Looking for another street

As a CPA, I have to get a certain number of hours of continuing education each year.  The challenge is finding hours that are convenient, relevant and cheap.  Last week I attended a session on applying Lean/Six Sigma manufacturing principles to the accounting process.  Sounds riveting, yes?  Actually, it did appeal to my geeky side, and the four hours flew by, as opposed the hour I suffered through listening to how everything will change in a few years when we have to convert to International Financial Reporting Standards - I have got to win the lottery before that happens - but as usual - I digress.

At the end of the Lean Accounting session, the instructor read a poem.  I wrote down a few lines of it so I could google it and read it again.  While the poem was perfect for what we had just heard about changing how we think about what we do at work, I discovered that this poem is apparently a standard in 12 Step Programs and in therapy sessions. 

As I googled, I found that the poem is attributed to several different people, but it looks like the true author is Portia Nelson.  Ms. Nelson was an actress and an author.  She was Sister Berthe in the first movie I ever saw in a theater - "The Sound of Music."  For you soap fans, I read that she was also Mrs. Gurney in "All My Children." 

Anyhow - I just wanted to share and keep this for future reference. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS

by Portia Nelson

1983

I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost ... I am helpless

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place, but, it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in...it’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I got out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

Scout and her adoring public

Today in Murfreesboro TN

My Dwarf Basenji

A couple of weeks ago, we had an all breed show here in Chattanooga. The same weekend and in the same park, there is also an AKC Lure Coursing trial. Lure coursing competition is limited to sighthounds, but after competition is completed for the day, sometimes they allow other dogs to run the course.

Spencer is obsessed with lure coursing. We have friends who have lure coursing equipment and sometimes, when we beg enough, they will set it up so that we can play. As soon as he hears that "zip zip zip" sound that it makes, every nerve in his body springs to attention.

So - we managed to get to the lure coursing field just as they were running Best in Field. I checked in at the show tent and they said sure - little guy can have a run. So we wandered over the course start, and a very doubtful fellow took one look at Spencer's little short legs and laughed. But then he noticed that Spencer had locked his eyes on the plastic bags tied to the cable (the "prey"), and the guy wiggled the wire enough to make the bags rustle. Spencer just about jumped out of his skin.

He asked me how much of the course I thought Spence would do. "All of it," I replied. He looked doubtful, but said ok and jumped up in the back of his truck where he could see the whole course and run the lures.

As soon as I let go of Spencer, he took off and ran his heart out. He covered the entire course and when he finished a huge cheer went up from the hound folks.

As we were leaving, I ran into a couple of handlers I know from Obedience who ran their deerhounds at the trial. One said, "Thanks for embarassing us - your corgi just finished a course our hounds couldn't run!"

The trial photographer was still there and got some great pics here, here and here.

BTW - this field and the rest of the park is now underwater after the floods we had over the weekend.

A - OK

Spencer wants everyone to know that he no longer limps and is living large. Thanks to all who have checked in on him.

Spencer Update

Spencer sez he is just fine - but he is still limping. He saw his chiropractor today, and she turned him every which way but out. She poked and prodded, but Mr Stoic would give no indication of where he hurt. She made a few adjustments, but could not tell why he was still limping afterwards except for the fact that maybe it was just remaining muscle soreness.

So, we will try to keep him quiet for a couple of days. If it hasn't resolved, we go for an xray to see if it will tell us what he won't.

Sometimes a girl just needs to put on her gloves and tiara

This is the Cinderella dress I made for Avery last year for Halloween. Glad I made it a little big because she can still wear it. Her dad sent the picture - apparently she just felt the need to feel like a princess Saturday.

Where does the person sleep?

After an early potty trip outside this morning, they take up as much bed space as possible.

Spence is really limping this morning, not wanting to put weight on his front right. Guess we will be looking for the show vet.

Scout doesn't show until 2, so long day ahead.

More Atlanta show site food

Plate full of Greek salad and hummus -$5!

And Scout BOB - priceless.

This looks so cool.

I have emailed them to find out how to participate. Spencer's scary mind should be studied.

The Secrets Inside Your Dog\'s Mind

I was so looking forward to stretching out for a nap . . .

while we waited for groups this afternoon (it's so nice to
show just down the street from your house!), but someone else had the same idea and beat me to it.

Newbie to the Bloghood

Dina and her Heathen Horde have joined our blogroll. It's all about living with red cardis. She has Scout's grandpa big red Sam and sister Moira. Stop by and say hey!

The Welsh Hairless is home

In Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, I posted that Scout had started blowing coat. I left her with Cheryl, and they went to a couple of shows. Every day Cheryl posted me on how much more hair had come out. One day, after the judge examined her on the table, Cheryl said the inside of his coat sleeves were white from her shedding hair.

I picked her up today and was amazed (appalled!) at how nekkid she is. She looks so tiny without her full coat. The thing with red dogs is how much their color changes when they are out of coat - Scout goes from a rich red to apricot.

Her tail and pants are in ok shape, so this week she will get lots of cold baths, daily treatment with Cheryl's secret hair growing potion (she won't tell me whats in it, but it's blue and in an olive jar, which I have to keep in the refrigerator), and I stopped at the veggie stand today and bought sweet potatoes, carrots and beets to add to her food.

Start of the long weekend

I played hooky from work this afternoon. I piddled around the house a bit and then decided to start watching "A Dog Year" which I mentioned the other day and dvr-ed.

Almost immediately into the movie I realized that Jeff Bridges is now too old to be my RV driver.

A few minutes later I reached over and gave Spence a scratch and thanked him for not being a border collie. Or a golden retreiver.