What Were They Thinking?

Last weekend Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta had its monthly hike. It decided to go to Piedmont Park (in the heart of Atlanta), and I wonder, what were they thinking? I know it was a very central location for people to attend, but it’s not a hike; it’s a walk. You shouldn’t call it a hike if you’re just going for a stroll through the park. I also understand that having the group hike at Piedmont Park gets us a lot more exposure to the public. I’m sure a lot more people asked questions about the group than we would get in North Georgia, but this was the only hike this year that we might have been able to see the fall color change.

I’ve heard that the walk was very successful, and everyone gathered for a drink at the Park Tavern after it.

It's Been a While

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so I will update you on the randomness that is my life.

• Ever since the corporate run my knee has been hurting me. I’ve not gone to a doctor because I’m a guy, but I did go to Foot Solutions and bought a set of inserts for my sneakers. There are two bad things about this: 1) although the insert has helped my knee, it hurts my feet as I get use to them (the salesman told me not to wear them more than a couple hours a day and slowly increase the amount of time I’m wearing them) (this means when my knee feel good, my feet hurt. And, when my feet feel good, my knee hurts). 2) the cost of the insert was as much as my sneakers. I hate spending that kind of money on an activity I don't like to do. It sucks to get old.

• I went to a hockey game the other day, and our team played like they never played with each other before. The Thrashers need to tighten up. Atlanta is a fair weather town, if you are not winning they hate you, but if you win they love you. (I like the Thrashers either way, winning or losing, but I want to see them play like a professional team not a minor league team.)

• I finished my last Photoshop class. It was a 8 week class at a local high school, and it was well worth the money. One of the class assignments was to make a logo. I decided to make one for the department I work for. Below is my department's new logo.

• Ever since the phone incident, Buddy has been a well behaved dog. That all ended last week when he chewed my glasses. I guess that shoots down the theory that he grabbed the phone because it rang. I think he has expensive taste. (mmmm should I chew on this bone or that chew rope or even that 20 dollar universal remote? No, I’m going for the $150 dollar cell phone or the $250 dollar prescription glasses. I bet they will taste so much better than any of these toys on the floor.)

• I volunteered at Cocktails for a Cause the other day. This was a fundraiser at the Goldfish restaurant for Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta (GRRA). The president of GRRA is a pimp. He put one of our attractive volunteers (not me) into an “I Love Cold Wet Sloppy Kisses” t-shirt, and sent her around to tables with men at them. Her job was to sell t-shirts and get donations, and she did well. More than one guy, who bought a t-shirt, told us they probably will never wear it. (They said it was to girly, if you don’t have a dog.)

• Next week I am heading down to Port St. Lucie, FL for Thanksgiving. I am driving down (11 hrs) with both of my dogs. This should give me plenty of fodder for upcoming blogs. We are only staying three days (after 3 days fish and guests stink).

• The other day my boss had to go to the termination review committee (I work for a quasi government organization, so you can’t just fire someone) and justify the termination of the guy who failed my class. They upheld that the termination was valid and had us send him a certified letter telling him he is let go. (This doesn’t mean he is necessarily fired yet. This is a union shop, and the membership could vote to have an arbitrator hear and rule on this case.)

• In two weeks I start teaching a new class. This will be the first time I’m teaching an Electrical Class. Because we are short staffed, I’ll also be teaching an Air and Brake class a couple of weeks after that. We are hiring 2 new Instructors, but by the time they will be ready to teach I’ll be pretty burned-out. I feel sorry for the students I'll be training when I get burned out. I have a very low tolerance for stupidity when I'm burned-out, and my company has a tendency to hire stupid.
  

Well I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

My Week has Been Messed Up

Last week I finished teaching an Air and Brake class (I had 4 students fail the final). This week I was supposed to start preparing to teach an Electrical class. Because I had four students fail, I’ve had supervise their re-training/study time and re-test them. Their re-training/study time has consisted of watching training videos of the air system, completing an interactive CD of the air system, and self study of their hand-outs. On Wednesday I reviewed with them in the morning and tested them in the afternoon. All but one passed.

Thursday morning I went down to my boss’s office to assist him (if he needed it) with the termination of the student that failed. Now I don’t want to see anyone lose a job, but you should not take a job you’re not qualified to do. The student’s argument for not being terminated is he was not told he would be tested when he was hired. If he wins this argument, it will mean that we will not be able to check a person’s knowledge of repairing a bus.

I glad my mother lives in Florida and doesn’t ride the bus.

Rescue Romp

Last Sunday was Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta (GRRA) annual fundraiser, the Rescue Romp. Every year we invite all the Golden Retrievers that we’ve rescued to a BBQ (they can bring their humans if they want). The day consists of food, games, shopping, and socializing. The day is a lot of fun, and it gives all the volunteers a chance to see how dogs they helped rescue are doing, and it gives the dogs a chance to show off their human families.

Most of the day I spent working at the Golden Store. This was OK with me because all the money we make selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, magnets, etc… goes to helping find homes for Goldens and Labs.

I am somewhat surprised that the psychiatric profession doesn’t protest and boycott this event. Because a person cannot be depressed surrounded by so many Goldens and Labs. Just looking out over the sea of dogs just made me smile.

High Falls State Park

My busy week continued with a hike at High Falls State Park. The park is located about 50 miles south of Atlanta, off of I-75. Buddy and I took off around noon on Saturday, and drove about an hour and a half to High Falls.

This is one of the most scenic parks I’ve been to so far. It has two hiking trails that total 5 miles. The first trail is the Towaliga River Falls Trail and the second is a Non-Game Trail. Both trails are located in different parking lots on opposite sides of the river. They are not connected to each other, so you will have to get in your car and switch parking lots if you want to do both trails.

Towaliga River Falls Trail

The Towaliga River Falls Trail is a mile and a half trail that runs along the falls and river. The trail starts off going down stairs along the falls, but unlike Amicalola Falls the stairs are wooden and easy on both human and dog. The stairs lead to a couple of nice observation areas that you can take some nice pictures of the falls (see below). The trail continues along the river with a few places to climb out on the rocks and for Buddy a few places to lay in the water and to swim.

This was a very scenic trail, with photo opportunities along the way. My only problem with this trail was that it was not well marked and it had many side trails, game trails, and trails leading to private property. Buddy and I did get off on one of these trails and got a little lost (and I forgot my Dick Tracy Watch at home, so I didn’t have GPS). Luckily, with a waterfall being so close I was able to follow the sound of the water back to the starting point.

Non-Game Trail

The non-game tail is a two and a half mile trail that runs through the woods. This trail was not remarkable or scenic. It is an easy to moderate hike through the woods on a single track trail. The trail featured mostly gentle climbs and descents that cris-crossed a small creek. I enjoyed the non-game, but I wouldn’t drive an hour and a half just for this trail.

The combination of the beauty of the Towaliga Trail and the exercise of the Non-Game trails made for a very enjoyable hike. I would recommend this hike to anyone, especially photographers.

A Busy Week

Sunday

Last Sunday I went Hiking with Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta (GRRA) at Fort Mountain State Park. This hike was a lot further away than we have done in the past, so we started later and only hiked the Lake Trail and Big Rock Trail. The group always enjoys these hikes. It gives people who like the outdoors and doing things with their dogs an activity. The dogs love it because they get a chance to swim.

The only bad thing that happened was that I flooded my friends car with my camlebak (water hydration pack). Because I didn't drink too much (we only did the two trails and it was a cool day) my camlebak was pretty full, and I must have stepped on the hose or something. I didn't even know it was leaking (I was wearing waterproof hiking boots) until Lisa dropped me off at my car. I picked up my gear and found it all wet, and the floorboard was flooded.

Lisa was very sweet about it. She said she would shop vac it up when she got home ( I wonder if she used the water she shop-vac'ed up to water her plants (we are in a bad drought here in GA)).

Monday

Monday was the 15th. I do my bills on the 1st and 15th. So, Monday I drove around paying bills. I don't know why I don't mail them in like a normal person, but I drive all around Marietta paying Power, Cable, Gas and Water. I'm sure I spend more on gas than I would on stamps.

Actually I do know why I don't mail them. It's because I have a louse memory. I once got a call from cable company threatening to turn off my cable. I checked my check book and I had paid them, so I was going to go to there office and speak to them. When I got in the car I noticed all of the bills sitting in my sun visor. Not only did I not pay them, but I didn't pay anyone. That's when I started paying at the offices.

Tuesday

Tuesday I had to bring Allie into the vet for her monthly shot (Adaquin) and to pickup her monthly medication (Duramaxx). I think Allie would agree with my mom when she says;"It's tough to get old. The minds willing , but the body's not.", but the shots and the pills help.

Allie is 12 years old and has arthritis and hip displashia. When I got her at 6 years old she had heartworm, which I think damaged her heart. Nowadays, she can only play fetch for 10 minutes before I have to stop (she'll be panting too much) or or walk 2 miles or less before I have to let her lay down. She would continue until she keeled over.

I often feel guilty about taking Buddy hiking and running, because I remember how much she used to love doing those things (she was a great hiking companion). Getting old sucks!

Wednesday

Wednesday is Photoshop class. This means I worked all day, rushed home and fed the dogs and rushed to school. It makes for a very long day.

Thursday

Thursday I went to the Atlanta Thrashers game. My sister and brother-in-law buy season tickets, and his brother and I buy half of them from them (so I buy 10 games). I then sold 4 of them to a friend of mine (your welcome).

The game was the second one I saw this year (the first was a pre-season game) and they won both. The Thrashers have not been doing well so far. Thursday's game was the first game they won this season, so I called my brother-in-law and suggested that I was good luck, and that he should give me all of his tickets until they lose with me there.

I took a friend that has never been to a hockey game. I'm pretty sure we have another convert.

Friday

Friday is finals day for the class I'm teaching (Air Brake System). I had to go in early so I could write the test (I have a database of questions). I designed a test that wasn't too hard, but still had 4 students fail. This means all my plans for next week are out the door. I will have to spend time re-training them and re-testing them. Here I thought I was done with them.

Two Dogs and a Fat Guy Again

As you read in my last post, I am back down to two dogs (if anyone from GRRA is reading, I'm not changing the name of my blog). Not only is the first part of the name of my blog back to being true, but the second part of the name of my blog is fast becoming true.

After the Corporate Run my legs hurt for a week. I once read that running on concrete was the worst thing for you knees, and I now believe it. It also said that TrailRunning was the easiest on your knees, and this may be true, but sitting on the couch is even easier. Sitting on the Couch is what I've been doing.

Since getting kicked off the Jack Abbott trail at Lockheed I've not been motivated. I think two things are causing this: One - it's getting darker earlier. This means I have to get out to the trail earlier, even though I am working later (I'm currently teaching a class). Two - now that I can't run at Lockeed, I have to drive a half hour to a full hour (instead of five minutes) to get to a good trail to run on. This means I have to get out on the trail even earlier.

Rushing home from work to rush out of the house to run feels too much like work (by now you all should know how I feel about working). So I've been sitting on the couch a lot more. Because I'm sitting on the couch more, I'm gaining weight again. This means that my blog name "Two Dogs and a Fat Guy" is becoming truer and truer.

I think I'm going to write Lockeed/Martin and get them to tell me what the trail policy is. Hopefully they will let me and Buddy back on the trail, because if I don't do something soon I might become the next "Jabba the Hut" (without the cool bikini girls dancing around).