It has been a while.....but...

I know, been a few months since I blogged....my fault.  But...i write when I feel inspired, and this weekend I felt inspired. 
Tangy has been diagnosed with immune mediated poly arthritis.  Basically, her joints are being attacked by her body.  Without pred she is swollen and has trouble walking.  I am doing everything I can for her, and now bringing her to an autoimmune specialist vet.  I miss running her.  I miss training her.  There are so many things I now can say I take for granted.  I would give anything for a smooth run with a knocked bar now.  To watch her in pain and not be able to do what she loves the most kills me. 

Was at the springfield cluster this weekend where Rev (Tang's daughter) earned her NA with all firsts.  I am so proud.  She has been such a work in progress, nothing like her mother in work ethic.  Fast and a much betetr jumper but not serious.  She put her working cap on this weekend and got it done.  After 1 of my runs someone came up to me and said, "that is a Tang daughter, correct??"  Love that.  Another person asked where I got her from.  That is what people used to say when I ran Tang.  Yeah....Rev is looking like the dog I know she can be!

Then there is Kazi.  SHe came out of retirement to run as she is going to the agility invitational in 2 weeks.  She went 3 for 6 with most minor mistakes.  I am so proud of her at 9 years old to run like this.  She was diagnosed with her heart murmur over 3 years ago and is still running strong.  No, I don't run her much lately but she is happy to do whatever is asked of her.  As long as it is her idea...she is a chin first and foremost.  Here she is in the motorhome with Aijou waiting for her dinner.

 

And baby Hype!  He has a blast meeting his family.  Daddy Rush and brothers Bolt and Frisco.  What a crue.  And after watching all of them run, we have lots of training to do, and I am so excited to do it with him.  That pup makes me smile everyday.

Hype with Bolt

Daddy Rush and his sons, Fresco, Hype and Bolt

 and another

 

So that was my thanksgiving weekend.  Shawn came to cheer us on and we had a wonderful weekend.  I am thankful I have lots of dogs (12!) to love and be loved by.  I have been blessed to be able to run them in agility and have wonderful wins and just as wonderful misses.  Life is good.  I have my home and my friends.  what more can I ask for....maybe the 500million megga millions tonight?

 



Random thoughts and Happiness

SO summer is upon us.  WOOHOO!  Super hot this weekend.  Showed at the east freehold park breed shows as I always do. 
Finished Desi!  SO happy and so is his owner Rebecca.  He was shaved down before the groups even started.  He is so much more comfy and I am so happy that he is done.  Now he can do what he loves, AGILITY!  Not to mention, his first litter is due the end of June.
Showed Will, a friend's toller.  Been having lots of fun with him in the breed ring.  Only have lost BOB once (to a top 3 dog) since I have been put on the end of the lead.  Love to show the dog.  He is an beautiful toller and he makes me look good.  His owners are a wonderful family and I am enjoying the ride with this beautiful boy.

Showed Jr Mint in the grup sat...he looked great and showed well.  Just needs to grow up a bit!

One of my show handling students took a major reserve her first time out.  I am a very proud teacher.  Only 2 more weeks of show handing and then off for the summer.  Friday nights are mine!

Agility shows for the next 4 weekends.  I am pretty happy about that.  Tangy and I are hitting stride and I need 4 QQs for nationals this year.  I would really like to take her this year.  I am having lots of fun with new puppy Hype as well.  Shelties are very interesting little dogs! Oh, and Chrissy is pregnant!  (see above for Desi's first litter).....

that is it for random thoughts...now for happiness. 

I really enjoyed my weekend.  It had a little dog show stuff, family stuff, house stuff, and hubby stuff.  I showed, my parents came down and we went flower shopping.  My mom and Shawn kept going and I took my dad back to the show to show in group with Will.  As I was in the ring and took the dog around I heard his owners AS WELL AS MY DAD cheering.  so cool.  When Will got pulled in group I heard a very loud, "Yessss!"  love it.  Had a wonderful dinner with my parents and the next day put a pond in with my hubby. We bought a baby pool for the dogs and watched them have a great day too.  I am happy. 

Blisters on toes, new puppies and camp!

So, 6 days...yep, 6 days until my 1/2 marathon.  I feel like it was last week I was posting 12 weeks to go!  Training has been going well.  2 weeks ago I did 10 miles and felt awesome.  I did the same on Friday but something went terribly wrong.  Around mile 8 I was just done.  I was tired of running, legs hurting and toes...well, I felt like my toes were ON FIRE.  I had to walk 1/10 of a mile, run and then walk again before I could finish the 10.  I took off my socks and wow....blisters.  Blisters all over my toes and feet.  One toenail completely fell off.  I wore the wrong socks.  they were good socks but not my good running socks.  Lesson learned.  So, I spend last night popping blisters and soaking my feet in Epsom salts.  I just pray and hope they heal by Saturday.  I will be lubing up and wrapping but still!  running 13.1 miles is hard enough, having blistering toes just makes it far worse!

yeah...gross

New puppy!  Yes, baby "Hype" will be here in 10 days.  His registered name will be: AnAngel Dizzy What's the Fuss?  I leave for Texas next Friday to pick him up.  No, I have no idea which one of the 4 he will be but I am excited to get him.  Having a sheltie will be a new adventure for me but I am up for the challenges and fun times ahead!

Which one? Which One????



Camp was a huge success.  I am so glad I decided to plan one on my own under my business.  I had two of my favorite instructors (Jenn Crank and Karen Holik) and invited a new instructor to me, Mary Ellen Barry, upon lots of recommendations.  She now is one of my favs too!  I learned so much and all the campers seemed to really enjoy themselves.  NOW...do I do a fall camp as well???

Camping....yes, And Shawn and I kicked off our camping season this weekend.  We did a pretty low key campground but did some fishing and grilling.  We even played a nice game of monopoly!  yes...with the board and everything!

Sorry...it has been a while!

yes...it has been a while since I have posted...life caught up with me!  let's start with updates!
I am still running, 1/2 marathon in 3 weeks!  Already did my 10 miler so I feel pretty confident I can do 13.  One more long run and I am set...now...when to do the long run with shows and camp upon me....
I have decided to get a sheltie puppy.  It is the son of "Rush" a national ch and breed ch as well as world competitor.  I had the pleasure of massaging him last year where I subsequently fell in love.  I am not in the market for a puppy but couldn;t pass him up.  April 27th is the day I fly to TX to pick up my new baby.  I am a bit excited I have to say!
Hubby and I are looking for another motorhome already.  Need a slide.  Too many dogs and not enough room to stretch out.  it's only money right?!
Dogs are good, family is good, life is good.....
This weekend is the AKC agility nationals.  I will not be in attendence this year as Tangy was one QQ short of qualifying.  (DARN INJURIES!)  it is ok.  I am ok.  I will be cheering on my friends from afar....and will be in North Carolina for a chin specialty and doing agility!  YEAH ME!
The next weekend I leave for a 2 day show and then CAMP!  This is the first camp I am running by myself.  It has been a ton of work but I am super excited to work with my instructors.  Let Spring Agility Season Begin!

And February is upon us!

Been a little while since I last posted but my friend Rita reminded me!  (Thanks hun!).  SO February started last week and it seems we are without a winter here in NJ!  I need one good snow storm please! 
A few great things do come out of no snow though....with my 1/2 marathon raining in full swing, I do not have to run on the street to avoid snow and I can run on trails.  When it snows no one plows the trails so they are pretty much avoided.  Nice that I have a variety of places to run. 
Running....yep, I have been running.  Did 6 miles Sunday and it was HARD.  I mean real HARD.  I was dehydrated and it made the run very difficult.  I wanted to walk but I kept on....and having Tangy with me helped.  My run is a fast walk for her so imagine walking?  She would be bored out of her mind.  I struggled to finish but I did and then was sure to drink lots of water.  Even made myself a protein shake with lots of vitamins in it.  I took a shower and proceeded to sleep throughout the ENTIRE superbowl.  yep, it was a hard run.  BUT, I woke up to find out I had won the 1st quarter and the 1/2 of the football pool!  YEAH ME!
And then there is the training.....I have no trained Rev as much as I probably should have but with work and time constraints, she is getting as much as I can give her.  We have a nosework workshop this weekend and I am really excited about it.  I am hoping this can be a new outlet for her energy!  She is a bit more reserved then her mom in agility right now but I am positive that will change.  SO...probably no trialing until late spring or fall.  No rush for the baby!
And then there are the breed dogs.  I just started showing my baby chin, Jr Mint, and I am loving it.  He is by far the best I have produced and knows it.  Looks like the dog fancy does as well.  Was approached by a possible backer....wow....but The Mint is staying here...no matter what!  He continues to grab points and puppy group placements.  He is so awesome if I do say so myself.
And then there is me....doing lots of reading and meditating.  Just time alone.  No distractions, just me.  I am liking it.  I feel grounded and more patient with my life and what goes on around me.  I am trying to be the best version of myself.  I want to love every aspect of my live.  I truly want to be the person my dog thinks I am!

Trust....

Something very odd happened to me tonight.  I don't want to go too far into things but basically I am being accused of something I did not do.  All evidence looks like I did this thing but I didn't and I have no way to prove that I didn't.  So, it comes down to trust.  How much do we really trust someone?  How far does someone have to go to prove something?  Truly ask yourself, if all evidence was pointing to someone, and they denied it, would you believe?  I am in this predicament and I really don't know what to do.  I know I didn't do something and have no way to prove it.  As I look as the evidence, I wouldn't believe me.  So again, it comes down to trust.  Trusting that I am telling the truth.  I am at a loss.  SO much so that I am blogging it!  I can only hope that I can figure out how this happened and prove my innocence.  It is a horrible situation to be in, I am in a true predicament. 
So, friends...pray...please pray that I can figure this one out!

Week 1, DONE. 13 more to go!

Week 1 of training for the 1/2 marathon is done.  I made it through just fine.  Good runs, little pain.  Actually feel kinda good!  Funny, I was running yesterday on a 3 mile run.  The route I took was the beginning of one of my usual long runs.  I was 1/2 way done and thinking, "Wow, in a few weeks this will seem like nothing."  Geesh...I hope so.
Friday night and last night I brought Rev to class.  She is coming into her own.  I think she is getting it!  She is picking up speed and confidence and what fun she will be to run, when I actually trust her!  Jumping is gorgeous.  Nice and long striding with no hesitation.  Thank Goodness!!!  But, no screaming....yet.  Her Teeter is looking beautiful!  Now to drag the other contacts out....in the snow.... 

And the training starts...

Goals are good things.  They keep you honest.  I started running about 3 1/2 years ago.  I am not a good runner, don't break any records but I do put one foot in front of the other, quicker then a walk.  There.  I run.  I was always athletic but never a runner.  So, with the advise of a friend, I started the journey.  I hated treadmills.  I don't care what is on TV, you are running and going nowhere.  You are still in the same place.  Not for me.  I ran on treadmills to lose weight, not to run.  So, I took a running class and aspired to do a 5k.  I started to run outside.  I fell in love with trails.  I loves to plan the run and not long after I ran a 5k race and then a few more.  I loved them.  Loved competition, loved the people and what it stood for.  I never won any age group but liked to see my name under results.  What I loved the most was that when people were finished they would stay and cheer others on, everyone, even those of us finishing in over 30 mins.  I can remember a certain turkey trot I did and at the end you had to run up a big hill.  After the hill, it just evened out and you had another 1/4 mile.  No down hill, just flat.  I gave it everything I had up that hill and was done.  Then there was a guy just clapping yelling, "1 block, 1 time around the track to go!  You can do it!" I had no idea who he was but he was cheering me on.  I love this sport.
After a few 5ks I decided I wanted to run a 1/2 marathon.  13.1 miles.  I set out for it, looked up training schedules, spoke to my coach and off I went.  I trained by myself for 14 weeks and ran a 1/2.  I didn't break a record but I ran the whole thing.  No stopping, no walking.  That was my goal.  I finished in just over 2 1/2 hours.  1/2 way through the training I remember having a conversation with my husband about it.  I kept saying, "I can train for this thing all this time and then that day something could happen!  I could not feel well or just not have stamina, or...."  He would just look at me blankly.  But, I put it out of my mind and told myself, "I will finish, I will run the whole thing."  I just kept telling myself that over and over.  On the days I didn't feel like running, I kept telling myself that.  I visualized what coming over the finish line would feel like.  In the meantime, I inspired my sister to start running.  She is in great shape so it came natural to her.  Her normal speed is my sprint!  We ran a 5k together and she was hooked as well. 
The day came and I drove myself, alone to the race.  I had my usual long run breakfast and tried to stay calm and not over think.  When you run races there are lots of people around and the adrenaline can get the best of you.  The bell sounded and I just told myself, "run your race, no one else's."  And I did.  I ran my race.  My family was there every couple of miles to cheer me on.  I came over the finish line and gave my sister a hug with tears in my eyes.  She said, "I think I might want to do this!"  and so now....she has run 2 halfs to my one and has run multiple 10ks and 15ks.  She is now training for the NY marathon.  I am so proud I inspired her!  Now she inspires me!
SO, we are both running the Asbury Park 1/2 in April.  It will be the 2 yr anniversary of my first 1/2.  It is 14 weeks away.  I started training on Sunday. 
I am not scared, I am not nervous.  I am at peace.  I know the journey. What it will bring me and how I will feel.  The training has begun....

Ow, Ow, Ow

Dentist last night.  Lost a filling.  Took 3 shots of Novocaine and lots of drilling.  Now I feel like I was hit in the face.  Jaw sore and tooth hurts.  OW!  Mouth pain sucks.  Just plain sucks.
My baby (well, 17mos) GSD, Rev, had another training session and then playtime with her buddy "Switch" this Friday.  She loves that dog.  Funny.  He isn't much smaller then her and she is 1 yr older!  he is only a 6 mo pup.  But they play and play, wrestle and tug.  I love watching this.  I know that dogs remember their puppy friends.  Draven at 12 still remembers his puppy friends.  Watching 2 dogs play is one of my favorite things.  They know no status or money, no gossip, no discrimination....they just play.  Kind of nice.  Imagine if we could look past all of those things.  Money, skin color, age....none of it would matter.  Ahh, to live in that kind of world.

Rain Rain Rain

It is pouring here in NY/NJ.  I mean POURING.  Pull the covers over your head and stay in bed pouring.  Chins are not happy, I mean, it is a well known fact that Japanese Chin melt in the rain.  *EG*
I watched a show on TLC last night on dog cloning last night.  It was strangely creepy.  Not the cloning part, the people part.  I get the cloning thing.  If I had 50k I would gladly clone Draven.  I would love lots of Dravens.  But then the question of Nature vs Nurture comes up.  Would Draven be the same Draven if I had him from Day 1?  (He is a rescue).  Would he have the same phobias?  Would he love agility as much?  Lots of questions.  If people could, would they clone extremely talented agility or show dogs?  Is the talent from the traning or inate in the dog?
But the people, the people were just odd.  One guy literally has not gotten over his dog's death in 8 years!  He had her cloned and was singing to the puppies in the incubater.  Creepy.  He put his picture with the dog in the incubator.  One person had a dog communicator talk to the cloned puppy and apparently the puppy knew he was cloned and is the same dog.  um....ok.
so...here are some Draven baby pics....

People never stop surprising me

So I went to this new vegetarian place yesterday for lunch.  They have been open for a few weeks and the food is very good.  I ordered my hummus salad and while they were making it asked if I wanted a pita.  I said whole wheat but the person making my food told me they were out.  He was quite apologetic and I understood.  The person in front of me asks for a bag and he says the same thing, that they are out.  Again, apologising.  The customer raises his voice and asks, "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?"  I am thinking, "Um, you have a pita in a box sealed and a salad in a box sealed, you can't carry it?"  Again, the worker apologises.  He makes a big thing saying how there are no whole wheat pits and no bags and how are they running this place, blah blah blah.  I could not believe people can be so mean.  I am sure the worker who is probably making less then $10 an hour did that on purpose.  So, I left and was very disappointed in people. 
When I got on the bus to go home, it was super hot.  I sat down and tried to get my winter coat off without making a scene.  The man next to me took the sleeve and pulled it off to assist me.  How nice!  He looked at me and said, "I know, very hot in here.  Glad I could help!"  and smiled.  OK, so my faith in people was restored. 

Happy Monday?

Mondays come way to quick.  Just when I am settleing into the weekend, it is over.  Not fair.  Mondays and Fridays should be optional work days don't cha think?
So I taught my 2 agility classes friday night.  The first is advanced beg and the 2nd is beginners.  I always drag myself to teach these classes until I get there.  Once I start setting up I get motivated to teach.  I have a particular dog in the 1st class that amazes me.  A few weeks ago she wouldn't even go near a jump bar.  The dedicated owner brought it home and had her eat next to it.  With a little tough love and coaxing and lots of treats she is now wagging her tail and going over jumps in succession.  I actually jumped up and high fived the beaming owner.  What an accomplishment!  That is what teaching is all about.
After class Rev had a play session with Switch the bc pup.  She had a blast.  This was the first time she played with out any growling.  I was thrilled.  So, she is now in love and dreaming of next friday for another rendezvous with the black and white dog.
Sunday evening brings me to another set of classes.  I love these students.  They are funny and willing to learn and love their dogs.  Last week one of them thanked me for making her stay in the sport with her over the top lab.  Now I was beaming.  They are becoming a team.  One of my puppies, Bella, is in this class.  I get to see my grand pup!  And then there is Samantha and her mix Marge.  I am most proud of her.  She cam to me in beginner agility and I have watched her create her own calm and lovely handling style.  She and her dog have overcome so much not to mention earning a 4.0 this semester in college.  She had now taken the reins of running my rent a border collie, Arrow.  I love coaching them.  What a team.  I can only imagine what Sam will do in the future of this sport.

And now it is Monday.  oh Monday....you should be optional.

Here is Rev with her new friend Switch

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." — Ferris Bueller

I found out this am that my friend Dawn passed away in her sleep.  She was 37.  I am in shock.  It made me think of the quote from Ferris Bueller above.  I wake up every day looking forward to finishing work or the weekend or the dog show and I am not just being happy I am waking up.  I should cherish every morning, every sunrise and sunset, every kiss from my dogs or training session.  Every hug from my husband or smile over dinner.  I am going to make an effort to do this every day.  Just cherish life.
On a completely different note, we had this small skateboard in our office for months.  One of my co-workers challenged me to teach one of the dogs to use it.  So, I took it home and armed with my clicker and treats I let Rev out to play with it.  Within 5 mins she had both paws on it and was able to walk pushing it.  I kept thinking to stay calm and patient and let her choose to play with it and not me showing her what to do.  She did great.  I am so proud of her. 
Again, cherish all the moments.  I am lucky to have a dog who wants to play much less play with a skateboard!

Another day....but it is warmer

So, I ddn't run on the treadmill this am.  I just couldn't get up.  Something about a nice warm bed in the am.  Just doesn't lend to getting up to run....
Last night I came home from work and ran out to work on a newfie.  She is a lovely dog who had some neck and back problems 2 weeks ago.  She lives with yet another newfie.  Going there is fun.  2 big fluffy dogs who love to be massaged.  And last evening was no different.  Warfy (newfie #1) was remarkably better.  She was shaking her head around with her toy in her mouth.  Never underestimate the powerof massage.  And her housemate, Gritty, got a massage too.  Somehow I don't mind getting cover in hair and drool from these dogs.  They are just so cool.
I came home and played ball with the dogs and tug with the chins.  I can never get tired of that.  Something about the raw fun dogs can have with just a ball or a toy.  Why do we need such intricate gadgets and they just need a ball or a sock....
Puppies....ahhhhhh....they are now standing up and wag their tails when they hear my voice.  I love that.  And my hubby was home when I got there to give me a kiss.  I love that too....
So now it is Thursday.  And it is getting warmer.  I am still not running outside in the am.  sorry.

So...here is Pirate wagging....

First Blog Post...why am I doing this again?

So I have been following a bunch of people's blogs and really enjoy reading them.  Why?  I am not sure.  I do know I love to read and my favorite books are autobiographies.  Maybe that is it.  I kno I love to read about how a person becomes who they are, their life and their experiences.  So, here is it, my own blog...or autobiography, um, from today on....
So it is extremely cold here in the north east today.  I mean really cold.  Like single digit windchill cold.  With it being so cold and so DARK in the am, I blew the dust off my treadmill last night and set it up for a morning run before work.  For those of you that don't know, I took up running (I use that term loosely as my pace is pretty slow compared to real runners but hey, I run in my book....) about 3 years ago.  I quite smoking and started to run.  I started with 5ks and then decided to challenge myself with  1/2 marathon.  yep, 13.1 miles.  I took a running class (yes, it actually taugh me HOW to run) and trained by myself.  I ran my 1/2 in April 2010.  It inspired my sister who now has 2 1/2's under her belt and is planning to run the NYC marathon this year.  Yeah Gaetana!  So Gae and I decided to run the Disney Wine and Dine 1/2 in November.  But I digress....
So, I decided that I would not only run Disney but the Asbury park 1/2 on April 21st.  I like that 1/2 (it is fast and flat!) but it is also put on by my running club AND it was the 1/2 I did 2 years ago.  In order to run that mileage, I need to start to up my running now...hence the treadmill.  Problem is....I HATE THE TREADMILL.  I don't care what is on tv, what I am listening to, I just can't get over the fact that I am going NO WHERE.  I am running but not moving.  I just have an issue with this.  And it shows in my running.  I feel like I am killing myself but yet my average speed is slower.  Something about running outside with my dog that invigorates me.  The mileage never seems to be and issue.  So, I am going to "suck it up" and run on the treadmill until it gets light out earlier (or later).  But I am not happy about it.  Ok, but I did it.  I did run this am.  Much to Draven's chagrin.  He was a bit pissed that I was up and running and he still had to pee.  Sorry bud, ya gotta wait.
And with this cold and dark brings me to yet another problem, the dogs.  They don't get nearly the exercise they do in the warmer months and I am forced to train little things in my family room or florida room.  So, my dogs can now run out the door, weave 6 poles and run back inside.  YEAH!  But weaving with my next to them...problem.  ha!  I guess there cold be worse problems right?  So, 1 jump exercises and weaves.  if it isn;t muddy or freezing we do the teeter but I do envy those with indoor training areas.  There are some here but with my work schedule (I leave at 7am and don't return until 7:20) it is very hard to find a place I can rent or even take a class at 8pm.  SO....2 more months of this.