Something to write about!

It's been a long time, and there have been lots of things to write about, but I didn't get to them yet (or may never get there!)  But I got something in the mail yesterday which was something I've wanted since I was in my teens:

A CD title for my dog.  I started thinking about this when our first poodle, Gigi, earned two legs in obedience, almost there, but we never went to another trial.  I still have the Nambe ashtray she earned as high in trial or best in show, whatever it was then.  I've thought about it every times I've taken a poodle to obedience training, with Triska, Persi, Caprice, and Rondo.  I didn't  take the time to practice, didn't have the support or commitment.  But Canon and I made it!

 

It wasn't pretty, but we got through it.  Two plus years of training.  More driving to and from training than actual training, I think.  Lots of treats- Charley Bears, chicken, hot dogs, whatever else I acquired.  Lots of dollars.  Canon's attention is still not riveted upon me.  He often follows when there's nothing more interesting around, and at a trial, there's something more interesting.  He paid attention just enough, followed my commands just enough, to earn us what I've thought about for a long time.

 

Thank you, Canon.  Good boy!!!!!

 



The Games have begun...

Last night I stayed up late to finish the second volume in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.  I kept thinking, "This is an allegory, a parallel for our world."  The Hunger Games is about a world where an all-powerful Capitol leaves the districts around in in poverty and hunger, and, to assert its superiority over the districts, forces them to annually pay tribute, in the form of two residents, who must come to the Capitol and fight for their lives, until only one victor is left.

I read the first volume and thought, "Interesting, but brutal science fiction story with a young adult protagonist.  OK."  As I finished Catching Fire, I  started thinking that this is closer to our world than we might like.  Not that we have brutal government, but that our world inspires brutality between its inhabitants.  Wars, both declared and undeclared.  Zealots or misguided indivials bombing and gunning others down.  Efforts made for fellowship and cooperation crashed by a perceived need to survive.

Then I woke up this morning to the news of a lone gunner shooting down  people in an Arvada, Colorado, theater at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.  I haven't seen the movie, but based on others, I'd say a movie with its own share of violence.  (But then again, this isn't the issue-- or is it?)  Is this not science fiction itself-- a crazed madman demolishing helpless others?  But then, again, we have police shootings, soldier killing civilians, human beings being held in bondage and sold.  Science fiction?  A world going wild? 

I'm speaking in extremes, but wondering.  Man's inhumanity to living creatures, including himself, is existent.  The scenario in The Hunger Games may not be reality, but perhaps it is based on what is, to its extreme.

The Lonesome Dove

I'm sitting at home alone, and relishing that aloneness.  It doesn't happen often.  Even though Michael and I do our own things independently, there's something different about being home alone.  Freedom?  Total peace?  I'm not sure what the difference it is, but I know it feels different to have the place alone to myself.  One isn't necessarily better than the other, just different.  I was more aware of sounds than I usually am.  And I especially noticed two lonely sounds. 

Last weekend Michael found an injured dove on our front patio.  He brought it in to protect it from the hot sun and gave it water.  When it cooled off, he put it back on the patio with water.  It hopped around awhile, but by the next morning it was dead.  Ever since then, I've noticed a mourning dove calling, and I can't help but wonder if it's mourning its mate.  We hear plenty of doves here, but suddenly the sound of a dove makes me sad for that one unlucky visitor.

The other lonely sound I heard was a dog barking.  I'm not sure which dog in the neighborhood, but it was a lonely bark, not a play bark, not an intruder bark, more of an "I want in: I want others" bark.  I  wonder what dogs expect to gain from that lonely bark.

It's quiet right now.  I have about an hour of aloneness left.  I'm going to go enjoy it.

Rondo's Legacy

Today I had the opportunity to visit the Animal Humane of New Mexico site and visit with exectutive director, Peggy Weigle.  (Yes, they're looking for money.)  They're planning an expansion project to offer animals an optimal environment during their stay-- expanded clinic, dog and cat rooms, a meeting area, and all sorts of good things.  I was delighted to get a tour of the facility, as well as an overview of the plans.

One thing that amazed me was the number of unadopted pit bulls or crosses I saw in the pens.  I can understand people worrying about adopting these strangers, even though AHNM personnel have evaluated them, but I worry even more about the dogs and their lives.  There was a lovely boy who has been there 10 months.  Most likely he hasn't been adopted because he's a barker.  I saw the "pen" (indoor-outdoor facility) where they keep a number of overweight cats.  They call it the "Jenny Craig room."  We also visited the clinic, where, among other things, low-cost pet care is offered.

I was impressed.  So much care is put into this facility.  So I put some of my care into it with a donation.  I got to name the SAFER test room (I believe this is for animal evaluations).  Who to honor?  My father?  Caprice and Canon?  The room will be named for Rondo, who brought me here, brought me to my present relationship with my dogs, agility and obedience training with Canon, new friends. 

And so, dear Rondo, you have contributed to helping other dogs.  All those pennies you have sent me (and many more) are being put to work.  You have had a direct influence on my life, from the grief, the rememberance, and the good things that have followed.  You were and are a special part of my life.   I will always love you. 

When I don't like Facebook...

I have quite a few Facebook friends that are dog and animal lovers.  Great!  I have some Facebook friends who are involved in animal rescue.  Also great.  Some of these people post pictures of dogs in need-- starving dogs, injured dogs, sad dogs.  Great, but not so great.  Those images linger and tear at my heart.  I can't help them, but I have to see them all.  Not for me. 

And so, for today.  The picture is blank.  Not that I don't want to help.  Not that I don't care.  But that I find the number of animals in need and in pain so very hard to bear.  I'm a wimp for not being able to look, but I'm not uncaring-- just frustrated.

A Title! Canon-June2012-AKC

We got our Novice Standard title this weekend from the last run in this video.  I'm so proud of my boy!  This marks the end of novice competition for us, and the beginning of open in both standard and jumpers.  I'll miss novice.  It's the elementary school of agility competition, when there's room for mistakes and support.  It's made easier so we can achieve some success.  It's about learning more than the competition.

Bye-bye Novice.  We'll miss you.

Fathers' Day 2012

I remember the first Fathers' Day after my father died.  I couldn't handle all the ads for gifts for fathers.  Seeing a sign in a department store made me cry.

It still is somewhat hard.  If my father was still alive, he would have been 90 this year.  Who knows what shape he would have been in?  Would he have played golf today? 

I went had a file of pictures of my father (Thank you, Richard, for sorting)  and found this one of him running in the Duke City Marathon which I shared on Facebook this morning.  Dad was very proud of his running, so of course, this made me smile.  Some of the comments on FB made me smile, too.  My brother-in-law, Bob, said, "He ran for over 40 years. Never fast but he could keep going and going and going. Wonderful father-in-law."  A smile and a few tears.  A poodle friend wrote, "Wow, a marathoner before it was a fashing statement! Cool!"  Smile.

There have been many smile and tears over remembering my father over these years.  He was such a good man.  He enjoyed golf, and his swimming pool, and laying in the sun.  He loved his family and was an exceedingly good son to his parents.

Images of him?  The Speedos.  Floating the pool and talking with Moe.  The early morning runs  and a few accidents in the dark before dawn- a fall, a dog bite.  His love for his grandchildren.  Laying on the couch watching golf on Sunday afternoons.  His enjoyment of his cousins, Doris and Jack, Joyce and Dick, Lainie and Ronnie.  Playing bridge in the den, yelling at partners, serving Oreos for a snack.  Saturdays going down to his office with him.  The hard work he put in to recover after his bypass surgery.  His generosity.  The care he took of his children.  When I was unhappy about transferring the the University of Colorado when I couldn't get the classes I needed (after paying tuition), he told me never mind and offered me the opportunity to come home, if I wanted.   Mild cursing.  The teasing--He called me "Miss America," my sister was "Butterball" for awhile.  Sharing the love of dogs.  I remember him crying with me when I had to put my Triska to sleep.  Smiles.  Jokes.  The Chinese restaurant and ice cream.  The hole in my heart that has never left.

Our parents have to leave us at some time, but our lives will always be tied with them.  I love you, Dad.

My M.S. Memory

I meant to write this on May 9, but I never got around to it.  I was sorry to read that Maurice Wild Thing Sendak died the day before, since he was a part of my teaching career.  I rarely cry when a celebrity passes, and didn't at this news either.  The tears came when I saw this cartoon in the newspaper the next morning. 

One of my M.S. memories was having a group of gifted students (4th grade, I think) act out Where the Wild Things Are and create accompanying "music" with rhythm instruments.  The image I remember was of Hannah Kunkle (could have been a different Kunkle- that I remember at all is amazing) wearing a fur coat and fedora-type hat and stomping around.  I had a picture of that for many years, but cleaned out my pictures recently.  Drat!

Chicken Soup with Rice used to be popular with kindergarten teachers.

Maurice once, Maurice twice

Reminds me of chicken soup with rice.

May

In May I think it truly best

to be a robin lightly dressed

concocting soup inside my nest

Mix it once, mix it twice,

mix that Chicken soup with rice.

March 2012 AKC - Canon Sunday

Stoked by the success of the ASCA runs, we also ran at the SDOC (Sandia Dog Obedience Club) agility trials March 16-18.  Sunday, the 18th was incredibly windy and dusty, but we qualified in this jumpers' run for our novice title.  However,  it makes a good excuse for this silly run in standard which follows!

Note:  This post was begun on March 13.  Instead of being a perfectionist and waiting till I get it right, I'm publishing today.

Canon wishes Caprice a happy birthday

Today is Caprice's sixth birthday, and I'm very glad to have her here and well after a couple of frightening brushes of her Addison's disease, skin and digestive problems.  She is my beautiful girl- a little skittish, not much of a player, and sometimes aloof, but mine.

I remember when I flew to Las Vegas to pick her up.  I cried when I saw her.  I had been missing a poodle so much since my Persi had to leave, and I was ready for a puppy to love. I remember her toe nails painted pink, and how small she was. 

Caprice grew up to be a beautiful girl.  We called her my Las Vegas showgirl.  She was also my wild girl, leaping over the couch, all over the place.

A couple months with Caprice's energy, and we decided she needed someone besides us to play with, a brother poodle, Rondo.  That's another story, but part of her story as well.

I'm saving the Addison's disease story for another day, so I can get this published...and have something else to write about...

We ran!

Note:  This post was started on March 11, 2012, but never finished.  I decided to put a little more into it and publish.

Approximately a year and a half ago (maybe closer to two?) Canon and I started agility lessons along with his sister Roxy and her "mom" Nancy. It was hard for us. The sport requires good body sense and spatial skills, visual memory, problem solving, as well as a bit of athleticism from the human. The dog needs to pay attention to his human, understand body language, and focus. I don't know if I have any of those qualities, and Canon is working on them.

Roxy, and our other classmates, Will and Grace, were doing great. A year ago Will and Grace were ready to compete. Roxy was ready. We were not. Last summer Canon and I were improving, but weren't there yet. I committed to agility trials in September. Then I broke my elbow at the end of August. No agility practice for four months. It was almost a relief, but a disappointment, as well.
Something happened during our "vacation."  I got a bit better at reading courses and Canon got a lot better about following me, so I thought it was time.  It was!  On March 10th and 11th, we entered the ASCA (Australian Shepherd Cub of America) agility trials.  We weren't perfect, but did well enough to earn a Novice Jumper's title, as well as qualifying in two standard runs.  Eight runs, four first places.  I love novice.  We had no competition in our 24 inch height class, and it was easy.  We only had to contend with a few missteps from me and a bit of craziness from Canon (related to my missteps.)  We even had a visitor in the ring, an escaped putty,  and had to run again. 

A lot of sitting, those two days, but a lot of satisfaction as well.

Pinning for what reason?

There always seems to be new things to distract me.  The latest, Pinterest.  As best as I can describe it, Pinterest enables one to collect pictures (and their links) from around the internet.  Like poodles?  Pin a picture of your favorite on your board.  Recipe for croissants?  Pin the picture, which will eventually link back to the site with the recipe.

I've spent the day learning how to pin and access my and others' pin boards.  Basically, this is like cutting out pictures and putting them on a bulletin board.  What I haven't figured out is why I'm doing this.  If I didn't collect the pictures before, why now?  And a bigger question:  Why are people looking at what I've pinned?  And why on the earth are they "repinning" my pictures?    I hate to say this, but...

What's the point?

I am here...

I just haven't gotten it together yet.