and, it's back to work....

Oh my goodness.... now, I don't know how to read what the temperature is.. but let me tell you... it's cold!!!! So, when Mom and I got into the jeep this am and headed out to meet everyone else for our trip to NEADS... you can be sure we had let the jeep warm up some before heading out.... and because I know that you can read... here's what the temperature was!!! yikes!!! But I guess that's what winter is about....Now, we haven't been to NEADS in a long time.. since before Christmas and the trip we took to Washington.. so we havent' seen Dave!!!!

Needless to say, Dave did not take us into the city today... it was too cold to be working outside. So, after our humans talked some at NEADS, it was off to the mall. Dave asked a lot of questions about all of us, and took our pictures for his files.... Marv is certainly happy to pose for him....

And that's Vega (from New York) and Jackie joining us to day. We had to wait nicely while the humans grabbed a bite to eat.... (nothing new there... they always stop for lunch!!!)

And then it was off to "play". This mall was  kind of neat, it had almost "everything" (so Mom says)... first stop.. the elevator. This one is glass like the ones at the hospital... I have ridden in so many elevators now, I am a pro at it. You just step on when you are told... move quickly to a corner spot to make room for everyone else.. and ride quietly until the humans think it's enough....actually I like elevators, because we don't have to "do" anything in them!!!

Then, Dave asked everyone to switch the dogs around. He wants to be sure that we can work with any one of our humans, and that we really know our manners and can do them for anyone... (which of course, we can!!!)

We worked on the stairs, going up and down and stopping where needed. Stairs can be a little tricky at times, but I am always ready to give it a try...... (that's me and Kathleen waiting at the top for our turn... and that's Linda and Moxie doing their work)....










This mall even had an escalator.. which we are not allowed to ride on. Moxie and I saw plenty of them when we were in Washington... so, again.. this wasn't anything new to me.... but, Dave made us go near them to be sure that we are worried about how they look or how they sound.....

That's me... I am really paying attention to Kathleen and ready to do just as she asks. Mom loves it when I work like this, she says I am the best when I pay attention... and since I like to make everyone happy, I pay attention!!!!!

We did some walking around the mall too.. just looking at all sorts of different things, and walking on different kinds of floors. Course we get a lot of attention from other people when we are working together like this... but, we need to think about our work and not get caught up in the all the excitement that we cause.....

I have to admit, though, when this little guy came over to say hello to  me.. it was all I could do to hold my down. I really really like kids, and they all seem to like me too... notice that Moxie is watching her handler... but ... not me... I just had to watch that cute little boy.... oh well, I'm still pretty little myself, so I can't be perfect all the time!!!!







And what do you think about that scary lion.... we didn't even notice him... who is afraid of a fake lion. But Dave seemed to think that was pretty great that none of us were even the little bit worried about him. Silly humans... were they afraid????

As usual... our day of training went zooming by... (Mom says it looks like a lab convention!!!)... we said our goodbyes to each other and to Dave... but one thing has changed for me.... I'm not nearly as tired as I used to... Mom says I'm growing up... and doing really well with my work. That's good news, I like to hear her say happy things to me... and so until next  month...


the life of.... Rylie....