Random, Odd, and Inappropriate Thoughts

I've been storing these in my head for several days...and now I can't remember a one!

Three is great!

There's not much about Max on this blog, since he has his own, but he's very much a part of our lives.  Two dogs are harder than one, and three is harder than two, but it's a joy!  I love having three dogs and I love having a little one.  He's a little one who can very much hold his own with the other two, even Canon, who I thought was going to kill him in the beginning.

 

Isn't it amazing how there's always more love to give?

 

 

Remembering once again...

As I remember Rondo tonight as part of Pam Storto's annual candle lighting in Maine, I think of this strange community I am part of-- those who have lost pets to cancer.  Pam, who I only know through the internet, has placed stakes with pets names on them, and lights the candles at the end of July, today in fact. She invites people throughout the world to light candles at 7:45 EDT.

I've written before about how dealing with Rondo's osteosarcoma and death changed my life, mostly for the better.  Tonight I "met" Jill, who is dealing with the loss of her standard poodle who passed three months ago.  It reminds me how hopeless and lonely I felt, and yet how, through the Bone Cancer Dogs group, I was not really alone, not the only one who felt this grief.  As I said to Jill, for me the grief has never left me, but the edges are blurred.  Rondo led me to fill my life with dogs-- Canon, Max, obedience, agility, BCD.  I honor his life for what he was, a young, sweet poodle boy, and for what he has brought to me.

Betrayal

Betrayal- a breaking of trust
A deep down hurt
Anger
The need to protect myself and lash out at the same time
There is no reason
No calm
No

On the Marathon Bombing

No one ties his shoes before a prestigious race and thinks, "Today I may die in a bomb blast," but it happened at the Boston Marathon.  Sadly, it happens in Beirut and Somalia and other places on an almost daily basis.  I am deeply disturbed.  First because of Boston.  Because of the World Trade Center.  But because this happens all over the world.  I am disturbed that no one is really safe.  I am disturbed that my niece worries for her infant daughter.  I am disturbed that people hate so much or are so sick.

Yet it exists in our daily lives.  There are people in parts of the world that live with this all the time, and I have to admit, I am not disturbed all the time as I should be.  People hurt other people and we seem powerless to do anything about it.  What can help?  What can stop this?   It should hurt every day, when senseless acts hurt people. 

Tit for Tat

I  put this as my Facebook profile picture yesterday in support of same sex marriage.  I believe in equal rights for all.  (Michael would disagree with this statement.  I'm fine with convicted felons losing their vote.)  I had no idea this symbol would make all sorts of people take up arms, literally and figuratively.

First I saw the symbol transformed to two rifles, to support right to bear arms, I suppose.  Then it was transformed to a cross.  Again this is an assumption on my part, but I think this is in reaction to the same sex marriage by those whose religious beliefs disagree with that.

Facebook seems a place where people immediately say, "Oh, yeah?  Well take that!"  I don't post anti-religious statements when confronted with people's affirmation of their Christianity (or any religion) on Facebook.  Why do some have to immediately react to support of peoples' rights?

What would Jesus do?  My guess is not contradict everybody on Facebook.



Passive Aggressive

That bright yellow harbinger of spring, beating out the daffodils- the dandelion.  I pull off the lion-maned flowers, soon-to-be spreaders of seeds.  The plant itself resists my pull in this hard, dry soil.  No one protests.  The next day the flowers are back in what seems to be greater numbers, daring me to pull them again.

I do.

Agility Bloopers

When one doesn't blog for a long time, there are so many things to write about, but for now, my favorite subject-- dogs. Luckily, I don't have many readers, so indulge me with my agility talk.

 

Canon and I have participated in our first two weekend agility trials this month.  The first was the beginning of the month, in Clovis.  Canon did well on the drive, but not so well in the hotel.  Being a "watch dog," he informed me of every sound in the motel, and he just couldn't seem to relax. He did, however, perform well.  We finally got our Open Jumpers title and moved to Excellent.  We also got
two Excellent Standard legs, as well as a qualifying score in Time to Beat.  Canon has matured quite a lot since our last trial.  Hopefully his handler will live up to his good example.

This weekend we competed again.  We earned our Novice FAST title and a leg in Excellent Jumpers with Weaves.  Other than mostly handler errors, we ran very well, time being our biggest enemy.

Today (Sunday) the handler stunk!  Our first run of the day came after studying the Standard Excellent map for several hours and watching countless dogs run.  Did I make a mistake where I thought I'd have a problem?  No!  I forgot the course on the third obstacle in.  Bad Barbara!  After I lost my way, I was a bit rattled, but Canon did just what I asked of him.

Our Jumpers run was one of our best, even faster than usual.  I was so excited that I forgot the final jump!  I started celebrating and started to hug Canon when I heard moans and calls from the crowd.  When I figured out I wasn't finished, I was able to take the boy over the last jump.  The kind judge did not call it a refusal, and we finished with our best time ever, even though it was one second over time.  Somehow we got first place out of that one.
Here's the link to YouTube.  http://youtu.be/6NRHFRox47A

I was reminded this weekend that agility should be about having fun and encouraging people to do their best.  Our judge certainly did that!  This sport is special to me not only because I get to spend time with one of my dogs, but because I also spend it with some wonderful, supportive people. This is an environment that lends itself to supporting and enjoying others.  What a great way to have a tiring, but happy weekend.

 

Writing Again!

I'm blogging again-- for little Max, our foster miniature poodle.  Whether he stays with us or moves on to another family, he'll have a history...at http://maxthepoodle.blogspot.com/ .