I will no longer be updating Iron Guide (see below). Instead, I am now writing at my new, personal blog. Though that will be about some of the newer things I'm doing in life, if you want to see updates about Louie, Lester, and now Dusky, add me on Facebook -- there's enough ridiculously cute pictures to go around.

Recorded last night at 4am, when we were both a little delirious, Lester apparently more so than me.



You might not be able to tell from the video, but the object of Lester's affection is a springy doorstop. Say it with me: boooinnng! booing boooinng!

Labels: Lester

Permalink | Written at 4:40 PM | Post a comment | 3 comments | Trackbacks

Warning: Contains shameless plug.

I'm developing some kind of a strange addiction to running marathons, triathlons and endurance races on a couple days' notice. Last week, I did the Kirkland triathlon, which was a total and complete hoot. I'll spare you the details of the swim, bike and run except to say that Lester didn't do them with me. I'm starting a tradition of giving my medals to Lester to wear after my races, and the pictures of that will be posted as soon as I get them. In the meantime, we can all wonder about why Lester tried to spend the hours before the race trying to lick the permanent marker off my calf.

This weekend, I'm doing this random, crazy 8-hour adventure race. We don't actually know what it involves -- it's a secret, revealed only after the race starts -- but it'll be some combination of running, biking, kayaking, swimming, climbing, rollerblading, and who only knows what over a course of 50 miles. I don't even really know what the name is supposed to mean: the Seattle Oyster Race? Among other things, I need to learn to skate in exactly two days. :P I just bought my first pair of rollerblades three days ago. Last time I tried to ice skate... yeah, well, let's just say my friends found it amusing enough to record video of it. It's floating around on the web somewhere.

Warning: Shameless plug imminent!

And now, for the shameless plug. We're raising money for the Arthritis Foundation. To the tune of $500, actually. Because of, uh, yeah, last-minute registrations... the 6 of us have until tomorrow noon to come up with it. I, of course, thought you compassionate, generous, guide-dog-raising folks might be willing to pitch in. :)

All kidding aside, I'd certainly appreciate any donation you could make. Any amount helps and it's for a good cause. You can find our team called "SEA6" after selecting Seattle for the city. It's a horrible, horrible pun that current and past Amazonians will unfortunately understand. If you don't get it, thank your lucky stars and donate!

Pretty please, with sugar on top?

Labels: Ironman, Lester

Permalink | Written at 5:22 PM | Post a comment | 2 comments | Trackbacks

Matt and Amy from Growin' Up Guide inspired me to record "the sillies" over at the tennis courts.


Lester, we're gonna have to talk. Paige was way more fun and so much more entertaining. Paige has you so beat, paws down. A girl! Beaten by a girl! Sigh.

*ducks*

... remembering the 90% female readership of this blog. :P

Labels: Lester

Permalink | Written at 10:56 PM | Post a comment | 1 comments | Trackbacks

These last couple weeks have been a little odd. I've been refused entry to three restaurants. Another asked me to sit outside and a final one asked me to enter through the back. Today, just a few minutes ago, I got into an argument with the driver of the bus I've been taking for the past two years.

Why?

Well, basically: Lester.

We all know the uneasy, is-that-dog-going-to-pee-on-my-carpet look we sometimes get at restaurants. It's usually not a big deal. I just put Lester in his most proper, dignified sit position possible and cheerfully ask if I can bring in "this little puppy I'm training to be a guide dog for the blind." Most hostesses take one look at cute ol' Lester and that's that. Places that don't, well, I've come up with a pretty heuristic for them: if someone can understand the difference between pet and guide dog, they can usually make the mental leap to guide dog in training. If they don't understand the subtleties of the English language well enough to make that first distinction, well, you're probably not going to get in. Thankfully, even though I go to a lot of "ethnic" restaurants, I have my favorites that I regularly hit up, all of whom now recognize me and my dogs, and I can once again get all my favorite foods.

So what's up with these few other restaurants? Not sure. Even though I live outside the city, most of my friends still live in downtown and so I usually eat there. The one common thing, however, among these restaurants is that, out of the five, 3 were in Kirkland. Maybe they just don't see guide dogs very much? That's a little surprising, since I think there actually is a dedicated Kirkland raising group. Regardless, they were all pretty small restaurants, and two seemed genuinely apologetic and trying to be helpful, so I didn't make a fuss.

But this bus incident is different. More so, because I once actually got kicked off a bus with Louie. The issue in both cases was that the bus drivers didn't know official county policy. Service animals obviously ride free under the ADA but King County also allows service animals in training to not only ride but also ride free:

Must a government office let in the service animal that I am training?

No. The ADA and Washington state nondiscrimination laws do not address service animals that are not yet trained. While they might choose to allow these animals entry, they do not have a legal obligation to do so. However, King County policy allows individuals and their service animals-in-training equal access to facilities, "subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to individuals with disabilities and their service animals."

So, what's the problem? Sounds perfect, right?

The last time, after getting on the bus, scanning my bus pass, and heading back to find a seat, Louie and I were stopped by the bus driver: "What about for the dog?" I laughed -- thinking it was a joke -- and made some kind of a witty retort. Turned out he wasn't joking. A couple blocks down, he stopped the bus, got up from his seat, and walked back to demand Louie's fare. I didn't have any change (I use a bus pass, exactly so I don't have to carry change), was a little taken aback (this guy wasn't exactly the nicest guy), and wasn't sure of King County policy myself, so I just got off and walked the rest of the way.

This time, after we had reached my stop and I had paid and was about to get off, the bus driver stopped me.

"What about the dog? I need full adult fare."

Huh? He's a guide dog in training. I'm training him for the blind.

"So?"

I've been taking this exact bus for the past two years and I've never once been asked for fare for these dogs.

"So? That doesn't make it right."

To make a long story short, the driver and I spent a good two minutes going back and forth. At one point, a passenger even jumped in: "He's a guide dog!" But, the driver and I weren't getting anywhere, and he seemed grumpy enough to actually want to make a point of things. I could just see it in my head: "Next on the 6 o' clock news! Kirkland resident arrested for refusing to pay bus fare... for guide dog he's training for the blind!" I happened to have the few dollars in change, so I just paid the fare and walked off. The driver wouldn't give me his name but I did get the bus number.

So, now, here I am, firing off an email to King County Transit asking that they please send a memo clarifying the issue with their drivers. I'm willing to forgive some small, mom-and-pop restaurant... but, really, this is just getting ridiculous. I take the bus several times a week and, next time, I won't have fare and it'll just devolve into some nasty situation.

Labels: Lester, Louie

Permalink | Written at 5:31 PM | Post a comment | 6 comments | Trackbacks

... because he shed the other half in fur today. And, well, if both halves of Lester are gone, there isn't much left is there?


Oh, and to answer everyone's questions: No, I didn't collect it over time. It's just one day's worth. Nothing fancy, just Lester and I spending some quality time with his favorite shedding blade. (Although he doesn't mind the comb, Lester hates the shedding blade. But it's handy when spring and fall roll around. Sorry bud.) I do, however, take the 5th on creative photo angles. :)

Judy was telling me about the FURminator yesterday. Now that's some scary stuff.

Labels: Lester

Permalink | Written at 5:40 PM | Post a comment | 3 comments | Trackbacks

... because he's shed the other half in fur. It's that time of year again, when Labs, little and big alike, blow their coat. Fun times.

Labels: Lester

Permalink | Written at 4:24 AM | Post a comment | 3 comments | Trackbacks