I am at an arena, sorta covered with no sides sitting in my chair in the dirt. Waiting. I'm waiting for my turn. I take the pups for a walk. And wait. I don't know anyone there. The people at the gates are not helpful. I don't see my dogs name on the list. I read a book, walk the dogs and wait. Then I see people walking a course and I go up there and they call my name, I have to run with the dog, but wait, this is not my class...I didn't sign up for the FAST class and this run has a distance gamble. My class was before the Fast class. What the heck. I've been checking all day. The person at the gate says, sorry, next time pay better attention. I'm so frustrated by my lack of understanding and I KNOW that they didn't run my class. How could I have missed it after waiting all day.
Then I wake up.
Now I have to go work out this morning but I can't get my frustration out of my head. My trainers solution of course is to sweat it out. He now has me jogging as part of my work out. That sorta worked. At least I'm smiling now rather than being grumpy.
Today is a busy work day (been busy all week). Tomorrow should be easier and then off to the show on Saturday. Could I be a little nervous? Could this dream be part of those nerves? I don't feel nervous...I'm actually quite looking forward to the weekend.
Hopefully I'll have sweet dreams instead of frustration dreams tonight :)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
It Isn't Raining
Big news here abouts.
We've had rain these last few days. The ground is wet, but the wet stuff isn't falling from the sky. It's time for a celebration!
I know we need rain, but goodness it is nice to be out in the Sun. :)
Supposed to rain again this weekend. Should be fun in Dixon (she says sarcastically).
Maddie had a little adventure yesterday. Background: Maddie HATES the UPS truck. Maddie is not allowed outside without a leash because she will chase the UPS truck. We know this and therefore are very careful with the UPS truck comes to visit our house.
I leave yesterday for class. The UPS truck delivers a package. Kel opens the door, Maddie runs out and chases the UPS truck up the hill. Kel slams the door shut and chases Maddie up the hill. So we have the UPS truck going up the hill, Maddie in close pursuit, and Kel following going as fast as he can (and he can go) but it is up a really steep hill.
Kel is probably thinking he is dead meat if I come home and Maddie has been killed by the UPS truck. He is also probably very concerned about Maddie.... but I'm pretty sure he would be more scared of me. Maddie chases the truck around the corner at the top of the hill and poor Kel looses site of her. At this point, I'm sure that panic has entered the equation...at the top of the hill that truck is going to slow down and turn around and if Kel doesn't get up there, one little black dog is not coming back down on her own steam!
As he hits the corner, here is Maddie trotting down to Kel. She is very happy with herself. Kel is not happy at all (probably relieved...but at that moment, mad as hell).
Maddie is safe and Kel got his Cardio. I'm glad they are both safe and that I wasn't here. It's bad enough I got to hear about it when I got home. I love that silly little dog. Kel is also relieved. Maddie slept in his lap most of the evening last night.
We've had rain these last few days. The ground is wet, but the wet stuff isn't falling from the sky. It's time for a celebration!
I know we need rain, but goodness it is nice to be out in the Sun. :)
Supposed to rain again this weekend. Should be fun in Dixon (she says sarcastically).
Maddie had a little adventure yesterday. Background: Maddie HATES the UPS truck. Maddie is not allowed outside without a leash because she will chase the UPS truck. We know this and therefore are very careful with the UPS truck comes to visit our house.
I leave yesterday for class. The UPS truck delivers a package. Kel opens the door, Maddie runs out and chases the UPS truck up the hill. Kel slams the door shut and chases Maddie up the hill. So we have the UPS truck going up the hill, Maddie in close pursuit, and Kel following going as fast as he can (and he can go) but it is up a really steep hill.
Kel is probably thinking he is dead meat if I come home and Maddie has been killed by the UPS truck. He is also probably very concerned about Maddie.... but I'm pretty sure he would be more scared of me. Maddie chases the truck around the corner at the top of the hill and poor Kel looses site of her. At this point, I'm sure that panic has entered the equation...at the top of the hill that truck is going to slow down and turn around and if Kel doesn't get up there, one little black dog is not coming back down on her own steam!
As he hits the corner, here is Maddie trotting down to Kel. She is very happy with herself. Kel is not happy at all (probably relieved...but at that moment, mad as hell).
Maddie is safe and Kel got his Cardio. I'm glad they are both safe and that I wasn't here. It's bad enough I got to hear about it when I got home. I love that silly little dog. Kel is also relieved. Maddie slept in his lap most of the evening last night.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Count Down...
...5 days until an AKC trial in Dixon.
I decided I needed to pick two things to work on for my upcoming trial. With the rain we've been having, it is difficult to get on equipment. I am getting both Tazz and Fin out for daily walks for physical fitness, but felt I wanted to focus on only a couple things for the upcoming trial.
I decided I needed to pick two things to work on for my upcoming trial. With the rain we've been having, it is difficult to get on equipment. I am getting both Tazz and Fin out for daily walks for physical fitness, but felt I wanted to focus on only a couple things for the upcoming trial.
- Jump work. We are working on Fin's turns, serps, and threadles. Reading my acceleration and deceleration. I'm rewarding alot.
- Contacts. I'm focusing mostly on the dog walk and A frame. I have a great deal of confidence in Fin's teeter (we'll see, won't we).
Counting down is fun. The schedule is that Tazzie runs in the morning and Fin runs in the afternoon. Dixon is always an adventure.
You Say Goodbye, and I say Hello...
SpaceMonkey's parents came back from "Vegas Baby!" I dropped her monkey self off about 4:30pm and I have to say, was a little sad. In just the 4 days she was here she wormed her way into our hearts (all except for Fin of course).Fins attitude was, "here's your hat, here's your coat, don't forget your umbrella, what's your hurry?"
We had fun. Although it was really nice getting up this morning and not having to exercise a puppy before going to work. I'll admit that last night I sat on the couch and was surrounded by shelties happy...but still missing me some SpaceMonkey.
Looking forward this week I have to get out and train. I've got a trial coming up and Tazz my personal assistant/couch potato must run. Hopefully the rain will let up enough to get out and practice.
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Visit to Harvey Bear Ranch
Wynn needed a good long walk today. So did I. Tossed the SpaceMonkey into her capsule, brought Fin along, flew by and picked up Wynn and off we went to Harvey Bear Ranch.
Always happy to get out, Wynn delighted us with monkey faces in the back.
Here is SpaceMonkey trying to pretend she is a sweet little thing that is no trouble at all.
SpaceMonkeys fly. We learned this today.
Gotta love the puppy ears.
It is interesting. At Harvey bear all the paths go up. I could hardly find a down path, even on the way home they seemed to head up hill.
Wynn and SpaceMonkey had their eyes on the cows. Fin had her eyes on the road.
SpaceMonkey loves Fin. The feeling IS NOT mutual. Fin wants to send her back.
Time for a snack. Wynn was the best dog this walk. He gets an award...Except when he pulled me into the mud, wrapped me up in the leash and tried to chase the pig. Other than that...he was the best.
Wynn posing for the camera...this is about 5 minutes before I found myself tossed into the mud.
Kel taking a photo opportunity. Just to show he was there.
A really nice walk. We walked for 2.5 hours. I really love this park. We ran into no one. Had the place to ourselves.
Always happy to get out, Wynn delighted us with monkey faces in the back.
Here is SpaceMonkey trying to pretend she is a sweet little thing that is no trouble at all.SpaceMonkeys fly. We learned this today.
Gotta love the puppy ears.
It is interesting. At Harvey bear all the paths go up. I could hardly find a down path, even on the way home they seemed to head up hill.
Wynn and SpaceMonkey had their eyes on the cows. Fin had her eyes on the road.
SpaceMonkey loves Fin. The feeling IS NOT mutual. Fin wants to send her back.
Time for a snack. Wynn was the best dog this walk. He gets an award...Except when he pulled me into the mud, wrapped me up in the leash and tried to chase the pig. Other than that...he was the best.
Wynn posing for the camera...this is about 5 minutes before I found myself tossed into the mud.
Kel taking a photo opportunity. Just to show he was there.
A really nice walk. We walked for 2.5 hours. I really love this park. We ran into no one. Had the place to ourselves.A Quiet Nite
After all the excitement.
I somehow got 1 big crate and two small crates in my little PT. I swear, that car is sometimes like a Mary Poppins purse. It is amazing what I can get into it.
Drove over, picked up Wynn and took Fin, Wynn, and Spacemonkey down to Salinas for Bark Night.
All was ok, until I got there. It was calm so I got Fin out, Wynn out, and just as I opened Spacemonkeys crate, Janet opened her car and let her dog out who proceeded to run circles around me and my car. I didn't have Spacemonkey on leash yet, Wynn was charging the circling dog, and Fin didn't want anything to do with anything. I got wrapped up in leashes almost falling down and still didn't have a leash on Spacemonkey when I finally got my sense and tossed Wynn back into PT. Dropped Fin's leash and got Spacemonkey leashed and took the two youngn's for a potty.
So let's try this again. I put Spacemonkey and Fin away. Get Wynn out, take him potty. Then I walk him into the field and put him in his little spot. I go get Fin and Spacemonkey and tie them up in their spots and go walk the course.
I have no control. Three barking dogs. This is NOT fun. Rob comes over (he is going to run Wynn). As he runs Wynn I try to keep pups quiet, but it isn't working. Now, I KNOW Laura does not want me to teach her dog to bark while dogs are running. Knowing this and the consequences of what Laura will do to me if she comes back and her dog barks, I intelligently decide that Spacemonkey is going back to the car.
I get Spacemonkey and start walking back to the car and Rob takes Wynn back to his spot. I hear Janet yell and turn around to see Wynn running wild around the agility course, obviously enjoying this very much. Rob is out there trying to catch him and I figure...he's got it, and make a quick get away with Spacemonkey in tow. She is happily napping in her space capsule in the PT and we get back to the business of running dog agility.
Wynn has some beautiful runs with Rob. Rob has him housed in a crate next to Wingz and all is good.
Fin has some fun runs too. It is a beautiful night.
Just before the last run I take Wynn and put him away and bring Spacemonkey out. Her attitude is totally changed and she is a quiet appropriate puppy. All the dogs take one more turn out on the agility field as dusk settled into night. I get the dogs back to the car without an incident and head on home.
I dropped Wynn off about 7:30. Got to my house a little while later. My dogs got put away and Spacemonkey got one hour of play with Kel and I. She is a really cool dog. Laura is lucky.
A little before 9 we pottied everyone and she goes down for the night. Slept in till 6:30 and we start all over again. Today we are going to pick up Wynn and go for a long walk. Then I'm going to get some work done! Wish me luck.
I somehow got 1 big crate and two small crates in my little PT. I swear, that car is sometimes like a Mary Poppins purse. It is amazing what I can get into it.
Drove over, picked up Wynn and took Fin, Wynn, and Spacemonkey down to Salinas for Bark Night.
All was ok, until I got there. It was calm so I got Fin out, Wynn out, and just as I opened Spacemonkeys crate, Janet opened her car and let her dog out who proceeded to run circles around me and my car. I didn't have Spacemonkey on leash yet, Wynn was charging the circling dog, and Fin didn't want anything to do with anything. I got wrapped up in leashes almost falling down and still didn't have a leash on Spacemonkey when I finally got my sense and tossed Wynn back into PT. Dropped Fin's leash and got Spacemonkey leashed and took the two youngn's for a potty.
So let's try this again. I put Spacemonkey and Fin away. Get Wynn out, take him potty. Then I walk him into the field and put him in his little spot. I go get Fin and Spacemonkey and tie them up in their spots and go walk the course.
I have no control. Three barking dogs. This is NOT fun. Rob comes over (he is going to run Wynn). As he runs Wynn I try to keep pups quiet, but it isn't working. Now, I KNOW Laura does not want me to teach her dog to bark while dogs are running. Knowing this and the consequences of what Laura will do to me if she comes back and her dog barks, I intelligently decide that Spacemonkey is going back to the car.
I get Spacemonkey and start walking back to the car and Rob takes Wynn back to his spot. I hear Janet yell and turn around to see Wynn running wild around the agility course, obviously enjoying this very much. Rob is out there trying to catch him and I figure...he's got it, and make a quick get away with Spacemonkey in tow. She is happily napping in her space capsule in the PT and we get back to the business of running dog agility.
Wynn has some beautiful runs with Rob. Rob has him housed in a crate next to Wingz and all is good.
Fin has some fun runs too. It is a beautiful night.
Just before the last run I take Wynn and put him away and bring Spacemonkey out. Her attitude is totally changed and she is a quiet appropriate puppy. All the dogs take one more turn out on the agility field as dusk settled into night. I get the dogs back to the car without an incident and head on home.
I dropped Wynn off about 7:30. Got to my house a little while later. My dogs got put away and Spacemonkey got one hour of play with Kel and I. She is a really cool dog. Laura is lucky.
A little before 9 we pottied everyone and she goes down for the night. Slept in till 6:30 and we start all over again. Today we are going to pick up Wynn and go for a long walk. Then I'm going to get some work done! Wish me luck.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Rocks Likes him Some SpaceMonkey
The "SpaceMonkey" has landed. Fresh out of her capsule and she is on her way to taking over the world.
First things first, she must meet everyone if she is going to live in this new world of shelties. All I can say is Rocky loves him some ladies. SpaceMonkey's feelings are mutual. She thinks Rocky is da bomb. It is weird. He really must like those foreigners.
Laura says, don't worry she is ready for a nap as she drives away on her way to "Vegas Baby!" Ummmm nope. SpaceMonkey is NOT ready for a nap. As a matter of fact she is not having any of this nap stuff.
Off to the back yard for a romp. She chases me around the pool. She chases Kel around the pool. (I'm supposed to be working...it is a work day...) We play tug. She wonders around on her own. We play fetch. I tell Kel, "you aren't busy, play fetch for a while."
Twenty minutes later, he brings her in to try to nap again. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring her in on leash or under any restraint. What we have is a zooming monkey running around the house leaping off the sides of the walls, grabbing shoes, running down the hall, through the chair legs, biting cloths, getting chased by Rocky, carrying a pillow cushion, jumping on the coffee table, and basically outwitting two grown humans.
Fin jumps on the bed not wanting any involvement. Maddie is under the bed and Tazz is guarding me (the usual). As she runs down the hall, through Kels legs, I grab her and she slips through my arms, away again for another long zoomie (didn't Laura say, "don't let her have zoomies"...ummm, how do you stop this?). She makes the mistake of running into Kel and he grabs her and picks her up. She has the happiest look on her face as she trys to get a better grip on Kels glasses as Kel is saying, "no spacemonkey no."
It's been three hours. She is now napping in our bedroom. Only 75 more hours to go and then the SpaceMonkey goes home. May the force be with us...we'll need it.
First things first, she must meet everyone if she is going to live in this new world of shelties. All I can say is Rocky loves him some ladies. SpaceMonkey's feelings are mutual. She thinks Rocky is da bomb. It is weird. He really must like those foreigners.
Laura says, don't worry she is ready for a nap as she drives away on her way to "Vegas Baby!" Ummmm nope. SpaceMonkey is NOT ready for a nap. As a matter of fact she is not having any of this nap stuff.
Off to the back yard for a romp. She chases me around the pool. She chases Kel around the pool. (I'm supposed to be working...it is a work day...) We play tug. She wonders around on her own. We play fetch. I tell Kel, "you aren't busy, play fetch for a while."
Twenty minutes later, he brings her in to try to nap again. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring her in on leash or under any restraint. What we have is a zooming monkey running around the house leaping off the sides of the walls, grabbing shoes, running down the hall, through the chair legs, biting cloths, getting chased by Rocky, carrying a pillow cushion, jumping on the coffee table, and basically outwitting two grown humans.
Fin jumps on the bed not wanting any involvement. Maddie is under the bed and Tazz is guarding me (the usual). As she runs down the hall, through Kels legs, I grab her and she slips through my arms, away again for another long zoomie (didn't Laura say, "don't let her have zoomies"...ummm, how do you stop this?). She makes the mistake of running into Kel and he grabs her and picks her up. She has the happiest look on her face as she trys to get a better grip on Kels glasses as Kel is saying, "no spacemonkey no."
It's been three hours. She is now napping in our bedroom. Only 75 more hours to go and then the SpaceMonkey goes home. May the force be with us...we'll need it.
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