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It has been a while.  Halo retired in April, when we got back from our place in Florida.  He is loving being a "dog" and not having duties.  I will ask him to do something simple and he gives me a look like "lady you retired me and I am doing my job".

So, made it through my daughter's wedding, in our back yard, two weeks ago.  Had about 130 people, Sushi truck, 2 bartenders, dance floor, DJ, nacho bar; have heard nothing but it was the best wedding people have ever been to.  It was just a big party.

Then had foot surgery the following Friday, a week ago.  Still recovering from that.  Not a big surgery, but being on the foot means being off the foot for two weeks and limited for 3 months.  If doctor clears me, I will head to my winter home in Florida on the 24th.

Still no word on my team training for my service dog from Canine Companions.  Should be soon,  early 2024, I hope.

Linda and Halo (retired)

On 2/15/2023 at 7:11 AM, Mabbiez said:

Has anyone successfully brought on a grass patch or fake grass patch on board to place in the box? I have only cruised once with my service dog and she was less than thrilled with the mulch that was provided. She eventually decided it was okay but she still wasn't happy. It was an eastbound transatlantic and we didn't see land for 11 days, so once we did get to land she was very happy to have some real grass! 

 

My family and I are planning another transatlantic, but this time going westbound so we won't hit the landless days until the last part of the cruise at least.

I took a rolled up turf with holes in it for my cruise with Halo.  I had previously had my husband make a 4x4 box, filled it with dog litter and then the sod.  It seemed to take forever, but I trained Halo to use it.  He was not happy as he has an acre to use whenever he wanted, but I wouldn't let him out until after he relieved himself in the box.  

Every time he did, we made a party of it; he got amazing kudos and treats.  He didn't like it at all, but it was sure worth the relief for us that he knew how to use it.  And he did use it on the cruise.  But he would look off the balcony every morning to see if we were at a port and would hold it until we got to real grass on real land.  He is one smart boy.  

He is retiring in a few months and my next dog will be trained the same way.  

Linda and Halo

Chris so glad you and everyone are ok.  The hurricane really missed us, way south of us.  Originally we were supposed to get damage from the outer bands, when it took the little shift south it missed us completely.  Absolutely nothing, no wind, no rain.  

I was wondering if anyone could provide me with a Celebrity vacation planner recommendation?  I don't know if that is allowed here.  I usually cruise Carnival, but we are going to give Celebrity a try and they have a great special good through tomorrow.  I book directly with the cruise line, but would like a direct contact with them if possible.

Also, I anticipate taking my new service dog on that one.  Has anyone cruised Celebrity with a service dog and recommendations for them?  I was looking at a veranda/balcony.  I was able to have Carnival put the relief box on the balcony.  Will Celebrity do that?  

Linda and Halo - for now (soon to retire)

On 10/2/2022 at 12:51 PM, Algebralovr said:

@Caribbean Chris I’m so glad you and yours are safe.  Moving sounds like a nightmare.

 

As I say that, I’m actually sitting with DH starting to make a plan for us to eventually move.  The home we are in was built in 1923.  It is TOTALLY not accessible.  We can see that at some point I’ll need a lot more accessibility than I do now, and trying to determine how to handle it.  I really don’t believe there is any way to adapt our current home.  I’d be able to get into the home with some easy work, but getting around it is a different story.  Since we know that I’ll eventually need a lot of accessible features, it makes sense to plan now, while I’m able.  One issue, however, is the location.  While I’m not working any longer due to disability, hubby will likely keep working another 10-15 years.  We currently live within WiFi distance of the university where DH has worked for so long.  It means he can run home to help me, or check on me, any time.  
 

We own a house that we rent out about 4 blocks away, however, and are considering tearing it down and building a house that would meet accessibility needs, then moving there, and renting out the home we currently live in.  Of course, the house we currently live in is where we’ve raised our kids, and we FINALLY have it most of the way we want it…and we dread the thought of moving.  
 

plus, the funds we would need to spend would interfere with cruising!

We moved a house in on our property, we are on 1 acre.  Small farmhouse, mother in law house.  Completely gutted it and making it accessible for my progression.  My, adult, daughter wants to raise her kids in the house she was raised in.  She gets married next September.  They will start out in the small house and then when they have kids we will switch.  My husband keeps saying what we are going to do to this house, replace carpet and other items.  I keep telling him no, the daughter can do all that when she moves in.  I am not planning on having a nicely redone house just to move.

The great thing about Halo retiring with her, he never moves from the house he knows.  He is so lucky.  And the future son in law thinks Halo is the best.  Even though they have a dog, he loves Halo so much.  So Halo gets to live out his life with his human sister, human brother in law and dog nephew.

Linda & Halo

I did accepted to receive a dog from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI).  12-20 months before I get invited to the team training.  My schedule is very flexible, but I did have to let them know that September 2023 will NOT work.  My only child, daughter, get married the end of next September and I kind of thought it would be important to be available for that.

Halo stayed with our daughter and fiance, they live with us right now, when I was in Hawaii for 3 weeks with my husband.  He was there for 2 months on a job.  Halo did not want to come back in, there is an apartment out back they are staying in, when I got back.  Confirming he is going to do great with them in retirement.

We are heading back to our home in Florida in November.  My husband and I have a 6 day cruise in November.  We are bringing friends with to our Florida house to watch Halo while we are gone.  Flying back and forth is just too hard on me, so we thought having the friends stay with Halo while we cruise, my husband does not like to cruise with Halo was a better option than leaving him in Idaho and coming back for him to fly back to Florida.  And then we will do some stuff with the friends, fishing, St Augustine, beaches, etc. before they fly back to Idaho.

Linda and Halo

Hi everyone.  Had my in person and final interview with Canine Campions for Independence in Santa Rosa, California (same location Rox got her babies).  That was yesterday.  Now I wait to hear if I was accepted to get a service dog from them.  Then I wait up to 20 months, usually about a year, to get the dog.

Halo is close to retirement.  He is still doing ok.  He was trained when I was more mobile.  I need some different kind of help from a service dog.  Although he is smart and could learn it, it really isn't worth it since he will be retiring so soon.  Probably would have been taught the functions, pulling clothes baskets to help with laundry and assisting with opening doors, if the pandemic hadn't hit and the shattering of the leg.  Which both caused us to stay in the house for 1.5 years.

He did stay with my daughter and her fiance when we went to Jamacia for a week, then to Hawaii for 3 weeks.  He will be retiring with them and it was kind of a test retirement.  He is loving being a dog.  Will stay follow his commands and behaves in public exceptionally well.  But he is sure loving being a "dog" and getting to go to a park without his work vest and just play.  Not a dog park, just a park with his buddy, my daughter's dog.  

Linda and Halo

Lady Jag, you can always take your own sod.  Just roll it and put it in a plastic garbage bag and then leave it on the ship.  I trained my dog to the fake stuff, took some and then left it.  Worked great and, even though training him to it was a pain, having familiar really helped once on the ship.  I get it is a hassle to carry extra stuff, but it was so worth it.

I bet you could buy some once in NY in the hotel area.

Linda and Halo

Long time no check in.  Halo will be retiring in 6 months -1.5 years.  Depending on the successor dog and his hips.  My daughter will take him in retirement.  We are in the process of redoing a farmhouse we moved onto our Idaho property.  So, my daughter and her, soon to be, husband will start in the small farmhouse and then once kids come we will switch houses.  Halo will stay on the property, and some in the home, that he knows.  Riki absolutely loves Halo and Halo and her dog are a bonded pair and get along so great.

I have been accepted for the final interview with Canine Companions.  I am just waiting on them scheduling me for the interview.  I am so excited.

I have been on two cruises, both Carnival Magic, since the start up.  Both with my daughter, no Halo.  If I have a service person, I don't take him with.

I just booked our 35th anniversary cruise for November 27th on the Magic.  I love that ship.  But I don't keep rebooking it because of that.  I have just been finding incredible deals and it is so convenient to our Florida home.

So our work, we own a commercial construction company is going crazy.  We will work nationwide/worldwide, but our jobs have mostly been in Idaho, Utah, Missouri and Washington.  No particular reason, just the jobs we get.  Well we have a job in Hawaii and will be going there for a month starting in May.  We have two jobs in Alaska.  I am not fond of Alaska, been there a couple times.  It is beautiful but not my kind of place.  So my husband will be there for 2 months.  Then might have a job in Guam.  As well as a few jobs in Idaho and Utah.  Just crazy.  As we usually have 2-4 jobs a year.

And, I scheduled and all inclusive to Jamacia for my husband's 60th bday.

We are not taking Halo on all these trips.  He will stay with Riki and Brodie (and Bolin, her dog).

So I hope everyone is doing well.

I have caught up with the posts since I was last on in January.  Wow, I didn't know I had been MIA for so long.

I am finally, mostly, recovered from shattering my knee and ankle back in August, 2019 and having to relearn to walk.  Of course, I had surgery, hardware and cadavar bones.  But then I opted to have the hardware taken out of my ankle in July.  It was causing a lot of problems.  We did make it to our home in Florida March 2020 for 2 weeks.  My husband had a bicep tendon rupture resulting in emergency surgery back in Idaho.

I did go on my annual, of course there was the break in 2019 from the "annual", girls cruise in September 2020.  I so wasn't ready for that kind of traveling on my own and it was not enjoyable.  The crew was wonderful, they were so happy to be back.

Then my husband, Rich, got me to my home in Florida the beginning of October and Halo and I were here alone until he was able to make it out the 3rd week in November.   Our business landed two jobs in Alaska and he had to be on site for those and hunting in Idaho in October.  We will be in Florida until April and then back to our home in Idaho for the summer.

Halo is slowing down and I have applied for a service dog through CCI.  I do have a phone interview with them next Tuesday.  We have move and are in the process of remodeling (complete gut) of a small home on our Idaho property.  Our daughter and her future husband will live in the small house and then when they have kids we will switch houses.  She always said she wanted to raise her kids in the home she was raised in.  I just thought that was something young kids say.  Now that she is an adult, I believed it to be true.  Halo will retire with her.  She, her finance and her dog love Halo, it is so perfect.

It is so nice to hear everyone is doing as well as can be expected through this crazy last 2 years.  

Linda and Halo

On 1/28/2021 at 8:28 AM, S.S. Cruisers said:

I actually love mobile homes. You get so much more for the money.  It's the lot or property it sits on.  We've owned 2.  The first one was on 4 acres.  It was by far one of my favorite houses we ever lived in.  I will have to research mobiles on their own lots.  I know they exist.  If I could it would be by the ocean.  I guess that is why we love cruising so much.  When we first started cruising, we always got a cabin on the fan tail.  It seemed no one else wanted to be "back"  there!  Now all of a sudden everyone wants rear cabins.  I love to watch the wake  from the ship.  

My favorite cabin is on the lido deck, front.  Not all the ships have this cabin, but it is listed as an inside cabin by has a large window that looks out onto a secret deck.  I cruise Carnival, so this is on Carnival.

If I cruise with Halo, I get a balcony and have his box put on the balcony.  Since my husband doesn't like cruising, Halo stays with him and I take my service person, my daughter.  Occasionally,  my husband will agree to go on a cruise with me and then Halo comes.

Linda and Halo

56 minutes ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Thanks Linda, I will look those up.  We do not golf, but I suppose if we want a restaurant on site and be able to drive golf cart around, golf course will probably be attached to it! LOL.  Just looked up deed restrictive, yeah, not where we would want to live either.  I'm not keen on a mobile home, we had one for many years that was tough to sell because of the lot fee.  It wasn't high, just that it could be raised at any time and you didn't have much control over it. We are just looking for a home base so that if we do get a motorhome we would have somewhere to come back too.  And of course if cruising is ever safe again, then that would be a nice stop off point.  

 

Florida has a ton of mobile homes.  I know what you are saying about reselling because of the lot.  I don't think that is much of the case in Florida.  You might research that also.

Mine is a mobile home.  I always swore I wouldn't own one, but it was really well done and it on its own lot.  Most of the people I know in Florida are in mobile homes unless Tampa and south, but those are really pricey places.

Linda and Halo

1 hour ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Thanks Linda.  It's nice to get feed back on something that you have thought about and find out your gut feeling was right.  Where is your home at in Florida.  I kind of got caught in a trail, but it was leading south of Tampa.  I will look to see what is north.  He is looking for a nice 55+ that has activities, a restaurant on site or close by, where we could drive a golf cart to.  Nothing special, just a nice relaxing place.  ❤️ 

We are in Homosassa.  10 minutes from Crystal River, where the manatees winter.  Ton of stuff in that area, trails, some beaches - not as nice as south of Tampa, but a whole lot cheaper to live and better than no beach, plus still nice ones, kayaking like crazy, wild life parks, lots of golfing, just the tip of the ice burg.

A little bit east of the gulf coast is winter haven.  It might have what you are looking for.  There is Sugar Mill Woods in Homosassa.  It is not 55+ but has a golf course.  Is deed restrictive.  A 55+, much smaller lots, I think they are all mobile homes, mostly double wides; Walden Woods in Homossassa, might be Weeki Watchi.   There are a lot of 55+.   I think most are deed restrictive and we won't live in those, my husband is into classic cars and has a large shop.  He currently has 37 Packard, 65 Olds Cutlass convertible, 61 T-Bird, 56 Flury and others, I can't keep track of all.

Our friends live in Brooksville in a very nice community.  I think it is called Highlands.  Has a golf course, I think it is 55+.  If it was just me, no husband, I would live there.  The Highlands does not have a restaurant on site, but a lot very close by.

Tampa and south is very expensive.  I bought a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house on 2.5 acres, fully furnished for 85k 3 years ago.  Unheard of even 30 minutes south.  

On 1/21/2021 at 6:18 AM, S.S. Cruisers said:

Sounds like some of you have plans in the works.  That must be a good feeling. Hubby is  getting the moving bug again!  He is liking the idea of Florida.  I have never been there and he has only cruised out of Miami, once.  We are thinking more on the gulf side, Tampa area.  Then he also is looking at Texas.  Not sure where there, just close to the coastline.  He wants a 55+ place, but he wants a restaurant on site so it is close by.  Hard to find the ones with including the restaurant, because Google of course picks up on the 55+ and throws a gazillion ones at us. We were  thinking maybe a highrise, but would definitely need a balcony so pup can go potty without have to harness her up every time to go out. Lots of variables to throw in there.  Hours slip away quickly when searching on the computer.  

 

Hope all is well with everyone and the pups are doing good.  

 

I have a home 1 hour north of Tampa, on the gulf side.  I love it there.  I would never be on the eastern coast - too crowded, beaches not as nice.  

We also have a home in Idaho.  We winter in Florida.  But not this year because of COVID and my knee and ankle break and recovery.

Linda and Halo

Checking in.  Hope everyone is doing good.  Yes, tired of this COVID stuff, but with my breaks this summer and now relearning to walk, it has been perfect timing for me.  I don't feel like I am missing out on anything, going out, restaurants, being social; I can just concentrate on my rehab, walking, etc.

I plateaud for a week or so, but now I seem to be able to do a little more each day.  I have even been able to clean the kitchen counters and do laundry.  I know I am weird, but I love cleaning and was feeling worthless not being able to.  Before the fall, I had a housecleaning for the dusting, floors and bathrooms, the things I couldn't even do then.  I am close to being back to that is all I need them for.

I just booked and put a deposit down for a cruise in September, 2021.  I wasn't going to until the cruising got started back up, but friends were booking it and there was a great promotion going on so I just went for it.  And a girlfriend and I are planning on taking a roadtrip from Tampa to Key West in October.  At least I have some things to look forward to.

Halo and the puppy (Bolin, now 5 months) have become great playmates.  I love watching them play and it is really helping my days go by.  But when my husband and I take Halo to Florida for the winters, I suspect Bolin and Halo will have a hard time.  My daughter is seeing about getting Bolin into a doggy daycare 2-3 times a week, that should help some.  And Halo gets to spend most his day outside with my husband in Florida.

Linda and Halo

My daughter struggled, a little, with reading.  For her home reading time, she read to her lab; they both looked forward to that time.  

We have had our tree up since Thanksgiving.  It is a new one for us.  Since I thought we would be at our house in Florida for Christmases, I sold the other tree.  This one fits the house so much better than the old one; it is not to tall for the room and not as wide.  And we have a couple other decorations that my daughter had kept.

Went back to the orthopedic about my knee instability and it holding me back from walking.  He thinks I may have a torn ACL and ordered a brace and MRI.  I most likely will not have surgery for it as I was having mobility issues in my legs before the injuries in August.  Sure hope the brace helps enough that I can walk a little.  I have had this kind of brace before and it worked great.

We are just having a small Christmas with myself, daughter daughter's boyfriend and husband.  My daughter has to work that day, hopefully not a long day.  Fed Ex delivers on Christmas, those packages cost the sender more money, so hopefully not many.  Lately she has been working 12 hour days, she just got in for the night and it is 9 pm.  She said one of the delivery guys expect he will be out till midnight.  She already helped him with some of his route.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Linda and Halo

4 hours ago, S.S. Cruisers said:

Linda, 

I know will do fine. I just worry, as we are the grandparents.  We won't be around as long as a parent would be to help guide him when he makes a left turn instead of a right turn.  As in financial decisions.  He has a pretty good head on his shoulder, he is capable it is the ability to discipline yourself to do the right thing at the right time.  I am glad you have the ability to help your daughter it.  It sounds like the perfect set up.  It's great she got a job with UPS.  They make good money and a good plus for her degree.  They are advertising for drivers and dock workers in our are too.  Travis can't go to work there because husband is high risk.  Travis actually already has a job, but with spike in Covid cases he had to take a leave of abscense. If he plays his cards right, he can make a career out of it.  Fortunately that is what he plans to do. Goals are a good thing.  We are just waiting to get him set and then we can move on with our lives once Covid is under control and we can safely cruise again.  I still research all the cruises we would so!  It soothes the soul!  🌊⚓🚤🚣

Riki is with Fed Ex, not UPS; although both are very similar.  We told her she needs to carry dog treats with her.  Halo gets a dog treat from UPS and Fed Ex drivers in Florida.  But not in Idaho.  He looks at us like he is being punished when he doesn't get one from the Idaho drivers.

I am not looking at cruises right now.  I am looking at a few land vacations, but I don't know when those can even happen.  Due to my recovery, COVID and our jobs (we do commercial construction and are thankful we can say we have jobs) are having material problems, so there is a lot of hands on putting out fires.  Makes it hard to schedule anything.

Linda and Halo

We also had a small thanksgiving, just three of us, my husband, my daughter and myself with the 2 doggies.

My daughter got a new job.  She was getting burned out in home health and not making much money.  A Fed Ex job, twice the pay, just dropped in her lap.  One of my best friend's son is a manager and is looking for 20 drivers.  She called his manager, the hiring boss and was offered the job before she filled out paperwork.  With the holidays it is crazy and she had a 12 hour day yesterday.  It was not organized and had 45 packages in addition to yesterdays that weren't delivered the day before.  The other drivers were done in 4 hours or less.  She said if that is the worst she really likes it.  

S.S., Travis should do fine.  This year is so weird and who knows how it affected the kids.  Riki, my daughter, has very few expenses while living with us; car insurance and gas, but she keeps her eyes open for better advancements.  Fed Ex should give her that.  Since she has a college degree she will be able to move up the corporate ladder.  She won't even need to save money or have good credit for a house loan.  We are putting in a small mother in law home on the property that she will rent and then when she has kids we will switch houses.  When we pass she will inherit our paid off houses and property.  She still saves all her money and keeps her credit excellent.  

During my rehabilitation with walking, my knee (the one I broke) is having severe instability it had 10 years ago.  Back then they put me in a knee brace.  It is really causing me problems with walking and in way worse than it was.  Not surprising, very disappointing.  I  have an appointment with a neurologist on Thursday (for my nuero muscular disease) and with the orthopedic on Friday.  I kind of think, I will not get back to my walking like before the accident, but I am going to keep trying.  I was prescribed hand controls for my car about a year ago.  I think I might have to have them put in the car.

Linda and Halo 

On 11/20/2020 at 10:11 AM, S.S. Cruisers said:

Linda, 

I hope your physical therapy gets easier and easier.  Like you said it will take time and patience.  How is Halo taking the idol time?  I am sure he is enjoying just being with mom.  ❤️

 

It is almost like Halo has stepped up his game.  Before the fall, I would ask him to get something and he would be slow about getting it or bring me things I hadn't asked for.  Now he goes right for what I am asking for and seems to be attached to my hip.

I am sleeping in the guest room and he doesn't get to sleep with me.   I know he doesn't like that at all.  But he doesn't have a problem sleeping with my husband, but whenever I move to get to the bathroom or get up in the morning, he is right outside my door.

Linda and Halo

I am getting incredible offers from Carnival.  But just can't bring myself to tie up money with something that is so unpredictable.   I just anticipate my travels will involve staying within the continental U.S.

I am starting to walk with a walker.  It is VERY slow progress, but it is progress none the less.  There is a lot of fear involved in retraining the body to walk, fear of falling again.  I am thinking of doing some walking in the Y pool.  To get the body used to the mechanics of walking without the fear of falling.

Sure hope everyone had a good weekend.  Our COVID numbers have spiked and Idaho was moved back to a modified stage 2, businesses are still opened, but no gatherings in numbers greater than 10 unless it is a protest outside.  This is Idaho, not only is it getting cold outside, we rarely have protests; so that didn't change much.  Except families won't be gathering for the holidays, we is ok with us, we like nice, quiet holidays.

Linda and Halo

Although I miss cruising a ton, I am not planning any until cruising has started back up and most, if not all, ports are open.  There is so much to see and do in the U.S.  Even though I have been to all 50 states several times, there is so much more to see.  I just plan on finding more places to visit.  The biggest advantage, no having to jump through hoops with paperwork for Halo.

I might consider and all inclusive to Cancun.  We have to see.

After two months of being 100% non weight bearing on my right leg; broken knee and ankle, I was finally able to use it starting last Monday.  Amazing how 2 months of not using it negates 52 years of walking.  I am not able to stand and walk yet, but it is making my transfers to the wheelchair and commode so much easier.  And I am doing my standing exercises religiously.  I couldn't stand and walk well before the accident on August 9th, but I plan on getting back to my "normal" quickly.  And then I plan to drop some weight and keeping up my exercising to get even better.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Linda and Halo

My daughter got her first puppy yesterday.   It is a Vizsla/Lab, 9 weeks old, Bolin -male.  She lives with us and Bolin and Halo, my service dog, became fast buddies.

Thank you so much Rangley for those photos.  I had never seen a picture of her.  She was as beautiful as her heart was big.

Linda and Halo

Oh my, I don't even know what to say.  I will miss her so much.  I never met her in person, but she was such a great influence in my life.  I learned so much from her, mostly about cruising with Halo, which I don't think I could have done without her, but about life she taught me so much.

I don't cry much, but I am crying now.  

Thank you so much for letting us know.  Thank you, Roz, Brenda and Horty for being such an incredible person and great influence in many lives.

Linda and Halo

I came home from in patient rehab on September 9.  I am still 100% non weight bearing on my right leg.  That means I cannot do anything myself, pee, poop, shower, eat, etc.  I am getting really tired of this but I know it is temporary and everyday is closer to healing.

Every time I get moved, Halo is right there.  He doesn't know what to do to help, he really can't do anything, but he is right by me looking concerned.  Each time the nurse, physical therapist and/or occupational therapist comes in, he lays about 2 feet away and just watches.

I hope everyone by the fires are doing well.  It is getting cooler and some rain.  It was horrible here in Idaho, with our own fires and then the smoke blowing in from the fires in Oregon, Washington and California.  We are finally getting blue skies and I think, our fires, in Idaho, are getting contained more.

My daughter did move back to help me out and not make it so Rich was the only one to take care of me.  She graduated in May, but was staying 3.5 hours away, in Pocatello, with her boyfriend.  He graduates in May 2021.  They were both moving back after he graduated.  She hated the town, loved the University, but not the town.  Now that she is graduated and the University mostly closed down due to COVID, she just decided coming back would be best.  She has a job and then we pay her for 10-15 hours a week of care.  She is available more, but that is what we pay her for.  

Linda and Halo

I might actually be able to see my husband and get some dog kisses from Halo.  I can't have visitors here, but I have to be transported to the surgeon's office.  I told Rich when and he is going to try to meet me in the parking lot after my appointment.

I feel like a teenager sneaking around.  We are just trying to get 10 minutes, to say hi, dog smooches and a hug, we don't dare have a kiss, they are so strict.

Linda and Halo