School started yesterday for both girls. Dani started First Grade and Erin Preschool. They both had great drop-offs and good days. I'd put a picture in here, but the blogger won't let me upload any. Suffice it to say, they were cute pictures. :)
Today's drop-offs did not go so well. Dani developed a tummy ache and Erin was ultra clingy. I was in tears. Despite my lack of motherly instincts, I love my girls fiercely. When I see them unhappy or sad, I feel unhappy or sad. Mostly I feel as if I've dropped the ball on finding and maintaining friends for them. I don't have any friends with kids (they are all dog people) so they don't have good friends. Dani looked so alone this morning and I totally blame myself. Gotta shake it though. Just gotta.
Meanwhile, during a practice session with Jam the other day, she all of a sudden came up lame. Her right front paw was bothering her. She hardly put any weight on it and kept licking it. I isolated it to one of her toes, but couldn't be sure what was going on. I gave her some Metacam and then ended up taking her to the Vet. It appears that she bruised her paw between two of the toes. Most likely while chasing her ball. She'll be off for about a week, though she seems to be feeling better already. I'm not gonna push it though. I'm still going to my distance training class tonight, but I'll just be taking notes.
I also just found out that I'll be able to pair with an awesome dog at the Bay Team regional. I just got word that Luka is available so Jam and I will have a kick-a$$ pairs partner! :)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
hot, Hot, HOT!
It is TOO FREAKIN' HOT! I am so darned sick of this heat, it's not even funny.
I HATE the heat...hate it. We had oppresive heat through all of June and it has continued full force in July. Thankfully I was able to go to Wisconsin for 10 days in early July to get out of it...and it was wonderful...but to be back sucks. I mean...set your oven to 450 degress, stick your entire body in it for 10 seconds and tell me how you feel. For real!!! Yeah...a dry heat my a$$. It's still heat and it's HOT.
Going in the pool offers little relief since the water temperature is 94 degrees. It's almost like going into the jacuzzi but without the jets.
Have I mentioned how much I hate the heat?
When I work Jam, we do a couple of repititions and then I throw the ball in the pool for her. She gets out, we do a couple more repititions, and then back in the pool. Regardless, her tongue is still dragging to the ground.
Blah.
I HATE the heat. I want it to be winter and now.
Harumph.
I HATE the heat...hate it. We had oppresive heat through all of June and it has continued full force in July. Thankfully I was able to go to Wisconsin for 10 days in early July to get out of it...and it was wonderful...but to be back sucks. I mean...set your oven to 450 degress, stick your entire body in it for 10 seconds and tell me how you feel. For real!!! Yeah...a dry heat my a$$. It's still heat and it's HOT.
Going in the pool offers little relief since the water temperature is 94 degrees. It's almost like going into the jacuzzi but without the jets.
Have I mentioned how much I hate the heat?
When I work Jam, we do a couple of repititions and then I throw the ball in the pool for her. She gets out, we do a couple more repititions, and then back in the pool. Regardless, her tongue is still dragging to the ground.
Blah.
I HATE the heat. I want it to be winter and now.
Harumph.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Distance training
I'm very lucky to have a wonderful trainer in my own backyard. She proposed a set of distance training classes for me/Jam and two of our buddies (training classmates). One of the buddies has a very nice yard for us to be able to train in. We had our first session last night and I think this'll really help us reach that goal of getting 4 Gamblers legs for our ADCh!
We are really going "back to the basics" but I think it's going to be great in the long run. Especially since Jammie needs more foundation skills in this area. We worked on "go" and "out" last night. We have a bunch of homework, but I'm up for the challenge. I want to hit the ground running when show season starts again in September.
In other news, the girls both start school next Monday! Yay...hurray!!!! Quite honestly, I am really not cut out to be a stay-at-home-mom (technically I'm supposed to be working, but luckily things have been slow lately). I just don't have the patience to be with my girls 24/7. I know that's a bad thing to say, but it's the way I'm wired. Dani starts 1st grade (we meet her teacher this Friday) and Erin will start preschool/daycare. I wish I was more "motherly" but I'm not. I go through the motions and I love them dearly, but it just doesn't seem natural. Give me a puppy and I'll spend hours with it...give me kids and I'm done after 10 minutes. :\
Speaking of puppies...my next pup should be born August 6!! I got an email from the breeder and he said mama Toller (Ember) is looking quite pregnant and they'll see just how many are in there in a week. I am getting very excited!!
I'll finish with a few pics...first Erin swimming with the snorkel...
And Dani swimming with the snorkel...
Jam leaping into the water (can't wait to do Splash Dogs at Nationals this year!)...
And finally, Calvin playing his "how far can I go" game with the ball...
We are really going "back to the basics" but I think it's going to be great in the long run. Especially since Jammie needs more foundation skills in this area. We worked on "go" and "out" last night. We have a bunch of homework, but I'm up for the challenge. I want to hit the ground running when show season starts again in September.
In other news, the girls both start school next Monday! Yay...hurray!!!! Quite honestly, I am really not cut out to be a stay-at-home-mom (technically I'm supposed to be working, but luckily things have been slow lately). I just don't have the patience to be with my girls 24/7. I know that's a bad thing to say, but it's the way I'm wired. Dani starts 1st grade (we meet her teacher this Friday) and Erin will start preschool/daycare. I wish I was more "motherly" but I'm not. I go through the motions and I love them dearly, but it just doesn't seem natural. Give me a puppy and I'll spend hours with it...give me kids and I'm done after 10 minutes. :\
Speaking of puppies...my next pup should be born August 6!! I got an email from the breeder and he said mama Toller (Ember) is looking quite pregnant and they'll see just how many are in there in a week. I am getting very excited!!
I'll finish with a few pics...first Erin swimming with the snorkel...
And Dani swimming with the snorkel...
Jam leaping into the water (can't wait to do Splash Dogs at Nationals this year!)...
And finally, Calvin playing his "how far can I go" game with the ball...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Jam and I are Jammin'!
After a good 2 weeks of no training whatsoever, Jam and I headed off to CA for a USDAA show. I had no expectations given the fact that I had just returned from WI and we hadn't seen a piece of equipment in a very long time.
We started with Masters Gamblers. Before this weekend, we needed 10 more legs for our ADCh...4 of them being Gamblers legs. This show offered double Gamblers. This gamble actually had a table in it. We haven't seen a table in a gamble since the advent of electronic timers several years ago! Regardless, we worked the opening and were in a great position when the gamble horn sounded. She did great on the first 3 gamble obstacles, but woudn't send to the table...pooh. Oh well, there was another opportunity tomorrow!
The next class was Steeplechase. I needed 1 more qualifier in order to run at Nationals this year. I had low expectations since the competition in the 16" class was seriously competitive. We went in and SMOKED the course!! By the end of it, we had Q'ed...WOOHOO! That monkey was now off my back!
Next came Masters Standard. We had a GREAT run up until the end...she went around a jump. I had let off on my handling and it showed. Oh well...she was running so fast that I couldn't be too upset.
Next came Masters Snooker. I needed one more Super Q for my Snooker Master title. Again, with the competition so stiff, I wasn't expecting much. I had a plan, but the times were tight and I started to waver on my plan. But, as the class went on, one 16" dog after another started to muff it up. I decided to stick with my original plan. We went in and NAILED it! We did 4 reds and got through number 6 in the closing. In the end, the Super Q was ours and we earned our Snooker Master! Another monkey off my back! :)
Last was Masters Jumpers. Jam again was very fast, but again, my handling skills went downhill. It was about 5:30 PM by that time so I was a bit tired. Regardless, we had a couple refusals but once again, I was so very pleased with how Jam ran!
Today (Sunday) we started with Steeplechase round 2. I pushed Jam for speed and she totally gave it to me! She was FAST! She did pull a couple bars in the process but in the end she placed 5th. I was so PROUD!
The next course was the Grand Prix. The course was very ugly. It required a lot of handling and it was VERY technical with some ugly angles. We started with the big dogs. NO 26" dogs Q'ed and I believe only 3 22" dogs Q'ed and only 1 of those dogs was clean. Next were the 16" dogs. Dog after dog ahead of me eliminated. I got Jam to the line and just went for it. We had a BEAUTIFUL run and ended up clean! :) Everyone let out a huge cheer! There was one more clean run after her, and the dog was faster, so she didn't get the bye (for a Super Regional), but dang...she handled perfectly and again was fast!
Next was Masters Standard. I was going to let my friend run Jam, but Jam wanted only her mommy! While my friend was warming her up, she had eyes only for me so I ended up running her anyway. Once again, she smoked it and we ended up in 2nd with the Q! I am so PROUD of her! This was her 8th run of the weekend and she was as fresh as if it were her first.
Masters Pairs came next and I had paired with Cedar, a very nice Italian Greyhound. Cedar didn't like the surface (dirt with clumps and rocks) so she was a bit slower, but still very consistent. She went first and went clean. Jam took off from the start and never looked back. She was so fast that I had no chance to get in the crosses I had planned! We ended up in 1st with a Q!
The second round of Masters Gamblers was next with a very nice, doable gamble. We got plenty of opening points and started the gamble nicely, but she was to push out to the teeter after a tunnel...she ended up coming back into me so we didn't get it. Guess I gotta work on some better "OUT" commands! :)
This weekend also offered double Snooker, but we left before the class started since it was already 3:15 and I had a 5.5 hour drive ahead of me. Since I got my Snooker Master on Saturday and was dog tired, I had no problems leaving early!
After this weekend, we now need 8 more legs for our ADCh:
4 Gamblers
2 Jumpers
2 Pairs
Jumpers and Pairs shouldn't be a problem...Gamblers will be a problem! I've never liked Gamblers, but I must now embrace it and love it!
Now I am tired. Jam came home tonight and wanted to play. I, on the other hand, did not!
We started with Masters Gamblers. Before this weekend, we needed 10 more legs for our ADCh...4 of them being Gamblers legs. This show offered double Gamblers. This gamble actually had a table in it. We haven't seen a table in a gamble since the advent of electronic timers several years ago! Regardless, we worked the opening and were in a great position when the gamble horn sounded. She did great on the first 3 gamble obstacles, but woudn't send to the table...pooh. Oh well, there was another opportunity tomorrow!
The next class was Steeplechase. I needed 1 more qualifier in order to run at Nationals this year. I had low expectations since the competition in the 16" class was seriously competitive. We went in and SMOKED the course!! By the end of it, we had Q'ed...WOOHOO! That monkey was now off my back!
Next came Masters Standard. We had a GREAT run up until the end...she went around a jump. I had let off on my handling and it showed. Oh well...she was running so fast that I couldn't be too upset.
Next came Masters Snooker. I needed one more Super Q for my Snooker Master title. Again, with the competition so stiff, I wasn't expecting much. I had a plan, but the times were tight and I started to waver on my plan. But, as the class went on, one 16" dog after another started to muff it up. I decided to stick with my original plan. We went in and NAILED it! We did 4 reds and got through number 6 in the closing. In the end, the Super Q was ours and we earned our Snooker Master! Another monkey off my back! :)
Last was Masters Jumpers. Jam again was very fast, but again, my handling skills went downhill. It was about 5:30 PM by that time so I was a bit tired. Regardless, we had a couple refusals but once again, I was so very pleased with how Jam ran!
Today (Sunday) we started with Steeplechase round 2. I pushed Jam for speed and she totally gave it to me! She was FAST! She did pull a couple bars in the process but in the end she placed 5th. I was so PROUD!
The next course was the Grand Prix. The course was very ugly. It required a lot of handling and it was VERY technical with some ugly angles. We started with the big dogs. NO 26" dogs Q'ed and I believe only 3 22" dogs Q'ed and only 1 of those dogs was clean. Next were the 16" dogs. Dog after dog ahead of me eliminated. I got Jam to the line and just went for it. We had a BEAUTIFUL run and ended up clean! :) Everyone let out a huge cheer! There was one more clean run after her, and the dog was faster, so she didn't get the bye (for a Super Regional), but dang...she handled perfectly and again was fast!
Next was Masters Standard. I was going to let my friend run Jam, but Jam wanted only her mommy! While my friend was warming her up, she had eyes only for me so I ended up running her anyway. Once again, she smoked it and we ended up in 2nd with the Q! I am so PROUD of her! This was her 8th run of the weekend and she was as fresh as if it were her first.
Masters Pairs came next and I had paired with Cedar, a very nice Italian Greyhound. Cedar didn't like the surface (dirt with clumps and rocks) so she was a bit slower, but still very consistent. She went first and went clean. Jam took off from the start and never looked back. She was so fast that I had no chance to get in the crosses I had planned! We ended up in 1st with a Q!
The second round of Masters Gamblers was next with a very nice, doable gamble. We got plenty of opening points and started the gamble nicely, but she was to push out to the teeter after a tunnel...she ended up coming back into me so we didn't get it. Guess I gotta work on some better "OUT" commands! :)
This weekend also offered double Snooker, but we left before the class started since it was already 3:15 and I had a 5.5 hour drive ahead of me. Since I got my Snooker Master on Saturday and was dog tired, I had no problems leaving early!
After this weekend, we now need 8 more legs for our ADCh:
4 Gamblers
2 Jumpers
2 Pairs
Jumpers and Pairs shouldn't be a problem...Gamblers will be a problem! I've never liked Gamblers, but I must now embrace it and love it!
Now I am tired. Jam came home tonight and wanted to play. I, on the other hand, did not!
Friday, July 11, 2008
A dumb blonde moment
Yup...I am a natural blonde!
So we get back from Wisconsin last night around 7ish. There was quite a bit of weather in Phoenix, but they managed to get us on the ground in between storms. The girls and I had to gather our luggage alone (i.e. husband didn't actually come to the airport, park, walk in and help us out) and go out to the curb to wait for him (he hadn't left the house yet when I called him from the plane). He finally shows up, the girls go wild, we all pile into the SUV and drive home.
We get home and the phone rings...it's MY cell phone calling MY home phone. I get a puzzled look on my face, pick up the phone and talk to the person using MY cell phone. It's a security guard from the airport! Freaky. Apparently I had left my backpack on the ground by the bench where the girls and I were waiting for my husband. This backpack contained not only my cell phone, but also my wallet and my laptop...YIKES! Sooooo, I got back in the SUV, drove through DRIVING rain, stood outside the Operations building to wait for someone to give me my backpack, then drove back home in the DRIVING rain with said backpack.
Now there is an obvious silver lining...a security guard picked up the backpack...not someone who could've taken it and vanished into thin air. I am grateful for that but dang...how could I BE so blonde! Ah well...all's well that ends well!
Now I'm sitting in a hotel room in Pomona, CA getting ready to show Jammie at a USDAA show this weekend. I was home less than 24 hours before heading to CA. Crazy. And of course, Jam and I haven't practiced for 2 weeks, so we could really suck this weekend, but we'll have fun in the process!
So we get back from Wisconsin last night around 7ish. There was quite a bit of weather in Phoenix, but they managed to get us on the ground in between storms. The girls and I had to gather our luggage alone (i.e. husband didn't actually come to the airport, park, walk in and help us out) and go out to the curb to wait for him (he hadn't left the house yet when I called him from the plane). He finally shows up, the girls go wild, we all pile into the SUV and drive home.
We get home and the phone rings...it's MY cell phone calling MY home phone. I get a puzzled look on my face, pick up the phone and talk to the person using MY cell phone. It's a security guard from the airport! Freaky. Apparently I had left my backpack on the ground by the bench where the girls and I were waiting for my husband. This backpack contained not only my cell phone, but also my wallet and my laptop...YIKES! Sooooo, I got back in the SUV, drove through DRIVING rain, stood outside the Operations building to wait for someone to give me my backpack, then drove back home in the DRIVING rain with said backpack.
Now there is an obvious silver lining...a security guard picked up the backpack...not someone who could've taken it and vanished into thin air. I am grateful for that but dang...how could I BE so blonde! Ah well...all's well that ends well!
Now I'm sitting in a hotel room in Pomona, CA getting ready to show Jammie at a USDAA show this weekend. I was home less than 24 hours before heading to CA. Crazy. And of course, Jam and I haven't practiced for 2 weeks, so we could really suck this weekend, but we'll have fun in the process!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Finally...a proper 4th!
After spending a lot of crappy 4ths in Phoenix (where it's too hot to sit outside for too long) I decided to take the kids to Wisconsin to show them what a REAL 4th is like!
We arrived at midnight on the 1st (so the 2nd really) and started in on the festivities right away. My brother arrived from Boston on the 3rd. We immediately went to the zoo and spent about 5 hours there. That evening, the girls and I met with a couple of old high school buddies and their families. My best friend (since the 2nd grade I might add!) came with her two girls, who are quite a bit older than my girls...yet they all got along like peas and carrots! My girls couldn't stop talking about them.
On the 4th, we went back to my home town (Brown Deer, WI) and watched the 4th of July parade! The girls got LOTS of candy and I saw yet another old high school buddy...he was riding his unicyle in the parade...he's been doing it since I've known him! The cool thing is that his 8-year-old son was riding with him! :) We then came back to my folks house for a BBQ. The girls and I then headed over to the park where we met up with my friend and her girls again. They had snagged a great spot where we could watch the fireworks as they exploded over our heads! My folks and brother joined us later and were treated to a fabulous fireworks show! The girls had their hands over their ears the entire time, but the just LOVED it!
All this time, the temps have been in the low 70's, dipping into the low 60's by nightfall. So, SO much better than the 100+ temps in Phoenix!
On the 5th, my other brother and his family came to my folks from Illinois. We spent the day together chatting, playing ball (soccer, catch, baseball, etc.), eating, racing, and thoroughly enjoying each others company. A very nice day.
Today we just got back from visiting my cousins. They live about an hour south of my folks. The girls got to go to a beach and jump over the waves in Lake Michigan. The water was freezing cold and they loved every minute of it!
So far, it's been a great visit. Tomorrow my Boston brother heads home. The girls and I will be here until the 10th. On the 11th, Jam and I are roadtripping it to California for a show. I won't have practiced with her for 2 weeks, so we'll see how it goes! :)
We arrived at midnight on the 1st (so the 2nd really) and started in on the festivities right away. My brother arrived from Boston on the 3rd. We immediately went to the zoo and spent about 5 hours there. That evening, the girls and I met with a couple of old high school buddies and their families. My best friend (since the 2nd grade I might add!) came with her two girls, who are quite a bit older than my girls...yet they all got along like peas and carrots! My girls couldn't stop talking about them.
On the 4th, we went back to my home town (Brown Deer, WI) and watched the 4th of July parade! The girls got LOTS of candy and I saw yet another old high school buddy...he was riding his unicyle in the parade...he's been doing it since I've known him! The cool thing is that his 8-year-old son was riding with him! :) We then came back to my folks house for a BBQ. The girls and I then headed over to the park where we met up with my friend and her girls again. They had snagged a great spot where we could watch the fireworks as they exploded over our heads! My folks and brother joined us later and were treated to a fabulous fireworks show! The girls had their hands over their ears the entire time, but the just LOVED it!
All this time, the temps have been in the low 70's, dipping into the low 60's by nightfall. So, SO much better than the 100+ temps in Phoenix!
On the 5th, my other brother and his family came to my folks from Illinois. We spent the day together chatting, playing ball (soccer, catch, baseball, etc.), eating, racing, and thoroughly enjoying each others company. A very nice day.
Today we just got back from visiting my cousins. They live about an hour south of my folks. The girls got to go to a beach and jump over the waves in Lake Michigan. The water was freezing cold and they loved every minute of it!
So far, it's been a great visit. Tomorrow my Boston brother heads home. The girls and I will be here until the 10th. On the 11th, Jam and I are roadtripping it to California for a show. I won't have practiced with her for 2 weeks, so we'll see how it goes! :)
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