Monday, May 2, 2011
Rudi is a Graduate!
Rudi passed her test with flying colors! A little distracted by my mom, but she did it! So proud of her. Our presentation is May 18th, 2011 and I can't wait!
UMD it is!
It's Official. I decided Saturday night at four in the morning that I will be attending The University of Maryland. I'm a terp! If I tell the way I made my decision no one would believe me, but here it goes. I was at a work party Saturday night and two of my coworkers are from Ohio and I absolutely love them. They are the nicest kids and they were talking about Ohio and all the sudden I just thought, "What the heck is in Ohio?(Sorry Coach Love) I'm going to UMD" and that was it. I announced my decision this morning at Sunday family breakfast. I am so relieved and excited I can't wait. Rudi graduates in two days and I've made my college decision and I couldn't be happier. Rudi is very happy for me as well!
Decisions!
I am probably the most stressed i've been in a while and Coach Love can attest to this. I am completely torn with college decisions. I truly can't make one. I have made pro and con lists, researched, talked to current students and alumni of both schools and I can't decide between UMD and MiamiO. I truly don't sleep at night it's ridiculous. I gave myself till this weekend to make a decision since I only have about two weeks till the official deadline. As Rudi goes, we've been practicing all week for her graduation. I don't even need to use treats with her anymore it is amazing. I am overly satisfied with the training at PetSmart, I'd recommend it to everyone. My mom is going to come to Rudi's graduation next week which I'm happy about. I hope she doesn't distract Rudi because she is obsessed with my mom. Decisions and Graduation to come.
One more to go
Rudi's fifth training class was a great success. It wasn't too long, but we basically went over everything we've learned over the past six weeks. Rudi only gets treats half the time she does something correct and she still did the command every time with or without the reward. My instructor informed me about a tricks class that PetSmart offers that I think would be great for Rudi in the future. She is definitely slacking on her tricks and I think this summer when Rudi gets in the swing of things with her visits we should take that class. Rudi is ready to graduate, only one more week and she'll be finished!=)
Graduation around the corner (for Rudi of course)
University of Maryland was the absolute best weekend. I fell in love with the school! I met the nicest kids who go there and will be going there next year and I just had the best time. My mom and I were so impressed with the facilities and the Business School. Everything was just perfect. I still have not made up my mind about which school I will attend next fall though. I have a lot to think about with my parents so we'll see. Rudi and I have been training ever since I got home for her fifth class. She is so ready to graduate; I am so proud. I'm not too sure what we will be going over in class tomorrow, but I'm sure it won't be too much since graduation is next week.
UMD here I come
Tomorrow I am leaving for Maryland for four days. I am beyond excited. My mom is coming with me because we have to go to an admitted students day on Friday. I am staying with my friend Casey Rosen who is a freshman at UMD and my mom is staying with our family friends who live about thirty minutes away. This trip is truly the deciding factor between my two top choices, Miami of Ohio or University of Maryland. I again am not going to be able to practice with Rudi and either will my mom this weekend, but I have faith she'll remember everything we learned this past week. The thing I really want to work on with her is the paw trick. If I got to visit children's hospitals with her kids would love that. When I get back we only have one more class then graduation! It's crazy. My little Rudi will be all done training, I can't wait.
2/3 the way there
We just got back from Rudi's fourth training class. She did awesome. The trainer brought her own dog Murphy to class and he was so cute. He is such a well trained dog it's unbelievable. I hope one day Rudi can be as well behaved. Rudi learned how to properly greet dogs. Her and the other trainee didn't greet each other too nicely, but when Rudi did it with Murphy she did great. The other dog in the class is a puppy and very rambunctious so that is probably why. We have totally gotten rid of the clicker now so that is an accomplishment for sure.
Home Stretch
So I'm finally back from my UF weekend and I have mixed feelings. I have to say I didn't love it. It wasn't anything special for me. We went out two nights, I stayed in Ashley's sorority house, and I even sat in on one of her classes, but I couldn't see myself there. It may have been the person I stayed with or just that weekend, but I for sure now know that UF is not the school for me. My dad has been trying to bribe me with a new car and money in the bank when I graduate, but it's just not there. I am going to visit University of Maryland this weekend (I know I'm always gone) which I am extremely excited about. Tomorrow is Rudi's fourth training class so I am reviewing everything with her tonight. She is a little rusty because we didn't have class last week but she picks it back up fast. I feel a little empty not having to do noodletools anymore, but it is nice to have one less thing to do!
UF!
Tomorrow I am leaving for UF for four days. I am staying with my friend Ashley Ginsberg who's a sophomore there so it should be interesting. I have grown up hating the Gators so I must admit I am definitely biassed. I also have always wanted to go out of state so thats another reason not to like it, but I am going into it with an open mind and we'll see how it goes. I am obviously not going to be able to train with Rudi this weekend, but I have heard my mom trying to do some of the tricks with her and using the clicker whenever she is going to give her a treat, so she is definitely in good hands. I will miss her. We have gotten so close since I've started this project it is very nice. I can't wait to get her into hospitals and nursing homes, that is what I'm looking most forward to.
Rudi's New Haircut
This Tuesday was supposed to be Rudi's fourth training class, but it got cancelled. It actually worked out very well because it was one of my busiest days and I was beyond exhausted. This will push Rudi's graduation back one week, but I'm not too worried. It will give Rudi and I more time to practice her skills and build upon them. I've been trying to ween her off the clicker and trying to use less and less treats. She still has time before they are completely gone so she's definitely in good shape. I've been thinking a lot about my final presentation lately and I am a bit nervous about it. I know it will all come together, but I just need to really get started working on it.
Cutie Rudi
Now that my cousins are all gone I wish I could say I could only focus on school, but midterms are this week and I am going to visit UF from Thursday to Sunday. My dad insists I visit and stay with a friend before I make any decisions. I am going to try to squeeze in all my blogs before I go, but that will probably not happen. I have been practicing with Rudi a lot lately and she is really getting the hang of it. I show all her skills off to everyone that enters my house. My entire family and most of my friends all know about my project so everyone always asks me how she's doing. It's definitely a working progress.
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