So I totally forgot I had class and spoken test today. Well, here goes emergency overdrive protocol Reach Down And Grab Some Nuts.

Today I taught Lucky the equation of trust, and explained to her that since she has trusted me, it is now my turn to trust her. I secured the halter rope and took her for a walk without leading her. She did fantastic, following my path and taking my cues. We walked together and jogged together, all without a rope to tug on her. An interesting thing is that without the rope, she becomes more dependent upon me for direction. It appears that relying on a rope creates a dependence upon a substandard form of communication, as well as giving her the ability to control me. Ropes are two-way forms of communication. Without the rope, she doesn't even try to stop and eat grass. She is too worried about being keyed in on me. I couldn't even get her to eat some grass. She wasn't comfortable. She needed the rope.

It was a good day though. A glass-smooth river and almost complete silence. Cool weather, and a bald eagle gliding gently over the water. I told Lucky that we had to go down about a mile to get to the river, and we'll see the eagle down there. Sure enough, we took our time and made our way down and there was the eagle, 30 minutes later, gliding along as if on cue.

But this is how it will work from now on: she trusts me, and then I trust her. A very good principle I think.

I have a zit right in the fold of my nose and cheek, making it impossible to gouge out. I helped my father install a blower/exhaust fan and hood for the stovetop in their new kitchen yesterday, and my face is still full of sheet-rock and dust.