The Potty Dance

It’s official. Little children that REALLY have to go are not the only ones that do the potty dance. Little dogs named Gwynn do it as well.

For a several months now Gwynn has been pretty consistent about doing her “number 1” business outside. There may be an accident once in a great while but really, it’s nothing to complain about. In my mind she’s still a puppy and still learning.

What Gwynn hasn’t been consistent about is doing her “number 2” business outside. This is probably/mostly the darn owners’ fault. When we were first training Gwynn to “go potty” outside, I’m sure the neighbors thought we were fools. We’d step outside, treats in tow, and calmly instruct her to go potty. More often than not, she’d give us a confused look, stand on our feet and communicate that she would do no such thing and take her inside so she could potty like a civilized dog in the privacy of her own home. And she would. On those rare occasions that she would potty outside, we (okay I) would jump up and down exclaiming, “Yes! Go Potty! Good Girl Gwynn! Go Potty! Yes!” (I guess I too was doing a Potty Dance). We’d follow this praise with a yummy treat.

Somewhere along the way, we stopped using the treats. And Gwynn never really got the hang of doing her “number 2” business outside. I lamented my dilemma and after talking to a co-worker, decided to try “Pup” peroni treats. Those treats smell good enough for me to eat! And so far they’ve been working like a charm. The number of accidents Gwynn has inside has decreased dramatically. Gwynn will even fake it and come running over for a treat. No fooling us though…yet.

So far, I know how to identify the real thing. She starts sniffing the ground for the PERFECT place. When she thinks she’s found it, she begins to waddle and do what I call the potty dance. Not until this process is complete does she get the treat.

Preparing for "Go Live"...

...has been like Training (albeit HORRIBLY) for a Long Distance Race.

When preparing for a long distance race, you set a training schedule. If you’re like me, you follow it to the T. You want to get from point A to Point Z? Then you must complete Points B - Y. They are NOT an option. They are there for a reason. To prepare you for the race. Is the race hilly? Practice hills. Is it going to be hot? Train in the heat of the day. If you were competing in an Ironman, train in all three disciplines. Do not think you will complete the race with a stellar performance by using a training plan for a Marathon.

Well, that’s EXACTLY what I’ve been doing for the past couple weeks (maybe months). Heck I’ve lost track. I’ve been training for one “race” only to find out weeks, days, months later that I’ll be completing something else entirely. Let me take a minute to explain what this “race” is.

My employer is implementing a new and improved, shiny, state of the art financial system that is going to replace our ancient, dusty, and nearly obsolete system. I’ve been tasked to help develop this system. And, I’ve enjoyed it. Learning the ins and outs of the system and how they will meet our business needs is interesting. It’s challenging. And I absolutely ADORE the people I work with. It could not be a better group. However, there have been days I’m COMPLETELY stunned. Suddenly my understanding of what we’re trying to achieve at this or that milestone is shaken. The path we’re heading down is no longer the right path and we need to change course. And yet, the date of the race, "Go Live" is not changing. “Go Live” is when we cut the cords that bind us to the old system and begin “running” on the new. It’s “D-Day.” “Race Day.” Changing your course when you’re almost there isn't the most efficient way to get there. And it causes a bit of mental anxiety.

Another key factor to training are phases. You have building phases when you are so exhausted from all the training you don’t think you can get up the next morning even when you fall asleep at 8. And you have recovery phases when you back off on the hours and/or intensity to allow your body to recuperate. The recovery phase of this project is non-existent. You train and train and train. And you prepare and prepare and prepare. It takes hours! You put in 14 hour work days. And then you get up to do it all over again the next day, the next week, the next month. A recovery phase would be nice…

So, like I said. I’m training for “Go Live.” It’s kind of like preparing for a long distance race. But the training plan…sometimes it just doesn’t make sense.