Hello and welcome back from Turlock, February USDAA.
Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news first?
It was that kind of day.
The good news is, look at this birdhouse I bought from an old lady selling them in front of her house on one of the highways in Turlock. It’s the stable. Her disabled husband who ignores you through their front picture window builds them. There are apartments for 4 birds on the other side. I love my new birdhouse.
The bad news was, a huge rain storm came in Saturday evening and I almost just bagged the whole dog show and just didn’t go. Had no inkling to drive to Turlock in the rain at night and hang out in the rain all day.
The good news is, I saved a Motel 6 bill and had less of a glamorous evening than previously planned. I watched some episodes of Big Love, slept in my own bed, and drove out to the dog show at 4:30 in the morning instead. And I took a new way to get there which was faster, more scenic, and easier roads to drive.
The good news is, Otterpop finally got that elusive Advanced Gamblers Q that she’s been trying to get for, um, a really long time. Because she’s been in Masters for a while. In everything except Gamblers.
The bad news was, she was still paranoid about judges near her and did that whole looking over her shoulder for machetes whilst running over contact equipment with judges nearby. They just want to see you step in the yellow Otterpop. That’s it. But she thinks the first time she looks away from there and just where she’s going, out comes machete.
The good news was, her teeters were exempt from machete watching and the paranoia did not result in any barking attacks.
The bad news was, she ran kinda pokey in Jumpers and this made me so sad.
The good news was, she was pretty fast in Standard but had a refusal and got a 2nd in her Grand Prix with a decent but not outstanding time. She was super fast once past the dog walk and a-frame where the judge was closely watching the contacts.
The good news is, Ruby seems perky and happy to play let’s attack all the couch pillows with 3 sets of small dog teeth now that we are home.
The bad news was, she had a terrible Standard and I pulled her out of Grand Prix after half a course, and the rest of the day she walked like she was 100 years old and wouldn’t jump in or out of the car. I scratched all the rest of her classes and still have NO idea what is wrong with her. If it’s in her mind, if she’s actually sore somewhere, or it’s both. And just now, she wouldn’t jump out of a chair to get a treat with everyone else.
The good news is, Hobbes had a beautiful Standard run with a stunning table.
The bad news was, he knocked a bar in it and didn’t get the LAST Q for his LAA Platinum, the highest thing you can get in USDAA agility. So we didn’t get to drink the champagne I brought for just in case.
The good news is, I tried to see if I could just haul ass with him as fast as I could in the Steeplechase finals and not get him to knock any bars. And I am having a momosa right now.
The bad news was, he hit a bar in Steeplechase (and I just blew him by his a-frame contact) and bars with Rob in other stuff and he is sore and that is probably why he is knocking all these bars. Maybe. So he got scratched from all the rest of his runs.
The good news is, Mary and Michelle from our dirt night classes ran in their first USDAA trial and did smashing. I saw with my own bloodshot eyes. And Mary was even wearing her Team Small Dog Shirt! And it did not rain and was actually a lovely day. And it was a nice crowd and all my dog agility friends were there and no one was in a mean mood. And Gustavo got to play a lot and was perfectly happy to sit in the car. I met Ellen who has the Taj Mutthall Agility Blog. (our blogs are of a very different nature, we agreed.) There. That’s a lot of good news. Even though, all in all, it was a little bit of a crappy day dog wise, I am being very glass half full. Gonna fill it up again right now with momosa. Will bring a fresh bottle to Madera for just in case.