SF2023: Update from ‘off-field’

I missed a day after PipPip Hooray!.   This was good and bad.  Bad because I missed a day - and it was Lure Coursing - a past favorite of mine, but good as it was a horribly rainy & windy day - which I got to enjoy indoors.  Hah!

Crema wasn’t feeling well - GI upset - so Judi (J’s co-pilot) stayed home with her, Opa!, & me.  I appreciated that far more than being cooped up in the van.  

Spec got either NBQ or 6th in the Open Stakes. - not bad as it was a BIG Stakes & all scores were pretty close.  The Field Ch Stakes wasn’t as big, but the scores were also super close - Possum, Phyn, & Conner all tied for 6th - and NOT last.

The winner was our friend, Guinness!.  I was told that he & his sister Mysti had a beautiful BOB run-off with Sienna.  The litter mates ran in synch, & it had been hard to guess the winner.

Today was LGRA.  I spent the day with Rob instead of joining them. Unlike yesterday it was a nice day.  A hound named  Ollie won; followed by so many of our pals that I made J just attach a photo of the finish.  Spec ran best for us.  Conner brought home Best Veteran; that was a shocker.

Tomorrow is the last day.  All the boys are still in competition for that Pentathlon Prize - as well as Triathlon & Iron Hound but they don’t have a shot at those 2 (just sayin’).

 

SF2023: PipPip Hooray!

 Well, yesterday was pretty exciting. 

1) I finally got my rest day.  This makes me les cranky.

2) Silly Spec, the SpecTaterTot got ranked highest in conformation for the Golden State Triathlon  & Pentathlon Awards.  We’ll see where things go from there as these events continue over the next few days.  LOL - Phyn was last.  That cracks me up; he can be such a “Look at me! Aren’t I handsome ?” Houndie.  Possum was only a few spots up from him.  Conner was ranked, roughly in the middle; he seemed back to normal from Friday’s embarrassment.  

3) The BIGGEST news:  PNW Sundance pup, Pip, who now lives in California won BIG.  Best in Specialty Show!  That’s fun not only because she’s from Oregon & a friend’s kennel, but also because she is a survivor. It seems like just yesterday we followed on her literal journey of treatment & recovery.  

This warms even my SmartAssB!tch heart.  

J should have taken her photo; you’ll have to settle for one of me.

SF2023: A Frustrating Day (yesterday)

 OK - I didn’t post yesterday.  IMO yesterday sucked.  Yes, I’m BITCHIN’, but I AM The SmartAssBitch.  I can do that.

I was supposed to have the day off, but didn’t.  I thought a veteran Bitches would follow Bitches on Saturday, but they had us follow Veteran Males today, at the end of the day.  That sucked for me.  I had needed a day off.  I lost to Sienna.  Sure, she is a nice bitch, but I didn’t have a shot without my expected day off. Grr … J should have realized this ages ago; then I might have been prepared & in my zone, rather than out of it.  Bitch.

As far as the boys are concerned - no one won diddley-squat.  Well, OK, Spec got 4th in the big Open class.  And Conner … well …. he somehow did do well.

Conner can be a snarky-ass.  He really did kind of try to bite the judge last time he showed, and I don’t think the judge deserved it.  Anyhow - 

 J doped him up with a sedative to ensure he wouldn’t react poorly to the highly respected AKC judge.  OMG. I mean these are drugs he has a prescription for … and it’s not like they are narcotics but GEEZUZ - he was doped.   J should have tried the combination of Trazadone with his usual Gabapentin ahead of time.  Maybe give him either the higher Gabapentin dose OR the Trazadone, but not BOTH.   He was SO out-of-it.   He perked up a bit when J offered him cheese, but he was schnockered.  On the positive, he is a handsome boy and managed to move well, and not get tossed out of the ring:  ALTERED BEST OPPOSITE SEX.  Miracles can happen.  

Sorry no pics today/yesterday.  I am not in the mood.

SF2023: Let The Games Begin

 Well, everyone is pooped.  It was a long day for The InPhenite Hounds & ‘handler’ J.  From getting set up in the morning, through Rally & Obedience events as well as SPOT-ON, through health testing, to the Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes, and finally to a seminar on canine cardiac disease by the Sweeps judge & veterinarian, Danielle Steenkamp, it was a very busy day.

J had her hands full with the boys in Rally-O & Obedience.  All 4 were entered in Rally-O, and all but Conner were entered in Pre-Novice Obedience.  J has not been doing as much training for this as she had when Conner & I were competing, and it shows, but everyone managed to come away with something.  On the down side, Possum got off to a grand start by pooping in the ring in Rally, Spec failed to qualify in both SPOT-ON & Obedience due to peeing in the ring.  In his defense other dogs had marked in one spot, which makes it very tempting, but still ...  

Happily as I alluded to above, the day was not a complete loss.  Both Spec & Phyn managed to Q (earn a qualifying score) in their RO1B class.  Phyn managed 4th; & Spec 1st!  I didn’t think he had that many brain cells.

Conner had a close call in his RO1C class; He’d been doing well before getting distracted & wound up by someone & their Shepherd outside the ring - but with much effort & reassurance, J was able to get his focus back.  He Q’d &, as the only class entry, got a 1st place ribbon.

In Pre-Novice Obedience, Possum managed to redeem himself  by earning a Q.  There was much rejoicing. Neither Phyn nor Spec managed an Onedience Q; I think their brains were fried by that point.

In the Puppy Sweeps, Crema showed OK, but her friend Clara won her class & went on to win Best Opposite Sex puppy in Sweeps.  In Veteran Sweeps, I won my class, but our friend Winsome’s Peppermint Patty won Veteran Bitch.  

Tomorrow is a day off for me; that’s good.  Being 13 is exhausting.  

SF2023: Smooth Travels

Today was a much less dramatic day than yesterday.  The interstate was almost clear of snow/slush before we hit the road at 9.  There wasn’t any significant snow on the roads at all except when we stopped at our friends’ place in Mt Shasta.  There was still a good layer of well-packed snow on the streets- but the Sprinters had no problems on it.  Stopping there allowed us to stretch our legs & take care of business with decent privacy. 

The AirBnB in Sacramento is pretty sweet - it’s got a small fenced yard which is awesome.  And the sofa is a decent spot for snuggling or just chilling. Possum & I approve, but geezuz, he is ridiculous. I must try to be patient.

Anyway, tomorrow it all begins Rally & Obedience, followed by the Sweepstakes.  Opa! & I will compete as Veterans.  Wish us luck

SILKENFEST 2023: WTF!!!

 Well, today was interesting…..not

Travel to SF2023.  

We are in 2 vehicles- Opa! and I are riding with Rob, EVERYONE else with J & Crema’s co-owner,  Judi.  This works for me, Rob is kind of my minion.  Anyway …

 We hit the road before noon - planning to hit the passes when the weather should be warmest, and all seemed to be going well or well-ish, despite increasingly dark skys and snowy slush beginning to accumulate…. Until we came to a grinding halt.  Literally HALT.  I’d say “until the sh!t hit the fan” but such language could get me censored .

Anyhow apparently the interstate was shut down due to a wreck 9 miles ahead of where J’s van was.  We were several miles behind.  She told us to get off the interstate as they were 100% at a standstill.  Ultimately they BACKED DOWN THE LEFT SHOULDER to a HWY patrol crossover between directions - did a 3 point turn (I am proud of J’s driving prowess there, but don’t tell her) to cross & head back north to an exit with services.  We met them there.

Rob was cool. & quickly got us out to walk, but it was cold, snowy, and slushy.  He could tell I was not impressed & let me back in the van.  After an HOUR of weather %& road closure reviews.  J sloshed to a couple nearby hotels to check availability & pet friendliness.  We spent the night in a nice Best Western in Ashland, OR.

Apparently the Allagante team also got turned back by the accident.  They camped at an RV park at another exit up the road. A pack from WildRose & Amethyst traveling together we’re just ahead of the wreck & made it to CA, but had lots of snow & ice to contend with.

Funny aside - while walking Crema, J met Poppy, a Starfyre pup, who was traveling south with her owners to Silkenfest.  This had been a planned stop for them on their trip from BC.  Good thing as they’d have been stuck here anyway.  

Some Like it Hot?

 Well, some may like it hot, but not this hot. J hardly took me out of the RV at all, but I’m OK with that.  She ran Spec in ASFA Singles today but opted not to run Possum or Phyn in ASFA FCh today, too, which was both odd & not - because ASFA is our favorite event, but those last 2 have been running like idiots.  Honestly, I try to tell Possum & Phyn how to play the game ‘properly’ or ‘improperly’ or ‘with style’ (imo), but neither has my panache.  Sp3c actually ran quite well, shocker!  

Due to the extreme heat, the event was halted before Finals; but -on the positive side- awards were given based the Prelims.  That gave Spec the High Score Singles win.  I’m including the pic, but the TaterTot has a habit of getting bad photos.

That was all Monday, today was supposed to be NOTRA Oval Racing.  For better or worse that was canceled due to the National Weather Service Heat Advisory.  I’m OK with that.  I’ve always thought running in circles was stupid; I KNOW where the lure is going.  Why run around?  It’s easier to cut across.

Oh, well.  Keith & J are getting ready to pack up & start the long journey home.