How can I be so excited about a silly Flip

Sunday my video camera was working.  Last run of the day, not so much.  We thought it might be the video screen, but the video part wasn't working either.  Just a big white blob rather than Fin and I running with excellence around a Novice B Fast course.

So on Monday I decided to buy a new one.  Because Cisco purchased Flip and then decided they didn't want it any more so are shutting it down, I wanted to get one before they no longer are available.  I know I risk not having support, but whatever, I love the Flip cameras.  So I went on line, customized one with a photo of Fin and Tazz, and didn't look back. 

My Flip arrived yesterday.  I love it.  My graphic of Fin and Tazz turned out great!

Oh, and on a side note.  I dropped my video camera on Monday evening while giving it to my husband for a look.  It now works perfectly.  Of course.

The day Fin turned green....and it wasn't St. Paddy's day...

There was a three day AKC driving distance to home.  I'm thinking, this is a great opportunity to get out of excellent A and maybe start my FAST career. First day, nice runs, Fast Q, but Standard and Jumpers were not to be. 

Got home, normal evening, up the next morning and ready to do it all again.  Fin was happy and jumped in the van ready to go.  Got to the site, carried stuff to our camp site,  and looked at course maps.  I felt that the courses were something that Fin and I could do.  Got back to let Fin out of the crate and she didn't want to get out.  Just sat looking at me.  Finally got her out and she didn't want to jump out of the van.  I picked her up and what should have taken about 5 minutes, took 15 to get to the campsite as she was walking so slow.  Long story short, Fin had the worst upset stomach.  Fortunately a vet on site took her temp and said, let it work out of her system.  A friend brought me Chicken, cottage cheese and rice.  Fin did eat some, but mostly she just slept.  Didn't want to walk, didn't want to sit out and watch, just wanted to crawl into her crate and sleep.  Poor thing.  Sat.  no agility for Fin.

Sunday morning, she was back to biting my ankles as I walked down the hall.  Jumped in the van like nothing had been wrong, and ran like a champ.  Standard was very pretty and I will say handled pretty darn well by me.  One bar...that was all.  Jumpers...oh well, maybe next time.  And finished the day with a Q in Fast.

Everyone who stopped by to see how Fin was stated, "she must be feeling better, she never stops barking!"  Tis true, tis true.  She wanted to run, run, run. 

Today I'm grateful for tummy aches that are not serious and only last 1 day.  Fin had me worried.  Laura says I worry too much.

Just when you thought it was safe

Darn Rats.  I have nothing against them if they would just stay out of my personal space.  Outside rats, outside.  Inside BAD!  I have used steal wool to block up holes to get rid of them.  They seem to think my steel wool is for sissies.

The Rats living here are well trained extreme rats.  Nothing seems to stop them.  I did put poison in the crawl space under the house.  I hated doing it.  The blue blocks of death have all been taken elsewhere.  Gone from under the house.  I guess the rats did not find them to fit into the decorating scheme.

Evidently, I am able to support an entire ecosystem as the lovely Barn Owls have moved in.  I actually LOVE that the barn owls are living in my trees.  Maybe that is why my lawn is looking so much better.  No gophers.  Hey Mr and Mrs Barn Owl...could you work on the rats now?

Robert showed up today.  He is all business.  He searched high and low and found multiple access points. He shows me the access points and I'm like...why didn't I see that?  But obviously he has been working with stealth rats for a while.  His opinion, I have a few rats.  Not alot.  Actually quite a small population (thank you mr and mrs owl..).  But for a small bucket of $$ he will plug up all access AND guarantee no critters under, over, or in my house....dogs excluded of course.

The day I almost quit, and then, didn't...

today was one of those days. I've been working on Fins triple. It is an area of stress. The AKC triple was the first jump that fin went around indicating a problem last year. It is the jump that I've worried the most about. It is the jump that I baby sit and screw up my handing for. It is the jump that I work grids in the backyard.

It is the jump that Fin crashed yet again today. It is the jump that when she crashes I ask myself why I am doing akc at all...or should do performance.

Then I went to class tonight and it was the jump she did with confidence, speed, and beauty. Not only that jump, but all the jumps. No baby sitting...no there wasn't

It is the jump we are going to do well this. Weekend!!!

A little comfort

This past weekend, we xpened our canopy to give the dogs room to relax.  We tossed beds on the grass, relaxed in our chairs and enjoyed wonderful agility.

Fin, when given a choice, always sits in a chair.  It cracks me up.  We'll leave to walk a course, or help set bars, and we come back and Fin is in a chair.

Today, agility, work, work out, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and now it is time to finish up some dishes and relax on the couch. All the pups are following me around whatever I do except Fin.  Fin is in the barkalounger sleeping :)

SMART Rocks

Fin and I were on the same wave length this weekend.  Five "Q's".  Yes there were lots of runs where we didn't Q but every run she ran her heart out.

• 2 pairs
• 1 snooker
• 1 standard
• 1 gamble

There were some missed opportunities:

• A perfect run in Standard on saturday with a back jump on the LAST jump...Fin keeping me humble.
• A beautiful GP run after a long weekend and she nailed it until the tunnel discrimination...how she loves her tunnels.

The weather, just wonderful.  It couldn't make up it's mind, cold, wet, sunny, warm, breezy, and one gust of wind that took out a canopy.  But certainly agility weather.  The dogs loved it.

Great walks between runs.  Good friends and yummy lunches summed up our weekend.

I truly am tired today...but a good tired.

Sunday runs:

Pairs with Sizzle and Sue.  I flubbed the batton pass, but ended it just fine.



Gamble.  We need the Gambles.  Fin loves her tunnels.  A missed opportunity on Saturday, but we got Sunday.  Notice in the beginning she back jumps the second jump rather than wrap it?  That was the point that put us into 1st place!!!

Standard.  What a fun course for me and Fin.  I am especially proud of her tight turns.  We've been working on these and don't usually see them at the trials as she is high as a kite and I'm usually late.  But we got some good ones in this lovely standard course.

And we are off...

Soon we will be at one of our favorite venues "SMART" in Prunedale.  A USDAA event extravaganza. 

Fin and I are looking forward to many opportunities to run clean, run fast, and have a great time.  We are hoping the handler runs with confidence and determination.  We are hoping the agility partner takes all the jumps in front of her with joy and abandon!

Hope to see you there!