Another Look at Dog Show Frapping

Another installment in our continuing series. Love it when Scout fixes
her hair at the end and then Spences sez "hey showgirl, I can fix mine
too!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIsRT6gcQk0&feature=youtube_gdata

Sent from my iPhone

The view from where I sit

Stretched out in a lounge chair with a cool breeze. The pic does not
do justice, but the leaves are turning here in MD.

My Element is Lazy (and/or Crazy)

A few months ago, we went down to Orlando for a few days. We left after work, and by the time we were well south of Atlanta, it was getting dark enough to turn on the Element's headlights. When I did, all the lighting on the instrument panel went out.

Couldn't see the speedometer or how much gas I had. Couldn't see the trip odometer so that I could guesstimate how much gas I had. I couldn't even see what station the radio was set to. As my dad would have said, "dark as the inside of a black cow." Luckily, I did have Gail Garmin on the dash, and she could tell me how fast I was driving.

When we got to the showsite, I was very happy to see that there was a Honda dealership just down the road. Sarah (of Hurrikane Cardis) followed me over to the dealership when I went to drop it off. I called back a few hours later and they said, ummmmmm, your car is fine. Everything is working just as it should.

Sure enough, when I went back later, we took the car to a dark bay, and sure enough, everything worked fine. They looked at me like I was some kind of crazy woman and let me go on my way. Everything has worked just fine since then. Until last Saturday.

We are getting ready to head up to the Chesapeake Specialty this weekend in Maryland. Saturday evening we were out enjoying the perfect fall evening, and when it started to get dark, I turned on the headlights and guess what - instrument panel goes black.

I think my Element is just lazy and doesn't want to make another long trip. Maybe it's just a homebody.

So we go to our local Honda dealer, and this time I made sure the service people saw it misbehaving before I left. They were befuddled. All day long they were befuddled. Finally late this afternoon, they found some techie guru who told them to grab some part and twist it thataway, and sure enough, it showed them where the problem was or something - anyway, I need some part and they hope it comes in time to get it installed before I leave Thursday for Maryland. The good news is that this happened just 6000 miles before my extended warranty runs out and is covered.

When I left the dealership, the panel was dark. I made a stop on the way home, and when I got back in the car, everything worked perfectly. Crazy car.

I voted for Jordan!

Jordan Thomas is a young man from here in Chattanooga. A few years ago he lost both legs just below the knees in a boating accident - his story is here.

I have never met Jordan, but I have seen him around town. I ran into him at a sandwich shop one day. He is about 6'5" and a handsome fellow. He was wearing shorts - it was a bit of a shock to see him wearing prosthetics because he moves with such grace and confidence. He is just so full of life - I am sure that he is going to great things for amputees in his lifetime.

You are Great!!

Watch this when you have 16 minutes to spare and need a smile:

Bark in the Park Event

It's a perfect fall day in southeast Tennessee today. Dogs love the cool morning. Scout loves that it's Saturday and she is not on a grooming table, although she was on a table ably representing Cardigandom in the "Meet the Breeds" presentation.

Spencer showed off a bit in agility. I had not planned to run him but most of the real agility people are sick with the flu. He did great considering he has not done it in over a year - a perfect run and even hit an offside weave entrance, which he has rarely ever done.

Who, me?

Really, lady. I was just lying here and it exploded.

Looking for another street

As a CPA, I have to get a certain number of hours of continuing education each year.  The challenge is finding hours that are convenient, relevant and cheap.  Last week I attended a session on applying Lean/Six Sigma manufacturing principles to the accounting process.  Sounds riveting, yes?  Actually, it did appeal to my geeky side, and the four hours flew by, as opposed the hour I suffered through listening to how everything will change in a few years when we have to convert to International Financial Reporting Standards - I have got to win the lottery before that happens - but as usual - I digress.

At the end of the Lean Accounting session, the instructor read a poem.  I wrote down a few lines of it so I could google it and read it again.  While the poem was perfect for what we had just heard about changing how we think about what we do at work, I discovered that this poem is apparently a standard in 12 Step Programs and in therapy sessions. 

As I googled, I found that the poem is attributed to several different people, but it looks like the true author is Portia Nelson.  Ms. Nelson was an actress and an author.  She was Sister Berthe in the first movie I ever saw in a theater - "The Sound of Music."  For you soap fans, I read that she was also Mrs. Gurney in "All My Children." 

Anyhow - I just wanted to share and keep this for future reference. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS

by Portia Nelson

1983

I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost ... I am helpless

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place, but, it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in...it’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I got out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

Scout and her adoring public

Today in Murfreesboro TN

My Dwarf Basenji

A couple of weeks ago, we had an all breed show here in Chattanooga. The same weekend and in the same park, there is also an AKC Lure Coursing trial. Lure coursing competition is limited to sighthounds, but after competition is completed for the day, sometimes they allow other dogs to run the course.

Spencer is obsessed with lure coursing. We have friends who have lure coursing equipment and sometimes, when we beg enough, they will set it up so that we can play. As soon as he hears that "zip zip zip" sound that it makes, every nerve in his body springs to attention.

So - we managed to get to the lure coursing field just as they were running Best in Field. I checked in at the show tent and they said sure - little guy can have a run. So we wandered over the course start, and a very doubtful fellow took one look at Spencer's little short legs and laughed. But then he noticed that Spencer had locked his eyes on the plastic bags tied to the cable (the "prey"), and the guy wiggled the wire enough to make the bags rustle. Spencer just about jumped out of his skin.

He asked me how much of the course I thought Spence would do. "All of it," I replied. He looked doubtful, but said ok and jumped up in the back of his truck where he could see the whole course and run the lures.

As soon as I let go of Spencer, he took off and ran his heart out. He covered the entire course and when he finished a huge cheer went up from the hound folks.

As we were leaving, I ran into a couple of handlers I know from Obedience who ran their deerhounds at the trial. One said, "Thanks for embarassing us - your corgi just finished a course our hounds couldn't run!"

The trial photographer was still there and got some great pics here, here and here.

BTW - this field and the rest of the park is now underwater after the floods we had over the weekend.

A - OK

Spencer wants everyone to know that he no longer limps and is living large. Thanks to all who have checked in on him.

Spencer Update

Spencer sez he is just fine - but he is still limping. He saw his chiropractor today, and she turned him every which way but out. She poked and prodded, but Mr Stoic would give no indication of where he hurt. She made a few adjustments, but could not tell why he was still limping afterwards except for the fact that maybe it was just remaining muscle soreness.

So, we will try to keep him quiet for a couple of days. If it hasn't resolved, we go for an xray to see if it will tell us what he won't.

Sometimes a girl just needs to put on her gloves and tiara

This is the Cinderella dress I made for Avery last year for Halloween. Glad I made it a little big because she can still wear it. Her dad sent the picture - apparently she just felt the need to feel like a princess Saturday.

Where does the person sleep?

After an early potty trip outside this morning, they take up as much bed space as possible.

Spence is really limping this morning, not wanting to put weight on his front right. Guess we will be looking for the show vet.

Scout doesn't show until 2, so long day ahead.

More Atlanta show site food

Plate full of Greek salad and hummus -$5!

And Scout BOB - priceless.

This looks so cool.

I have emailed them to find out how to participate. Spencer's scary mind should be studied.

The Secrets Inside Your Dog\'s Mind

I was so looking forward to stretching out for a nap . . .

while we waited for groups this afternoon (it's so nice to
show just down the street from your house!), but someone else had the same idea and beat me to it.

Newbie to the Bloghood

Dina and her Heathen Horde have joined our blogroll. It's all about living with red cardis. She has Scout's grandpa big red Sam and sister Moira. Stop by and say hey!

The Welsh Hairless is home

In Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, I posted that Scout had started blowing coat. I left her with Cheryl, and they went to a couple of shows. Every day Cheryl posted me on how much more hair had come out. One day, after the judge examined her on the table, Cheryl said the inside of his coat sleeves were white from her shedding hair.

I picked her up today and was amazed (appalled!) at how nekkid she is. She looks so tiny without her full coat. The thing with red dogs is how much their color changes when they are out of coat - Scout goes from a rich red to apricot.

Her tail and pants are in ok shape, so this week she will get lots of cold baths, daily treatment with Cheryl's secret hair growing potion (she won't tell me whats in it, but it's blue and in an olive jar, which I have to keep in the refrigerator), and I stopped at the veggie stand today and bought sweet potatoes, carrots and beets to add to her food.

Start of the long weekend

I played hooky from work this afternoon. I piddled around the house a bit and then decided to start watching "A Dog Year" which I mentioned the other day and dvr-ed.

Almost immediately into the movie I realized that Jeff Bridges is now too old to be my RV driver.

A few minutes later I reached over and gave Spence a scratch and thanked him for not being a border collie. Or a golden retreiver.