The joys of children

I actually feel sorry for a lot of people. I know to many of them it's a choice, others it's just lost opportunites. Trying to live through nephews, cousins or friend's children, well, it's just not the same. No it's not the whole carrying the jumping beans for 9 mos part, the spitup, diapers and such. It's these moments.....

Got a call on Wednesday, of all days too, that the Ms would need to stay after school to finish a science project that was of course due on Monday. You have to be around each afternoon as I pick her up from my parents house and ask-what did you do today? Homework? Extra credit? etc. You get the drift. So surprise surprise when I got this call. Now not only has she not turned in the assignment but she lost the entire packet and had to start over. Yeap, just the perfect end to the day, or was it?

Kennel Club meeting with some heated topics on the agenda later that night, so call Alec,tell him to pick up his sister and leftovers for dinner.

Oh no, not the end yet. Seems the sump pump pipes decided to fall apart about the time they got home. David walks into the BOD meeting with PVC glue-yeah, got the whole story.

So back to children. Slave labor--they were mopping, temp fixing, bucket birgading the pit, until about 7ish. We got home about 10ish. Going through the mail. Uh Oh, report card time.

Just had an inkling about that report card, considering her afterschool stint tonight. Wow, not what I had anticipated. All A's, A+'s and a few B's. Still not sure how she got a C- in music, but heck, neither she nor David can carry a tune. Funny, comments are all the same: quality work but not consistent; late assignments(duh) and needs work on penmanship.

ITBS scores are in too. For those out of state, they are the yearly Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Oh how I dreaded those. Anyway, if the report card wasn't enough, she's testing at high school levels! Remember, she's a 6th grader. Some of her areas are at college level. Which leads me to the next WOW--she's also been invited to participate in a summer college prep program at one of the local colleges. Double WOW!

Rus, Sherilyn, Kim and I were chatting today and I think Rus hit it on the head--she's bored, so the usual class work isn't exciting or worth putting the effort into. Bingo. Going to talk to teachers about it. And yes, you all can give her a good ribbing about her late work and handwriting---maybe there's a future Dr in there?

So the joys of children? That unexpected thrill when you least expect it. The ability to brag and being able to give them a squeeze each night, peck on the top of the head and a swat on the butt-just for good measure. Honestly, why would I want to miss any of those moments? Four legged kids are great, but just not the same. Ask one of them how they managed to remember the plot to all FOUR, yes, FOUR books she's reading and yet, forget about a science project. I just sit and shake my head.....

Later gators....
C

I swear, it never ends.

While on the way to Des Moines, battling fog and icy conditions, Alec and I had figured out that since last January, I have gone to only one show where the weather was nice. One. So when I start talking with Reggie about stuff on Saturday and he recounted with me each and every crappy show. It was fun and we both had a good laugh. Including him relating that he has proof of his last winter storm-21" drifts in front of his garage---in Oklahoma! Photos that he will show me the next time I see him.

So it's just gotta be me. I swear, Alec went to other shows and they were just fine. Sort of. Let's see I think the last one involved frozen pipes and an electrical fire? But that was random for them. So I quit. Seriously, why keep putting myself through the hassle, stress and chaos of crappy weather just to show a damn dog? Trapped on the interstate in a severe winter storm. Blindly driving on the hwy through rain and hail, only to find out that just a mile south of us, the tornado trailed along. Or how about 7" of rain? Oh and I think that event also included water in the RV, broken water tanks too. Something else that I can't, or maybe choose not to remember.

And let's say that this weekend wasn't all that much better then the rest. Friday before I left, Dad had a huge issue that ended up involving tow straps, trackhoe, const company, my uncle, cousin, brother, Dad's best friend, the sheriff's dept and a clyde stuck in a sink hole. Friday night on the way in it was fog, ice and a convoy of utility trucks headed to southern Iowa to help out in the disaster counties--2 mile long line of trucks from MI. Having to be up and going by 6:30, heaters that wouldn't shut off.

At home, it was a big truck accident. It was only a matter of time before someone went in the ditch, or should I say, missed the corner. No, no one here, but some dunce going mach 10 in the fog who just happened to miss the 90 degree turn just north of our driveway. David was just sitting down to eat dinner on Friday and went hum, boy those headlights just don't look right there. Yeap, dude flipped his truck. He's okay, but just one more thing to happen.

Electricity went off this morning, generator won't turn on. We have lights now, but now we have to figure out what is wrong with the generator.

BUT.....as I bitch, moan and complain, I do have to say this. It was an awesome weekend, filled with laughs, stories and great fun. Friends galore and can't say thanks enough to Rus and Sherilyn for their hospitality. It's so nice ot have a "hotel" with such great check out terms-heehee. Dogs were in great humor, had fun playing and no we didn't all win, but we had a great time, which totally out does the crappy stuff above.

Merlot debuted at Meredith's new juniors dog. Eddie is taking a hiatus as I just don't want to deal with his hair right now. It's bad enough I only have 4 weeks to get a certain hairy sable thing ready, let alone keep him under control. They won too! The Ms has moved up to open intermediate, which is really really tough. The kids in there are great. Merlot was ever the professional on Saturday and I see great things. Sunday, Merlot had ants in her pants and Ms knew that cost her. Couldn't get her to stand still, but that will come with time.

Peterman finally walked on lead in a straight line. I even had to run with her! She's a table pro but tends to get an I wanna do it my way, when we are off the table. Won her class on Saturday and Richard won on Sunday.

But the kicker this weekend was our super special boy Nicky. The more I work with this dog and watch him out there, the more I just love him. Yes Mom Porter, I should have listened to you in the beginning. SO I guess the biggest thanks go out to Sheryl and Deb for, well everything-we haven't even scratched the surface yet. Nick now needs just two points to finish!!! WD yesterday and WD/BOW today for his 2nd major(the first was a huge 5 pt!). That's four weekends - that's it. And one about every other month. He hasn't gotten out much but each time it's so well worth it. I know there are big things planned for him in the future. I'll post his last show photo tomorrow, can't find that flash drive at the moment--hum considering my truck is a war zone, it's a wonder I'll ever find it!

So here's to friends who make it all worthwhile. And yes for those wondering, Moose has forgiven me for locking him in a crate and running the other direction on Friday. He'll be along on the next road trip.

Later gators...
C

Belated birthdays all the way around

Been a little busy trying to get caught up on year end bookkeeping. Ugh and yes I am an accounting clerk too. Never makes it easier when you haven't touched the books before and they just kind of get given to you in a pile. Double ugh!

So Thursday around here was a big day. Seems a certain little girl, not so little anymore, turned 12 and entered her last preteen year. She has a love for dragons that was fullfilled with a few assorted new webkins and other dragonest stuff. Oh dare I forget the duckies--now numbering around 120 different ones in her bath room--which doesn't include the towels, decals, stencils and assorted decor items in there. I feel a lot like Ernie and find myself humming his trademark song.

Top off Thursday was another birthday---the Cliche litter turned 4! So happiest of birthdays out to the gang which includes Zino, Molly, May, Rosie, and Beckham. Super special birthday wishes to Clover who voicemailed me to thank me! Gosh, I listened to the dictated letter by Pam as I was walking to the bank and had a wonderful smile when I walked in--the girls at the counter asked why and of course I had to brag about my lovely little cardigan dogs.

It wouldn't be a birthday without remembering a certain snooky dog named Moose!!! The one and only boy who puts up with so much, asks so little and is well, one big cardigan who is just about perfect. Lastly, we can't forget Ms Abbey who decided for her birthday she would take over the living room and romped and played with every toy in the house. Everyone got a special treat that night.

Well, the fog is settling in here. What with nice winter weather--okay after it being 30 below windchills just a week ago, anything where I can go out with out 10 layers one is nice. But the predictions for the rest of the season are milder then normal temps and less precip. The only thing I don't like about that is that milder temps mean melting snow and of course with corgis around, that means mud. Triple UGH.

Later gators....
C

Best of the best

Or should it be the worst of the worst? My new motto for the year is to look at the glass 1/2 full not 1/2 empty. So here it goes.

It's been cold. Subzero cold. Record breaking cold. BUT....... the days are getting longer, they say that the coldest part of winter is about over, the jet stream is moving east so warmer days approach.

Dogs are driving me nuts. Especially Pete. We tried to narrow down which actor/character she reminds us of. Some Jack Sparrow. A little Robin Williams and way too much Carol Burnett. But I think the word I used to describe her in an email earlier in the week to Sherilyn was-Mae West. She's got a cocky attitude, a swagger and sway in her hips and loves to tease and taunt. BUT..... in order to keep the dogs occupied aka, keeping Pete from fulfilling her death wish, we have been training. Can't work on heeling so much as tight sits, distracted stays, and the best--scent articles. It's been awesome and we've made some great progress in lots of areas.

Today was Kay's estate sale. All proceeds were going to buy her and Kenny's headstones. She has tons of training stuff. I really held back because there was so much I wanted. I managed to come home with a gorgeous crate, leather leads, giant flexi, xpen, toys(the dogs are loving those) and the big winner was scent articles. Two whole sets of double bars in the perfect size for Clairee and Moose. A little big for Merlot, but I have enough gift certificates for J & J that I'll order her's when we get to the point of competing. Actually, I need two more leather articles for the second set-anyone know where I can get ones that have the sewn on black leather bars? J&J's are solid tan and have tucked in leather on the bars.

Anyway, best of the best??? I was playing with them while putting them away in my sent article bag I got at the National Silent Auction last year, though hummmm, dropped one metal one of the floor and you'll never guess what? Merlot grabbed it, looked at me and ran off with it. Yippeeeee!!! That's one giant step I don't have to worry about. So one of the extras(I also got a couple extras) is sitting in the middle of the living room were Merlot and Pete are taking turns carrying it around.

Best of the best--just have to look at the world from a different angel.....angle?

Oh and I'm told that the website should be back up in about 48 hours or so. No, no updates, haven't gotten to that yet, just happy that the mess someone else created is cleaned up.

Later gators....
C

Interesting perspective

First, for those of you who have happened upon the website and not seen it, yes it is down. Several issues. Someone somehow, corrupted part of it and I had to shut it down. I have a feeling I know who it was. The webhost was able to provide me with some information. And secondly, I'm working on a new domain name host, which of course, doing it over the holidays is really stupid, so it will be until next week sometime before I have everything up and running again.

But onto the topic of today's blog. Magazines these days are getting smaller and smaller. That's not my topic, but it's a comment that I have to make after going down stairs to the "library" area of the basement and finding an old article in an Equss magazine. My Horse and Rider stack is thick, but the last year or two's are small, thin and don't amount to much in storage.

I digress. January 2010 Horse and Rider has an awesome article called Go Gelding. The article is by a really great trainer, Bob Avila in his Practice Pen section of the magazine. The gest of it is why a good stallion can make a great gelding and how many people don't do it just because of the extra work and time. Two points he makes are An Earned Right and A matter of time. After reading the article, some points struck me as to how close it reflected many dog breeders in our current time.

An Earned Right--he first asks the "why". Too many stallions around. Isn't that just the same as dogs? There are too many stud dogs around these days. He then comments, that that means there are way too many medicore or worse ones . Here's the best point that I think anyone with an intact dog---dog or bitch must seriously consider. " Breeding should be an earned right-a stallion shouldn't be bred unless and until he has proven performance record and the brain to match it. " WHOA there filly! Translating that into our dogs, we need to seriously look at the dogs out there being offered to stud. The old adage-Champions shouldn't always be bred-comes to mind. How many stud dogs are out there that offer conformation and structure but lack in brains? Can't herd, can't do obedience, track, have crappy temperaments, etc? How about the bitches? Equally important. How many bitches are bred that fail to finish in the show ring and yet the owners come up with a thousand excuses why, can't do a performance event of any sort, but yet are bred?

That brings up another point that Bob makes. "Breeding just because you like him doesn't cut it. For example, I see a lot of people who breed their stallions(stud dogs or bitchs)because they can't get them shown. Rather then taking that as a sign a horse(or dog) should be gelded(altered), they make the excuses, breed the horses(dogs), and thus make more bad horses(dogs)." I think he hits right on the head there. We have way too many mediocre or worse dogs out there showing in the rings today, not making it, yet the breeders are using those same dogs in the whelping box, only making more bad dogs.

I think where this takes us is back to the beginning. Breeders need to take a stand on the quality of the dogs they place, the ones that make it to the show ring and just because it's got four legs and barks, doesn't qualify it for the show ring. This last year I saw so many litters out there and comments about the entire litter being show quality or placing all but one in show homes. Again, it's our responsibility to take an honest look at what we breed and yes, be picky, overly picky. Granted what one breeder doesn't like, might be just what another wants, but in the end, going back to a very popular saying--If we are not but caretakers of the breed today, there won't be anything tomorrow.

So breeders, as this new year dawns, I challenge you to take a very deep and reflective look at your dogs. Are you holding on to a dog and breeding out of sentiment? Or are you doing it to improve the breed and basing it not on the paperwork with history behind it or are you taking a good honest look at the type, quality and brains of the dog phyiscally in front of you and assuring that you are doing right by the dog and the breed?

Later gators.....
C

Happy 2010!

I find it hard to believe that it's 2010. Where in the world did 2009 go? And we are 10 years into the "new millenium"? Can't be. I think this year being a milestone birthday year for me, makes it a little more somber. David and I have done lots of remembering when-70's and those awful clothes, the 80's and the era of the mega bands, 90's and the fall of the wall issueing in a new political scene and 00's-econony, terrorism and just jaw dropping incidents.

I made it to see the drop of the ball in New York last night. Then immediately feel asleep. Watched the Rose Parade, ate waffles, popped open a bottle of fine champagne and have the bayberry candle lit for good luck in the New Year. Oh least I forget the crock pot simmering away with black eyed peas and ham hocks. Ummmmm, I actually look forward to that each year.

Tomorrow, it's pack away the Fenton Christmas Tree forest, take down the glass ornaments off the tree and wait for another season to pass us. I actually can't wait to get a good start on this year's resolutions.

#1 loose some weight and get healthier. With some of my health scares this year, I can't put it off. So clean out the fridge, cook and eat better, lots more exercise and just having a positive outlook on life.

#2 get back to some serious dog training. Moose will have his CD by March. Merlot will have her Rally Novice by April. Claire and I will attempt that darn CDX leg--even if we don't get the CDX, I want to prove to myself that I can compete at that level. SP---no clue what her goal is other then staying alive long enough to finish. She's got a death wish I swear.

#3 Get organized. I'm 1/2 way there! Now to do more pitching and less keeping.

#4 Get the south 1/2 of the house painted-I hate priming ceilings but it will get done.

#5 Get off the grid. Well at least partially. Solar panels, wood heat. There's a few surprises coming up for the FOggy Bottom Farm, but we can't get into those till later in the year :)

#6 Chill---spend more time just having fun.

So with that, I am off to do a few sets of stairs, then pop in a yoga tape. Too cold to take a good walk, that's what the mall is for tomorrow morning, though I wish there was some place that we could walk the dogs as well as ourselves in the winter!

Later gators....
C