Well…here it is almost Thanksgiving and I am getting so excited about the thought of turkey (like I am going to have any!) I can’t stand it. Maybe, just maybe, someone will “accidentally” drop a piece on the floor. Did I mention that I like BOTH light and dark meat? MIRA has been abuzz for ten days now because Eric St.Pierre, the Founder of MIRA Canada has been visiting us and the students who received their dogs this past summer. Eric and Beth have logged 1,000 miles in eight days. I have to admit that as much as I like road tripping, I am glad it was them and not me.

Today we are in Raleigh visiting Darcie and Navy so I am very happy about that.  Navy is a wonderful dog, and so happy. He wags his tail all the time, even when he is working. What a bon chien (that means “good dog” in French- we are bilingual dogs, after all) So in the last ten days we have been to three schools, hosted a brunch for forty, met with three prospective students for next year and chaired a number of meetings (I like the meetings because I get to snooze – one of my favorite things if the truth be told… Bob, of course,” chairs” – which I guess is because he sits in a chair, which also must mean that I “carpet” since I stretch out on the rug. Or do I “rug?”) The language of humans never ceases to amuse me.

In any case, I wish you all a wonderful turkey day with lots of good food and good cheer. And please travel safely.

Yours Truly,

Devon ( “Bird Dog”) Baillie

Our third annual Miles for MIRA FunRun Walk and Dog Costume Competition was last Saturday and wouldn’t you know, after nearly two weeks of glorious weather the first cold rainy day was Saturday. Bob and I didn’t even get to attend because Bob was “under the weather” which is apparently another way humans have of saying he didn’t feel well. I don’t get it, myself. How can you be under the weather when the weather is all around you? Besides,  I didn’t think his nose felt warm, so how did anyone know he wasn’t feeling well? Sometimes humans confound me.

Anyway, I heard that the brave souls who came out to support MIRA had a good time in spite of the cold rain. The reservoir course got rave reviews, as did Panera’s cinnamon crunch bagels and coffee, and Outback’s grilled chicken lunch with their famous salad with glazed pecans. And the Dempsey Center was the perfect setting for the inside events. Wow, I sure wish we had been there. No one knows this, but I LOVE cinnamon crunch bagels (I had a piece once at Panera when a lady dropped it on the floor…) and let’s not even talk about grilled chicken…

My wonderful MIRA guide dog friends Gale, Navy, and Robbie were there and they said that the morning was a lot of fun.The cool weather suited them just fine and they loved being together and catching up on the news. Oh, I wish I had been there, too.

Anyway, Bob is fine, now, and we are back at work and getting ready for Eric’s visit ( no crumbs from the floor when he’s around, believe me) Even so, he is definitely one of my all time favorite people. I love him. I am excited, too, because rumor has it that we are going to Aiken to see Ryan and to Boone to see Meredith, and you know how much I love road tripping.

As I am so fond of saying: “Life as a MIRA guide dog is never dull!”

Catch you later,

Devon

It has been a busy time around MIRA but you can’t tell by this picture of me in the office with my “baby.” You know sometimes I just have to chill out, and lately this has been one of those times. Last Saturday Bob, Beth and I went to the Regional Lions Club annual meeting at the Hampton Inn in Southern Pines. We met a lot of really nice people and Bob had a chance to speak about what it means to have a guide dog and how I have changed his life. I was really so pleased when he said all those good things about me, and everyone was just so nice.  Those Lions are special people. I must say, however,  that I sure hated that we had to leave right when the pig was brought out for pickin’.  No one ever consults me when it comes to food, and I have a lot to offer on the subject.

This week we have been preparing for Eric’s visit. Eric is coming all the way from Canada  to work with the kids who got their dogs this past summer. I can’t wait to see Eric. I just love him. In fact, I even got a bath on Monday so that I will look especially handsome when Eric arrives tomorrow.

So, the reason I am resting with “baby” is because next week we have a whole lot of work to do: meeting with the kids, visiting a couple of schools, going to Rotary, out to dinner and so on. I will really need to be “Ambassadorial” all week,  which means a lot of concentration on my part. I don’t mind at all, it’s part of being a good MIRA guide dog.

Wishing you all a great week. Turkey Day is on the horizon. Here’s hoping..

Love,

Devon