Sunday, February 27, 2011

Quick update

I have lost my camera.  Lord knows where it is.  Last seen in one of my many dog bags.

Yesterday we did a demo for the "pet expo" in San Jose, CA.  We were asked to do a demo every hour. We did SEVEN demos.  Lord.  I was tired last night.

Laura and I loaded up my van and drove up to San Jose on Friday evening.  We had two wonderful people help unload the van (Thanks Mardee and Matt) and set up. Our space was smaller than anticipated at about 40x40, but we did put as much stuff as you could in that space. 

Sat Morning found us setting up our little booth with colorful table toppers including free clickers,lots of handouts, candy, and of course, dog cookies.

Each hour we did something a little different from running a small course, to showing how we train our dogs for agility.  At noon we did a weave pole challenge (probably the most fun for everyone, but not the most informative as it was total chaos).   Two teams (Team High Velocity, and Team Speed freaks), participated and with much screaming, dogs barking, and the public surrounding our small area, we had a ton of fun.

In between the demo we set up stuff and everyone had fun playing on the fake turf (thanks Heavenly greens!) - I remember a one point a few of us were laying on the grass playing with a puppy and just enjoying not doing anything!

Fortunately, people stepped up and worked our booth, helping us move equipment whenever we needed it, and ready with their dogs to put on a show.

At 4:25 we did our last demo (our numbers had dwindled by then) and our kind hearted agility friends helped us load the van and Laura and I were on the road by 5:10pm. 

Exhausted with no voice, my husband helped us unload the van and then took me to dinner.  What a great day!

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Good, The Bad, The Hysterical

Thank you Fin for making me smile more than once this weekend.  And thanks to my buds who stayed till the bitter end.

This weekend found us at a USDAA show in lovely Turlock.  Fin ran like a champion.  We had only one Q (in Gamble) but she was stupendous and minor little handling errors are huge when running the speed demon that is the Fin.  A minor late rear caused a bar on a gorgeous standard run.  A turn of the shoulders as the sun was setting for grand prix and she pulled off a jump. With Tazz, these little mistakes were correctable.  With little Fin, these minor mistakes are the difference between a Q and a no Q.

Bottom line, running my little black dog is a joy with or without the Q's.  I end every run with a HUGE smile on my face as I place the collar on her neck and say, let's go get the Cheese!  She is my little superstar and shows everyday what a lover of the speed (and the tunnel) that makes her who she is.

The video is 4 minutes long, is a grouping of a bunch of runs, and should only be viewed by the true Fin fans (otherwise, it might bore you).  At times, the commentary is the star, at others, just the shear velocity that Fin gets is amazing.  But, of special note, is the Snooker run about midpoint in the video.  Fin took an unexpected jump during the run.  Me, trying to recover from that minor little unexpected Snooker twist, and Laura's commentary is priceless.

Friday, February 11, 2011

We Interrupt this Blog a short period due to an unforeseen circumstance...

So I've been receiving emails.  I am very touched.  Thanks for your concern.  Truly.  Above is a Sunset I watched driving through San Francisco last weekend.  It was so beautiful and I couldn't help but stop, listen to some tunes, and watch.  I also had the video...and I couldn't resist.

All is well in Whiz land, just taking a break from blogging due to a wrist injury.  Certainly not the end of the world, but it is difficult to justify typing up a blog when I am trying to cut back on typing instructional materials for my client (day job).

FYI - LOVE my body bug.  My fitness goals are working and I'm seeing results. 

Running Fin this weekend in USDAA.  AKC runs will be happening in March.  Fortunately, I can still run agility with a defective arm.   Just can't make a living.  Ah well.  Such is life.

Lastly I leave you with a successful jumpers run at a USDAA show two weeks ago.  Fin and I did well but only Q'd in Jumpers and Steeplechase.  We had some close runs with a heart breaker of a grand prix run (missed weave pole - I accelerated...when I should have decelerated).

Hopefully we'll get some video from this weekend.  Can't wait.