Guiding Eyes  Day 18  Wed.  12th

New York, New York....
Coming to the Big Apple is a symphony of sound, a cocaphony of smells,movement not to mention a sh*tload of people. Who always seem to be walking the opposite direction so you feel like a salmon swimming upstream.

We took the commuter rail into the city and arrived at Grand Central Station. Whoa...that's quite a building- massive, canvernous, bustling, overwhelming for the sighted, let alone the sightless.

[my faithful companion, Miss Pippi who comes with me nightly to the computer, has requested rather emphatically a belly rub. More like HEY! I'm here on the floor with all four legs in the air waiting. Move those fingers over here.

Back to Grand Central. My instructor took me to the whispering hallway where you can stand in opposite corners, face the corner and whisper to your friend diagonally across in the other corner and hear each other as if you're standing side-by-side. It occurs because of the conductivity of sound using convex arches and/or ceiling. Listen, science isn't my strong suit...just Google it to get the why and wherefore of it.

Took a subway a few stops. Gotta say I'll never complain about the cleanliness or aroma of Atlanta's MARTA after NY subways. Aack!

We walked and walked and walked. Park Ave, 5th Ave, Madison Ave, 42nd Street to the 60s. Saw 30 Rock (Rock Centre), the location of the skating rink, the humungous Christmas tree-surrounded by scaffolding as the lights are added, and boocoodles of skyscapers. Grabbed a bus, rode to 90th Street (I think), walked over 4 blocks and up to 94th to The Barking Dog restaurant. Typical NY eatery- crowded, close tables, dimly lit even in the daytime. Well maybe the overcast sky didn't help.

Watch words for the day (actually always): Be In The Moment. Sounds simple enough but every teacher fiber in me says Plan Ahead. Focusinging on Pippi and being in the moment to move with her as she weaves in and out around people, poles, construction,roadwork requires slowing down and smaller steps so I don't overstep her lead. Being in the moment means being aware of her movements and discerning the distractions that take her focus off working. I'm a beat behind on corrections which should be immediate and redirect her attention. All the while, I need to be aware of my body language which Pippi constantly reads. If I want to go straight ahead, my shoulders better be facing that way or she will head towards the way they are facing. And knowing where we are and where we are going is imperative. Can you say 'multi-tasking?' It's a handful even in White Plains, NY or Dunwoody, GA. In Manhattan there's only one way to explain it:stimulous overload. Pip and I gave it our best shot. She rates a 96 and I'm behind with about an 80-85. This team is still a work in progress and every day, when we go home, will involve more work. But when we are in the zone, it's friggin' amazing.

New York pictures tomorrow........

Graduation link:
Go to www.guidingeyes.org web page
Left side panel, find Prospective Students section. Locate Guide Dog Services-click.
Find Graduation in the left side menu- click
On Saturday there should be a live stream link to watch the ceremony. Check it about 1:15pm. If by some chance you can't find it or miss it, the ceremony will be available a couple days later on YouTube accessible via the same location on www.guidingeyes.org

Thursday and Friday: Trip to PetSmart and a grocery store, how to enter/exit cars,Vet supplies mail order, doggie massage.