We've arrived at Silkenfest

Finally the diving is done for a few days.  We have arrived at the host hotel in Missouri.  The rooms are big, but have lots of office desk, TV, cabinets, etc  leaving almost no room for crates. Not that I plan to spend much time in a crate, but sometimes this BS is asked of me.  Also I am sharing the room with younger dogs, these (especially boys) can be tedious ... a crate can be a refuge from such BS.

Compared to earlier days, this was a short drive.  Plus we got a break in the middle. We stopped to visit with Wicka's (our Greyhound packmate's) breeder near KS City. They let us hang out in the yard while J fawned over Greyhound puppies (note: all puppies are cute; get over it)

From there it was not far to Gray summit, MO.  There was a meet & greet at the hotel.  J went on her own initially, but then brought me out to appease my fans.  I saw peeps from TX, CO, NY, NJ, TN, NC, CA and other states. it was HOT out there - I lost track of where everyone was from.

Tomorrow are Rally & Veteran Sweepstakes competition; I compete in both .... and I turn 9yo TOMORROW.  Wow, 9yo.  That's not so old for Silkens, but it sounds old.  Hopefully J has something special planned ... she forgot to post for Opa!'s birthday -- Starfyre Rock Hound Litter (June 2nd); Opa! didn't even get a pig ear or bully stick.  If I weren't posting, would J forget my Bday too?  We'll never know.

 I plan to put my age to shame when we lure course, but have not yet decided on the proper 'persona' for Rally or Veteran Sweeps Conformation ... coy, crotchety, indignant ... We'll see.

Just another long day

Well, fans ... I wish I had something exciting to say today, but I really don't.  These driving days are LONG & BORING.

Today we continued through Wyoming to Nebraska through a corner of Iowa & have made it to St Joseph, MO.  Apparently, we will pop in & out of Kansas tomorrow, coming back into Missouri.  Who decided on these state lines & highway routes?  I could have done better.

We did get to see a bunny this evening at the hotel!  Right along the edge of the hotel's designated dog walking zone.  That was exciting, but it hopped behind a bush quickly.  Sigh.  Actually, this is a Motel 6, so I'm pretty impressed it has a dog walk area - complete with extra poop bags.  Last night's hotel had gravel with weeds along the side of the parking lot - not inspiring.

J says that she's ready for bed, and I must choose between her taking my dictation vs going for a pre-bed walk.  Bitch.  I should choose her taking dictation longer instead of  going out .... LOL, I bet if Possum or I started whining by the door at 2AM, she'd feel compelled to take us out then.  Humans ... they often neglect to think things out fully.

Tomorrow we'll arrive at the Silkenfest host hotel ... I should have more to say then.

On the road again ...

I was right, OF COURSE, we are en route to Silkenfest.

We usually leave early mornings, but we left Monday evening & drove until well after dark, then we were up early & drove for TWELVE HOURS.  We did get the occasional short walk & potty stop, but not much.  Very tedious ...

J tried to placate me by selecting an audio book called "Agent G: Infiltrator" by CT Phipps  (remember I am aka Agent Gita, SuperSpy & SmartAss Bitch).  He's not a spy, but an assassin, & kind of cyborg with enhanced physical abilities ... I can relate to being very smart, fast, & agile.  I envy his ability to heal remarkably quickly.  Not that I get injured very often - but it would be nice never have to worry that ... shoot, if Possum had this skill, his ugly black eye would be 100% healed already.  Anyway, the conclusion 'reveal' was kind of like "Umm, of course" - so I give it a B ... A+ on name selection (Agent G), but Cs on most everything else.

We have made it to Wyoming, and when we're just getting ready to go into the hotel, some off-leash Lab comes & sticks his nose up my ass!  I gave him a piece of my mind, but was the owner was blasé & not even apologetic ... at least she didn't act like I was the problem, but then I saw them again not 2 minutes later with the Lab off leash again ... off-leash going into the hotel back door.  This is not how to make friends & influence people.  Sigh.

Wyoming.  It is dry, hot, and very barren compared with the Pacific NW.  I fear another long driving day tomorrow ....

Almost Packed

Ok, we are definitely going soon.  

J has been in & out of the Sprinter all day.
Possum's sister, Tiki! has been staying with us; so I am sure she will be going.  Possum is supposed to go, but - after his little incident - he has a last minute vet appointment before we hit the road.  Of course, I'm going.  J can be an idiot, but she is smart enough not to leave me behind.  J co-owns Wesley the Brave; he & his human, Tammy Mills, will be in the van as well.

Our pack will also include D'Artagnan & Minx with their human Hillary Tregillus.  Hillary is going to be the Silkenfest photographer.  She has taken some good pics of me in the past .... of course, I am easy to photograph well: good bone structure.  She's generally gets great photos of other dogs, too; so it's not just my good looks; she has talent.

I don't have anything else to add ... we STILL haven't left yet.

To conclude, I'll post a pic that Hillary took of me.  It's kind of a 'teaser' or preview, both for the photographer as well as my SmartAss lure coursing performance.

Too much excitement ... & baths

Well ... we've had a little too much excitement at InPhenite today.  To start the Sunday off right, Possum managed to irritate the SNAP out of somebody who tried to take an eyeball back as payment.  Luckily, his 'opponent' is as dopey as he is, & they missed the eyeball - just an abrasion & lid injury.  Still ... it's not pretty, & J got to spend the morning with him at Dove Lewis.

It's not pretty, but I am sure if he hadn't been so bouncy-flouncy irritating this would never have happened.  He'll survive ... his eye will survive ... J will survive ... but I might not if he doesn't stop feeling SO SORRY for himself.  

What Possum SHOULD feel bad about is that this did not keep him from getting a bath!  Once home from the ER Vet, J bathed ALL SILKENS - whether going to Silkenfest or not.  Pitifully injured or not.  SmartAss Bitch or not.  Now I look like a POOF ball.  

POOF.  This is not my style; I'm not a curly girl like Opa!.  My thick coat should lie smooth, accented by subtle red brindle &, as I age, elegant grey fringes.  Right now I look like a very tall Pomeranian.  Sigh.  Maybe if I lie upside-down I can smoosh my hair back into submission.

Silkenfest approaches ...

Hmmm .... something is in the air, and I smell travel (perhaps I should take up nose work?).

J took Conner, Possum, & I to Rally class today in the Sprinter.  That's not unusual, but afterward J was in & out of the Sprinter, reorganizing some things, moving some things out ... and then she trimmed between my toes.  Bitch.  I hate trimming.  Hair trimming not as bad as toe nail trimming, but it's a sign.  I bet she trims toe nails tomorrow.  She may even BATHE us.  Grr.

This must mean it is time for SILKENFEST.

J has probably been harassing you about sponsorships, & Barb Franklin (Nagatha) has probably been harassing you about the Silent Auction.  Actually, it would help me out if you guys would donate something for the auction.  J is involved with that, too; so it would make my trip less stressful if there were tons of donations, & people went crazy bidding up items.  Then J could relax & pay more attention to me.

There seems to be much debate over whether we leave late Monday or early Tuesday .... I'll keep you posted.

SF2017 ends

Well, fans.  
What can I say?  
There have been no posts about Monday's LGRA or Tuesday's NOTRA.  This is J's fault, of course.  My goal is to post daily while on our Silkenfest journeys, but sometimes I am at the mercy of J's whims (or desire for sleep).  

Whatever,  I don't get to run in these games; so the news is not that interesting anyway.  Opa! gets to run LGRA, but I don't know why .... shoot .... in the 1st program, she stopped shortly before the end to poop, then cantered across the finish.  Well, I guess she wasn't off course.  The most shocking thing is that she didn't win the Turtle Award; somehow she managed enough enthusiasm to pass a veteran in the 3rd program.

Conner gets to race in both events even though he is not terribly speedy (I am faster - no question).  He was middle of the pack in LGRA, but a touch better in NOTRA, finishing in 6th place, I think.  

No big surprise: Sienna won LGRA.  Small surprise: she did not win NOTRA; I guess she was beat after both the ASFA & LGRA wins.  Another of our PNW gang, Pagani, won -- she's pretty speedy, so I guess it's no surprise that she might win.

Although Sienna did not win NOTRA, she still won the Hollywood Iron Hound Prize (top finishes in ASFA, NOTRA, LGRA) & Hollywood Triathlete (Conformation, ASFA, & either LGRA/NOTRA).  

There was also a Hollywood Pentathlete Prize for Conformation & ASFA plus 3 events out of Rally, Obedience, LGRA, or NOTRA.  Shockingly, Conner competed for this & competed well.  In the end, he came in 2nd place to Khan, Opa!'s brother.  That was pretty cool ... it's all in the family (sort of).

After prizes were awarded, we hit the road & drove north.  Tomorrow we'll get home.  I guess that means my work here is done ... until the next big event anyway.