The Holidays are Here

Tommorrow will be the shortest day of the year.
Why do they say that Dec. 21 is the shortest day of the year? Doesn't it have 24 hours just like the rest of the days. Still, it does feel shorter doesn't it? Today it gets dark at 5:00pm and by 6:30-7:00 I feel like I need to go to bed. Self motivation is a wistful dream while heavy eyelids pull my mind to slowness and lethargy. Comfort food is demanded by my body while dieting is the one thing I should do.
I always look forward to December 21st. Starting December 22 the days get longer, warmer, and the outside is more inviting. Today, even though the sun is out, wind is blowing cold air and demanding hot coco, warm blankets, and a family movie.
I have many things that need to be done this weekend in preparation for the holidays. Wrap presents, prepare food, clean house, and of course brush pups (maybe a few baths are in order as well). I feel confident that these things will be difficult as I really just want to shut my eyes and open them sometime in March....do you think I'll still get paychecks if I don't work? ha!
Since I'm not too inspired to write today, I'll end this entry with a pledge to go exercise. Perhaps with a little exercise, I'll wake up and face the day with a greater enthusiasum. :)

Memories

When I was seven, I fancied myself a hair stylist. My sister Trish was 2 (you know where this is going, I'm sure). Trish was the most beautiful child. She had this cute pixie hair cut with bangs and everywhere we went people fawned over her saying she looked like a little doll. I was a wee bit jealous with my wild hair and crooked eyes. I was supposed to be the star and I had been until this little bit of a girl entered our lives.

I got it into my head that I should cut off Trishs bangs. Now to convince her. Even then she'd do anything for me so convincing wasn't too hard. I cut the bangs right off. When I saw what I had done, I was horrified. When Trish saw what I had done she started screaming.

Parents intervened, punishments were handed out and many years later we still laugh. Best of all, Trish forgave me for my bad behavior...but strangly has never let me cut her hair since.

A Big Shout Out to CoreMark!

Ok, so I've been lax in getting my Blog updated. It's been busy. Between weight training, dog training, putting up with my sister trish and just plain getting ready for the holidays, I'm not feeling inspired to write.

But write I will. Hmmm....I'm feeling nostalgic, perhaps I'll write a story about Trish when she was a youngster...something to do with an embarrassing moment? :)

Focus

I define it as: the ability to perform while distracted.

Take me for example. Here I sit with four dogs at my feet (and let's just say it is garbage day - it is BTW). Also, I took two days off of work this week so the amount of work I need to do on this day is high. Add to that, lack of sleep. This is a good test of my ability to focus. However, I am failing miserably.

I have attempted to make it better by drinking caffeinated beverages, putting the dogs in their respective kennels, telling my coworkers to stop calling me, giving all the dogs a bone to chew, taking headache meds, and in general trying to redouble my efforts on focus, yet focus elludes me.

I think about what I ask my little Tazzy to do on an agility field. I ask him to follow my lead while correctly moving over and through obstacles while dogs are barking, flags are waving, there are things moving fast all around him, strange people standing around staring at him, food being cooked nearby, and a treats waiting for him at the end of the run. And I ask myself, how does he do it? How does he tune it out?

Focus is a really important thing that we as humans need. Think of that steriotypical image of a husband watching TV. Kids are killing each other, the dog is pooping on the carpet, the doorbel is ringing, the pipe in the kitchen just broke, the wife is yelling for help, yet that man can focus on that game and not realize ANYTHING is happening around him and when the woman finally throws something at him and hits him in the head he says, "What was that for?". How does he do it and why can't I?

I gues this is the question of the ages. I'm going to go back to work now and focus.

Inspiration

Well not everyone knows, but the agility worlds has just ended. The US did well. We didn't win gold, but a number of other precious metals were won by team and individuals. The worlds were held in Norway. A friend went over and video'd all of the runs and had them posted each evening. It was incredible to be able to see friends of mine competing. Course maps were posted so you could imagine how you would walk the course and then you could watch the greatest agility competitors in the world run these courses.

Today in my class, my trainer set up one of the courses. We walked the course and then ran it. I pretented I was in the worlds.

I had a good time. We came in 2nd place, right behind "Havoc" who I don't think any dog can beat.

This weekend we are off to Dixon. Tazz and I will pretent we are at the worlds and work hard on our standard courses. Hopefully the Teeter will not be our downfall this weekend.

Times, they are a changing

1 week old with mom. Fin is in the lower right corner all by herself.

At 7 weeks.

At 8 weeks

At 14 weeks

At 17 weeks

I've fallen and I can't get up

So, back again to the same old story of goals and showing consistent progress toward meeting those goals. Or the lack thereof.

I am in my third week of JC. This week seems to be hard to stay focused. Excusses abide. Then there is the blatent lack of effort. It is hard not to be disappointed in myself and my lack of fortitute.

So I say. At this morment I need to focus and stay on course. Leave the guilt, leave the doubt, leave the unavoidable disappointment and get back on track.

More later.