinner.

I left Karina home because of the heat, and I’m glad I did. It was a tough, hot run made better only by a jump in the pool upon completion. She was quick to join me on the sun shelf.

It was a nice way to end the day and still get a taste of what many are enjoying as we unofficially welcome summer.

Karina and I later took a walk around the neighborhood and were recognized for the first time by some neighborhood children who said they saw us on TV. It gave me the chance to let them know how awesome Canine Companions for Independence was to us.

I’m trying to keep up with some of the commands we’re not yet using on a daily basis, because I don’t want the dog to forget what she has learned. It’s one of the five things we were told to incorporate into our daily routine during class. The others are toileting, grooming, feeding and exercise.

The other thing we’ve been juggling are holiday weekend plans. We’re so fortunate to have great friends that help keep us going after the craziness of the past few weeks. Several of them have invited us to barbecues, but with work and still trying to get things back on track after the hospital, I’m not sure what we’re ready for yet.

I’m thinking we might just slip over to our neighbors after work tomorrow, who were awesome about watching our house and getting our mail during team training. We really appreciate all they do for us even when we’re home.

While we spend Memorial Day reflecting on those who have protected our nation during troubling times, it’s also good to think about those who keep us going and watch out for us during the personal battles that can arise at a moment’s notice.