Wordless Wednesday

SUMMARY: Finally! On to the painting.

Tika Had a Busy 2007

SUMMARY: Ribbons and awards.

In 2007, Tika participated in 19 trials:

• 13 USDAA (including the nationals at Scottsdale)
• 5 CPE
• 1 ASCA
• 182 runs, 161 of which were Q-able (e.g., steeplechase round 2 isn't Qable, none of the runs at nationals are Qable)

That includes 92 Qs, consisting of:

• Colors: 5
• Full House: 5
• Gamblers/Jackpot: 14**
• Grand Prix: 6
• Jumpers: 15**
• Pairs Relay: 6
• Snooker: 10** plus 5 Super-Qs
• DAM: 3
• Steeplechase: 1 (!)
• Standard: 17** (clubs typically offer one Standard/day, but might not offer more than one of other classes)
• Wildcard: 5

  [**Offered in both CPE and USDAA]

Her Q rates were:

• ASCA: 60%
• CPE: 84% (got one Perfect Weekend award--10 out of 10)
• USDAA: 45%

The placement breakdowns:

• 1st: 46 (2 in ASCA, 4 in USDAA, the rest in CPE) (OK, for 19 of those, Tika was the only dog competing, but those were also all Qs and in about 15 of them she was the highest-scoring or fastest (or very close to it) of all dogs entered at the trial; she does well at CPE!)
• 2nd: 9 (2 in CPE, the rest in USDAA)
• 3rd: 11 (1 in ASCA, 1 in CPE, the rest in USDAA)
• 4th: 10  (1 in ASCA, the rest in USDAA)

Titles earned: 11, in chronological order:

• Snooker Master
• Snooker Champion
• ADCH
• Gamblers Champion
• Standard Champion
• Snooker Bronze
• Relay Bronze
• Jumpers Champion
• Tournament Master Silver
• Elite Gamblers Outstanding (ASCA)
• Standard (Regular) Elite (ASCA)
• Jumpers Novice (ASCA, hee hee)
• Standard Bronze
• Top Turkey at WAG ;-)

OK, what other nerdy details could I possibly extract from the database?

I've been meaning to do these awards photos for many many years. Finally getting a little bit organized about it. 2007 has been pretty much set up in my living room for a couple of months while I tried to figure out how to get good lighting and depth of field. I've given up on getting the perfect photo and moving it is too much effort, so this is what I've got.

Next time, I'll have to set it up somewhere with better lighting options, so will have to get it all done in one day (this time I took my time getting things sorted and arranged).

Dog Agility in Today's Sunday Comics

SUMMARY: From Get Fuzzy, observations about dog agility plus free advice on how to come home with a blue ribbon!

[Note: If the comic doesn't appear, click here.]

MUTT MOVER Owie

SUMMARY: [insert your favorite sad frowny face here]

Thanks Again

SUMMARY: Feast, Family, Friends, and finally--Friday.

Thursday afternoon we had the traditional gathering of family and random friends for the purposes of consuming mass quantities and being thankful.

 Not everyone in the family could make it this year; my next-to-youngest sister and her family went to her in-laws for the weekend; my youngest sister and her kids were in Nevada and Louisiana, respectively. But with my parents, three of us sisters and a cousin, three spouses, two offspring, and three friends of the family, we were plenty. I'm thankful that I have so much family so close by.

I ate rationally: Small portions of everything, never enough to feel stuffed, just satisfied. I'm thankful for all the excellent food--and for Weight Watchers, who has taught me so much about ways to eat healthfully.

My sister and her husby hosted. I'm thankful that they were willing to do all the set-up and organization and the biggest part of the cooking and prep.


I'm thankful for the mahhhvelous array of desserts--and for Weight Watchers, who taught me how to plan for extenuating circumstances such as this.

Afterwards, some of us washed and dried those huge piles of dirty dishes (broken dishwasher). I'm thankful for the cousin and her friend who took over the washing after I discovered that I had a sore finger, and very thankful that my own dishwasher works fine.  I dried all the silverware, and then when I went to the plates, the first one I dried I somehow fumble-fingered it and shattered it. I'm thankful for my sister saying calmly that it was no big deal as they had lots and made me feel a smidgen less guilty. I left the rest of the dishes for others to dry.

The following morning--Black Friday (not in mourning, but in black numbers indicating profits galore)--I avoided stores completely. Except that I had to walk past here:

and admire the mall Christmas decorations in front of the abandoned storefront:

to get here for my weekly motivation session:

There weren't many of us there on the morning after Thanksgiving. We got kudos for showing up. I'm always thankful for kudos!

(If you want to browse the remaining couple dozen Thanksgiving photos, I posted them here with brief commentary. I particularly like the cranberry sauce and ice cream photos!)

Best-Laid Plans

SUMMARY: So far the schedule has turned out pretty different. Plus walking with the dogs.

Original plans for exercise to make up for all the food versus reality--so far--

Thursday morning: Plan: 3-ish mile stroll with dogs and friend #1. Actual: Friend pulled groin muscle and can barely walk. Sat and talked instead and had homemade pumpkin muffins. (I did restrain myself to 1/2 muffin.) Dogs stayed home.

Friday morning: Plan: 3-4-ish mile strolled with dogs and friend #2. Actual: Friend is having problem in the ribs--could be cancer or medication-related.  Can barely walk or drive, so she stayed home. If you've ever cracked a rib, you probably know what she's feeling. Dogs and I went to a park a little way away that has a tiny hill; they got a ton of frisbee so I got only about a mile and a half of walking what with all the stopping and throwing the frisbee (oh, yeah, and taking photos--see below).

Saturday: Plan: Practice judging and run dogs at fun match. Actual: Forecast is for rain rain rain, so fun match is canceled. TBD what we shall do instead.

---

Meanwhile, it's been c-c-c-cold; record-setting (or nearly so) lows for the date both yesterday and today. But otherwise beautiful out.

Here's our walkies from this morning.

The park has a huge grassy field that's excellent for dog frisbeeing--this is one side of it. There can be several people with their dogs on different parts of the field and never come close to one another.  It's 9:15 in the morning. Note the frost on the grass in the shade.

Boost would really like me to throw the frisbee. Doesn't seem to mind lying in the frost.

Frost limns grass and leaves so perfectly!

Looking out across the huge grassy field as Tika picks up the frisbee. That little greenish-brown hill on the right, behind the trees, is the hill we'll go up shortly.

In the sun, the frost has melted on this leaf but not yet evaporated.

No matter who gets to the frisbee first, it's almost always Boost who brings it back through the autumn leaves. Tika likes having an auto-ball-return device, aka Boost.

Getting closer to the little hill. It's not very high, but quite steep.

Now we're halfway up the hill. While I follow the path that goes straight up, the dogs explore off to the side under the pine trees.

Looking back down on the school yard next to the park. We do have some autumn color, depending on what trees have been planted. The coastal range is in the far distance.

Wow, good smells among the old dried vegetation, with the winter grasses just starting to come up underneath.

Going down the far side of the hill, Tika likes to lead the way.

Then we turn around and go back up. Now looking down across that huuuuuge green field, which doesn't look quite as big from up here. If you look verrrrry closely (click the photo for a larger version) at the row of nearly identical green trees lining the far side of the park, MUTT MVR is parked behind the 6th trunk from the left.

Gophers or ground squirrels live all through this hill. Tika is looking for them. Can you find Tika? What amazing natural camouflage!

There she is!

Back down to the grassy field for some more frisbee.

Half an hour after we first arrive, these tiny weeds in the shade still sport their delicate frost edging.

Merle Girls On Grass.

Such a Border Collie pose! Staring at the frisbee, willing it to be thrown.

With the inevitably flipped-over ear.

Just some of the crap I picked up along the west side of the park.

Are they tired yet? Can I go home now?