Mach's Running Dogwalk

I've been working very hard with Mach lately.
It's nice to finally have a real dogwalk.
We have been working mostly on just straight off. He was having a hard time getting down low when going towards a jump, but was great towards a tunnel or tire. Maybe he likes sometime more visually appealing? haha

But last night's and today's sessions went super well. I started moving the tire over bit by bit so there was a little turn. I kept the jump staight off, as he was a little iffy at the beginning of the session. Today I moved the jump over a little and was doing awesome.

I could actually do a decel (first time I tried it) and he did it perfectly! I was very surprised. Also, I did a front cross before the tunnel and sent him in the opposite end (not the one straight off) and a threadle with awesome results.

Things are looking up! Not that they were ever looking down, but ... you know. heh

Here's a video from last week. I've watched it a bunch of times and I realize even though he was hitting them, only a few of them were down low.
Oh well...
I think he's getting better at it. I've noticed his stride coming down onto the down plank is bigger, i.e hits lower.

As for his teeter, it's better. I've been quick releasing him as soon as he hits his paws on the ground. It's funny, though. Mostly every dog that I've seen didn't really need a verbal on their contacts (unless they have multiple behaviors) - same with Mach...I don't need to say anything on the dogwalk or aframe, but say "push" anyways. A couple times when I was working the teeter when I didn't cue "target" he would just ride it down and come off. When I would cue target, he would stop. Learn something everyday, don'tcha?

Watch this again, okay? So proud. :)

As a last minute shot of inspiration for the day, I came across this video. Reminds me that we are so lucky to share our time with our dogs and that no matter what obstacle stands in your way, there's always a way over it, through it, around it. Determination and the will to do something will overcome everything else. There's always a chance for you to better yourself and learn from others. Always a chance to make the best of your day..of your life.

 "Feels like some kind of ride but it's turning out just to be life going absolutely perfectly"                              - Brian Andreas, Story People

FAME trial!

What a great weekend!

This weekend, Mach was entered in 3 runs. A nice change to his usual 1 run per weekend.
I'm hoping that maybe by this fall I will enter him in some other runs other than jumpers and steeplechase. I just have to keep working on his teeter and dogwalk. Things are looking great, though!

I had starters jumpers first with Mach. It was super fun to run! Love those wide open courses where I can just run! Mach was movin' too! Came out with a time of 20.02, Q and a 1st place! That was our 2md starters jumpers Q, so up to advanced we go!

Our second run was steeplechase. That was also awesome. It felt cool running him in something other than jumpers. The course had 2 aframes, so I knew it would be much better for Mach, as his weaves still need work. He's still double stepping..maybe he always will. Just need to get some more confidence with them, and hopefully he will pick up some more speed. He started off very fast and I really had to move to get my front cross in! He got the weave entry, but he either hit the pole or fumbled with his footing or something and missed (I think) the 3rd pole. But I got him back and we were moving along great after that. He had two awesome contacts and pretty good speed around the course. I was late doing one cross so I got a wide turn, but overall, very pleased with his run! I think we ended with 37sec.

Sunday was another jumpers. It was very exciting picking up the advanced jumpers course map, instead of starters. *My baby is growing up* heheh 
It was a very nice course. I mean, I know he can woop any course...he's done international level stuff before! It's just a matter of me being on top of myself all the way around the course.
I'm still trying to figure him out. He's much different than running Tof.
Mach's run was awesome. He ticked the double and it came down, but clean all the way around the rest of the course. It was a great feeling!

Watch his runs here :)

Toffee was a very good girlie this weekend. She had some great runs. Missed a dw contact in her standard saturday, but got jumpers, snooker and steeplechase. Missed her main gamble on sunday (she's a weirdo who does weird things, sometimes) ..she had an awesome opening, 60points (both minis twice)...but got standard and jumpers.

Maybe it was because I was running Mach as well, but she felt slow. Maybe she's tired, or maybe her back is bothering her. Who knows. But after all summer without getting a massage..only one chiro adjustment at nationals, I think it's time to get some more massages. Hopefully Elana will be there this weekend.

Yes, we're going away again this weekend. This will be 4 weekends in a row. Not sure where in heck I'm getting this money (actually, I'm doing lots and lots of lessons lately and that 500$ I won sure helps!), but then there's another trial the next weekend. I think we're only going down one day.

Then I start school. How awful.

It`s raining today, and I still have a million things to do. Boo.

Oh how the wheels in my head can turn.

Just from reading or hearing someone's thoughts. Especially when it's written in a very thought provoking way.
This blog post is what I'm talking about. Even though I have never met her in person or even spoken with her, the things I have read about her and what she writes on her blog are so inspiring and so very relatable to my life that I feel very close to her in a way.

Of course, that post made me think about my time as a team member in all the sports I've played versus agility. I played team sports like soccer, volley ball and basket ball and individual sports like tennis (only a couple times, mind you), cross country and track and field. As much fun as the individual sports were - being able to push yourself beyond your own personal limits and exceeding them and coming out victorious - knowing that you did that all by yourself, is really cool. It feels great. But nothing compares to the bond you share with your teammates. With a team you are together every single day for practice or a game and then every single weekend for a tournament. We'd support each other on and off the court, cheer eachother on as a team, have team lunches at school, and cirlce before every game saying what we wanted to accomplish that game. For the 6-7 months you are on the team, that is a lot of hours, a lot of sweat, blood (literally) and tears left on the court.

Basketball was the sport I stuck with the longest. My basketball teams over the years comprised mostly of the same people so I formed amazing friendships over the years - strong bonds with those girls. They're my family. However, it got to the point where basketball was no longer fun, but rather a chore - work. It wasn't fun. The coaches wanted more out of me than I could offer. It was hard hearing negative feedback everytime I would step on the court. In the end of the day, basketball was not worth it anymore.

"If I miss anything about the sport, it's the camaraderie of old teammates." 

- Bo Jackson

                   
The difference with basketball and agility is that I'm in control all the time. I decide whether it will be fun or not. I have to make the best of my time out there with my dogs. The team between me and my dogs is sometime in itself. We are family. Always together.

My competitive edge has maybe toned down a bit - maybe not. Okay, that was a complete lie. It hasn't at all. But I can cope with stress better than I could before. I can accept failure easier now - even though I'm still working on it. I never took advice well, either. I was in the mindset that I did everything the best. Even though I knew I knew nothing, I knew enough to know the difference between right and wrong. But even still, taking someone elses advice was hard for me. Unless you were my idol, then I was all ears. (Justine, hehe)

My dogs have been amazing teachers with that issue. They have showed me that no matter what the outcome - whether it be my dog runs off the field to go to the water or runs clean and is named National Champion - in the end of it all, they're my dogs who love me and who love the sport for the sport and love it for me. They're just dogs helping me have the best journey along this path called "life" as I can.

Having dogs as a part of my life , my whole life, starting when I was young has really helped me. They have taught me more life lessons than any person could. They fill my heart with so much love, they let me grow - as a person, dog trainer and teacher. They have patience. Understanding, almost, that I am growing and learning as we stumble along.  It nothing else, I thank them. They are truly the best teammates anyone could ask for.

“You are all Champions in your own way. That doesn't mean you have to be number 1 or be the best. Just do your best. If you aren't first, then make those people ahead of you break records by pushing them with your personal best. Consider for a moment what we achieve from athletics - the sheer fun of competing - the building of a healthy and alert mind and body - stamina, courage, perseverance, dedication, commitment, selflessness and most importantly, the will to excel.”

 

Inspiration of sorts.

Music and words are so incredibly beautiful sometimes.

Really digging Andrew Belle. Just found him.

Also, I'm obessessed with that Boxcar song.

Ramble Gamble Bamble

Did you know that "Krung thep maha nakorn amorn ratana kosin­mahintar ayutthay amaha dilok phop noppa ratrajathani burirom udom rajaniwes­mahasat harn amorn phimarn avatarn sathit sakkattiya visanukamprasit " in Thailand is the longest goegraphically recognized place on earth? Yeah, it has 163 letters.

What a mouth full that is...imagine saying to your friend "Soo, do ya wanna go to Krung thep maha nakorn amorn ratana kosin­mahintar ayutthay amaha dilok phop noppa ratrajathani burirom udom rajaniwes­mahasat harn amorn phimarn avatarn sathit sakkattiya visanukamprasit  this weekend? I hear it's a pretty rad place."

Also, did you know that Alaska is the most northern, eastern and western state in all of America. Yeah, I mean I bet you can understand the north and west part, but it actually crosses over into the eastern hemisphere.

Cool, eh?

Yeah, I'm just full of useless information like that.

Here's some cool, inspiring things.

Totally want to make that first one and put it in my collage of tacky paintings.

My summer is coming to an end really quickly. I feel like it just started. No, I didn't do everything that I wish I could have done. But nationals was pretty sweet. Life is going to change for me, I'm not so thrilled about it.  But I just have to go with the flow and be alright with it, eh?

yeahyeahyeah.

I like posting late at night

Yeah, for some reason that's when I think the best. Or maybe it's because that's when I'm super tired and I don't care about the quality of what I'm typing out. Usually with a bunch of typo's that I don't care about.

Happy Midnight!

I said "don't care about" twice right there....see what I mean?

Don't care. :)

So I went to a trial last weekend.
Yeaaaaa...we got home wednesday night from nationals. I was home thursday. We left friday morning. Hmm. I would have liked at least one more day at home, but I guess you just can't have everything you want!! ;)

I just realized you can change the font on this bad boy. Craziness is happening in my life right now!!!

But yeah, the trial. That was super fun! Friday we had a standard and round 1 steeplechase. Good steeplechase run...there was a teeter problem in the standard and everyone, including starters, advanced and masters dogs were flying off of it. So obviously there was something wrong...Tof even had a fly off. As it turned out, it was set higher than it should be, so I'm guessing all the dogs thought it was the dogwalk. Oh well, it was a fun run anyways. Annette yelled when we were running "There's a national champion running in the field..woooo!!!!" heheh, still feels kinda cool.

Saturday was funny. After the weekend before at Nationals, going 8/8 and then going into the trial and after the first 6 runs only getting 2 Q's (both of which were Steeplechase). Tony said after he won nationals in 2009 he had about 2 months of bad trials. Tori Self, after getting chosen for the World team had a 0/6 weekend. ...Shoot, I had another example..it's gone. Anyways, some say it's because you work so hard leading up to it and then you just get lazy afterwards, some say you're worried about your reputation, and the list goes on and on.

But I'm here to say, they're all wrong. Sorry :) Everything that happened on our runs weren't out of the ordinary for Tof and I. Missed main gamble, because she turned the wrong way, missed dogwalk contact in the standard, and fumble on which tunnel mouth in the snooker. It was just a coincidence that they all happened at the same trial, on the same day.

I didn't really care that those things happened. They were all really great runs otherwise.

Gah, so much font. Here's a random picture.

Sunday was better, though. We got both the standard and jumpers, and we made it to the steeplechase finals, where 500$ was on the line. I was up first for my division, so I knew I had to run really hard, because the other dogs were border collies and a young  mini aussie. (Point is: they're fast). In the end, I was the only one who ran clean...so I WON 500 DOLLARS!!!!! FIVE HUNDRED!

I so needed it, because I was so completely broke. Like...no money to pay for the rest of my trials this year. But now I can. Yay!

Another picture? ,...Sure!



Toffee being a nut and playing with a sqeaker...

I also won a bunch of prizes. The venue is bee ee eh you tee full.
Here, you can watch the trial montage here and the steeplechase rounds here.

Frank and Annette are the sweetest people on earth. They were so kind and the day they arrived home from nationals organized getting me a jacket with all the things I won at nationals embroidered on the sleeve, with Erin and Toffee on the other, with an agility/paw print on the chest and a big thing of agility equipment on the back. It is beautiful!

I was talking to Frank a few times during the weekend, and he always says the sweetest things to me. At one point I responded with "You're gonna make me cry!"..and sure enough when he left, I did. I cry way too much. hahah There's just something about when someone says that they're proud of me, I always choke up. Waahhn.

I am having way too much fun with this whole font thing.

I ran Mach. It didn't really go so well. The poor guy had basically been laying in his crate for two weeks. He has this incredible obsession with water and we don't see water very often, so I don't get to work on the whole self-control thing around it. I knew entering him at this trial (since the water is RIGHT there) would be risky. But I thought, meh, whatever. Might as well try it. I would have to do it sometime. Anyways, I decided not to show him the water at all throughout the weekend and I just walked him on the road. But he so knew it was there. You'd see his nose sniffing the air and his tail shoot up. Baha, who was I kidding?

We get down a few dogs before us, and we're so close to the water that he won't even tug. Right then I knew it wasn't going to be good. I set up on the startline and he stays. Good. I lead out. He still staying. Great. I release him and he goes over the obstacles in front of him. Awesome! 1, 2, 3, 4...we're at the other end of the field at this point (where the water is) and zooooooom!! he's gone. Jumps off the wall and into the water.

I could have killed him. But he is dangerously adorable, so I didn't. I was worried though, during the weekend (when I knew he would run to the water) that he wouldn't come out. This has been a problem in the past, so now I keep him on a long line...just until I can work on it. But boys oh boys did he know he was in trouble. I think he realized that you just don't leave work like that. I called him once and he jumped back up the wall to me. Time out followed. Sorry bud, you just can't do that...but at least he came back!!

Afterwards, I did do a training session for self control with the water. He did well. So I definitely won't kill him.

In other Mach news, his dogwalks ROCK! So excited about them.
Just need to work on the teeter.
And then his basic training shall be complete.
FINALLY.

This post is so long. And I get so distracted while writing.
Happy 1am.

Goodnight!

Toffee...National Champion!!!

Yes! I cannot believe it. Well, I can, because it's Toffee, but I can't.
This is so exciting.
I couldn't even get home before the interviews started. I did an interview over the phone on the drive home wednesday!

Then I did another one yesterday with The Gleaner...it's out today. Here it is... http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1431270
I might have said "like" too many times, but hey...whatever.

SO
Sunday.
Toffee went 3/3 on sunday as well! They courses were definitely more difficult than Saturday's, but Tof was up for the challenge :)
As it turned out, I was 1st going into Sunday. Cool, eh?
And Tony was 2nd and Cheryl was 3rd.
Yeah, maritimers represent!

I would say the only thing that I wasn't completely satisfied with her over the entire weekend was that on her second gamblers run, the dogwalk was the 5point obstacle, and a mini, so it was worth 10 points. I sent her over it the first time and she missed her contact..10 points down the drain. (then the little bugger went over it a second time and actually did a 2o2o...I don't remember the last time I had to actually release her off a contact in a trial!) But still...it was a stellar run.

In the end of the day, I came out with 1st in jumpers, 1st in standard and 5th in gamblers.
Cool, cool, cool, cool , cool, coooooooooooool!

Never have I ever placed in so many runs before! If that was all that I had won at nationals, I would be super happy.
But wait, it gets much better!

Wait, here's a picture.


"Mom, I just won gamblers!"

 Anywho, through out a series of events during the day, I sorta kinda maybe a little bit knew I had a very good chance of...don't say it.
I only quietly expressed this with my mom, and wished I hadn't because I had said it out loud and I still had one run to go. Anything could happen, right?

Before I go there, though.
STEEPLECHASE!!!
Woah! That was fun!

It's been a while since I've been either that excited/nervous. I'm not really sure what the emotion was, but all I know is that my legs felt like jello when I was walking the course, and my heart was pounding very fast. I'm pretty sure I could hear it...

The atomosphere was crazy though. It was like everything that I had ever wanted to do with Toffee was happening at this nationals. I super ready though. We just went out and ran! RAN! I don't know if I was really running harder than I usually do, so maybe it was the nerves that made me SUPER out of breathe and I came off the course. hah. (okay, maybe it's because I'm super out of shape...shhh)

As that turns out, I won my division! Coolio, indeed.
Toffee ran the course like a Champ (duh, because she is one!) and was one of the few that ran it clean. The weave entries were hard for a lot of the dogs! Couldn't believe it.

Here...just watch the video.
On top of that, she was one of the faster dogs.. (okay, if the other dogs actually ran clean, i.e didn't screw up the wevae poles and had to go back and fix them, she would totally not be one of the faster dogs...but she was!) Not complaining! She's a good little wirlie :)

ONWARD.

Mach's bro came up for a visit.
It was cool to finally meet him! And Cheryl (different one than above) Cool bunch of people!

The award cermony finally came and poor little Toffee, after running 8/8 she was tired. Look.

They finally got to my division and started with 10th place.
After each person, naturally, there would be lots of screaming and clapping and so on.
That, however, took time. So it was a long way to the top (if ya wanna rock n' roll) Side bar, sorry.
They finished calling 4th place, so I knew I would be on the podium. 3rd place.
OMG.
2nd place.
*insert crying here*
Look at me.

Trish was sitting beside me and I think she took my hand and pulled me out of my chair. So I blame this one on her. (now that I'm thinking about it, I might have got up myself..oops)
I can't see a thing, there are too many tears in my eyes, I can't hear anything, because I'm laughing and sobing and my ears are plugged because of it. Also, there are a million people screaming all around me, so I couldn't hear anything anyways.
So there I go, running up to the stage all excited. Crying like a fool, laughing. I still can't see anything, but my golly, I found the steps up to the stage!
So I'm up there shaking Claude's hand, Lynda gives me the best hug ever, then Rick goes "I didn't hear them call your name!!...what did you place?!"

and I think in my head "didn't he hear? what's wrong with him?" but I hug him anyways, then I'm in front of the lady who has the trophy and ribbon and she's kind of looking at me funny.
Then that's when I hear "And the first place winner, blah blah blah". I then realize that they hadn't even called my name, and there I was ready to take claim of my prize.

woah.....big oops.
At the time, I didn't care, I was like DUDE! I just won!
But now I just can't stop thinking about how awful that was.
Whoops the big one.
I couldn't stop crying, so all the pictures of me up there are digusting. Lynda yelled to me to breathe, but I answered back "I CAN"T!!" Ah, jeeze.

I got so many things, like a back on track jacket for Tof, a million Omega Alpha products and a leash for Toffee.

I was shaking for a while after. But I finally calmed down.
At the very end when they had finished giving out all the aggregate placements they do the special awards for teh history and the future of the sport.

Yeperoni, Tof and I got Top Junior Handler again this year!!
This time I waited until they called my name and I wasn't hysterically crying.
Good.

Poeple were so nice to me. So many people that I had never seen before, or had never talked to were coming up to me and congratulating me! The lady who got second place, Sandra Bourne with Rayne was so sweet and hugged me twice!
I just love cool people like that!

Not to take away from her awesome success, but I won by 70 points. Dude, 70 points. That's a lot of points, man!

(You can see Tony in the back...Congrats dude on your 7th!!)

Ah dear, I just love Nationals.  (<< that's the video. Watch it. She's awesome)

Mach...it's your turn now buddy!

bahahaha, he's worried.

Nationals Day 1: AMAZING!

Gonna make this quick. It's late!
So, today was awesome. I mean, obviously. It's Toffee we're talking about here...
Our running order was jumpers, gamblers and then standard.
All courses looked just fine, the gamblers even looked easy.

I was up 3rd for jumpers and standard and 11th for gamblers, which is super nice so I could just stick with my plan and run and not have to get all anxious about the run..could just get it over with. Perfect for my mental game. I was able to stay relaxed all day long. It never seemed like I was running at nationals, but more so just at a regular trial.

Jumpers went amazingly well. We had one wide turn but I made up for it when I did a rear where everyone else was wrapping. We finished clean with 27.48secs

Gamblers went well, too! She took an extra jump that was super random and not expected, so I got out of place to get my next line and had to make her flick to the weaves...she was basically going at them, facing the 6th pole, but my golly, she got the entry! We did 2 minis, two 4points and 2 weaves, plus other things in between and ended with 47 points in the opening, got the main gamble and was 3secs under time!!

Standard was just as awesome, nothing really happened that was weird or uncalled for. I decided to wrap her around one jump where I really wanted to front and bring around the other side. But whatever, she was clean and 36.11 secs. Smokin'!

We went over to the ribbon presentations and my goodness, we were rockin' it!
1st place in Gamblers!
1st place in Jumpers!
3rd place in Standard!

Ahhh!!

Everyone from the maritimes really kicked butt!!
Mom and Bailey even got a 9th place in jumpers, even though, quote "had lunch with the photographer"

and and and

All the people who got their lifetimes in the last year were awarded a plaque...I had missed the deadline (you needed to have it before June 1st...I got it July 9th) but they had mixed up my lifetime anyways, sending me a certificate saying I got it in May and then again in June (but those were my 98 and 99..not 100.)

Something got mixed up and somehow mine was there, so me and mom got to go up together. Very cool!

No pictures yet. I don't want to have to download and edit a billion photos. They will come soon.
Early morning again tomorrow!
Goodnight!

Off to the finals!

Yep!
We made it to the steeplchase finals!!
Our time was 30.87..which isn't bad for Toffee doing 2 sets of weaves.

So, just for the steeplechase I was entered as a junior handler..(I wasn't at first, but I switch last minute, seeing how this is my last year being a JH) Anyways, I thought it would be cool to go to the finals, because it was very probable that we would make it (there was 4 16" JH...) and we have never made it to the finals any year prior, but always at the 22" Reg division.
I came first in my little JH division, but it turns out that I would have made it to the finals in the 16" specials division anyhow...humph. I would have won more money! hah, oh well. Such as life.

We had the opening ceremonies tonight. They had the parade this year, too. All the junior handlers got to go up front! I was so tired though, I probably looked like I was mad at the world when I was walking down the road, with all the cameras pointing at us. It was so hot here today. I thought I was going to die. Multiple times.

They announced the steeplechase finalists then, so I got to go up on the stage in front of everyone to get my tshirt. hehe

Look at it. I just want to hug it :)

We had a nice BBQ at the Henry's with the Mackinley's and Tony even touched my dirty feet. Naturally, I had a laugh attack. (Yes, he tried to rub them, but I think he was even a little grossed out by them...) I was barefoot all day...sorry. :)

I drank 3 litres of water today. It was very hot.
I also got a pretty decent sunburn...but that's no news flash.

Mom found the pyr sheps that came to nationals. Here's Nikita. She's pretty :)



why cant i rotate it...

and here are some cool dogs.



I went shopping and bought Mach a new slip leash. It matches him. How insane? Looky

He got a cool-coat, too.

I also took Toffee to the chiropractor. She got all adjusted and was a very good girlie!

We are good to go!

Nationals start tomorrow...bright and friggin' EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to get up at 5am. Course maps come out at 6 and walk through start at 630. Shoot me. That's in like...not a lot of time.

So at that...Goodnight to all!! Have a lovely sleep.



Veggin' like we can

Yes.
We've arrived. Finally!! Today's drive was shorter than yesterday's but it felt much longer. Blech. I don't like sitting for that many hours.
I had to be navigator extrodinaire..I sorta failed at that, but we got here anyways.

I have pictures!


Uglyness haha...but I'm driving. Always a bonus.




the van is overtaken by dogs




I drove all the way to Quebec!!




Gasin' up!



Yes we did! (okay, mostly mom...)

Those are from yesterday. Our friends have a big field behind their house. Perfect for the dogs.
Good for them to get out and run after travelling all day!

I ended up going to a basketball game last night.
It was nice! As soon as I stepped into the gym, it was like all those memories came rushing back.
The smell is weirdly enough..good. I realize it's just sweat that I'm smelling. I mean, it's a gross smell, but refreshing in an odd way. I know, I know, I'm weird. I get it.
And the sound of all the sneakers squeaking on the floor made me smile.
Also when people started yelling at each other and when technical fouls were called and when they had to squeak off the sweat from the floor when the dudes fell.
Even though it was basically a sauna in there, it was awesome.
Yep, I do miss basketball (only somedays)

We registered and got Toffee measured (mom lost her card...) and got our tent ready and then took the dogs around the venue...it's beautiful there..and said hey to our friendly maritimer friends who were camping.

We're veggin at the hotel now and all ready for tomorrow!
We run steeplechase in the afternoon!

Ah, yes. We are here :)

Road Trippin'

We have made it to Cornwall, ON. About 10ish hours, with gas stops.
It wasn't a bad trip at all.
We used to make this trip all the time when we were younger, and it always felt like 10 years had slowly slugged by when we finally arrived.
But today didn't seem long at all!

I drove to Edmunston. About 3 hours.
I almost died.
Multiple times. At one point there was about 20 birds on the side of the road, and then they all decided to fly in front of the car as I was passing. It was friggin' scary. I just closed my eyes and hoped I wouldn't hit any of them. hahah...maybe not the best thing in the world to do, but I really didn't want to see a bird getting smucked on the windshield.
Don't worry. No birds were hit.

But then about 5 minutes later, a crow was sitting in the middle of my lane, and I was like a millimetre away from hitting it.
Birds are STUPID.
I hate birds.

And transport trucks are out to get me. I swear to goodness, if I have to pass one more of those suckers and almost get squashed, I'm jumping out of the car and walking the rest of the way.
Okay, not really. I would be to tired.

So we're at a friends house right now...supper is a cookin'!!
It smells delicious :)
So we're just going to have a relaxing evening and it's going to be great.
I'm going to go sit on the hammack.

Not sure what time we're leaving tomorrow, but we're driving the rest of the way and then setting up on site!

eeee!! So excited!

I did take pictures, but I'm really too lazy to download them. No pictures for you! Until tomorrow, probably!

from the middle of the night

yes. It's the middle of the night, and I can't sleep.
I'm trying to type really quite.
Even though everyone is upstairs, I still feel like the keyboard is really loud.

I'm trying to make my eyes burn enough that when I do go back upstairs to bed, I will actually be able to sleep.
I am very tired, indeed. But I can't sleep.
Nothing there is new, though.

So....yeah.
Mach is at my feet.
He likes sleeping in tight, closed spaces.
Like under coffee tables, or underneath desks.
He's like Newman.
We call them Den Dogs.

I wish we left today, for nationals.
I kept seeing everyones updates all day saying where they were, some even loaded pictures.
I'm very sad that it wasn't me.
Oh well.

Not sure if any of this is making remote sense.
So, I'm sorry if you're bothering to read it.
Tired girl ramblings.
But Nationals are this weekend.
It's very exciting.


I like keeping my sentences short.
And breaking all the paragraphs up.
Like this.
I find it's easier to read, no?
Yes.
It goes by quicker, too


I don't actually have anything interesting to say.
This is what I actually sound like when I'm tired
And I talking to you in person.
I make no sense.
And I just keep talking.
Spewing words out of my mouth,
like water fountains.

Ouu, pretty.

So I think I'm gonna go
This was enough damage for now.
Good night.
But really,
Good morning.
!!

Almost All Packed!!

Yes!
Almost packed and ready to go for nationals!!
I am oh so very excited!

We're leaving tomorrow morning, probably around 7am. (yuuuuuuuuuuck). I hate mornings.
And I get to be so lucky that I'm driving first thing in the morning, to Edmunston. 3 hours.
Okay, I realize that the whole trip is like 17 hours or something.
But I don't like driving for a long time

Today is Newman and Bailey's 12th birthday!!!

I honestly remember picking them up that day in 1999.
Feels like such a long time ago, but yet just like yesterday!
They're pretty special.
Been around for most of my life :)
12/17 years, to be exact.
Incase you're wondering, that's almost 71%. (70.588)
...Yes, I'm a nerd.

Sad that the one on the right blurred a little, but kind of glad, because the one that's in focus is friggin hilarious. *Imma gonna kill you!*
Those are 5 week old boston terrier pups.
A girl taking my class brought them for socializing.
So cute :)

I love teaching, actually. Despite my hatred of public speaking.
Okay, it took me a while to become comfortable teaching people.
But I know my stuff enough and I'm definitely confident enough to share with others.
Very enlightning.
Now....if I could only do that for a living and not ever have to go to school....hmmm.....


Anywho, I best go finish packing and getting everything together!!
I will try to keep a blog for every day this week...need to share updates!!!!
Yay!
SO EXCITEDDDDDDD!!!!