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!

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.

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. 

Where oh where has she been?

First off.  Second week challenge DONE!

I've been trying not to type.  Focus only on work.  Two reasons. 

• had a HUGE deliverable for work - delivered today
• wrist is still bothering me and I'm trying to give it a rest

I've been walking, hiking, working, working, more work..... but this weekend, we are off to a trial in Santa Rosa.  Fin, Tazz, and I are very excited to trial again.  It has been awhile and we are hoping that we have not forgotten how to run a course. 

Next week challenge:  document food every day.  1000 calorie deficit every day!

Seven Day challenge - Success :)

Well I did it.  Stuck to my Veggie/Fish challenge.  Feels good to be successful. 

I have a new challenge for the next 7 days.  I'm hitting the gym everyday.  I've got powerpaws agility in the morning and I'll start my day at the gym and then head up to San Jose for agility afterward.  It will require a little planning as I'll have to change my clothes after the workout, but nothing I'm not used to.

Wearing the body bugg provides me with motivation to move.  This whole "acknowledgement" thing is sorta hard.  Tracking my food and now tracking my exercise puts it right there in your face.  Can't lie. 

I know that my biggest hurdle is to fall into the temptation of not tracking.  I figure I'll just have to go week by week and not try to see how far in the future I have to go....just look one step at a time. 

Agility, Cold Feet, and Christmas!

Got up this morning and headed out for a fun match in the wonderful city of Turlock.  I must thank the folks that put this show on.  It was freak'n COLD!  They were out there making sure the courses were set up and we were having a good time.  It was a small group of us that braved the central valley fog, but it was so worth it.

Fin got to go and spend "mommy" time.  I got to hang out with my best bud.  Unfortunately, both Laura's and my brain must have misfired this morning as neither she nor I wore water proof shoes.  Mine were worse and within 5 minutes of arriving, my feet were soaked....hers soon after.  At one point, I was wondering if I kept running if my toes my just snap off as I couldn't feel them. 

The dogs didn't care that we might have been a little bit of weather wimps.  They just kicked butt and took no prisoners.  We played till about 11:30 and then loaded up the van, got the engine going, took off our soggy shoes and socks and drove home with the heat on "high".  My feet thawed sometime in the first 45 minutes snuggled in my down jacket. 

On the way home, Laura and I exchanged christmas presents.  She got me a BUGG!  I'm so excited.  I'm doing a good job tracking my food, and now I will be able to monitor my exercise.  I've read good things about this cool toy and will be writing up a review after a month.  I'm a lucky person!  Thanks Laura!

Another Saturday Night

Tomorrow I head out for some fun.  Agility Fun Match in the valley.  1 hour 50 minutes, 32 degrees warming up to 50, friends, and a dog that wants to play.  What more could one person want?

Fish challenge.  I've just completed day 5.  Two more days of fish challenge and I'll have to start another.  So far so good.  I've actually lost a bit of weight and am looking forward to weighing myself on Tues to see the results.

I am keeping a food diary as well as posting the meals: http://vicifood.blogspot.com/  It is probably too boring for most, but it is keeping me accountable.  I am not sure how long I'll be able to keep up with the journal, but for now it is making a huge difference in my "justifying" eating inappropriately.  A couple times this week I thought to sneak in something that I shouldn't eat, but the thought of taking a photo of it and putting it on the blog shamed me so much that I stuck with my plan. 

Goals have been set.  My intention is to consistently, doggedly, focus my thinking on achieving these goals.  If I falter, I hope that my friends and family remind me of the goals I want.  I hope that I will not give up long term goals for immediate compulsions. 

In the meantime, I'm off in the morning for a fun adventure.  Can't wait!