Motel

SUMMARY: My back is so much happier in a regular bed than in MUTT MVR. Sorry, MM.

Don't they look happy? This is in the Travelodge in Turlock last weekend.

Whenever possible without paying an arm and a leg more, I get a room with a King bed (like we share at home) or with two Queens, because the 3 of us just do NOT fit well on a single queen. Yes, I'm spoiled.

This time around, Tika mostly slept on the floor except for brief periods on the blue bed and a little time on the other bed with me; Boost slept mostly on the blue bed with brief periods in the other bed with me. Every time I woke up, they were in different locations.

This is me in the room's cosmetic area (what do you call it? sinks and counters and mirrors--the bath & loo are behind a door). Takeaway: Look at the camera, not at myself.

We're Still Here

SUMMARY: Boost training, Tika eating, Human Mom...wellll...

Hard to believe that I haven't posted anything since Sept 15. I keep thinking of things to write here to keep track of, but then somehow I never implement.

I've started working more diligently on Boost not wanting to drive ahead to obstacles in front of her. Working in the yard, mostly just running in circles to keep her going. Have rented the big field at Power Paws 3 times to spend an hour practicing. Got one private lesson--two days ago--so I've had only 2 days to practice a few minutes each day on that material. (Also got some tips on improving her weave reliability, you know, the reliability where some weekends she is HOT and other weekends we can't do them correctly EVah?)

I dropped my weekly class for a while so that I can concentrate on Boost's Special Needs. Feels odd--it has been a long time since I've not had a regular agility class or two, but I think that this is what we need right now.

She seems to enjoy it!

Tika started coughing more and more and I took her in to the vet Wednesday. He's pretty sure it's "bronchitis" caused by one or more of: weakening trachea (happens in some older dogs), heart enlarging more and pressing on the trachea, or allergies or dust. Lot of construction going on behind us right now to turn the 300ish-acre parcel into a park (yay!) and the neighbors are complaining about the dust, so could be that.

He recommended upping the hydrocodone that I'd been timidly giving her, and sure enough, pretty much no more coughing.

Although I'm not sure that she isn't a little less energetic. Hard to tell, because she's been less and less active and energetic. Maybe a couple of close-to-full-speed chases after a toy or frisbee, and then is content to just wander around investigating things. Lies down quickly in many cases. Doesn't bother getting up to see what's going on unless she's really convinced that it's worth her while (used to always have a Tika tailing me everywhere, every time I even stood up).

Her appetite seems good as long as I keep rotating through 4 different kibbles (NOT the one she's been eating for 10 years and NOT the one that I bought for her back in August--got tired of both). Although she's SO SLOW now. Old timing on mealtime: Both dogs sit. I set Tika's food down and release her, she attacks it. I set Boost's food down and release her, she starts eating calmly, and...Tika is done already! NEW timing on mealtime: Both dogs sit. I set Tika's food down and release her, she starts picking up small mouthfuls and chewing thoroughly. I set Boost's food down and release her, she starts eating calmly. Eventually, Boost finishes and then stands and watches Tika. Meanwhile, I take 6 t-shirts out of the dryer and fold them neatly. Then, finally, Tika is done. It's eerie, how different it all is.

I seem to be making some kind of subtle commitment to continue doing agility, as I have just bought a replacement tunnel for the most disintegrating one, and I've just bought 2 new (well...used) jumps. No activity on adding dogs to the family, though. I'm starting to be inclined to wait until Tika is gone (yikes, painful to think of).

My foot no longer bothers me--mostly because my back has been giving my muscles and nerves such a nasty ride that I've not been very active. But in the last couple of weeks I've started walking to the frisbee park again, and working on a little agility training again, and trying a couple of new things through the physical therapy department. There might be hope. (I think I'll still be struggling this weekend, but mentally I'm feeling pretty good.)

So, this weekend--off to Turlock for two days of USDAA agility. Boost competes, Tika gets to hang out.

I usually, as we all know, get up at 4 am to drive out on Saturday morning of out-of-town trials, but after getting up to the alarm this morning to go up to the practice field, I decided that I can't bear to do that again (even earlier) tomorrow, so I've done the unusual thing and reserved a hotel room for tonight. MUTT MVR is pretty much packed--oh, clothing! Ok, will get to that in a moment--and dogs got some exercise and maybe, just maybe, I'll be in bed in Turlock at a reasonable hour tonight! Worth the expense this time around, anyway.

See you all on the other side of Weekend.

VAST USDAA Trial This Weekend

SUMMARY: It has been a while!

The statistics are in; the running orders are posted online, and I have downloaded and printed my copy.

For this weekend's trial:

Day	Total  Runs	Steeplechase/ Grand Prix	Starters	Advanced	Masters
Saturday	665	83  (St)	85	77	420
Sunday	425	85 (GP)	51	49	240

In Masters, the 420 runs are in 5 different classes (Standard, Jumpers, Gamblers, etc.), so that's about 84 dogs per class.  Of those 84, about 40 are in Boost's jump height, so competing directly with her. Or we're competing with them. WHY did I get a 22"-jumping dog??

Now, in *Tika's* jump height, there are 11 or 12! That's actually a huge number for that group! Whoo, if we place we could get a ton of Top Ten points...

Oh.

Nevvvvverrrr miiiiiiiiind.

I'm thinking of taking a retirement cake if I have time tomorrow to pick one up somewhere.

Funny the difference between masters and the lower levels. There are about 15 dogs in advanced, 17 in Starters. Among those, apparently there will be a few friends running their young dogs for the first time this weekend. Always exciting.

I'm having to remember all the things about going to a competition. Three months off feels like an eternity in some ways--will have to get back into the habit of what needs doing, when. You'd think that after 250 trials more or less, I'd just know by instinct now.

I'm splurging this weekend and staying in a hotel both Friday and Saturday nights. This is SO different from (a) usually driving out Saturday morning after getting up at 4 a.m. and (b) sleeping in MUTT MVR onsite if weather is halfway decent.

 I justified this because I'm entering only one dog so didn't have to pay Tika's entry fee--actually 2 nights in this hotel is less than the entry would've been (by just a tad). And secondarily because I haven't been to bed before midnight or even later most nights in the last couple of weeks, too much work-work to get done, so expecting to (a) go to bed at 8 this Friday night and be able to fall asleep quickly and (b) get up at 4-dark-fifteen and be able to drive safely on no sleep is just crazy. So, driving out there tomorrow night. I haven't done that in years--slept in a hotel 2 nights OR driven out on Friday instead of Saturday morning.

I will miss seeing the sunrise, though--best part of the morning drive.  Assuming that it's not raining, which looks like it won't be.

I skipped class tonight because I'm SO desperate to get this one document finished. It'll be another late night anyway. This is my break time.

I am SO looking forward to going and hanging out with all the people I like and running my border collie. This is good--means 3 months off was the right tune-up for my attitude.

That is all.