Friday, January 18, 2013

OFC & a Hiatus

Ok.  I have been a very BAD blogger.
There are many reasons for this.  One is that there have been no events - except for last weekend - so I have had nothing to say.  My transcriber, J, has also been a bit distracted; I did not want to bother her for unimportant chatter.

The latter is perhaps most important.  J's mom had surgery last month and, although the surgery went very well, her recovery has been hindered by persistent nausea & vomiting.  It has been bad enough that she could not participate in the needed physical & occupational therapy, and people had to stay with her 24 hrs a day even after she was discharged from the rehab place.  J had gone down for the surgery, but could not stay longer.  Her cousins, Muffin & Edward, helped a LOT, but they have lives of their own.  They have had to arrange for home health, etc, etc.  J's mom is getting better, but this has taken longer than expected, required more time & energy than expected, and been at a bad time.  J has to take a recertification exam & has been trying to study.  It has been hard for her to focus - much less type for me.

Despite all these things, J took me (not Bados -ha!) to try Open Field Coursing in CA.  We had to get up early for the roll call at 6:30, and it was cold, but it was also dry & sunny.  This is a big improvement from OR this time of year.  Appley came to, but - let's face it - he was really just an observer there to keep me company.  Our friends Cobweb, Cooper, & Djinn were there as well as a few Silkens I did not know or did not know well: Helios, Ivy, and Savvy.  There were also Ibizans & Afghans.

At 1st I was a bit confused: lots of slow walking with a bunch of other dogs & people, all spread out in a line.  Suddenly there was all kinds of excitement and 3 dogs took off.  I didn't see what they were chasing, and there had not been the sound of a LURE machine.  After those dogs came back: more walking.  But J had switched me from my harness to my coursing slip.  Hmm . . .

There it was!  Like a flash a rabbit jumped up in front & a bit to the side!! Cobweb was on it, then Helios.  I was with them a moment later.  Wow, what a blast!  It was similar to lure coursing, but I had no way to figure out where it was going.  Super fun, but then it was over way to fast.  Sigh.

Then we had more walking and more walking.  When it was Appley's turn, he was too busy checking in with J & did not run at all.  Momma's boy.  Apparently there were fewer rabbits around than we wanted, and I only got to run once.  I won a 4th place.  Ivy & Cobweb tied for 1st.

Maybe I'll get to do this again next year, but it is winter now & nothing is going on.  That is why I think I'll take a hiatus.  Next time we go to an event, I promise to write a report.