Arrow has grown so much and yet he is still so small! He will be 13 weeks old tomorrow. Last week Arrow received his second booster shots so he is now able to go on walks and socialize with other dogs. On Saturday Ed and Erin brought over their mini schnauzer who is very playful on her own turf but she wasn't too sure about Arrow. He leaped and jumped and raced all over the place, so excited to have a new friend. I think Marley will be more at ease during their next play date.
I took Arrow to my parents house on Monday (President's Day) where he cried and howled half of the way there. At first he was terrified of the Corgis but then he warmed up to them. Tilly and Taffy didn't seem to mind or care a whole lot about Arrow. They just wanted someone to throw the ball for them! Arrow sniffed all over the yard and vineyard. He even sniffed the goats! Timon didn't seem pleased about Arrow's visit inside the house but he doesn't seem pleased about anyone's visit. Arrow was so tired from his adventure that he slept the whole way home. Once again I think the next time he sees Tilly and Taffy he will be more playful (and hopefully a little bigger).
Arrow also went on his first walk on Saturday! Erik and I walked him up to the new schools above our house. He did such a good job! All the smells (and the poops) were very fascinating to him. We figured out that if one of us walks slightly ahead (usually Erik) than the other one can hold Arrow's leash and guide him. Arrow loves feet and follows the persons feet that are in front of him. This is much harder to do when it is one person (me). I took Arrow on a walk on Monday and he wove back and forth and back and forth tripping me. He also didn't know where we were going and would randomly run and stop. On Tuesday I took Arrow on a walk to another school and he ended up walking 1.66 miles! He was shivering, shaking, and soaked towards the end. But he did such a good job! Yesterday it was freezing, raining, snowing, and sleeting off and on so we did not go on a walk and today we woke up to snow!
If I thought it was hard taking Arrow out to do his business in the rain, taking him out in the snow is 10 times harder! He is cold and distracted. He pounced on the snow and then raced back to the house. He doesn't want his feet to touch the white powder. I put him back in the bathroom for now. The snow is still coming down in big beautiful flakes so I have a feeling Arrow will have lots of accidents in the house and no long walk today!
The good news is Arrow starts puppy kindergarten on Monday where he will learn to interact with other dogs and hopefully how to sit, stay etc. Maybe the instructor can give me some tips on how to help Arrow like being outside better!
The not so good news is there is a huge chance that I will not have a job next year. I went to the budget meeting Tuesday night with my friend and coworker Tonya, who is a second year teacher. Basically they are going to make a lot of cuts. Right now they are looking at reducing the amount of teachers 10 to 15%. Salem-Keizer is a large school district so that means cutting 250-400 teachers. Rumor is they are going to start with first year temporaries. In other words: me. With this many teachers getting cut and few retiring the chances are slim of jobs being posted. One of the only ways they would reduce the number of teachers they cut would be to have teachers agree to be compensated less. I really hope this is what they decide but I am not a single mom trying to put my kids through college. To sum it up the situation sucks. My job was the one thing I had here and if that gets taken away then I don't know what I'll do. I can't go to Newport because of Arrow. I guess it will be back to subbing unless a miracle happens.
This picture was taken at the budget meeting and is on the Salem-Keizer website. Kind of like a where's Waldo, only it is a where's Shannon. At least it is more proof that us first and second year teachers are involved and really care about what happens.http://www.salkeiz.k12.or.us/content/superintendent-husk-gives-presentation-budget-committee
I took a couple of not so great pictures of Arrow in the snow before my camera died. I'll post them later. The snow has just about stopped. I guess I should take that little pup out again!
