Patience is Virtue

I like the Daylight Saving Time. It's not dark anymore when we go home, and we can even squeeze in some playtime in the backyard in the evening! But Nikki, my laziness doesn't seem to get this "Spring Forward" very well. She's always late feeding us!!! Just because she can't get used to loosing an hour doesn't mean I have to starve...
Patience is virtue??? Who said such a thing??? I don't get any extra for waiting patiently...

Quiet Car

The topic for the last CCB meeting was quiet cars and blind/VI pedestrians. The Guide Dogs of the Desert brought a popular Toyota Prius for demo. Usually the meeting is small, but last one was very well attended. People discussed possible legislations and other solutions to prevent accidents involving blind/VI and quiet cars.

So what's wrong with those popular hybrid cars? They are quiet, fuel-efficient, and good for the environment. Many companies and government agencies give incentives for "Going Green."
The problem is its quietness! When they travel, blind/VI people use the traffic noise to determine if it's safe to cross the street. Traffic noise is a good marker for their orientation too. Blind people learn a great deal to listen for traffic in order to travel independently & safely. Yes, a white cane and/or a guide dog are their mobility aids, but the final call is on the blind individuals. However, with hybrid car being so smooth and quiet, a blind person wouldn't know that car is right there until it's too late!

After the meeting, there was a demo so people can experience it. Nikki & I saw the Prius passing back & forth right in front of us. We didn't hear a thing when it zoomed right by us!!! They say that cane users are more at risk than guide dog users when it comes to quiet cars because the dogs can see the car coming and engage in the fabulous Intelligent Disobedience. That means more stressful work cut out for us guide dogs!!!

We live in the city, and cars are everywhere along with bikers & skate boarders and stuff on the sidewalk! You just don't know what I'm dealing with when I'm wearing harness!!!

American Idle Party

Hi, it's been a while. Hope you still remember me:)These days, Nikki has been hogging the PC and messing with her Facebook... Can someone buy me a computer???
Anyway, here goes my random update.

Every week on American Idle night, Greg & Nikki host the viewing party at our house! Of course, we dogs don't get to have the food Greg prepares for humans, but while they eat & cheer their favorite contestants, dogs get to have a backyard party of our own! It's usually Lisa's 2 dogs, Brownie, Banzai & me. I'm so happy to be able to run around with Ruben & Gus! They are big dogs like me, but the loudest of all is still, ... Yes I don't have to mention, do I! BANZAI!!! Watch out bro, Greg is seriously talking about getting a bark collar for you!
If you're contemplating a caper, it is the best to pull it off during the American Idle! No one's watching us or listening for our movement. So I quickly & smoothly approached Banzai's bowl, still full of his dinner, and YES, ... I don't have to spell it out, right? It was supposed to be a very quiet success without even being noticed! However, the stupid bowl let out a little ding! Well, but I did it!!! It wasn't a big prize, but good practice... Shhhhhh...

On the Idle front, the blind guy is still in! His voice is pretty good. But he's not Nikki's favorite. It is so funny that some people think all blind people know one another. Nikki was asked a few times on the bus if she's met Scott:D

More Vegas Pics

Finally, some pics from Vegas trip