What are you up to today???

[Charlyc11]

Our engineering dep including me, have an early start 5 AM to 3 PM we get most of our work done early.

[Second Hand Pat]

My daughter who is an engineer for Northrop Grumman gets every other Friday off. When Tom and I were working for Lockheed Martin we worked every Friday.

On a separate note Angel is slowly coming out of her shell. She has declared my bedroom as her safe zone but she is starting to explore the house a little bit more. This morning she seemed a little antsy so I took her outside. The cats watched her like a hawk but she takes zero interest in them.

This morning I let her explore the backyard by herself (vs walking her on a leash) and she walked around, explored the yard and did her business. I feed the cats while she explored then went and walked her back into the house. I keep a leash on her as she doesn't come to me yet.
Pat

[Charlyc11]

My daughter who is an engineer for Northrop Grumman gets every other Friday off. When Tom and I were working for Lockheed Martin we worked every Friday.
Pat

Pat
Those are two of our big customers we do all government work. I been at it for 45 years going on 11 years here in Maryland.

[Second Hand Pat]

Chuck, Tom and I moved from Florida to Colorado to work for Martin Marietta which later became Lockheed Martin. We moved back to Florida in 1991 or so as a job transfer and worked for them until the company decided to start laying off 50-ish employees, first they laid off Tom and five years later me. I wanted them to lay me off bad. Tom and I have worked at the same location and we would ride to work and have lunch together. I was so happy when they laid me off. We were already set for retirement with our 401Ks. We were both software engineers. Basely worked from 1981 to 2009 or so.
Pat

[fljones3]

Back in the day, Pat. I was a mechanical engineer for a company that did contract work for Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin) in Oak Ridge, TN. Small world.

[Charlyc11]

I been doing work for them since 1984 as Martin Merietta and Lockheed now. Ellen worked for AIL in Long Island NY when we first met now it went from AIL to EDO to L3 Harris. I am a Mechanical/Methods Engineer doing this to long.

[Second Hand Pat]

Back in the day, Pat. I was a mechanical engineer for a company that did contract work for Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin) in Oak Ridge, TN. Small world.

It is a small world Frank. These days our daughter Diana is a Aerospace Engineer and she works for Northrop Grumman. Whole dang family is engineers, seems to run in the blood. Both my dad and Tom's dad were Electrical Engineers also (crazy lol).
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Angel is settling in to her new place. I even am getting little tail wags
Pat

[jwcarlson]

Angel is settling in to her new place. I even am getting little tail wags
Pat

She'll be following you everywhere in no time!

[Second Hand Pat]

She'll be following you everywhere in no time!

That is sort of true Jacob. My bedroom has become her "safe zone" and she does come out and looks for me. If no one is around she will come lay next of the couch "next" to me if I am sitting or lying on the couch. She does growl at new people (part of her insecurity) but generally after an introduction she will allow petting.

She also wakes me up if she needs to go outside. Another nice thing is she will go out by herself, returns and waits until I come to open the door for her (back yard is fenced). She totally ignores the cats (unless they are eating).
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

That's a huge improvement since she first came to you. After she becomes even more comfortable, you should teach her to come by using treats. Dogs cannot resist the bacon flavored strips. Training makes dogs proud of themselves which in turn gives them confidence. Back when I could walk without a walker, I would take all my dogs to group training classes. They get the dog to feel comfortable with a group of people and other dogs. But you can accomplish a lot with training at home. When a dogs learn how to do stuff they gain confidence in themselves.

[Second Hand Pat]

That's a huge improvement since she first came to you. After she becomes even more comfortable, you should teach her to come by using treats. Dogs cannot resist the bacon flavored strips. Training makes dogs proud of themselves which in turn gives them confidence. Back when I could walk without a walker, I would take all my dogs to group training classes. They get the dog to feel comfortable with a group of people and other dogs. But you can accomplish a lot with training at home. When a dogs learn how to do stuff they gain confidence in themselves.

Great idea Liz I have taught our past dogs to sit, shake hands (with both paws), lay down, rollover, heel and maybe a couple of things I am forgetting. I have also found she likes the top of her head rubbed. Seems to relax her as she yawns, lowers her head and even puts her head in my lap. She is still unsure of Tom but he is trying, he is the treat man lol.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

We have had Angel about two weeks now. In many ways she has settled in but has not accepted Tom yet. She is exploring the house more (which is good) but I think she prefers being outside (she does like the catfood) lol. However she is inside when the cats are eating so they can eat in peace. Sometimes when I go outside to get her in she will not let me near her and I am not going to chase her. So I attach a lease to her collar and I ease towards her and simply step in the end of the lease in order to bring her inside.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

We have had Angel about two weeks now. In many ways she has settled in but has not accepted Tom yet. She is exploring the house more (which is good) but I think she prefers being outside (she does like the catfood) lol. However she is inside when the cats are eating so they can eat in peace. Sometimes when I go outside to get her in she will not let me near her and I am not going to chase her. So I attach a lease to her collar and I ease towards her and simply step in the end of the lease in order to bring her inside.
Pat

Pat, Congrats here on Angel. It sounds like she is making progress. She will probably need your continued patience and understanding after all she has been through. Trusting people is hard for abused and neglected animals. I can't think of anyone that would be a better person for the job than you!

Been a busy few weeks here. I never seem to have enough time all I need to do. Pretty sure we all have that problem. Spent a good chunk of time going through my office and trying to sort it out, box it up and pitch a bunch of stuff.. Its a bit bittersweet.

Gardens are growing well, but I am getting concerned that we are heading for a drought again. Our state is running a bit dry now. Figures as I expanded my gardens and growing more than ever this year.

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Al, making progress every day. My daughter Diana and her husband Mike came over for dinner last night. They came a bit early so we could expose Angel to more people. Once Diana and Mike were seated in our living area. I bought Angel into the room and she actually laid down next to me. I sat next to her and petted the top of her head which seems to relax her and she actually stayed with us. Mike and Diana were throwing her little tiny dog treats. She is doing really well! Diana told me I was spoiling her
Pat