time, time, time....

Well, it's Saturday morning... and there is very little time for anything else than school. I'd really like to write more about what's been going on here, but I have not had time yet. Last weekend I worked on Saturday with the dogs, this weekend I am going to Ojai, CA to visit my grandmother. I am getting ready to leave now, and my plan is to have time tomorrow to write here and catch up with people. Things are taking priority over free time! But, all is well and I know everything that is taking priority is very important. I will probably spend more time writing here after school is over. This has been an amazing experience. It's been a flooding of experiences, which is partly why I can't write much now. I am too much in the middle of everything. I am grateful to my teacher. I am grateful for everything that has brought me here. I am grateful for all of the love, support and encouragement from everyone who has been a part of this experience. Even though I haven't been in touch, you all have been in my thoughts everyday.

almost halfway through...

Gosh, I thought I'd be writing alot more here. Someday I'll be able to catch up. Things have been so busy.... all I've had time for is school, homework, dinner, sleep, school, homework, dinner, sleep- over and over again. It's the second weekend- I was able to work for part of the day yesterday at the center, and I have today off. I have a good amount of homework to do, but I need to do something relaxing also. I think I might bike over to the ocean, it's not too far away. I'd like to get iin some nature. The nice thing about this city is that there is a descent amount of green around- it's a big sprawling city, but there are trees and greenary, birds, etc. And, the climate allows for flowers and green in the winter (even though it feels nothing like winter...).

So, as far as school goes- I've been learning so much about myself- and about the dogs. I've been learning about the things that have been holding me back, my issues with anxiety, nervousness, feeling like something is wrong with me, I'm not good enough, I'm not able to do things. My teacher has been an immense help and I am so grateful for all he's done. With the dogs, I've been having to relearn everything. I've had to let go of everything I've known, except for my instincts. I've had to let go of my attachments to my own dogs, because even though we've been living together better than it could be, things have been out of balance, and I know that for sure now. There is a basic need for dogs, and that is for someone to be in control. When the human is not in control, the dog feels it needs to be. This is what causes the imbalance. So, I can't wait to get home and change everything with them so I can give them the best life possible. I've had to let go of my attachments to my dogs and what I've projected on them. OF course I'm only doing this at a distance right now. It's going to take alot of discipline on my part when I return home. But I can't wait. I also can't wait to help people and to help dogs. I am starting to see how much I will be able to help and change lives, simply from what I've seen with my own life.

I can't believe the month is almost halfway over.... that makes me really sad. I don't want to leave. I mean, I want to be home with my critters, but I like it here and I don't want it to end. This has been an amazing experience. That's all I've got time to write for now.... will write again when there is time... I hope you all are well!

Ahhh.....

Well it's nearly a week after I last wrote here.... and I'm not even going to write much for now. It's been an intense, exhausting week. It's Saturday, and I slept and had a head full of dreams... and now am completely ready to rest. I need it. So much happened this week I need to rest now. It was a great week, although alot of it was not fun. I will explain more later. It was very challenging and I learned alot. It seems to be a warm weekend here... I will go and have some lunch somewhere, and hope to see don Miguel Ruiz speak not too far from where I am. I've been doing ALOT of walking, and may try to buy a bike to use while I'm here. I will write more once I've had some time to relax. I am very grateful for this experience. I hope you all are well out there! Much love and sun and breezes from California!

Sunny Sunday

It was a great day today.... sunny and warm! What a change! There are mountains I can see from here! I didn't even know they were there because of all of the clouds and rain! Today I went running, then drove out to the forest.... when I got to the forest the road was closed due to the storms they've had. That was a little disappointing, but ok. I know I'll be back. The mountains out there and landscape were beautiful. Then I returned the rental car and walked back to the hotel. I'm getting ready for bed now.. school starts in the morning! I'm a little nervous, but not as nervous as I thought I'd be. I've really been working on that and some other stuff. It's good.... so that's all I can write for today, hope to write more tomorrow. I don't know anything about what's going to happen tomorrow, so I'm anxious to find out! I'm ready to get this started. I hope you all are well out there... :)

Hello, Los Angeles

I have arrived in Los Angeles... got here Thursday night and have been recuperating from the stress of packing and getting everything ready to leave (I finally realized why I am nearly always packing up until the very last minute...because I absolutely hate it!), from the stress of travelling- airports, airplanes, etc. (I tend to absorb stuff like a sponge), dehydration, exhaustion and a time change. Whew! I wasn't expecting to feel so hit by it. Friday I drove around the area, did some grocery and supply shopping, and am now ready for a salt and soda bath (energy clearing) and sleep. I drove to Marina del Ray after I got here, and Friday I drove to Venice. It's been raining all day today, so I wasn't able to see much or do much, but I have been getting accustomed to the area, what's around, etc. So far, although I haven't experienced much, I seem to like it here. There are alot of people, and there is alot of stuff around, but it's not bad. There are alot of pretty people, alot of personal expression which is nice, alot of stylish people, and alot of racial diversity. School starts Monday and I'm really excited, and getting a little nervous. I can't believe it's almost here. Now I'm really glad I came a few days early so I could have some time to adjust and explore a little. It would have been a little nicer if it was sunny and warm, but rainy and pretty warm is good too.

Yesterday I went to Venice Beach... it was nice... it was wonderful to see the beautiful ocean. I love the ocean. It was pretty cloudy and the rain had just ended, and it was a little cool, but it was nice to see the ocean and walk around Venice Blvd. for a few minutes. I can imagine what it must be like in the warm weather there. Today (Sunday) it looks like it is going to be a nice sunny day.... I will go for a short run, then possibly take a drive out to the forest. I'm just going to try to take it easy as school starts tomorrow.

I've had some interesting dreams in the last few days, some animals coming to me, and told to watch out for signs- they're very important. I hope everyone out there is doing well, and everyone in the northeast is staying warm and safe in the snow.... and I hope my sister Amanda and brother in law Garrett are doing well in anticipation of their daughter's birth. I'm thinking about you both all the time. I hope to post some pictures this evening. Much love to you all....