tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176920222024-03-12T22:21:23.529-07:00Apple Jack CreekLiving on a small holding in rural Alberta, raising kids and animals, growing stuff, creating things with fibre, and living with PTSD.
See more at www.applejackcreek.com.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger963125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-51761449874024794532020-04-28T09:00:00.003-07:002020-05-08T11:32:19.361-07:00Space Pirates and Docking Ports: virology 101 for small personsAre you wondering why we are all still at home, and worried about coronavirus? Let me try and explain a bit about how viruses work.<br />
<br />
A virus is like a little capsule - like a survival pod from a spaceship, it's only got room enough inside for the essentials. It can't do anything on it's own except float around through space - so it looks for the nearest safe docking port. Viruses dock up against the regular cells our body has, and once they have made the connection (like when the airlock clicks when a spaceship connects to a station), the stuff inside the virus busts out of the capsule and takes over the space station, like invading space pirates. All the work of the space station is turned over to the pirates, who use the station to make more capsules to send out to take over other stations.<br />
<br />
So, why doesn't our body just fight off the space pirate viruses? Well, once they have injected themselves into the space station, from the outside, nobody can tell they are there. The virus gets control before any emergency beacon signals can be sent out. So it's sneaky: it floats through the air and into the body and into the cells all without raising any alarms.
Eventually, the body realizes that the cells aren't doing what they usually do, that the space stations have all stopped doing their regular jobs because of the pirates. Special pirate-fighting forces are deployed - that's your immune response, the antibodies you hear about in the news. After awhile, the antibodies get pretty good at spotting space pirates, but fighting space pirates is hard and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That's when your body gets sick: the battles going on between your cells and the virus invaders gives you a fever and chills and lots of other unpleasant things.
If the body is able to raise enough of a pirate-fighting force, it can probably fight off the invaders. Sometimes, though, the body needs the allies to come in with extra support: help with breathing (from oxygen or a ventilator), or help with keeping the temperature down, or fluid levels right ... and that's when people end up in the hospital.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the pirates take over and there's just not enough resources to fight them off - and that's when people die.
The reason we are all staying home and far away from other people is that the virus can't travel anywhere on it's own: it is adrift in space, and hoping to bump into a likely space station, but it can't steer itself or decide where to go next. If we can keep our bodies away from places where the space pirate virus hides out (on surfaces like doorknobs and cash registers, in other people's bodies, in the air around someone who carries the virus), then we can slow the pirates down by giving them fewer opportunities to find docking ports.
That's why we stay back, wash our hands, cover our faces: the virus likes to get into the body through your nose and mouth and eyes especially, and it escapes from bodies it has already taken over mostly through the same openings. That's why we are so careful to cover our mouth when we cough (so we don't spread space pirate virus particles into the void), why we wash our hands so much (so we don't accidentally pick up a space pirate on our fingers and then deliver it to a docking port in your body).<br />
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If you want to know more about how virus pirates work, or how the body fights them off, or any other questions about how this works please ask. I studied this stuff in university, and I still remember how it goes.
Meanwhile ... do your part to stop the space pirates. Wash your hands, keep your droplets to yourself, stay in places you already know are pirate-free ... like your house.<br />
<br />
Hang in there. It's hard for everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-1421813351344116612020-03-27T14:39:00.003-07:002020-03-27T14:39:53.407-07:00That feeling when you don't even qualify as a "burden on society"So finally, after 16 months, two letters to every politician I could think of, four medical reports, and a pile of paperwork, CPP has informed me that there is no evidence that my disability has changed in any significant way since I first applied in 2014 and 2016, and I wasn't disabled then, so I'm not disabled now.<br />
<br />
Yes, I swore. And I cried.<br />
<br />
I don't even qualify as a "burden on society" because society has deemed me able to look after myself.<br />
<br />
If you've been reading along (there are new ebooks out that make catching up easier, they're on Amazon), you will know that I am *not* able to look after myself. I forget things (even important things, even with lots of reminders). I dissociate into a fog ... which may look like researching some random topic for hours, spending ages trying to find the right audiobook to keep my brain from chewing the mental furniture, or having no clue whether I'm the only person in the house or if someone came home and I've forgotten they're here. I frequently want a cup of tea but find actually boiling the kettle and pouring water over a tea bag to be too much hassle. I crave cookies but haven't the energy to bake.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't trust me with a job of any kind.<br />
<br />
Yet the government seems to believe that if I just "tried a bit harder" it would all be okay.<br />
<br />
They're wrong.<br />
<br />
Yes, there'll be an appeal, but oi, how long is that gonna take? The whole thing was just a horrible fist to the guts, especially with the world falling apart and everyone needing to count all their pennies.<br />
<br />
I guess this is a good year to do that potager garden, grow some lettuce and carrots and potatoes and cabbages and flowers and herbs and trees.<br />
<br />
Now if only the snow would melt. I need muddy feet in the worst way.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-16326784104295103702020-02-27T12:09:00.000-07:002020-02-27T12:10:28.285-07:00CPP Disability Application: 470 days and counting: sent to the office of the Prime Minister today :<br />
<br />
Hello, Prime Minister (and to whoever has the job of reading these as they come in).<br />
<br />
I know that you have a lot on your plates right now, but I am writing today to ask that the government consider implementing a review of the Canada Pension Plan Disability process and service response times.<br />
<br />
I have been disabled by PTSD since February of 2011. I was denied insurance coverage from my employer's plan, was denied CPP on my first application and appeal, have two failed return to work attempts, and was granted leave to make a second CPP application. That was submitted November 14, 2018 (that's not a typo - it's been 470 days). I spoke to a representative in November of 2019 (right around the one year anniversary of my application being "in progress"), and was informed that just the day prior, Edmonton had "handed off" a large number of files to the Chatham office, as they finally acknowledged that they were way behind and needed assistance. In December 2019, my care team were asked for more information. CPP has had it since the start of this month. My application is still pending and there's no indication of when a decision might be made.<br />
<br />
Service Canada says applications should be handled within 4 months. It's been 15. We are expected to wade through the application process, assume we'll be denied on our first application, process the appeal, try to work, fail, apply again, and then... wait. And wait. In the interim, our families have to pay for our therapy and our meds (my husband has a job so we don't qualify for AISH and Blue Cross won't cover the most expensive of my meds) and we disabled people have to live not only with the burden of our disability, but the knowledge that we are, undeniably, a huge practical and financial burden on those who love us.<br />
<br />
Please consider making enquiries into the *actual* turnaround times, and ... help. I can't be the only one in this boat. Thank you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-35321963066891951412020-02-12T17:21:00.002-07:002020-02-12T17:21:29.467-07:00The Victorians knew what they were aboutI wear Victorian style walking skirts all the time (I can't wear pants anymore, it triggers the "oh help I'm trapped" feeling, but long skirts are fine).<br />
<br />
This, of course, means that I need petticoats to go under my skirts.<br />
<br />
I have just completed a flannel and silk petticoat for colder weather: silk for the ruffle at the bottom, flannel for the skirt, cotton for the wider than usual waistband. As my body has evolved into a rather Rubenesque matronly shape, my short-waisted structure has more of an effect on my clothing choices: there never has been more than a few inches between the bottom of my rib cage and my waist, and as my waist has thickened it seems there's even less space now than there used to be. As a result, my skirts sit fairly high on my body and a wider waistband fits more comfortably into the curves.<br />
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I construct skirts by feel, for the most part: measure four lengths of fabric that are as long as my waist to floor (or more likely, waist to ruffle), full selvedge width, and cut two of those into triangles. Add a triangle to each of the selvedge edges of the two full rectangles, make your side seams, and voila, you have an A-line skirt.<br />
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Then, I find something to use as a waistband and measure it so it's about an inch wider than my waist. Pleat the back of the skirt (sometimes I stitch the pleats down a ways, like on a kilt, sometimes I just leave them as folds, it depends on how the fabric drapes) and fit it to the waistband, overlapping the ends and finagling them flat.<br />
<br />
Final fitting consists of one of two methods: the fixed waist or the closure waist.<br />
<br />
For a fixed waist, as I did on the flannel petticoat, I insert a couple of slanted darts into the back of the waistband to make it fit snugly and sit comfortably on whatever level of waist/hip it settles on and stitch them down. As my hips are not much bigger around than my waist, I can just step into the skirt and scoot it up over my anatomical padding and voila, done.<br />
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For a closure waist, I leave one pleat unsewn and stitch the waistband along the edges of the unsewn pleat, making a skirt that is an inch or two too wide to fit. Fold it over (which makes the unstitched pleat become a fold like all the rest), add a buttonhole and a button or hooks and eyes, and you're done. No placket, no gap, easy to adjust if your size should shift.<br />
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Then there's the ruffle. Ruffles serve a purpose: they help keep the fabric at the bottom of the skirt somewhat spread out, so you're not getting it tangled in your feet or having the fabric stick to your socks. I have some bolts of Japanese kimono silk which are fairly narrow (usually around 14") and I figured that would be an excellent ruffle material. I gathered it along one selvedge edge and stitched it to the right side of the bottom of the flannel skirt, then folded it over and stitched the other gathered selvedge to the wrong side, making a tube - kind of like the bubble skirts that were all the rage in the 80s. The join between the ruffle and the right side is then covered with a ribbon - this not only covers the stitching (which could just as easily have been done with a neat seam), it provides an extra level of stiffness to the bottom of the skirt, keeping it away from the ankles. The combination of a bubble ruffle and a heavy ribbon overlay seems to be just about perfect for holding the weight of my lighter skirts.<br />
<br />
Were I a proper Victorian lady, of course I'd be wearing multiple petticoats with stiff cording or maybe even supportive wires, and caring about how far out my skirts were held so that they were shown off to best effect. I'm more of a merchant's daughter than a lady, so I'm just after practical comfort and ease (I actually *am* the granddaughter of a merchant, come to think of it). I currently wear ordinary t-shirts and sweaters over my Victorian skirts ... though I'm thinking about making some shifts and overdresses as I like having the weight of my clothing carried more by my shoulders than around my waist.<br />
<br />
We shall see.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-64456536239212596572020-02-11T12:54:00.000-07:002020-02-11T12:54:02.554-07:00The Apple Jack Creek Estate<div class="body forum_post_body" style="line-height: 1.4em; margin-right: 0.5em; min-height: 70px; overflow: hidden;">
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We have a snowy day in the forecast, which means grey and overcast, but there’ll be sunshine again tomorrow.</div>
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As it is February (worst of the year for me, generally, mental health wise) I am just being super cautious and taking everything very easy. I have spent most of the last week buried in garden books: having spent 8 years in university, the habit of spreading out resource books and making notes by hand is deeply embedded, and I’ve been enjoying working on my “individualized gardening resources”. I have one notebook with different plants and their needs / uses / details, and another where I’m making general notes about permaculture principles, different design options, and sort of “big idea” stuff. I do a lot of throwaway note taking too - drawings of how I might lay out the yard or garden beds and “thinking out loud on paper” stuff, and I thought it would be kind of cool to have some notes that are specific to the gardens <em>here</em> - but I’m starting to make notes about when things bloom, when and where I’ve planted things, and why … notes that can be kept from year to year to see how things go over the longer term.</div>
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One of the permaculture books I was reading suggested that one consider the time scale of the project. I’ve decided to take a generational approach - treat my house and land like a great estate, which I am caretaker of and need to improve and pass on. I want to plant a big tree in the yard that can someday hold a swing. Shelterbelts to protect the house from wind and grow berries and veggies - even if the trees will take 20 years to get to any notable size. A potager garden to grow root vegetables and things that need care, in raised beds protected (somehow) from the quack grass. And maybe a miniature Iron Age Roundhouse in the yard, as an experiment, retreat, and play house for Small Persons. Because why not?</div>
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It’s good for me to push my brain into the future.</div>
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And, my son has the same attitude towards our land as I do - when DH and I married we were very careful to ensure that the property ownership arrangement and the will are set up so that when I die, my son inherits my share of everything, and as I own pretty much nothing except my share of the house and land, that’s what he’ll have. He intends to keep the place (he’d buy out his step siblings or DH, who would probably be just as happy to move to a smaller place were he on his own), so The Boy sees this kind of as a mini estate, too - he doesn’t mind doing work around here or even investing some of his own funds to make improvements as he feels a sense of ownership. DH finds this a bit discombobulating, as he sees it more like “the place we live at the moment” not “the place I and my descendants will live, insh’allah” but that’s okay. <img alt="slightly_smiling_face" class="emo" src="https://style-cdn.ravelrycache.com/images/twemoji/1f642.png" srcset="https://style-cdn.ravelrycache.com/images/twemoji/svg/1f642.svg 1.5x" style="border: none; height: 16px; max-width: 670px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 16px;" title=":slightly_smiling_face:" /></div>
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Now if only my mini great estate came with staff. :) Oh well, you can’t have everything!</div>
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<a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">educational</a> <a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">interesting</a> <a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">funny</a> <a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">agree</a> <a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">disagree</a> <a class="c-reaction_button " href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-speeps-redoubt/4003130/51-75#" style="border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(243, 243, 243) rgb(221, 221, 221); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; color: #999999; margin-left: -0.25em; padding: 2px 4px; text-decoration-line: none;">love</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-34743131330801114672020-02-11T12:51:00.002-07:002020-02-11T12:51:57.821-07:00Unpopular Opinions, Service Dog Edition<b>Service dogs are not a first line treatment for anything, and they are contraindicated in some situations. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Your doctor probably has no clue</b> about whether or not you’d be a good candidate for a service dog. Your psychologist might, but it’s still kind of a niche knowledge set. Review the <a href="http://www.hopeheels.com/assets/files/Aanderson%20Service%20Dog%20Perscriber%20Guidelines%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">Aanderson service dog prescriber guidelines</a>, particularly when considering a psychiatric service dog.<br />
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The handler’s condition needs to rise to the level of <b>persistent disability </b>and the dog must be actually, intentionally, and properly trained to assist with mitigating that disability: “I feel better when my dog is with me” doesn’t count (even if it’s true).<br />
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If technology can do the job just as well, then <b>use technology instead.</b> Asking a dog to dedicate their life to looking after us is a big ask.<br />
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Protection from discrimination on the grounds of disability is a right, but there are processes and legal protocols to follow when seeking accommodation: for public access, follow your province’s Service Dog Act (AB, BC, NS) or your Provincial Human Rights Act (everywhere else at the moment); for employer and school accommodations for workers and students, follow your province’s Human Rights Act. <b>Contrary to popular belief, there is no blanket “I’m disabled so I can take my dog anywhere as long as I have a doctor’s letter” or equivalent in Canada.</b><br />
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Badly behaved dogs are not welcome anywhere, no matter what paperwork or identification they have. Also, <b>online service dog registries are scams.</b><br />
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Owner training is a wonderful option but it is hard, time consuming, expensive, and potentially heartbreaking. Get guidance from a reliable source such as <a href="http://servicedogtraininginstitute.ca/">servicedogtraininginstitute.ca</a>, your provincial Service Dog Team, and certified force-free trainers.<br />
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Service dogs should be trained with force-free methods. <b>Shaping</b> (clicker training) is ideal because it encourages active problem solving and it’s fun.<br />
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If you cannot put a dog’s needs before your own for a year and a bit, you are not in a position to owner train a puppy. <b>Service dogs take a lot out of us before they start taking care of us.</b><br />
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<b>For the entire first year, the handler meets the needs of the dog: not the reverse. </b>Service Dogs cannot be asked to work until they have had a chance to grow up. This is hard, because our needs don’t go away just because the puppy isn’t ready to meet them, but it is absolutely essential that dogs not be rushed into work before they are ready – it’s a recipe for dog burnout.<br />
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Service Puppy Candidates can do all their <b>early exposure work </b>in pet-friendly environments: near a school or daycare, watching a construction site through the fence, walking on sidewalks and in parks, greeting people outside stores, visiting at businesses or offices where you know people and can pop in for five minutes of meet and greet. Service Puppies do NOT need to be following their person around everywhere nor should they be taken to places where they cannot safely make puppy level mistakes. <b>Public access work comes LAST not FIRST.</b><br />
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<b>A dog who trusts you and has solid obedience skills</b> that have been practiced in a wide variety of situations <b>will have no problem going into a mall for the first time as an adult.</b> In fact, because they’ve had a chance to grow up and develop good self-control before being put into overwhelming situations, it’ll be easier for them. And you.<br />
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Service dogs are people too. They have bad days and make mistakes just like us. <b>Deal.</b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-31712599284441286552020-02-11T12:51:00.001-07:002020-02-11T12:51:42.771-07:002020: I'm backI've decided to publish some of my thoughts here, again, as the transient nature of Facebook is ... well, transient. There are things I'd like to be able to easily link back to, and potentially useful things I hope will turn up in searches.<br />
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So, yeah. There'll be posts here again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-38353947496997538382018-12-01T13:44:00.000-07:002018-12-01T13:44:18.773-07:00Medical costs - yes, in Canada.<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Just did the math.</div>
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A 30 day supply of my prescription drugs is $216.83. That's $7.23 every day. I cannot reduce them or skip doses... Discovered that recently. It's this or collapse. I need my meds like a diabetic needs insulin.</div>
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Oh and these costs are without the marijuana, which is about $8.60 a gram and I use 1.5-2 g a day. (Once I have plants here, that will hopefully go down.)</div>
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Twenty bucks a day buys the ability to sleep, reduced (but not eliminated) chest pain, and the strength to do one or two errands a week. It buys me the oomph to do what's necessary and to get through what needs doing. And no more.</div>
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That twenty bucks doesn't buy me enough functionality to work. Doesn't buy me enough strength to keep up with my housework or remember to pay the bills on time or pay for Ben's care. Doesn't pay the fuel and parking for monthly appointments with psychiatrist and psychologist, which are also necessary.</div>
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I will try again to get the Alberta Adult Health Benefit, but they turned me down last time.</div>
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It'd be one thing if this was the cost to deal with something that would, in time, get better. I am never going to be "better" and these costs are going to increase - tolerance happens, doses have to be upped, new meds added to address new troubles.</div>
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We need national pharmacare.</div>
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My husband should not have to work extra just to pay for the medication that keeps me alive. He earns "too much money" for us to qualify for government support, but that seems ... I dunno, off. I definitely think those who truly can't afford it should be first in line, but ... if we say everyone deserves health care, shouldn't chronic conditions be subsidized in some fashion? What is the point of my psychiatric care being covered if the medications that they prescribe are not included? It's like we get as far as diagnosis and critical care, but when the condition becomes chronic, people are expected to just figure it out. </div>
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My brain doesn't work right. "Figuring it out" is hard.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-25821695219051731732017-11-29T10:53:00.001-07:002017-11-29T12:03:16.827-07:00Living with a Psychiatric Service DogI have chronic complex PTSD. I was diagnosed in 2011, <a href="http://blog.applejackcreek.com/2011/03/listen.html" target="_blank">out of the blue</a>. I took six months off work, rested, went to therapy, wrote, crafted, and was still staggeringly ill.<br />
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I never did go back to work.<br />
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I eventually came to get my head more or less wrapped around my diagnosis, but it's really hard: I don't have the typical PTSD triggers, but I certainly have the symptoms - I don't sleep unless sedated, I have an exaggerated startle response, I don't regulate my emotions very well (I can get extremely irritable for no reason, or overreact to simple things, or fall into the Pit of Despair, or be sort of neutral for days on end). I have developed rather noticeable memory and executive function issues: I don't make good decisions, I can't manage the finances and paperwork effectively, and holding focus on any one thing for very long isn't possible anymore, to say nothing of the way I regularly forget what I came into the room for, where I left my glasses, what I need at the grocery store, what we discussed yesterday, or last week, or last month. Yes, everyone is forgetful and distracted sometimes, but I am forgetful and distracted all the time. It's such a dramatic change from the person I used to be that if you knew me before you'd see it plain as day. The thing is, I am not so disabled that I can't pass as a regular, normal, functioning adult ... the troubles are sneaky, low level, and persistent in ways that they aren't in a healthy person.<br />
<br />
And this makes me constantly question whether I'm sick or just not trying hard enough.<br />
<br />
Surely, if I just put a bit more effort into it, I could concentrate and get the paperwork done.<br />
Surely, if I just tried a little harder, I could keep up with the housework.<br />
Surely, if I just paid a bit more attention, I would remember what people said.<br />
Surely, if I just ate better / exercised more / followed a better routine, I could sleep at night.<br />
<br />
Okay, I've given up on the last one. I did try weaning off my night time sedatives, and stayed awake two nights straight and was appallingly out of sorts. The anti nightmare and memory-blocked sleep are critical to my survival, and the meds are essential to my ability to function.<br />
<br />
And I know I can't just try harder to make the reactions to some innocuous trigger stop happening: awareness makes a lot of them less powerful, but they are sneaky. I drove home from the doctor's via a different route one day, and was so out of sorts and unsettled the rest of the day ... I finally realized I'd driven past the cancer hospital, site of some seriously unpleasant events. Yeah, I don't take that route anymore. And I know that the mood stabilizer and antidepressant that I take help keep me from the need to self-injure, and put up a safety barrier at the edge of the Cliffs of Insanity so I'm less likely to fall. So yeah, I need those too.<br />
<br />
And the meds to buy me a day of concentration (at the price of two days of recovery), and the meds that settle my unsettled nerves.<br />
Plus monthly visits to the psychiatrist and psychologist.<br />
<br />
Okay, even I can admit that anyone who needs that much help just to keep going is very sick.<br />
<br />
But, it always feels like I'm just not trying hard enough. In reality, that's part of the picture of PTSD - we can't quite accept that what happened to us was a big enough deal to warrant this kind of injury ... we toughed it out, we survived, why shouldn't we just keep going the way we were?<br />
<br />
Well. That's the long circular argument that happens in my head all the time, more or less. I know I'm sick, I know I'm disabled ... but I don't feel like I ought to be, because other people have had it worse than me, because what happened to me wasn't all that awful and I must just be a wimp for not being able to suck it up, because surely if I just tried a bit harder I could squeeze more productivity out of my scattered self.<br />
<br />
But the truth of the matter is, I need help. I need practical help with managing the household (which I get from my family, bless them), I need lots of time by myself to meander through the kindergarten crafting stations that are my coping strategies. And I need company, at the same time. I need someone to recognize when I'm starting to get frayed around the edges and tell me it's time to go home. I need someone to ground me when my dissociative tendencies kick in. I need someone to tell me it's all okay when I wake screaming from nightmares.<br />
<br />
That someone is Ben.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zyMuwvjQHziwVx3higctAcJw0Mb6eBudD5H7vyVuPyi2ZX6C_M9Ijikp2u4Fvhpv6tAO-TgKfGPXSJvEJRA8oHt7wqe2SPD4AbwNYkTRu3jjrFbopDZJUe-jbQyU_i3Gcdx0mg/s1600/Ben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zyMuwvjQHziwVx3higctAcJw0Mb6eBudD5H7vyVuPyi2ZX6C_M9Ijikp2u4Fvhpv6tAO-TgKfGPXSJvEJRA8oHt7wqe2SPD4AbwNYkTRu3jjrFbopDZJUe-jbQyU_i3Gcdx0mg/s320/Ben.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ben is my service dog. He's five now, and has been working for me for two years. We'll be doing our certification test come the new year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.applejackcreek.com/2014/01/changes-endings-and-beginnings.html" target="_blank">Ben came to live with us</a> as a pet ... he wasn't meant to be a service dog. But my illness progressed and it became obvious that I was one of the people whose PTSD falls into the "chronic" category. I wasn't going to get better, and I needed to do whatever was necessary to get the most out of the life I've been given, limits and all. I considered acquiring a trained service dog, but I thought that before bringing another dog into the house, we should give Ben the opportunity to volunteer. We started boot camp in <a href="http://blog.applejackcreek.com/2015/12/boot-camp-for-ben.html" target="_blank">December</a>, worked hard on his obedience and public access skills in pet-friendly places for the winter, and by spring, I knew that although I couldn't explain why, having Ben with me made things easier.<br />
<br />
And so we began our heavy duty training: we went to <a href="http://blog.applejackcreek.com/2016/04/ptsd-support-dog.html" target="_blank">West Edmonton Mall on a Saturday</a>. And then I learned more about the standards and training of service dogs, and we worked to the BC public access test standards. And then Alberta got organized and sorted out a certification program, and now we'll be doing that.<br />
<br />
And I know that I need Ben. He licks my hands and bunts at my arm if I am out of sorts, demands that I play Toss the Squeaky Monkey or Stuffed Sheep Battles Stuffed Bear at least once every day (which means at least once every day I laugh!), sits on my lap to provide <a href="http://blog.applejackcreek.com/2016/11/listen-to-dog.html" target="_blank">deep pressure therapy</a> (some alchemical magic whereby having a soothing weight on your lap makes your nervous system chill out), sleeps in the small of my back or on my legs and provides convincing proof that I'm awake (or that I'm not - when the Ben in my dreams isn't behaving normally, I often wake myself up, because it's a clue that I'm having a nightmare).<br />
<br />
Somehow, having him with me all the time helps me hold my balance better.<br />
<br />
Life with a service dog is different. There's a lot more planning and logistics to deal with, particularly if you travel: we are going to Ireland in December and the paperwork for flying with him out of the country is staggering. Hotels sometimes give you grief (we generally book at pet friendly places, or big chains that have 'service dogs are welcome' policies). People ask you for your ID - which our government hasn't even made available for people like me until this past fall (a printed business card with an explanation of psychiatric service dogs usually suffices). Restaurant managers and staff who aren't from around here frequently know the food service rules about 'no pets' but are often unaware of the exceptions for service animals (yet another place those business cards come in handy). People sometimes think you must be training dogs for an organization that places them with disabled people, because you don't look disabled (I have learned to smile and say "he works for me"). Small children shout "PUPPY!" when you walk by (I find this to be a bonus). You overhear conversations about "people with fake service dogs" (I have been known to say, "Some people <i>want</i> to take their dog with them everywhere. I <i>have to</i> take my dog with me everywhere."). You pre-emptively tell the hostess at the restaurant that he's a working dog. You learn to adopt an attitude of "well of course I belong here, he's invisible, we are just doing our thing" ... and have those business cards in easy reach for the inevitable questions about service dogs, and training, and PTSD. You get used to seeing most of the people who walk past you grinning at the cute dog.<br />
<br />
You live with nose prints on the inside of the car windows, a dog bed in the passenger seat, paw prints on the console. You live with treats and wet wipes in your purse, business cards in all your pockets, and water bowls in your living room.<br />
<br />
You try vest after vest and leash after leash to find the combination of gear that works for you both. You learn to hose off your dog's undercarriage in the shower after every summertime dip in the pond, or a winter run through the slush. You accept that there will be dog hair on everything, even your pillow.<br />
<br />
Your family has to get used to the idea that you'll be looked at everywhere you go. It's kind of weird to have a family member who has always seemed to be okay deciding that now they need a dog with them in order to function ... but once they've seen the difference your dog makes, they'll never suggest leaving him at home again.<br />
<br />
You have to accept that you are disabled, and that your dog mitigates that disability.<br />
You don't have to explain the mystery of how, just accept that it is.<br />
<br />
Ben makes my life better. I can't really tell you how or why, but he does.<br />
<br />
Thanks for making us welcome.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-30988022517141300072017-10-11T12:22:00.001-07:002017-10-11T12:22:53.902-07:00World Mental Health Day <div>It's #worldmentalhealthday.</div><div><br></div><div>As someone disabled by mental injury later in life, I know how important it is for people to have ready access to care. I was able to call my community mental health centre and speak with a counsellor that day. I had to do my own research to find a psychiatrist, but he answered my email enquiry and accepted a referral from my psychologist - who adjusted her fees to ensure I could continue to see her as often as I needed. </div><div><br></div><div>What would I like to see change? </div><div><br></div><div>- Disability benefits shouldn't be so hard to come by. I worked for 20+ years, but because my decline was gradual, CPP isn't available to me, though I've contributed all my adult life. Had I crashed hard and needed admission, they probably would have put me on disability. Because I tried hard for four years to find a way to continue working, even part time, I am considered not to have been *really disabled*. I strongly suspect that if I had say, a seizure disorder that gradually got out of control, it wouldn't be such a challenge. </div><div><br></div><div>- Those of us who do everything we can to stay functional need support to do so. I would like to have access to say, a housekeeping visit once a month, or an accountant to help with the paperwork. I am fortunate to have excellent family and social support, but that's hardly true of everyone - and if my disability were more visible (say I needed physio or crutches or a wheelchair), there would be help available. My illness is just as real even though you can't see it. </div><div><br></div><div>- National prescription coverage. I pay $2 *a day* for the one drug that lets me sleep... Never mind the antidepressant that keeps me alive, the mood stabilizer that counters the mixed states I regularly fall into, the anti nightmare drugs that keep me from waking up screaming, the stimulant that helps me focus, and the marijuana that helps take the edge off the jitters I feel every day. My prescription costs run in the thousands of dollars each year. </div><div><br></div><div>I know I am unwell. My family knows it. My friends know it. I have a service dog who helps keep me balanced. I am disabled by complex chronic PTSD.</div><div><br></div><div>But because I'm a civilian who was injured by a messy life, not a first responder or a soldier, because I tried my damndest to do as much as I could, because I look okay and have no xrays or blood tests or brain scans... The programs available to people with disabilities are generally NOT available to me. </div><div><br></div><div>I don't think that's right. </div><div><br></div><div>I am trying my best. This is what coping looks like. Having Someone Important say "yep you are disabled, here are the programs that could help you" would ease my journey and lighten the load on my family. </div><div><br></div><div>But I'm just a civilian who had a messy life, and if I just took some more meds surely I could hold down a job. So say the powers that be. </div><div><br></div><div>They should have to live a week in my head. </div><div><br></div><div>They'd sign the papers just to end the experience.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-83659945255588810532017-06-09T17:10:00.001-07:002017-06-09T17:15:45.323-07:00Play Play is the work of childhood.<div><br></div><div>Craft is the work of healing. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_2098_d5d6_f873_9796" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n6H1IAQMqxY/WTs4__mev-I/AAAAAAAACLs/PEid89QCQMYSxpcGDkPKM0mTUKo4dHW8QCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"> <br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-60917361407782043292017-03-24T18:34:00.000-07:002017-03-24T18:35:04.169-07:00weary <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xRKPOH-p0Pk/WNXJRkh5e_I/AAAAAAAACLA/E9DinTNsioU/I/photo_546036.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-4956742802458139702017-03-12T22:45:00.000-07:002017-03-24T15:52:57.071-07:00gotta getta Gund <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uAM9P8tesTM/WNWjR9tyizI/AAAAAAAACKw/igsahiugNWw/I/photo_987311.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-18988398606987583112017-01-20T11:31:00.003-07:002017-01-20T11:31:55.757-07:00Ireland 2018 ... All in!We love being in Ireland. It's green (oh, so green), there's water, waves, old stone buildings, castles, amazing food, excellent beer and whiskey and cider, friendly people, and history everywhere you look.<br />
<br />
In 2018 The Reluctant Farmer and I will have been married 10 years (Amazing! He's still with me after all we've been through! What a guy.) and we figured a trip to Ireland was a completely reasonable way to celebrate. What we'd <i>really</i> like is to share Ireland with our kids - so the plan is that in the spring of 2018, The Reluctant Farmer and I will fly over and then the kids (who will be 14, 16, and 21) will join us for one week partway through our longer stay. It's gonna be awesome.<br />
<br />
After last year's trip, we did realize that Ben's work supporting me is more essential than I had believed. While we had a fantastic time, I was not as well as I would like, and my husband's opinion is that I'd have been much better with Ben along - and he knows my symptom fluctuations better than I do, because part of PTSD is being a bit clueless about your own internal condition, and after six years my husband has figured out what "headed downhill" looks like.<br />
<br />
So ... research on taking dogs to Ireland.<br />
<br />
The regulations for bringing a dog in aren't that onerous - microchip, proof of vaccination, deworming treatment just before we travel. We can do all that. Only certain airlines can bring animals into the country, and each airline makes it's own policy decisions on service animals in the cabin.<br />
<br />
We'd like to fly Aer Lingus, from Toronto to Dublin (we will get from here to Toronto with WestJet, who are very welcoming of service animals, so that part is no problem, and it's a domestic flight, so simple). I wrote to them to ask about travel arrangements:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hello!<br /><o:p> </o:p>We are planning our third trip to Ireland and planning to
travel with Aer Lingus again!<br /> <o:p> </o:p>I am writing to you for assistance with a disability: I have
PTSD and my dog Ben assists me with me with managing my illness (primarily with
nightmares, but he also eases my hypervigilance, particularly in busy places).
We left Ben at home on our trip to Ireland last fall, as I didn’t feel that he
and I were ready to tackle international travel yet, and although I enjoyed
myself greatly, I plan to bring Ben along on our next trip as I am so much
healthier when he is there to look after me. My husband takes good care of me,
but there’s nothing quite like having your canine partner at your side,
especially as some of the medications I use aren’t legal in Ireland so I’m
already working at a bit of a disadvantage.<br /><o:p> </o:p>I have checked the regulations on bringing dogs into Ireland
and we can readily meet the import requirements, and I understand that it is up
to each airline to determine policy on the transportation of service dogs. I
see from your (very informative) website that you require ADI or IGDF
certification … the problem is that we are currently unable to get either in
the province where I live.<br /><o:p> </o:p>I totally understand the problem of people just putting a
vest on a dog and calling it a service animal, and I respect your need to see
some form of documentation. I wish we had something available, but so far,
there’s no ADI programs locally that will take on civilians with PTSD, and no
other formal structure here … yet. Canada is currently in the midst of creating
service dog standards but those are a year out, and provincial certification
programs will show up some time after that … too late for our planned trip.<br /><o:p> </o:p>We do have plenty of time to get things organized as we are
not planning to travel until March of next year (2018), so I’m contacting you
now in the hopes that we can find some alternative form of certification or
documentation that will allow Ben to travel with me. We would be happy to do
the ADI public access test with a local dog trainer, or get a letter from … my
vet? my psychiatrist? Someone else you can suggest? All of the above? <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p> </o:p>Ben is small – he is a Shi Tzu Poodle cross, about 20 lbs,
and he will sit quietly at my feet during travel (he’ll fit in the space
between the seats, and will stay put from the time we get on until we disembark
– he can stay with my husband when I get up to use the loo).<br /> <o:p> </o:p>Again, I appreciate the need for your regulations and I hope
that we can find a means to meet your requirements and still allow Ben to come
along. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p> </o:p>Thank you so much for your help.<br /><o:p> </o:p></blockquote>
And today, I have a response!<br />
<br />
<img align="right" src="https://astuteknowledge-us-east.s3.amazonaws.com/aerlingus/aerlingus.jpg" style="height: 30px; width: 160px;" /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
Dear Mrs. Cunningham,</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
This letter serves to confirm Aer Lingus will be happy to accept
your Emotional Support Dog to accompany you in the cabin of the aircraft
provided all conditions set out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and
Marine in Ireland are met prior to travel commencing.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
The Department of Agriculture is reachable by telephone 011-353-1-607-2827 or
via email at <a href="mailto:livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie">livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie</a>.
Once you have been in contact with the Department of Agriculture, I would
appreciate if you would provide Aer Lingus with confirmation from the
Department of Agriculture indicating arrangements are in place for them to meet
you on arrival of your flight.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
Additionally, as you are traveling with an Emotional Support Dog, please ensure
you have in your possession current documentation from a licensed mental health
professional stating the requirement for you to be accompanied by your
Emotional Support Dog in the cabin.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
Again, my sincere apology. I hope despite the difficulties encountered on this
occasion, you will afford us the opportunity to welcome you on board for a more
enjoyable and trouble free experience in the future.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
Sincerely,</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">
Geraldine</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Guest Relations Executive</span> </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p></blockquote>
Canada doesn't actually have Emotional Support Dogs as a 'thing' but hey, the message was clear - Ben is welcome on Aer Lingus!<br />
<br />
This is fantastic news.<br />
<br />
On to the planning!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-34297001185992392562017-01-04T17:55:00.000-07:002017-01-04T17:55:31.447-07:00instant pot ... yupIt's a thing. A super popular thing. And for good reason. <div><br></div><div>Tonight's win:</div><div><br></div><div>- put 2 c water in the instant pot, then the trivet, then the small Corning Ware dish</div><div>- cut up whatever veggies and sausage or leftover meat is on hand, dump in Corning Ware </div><div>- crack 6-8 eggs into the blender, add 1/2 c milk and blend </div><div>- pour over veggies and meat</div><div>- seal and put instant pot on manual for 20 min</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour later, eat supper. </div><div><br></div><div>Add salad and more sausage if you want. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-48421981047088847802016-12-07T13:23:00.000-07:002016-12-07T13:25:38.745-07:00Brr!<p style="margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font face="-webkit-standard"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It’s chilly (-22C) but the wind has died down thankfully and the sun is out. Everything is better with sunshine.</span></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font face="-webkit-standard"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Miss May was a bit shivery so I put her sweater on (yes, I knit a sweater for my donkey). Filled the water bucket, fed them hay and gave Sasha alfalfa, watered the freeloading chickens, and took a bunch of photos so I can do my landscape planning.</span></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font face="-webkit-standard"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></font></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"></p><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m5sf8NaZSPg/WEhwPBMnUvI/AAAAAAAACHs/2mUr9IEx0EA/I/photo_25834.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t35oEMLFDOM/WEhwPlCKhVI/AAAAAAAACHw/_16khiiRlF4/I/photo_615808.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1SJSKTKCvSs/WEhwQHopbCI/AAAAAAAACH0/xMqRCXTvmy8/I/photo_223263.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> <font face="-webkit-standard"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></font><p></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5em;"><font face="-webkit-standard"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gotta get something sorted for dinner, and I think mostly today will be for resting.</span></font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-69732973027598583152016-12-04T23:39:00.000-07:002016-12-04T23:41:10.315-07:00.<div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BFjHC5gSFwc/WEUMBGoiRjI/AAAAAAAACHQ/2o1LWWzKG3o/I/photo_30293.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><br><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-67659598986511222062016-12-04T23:37:00.000-07:002016-12-04T23:39:37.931-07:00pretty socks<div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-owfpFXvYdY0/WEULqE9ZlOI/AAAAAAAACHM/FcQuTfH-uvc/I/photo_898026.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div>I love self patterning sock yarn. </div><div><br></div><div>#kroysock #knittng </div><br><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-39339568362218009762016-12-04T20:17:00.000-07:002016-12-04T20:19:37.498-07:00Stained Glass Barn Windows <div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mylKoY4r0qw/WETcxWd0V9I/AAAAAAAACGg/PsZ_EpdSc-8/I/photo_681684.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div><div><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-usQd-ZFg5XY/WETcx25zyTI/AAAAAAAACGk/iqGRGAGOtYM/I/photo_852575.jpg" border="0" class="bloggoimg"></div><div><br></div><div>Okay maybe not exactly glass. </div><div><br></div><div>Should serve to block the wind, though, while still letting in light. </div><div><br></div><div>(For the non farm people out there, those are feed sacks. Very handy.)</div><br><br> <br></div><br><br> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-50064111061091151982016-11-22T18:30:00.001-07:002016-11-22T18:30:03.629-07:00Listen to the Dog<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding: 0px;">
So today, Ben and I are at the library. We go there all the time, and we never have a problem.</div>
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Ben starts fussing, whining, obviously wanting up. Service dogs have to stay on the floor unless they are working… But, it’s the library, I don’t think anybody’s going to mind, so I pick Ben up.</div>
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Five minutes later, as Ben exhales in vast relief, I realize that my body has relaxed, and I am unwinding. </div>
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You know, I have always assumed that when he fusses at me when he is working that he is scared or upset. Which, to be honest, sometimes he is. </div>
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It never occurred to me until today that he might actually be offering to help me feel better and is upset because I am refusing! :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-80355965690857537432016-10-29T17:42:00.002-07:002016-10-29T17:42:27.005-07:00A donkey in English tack<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Yes, Miss May is getting all gussied up for some proper riding.</div>
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I found an old English saddle for sale on Kijiji, my parents picked it up for me as it was not too far from where they live, and it made it's way here the other day. A bit of oil and it's shined right up - the seat is 17.5", exactly right for me, and the tree is nice and wide which is perfect for a flat backed round sided donkey.</div>
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I don't like riding on Western saddles: I always end up bashing against the pommel, the big fenders pull my legs out of position, and they are large and heavy and way more than I need for some pleasant meandering along country roads. It's not like Miss May and I are going to be roping calves. So, yes, English tack. On a donkey. It's not as weird as it sounds, really ... English saddles tend to fit donkeys better than most Western saddles do, and they are nice and light. Donkeys can carry quite a lot of weight, but well, I'm not a skinny little thing anymore so every pound helps. </div>
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Ahem. I know. I'm working on it.</div>
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Isn't she adorable?</div>
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Yes, I know, it still needs a saddle pad, and the girth strap I have is too small (I extended it with two dog collars for our test walk today), and I need a crupper to keep it from sliding forward but ... Miss May was quite calm about the whole thing. I expect she saw several saddles in use when she was at school at Lucky M Ranch last month, and donkeys do learn from watching, so she wasn't perturbed by having this put on her back.</div>
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She's not really as short as this picture makes her look - but you can see that the saddle fits pretty well. It's not quite level, so the saddle pad will need to be a bit thicker at the back to raise the cantle a little, but it does sit very nicely on either side of her spine with plenty of clearance. This is what saddles do - well, they give the rider a more comfortable and secure seat, particularly with stirrups to help keep your legs where they need to be, but they also distribute the weight of the rider over a larger area along either side of the spine rather than directly on it.</div>
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Donkeys are very wide and round and have no withers (the pointy bit where the spine meets the neck in a horse). Saddles tend to slip forward and press on their shoulders, which is uncomfortable for the donkey and unsafe for the rider because a sudden stop can send you right over the donkey's head, saddle and all! This is where a crupper comes in - it's a loop that goes under the tail and holds the saddle from slipping forward. I need to get one of those. I already have a breast band, you can see it in the pictures: this keeps the saddle from slipping backwards. With those, a good girth strap, and a non-slip saddle pad, we should be good to go. </div>
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What you see in the photo above is the space under the saddle that allows for the spine to move freely, it's a bit higher than it absolutely needs to be because of the aforementioned lack of withers, but it sits nicely all along both sides, with weight evenly spread along the big pads on the underside and a tall channel up over the spine. This gap gives the donkey lots of room to move while still providing the rider with a nice solid seat - which also helps the donkey, because it's much easier to walk confidently when the person on your back isn't shifting around.</div>
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Today we just went for a walk - even having the stirrups hanging loose didn't bother her (I know how to run them up, but I wanted to see if it would be a problem for her, and because she's so round they don't really bang into her sides as she walks). I'll get to work on a saddle pad and pick up a crupper and a longer girth strap (I got a 36", thinking that was probably about right but it's a good five inches too short!).</div>
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We need to do more ground work to solidify our working partnership, so there's no rush on getting everything sorted. </div>
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What an awesome way to get your exercise, though! And after the walk, you get to hug a donkey. Which makes any day better.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-55061788278968920582016-10-15T12:30:00.001-07:002016-10-15T12:30:14.172-07:00Stitching<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v5pcMiMXz1iPENvZfLfiW7WkvLuJG9m6qqjibbkW5pz99O96mYh-xqmnebiucjmD3tfWQrwq4xEtZsq2DZL5En6uI13uepyQPCUdaKVWaBPYSsOSGy5Y8hl7aD-k08UfO9nEFQ/s640/blogger-image--924228851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v5pcMiMXz1iPENvZfLfiW7WkvLuJG9m6qqjibbkW5pz99O96mYh-xqmnebiucjmD3tfWQrwq4xEtZsq2DZL5En6uI13uepyQPCUdaKVWaBPYSsOSGy5Y8hl7aD-k08UfO9nEFQ/s640/blogger-image--924228851.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHysRujBltzENs4deYfFwp90ho4KQFSDRc4JfmSLrhWeR0XypYYFExoMoaXblpv_HBu2VtkXHjBpXQBLyHttUftZpDPJhmehiYshjmcIgbjT7-Hdsk1uXNBF0wNtZAH-5nQ7Ccw/s640/blogger-image--1322830394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHysRujBltzENs4deYfFwp90ho4KQFSDRc4JfmSLrhWeR0XypYYFExoMoaXblpv_HBu2VtkXHjBpXQBLyHttUftZpDPJhmehiYshjmcIgbjT7-Hdsk1uXNBF0wNtZAH-5nQ7Ccw/s640/blogger-image--1322830394.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdWXZExesgupED5nvgKR72ZJo7CGGUOCDiNOQge57uDTmDp-MYGHiGb0hcsl3x8rUapz6hodUflgNszwwPq8v74HHLchKv_V85AEzXtEy8YKHqxu3fsg9bsNYS-avFS_Ph2tlwQ/s640/blogger-image--1855668844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdWXZExesgupED5nvgKR72ZJo7CGGUOCDiNOQge57uDTmDp-MYGHiGb0hcsl3x8rUapz6hodUflgNszwwPq8v74HHLchKv_V85AEzXtEy8YKHqxu3fsg9bsNYS-avFS_Ph2tlwQ/s640/blogger-image--1855668844.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's restful.</div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-65259395555130087702016-09-10T14:22:00.001-07:002016-09-10T14:22:51.624-07:00Mindful StitchesI've been very inspired by the work of Jude Hill (<a href="http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/">http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/</a>) and others who work with cloth and hand stitching. <div><br></div><div>Sitting with fabric and thread and piecing broken and torn things into something new (or newer), giving a longer life to some much used pieces of fabric... This is confirming and comforting. </div><div><br></div><div>I've been working on a Big Stitch piece made with natural dyed fabric from a fun adventure weekend my friend and neighbour hosted this summer :</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAcr4EcSJckyME7LnR-Dc9ihidOa06_wa9rh1qOX5SWqtGBCXrxK4VKhcKJkI5lNiV_HLXlYN5utsmoPSuVbbqc6Z2xEMyinLeedEx_XgCiAncQBykHC-j4TXQ8QKJDbOPPttjg/s640/blogger-image-1766588263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAcr4EcSJckyME7LnR-Dc9ihidOa06_wa9rh1qOX5SWqtGBCXrxK4VKhcKJkI5lNiV_HLXlYN5utsmoPSuVbbqc6Z2xEMyinLeedEx_XgCiAncQBykHC-j4TXQ8QKJDbOPPttjg/s640/blogger-image-1766588263.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAozPzBeQL1sl2T6aSlS-KbCzPtjqaz183bSM5YCGd5ELDHMr9Ud7Wv7ho7T21b_JXU_bVez6suPUuQWJsbgZfQlw-oDneFPM8eIuU1JL33j7zUkdBmfb-SOZQEOmvbiBEOqlCw/s640/blogger-image--1467566601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAozPzBeQL1sl2T6aSlS-KbCzPtjqaz183bSM5YCGd5ELDHMr9Ud7Wv7ho7T21b_JXU_bVez6suPUuQWJsbgZfQlw-oDneFPM8eIuU1JL33j7zUkdBmfb-SOZQEOmvbiBEOqlCw/s640/blogger-image--1467566601.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's layered on old flannel from a thrift store sheet and backed with two layers of beautifully soft cotton sheeting. The stitches are crochet cotton, just long running stitches in no particular order or arrangement. It makes a really lovely rippled texture that feels wonderful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today I decided to invest some time I'm an old (old) quilt. This was my dad's when he was a boy, and it saw lots of use on my bed as a child, and on my son's bed when he was little. The fabric is wearing through in many places, but the quilt as a whole is still reasonably intact... Certainly sufficient as a base for some creative stitching repair. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_NV3RLF11MCE1Gvquaim1uO8yGEJnehiTyQ8GKLG30zxPkteJt-vQlgtRvekqCQprT5LJYTU0jFng4Cmo3yav7nnocSC-FCN56l8g4gx_GiHdaa56lBBG569u12MK6KwvI6wrg/s640/blogger-image--1633019768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_NV3RLF11MCE1Gvquaim1uO8yGEJnehiTyQ8GKLG30zxPkteJt-vQlgtRvekqCQprT5LJYTU0jFng4Cmo3yav7nnocSC-FCN56l8g4gx_GiHdaa56lBBG569u12MK6KwvI6wrg/s640/blogger-image--1633019768.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am finding pieces in my fabric bin and making new patches to appliqué over the worn places. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfbIhdIqIMGN2uG1dI45HMRZWOt9jchqCSA2hwKDc1CNhGjMhmQSeem7TGpbmXSiTpXTkUuHlg05SQ21wZYkKCbZ5D6U6tVMvuGTIdOqSJKHAmakI4c-zYlALhW17MeoG-5fArA/s640/blogger-image-983683885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfbIhdIqIMGN2uG1dI45HMRZWOt9jchqCSA2hwKDc1CNhGjMhmQSeem7TGpbmXSiTpXTkUuHlg05SQ21wZYkKCbZ5D6U6tVMvuGTIdOqSJKHAmakI4c-zYlALhW17MeoG-5fArA/s640/blogger-image-983683885.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The binding is going to take some thinking, but it's a lovely, unhurried sort of project, perfect for these weary days. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-21537204288898148012016-07-29T13:20:00.000-07:002016-07-29T13:20:22.433-07:00Service Dog Legislation: Canada<div style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in;">
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<span lang="EN-US">The Province of Alberta is currently reviewing
legislation on Service Dog access. The Canadian Government is also pursuing the
development of a Canadians with Disabilities Act, and the Canadian General Standards
Board is working with Veterans’ Affairs on defining standards for service dogs
as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I've written a letter to as many of the involved entities as I figured were reasonable: Veterans Affairs, the Standards Board, the Ministers of Health for both Alberta and Canada, the Minister for Sport and Persons with Disabilities, and the Alberta Minister for Human Services. Lots of copies. I'm hoping at least someone will find what I have to say helpful.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Here it is:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">As an Albertan with an invisible disability
(PTSD), I would very much like to have clearer standards in place for service
animals.</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> I work
with my dog, Ben, who keeps me anchored, reduces my hypervigilance, assists me
with recovery from trauma nightmares, and helps me pace myself throughout the
day. He is, of course, not a certified service dog … because there’s nowhere
for me to go to get him certified. The only programs for PTSD dogs are for
veterans and first responders, and there’s no route for owner-trained service
animals to become officially recognized. I have been working with the JIBC
Public Access Test as my guideline, and Ben could probably pass it now, though
he’s only had about four months of public training. We rely on the courtesy and
understanding of businesses and staff, and have not had any difficulties – but I
do recognize that there are people who think that if they put a vest on their
pet they can take it to the grocery store with them, and as it stands, it’s
really difficult to address these kinds of problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have a
few suggestions I would like to share with you, including some proposed
strategies for meeting the needs of disabled individuals who rely on service
animals while at the same time recognizing the needs of individuals who do not
want to have animals around them. My mother, in fact, suffers from a severe
auto immune disorder, and must avoid most animals for the sake of her health:
she and others like her should have access to places that are animal-free, just
as people like me should be able to access public services with our dogs beside
us. As Canadians, I’m sure we can find ways to accommodate both types of needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">First and
foremost, I believe that <b>the standards
of behaviour for service dog teams in public should be made clear and
unambiguous.</b> If business owners, staff, members of the public, and service
dog owner/handlers were all clear on what a service dog team ought to look
like, it would be much more straightforward to identify individuals who are
abusing the privilege to bring pets along with them or who have dogs that aren’t
yet ready for full public access. I know that my dog must lie quietly at my feet
under the restaurant table, not sniff at merchandise on the shelves, and
tolerate being greeted by strangers. I know that a dog who is pulling at the
leash, stealing food from tables, or exuberantly racing around in circles is not
in a working frame of mind. It would seem that not everyone knows these things,
including some individuals who claim to have a service dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Service Dog Teams
should:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">Be courteous and respectful of
others:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> keeping the
dog out of the way of traffic (dog under the table, next to the chair, etc.), keeping
the dog well-groomed and tidy, as well as cleaning up any messes created by
muddy paws or bathroom breaks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">Remain in working position while
working:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> dogs
should remain on the ground/floor at all times unless working at a task that
requires being carried or seated next to their owner/handler (i.e. dogs should
not sit on restaurant benches, ride in grocery carts, or sit on waiting room
chairs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">Be aware and under control at all
times:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> service dogs
should be focused on their owner/handler and their tasks, and the owner/handler
should be aware of their dog’s needs, providing breaks as necessary and
supporting the dog in exhibiting good behaviour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">Be clearly identified: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">service dogs at work need to be
easily distinguished from pets with a vest, harness, leash, leash tag, or other
means appropriate to their work and circumstances. This makes it much easier
for business owners and members of the public to behave appropriately when
meeting a service team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Service teams that do not meet these standards of behaviour should be
asked to leave the public space they are in. Repeated problems should be
reported to the appropriate investigative body (bylaw? the local police?) and
fines assessed as necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Owner/handlers who are unable to perform all the necessary maintenance
and management (mobility impaired individuals who cannot do bathroom cleanup,
etc.) should have alternative supports in place. It’s your responsibility to
ensure things are taken care of, one way or another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If every
business and member of the public were aware that this is what a service team
should look like, there would be fewer misunderstandings and challenges to
legitimate working teams. If you look and behave like a service team, then
chances are really good you <i>are</i> a
service team (and if you aren’t, well, at least you aren’t causing any
trouble). Anyone causing trouble can be asked to leave without fear of
reprisals (“I’m disabled! You can’t discriminate against me!”) because the standards
of behaviour are clearly laid out and it’s not discrimination to insist that
the rules be followed by everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">I do believe that official certification should be available to service
teams that wish to pursue it.</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Those who are willing to simply behave according to the guidelines and
accept that they may be asked to leave if they are not up to the standards
should be able to do so … but businesses should also be allowed to request that
only Certified Service Dogs be allowed on the premises (assuming such
certification processes exist for all types of service dog teams, and in all
provinces, which they don’t, at present). This would limit public access for
uncertified service dog teams to “dog friendly” businesses, while still
providing full access for those who are certified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">In order to be a Certified Service Dog Team:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 74.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">the
team should have to <b>pass a standardized
public access test</b> (such as the one offered at the JIBC) overseen by an
authorized test administrator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 74.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">present
a <b>letter from a health professional</b>
(medical doctor, registered psychologist, or occupational therapist) indicating
that this particular individual requires this particular animal for full time
support<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 74.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">present
<b>documentation from a veterinarian</b>
confirming that the dog is in good health, up to date on vaccinations, and that
the veterinarian is confident in the owner/handler’s ability to care for the animal
on an ongoing basis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Certification should
be valid for three years, with the same documentation required at renewal.</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> It would be best if the application
and renewal fee were kept to an absolute minimum, as individuals with
disabilities severe enough to require a full time service dog have a good
chance of being on a limited income. <b>Certification
should come with an ID card</b> like a driver’s license, with a photo of the owner/handler
and the dog, and businesses should be allowed to ask that it be shown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Serious or repeated complaints about a service team should result in
withdrawal of certification and require the return of the Service Dog Team ID
card, with severe fines for not complying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Both active and retired service dogs should be allowed to remain with
their owner/handler, even in accommodations that do not normally allow pets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Service Dogs in
Training</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> should have
to pass a slightly different test, also administered by an authorized tester,
with more emphasis on the trainer’s skills. Service Dogs in Training require
access to public spaces in order to develop their skills, and their handlers
must be highly educated about how to train a dog successfully, when to remove
them from situations, and how to deal with the public: mistakes will be made,
and trainers need to be able to address these issues to the satisfaction of the
test administrator. Veterinary documentation should also be required for
Service Dogs in Training, but medical documentation would not be necessary, as
the trainer is not necessarily the individual who will work with the dog in the
long term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Airlines</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> should allow all Certified Service
Dog Teams and Service Dogs in Training to be in the cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Hotels</span></b>
should allow all Certified Service Dog Teams and Service Dogs in Training to be
in their rooms. Hotels should be able to set aside a certain percentage of
their rooms as “animal free”, for those who have allergies and sensitivities,
but should be required to have a miniumum number (or percentage) of rooms
available for individuals travelling with service dogs. No additional fee
should be charged for a Certified Service Dog or Service Dog in Training. Any
damage to the room should be treated the same way as if any other guest caused
it – by charging the guest for restoration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Taxis</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span>should allow all Certified Service Dog Teams and Service
Dogs in Training to be in their vehicles. Taxi companies should be able to set
aside a certain percentage of their vehicles as “animal free” and individuals
with sensitivities should be able to request such a vehicle when they call for
a cab. No taxi company should be able to refuse to transport a service dog
team: if the company does not have a vehicle available for the team, they are
obligated to arrange for one from another company. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Businesses with
additional hygiene requirements</span></b> (swimming pools, health facilities,
etc.) should be able to apply for exemptions from allowing service dogs in
specific areas, and this would need to be assessed on a case by case basis with
attention paid to meeting the health needs of all users.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I believe that there is also a need
for a category of support animal that is below that of full time service dog,
but above that of “just a pet”. This would be similar to the Emotional Support
Animal category in the US: I would suggest <b>Certified
Household Companion Animal</b>. This title makes it abundantly clear that the
animal is <i>not</i> granted public access
rights, but <i>is</i> expected to be allowed
in any household. This makes room for individuals with varying levels of
difficulties to have a designated support animal in their home, even if the
accommodations would not normally allow pets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Like with
Service Dog teams, the expectations need to be clear and unambiguous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Certified Household Companion Animal owners are required to:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 74.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">present
a <b>letter from a health professional</b>
(medical doctor, registered psychologist, or occupational therapist) indicating
that this particular individual requires this particular animal for at-home
support<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 74.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">present
<b>documentation from a veterinarian</b>
confirming that the animal is in good health, up to date on vaccinations, and
that the veterinarian is confident in the owner’s ability to care for the animal
on an ongoing basis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">crate or remove the animal from the premises
when notified</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> by
the property owner 24 hours in advance of service / landlord / maintenance /
cleaning visits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">keep the animal under control at all
times</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: quiet,
within the owner’s designated space, out of common areas (except in the course
of going to and from one’s home)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">clean up all animal waste within a reasonable
time</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: if the person
is unable to do this themselves, then they must arrange for a cleanup service
to come at a minimum of twice per week<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Landlords, neighbours, and members of the public should report concerns
to the owner in writing, and if not adequately addressed within three weeks,
should write again, sending a copy to the appropriate enforcement agency (local
animal control? bylaw? police?). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Certification should be valid for five years with the renewal process
requiring the same documentation as the initial certification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-US">Businesses may choose to offer services to Certified Household Companion
Animal owners at a reduced rate (e.g. hotels may waive or reduce the pet fee)
but this would be strictly voluntary. <b>No
business except those providing long term accommodations (rentals, landlords,
condominium associations) should be required to accommodate Certified Household
Companion Animals.</b> There are many pet friendly hotels for individuals
wishing to travel with their pet, so this is not an undue restriction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am very pleased to see that the
provinces and the federal government are working to clarify the regulations surrounding
service animals and public access in ways that recognize the needs of varying
forms of disability and the wide variety of assistance that dogs, in
particular, can provide. If I can be of any assistance in your work, please do
not hesitate to contact me. I believe that all Canadians have the right to feel
safe and comfortable in their surroundings, and Ben and I are committed to
being good citizens, good guests, and good examples to others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17692022.post-57430242123357900262016-07-29T13:15:00.002-07:002016-07-29T13:15:59.241-07:00PTSD Support Dog: travelWe went on our first Big Family Vacation with Ben. He did awesome.<br />
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My parents live in Ontario, near Niagara Falls, and my sister and brother in law live in New Westminster, part of the greater Vancouver area. We all met up here on Canada Day and had a fantastic time together!</div>
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We booked a condo right on the water through AirBnB... The owner was gracious enough to grant an exception to the no pets policy for Ben. My dad loves dogs and Ben was very happy to hang out with Grandpa Art, even on the train. </div>
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We used all kinds of public transit... Trains, buses, a trolley in the park, a boat to get to Granville Island.</div>
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We had an absolutely awesome time, all of us.</div>
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