Hello again! We are down to the wire with the timing to finish the semester strong! Dante has not been as vocal lately, so it has been a challenge to capture new vocalizations for the testing of the teachable machine. I'm hoping with the little cool-down we are supposed to have this weekend I can have the doors open and hopefully get more sounds for the research project. I guess the good part is he must be feeling more settled in our new home, like my daughter and myself :) I feel like I need more hours in the day to complete all my responsibilities sometimes! I hope you all find the time and space to study and focus in these last few weeks! Take care!

Here's a pic of Dante waiting for me to finish schoolwork..... I think we feel about the same!  lol

 Hi everyone! Dante and I have had a very productive week creating and collecting audio sounds and files for testing and training the teachable machine! I hope my new neighbors are not too bothered by my research. I am grateful a few of my classes are starting to decrease the number of assignments due, allowing me a little more time to focus on my research project. A really cool side-effect of my research is that I have become keenly aware of Dante's needs and why and when he vocalizes. He is very routine... just like me:) I read the other day that dogs take on the personalities of their owners due to learned behaviors. Dante tends to get very playful in the evening, I speculate it is because my 2 sons visit often for dinner.  He must feel my excitement and joy when they are there, so he has learned to expect it each night,
whether they visit or not.

 

Hello everyone! This week has been much more manageable than the previous week! I am thankful for that for sure! I have been able to gather all the audio files for my research and upload them to the teachable machine. I encountered a few issues in understanding the technology, but with the assistance of Josh, I was able to better understand how to operate the program. I was able to get a majority of my rough draft completed however, I have some additional steps in my research to be able to complete a few of the sections. I am looking forward to completing the research and analyzing the results! I believe, if developed further, this technology can assist so many people in many different ways!

 When it rains - it pours!

That's my theme for this week. However, we must remember that new life develops from these waters - both literally and figuratively. Dante was able to explore the snails in the yard after the rains, and he was quite intrigued. On a more serious note, someone very near to me is experiencing a severe mental health episode and I share this to bring awareness to the topic. This has been a 20+ year struggle and it comes with its ups and downs. As difficult as it is for loved ones to watch a family member go through a scary time, I can't imagine what it is like for the person suffering. Yesterday was nearly tragic for this individual when they crashed on the highway, driving approximately 70 mph, and ran into the back of a semi-truck that was stopped. Fortunately, minus a few bruises and scrapes on the driver, no one was injured. They looked away for a moment to use Apple Car Play to make a call, and that's all the time it took. Hug those close to you and reach out to those you haven't spoken to who once held a dear place in your lives. Life is short and precious, and no one knows when our time will come to an end or what others are dealing with. Take care of yourselves and remember to reach out for help - more people care than you think and there are resources available if you or someone you know needs help.

Arizona Behavioral Health Services Crisis Hotlines | Department of Veterans' Services (az.gov)