Darn these modern manners

You've heard me rant before about people coming up and asking about Indy. It's inevitable how often do you see a dog in the library or the mall? And I don't mind some questions like: What breed is he, where did he come from. The questions that bug me are the ones that go something like this: Is he a seeing eye dog? Are you training him? Are you blind? Why do you have him?
What I wish I could say to that. does he have a harness? do you not see the certified patch on his vest? Would I be in the library? and what makes it your business? but unfortunately my parents raised me polite.

My Counselor told me this week that the set of questions that drives me crazy are both reasonable and polite. I hate to tell her this but she's been out voted. I've asked my folks they don't think it's polite and parents win over other authority figure any time. Besides I may be curious about why the lady across the library is in a wheelchair but I'm not going to go up and ask her about it. So why should they be allowed to ask me about my assistive device which just happens to be alive and have four feet a tail and a really cold nose. Makes no sense to me but then the modern world rarely does.

excuse my rant

Chloe and Indy

T-shirts

Yep you read that right T-shirts. You see I hear a lot of comments when I'm out with Indy, and they're not always what I see as favorable. Comments like "there's a seeing eye dog" "is she blind?" "Whats wrong with her" and "are you training him?"
I'm tired of those comments and I figure a snarky t-shirt or two might help cut down on the comments, or at least it would make me feel better. But what should these T-shirts say?
Here are a few of my favorites.
I know we're a cute couple but you don't have to stare

He's mine he's also fully trained can't you read the cape? (on the back) or don't you know what certified means ( Yeah I know not very polite but who can be polite all the time?)

I'm not blind do you see him wearing a guide dog harness?

I'm not blind I have Aspergers Syndrome

I'm not blind I'm on the spectrum

Yes he's cute but no you can't touch him

what part of don't distract the working dog don't you understand?

Well that's all I've got so far. Anyone else have any ideas?

Chloe and Indy

Full Circle

I cantered in my riding lesson on Wednesday It doesn't sound like much but to me it means I've come back to where I started three years ago. For you to understand I'd better start at the beginning. I started riding at the local therapeutic riding stable eight years ago when I was 11.
When I was 16 I started falling about 6 months later I was in a wheelchair I used the chair for about a year then I started walking all over again with a wheeled walker. Now I'm mostly mobile at home with the cane for short trips out and the walker for long. But I digress. Before my legs went I was starting to master the canter on a beautiful horse named legs she was 16 hands high chestnut in colour with an attitude and a need for speed. When I went back to riding after my 16Th summer I was in the chair and had to use the lift to get on the horse. so instead of group lessons I went into private lessons and I started riding a wonderful Norwegian Fjord gelding named Vern. At first it was just simple stuff but we took the private lessons as an opportunity for me to learn the dressage I'm so interested in and now almost three years later I'm back where I was when my legs went maybe a little ahead in places.
Chloe and Indy

Good Bye for awhile

Okay so it's been a while since I wrote. I apologize. And it's going to be even longer I just don't know what to write any more and it's really bugging me so I'm going to take February off At least a bit of it. So I'll try writing again in march.

Chloe and Indy

No Pictures Please!

So Mama, Indy and I went to Church this morning, Got there early visited just a normal time at church, then at greeting a lady tried twice to pet Indy talking about how much he looked like her dog, wouldn't really listen when we asked her to please not pet. (The rules are a little different at church then say the mall but not that much) Then she asked if he was mom's dog(I was wearing the leash!) and could she take a picture? well that just threw me off. I've never been asked that before and no one has asked who he belongs to before. It blew me away.
Chloe and Indy

We Must Be Doing Something Right.

Last night was family movie night and it was my turn to pick, so Dad took Indy and I to the rental place, and when we were paying I was mistaken for my mother and Dad said no she's Chloe the one who has a permanent shadow. the lady took a look over the counter and saw Indy and said I didn't even notice him. What a compliment. we must be doing something right.
I hope every one had a happy holiday.
Chloe and Indy

Aspergers and the Public School System.

I went to public school for eight years. For all of those years I was undiagnosed. To put it bluntly it was AWFUL. I had regular meltdowns, but they wouldn't tell my parents. Although I have the original involved parents. They talked to my teachers regularly, the teachers never told them anything. We're pretty sure my grades were fudged. I was belittled by the other kids who liked to make me feel worthless. The bullying was so bad that my folks went behind my back to the principal. Even then I was then one who got punished. If my parents talked to someone it made things worse for me.
I'm not writing about this to upset anyone but if people read about my experiences, maybe it'll help them somehow.
My parents pulled me out of public school after grade 7 and put me into a catholic cyber school where I stayed for 3 years. I enjoyed the rest of Junior high well as much as any kid can. Then I hit my educational plateau in grade 10.
We later found out from Dr.s that I shouldn't have made it through elementary school, let alone Jr. or Sr. high.
I did eventually end up in a special Ed class at the local public high school. But that did not really work either. And I was pulled just before the end of the year.

Chloe and Indy

Aspergers, Autism, and Me

My Doctors and my Counselor say I have Aspergers Syndrome. Which as some people know is a form of high functioning autism. But what my parents and I call my disability or disorder as some pro fer to call it and I don't wish to offend anyone. Differs depending on the day and the situation. My family knows I have aspergers and that it's on the autism spectrum. But If I'm having a really bad day, or someone asks what type of service dog I have or the most popular question, is that a seeing eye dog? I tell them no, He's a autism service dog I'm autistic. or as I say tistic, on rough days or with strangers I tend to lose some vowels.

I suppose what I'm trying to do here is explain how the spectrum affects me. And what it means to me. I know people are looking for a cure. and that's okay as long as they don't try to force it on others. Because if I was offered a cure I probably wouldn't take it. Being on the spectrum isn't what makes me me but it is a part of me. And I've spent 19 years like this I don't always like it but I was made this way for a reason, and it's probably a good reason. I mean the big guy up stairs doesn't make mistakes. So the least I can do is live the life he gave me.

Well Indy's telling me it's time to go to sleep
so I'll come back to this subject again another time

Chloe and Indy

It's Begining to feel a lot like Christmas

We've started shopping for baking supplies. I already have two batches of cookies baked and in the freezer. Christmas presents are bought and wrapped. I just have jar gifts to make cookie's to bake and parent's to buy for.

On Saturday Dad will do the smelly cleaning that my asthma can't handle while mom and I are at RaW. I think we're going shopping but I'm not sure. Mom's going along to drive the van..

It's been real busy over here. And I mean to write but then I get distracted or it's late and I fall asleep. Indy's scheduled for his first professional bath because I'm allergic to his shampoo and we think it'll be easier this way. And Indy and I are scheduled to get holiday photo's taken of the two of us. That should be interesting. I don't know if he should be vested for them or not. which would be better? But those are not till next month. We'll be skipping the church Christmas party because it's on Dad's birthday. So we'll hang out at home watch old westerns and Jame's Bond movie's and Mom'll make Sloppy Joes. Then the next weekend well decorate.

Have a nice night

Chloe and Indy

He's Cute

Well turns out my big strong service dog can't stand winter. So we had to get him a Winter coat and boots.

Isn't he handsome?

However this handsome boy ate the tip off of a red crayon yesterday. I brushed his teeth and he hasn't had any after affects. Life with him is interesting some times and now for more cute pictures of MY Guy.

Chloe and Indy