How's dem apples?

I just received word that a dog bred VERY similar to Lucy- same father, "Cody" Spinifex Sailor, sister to Lucy's mother named "Foxy", have resulted in a TOP agility dog in Japan. This little bitch has received her National Grand Championship, winning it amongst all Border Collies. Here is a picture of this wonderful dog. This particular breeding has resulted in very good dogs. Not only excellent on sheep and cattle, but also top notch in Agility.

The Pub

Okay, first things first... I am a light weight, wimp, you name it. I generally don't go out at night much, and having drinks AND going out at night. Well, suffice to say, it was close, but I survived.

My friend invited me out to meet her and her hubby and some other friends to watch a band that they know I like, and played at their wedding. All day long, I toyed with begging out, but I decided once every 5-10 years, I should make an appearance...

So, I took my shower, got my very best jeans, and sweater out, and got myself ready for a night out. As I was leaving, I grabbed my leather jacket out of the closet. I stopped by the deli to get cash, and this guy turned to look at me. I thought, hey, I must look pretty good!....

So, I get to the restaurant a bit early and stand near the hostess just chatting. Now, she is nice young girl, and relays to me how her PARENTS don't go OUT anywhere, basically, that they are old. Well, I asked how old. Her mother is two years older than me. Talk about crushing me. This girl could be my daughter. OH LORD. I AM OLD, HOW DID IT HAPPEN?????????

So, later, a waitress comes up, and in the most gracious way possible, says "Do you know you have a hanger hanging off your jacket?" OH GOD. THAT'S what that guy was looking at- the creep- he should have told me. So, I hastily take it off and hold it there. I have now been sufficiently mortified between knowing I am OLD and I also too blind/dumb to notice I have a giant metal hanger hanging off my jacket.

My friends arrived about 1/2 hour late, but they got there. We then sat down to a very nice meal- I had garlic strip steak which was just amazing.

So, just as we pay our bill, the band is starting. This is GREAT timing :) So, we head off to a front corner table, which has an older couple at it. My friends asked if we could share. They agreed, and we began our evening enjoyment. Well, the band announces that this couple next to us are celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary. How cool is that? So, I went up and bought them each a drink, and the fun got going.

This band plays the old stuff, like Beetles, Bruce, you name it, and they are GOOD. So, we are listening and soon, we get to dancing. So, the lady who was celebrating her anniversary comes out and we dance (my friend, she, and me) and then I think, yep, I'm old. Okay, no biggy. Then, this girl comes out to dance with me, who I KNOW was holding the hand of some other girl. Great. You all know what I am thinking at this point right? This is NOT the attention I seek.

So, night goes on, libation is flowing, and then I ask if they know Bruce Springsteen. Much to my complete joy, they do. Now this band has a sax player, and a VERY good drummer, as well as keyboardist, and lead guitar.

Well, they broke into "Born to Run". At this point I am OVER JOYED- partially because I had a couple drinks, and partially because I just LOVE this song. So, there I am singing along. Then, I get this mad notion to pretend I am Patty Scialfa, and do the old tambourine slap on my hip... What a visual it must have been. Anyway, it was truly a highlight of the night.

Then, I asked if they knew "Little Sister" by Elvis. They did NOT!!! How could they NOT??? So, I press on. I go up to the drummer, and say it's a really easy riff on the guitar... So, I start singing a bit- "little sister don't you.... little sister don't you do what your big sister done..." So, then, before I know it, the drummer gives me his mic, and I am trying to sing. Now, I just finished singing a bunch of songs, so I was barely getting it out. It was over fast, because the band didn't really know it, but it was fun. Some lady came up and told me I did well....

So, soon it is getting to be about 1:00, and even though I have not turned into a pumpkin, I can feel it coming on. So, I bade my au revoirs, and set for home.

It was just a wonderful night. I think just finally today, I am back to relative normal...

Recent Pics

Time to get some new shots of the hoodlums...

Danny shows of his conformation.... (no, I did not put him in that position!)



Super Stealth Lucy



Danny head shot....



Lucy in peek-a-boo mode....




Lucy in stalk mode- her favorite past time....

Fun Dr. Appt.

So, I head out to my Dr. appointment today. I am there for a few minutes when I am told that the Dr. was running late- she was at court (I later found out she was testifying for a malpractice case- not hers, of course!). I had already checked in, so I just left, and went to get lunch, and then came back. When I got there, there was a very full waiting room. I walked up to the window, and saw a sign that said "at lunch 12-1". So, I sat down in the front row, as those were the only open seats.

A couple minutes later, the receptionist appears behind the window. With that, an elderly lady gets up, looks at me pointedly and states "Now we go up and get in line in the order in which we came in". Basically she was making clear to me that I better not get in front. So, at this point, I just smile to myself and read the newspaper I had brought in with me. I never even get in line to check in, which clearly vexed the lady.

The BEST part though, was that after everyone was checked in, and I am ensconced in my paper, the nurse comes out and calls my name. The look on the lady's face was WORTH the price of admission :) Too bad so sad- I was already here, and you get to wait (I could have told her I had already been there, but it was more fun leaving her thinking I cheated ;)

So, as I am giggling about that little exchange to the nurse, she takes my height and weight (MUCH to my chagrin- I am fatter than last time). Then, she goes to take my blood pressure. She gets ready to put the cuff on, and says "I just have to see where your arm bends", and I say "Well, usually, it's at the elbow". We both burst out laughing.

It was quite a fun appointment after all- even the shot was no biggy, and my bp is stellar- 115/60.

Catch as catch can

Had a relatively healthy lunch today. Followed up by some Baklava by the Greek vendor down the road... How to dismiss good meal choices...

We have no snow left, and I am happy about that!

Had my shoulder looked at today. Evidently, this is the same shoulder I have had issues with for EVER. Last time I was in for a check on it, I was told I should probably have surgery. Well, after my neck and back surgeries, there would be more chance of me convincing a liberal to vote for GW Bush, than for me to have another surgery. Still have to get some testing done, then we will know what the plan should be.

I still haven't gotten the results of my blood work back. IRRITATIONAL. I want to get moving on getting more energy, well, actually, enough energy to live a normal life. This is getting VERY old. I have plans to meet a friend at a local pub on Friday night, to listen to the band that played at her wedding, but at this rate, I will need to sleep all day, so I can go out at night! The girl who I am meeting has become a very good friend, and we are always thinking the same thing at the same time, and we both have very good senses of humor, so it makes for fun times when we get together.

Dogs are fine. Not much to report- this time of year, it's catch as catch can for fun stuff. Can't wait for clinics, and that sort of thing. Danny will be very ready for serious training, and Lucy can work in the advanced levels work.

Well, not much else to report. I hope you are all having a good week :)

Hearty Guffaws of Laughter

As I sit here, typing up this entry, I have to the right of my chair "Chipper" the cat, and to surrounding him are Lucy and Kylie chewing their Nylabones. Danny has come in a few times, wanting affection, and then left when I haven't dropped everything to attend to him ;)

It has been a VERY wet day. No morning run for the dogs, and no afternoon run either. Lucy and Danny played outside a bit this afternoon when I got home, but not much. It's just too wet out there- picture small ponds...

Went and looked at some property to lease yesterday, but when I told the woman what I would pay, I think she stifled a hearty guffaw. Oh well. People think rough board should be the same for horses and sheep, nope, no way. Not for me. It was a nice drive though. Danny barked at a horse as it walked past the car- he's not so sure of those things. Lucy did her usual just.stare.only.at.mother thing. She is not afraid, but I believe she thinks if she stares hard enough at me, that the door will magically open ;)

Nothing planned for the immediate future- most of my friends are just as sick of this winter as me. It's just so long this year, it seems.

Well, that's it for now...

Confrontation and Zen moments

After work yesterday, I went to work sheep with Lucy and Danny. I was so not wanting to- my shoulder kept me up all night (appt with Dr for that on Monday, thank goodness), but I just sucked it up and went. The dogs deserve as much. Though, I can tell you, that I would not have been adverse to dropping the little ones off, as if a kid going to piano lessons, and when done, picking them up, and asking them how it went ;)

Anyway, I started with Lucy- she did very well. She took every single stop whistle, and we even got two nice sheds in. The sheep started getting sick of the game at one point though, and as I sent her on a fetch, and she arrived at the top, one sheep split off, and Lucy just zeroed in on her- just like a shed- allowing her friends to escape up the hill- So I started up toward her and said "GET BACK!!!" and she did, fine as can be. She so loves a good one on one confrontation- much more fun walking into the faces, then up the butts ;) But, I was really pleased with Lucy, bottom line.

Danny did well- again, didn't split the sheep when we started. When we first started out runs, I was close to the holder, but that seemed to mess Danny up, because it looked like he was working the sheep to the holder- which I understand, because Danny works for him too! Anyway, we decided to stretch out the outrun. Problem fixed. Danny did VERY well. He's a bit slower at the top on his come by - he may be leaning toward being short- but I won't allow that. His away, he can sometimes over flank, but he didn't yesterday, even though I ran up there to prevent it ;)

Danny runs out so fast and happy for his outruns, I am really happy about that. I could get him wider, a tad, but he's young enough, I know it will come, so I won't mess with it, unless it deteriorates.

When we were finished with Danny, we were just chatting, and Danny lay down calmly, looking at the sheep, but not UP, just ready for the next command, but if there weren't one, he wouldn't die either- it was a Zen moment. That's it. Danny's Zen is working sheep. He doesn't look that way at home. Nothing quite rises to this level for him- even though he loves fetch, it's more of a compulsion, than an work instinct.

Anyway, that's what we did. Then, I came home, made a nice ham steak, and then eclairs for desert, and then all the animal planet shows. It was a nice day, and today, I am going to RELAX.