We are GOING to a trial, DAMN IT!
Come hell, or high water (both of which are highly likely).
Yeah, it's supposed to rain/snow/hail shower this afternoon, Friday.... And we're going to Albany for a trial.
Thing is, unlike Ridgefield, the Albany arena (I hesitate to call it a "barn"... it's more arena-like) is fully enclosed, semi-heated (or used to be) and offers acres of graveled parking. Which might still be flooded like crazy, but at least isn't normally a mudpit.
Detracting from my enthusiasm is the fact that I believe this is a "bigger" show with lots of people doing obedience, showing, etc., so we have to PAY for parking (grrrr) and it's a bit more crowded than a regular show would be.
But, as we were snow-stormed OUT of our last try at at trial, I'm doing this one damn it!! and we're going to ENJOY it. So there!
Poodletopia on a rare evening of rain-free sunsetting. This truly has been the LONGEST winter in like 20 years.
Are Rumble and I ready to trial and show our best stuff? NOT! But I don't care. We'll run around and have treats and see our agility friends and it will be good.
I've been spending a lot of time lately looking into this face:
I DO know that if genetics are on our side, I'll be looking at this face for another 4 years or so, but something is making me melancholy about my dear loud boy. He's changing. Which is his right, afterall. But still it is odd for me. He's still very much "Razor" but in other ways I can't quite figure out why he's all "forced snuggly" required to sleep with his butt right at my head at night, demanding to go with me everywhere. Etc. I suppose some of it is older dog stuff, but some of it just is odd. Lately he's left off eating if I go somewhere out of his sight. HE'S an AUSSIE! Stopping eating is not in his nature. But he has been. This morning he wandered off from his dish looking for me and I was right there in the bathroom (just out of eye shot). I said "hey! Doof! I'm right here!" and he saw me, went back to his breakfast.
He's been refusing to go out to potty. Which actually is pretty normal for him in the rain. He LOVES a good pasture run in the soaking rain, but won't go out to pee in it. Figures. I told him his buddy penichops
was going to come visit him this summer. And he's excited. But I have the feeling he forgets I said it about 20 min after he's told.
He also is attempting to play with Cake! (when he's not attempting to hump her). It's very very cute. But she gives him up as a bad job since is play skills are pretty limited and he ends up just being a goofball. Still, it's nice to see him engaging her and giving it all a try.
I love him very much. It pains me to know that he won't always be in my life. I don't think he's a particularly unique dog (unlike Fred!) and my guess is that it wouldn't take much for me to find a similar canine soul mate in the future. But would I want to? Not sure. He's just so very special to me. Sighs. He's a dog I really did wish would live for 30 years. Then we could be really old coots together. That would rock.
Speaking of weather! (when am I NOT speaking of weather??) Tried to go hiking last Saturday with redwoodranch (hey! Are you not on here anymore??? I don't see the iwjacks as an option damn it! EDIT: DAWNY found it!!) and Michelle at my trail on the Little North Fork. IT WAS POURING! figures. And Naomi gave it a valiant try with baby in the backpack, but it was too hard. We weren't out long. I miss nature. I do. But she's not very welcoming these days.
Yeah, it's supposed to rain/snow/hail shower this afternoon, Friday.... And we're going to Albany for a trial.
Thing is, unlike Ridgefield, the Albany arena (I hesitate to call it a "barn"... it's more arena-like) is fully enclosed, semi-heated (or used to be) and offers acres of graveled parking. Which might still be flooded like crazy, but at least isn't normally a mudpit.
Detracting from my enthusiasm is the fact that I believe this is a "bigger" show with lots of people doing obedience, showing, etc., so we have to PAY for parking (grrrr) and it's a bit more crowded than a regular show would be.
But, as we were snow-stormed OUT of our last try at at trial, I'm doing this one damn it!! and we're going to ENJOY it. So there!
Poodletopia on a rare evening of rain-free sunsetting. This truly has been the LONGEST winter in like 20 years.
Are Rumble and I ready to trial and show our best stuff? NOT! But I don't care. We'll run around and have treats and see our agility friends and it will be good.
I've been spending a lot of time lately looking into this face:
I DO know that if genetics are on our side, I'll be looking at this face for another 4 years or so, but something is making me melancholy about my dear loud boy. He's changing. Which is his right, afterall. But still it is odd for me. He's still very much "Razor" but in other ways I can't quite figure out why he's all "forced snuggly" required to sleep with his butt right at my head at night, demanding to go with me everywhere. Etc. I suppose some of it is older dog stuff, but some of it just is odd. Lately he's left off eating if I go somewhere out of his sight. HE'S an AUSSIE! Stopping eating is not in his nature. But he has been. This morning he wandered off from his dish looking for me and I was right there in the bathroom (just out of eye shot). I said "hey! Doof! I'm right here!" and he saw me, went back to his breakfast.
He's been refusing to go out to potty. Which actually is pretty normal for him in the rain. He LOVES a good pasture run in the soaking rain, but won't go out to pee in it. Figures. I told him his buddy penichops
was going to come visit him this summer. And he's excited. But I have the feeling he forgets I said it about 20 min after he's told.
He also is attempting to play with Cake! (when he's not attempting to hump her). It's very very cute. But she gives him up as a bad job since is play skills are pretty limited and he ends up just being a goofball. Still, it's nice to see him engaging her and giving it all a try.
I love him very much. It pains me to know that he won't always be in my life. I don't think he's a particularly unique dog (unlike Fred!) and my guess is that it wouldn't take much for me to find a similar canine soul mate in the future. But would I want to? Not sure. He's just so very special to me. Sighs. He's a dog I really did wish would live for 30 years. Then we could be really old coots together. That would rock.
Speaking of weather! (when am I NOT speaking of weather??) Tried to go hiking last Saturday with redwoodranch (hey! Are you not on here anymore??? I don't see the iwjacks as an option damn it! EDIT: DAWNY found it!!) and Michelle at my trail on the Little North Fork. IT WAS POURING! figures. And Naomi gave it a valiant try with baby in the backpack, but it was too hard. We weren't out long. I miss nature. I do. But she's not very welcoming these days.