Paws Fur Peace

What a lovely life that I lead

2012-03-14T15:08:00.000-03:00

March break was a beautiful break. On thursday, it went up to 19 degrees. NINETEEN. In march! Whaaaat. I was at my friend Morgan`s. We woke up and made a wonderful breakfast and then we decided to go for a walk. We walked across the bridge and spent the afternoon downtown. We went to ReNeu Boutique, tried on vintage dresses, went for lunch at Relish and I experienced the best veggie burger known to man. YUM. Our feet were soaked.

We took a couple of pictures, too.

This is us when we went skiing on the first Sunday of march break.

Vintage goggles, ftw.

When we arrived back at her house, I got a text from my mom that Andrea wanted me to come over and paint with her. My day got a lot better. And my day was already the best ever. So I got home a half hour later and Andrea picked me up. We got some groceries, I chatted with a friend who was working (I missed her) and then we went to A`s house.

This is what I came up with:

It is actually my art project. I drew Ben Howard from a grid. Then I put pastel strpes on a thicker paper, painted over it in black paint, then took a screw and scratched out lyrics of his and then glued him in place. I handed it in on Monday and then on Tuesday, it was among the posters that were hung up in the classroom! I don`t think I`ve ever had any of my work displayed before!

So yes, this is the first week back to school and though it is only Wednesday (and we have a snow day) I feel like I`ve been back for a month. It could be because I`m really tired from staying up really late at night, reading Harry Potter. I`m on Order of the Phoenix and it is so frustrating to read! Grr! But it`s so good, I can`t bare to stop reading. Though I forced myself out of bed to work on my chemistry. That`s also frustrating, but not good enough to make me want to continue doing it. So I took a break to write this.

This weekend I am heading off for a seminar with Jess Martin! I`m excited. Last time, Mach was so surprising, I just can`t wait to see what else he can do. However, I am a little nervous, because we haven`t done that much training since I last saw her in november, and last weekend didn`t go so great...

I really can`t wait for spring to get here, so I can get outside and move and train and smell the air. I can`t wait for the end of this month, where I`ll be going to my first trial of the year! (There was one last weekend, but we didn`t go) And then I can`t wait to be done school! (I got my other prom dress over the break!) And I can`t wait to start trialing more regularily and seeing everyone!

But mostly, I can`t wait for Nationals! I`m so ready for a great big adventure!

Okay, back to chemistry..because I want to get back to Harry Potter.

KONY 2012

2012-03-07T09:31:00.001-04:00

I said "Intelligence can only get you so far"
& he said "What do you mean?"
&I said "Well, your brain can only get you so far in life. You know, you have your heart and your gut, too"
& he said "How is your heart? And your gut?"
& I said "My heart is full, but my gut a little wonky."
& he said "I'm a little confused."
& I said "My heart is good. Full of good intentions and love. But my guy doesn't like taking risks...my analytical mind holds it back most of the time."
& he said "Well, that's good. You won't get hurt that way"
but I said "On the contrary. I'm lacking those experiences..those risks I should have taken, but I just let them pass me by."

"I've been worrying that we all live our lives in the confines of fear"

I'm not sure how this conversation sprung up, but it did. And at am important time, too. Last night I checked out KONY 2012.

"Joseph Kony is one of the world’s worst war criminals and I support the international effort to arrest him, disarm the lRa and bring the child soldiers home."

PLEDGE to make Joeseph Kony famous. Make him known. Stop at nothing. You can donate, you can buy the kit or at the very least you can pledge.

Please Please Please watch THIS video. It's really worth the watch. Had me in tears a few times.

Along with pledging to take on Kony, I pledge to not let fear of anything get in my way to making a difference. I will not stand by. I will stop at nothing.

Happy Birthday Toffee!

2012-03-06T12:11:00.000-04:00

My baby girl is 7 today!!
What happened to the time?!

I still remember the day we went to picked her up, way back in August 2005...
The spontaneity of it made it that much more special.

We just got back from a visit with my aunt in Nova Scotia. She had 5 shelties at the time, and all they did was bark bark bark bark bark. I found it annoying, but not as much as my mom did. My mom said, and I quote "We are never, ever getting a sheltie." And what do we do the very next day? We got a sheltie.

We were looking for a dog/pup for me. Some people in the agility community were helping us out. My mom got two emails that day, one saying there was a sheltie/border collie mix, 2 years old at the Moncton SPCA and then another saying there was a ~5 month old sheltie in Oromocto. Of course, I, who has been wanting a sheltie for a very long time, and a puppy is just way better than a 2 year old said I wanted to see the sheltie. So off we went, got in the car, and it was the first time I was aloud to ride in the front seat (without my mom telling me to get out and get in the back...) and drove off to Oromocto.

I don't know what my mom was thinking "Let's just go and look at her." Baha! Like you could bring a dog/sheltie crazy 11 year old to see a sheltie and not bring her home! We played we her, threw balls for her and chased her around. We brought her outside, which she was terrified of the grass. Yes, we got her at a pet store. I know, I know, slap us now. We like to say we "rescued her", so people think we got her at a shelter. I mean, we did in fact rescue her, just in a different way. :) We're thinking she's from a puppy mill, but of course they didn't say where exactly she came from....

She`d been cooped up in that case in the back of the store for who knows how long, her litter mate - 1 sister had already been homed and it was just little wee Toffee all by herself, with her floppy ears and her great big chocolate eyes staring back at us. How could you not fall in love at first sight? I sure did...

I started jumping up and down, up and down beggin mom to let me take her home, but again, silly mom didn't bring any money -who doesn't bring money when bringing an 11 year old to "look" at a puppy? So we put her back, got back in the car, drove all the way home (45 minute drive), got her purse, got back in the van and drove all the way back. When we got back in the store, and when I looked at her, it was like I'd known her all my life. I truly believe we were meant for each other.

I'd never been more proud in my entire life. I struted her around like I had just won the olympics. She was *so cute*. Gah, she still is :) Her big floppy ears really give her a funny look. I didn't care that they weren't the breed standard, I didn't want to tape her ears. They give her so much personality now, I can't imagine why anyone would want to do that anyway!

Mom and I couldn't decide on a name...I remember a few...Chicklet, Summer, Bouncer (<<?? hahaha). We were walking through the grocery store not long after getting her and I walked past those "Ah, Caramel" cake things. I thought "Caramel!" because of her color. Mom sort of liked that name and we turned it over in our minds for a little while. We were sitting on the front steps of our house later that day and we talked about how I'd probably end up calling her "Care" on the agility field because "Caramel" is a mouth full. So mom suggested "Toffee", which has the same idea (the color), but is easier to say. I liked it right away, and that's what we ended up naming her. Years later I decided on her Unofficial Kennel Name which is "Sweet as Toffee".

She really is a sweet little girl - full of love and enthusiasm.

Toffee and I have really been through it all. She came into my life when I needed her most. She helped me grow and helped me mature and helped me learn. She helped me learn a lot. More than any person could have taught me. Agility training may have been really easy for her to understand, but the whole "Dogs are good" thing...well, she didn't really grasp that. We had a really hard time with her around other dogs. She was so unbelievably reactive to everything around her, I could hardly take her out anywhere.

It was fustrating, especially all the trouble we went through with Snooker, my first dog who we had to rehome because she was so aggressive. (She's doing great now, living with a lady who spoils her to death and now she actually gets along with some dogs!!). But I was determined to help her. We went to a Brenda Aloff seminar in October of 2006. I'm not sure if all of the techniques that she showed me helped, but I think it was more of a matter of exposure. A group of us from Fredericton got together once a week through the winter and worked on just being able to "be" around the other dogs. The exercise I remember the most was the crate. Toffee still freaks out when someone - dogs especially, walks by her crate, but that's something I've come to live with.

Our frist Nationals, in 2007

I'm proud to say that now she can be off leash around other dogs and not mind them at all. She even started playing with dogs (very briefly). I can tell she's just so much more happy than she ever was when she was younger. And that makes me happy.

If Toffee has taught me anything, it's that you can do anything you set your mind to. We pulled through her issues and we rose to the top. How? Determination. That's one of the many values that she has implanted into my soul, and I am forever grateful for that.

Our latest Nationals, 2011

She is my heart dog.

Happy Birthday Toffikins!

march breakin'

2012-03-06T10:02:00.000-04:00

alas, march break is upon us. YAY!!

I'm ever so excited that I have this next week off! Finally a time to relax, and only do a little homework (Ms. Gesner.....)

We went to the barn, as per usual, on saturday morning. Both dogs were fantastic! Mach is really starting to mature. I commented to mom "Isn't he being all grown-up, lately." He really has been. Since he was a puppy, his confidence was the lowest on the spectrum. Commotion terrified him, noises, new places, new dogs or people - everything. He was a wreck. He would run away and not come back (okay, partly my fault for not focusing on recalls when he was a pup....), he'd sulk away in a corner and you'd have to wonder if it was possible that he was depressed or something. He'd be slow out on the agility field if he was worried about any of the things stated above.

BUT. I can see everything clicking together now and there isn't a better feeling than that. That I persevered when things were a little on the rough side. I've had my share of behaviour problems, but timidness was the hardest to get through, however, the one that has been almost ultimately overcome. Toffee still has her moments with other dogs, but mostly if she's on leash going around the block with me. At agility trials/training, it seems as though she's most comfortable there, and perhaps it's because that's where I feel where my home is, too.

Long story short, I'm ecstatic that things in all dog training is coming together :)

I finally did watch Chamber of Secrets and I watched Prisoner of Askaban, too. Man, I just really love Harry Potter. I really do. I'm about half way done Goblet of Fire right now. A lady who trains with us said she'd let us borrow the last few movies, because we only have up to Goblet of Fire. I'm so excited!! Now so many things in the world make sense. There are lots of Harry Potter references in the world, jussayin.

On Sunday, I went up to Crabbe (ski hill) with my bestie.We listened to Ben Howard and City and Color while laying in the back, maybe dozed off a few times and partly soffocated from all of my layers. I haven't been skiing since grade 8. I think I went once in grade 10, so that doesn't really count. I used to go skiing all of the time, but basketball got in the way and then I was so busy with school and agility that I didn't know how to make time for it.

My whole family loved it. My oldest brother, Tyler, especially. He was right into the whole jump-off-a-ski-jump-and-do-flips-and-almost-kill-yourself sort of thing. I miss him. Anyways, I was hoping that skiing would be just like riding a bike, and I'm very glad it was. It felt SO great to get back out on the hill. I think it helped that yesterday was such beautiful day - 7 degrees, clear sky, no wind. I wasn't cold at all. AH! I'm just thinking about how great it was. It was so great. So great. I think I needed to be away from skiing all of the time to really appreciate the sport. I want to go back!!

I think it must have been either grade 6 or 7 that we rented a chalet up at the hill over march break. It was cool to be able to just wake up in this cute log cabin, eat a warm breakfast that dad cooked, put on your gear, walk up the road a bit, put your skis on, and be at the top of the mountain. Way too much fun! I remember that the owners of the chalet had that game with the bean bags - where you throw them into a target with holes..you know that game? Everytime I think of that game, I think of the chalet and of skiing. Also, Tyler was getting right into Jack Johnson at the time and that's all we listened to those few days. So, everytime Jack Johnson plays, especially his older songs like Banana Pancakes, Sitting, Waiting, Wishing and Better Together (which were on repeat) bring me back to that chalet.
Definitely one of my favorite memories.

relief

2012-02-27T17:21:00.000-04:00

ah.
I got all of that stupid scholarship stuff dealt with today. So chaotic!
I also finished the third Harry Potter book...onto the fourth!! I think I may watch Chamber of Secrets tonight...not much homework to do!
My mom made cranberry/white chocolate chip cookies yesterday. YUMmy, is all I have to say about those.
I like my mom. She's pretty rad. She helps me a lot. Like, with scholarships, and she makes food a lot.

OH!!

I read the blog muchomuchobuenobueno all of the time. You should really check it out. Such a cool couple of girls and all of their adventures are worthy of the read. I guess they did the hair for THIS wedding and shared the link to their blog. Here's part 2.

I'm kinda obsessed with weddings. Especially rustic weddings. And this one if beyond perfect. I want this to be my wedding. Down to every detail. Except not in november. Brr. But I'm pretty sure they're from texas, so not really brr.

Wanna see a couple wedding photos that I found on Pinterst that I really love? Yeah, I know you do.

beauuuuuutiful outdoor wedding...so magical

I want this to be my husband's reaction....

Barn wedding!!!

Table numbers with a picture of the couple at that age.

Guests sign their name on their birthday!

A while ago, I also found this cool little space...stylelikeu and found these guys. I think they're rather awesome. I scrolled through some of their other closests and found some really cool people. I like what they have to say about what their fashion means to them..you know, self expressions and all of that cool jazz.

I think james, from bluebirdvintage is so cool! Looking at her blog right now...So I'm off. Have a good night!! xox

Night out!

2012-02-26T09:42:00.000-04:00

Ou, last night was fun!

(the morning, however, wasn't...scholarship essays suck!!!)

I went over to my friend's house for a bit and chatted, before heading over to the university to watch the volleyball games. The game that was STU against...another school....was super good! STU won the first two sets, but in the third, they kept going back and forth, back and forth. For all of you who don't know how the points work, the first one to 25 wins, but they have to win by 2 points. The final score was 30-32 for the other team, so they had to play another (for what reason, I'm not sure...they already won two sets..) and then lost again, by two points...BUT, they are still going to the finals today. I would like to go, but not sure on the timing.

Between games, Lex and I had 80 minutes to kill, and we were hungry, so we decided to go for a walk and find food. There must be something around the campus that sells food, right? Right? Well, it started snowing really bad and it was readlly windy. It was an advanture to say in the least. Went from one building to another, back down the (huge) hill, then back up to the Student Union Building and got a wrap. My fingers we very cold.

And lets face it, university boys, playing ball, even more come to watch. I mean, how could you not have a good time? ;)

Photos from our funmatch/visit weekend!

"Gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight?" "The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!!"

He gets all mushy when Gwen's around...

This is how I feel how the snow storm.

2012-02-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

Even though it is totally beautiful, I am so ready for spring...
And not writing scholarship essays, which is what I did last night. I fell asleep while reading Harry Potter! How dare I?! The magical world awaits me...sigh.
We are supposed to go snow shoeing today, but unless |I get two more essays written, I wont be able to...sigh, mom's rules....

However, me and my friend are going to watch a volleyball game later! So all is well.
Happy day!
xo

A marathon of sorts

2012-02-20T23:10:00.000-04:00

"All that I was searching for was me.."

Well.

As I sit here, trying to figure out what exactly it is that I want to say, my mind draws a blank. Too much going on, obviously.

Let's see. For starters, school has been busy, and I'm proud to say I've been keeping up with it. The other stuff in life, though...like scholarship applications and summer job applications (dreading) aren't really getting done. Procrastination marathon, ftw.

I have been reading like a mad woman. Needless to say, my resolution is going really well now. I hardly spend any time on the computer and I can honestly say I feel very balanced. I've thought a lot about getting rid of my facebook account, as I have been wanting to do so for a couple years (I know) but haven't been able to. The only thing keeping me from doing this is the connection with people (dog people) who are scattered all over the place. I like getting updates. And also, group projects for school. Facebook is just too easy.

But reading, yeah. I never read the Harry Potter books, but always watched - and loved - the movies. However, I never made it to the first part of the last movie, so I never went to see the last last movie. So, I don't know how it ends..PLEASE don't tell me, anyone!!! You'll break my heart.

I've made it through the first and on my way with the second. I'm really liking them! Of course, who wouldn't?! Book marathons are the best.

I went to Shediac for a funmatch this past saturday. We only brought Mach and Rowdie...it was terribly sad to leave Toffee behind. I kept thinking about her and missing her all weekend. We paid a visit to our friend in Moncton, spent the night and slept in! (We are always up at the crack of dawn for agility when we visit). Mom and I went prom dress shopping on Sunday, but silly us, all of the dress shops were closed. Sunday, duh. However, I did find a nice dress at Le Chateau...

I found a really rad shop while out and about yesterday. It's a lot like Cultures, here in town. It had some really great ethnic, cultural finds...I wanted to buy the entire store. Especially the insence. Mmm.

Our grad class had a meeting today, about all of the grad activities coming up, and I can feel this year slipping by already. It's going to be done before I know it.
Life marathon, here we go.

I really need to start getting into shape again. I always do this. I'm pretty good for spring, summer and fall, but when winter hits, it's like my legs are glued to the floor. I went for a run the other day - it was gorgeous out - and went for a steady 30 minutes. Not too bad for the last real work out of mine being November, I think. (haha, wow..see what I mean) I started getting back into yoga, too. My muscles have been sore, but it's all for the better, right? :)

And you know that feeling when you let go of something you've had in your heart for a really, really long time? Like, a part of you is gone, because you've entwined part of who you are, your identity with that? And when you let go, you're a little empty - but only for a moment. Because then you realize you now have room in your heart, mind, body and soul to let new things; experiences, people, love in that place. And then you feel free. Full. Happy. That's how I've been feeling lately. Finally letting go. Flying over head. Being free.

I'll leave that disjointed post at that. I'm going to listen to Fleet Foxes and drink my sleepy time tea and go to bed. Wish me luck on my first bio test tomorrow....

Dreaming and Living and Loving

2012-02-11T15:58:00.001-04:00

I admit it, I am a book worm. I quite love it. I read Just Listen, finally, by Sarah Dessen. It was the exact book that I needed at this point in my life. It talks about telling the truth, and music, a lot of music, and accepting new things, trying new things, being a new you, personal growth, etc, etc. It's definitely one of my favorites now, and I recommend it to everyone! It most certainly changed the way I look at things now...

I did have to read it for english class. She gave us 4 weeks to read it...I finished it in 2 days. Then I finished another book the next day - one of the 4 I have on the go right now. I can't help myself anymore. Books are fantastic!

I've been day dreaming, wishing winter was over and not storming like it is right now..
I went to the theatres last night with my two besties to see The Vow...ah, it was magical. It was frustrating at some points, but mostly heart warming. I cried a lot during it. But that's nothing new...haha

Thanks to my wonderful friend Morgan (for all you Pinners out there..she's super rad), I am now obessed with the blog From Moon to Moon. It's a fabulous, inspiring space. You should definitely take a look. Another blog that I read pushed me along this path ... it's a tumblr page full of greatness. Again, go take a look. I'm going to share some things that I love, that I wished I lived in and that I'm always dreaming about. Enjoy.

First, though...I painting that I made!

I want to let the waves speak to me, the breeze tell me the secrets of the earth, and the soil to run in my viens. This, I do know, is for certain...

And sometimes...

2012-02-02T19:32:00.000-04:00

everything will turn out. Yeah, they will! I promise you.

I'm stoked that it's February, and that today I started my last semester of highschool (yeah, we had a snow day yesterday). I have pretty stacked classes, so I'm excited about that. Cool people and all. Teachers seem cool, too. Except one. My english teacher..soo boring already! On the plus side to that, my math teacher, the newbie, is quite hilarious, so it'll make for a good time, if nothing else (while I'm dying because I understand nothing). And even though I'm in grade 11 art (because I didn't take it last year) and I know no one in my class, it's good. It's good because it's first period, and I can ease into my day without having to deal with anyone and I can just let my creative juices flow before I have to get into science/math mode.

Another great thing about this semester is that I won't have to deal with hallways! We have I think like 1800 students, and the hallways are nowhere near fit enough to hold that many people at transition time. My first three periods are all in the D wing, whose classes are all right beside each other, and my fourth and fifth period classes are directly below/above one another, right at the end of the hallway where there is a staircase. Erin = excited about this.

I'm just glad I'm so close to being done, you know? And that I know what I'm going next year. Big stress not on my shoulders.

This is my rad dog. His lip is quite hilarious, too.

Did I ever mention that I'm super excited for Sunday? Huh, huh, huh??! Well, I am.

Yesterday was a big "let's get super excited about Nationals that's in August, but who cares that it's 6 months away because they're in British Columbia and that's super exciting" day. I couldn't sleep.

*poor Mach*

New Start

2012-01-31T21:44:00.000-04:00

Yup yup. Semester 2 begins tomorrow. Doesn't seem fair, right? I knoooow.

I'm just gonna say, because I'm kinda proud, that these past two days have been the most productive days I've had in months! Seriously, I've gotten so many things that needed to be done, done! Feels grrreat! (about a million year's worth of laundry, and a room cleaned and re organized..)

Last weekend at the barn mom got some clips of Mach's dogwalk. I haven't put it in sequence for a while, so I was just doing straight on, straight off. He was awesome! Look!

I took some pictures on my little old camera...better than nothing, right?

I also made fudge yesterday...and it's almost gone. Okay, I'm sorry, but it's really addicting. nom nom nom. I'm craving something healthy though..ugh, so sicky.

I found this on philly's website a while ago and I make it whenever we have all ingredients...so yummy!!

Bagel, cream cheese and thin apple slices! nom nom nom

This is my mug that I painted at Clay Cafe...I'm so pleased about how it turned out! And yummy tea, too...nom nom nom.

I made these a while ago, but thought I would share anyways. Crafty crafty.

and of course I colored a drawing of the woostock poster, of course I did... :)

And filling out my lovely journal is always fun :)

and reading...I'm becoming somewhat of a book worm. I kinda like it!

I'm still kinda sad :( all over...

and here's one my favorite things in my room, my dream catcher!

My mom wrote this for me when I woke up on thursday (the day I was supposed to write math) Isn't she the cutest? :) hehe, I love her.

and I straightened my hair! Haven't done that in ages it seems. Feel so good now that I got a trim..sad to let go of two inches though :( haha My hair is precious, don't ya know.

Okay, wanna see another video? Here's Mach and Rowdie doing handstands :)

Oh, oh, oh! Today, I found three new people, music wise!!
Very exciting!!!

Griffin House

Great Lake Swimmers

Gary Jules

So lovely :)

Also, I'm now obsessed with Walk Off The Earth, because of this video so I started watching all of their videos and I love love love this one. So fun!

:)

Trilogy, over.

2012-01-29T23:58:00.000-04:00

I am sad already. That I have nothing but the movies to look forward to now. No more books to let myself get lost in. Sigh. But the books are so amazing. But I'm sad. But I am super excited to see the movie. March 23 is such a long time to wait, it seems, though I know it'll be upon us with a blink of an eye.

Just how I realized that today is the 29th of January. Where has the time gone? Who knows. I do, in fact, remember when months seemed to drag on forever, don't even get me started on years. Those were eternities while you waiting for your birthday and were declared a year older. But now...now my days are muddling together, it seems that I'm just going through the motions on most days. So bogged down by school, due dates, rules, winter and lethargy. All I really want to do most of the time is sleep. Or eat. With the rarity of my feeling energetic, I crave agility, or at least to shape a new trick. But most days I just want to sleep.

And as the depression, of finishing a series of unmistakably incredible books coming to an end, creeps up on me, I will want to do nothing more than to sleep. All the time. Or write about it and whine and complain and emit fake sobs. haha

thank you pinterest.

And tomorrow, in my state of a neutral mind set, I will go write that damned math exam. It's long overdue.

At least I will get the afternoon and tuesday off. Sigh.

Lets let Jimi have the last words...

"All I'm gonna do is just go on and do what I feel."

I am almost donezo

2012-01-26T22:22:00.000-04:00

One more exam. one. it's math, however and that totally sucks, but I only have one more. :)
I should be studying right now, but ...meh.

And I'm really excited for next weekend. Really excited. Did I tell you that I'm really excited? Huh, huh, huh? But yeah, I'm super excited.

I wish I had something to say, but I really don't. Still no pictures..

But I am going to say this; and I can't belive I'm doing so, I HOPE THERE'S SCHOOL TOMORROW.
?!?! What? Yeah, it's calling for snow, apparently, and if school is cancelled AGAIN, that means I have to go in on monday to write my math exam. I just wanna get it over with! Ah.

Random, inspiring picture? Yes.

Yes, do well by doing good.
In the words of Ellen DeGeneres, Be kind to one another.
Peace.

I heard your heart say love, love, love

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

Today was a "snow day", although it was only because it was really icy when they had to make the call. It warmed up, and the ice on the roads enevitably went away. I think it went up to 9 today. Welcome to the January thaw! I like it, because we didn't put our agility equipment away in the fall, so the dogwalk is just out there, calling our names.

We did two seperate sessions and did them with greatness. Mach was a rockstar! The second time around, I brought the camera out to get some clips. Still struggling with going into nothing, but it's getting better. However, I think he's now relying on me throwing the toy...I haven't tried him on equipment afterwards in a while, so we'll see if he's gotten any better with that...hmm.

Anyhow, here he is!

I'm giving vimeo a shot...not sure if I will stick with it. But it always seems like the vimeo videos that I watch are way better than youtube ones. And maybe it won't always take my music away from people in Germany? We'll see.

I don't have any photos, though. Grr. Okay, I will take some tomorrow! I promise...

Pictures from Christmas break...how I miss you.

And this is a photo that a friend edited. She took these in early fall, but she just came across them now and edited one for me...needless to say, I love it.

And I know that I belong somewhere entwined with the graciousness of life.

I had an ortho appointment today. They've been monitoring my growth since like...grade 9? when they wanted to put braces on. But because of my underbite at the time, they thought it would be best to wait until I stopped growing. But I kept growing, growing, growing. Finally, I have stopped, I think

So we're going to go ahead with treatment. My teeth aren't crooked by any means, but they are off bite..meaning, they are off by a half tooth, and they aren't lined up. Good news though! I don't have to get braces, but instead I'm getting Invisiline.

(I said "Justin Bieber had this" and the lady was like "Yes! hah, yes he did!") I'm now finding this funny that she knew....

So that's better than a mouth full of metal for 2 years, right? Ah, there's a positive in everything. :)

Because of the snow day today, all the exams got pushed back, so there's two days off for me! (plus the four day weekend coming up)

I'm so ready to get this school year over and done with...bring on graduation!!

p.s Nationals is in 189 days, 10 hours. jus saayinn.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

2012-01-23T15:58:00.000-04:00

Yup, nutrition was a cake walk.

I didn't sleep last night, so when I got home, I had a nap. (y)

I should probably study for math, which is on thursday, but I just can't bring myself to do that. Too lethargic. All the time.

But I finished another book, Carpe Diem. When I started reading it in September, I wasn't that into it, trying to save it for english class next semester. But I needed something to read, while waiting for the third book, Mockingjay, to land in my hands, so I said What the heck?.

It turned out to be the most fantastic book! So glad I picked it up! At first it was the cover that attracted me to it (yeah, you caught me...judging the book by its cover..) and then the title Carpe Diem, which I just so happened to have henna tattooed on my arm at the time. And it is something I'm trying to live like each day. So when I read the back, I knew I had to pick it up. Backpacking with hippie Gramma in Southeast Asia, falling in love and her life changing forever...com'on, that has Erin written all over that.
Bring on the LIMming!

I think I've found out how I'm going to stay off the computer...Read!! How simple (duh, Erin)

Overall, my life is great lately. So much love and happiness. Couldn't ask for more :)

Although, I haven't been taking pictures lately, so I'm at a slight lost. Nothing but book covers to fill my blog posts...old photos?

sure.

Oh, to be summer againg. Freedom.

Catching Fire

2012-01-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

My mind is on fire, right now. I just finished the second book in the Hunger Games series. AH.
For those of you who have not read the books, I will not say anything other than AHHHH!!!!

I probably finished the book at the worst time possible in all of existance. Because it's Saturday. And exams are this week, so I will not be seeing Erin (the friend who I'm borrowing the books from) until we resume normal classes next semester and see her in homeroom (which is Feb 1) HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT A WEEK AND A HALF? I might just have to buy the book. But then I'll have to buy the first two books. Ahh.

I might go stir crazy. And that doesn't help any since I'm already going to be stir crazy due to having to stufy for exams. Thank goodness I only have to write three. Only monday for nutrition, wednesday for leaderhip and thursday for math. I love exemptions and easy semesters.

But still. Imma go crazii.

On another note, I volunteered for the SPCA today, manning the table selling calendars and cookbooks and gathering donations at the mall. I met a new friend. It was great. I had lunch with another friend and cruzed around Chapters for a bit, before driving myself home in terrifying traffic. (okay, it's really not bad, but much worse than the back roads I'm used to. haha)

And with that, I must to begin studying for my exam on monday. haha.

Boo on school, eh? I just wanna get caught up in the futuristic fantasy world of Panam.

Here's a picture.

I see the light!

2012-01-17T22:39:00.000-04:00

The end is coming near.
Exam week is the week coming up, and then it'll be 2nd semester, then all the grad activities will start and I will be done before I know it!

This leads me to Prom. I'm excited. I got my dress for one of them! (yes, I'm going to two. Me and my friend from Rothesay are going to eachothers!) I don't have a picture of me in it, but here's the picture of the girl wearing it last year

It is very beautiful.
And I look pretty in it, I feel pretty.
It's not often that I feel pretty. Sometimes I feel comfy (mostly), or stylish, or kinda radical (that's my fave), but not often pretty. Weeoo.
(I got this dress, plus bonus silver shoes to go with for 20$...I'm sorry, what?! 20$, yeah)

So I'm trying to find a really rad hippie-tastic dress. Almost impossible. But I stumbled upon this one and I looooove it.

If it just had a liiiiitle less of the fabric around the hips (my hips don't lie...) and maybe fix whatever is going on at the top, this would be perfection. Love the color, too.

La La La

I would like the end of June to come...NOW! *poof*

Aw man, it's still winter :(

District 12 Love

2012-01-16T23:34:00.000-04:00

Hunger Games.
Is this what love feels like? Okay, I've only just finished the first book, but I can say for certain that it is a situation easily comparable to a crack addict and her crack. My crack is Hunger Games, at the moment. Answer me this: WHY HAVE I WAITED SO LONG TO READ IT!?!!!!???!

Oh Catnip. Oh Peeta. Oh Gale.

I will admit, I cried, throughout the book. Yeah....I'm like that.

I borrowed the book from a friend, so I have to wait, like two days to get my hands on the second book. You know, I have to take it back to school, she has to go home, and bring it the next day. I might go insame. Ahh.

But for now, I will just show a picture of the novel, because it's so beautiful.

OMG. LOOK. AHHH. I'M SO EXCITED!

I will try to survive these next days, bookless. Can I read it again before I give it back to her? Ehh. Wahn.

Okay. enough.

Today I found out my result from my french interview! ADVANCED. Say whaa? Yeah, that's the highest you can get. Dude, you don't realize how surprised I am. I suck at speaking french. haha! Yay me!Officiellement bilangue. C'est un peu bizarre d'y penser. Mais je suis terminer avec le francais apres ce semaine. TELLEMENT EXCITE!

Avoir une belle repose :) xox

Nationals flashback!

2012-01-12T22:08:00.000-04:00

Weooo, my brother got me a really nice 3-photo frame for Christmas, so mom suggested that we order pictures from nationals (like I've been begging to do since August....).

So we did. I got six of them.

Here they are!
(bad scanning, but they are really nice in person, haha)

Getting excited for this years nationals....big trip!!

Awake my soul

2012-01-10T16:50:00.000-04:00

La la la

Soo, I don't think I have anything really important to talk about. I couldn't sleep last night, got four hours of sleep, I bombed a test today, I laughed a lot today, and I chilled when I should have been working. Oh well.

I really love Mumford and Sons. Like a lot. You don't have any idea how much I throughly love that band. Ahh.

Catching up with friends is great, isn't it. Well, I mean, the not talking to them for a while and having to catch up is kinda sad, but it's still great. Especially friends who live far away. And talking about the future with them is all too exciting, especially when it envolves them being closer to you :)

Yep Yep, Okay, this was a pointless blog post. :) Hehe

Rowdie turned 1 yesterday! Little monster!

Questions for the universe..

2012-01-08T01:33:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I like looking out the window and watch the world go by. Wonder about everyone's story. What's happened to them to bring them the these roads? Was it good? Was it bad? Was it either? Perhaps their life is mundane, perhaps it's been spectacular.

What's going through their mind at this moment? Things that could change the world? Or just what they're going to eat for supper? All important things, I suppose.

Do you ever wonder how we got here? Like people, trees...or just how long the earth has exsisted? Erosion and all...sandy beaches..

Sometimes I wonder about the universe. How big is it? Does it ever end? It's such a beautiful place.

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."
- Buddha

I was going to go on, but tonight has taken a change of direction. I don't feel like finishing this post, because greater things are awaiting. Frienships forming, universes that keep spinning out of control in a way so magnificient I can't comsume enough gratitude that's been put forth.

Love is divided, heart beats faster, music fills your soul, gives flight to the wings in your mind.

The universe....ah, such a glorious wonderment.

Trouble

2012-01-07T00:41:00.000-04:00

First, listen to this.

Then look at this:

Then read this:

- It's trivial compared to what you guys are going through.

Maybe it's the most important thing happening in the whole universe. How do you know?

- I'm pretty sure it's trivial, you know, in perspective.

Perspective is what shuts out the universe. Everyone with their little perspective. It keeps the love out.

Last year, in OP, a former student of LHHS now a teacher went to Africa to teach for a year. I remember her talking about how we can't compare our troubles to the person's sitting beside us. Everyone has their own trouble, their own darkness. Yes, when you do look at it in perspective, living each day without sufficient food and water is much worse than having an argument with your brother.

BUT, to you that argument is something that protrudes on your happiness, right? So to you that is your trouble, and that is the most important trouble in your entire universe. And it's alright to be upset about it.
No need for comparisons, no need to feel guilty.

As for me, today my troubles were none. I had a spectacular day.
I slept in - much needed until 11:30 - ate left over veggie pizza from last night, took a picture, sorted through pictures from my childhood, finished my nutrition test - that wasn't as hard as I thought it was, started putting pictures into an album, knitted and watched some CSI: NY.

Lovely day. Don't you just love productive, lovely days? I do.

I have decided...

2012-01-06T13:15:00.000-04:00

That I am going to make photo albums. Putting actual photos in actual albums, rather than digital photos in online albums.
Keep sakes, you know.

The other night I looked through every single photo album that my mom and dad have. So fun to look at. The memories that are in those albums are priceless. I love photos, and I love documenting, so doesn't it just seem like the perfect project for me to do?! I think yes.

Yesterday I spent some time gathering photos that I would like to print off and put in my first album. I have way too many.

I want to make sure I capture the important moments, as well as the mundane ones. I need to start taking more pictures. Last year I took a lot. I think I took too many. Is that possible?

I started the 365 project, but it was so hard to find creativity each and every day. It ended up with my just taking pictures of random objects around the house. Or the dogs. Mostly the dogs. I quit. I don't like quiting something, but I did. Oh well..

I was thinking that this year I might do a photo a week, instead of a photo a day, because some days you just dont want to take a picture. I still have two days to decide if I want to.

All in all, I need to take more pictures.

That is final.

Here's a good memory for ya:

La la la

2012-01-04T19:33:00.000-04:00

I want to learn how to surf. (the 1970 era photos, ah <3)
Like, really bad.

I also would like to have a music device lodged into my brain so I can listen to music all the time...is that weird? Maybe a little....

I'm totally loving The Paper Kites.

I think I want to live by the ocean. Like, on the beach. Where I can let my dogs run. Could I maybe have an island all to myself? Ah, so cool. And I could have an agility field in the middle of if!!

Maybe I want to marry a beach bum. Ouu! I'll move to Australia, like I've always wanted, marry a man with an accent, like I've always wanted, live on the beach, like I just decided and all will be beautiful! Done.

Oh, how about if the beach bum was a photographer/artist, who just happened to love dogs and girls with long brown hair? Then that'd be perfect.

It's january, and I'm cold. I want beach weather. Even though I'm not much of a beach goer - not because I don't want to be, it's just that I'm always on the go..you know, agility calls. :)

But the plus side the everything is that there is no snow. And we have yet to put away our agility equipment, so I went OUTSIDE to train in JANUARY! Yes, yes I did. Mach had fabulous dogwalks. Getting much better at extending his stride going into nothing. I'm pleased with him! Good things to come :)

I heard your heart say love, love, love

Right now, I am obsessing over 1970's style, creeping photographs, so I think I will share a few that I've found.

I also love the quality of the photos...no, obviously they're not great, but it's like a story is told with each photograph. I like stories.

Okay...I'm gonna have to spend some time downloading some Avalanche City...ahh.

Today I went for a walk, ate some salad and veggie egg rolls and watched the Notebook. I cried, like always. :)

Can my life have a cool story like that?

"So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out."

Okay, ya'll saw this coming...some Ryan Gosling love.. hehe

Nom nom nom, he's so beautifully delicious. Maybe I'll just marry him.

Yesterday I went to the Clay Cafe...painted a mug. I'm excited to see how it turns out! Should be cool.

I'm kinda sad, partly because of the movie, partly because the OJAC closing date is today and I'm not entered. I. Want. To. Go. Sad Erin.

I really need to start my homework. I go back to school monday, you know. Blah. I have to write a speech. It wouldn't be bad if it weren't in french. I'm writing on how to find peace...should be interesting anyhow. haha Also write this incredibly difficult nutrition test, and math assignment. I also have a test on tuesday. Duuuuude.

I have another movie, that yes, I'm going to watch later. Guess who's in it? Ryan Gosling. Blue valentine. I hope it's good. It's a love story, I tend to love those.

I want a tattoo. Just a small one. Somewhere not that noticable. My mom will never let me get one. But at some point in my life I want to get a tattoo, and so I will. Something like these...

I like words, so something that meant something to me - in word form would be cool.

Cool song.

I'm having a hard time finding a prom dress. This is my most favorite in the entire world. But it's expensive. But it's sooooo pretty. I want it so bad. Yes yes yes. Just look at it.

So here's some more inspirational photos before I leave...

So free

Okay, not inspirational....he's just a fine looking specimen.

Forever Young

#fresh #70'sstyle

I'm off to look at old photographs of my parents lives before children happened. hehe

xox

A New Year, A New Journey!

2012-01-01T23:38:00.000-04:00

HELLO 2012! I welcome you with open arms and an open heart.

Last night I spent with some of my closest friends, and I couldn't be more grateful for it.

Since my last post I recieved a very cool letter in the mail; an acceptance letter to university.
YES.
I am going into Science of Kinesiology.
I'm very excited!

Today is the first day to an ever changing, opportunity of growth year, and I am failing at my resolution already. BUT, it was for good reason. I was looking for inspiration. There's just so much, it's hard to stop. Curse you Pinterest!!!

Today I went for a walk and I ate chinese food and I watched Taking Woodstock (for the fourth time, never gets old).

This year, I will focus more on my mental game, and take big steps into the ocean of my dreams. My dream ocean is very full.

Dreams like a trip to Australia or Ireland, dancing in front of people and not having a care in the world, and ride in the drivers seat of a volkswagen van with the windows rolled down, the breeze blowing throwing my hair and not have a clue where I'm going.

As far fetched as those are, I want them to happen. Highly unlikely this year, but eventually.

More specifically for this year; The Year of Mach. (and Tof, too)
Toffee is just perfect and it's hard to think of things to work on with her. Of course it's the usual - dogwalk contacts in trial, speed around 270/180s, things like that. But she's just so good; I go out with her, come up with, what I think is, a ridiculous course and then she goes and aces it the first time. Silly dog. I like her, though.

This year, Mach and I will be doing some more, much more, growing together. He's becoming a radical dog. Seriously. I can see he just *loves* it now.

I came up with 3 goals for him and I this year.
1. Get into Master Standard
2. Get Master Jumper title
3. Compete in 2 CKC trials

Those are the big picture goals.
Of course I still have the more important ones:
1. More accurate dogwalks
2. And aframes, for that matter
3. Faster weaves (trying to shave off 0.5 secs)
4. THREADLES
5. Driving the line - work on proper striding in between obstacles, etc
6. RECALLS (so much better, though)
7. Ground speed. (which, I guess is linked with 5.)

A goal that I have in the back of my mind, but I don't really want to think of it too much is Regionals. They're in June. Nationals are in August. Worlds are in October (2013).

Ahh, see, now you all get the picture. (CKC trials, Masters)

I wont be doing regionals with Toffee this year. It's going to be really weird. But I think it'll be good. It'll give me a chance to focus on Mach, plan for Mach, think Mach all weekend. Mach Mach Mach Mach Mach.

And perhaps something glorious will come of it.

Ah, the bliss of the future and not knowing what is waiting around the bend.
Just paint with all the colours of the wind.

2011 in review.

2011-12-29T10:41:00.000-04:00

2011. You were a glorious year. You have been my favourite year of all my existence. You have taught me more than I could ever put into a blog post.

Last year, when I was thinking of new years resolutions, it was to be more crafty. It was to create. To live in art. Yes, I did. I love art. I learned *sorta* how to play guitar, I painted, I listened to and found new music. I listened to music a lot. I did tie dye, made shirts, and many more things. I most definitely lived in art more so this year than any other. I appreciated it.

As the year went on, I changed it. I think it may have been around Feb or March. It was to get out more. Haha, I know. That's sad to make that your resolution. But I needed to do it. I hate not following through with things, so I had to do it. And so I did. I went out. I saw my friends a lot more. Maybe not during the summer as much, but I was so busy with agility..but this school year; it's been fantastic.

In November, for leadership, we made a wellness goal, and mine was to get more sleep. I made a goal, and I followed through. I have been getting more sleep and that has made me feel so much better! I feel like a new person! So vigourating to live each day without being dead tired!

Looking back on all of my new years resolutions of the past, I've realized that they have all changed my life. They have helped me become a better person. Without realizing it, I did that to myself. Pretty cool. For 2012, it is going to be the year of change, of growth, of opportunity. Things will change, I will change, people around me will change, they will leave and I most likely will never see some of them again. It's the year of happy, the year of sad, of moving on, of making your own life happen. The year to follow your dreams. Or to begin to, anyways. All in one year, I will graduate from highschool and start university. That's change.

Ah, sidebar.

I have decided that this years resolution will be to stay off the computer. Not completely, but a lot more. Basically to find other things to occupy my time, my brain and do something useful. Rad idea, I know.

Pictures tell a story. Looking back on the pictures from this past year, the story those photos tell is pretty cool.

We found a trail, we went hiking, Mach could be trusted more and more, I went back to school, I dissected a shark, I wrote exams; twice, I got good grades, and I got a couple bad, one of my best friends moved away, I missed her, I met new people, I hated physics, I drank tea and fell in love, we got a new puppy, old friends visited, we visited old friends, I made food, went to agility seminars, learned lots, watched the sun set in all its beauty, went to agility trials, got lots of Q's, went to more agility trials, mostly in the rain.

Mach learned all about agility, he grew a lot, and I did too because of it. I read books and got wrapped up into them, I got my full driving license, went for walks with my friends, we got a camaro, I went on a camping trip with my class and loved every minute of it, I finished the hardest year in school that I have ever had, my wisdom teeth were removed, and went to more agility trials...

Toffee and I earned our Lifetime Achievement Award and Mach and I started trialing and earned our first Q's together.

I had campfires, ate smores, chips and dip and I went swimming. Took the dogs swimming, too.

We went to Nationals. My fifth time going.

It was the most amazing experience in my life. We won nationals, along with top junior handler, and steeplechase. We did it. We made it happen. I am so blessed.

I met new people, talked to some I have wanted to for a very long time and soaked up every minute of it.

I started my Grad year. I made friends with new people, I found a new appreciation for life and all that it is. I found a new appreciation for the people in my life and have tried to make it a point to make sure they know it.

I found a passion in healthy living,(okay, still trying), and trying to figure out the wild world.

Mach got his first titles and Toffee ranked the top dog in atlantic Canada.

I lived, I learned, I loved, I laughed, I smiled, I cried, I cherish, I was selfish, I was grateful, I was selfless, I was mad, I was happy, I grew, I grew a lot.

Continue on, my love.

2011-12-28T01:38:00.000-04:00

I was brave.
I'm not brave a lot.
Not ever, really.
But I was brave. So I applaud myself for once. I WAS BRAVE.
Yes, I finally listened to my own advice of the month and I took a chance, because they are always worth taking.

And I truly belive that they are. No, probably most of the time they wont give you the outcome that you had planned or hoped for. They will teach you lessons, though. And you will learn them. Maybe not the first time, or even the second or third. But you will learn, and you will grow. This, I do believe, is for certain.

Old habits die hard. Unfortunately I have the habit of making a fool of myself and screwing things up, usually for good. And you know the suckiest part is? It's not like my heart was broken or anything. Not at all. Because no one even truly has my heart to break. No one ever does. I get myself all wrapped up into these situations that are destined for doom. But, they dont have to be...but somehow I always make it play out that way. Sometimes I'm smart, but most of the time I'm not.

I'm crippled and slow.

Even though there are promises that things wont change, this heart may rightly be naive, but it knows all about broken promises. No, this heart aint no stupid thing. It knows when disappointment is coming. It can sense it. It's like a sixth sense. But this heard decides that LIFE IS GREAT! That things are full of love and so full of life and it should ALWAYS be happy.

Oh, and it tries to be.

It puts on its mask of happiness on even the darkest days because it doesnt want anyone to believe that it is unhappy. Because it's not. Oh, it's so happy. But for that day, it's just sad. Yes, it'll find many reasons to smile and even laugh, but for that day, it won't be that god damned happy heart that you want to shoot because your heart is having a shitty day and you think everyone around you should be too.

That's the difference between this heart and that heart. It doesn't want any other hearts to be sad. It knows, all too well, that being sad sucks and no heart should have to feel sadness all the time. Of course, sadness has to have its days, too. But they should be scarce.

But despite the days of sadness that this heart knows, it took a chance. Oh, did it ever. And no, it didn't work out the way it had hoped for. Though it knew that any other option was dead. But for a tiny moment, this heart saw a tiny shimmer of hope. It did. It was bright, too. And happy. Just like the sun.

But just like the sun, it eventually will come to an end. This shimmer was much small than the sun, so naturally it died much quicker. This hope was very hasty. Hasty is was. Very rushed, desperate almost.

Oh, but it was bursting with potential. And I think that's what kills this heart the most. There's potential in so much. But it is never, ever, ever reached. The potential just sits...and fades away.

Oh, but I was brave. Brave I was.

boy, let me tell you, bravery ain't cheap.

2011-12-27T23:39:00.000-04:00

No it's not.
Being brave is really hard. It takes a lot, you know. It takes a lot of mustering up the courage. It takes a lot of emotion. It takes a lot of heart. I've been there. It's hard. To be vulnerable, it's hard. To wear your heart on your sleeve is hard. It's all hard. Life is hard. Love is hard. Oh, but love is so easy. Broken hearts are hard. Disappointment is hard. Losing chances is really hard. It's hard to take. To look back and go over all the "what ifs". Those are hard.

Moving on is hard, too. Much to difficult to think of right now.

Oh, but love is so easy.

Christmas!

2011-12-27T00:41:00.000-04:00

Is all over and done with. I didnt even realize it was here, and it has already come and gone. Funny how that happens, eh?

I do have pictures, but they're on the camera, and it's really late and I dont want to go find where the camera is..download them, edit them, press the button to add them. Really, I'm just lazy. Deal with it. :)

Santa found us. Yes, yes he did.

He brought me snowshoes! Mom and I went out with them today and brought Mach and Rowdie. It was fun!!

He also brought me a pair of moccasins, and awesome boots.
and a fringe vest. AHH. Lots of goodies from Forever 21. <3

and other hippie-tastic things.

We went to see my Gramp, as we always do. The whole fam gets together. Ty wasn't there though. He called from Edmonton, where he's living. He said they were having tacos from supper. hahah, Merry Christmas, bro!

That is all.

Hope all of your Christmases were fantabulous as well!

Happy holidays, everyone!

Christmas Eve!

2011-12-24T17:02:00.000-04:00

Are y'all just as excited, that Christmas is here, as I am?
Also, I'm on break...FINALLY! Such a much needed break. Oof.

Today has been relatively relaxing. Slept in, cleaned up, wrapped some presents, went in town to get groceries for tonight, more cleaning, more wrapping, some eating in there, too.

Tonight should be relaxing, too. Since we stopped going over to our neighbours on Xmas Eve, we've stayed home, watched a Christmas movie and ate a lot of food in front of the fire. I like it.

It snowed a lot yesterday, so now we're in for a White Christmas! I don't particularily enjoy snow. It means it's cold enough out, and I have to bundle up in a lot of clothes, and I can't play agility outside. However, I do like it for Christmas. It just doesn't seem right without it. But after the Holidays are over, I want it gone. Because, then it becomes annoying.

Mach's excited that it's a white and fluffy outside! Look how cute. Gah.

Music

2011-12-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."

I wish to be free..

2011-12-22T11:08:00.000-04:00

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. That they can read and be thankful for it. I wish that they keep life beautiful, never miss an opportunity to tell someone just how much they mean to them, for we miss that moment all too often. I wish that no one that is a fish is judged on its ability to climb a tree, because no one deserves to swim around their whole life believing they're stupid.

I wish to sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in my sails, to explore, to dream, to discover. I wish to meet new people, as every person is a new door to a different world. I wish to be so happy that when others looks at me, they become happy, too. I wish to make someone happy. I wish that I take every chance and drop every fear. I wish to realize that this day will never happen again. I wish to embrace it.

I wish that I am the crazy one that dares to change the world, because those are the few that actually do; the ones who believe.I wish that I can change someones life. Because to every person, the world is different. Each and every person has a different perspective of this earth, and if I can change one persons life, I can change the world; for that person, and that is a great gift.

I wish to remember that every little thing is gonna be alright, that nothing is permenant in this wicked world, not even our troubles.

I wish to embrace everything. To live in art, as art is a way of life. Without art, the earth is just "eh". I wish to have less, do more and be more. I wish to have the passion to not settle for a life that is less than the one I am capable of living.

I wish to do small things with great love. To live, love, laugh, sing and be happy; to smile when I remember that where there is love, there is life.

I wish that I take deep breaths and just go wherever the wind takes me. Life is not a race, it's a journey.

I wish to love, because I have a sneaking suspicion that love actually is all around.

Be free. Move forward.

It's such a wonderful time of the year!

2011-12-21T00:14:00.000-04:00

Today was PERFECT.
Okay, kinda stressful. But not at all at the same time.

There's only 5 days until Christmas. FIVE. Il y a seulement cinq jours. CINQ!
Ah, mon doux!

All of my friends loved their cookie baggies. I got a hug from all of them and I loved every minute of it.
I love my friends. They are golden.

Today was Ugly Sweater day. A lot of people had them, and I'm not kidding when I say that I would wear about 90% of them on any given day. They're all so pretty. I love sweaters.

Our trip to UNB was fun, too. Well, sorta. Kinda boring. Not really. A little interesting. Maybe. Yeah. No. Hmm. A guy in our class reached 60 VO2. That's awesome. But all I could really think of the entire time I was there was just how hungry I was. So hungry. All the time.

Also, we have to do a french speech (die) after the break. Meaning I have to write a friggin french speech over the break. I'm sorry, I thought "break" meant no work; an actual break from school work. But they don't seem to understand that. But at least I get to write it whatever in the world would please my little heart.

I watched The Santa Claus 2 this evening. It was splendid. I remember when we were younger, my brothers and I, would chant around our living room on Christmas Eve, saying "Santa Claus is coming, Santa Claus is coming!" Watching that movie reminded me of the good 'ol times.

Back then, in any persons childhood, your life is full of magic. You believe in everything. You believe in magic, you believe in love, in the easter bunny, the tooth fairy, that you wont have a broken heart because everyone will always come back for you. Why do we lose sight of the magic in every day things? Why do we lose the magic in the belief of something so simple. Maybe it's a simple answer, and maybe it isn't. Who are we to decide. But wait. Who are we not to decide? Magic is in everything.

I've stayed up a half hour...okay, forty five minutes past what I should have...okay, it was an hour...looking at grad quotes. (We can have a quote of anything at all under our picture in the yearbook). They're due on Friday, and I cannot decide on one. I have a page and a half a written out quotes. Yikes.

But here's a picture. Enjoy. Love yourself, always.

Christmas is coming!

2011-12-19T23:16:00.001-04:00

Although it most definitely does not feel like it. I will be in school until the 23rd. I don't know if I like that or not. We will get our two weeks off. We go back to school the 10th, and I do like having the time after Christmas to get ready and all that. But I also think it's stupid because we're back to school for 10 days and then it's exam time. I just wish we had our exams before Christmas to get them over and done with. I don't like having to think about exams while on vacation. It's a much needed vacation.

But school has not stopped me from getting into the Christmas spirit! I've been listening to Christmas music all month. Our house has been fully decorated for a while now; our christmas lights on every night. They're beautiful.

I've finished all my shopping, wrapped most of it, done all my baking and they are all ready to be given out to my friends tomorrow. I made little cards for all of them, too. I hope they like them :)

This past Saturday we had our Kapers (our agility club) Christmas party at our house. It was fun. It was nice seeing everyone together, especially all the newbies to the club. Nice group of people. The oldies practically rasied me.

I made Scotch cakes, iced them with whipped vanilla icing, and decorated them with smarties and chocolate chips, Magic sqaures, which are quite literally magical. I also made the best in the world chocolate chip cookies. It's the best batch I have ever made. Baked to perfection. Yum! And lastly, I made peanut butter chocolate squares. The recipe is in one of the pictures. So easy and they definitely have the YUM! factor. So delish.

For the Christmas party, I have made a themed cake for the past couple years. This year I decided to make a tree. Much easier said than done. It was really difficult to ice it, but it turned out okay. And delicious. I also made Santa Hat brownies, thanks to Pinterest for showing me the wonderful creations. I made them with Ghirardelli browni mix from Cost Co.....best brownies in the world. You have to go but a box. So. Good.

And what's a post without an adorably beautiful Toffee photo?

This week is going to be pretty crazy. I have 3 tests on thursday. Tomorrow I am going to the Currie Center for Exercise Science. This week at our school is Themed Day week. Each day is a different theme, all in the name of Christmas Spirit. Today was Red and Green. I wore a red sweater and green sweat pants (it's monday ;)), tomorrow is Ugly Sweater day. That is my most favorite day of all. My sweater is the best. It has ornaments on it. Wednesday is Christmas Character day. I don't think I'll do this one...it seems as though I don't have an elf or santa costume laying around....Thursday is Classy Christmas...you have to dress up? I don't think so. This chick rides in sweats all day, every day. ;) But it may be an excuse to wear this cute little dress/leggings/boots combo that I've been waiting to wear. But I have three tests that day...so maybe not. And lastly, Friday is PJ day. (Just another sweats day for me, haha) Also, it's only a half day. And there is the Christmas Assembly, where I could potentially win prizes. For nothing. #win.

That was a emmence paragraph about pointless school activities that nobody cares about. hehe.

There's also a lunch time activity each day. Today was Chug-a-Nog....chugging a carton of Egg Nog. No thanks. Tomorrow is pictures with Santa. And I don't know what else is going on.

Christmas Coffee House is Wednesday evening, but seeing how I have three tests on Thursday, I doubt I should go. Would probably end up being very bad...

I am very tired. I need to get up early and go to school. At least I am missing 3 periods for a field trip. (in grade 12 :) )

Wishing you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Stop The Bullying.

2011-12-04T19:52:00.000-04:00

Came across this video and it really hit me.

I'll let Jonah do all the talking.

Review

2011-11-30T16:35:00.000-04:00

I went to go see Breaking Dawn, part 1 last night.
I may or may not have LOVED it. I'm sad I have to wait an ENTIRE YEAR to see the last one. Heartbroken.

Mach is feeling better. Not sure what was upsetting him, but lately he's been a little off.

I'm tired and I'm going to go eat and have an afterschool nap. And watch tv. All at once. That's right, I'm talented.

Also, I need to review for my math quiz tomorrow. Boo.

But today was an awesome day, full of happiness. And I'm thankful for that.

Also, I watched this TED talk video the other day and it totally was what I needed in that moment.

There is hurt. Here.
That can't be fixed by bandaids or poetry
So the first time she realizes that Wonder Woman isn't coming
I'll make sure she knows she doesn't have to wear the cape all by herself
'Cause no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal
Believe me, I've tried.
- Sarah Kay, If I Should Have a Daughter

'Tis the Season

2011-11-27T00:55:00.000-04:00

Before I begin, I think I have figured out what I want to do. With my life, that is. Well, maybe. I mean, probably. Most likely.

I will stay home and go to UNBF for Kinesiology. Then, off to Dal for PT, then off to the states for Canine Rehab courses.

Done.
Future = planned. I'm feeling good about it.
Applications + Scholarships = Not done. = Needs to be done. Pronto.

MOVING ON.

We are going to get our tree on the 4th. I'm excited! Every year, a bunch of us get together and go out to a christmas tree farm to get our trees and then we all go back to town and eat brunch together. When we were all younger, it was a much more awesome time. My brothers have grown up and are stupid and are "too cool" to spend time with the fam, though they came along anyways ... just for the food.

Since Ty is all moved out, it'll be a little different, Ry may not come.
But it doesn't really matter, they just cause headaches anyways. I, however, LOVE it. I love old traditions. I love christmas. I love old christmas traditions. Best ever.

Last weekend my mom and her friends went down to the states for their annual christmas shopping trip. Those girls (minus my mom) just loooove to shop! They love it so much that they wanted to go down this weekend for Black Friday and thought it would be a good idea to bring me along with them!

So off we went.

I hate shopping.
Always have, always will.

I was in so much pain in the first hour, I didn't know how I was going to last the day. But I managed.

We found a little homemade native apparel shop...and I nearly died. Everything in there was PERFECT.

Today was the Santa Claus parade here in Freddy. We weren't in it..err...supposed to be in it.
A guy from our club said he was walking in it with the Greyhound rescue group. His wife has the greyhound and he has the border collie. He asked if anyone wanted to join.

After we were done with our things this morning, we remembered we needed dog food. So we ended up at the market, to get samosas, to walmart to get christmas doggy things because we decided that we should walk in the parade, to sears, to the dollarstore, to zellers and then to home, only to have an hour before we needed to be back in town for the parade.

Needless to say, our costumes for the dogs were awesome, we were late for the parade, had to hop a barrier to meet up with them, even though we are not even a part of the group ... yeah, we crashed the greyhound party.

Mach didn't really like his costume, though. "Santa's Little Helper" wasn't too impressed.

He's so cute, though :)

Rowdie was a star! He was the crowd pleaser, helped hand out the candy canes (that Mach carried) and took everything in stride. I suppose he was kinda cute, too....

Little "Santa Paws"

Toffee wasn't too happy about being left behind and being forced to wear a hat. Not impressed at all.

We listend to Christmas music all day, and yes, it's safe to say that I'm in the Christmas spirit and sooo ready for Christmas Break!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Falling into place

2011-11-20T15:35:00.000-04:00

Well, it's trying to anyways.
Life, that is.

As you probably know, I am graduating from high school this year. That means university and real life is coming near. Did you know that it is the second half of November already? Yeah, it is. Time is a funny thing, eh. Sneaks up on ya, that's for sure.

I've really gotta decide what I want to do with my life...pretty freakin soon. I have to get scholarships and applications all figured out. Oh, and the thing where I decide which school I want to go to, too.

Everyone keeps telling me that I don't need to figure it out...that they don't even have it figured out and they're all adults. I don't like that...I need some stability in my future. It just scares me.
Last week, our school put on a career fair. In the back of my mind, I know I'm going to UNBF. I get to stay at home, with my dogs, my room, my mom's food and everything familiar. I like familiar.

On the other hand, I am clearly freaking out, because I honestly don't know what I want. Do I really want to do this for the rest of my life? Wouldn't that be so much fun to do? Oh, but it would be cool to volunteer for a year and not to go school. But, if I don't go to school right away, I would not want to go back after being free.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. A teenager who doesn't know what to do with their life, how weird. With me, though, I've always known what I wanted to do. Yea, it changed over time. I wanted to be a princess, then a hair dresser, then an architech, then a dog trainer, then a vet, and then a animal rehab practitioner. Now....notta.

Yes, I would LOVE to do rehab. How fun! Getting there, however is what is keeping my mind a little grey. But you know what else I think would be wicked? Training dogs and travelling the world teaching others. Now, that's my kind of life. I want to be like Susan Garrett or Nancy Gyes. Training, teaching, playing. All the time. Sure, it would take lots of work, just like anything in life. But I LOVE teaching, and training and playing. More than anything.

Of course, it only happens to a select few. You have to get a name for yourself first. Maybe it could happen, maybe not.

I'm obviously just not gonna not go to school, waiting for a distant dream to come true. Nah, I gotta be a real person and go to school and learn boring things. Well, some boring things.

So, back tracking to the career fair, I got talking to a lady from NSAC (Nova Scotia Agricultural College). They have some really cool programs. They have animal science, and pet specialty with a buisness diploma attached, and other cool and earthy things. I like earthy.

I lady who I have known for a while, taught agility to and cool things like that told me that's where she graduated from and loved it there. She said there's lots of farm people who have John Deer sheets on their beds. And they wear overall's to class. So they're all awesome.

If nothing else, I would be surrounded by a bunch of people who love animals and and cool that way.

oof. Deep breaths, right?

In other news, Mach's dogwalk seems to be getting much better...getting lower hits and more speed. Im trying something a little different. And today, I drove myself and Tof across town and went to the FSPCA's Pet Expo and did demos. Ahh, growing up. Ain't it a treat...

Dog World Adventures

2011-11-18T23:58:00.000-04:00

I have many of things to talk about in the dog related world.
I will try to keep things short and sweet, however, that has proven to be near impossible for me.

Superdogs. Yes. I was invited to be a part of the Superdogs show in Moncton a few weeks ago. Toffee and I struted in there with our bling and did our thing. No, we didn't do any of the three "events" correctly, but hey, life's not meant to be perfect. Tof handled the weirdo agility just fine and didn't seem to mind the commotion and the crowd much either. I think her favorite part was the "Pat and Chat", where everyone could come meet them, hence belly rubs for Toffee....what do you think?

I think yes.

I do have video...but haven't gone through any of them yet...yes...procrastination at its best.

Also, the OJAC came up...it's kinda short notice for me to go, since it's in February, and since Tof mesures over the cut off for medium, she would have to jump 26"...which is not going to happen. That of course, would leave Mach. I'm not so sure he's ready for something like that just yet. BUT, I think he will be by next year's, and it'll be my last year being a junior handler, so why not? I'll get fundraising, like...now. And I suppose Anthony Clark aint so bad. ;)

Some Superdogs bling

November 5-6 was our last trial for the year.
Sad, yes. But it was pure awesomeness.

Toffee was a superstar. Need I say more? Seriously, this dog couldn't get anymore awesome, because she's totally rad and cute. Like...so cute.

She was running just awesome all weekend. Her first run was superb! It was a gamblers, and she was just running like craaazy! We got 128 points, I think, and first place. Usually gamblers aren't where we do so well, so that's good news :) We even beat Marco. And Blaze. ..Yuh. Her other runs were equally as awesome, where she hit EVERY.SINGLE.DOG.WALK.CONTACT. That's great news! Okay, maybe two of them were a little iffy...but hey. Beggers can't be choosers. So...she went 6 for 6. I think she won every class? Maybe, maybe not. I could be making these things up.

Let's talk about Mach.

He was a rockstar! So great!!!

His first trial on turf, first trial indoors.

His first run, he was a little sketched out. It was gamblers and I think we got like 29 points. He just wouldnt do anything. And then I got flustered by it. BUT, both of his dogwalk contacts were perfect. Win. His next run was much better. The only fault was his dogwalk contact. I could tell he wasnt going to get it when he got on it. Oh well. All of his other runs that weekend were beautiful, only knocked 2 bars (both caused by me). His jumping has become much better since I started training him at 26".

No Q's on Sat, but nice runs anyhow. Sunday was better! His first run, a standard, and just a hardlywassuperclosejustmessedhisstridesorsomethingclose missed dogwalk contact. The rest was beautiful. The second standard was it. I needed just 1 standard to get our starters title...and it was the last one of the year. And we got it!! He was moving, too. He messed up the weaves, so I had to take him back (it took 6 seconds....yes, I counted when I watched the video later...) and we finished with a time of 36 seconds. (yep...basically did it in 30 seconds.) We got first place and our title!! In advanced now. So excited :)

Our very last run of the season was an advanced jumpers. We also only needed 1 for our title. It had a tricky opening, and I knew I couldn't do that far of a lead out pivot. I decided to run into it, but lead out to a Toffee position. I completely forgot for the 0.00043 seconds it took for him to get to me that he is much faster than her. Oops. Way late getting into my serp after, but I managed. His turns were all so beautiful and he was moving on top of it! We got another Q! And 25.95 for a time! And first place! And a title! And we're in MASTERS! My baby dog! Best way to end the year! Such a great weekend! So many exclamation marks! !! !!!

Some TNT lovin'! 4 dogs got their ADC title on the last run...Mach, Quake, Pip and Quick! So exciting! Yay baby dogs!

So the tallies for the year is as follows:

Toffee: 70 Q's, Lifetime Achievement Award, National Champion, Steeplechase Champion, Top Junior Handler [Champion], Riverside Steeplechase Champion [500$, aw yea], Superdog Extraordinaire, Bellyrub Masters of Excellence.

Mach: 13 Q's, ADC, AJDC, [a VERY close SGDC{I just had to put it]}, World Team Hopeful, Quirky Dog Champion, Blue Eyed Boy Heart Melter belt of strength.

Okay, I'm not sure what that last one was supposed to be. Moving on.

At the trial, there was a very special person. So, anyone (the one person) that reads this blog knows that I love Tori Self. Yeah. I mean, who doesn't? She's awesome and inspirational and wins things and has a rad dog named Revolution. Everything about her is awesome and I wish I was as awesome as her to be her friend. Lols. And through her, I somehow got watching videos of her friend's dogs, Reef and Caper.

I was watching the starters gamblers class and this girl and a border were running. The girl was bare foot. And her border collie had running contacts. *Erin freaks out a little* I loved this girl already.

I went over to the gate to try and figure out who it was, but everything was all scratched out and there was so many people there, it was too hard on my brain.

I wanted to go up to her and talk to her, but I'm too much of a little nugget to do something so human.

But later, my mom got talking to her and called me over. She goes.."Guess who this girl is friend's with?" and I go "TORI SELF?!!!!!!!!"

I lost my cool. Damn.

So turns out Tracey, with Reef and Caper knew about me, through Tori. And my life is just so awesome all the time now. And I knew Tracey through Tori. And the world is such a small and wonderous place sometimes. :)

Mach lost his cool, too.

We went to our first Jessica Martin seminar the other weekend.

It was quite possibly awesome.

Mach was a radicalrockstar!

I jumped him at 26". I thought he would get tired....but he never did!

I remember getting so nervous going to seminars with him, because I never felt we were at the same spot as everyone else. I was so nervous, I felt sick to my stomach and I couldn't eat and I would always want to back out of them at the last minute.

It was much different leading up to this one, however. I was excited. Pure excitement.

Before, at seminars, because I was so stressed out, Mach stressed hard core. (Remember the running away incident?) He couldn't work for very long. Half day seminars zonked him right out. We would be out training for 5 minutes and then he'd be done done done. And getting in and out of his crate, alone, exhausted/stressed him.

Mach was a different dog at this seminar. It was a full day, jumping and handling at 26. My group mainly consisted of the same dogs and people from the other seminars, so it wasn't bad that way. But it was a new place, and he's notorious for stressing in new environments. He was a little sketched the first time I left him at the startline, but he opening ip and loved life after that!

Jess picked up on something major, that will most definitely help us become the best we can be.

Because he recall sucked and his retrieve suck[s] and something could trigger stress at any second, I really worried about him taking off, so at the end of a sequence, or anything at all, he would always have to turn back to me for the reward. So, where I should have been throwing the toy ahead to cue extension, I was getting him to check back into me. Sure, it helped with him not running away, but now he doesn't know when he should extend his stride, and adds check strides in everywhere, therefore taking more time to get to where we're going.

Sure, his turns are incredible, and it's partly because that's all I really have room to work on at home, but the ground speed is also important. Finding balance in everything in life, eh?

So that is our homework, and I think it'll be an easy fix. Who cares if he does a victory lap with the toy every time I give it to him? .... Okay, I HAVE been working on it...it's getting better, I swear.

Some Rowdie Lovin'

Heartwarming

2011-11-12T21:58:00.000-04:00

So much in my life has been so full lately.
My heart has been exploding.
.......

I started this post about three weeks ago...look how far I got. Clearly, my life has been busy busy.

So lets see....
School has been going pretty good. I mean, my morning classes are great. I love all the subjects, I'm doing well in all of them and it's just great. Afternoons suck and I hate them. Oh well.
My friends are awesome. I've found my twin and I'm wondering why the heck we haven't been best friends since the beginning of time. But I'm so glad to have her in my life. I'm not such a hermit this year. I actually go out. It's kinda awesome.

A good friend gave this to me...how awesome? :)

A few weekends ago, I went out golfing with my dad. Wow. So much harder than it looks. Like, much harder. I think I got about 4 good hits out of like the billion that I took...on a 9 hole round. My arms hurt for a week afterwards.

I am now obsessed with Adele, more so than ever before. And also Ed Sheeran. Oh and I've been watching the XFactor. I. Love. It. I love Josh Krajcik even MORE. Now....that's a lot of love. I really loved this performance. Oh, and this one. That one gives me goosebumps. I suppose I should just say that I really loved his second live show, too. But his third show's song has been stuck in my head, and because I love Joe Cocker.

It snowed. A lot. We had like 4 or 5 inches. And this was before halloween. I made a cyclopse jack-o-lantern. The snow eventually melted...way after everyone else's melted, but it melted.

I came across this, thanks to Tori and ... well, isn't it the cutest thing ever? I think so. Music and Agility. Best combination ever.

For leadership, we have been doing reading buddies with a local elementary school during third period every tuesday. I was a little nervous going into this. I'll be the first to admit it; I'm not the greatest with kids. Frankly, they terrify me. But I lucked out. My girl is the best. I'm really enjoying it. It's so interesting going back into an environment with children. Their spirit and innocence is heartwarming.

Also for leadership, we were assigned a wellness project. We were to choose something to improve upon to balance out our wellness wheel. I chose sleep. I have never slept well...ever. And what d'ya know...I'm getting more sleep because of this project! My mom also picked me up some Sleepytime tea, and I love it.

My oldest brother, Tyler finally left the nest. He left to go out west a couple weeks ago. I haven't talked to him much, but he's anxious to get a job and get his own place...yikes! ;) I think it's going to be a great experience for him. He really needed to get out. For his sanity and for the rest of the family, hehe. Although he did cause stress, as any person may in a family, and as much as I wanted him gone, I've noticed that I keep expecting him to come home in the evening....or at 3 in the morning, like he loved to do.

Last week was my favorite teacher's last week teaching. Of course, she had to go get pregnant...and have to leave half way through the first semester. Of course, she did. Grr. I'm sad that she's leaving, she's honestly changed my life. And I thank her for it. However, we're getting a super rad and respectable replacement...just a super rad guy. And I'm excited.

I've been pretty inspired by people lately, trying to find the little things in life and use them in my life. Just enjoying life, no matter how exhausting, is most important.

Agility Musings

2011-10-18T00:34:00.000-03:00

Wahh..so much has happened recently, I just haven't had the time to sit down and write it down!

The 8-9 we went to a trial. Holy poop, my dogs are awesome!
Toffee had some pretty rad runs. It's kinda weird going between Tof and Mach. I know Toffee isn't slow, but she seems SO slow compared to Mach. Even though we're still wipping out 35 secs standard runs, it just feels weird.

After we got home from the trial, the judge had emailed me and asked if she could interview me for the On Course magazine. For the october issue, they're featuring the national winners as well as junior handlers. It's a two-in-one deal with me! ;) Personally I think Toffee should be interviewed. She's the superstar in all of this. Though they wouldn't get very far in the interview...she'd just be laying on her back, demanding a belly rub. Silly girl.

ALSO, we were asked to be in the Superdogs show in Moncton! Very exciting! I'm a little nervous, though. We only know how to play agility...we know very little outside of that. Even to catch a frisbee...I'm not sure Toffee would be so superdog-ish in that section. Eep. Oh well. It's the 29th. We go for practice in the morning, and then the show is in the afternoon. Hopefully everything goes well! Wish me luck!

This is how cool my dogs are.

Here's Toffee's video.

Mach was AMAZING!
I am so so so proud of him!
My goal for the weekend was to get good dogwalk contacts. And I soo got them! He was a little rockstar on his dogwalk all weekend! As well as his teeter and aframe.
Bobbled a couple times in the weaves - at the 10th pole. But we really haven't worked much on them lately. However, after I was done teaching one night last week, I had him doing some wicked entries. He even surprised me! The only one he has trouble with is the big piece of the pie for onside. He's getting faster in them, too. Sometimes he'll even break into single step for a couple poles. Not sure if he'll fully change or not.

Anyways, the trial. This is how it went.
Standard 1: Perfect! His first Starters Standard Q!
Standard 2: 1 bar, but beautiful contacts <3
Gamblers: Awesome points and a Q...move up to adanced!
Jumpers: Off course at the very end! Ahh, heart break. Would have been his last leg to get into masters!

Standard 3: Another awesome run! His 2nd Q in standard! One more :)
Standard 4: Knocked the first bar, so I was proofing things - weaves, table. And then knocked the double.
Snooker: Beautiful opening, however it was awkward to get 4 reds. I settled for 3, so I needed 6 to qualify. He knocked the middle jump of the pinwheel of #6. Oh well. One more snooker for his SGDC title!
Steeplechase: Popped the weaves, so took him back and then knocked a bar...

So he did knock quite a few bars that weekend. I have been training him at 26" so hopefully it will help. I find courses are very condenced and he has a hard time getting his feet under him to take off nicely. I really do need to do jump grids with him. I find he'll start jumping from his front when things are tight or when he's going nuts. Meh, what do I know anyways?

Here's Mach's video.

Training today was super amazing awesomely awesome! I've been working on our threadles lately - we totally sucked at them, but they're looking pretty good! At my house, there's not too much room, so it's hard to work on acceleration. We work mostly decel's/tight turns, etc. Holy cow, they're so good! I was so excited today. And he kept most of his bars up all practice!

Since Worlds were that weekend, too, in my head I was running at worlds. Lame, I know. :)
I was so excited to hear about Tori and Rev and how well they did! She is such an inspiration to me every day! Such a cool experience, wouldn't it be? Ahh, so lucky.
I was living vicariously through her and others on my facebook. Just hearing about everything they were doing lit my fire and I wanted to go out and run all those courses again and again and again.
I never did set up a course...too big. But I did set up a section of the Large Team Standard, I believe it was. I ran it with Mach. And he rocked at it. I on the other hand, really suck. I need to re assess how the poop I'm going to get around a course with running contacts and a dog that is much much faster than I'm used to!

We're almost done agility trials for the year. One more to go. In 3 weeks.
What on earth do normal people do on weekends?
Whatever, I'll just end up playing agility anyways :)
But the trial is on turf, so it'll be interesting how Mach runs on it. It may change when we get there, but as of right now, my goal for Mach and I is to get weaves. I mean, I'm hoping his contacts will be awesome again, but one thing at a time, right ? :) It'll all piece together soon enough.

School has been pretty hectic lately...I should have been studying for my two unit tests tomorrow or working on a math assignment that's due thursday when I wrote this. But meh, I needed a break. And talking about agility is much more interesting than sliding filament theory, porous bones, ossification, Canada's food guide, macro/micro nutrients or the 6 dimensions of wellness...right? Right.

Terry Fox Day Photos

2011-10-02T01:35:00.000-03:00

Hot Nurse. <3

Happy Terry Fox Day!

2011-09-30T23:35:00.000-03:00

This week my leadership class has been busy busy doing fundraisers for Terry Fox foundation.
And today was the run/walk!
It went so smoothly! It was awesome to be out of classes all day, just doing things here, there and everywhere all day long. I'm exhausted though!

It was filled with organizing participants, gathering prizes, cheering runners on, taking a million pictures and being in just as many, cleaning up, BBQ'ing, face painting and tattooing, counting money, walking, taking more pictures and cleaning more up!

Have I mentioned how wicked my class is? Yeah, well it is. I love them all. They make my day.
Including hot nurses that decide to show up...I don't hate it.
:)

(photo by Tori Self...yes I stole it.) :)

I got to spend my friday night fixing the curriculum...again!!!!! arrrggggg...so annoying. But I think it should be done for a while now...hopefully nothing drastic changes in dog training in the next little while. I can't deal with having to go through and change that again!!!!!!

Tomorrow morning we're heading out to Salisbury for a funmatch. It's to raise money for an animal vet emergency fund...great cause! Mach is running in two steeplechase and masters jumpers...he only needs one more advanced to move onto masters - so I need some practice!! weee!

And Sunday I'm teaching a gamblers class. Fun fun!

Another jam-packed week and jam-packed weekend!
Some things never change.

*yawn* it's late. I need to get up early tomorrow.
Night.

Weekends full of friends and laughter :)

2011-09-25T16:34:00.000-03:00

I love those weekends <3

Yesterday we had the car wash. Surprisingly, it was fun! However, exhausting. Washing cars is hard work! Especially when you're working off an empty stomach...oh my, I was so hungry..food was all I could think about for those three hours.

It was nice hanging out with some of my friends that I rarely get to see nowadys..and hanging out with some people that I've been wishing I was close friends with. People are just awesome, eh. Right at the end of our time slot, this guy came with his big truck..I'm sure he just came back from muddin' because there was probably 5 inches of mud caked on EVERYWHERE. He gave us 40 bucks though...which made our group beat the morning's group..288$ and 342$ That's super good, seeing how there was 9 different stations all of the northside of Freddy with two groups each (morning and afternoon). Safe grad fundraiser off to a great start!!

I tried doing homework, but I failed miserably at that. So much to do, though.. gaah,

Today was extra fun! Some of our leadership class went out doing a bottle drive to raise money for the Terry Fox foundation. We got a fair amount for the amount of time we spent doing it, actually. It was just a fun day hanging out :)

I also just went apple picking. It is so beautiful out right now. I really don't want to finish my homework..boo. And it's all really stupif stuff, too. And through out a series of events today, I was a little nervous driving...hahaha Man, it's a good story. One for the books. ;)

Things going the way they should be :)

2011-09-23T20:04:00.000-03:00

Last weekend we went to a trial. Actually it was my club that was hosting it, at our new location :) It went well. Not too many hiccups. Love when that happens..

Mach was entered in a full trial...7 runs. I wasn't sure how he was going to respond to it, but I had nothing to worry about. He was a ROCKSTAR!!

So happy with how he ran!! First two runs were standards, and his dogwalk wasn't very pretty...he was scared of it the first time, then the second time he just went into flying squirrel mode..There was only a couple spots in each of his runs that weren't perfect...just baby dog stuff that we haven't proofed enough.

Saturday was his birthday....my baby boy is 2 years old!! That's like 14 years old...he's a teenager! gahh
His sissy, Mirage was there, too...she's an awesome little girlie :)

Saturday, on his 2nd birthday, he got 2 Q's...how fitting :) That includes his 2nd Steeplechase Q and 2nd Advanced Jumpers Q!! Only need one more to get into the big leagues...Masters...ouuu

Sunday was Amazing! Three runs, standard, snooker and jumpers...
He was so close to getting the standard...just knocked one bar, but had a super beautiful turn after the jump :) His dogwalk was perfection. So happy he got one :) heheh
His jumpers was super nice, too...knocked two bars, but was smokin' fast!
He did get a Q...Snooker...a perfect 59 point run - 4 reds, 4 sets of 12 weaves. He's a radical dog, I tell ya.

Even though he didn't Q in all of his runs - which I didn't go in hoping he would anyways - not once did I come off a run wishing it could have been better. I was always super proud of how he ran. HE IS SO MUCH FUN! He's the best little guy anyone could ask for. He was super happy all weekend and seemed to get better and better as the weekend went on.

What more could you ask for, right?

As for Toffee, she was a champ, too. Missed two dogwalk contacts, too...but had 7 flawless runs other than that. She ended the weekend with 5 Q's. She's so awesome, eh?

Grad year is still going amazing. I hope the entire year is like this. I just feel so alive, all the time. My leadership class is possibly the best ever. I love the freedom. And my nutrition class is rockin. And Ex Sci is so cool and interesting. Math is a bore, but have lots of friends in it :) French is pointless, but an easy way to end the day.

This weekend, I'm doing the Safe Grad car wash - fundraiser and also doing a bottle drive to raise money for Terry Fox with my leadership class! See what I mean? So much fun!

Terry Fox week next week! Jam packed with a bunch of activities..I'm excited!
Also, we got our leadership shirts today...we get to have nicknames on the back of them....mine's Dog Racer...lolz.

A-Z of Me...Piercy!

2011-09-14T22:29:00.000-03:00

Hah, I love rhyming.. :)

A. Age: 17
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Dishes. Barf.
D. Dogs: MY LIFE. I have 5. I love my dogs <3
E. Essential start to your day: Chill music :)
F. Favorite color: Turquoise..purple...blue...pink...yellow...every color? :):) hehe
G. Gold or Silver: Hmm...I would have to go with Silver.
H. Height: 5'6" ....(y) Okay, that was a lie...I'm actually 5'5.5".... :(
I. Instruments you play: Guitar!!!! (finally!!)
J. Job title: None, really...I guess Agility Instructor. I love my job.
K. Kids: None. Never. Ever. hah, sorry.
L. Live: Canada, eh? Love it.
M. Mother’s name: Jeri
N. Nicknames: Er ("Air"), Air head, Erbear, Piercy, Pierce, Dog Racer (<<hahahha)
O. Overnight hospital stays: Birth and when my appendix ruptured to the max...stayed at the hospita for 6 days. eeekk..bad time.
P. Pet peeves: Slow drivers. Slow walkers in the hallways at school. Other people cracking their knuckles. Loud breathing. Snoring when I'm trying to fall asleep. Fake people. Uptight people....the list goes on and on hahah
Q. Quote from a movie "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Coach Carter)
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: 2 older brothers.
U. Underwear: Lolz.
V. Vegetable you hate: ....I think I love them all...that I've tried, anyways.
W. What makes you run late: Sleeping in. My mom. hahah
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Basically a million for dental purposes, but I don't believe for any other reason.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Smoothies. Parfait's, Apple Bombs, Sundaes. All desserts. Anything bad for you.
Z. Zoo animal: MONKEY'S!!!!!!!!!

Things I Love!

2011-09-13T20:33:00.000-03:00

Usually people do Things I Love Thursday's or something like that...I mean I could do Things I Love Tuesday's,...but it'll just be Things I Love Anyday. I love everyday.

I love the sun. I love smiling. I love my body wash. I love the way people get embaressed over the cutest things. I love looking at people and smiling. I love shorts and sweats.

I love journalling. I love my dogs. I love my friends and the way they make me laugh. I love music, especially finding new music. thesixtyone I love the color turquiose. And coral. And those two colors together. I love big moofy comforters wrapped around me when I sleep.

I love John Lennon. I love inspirational people. I love singing, even though I'm absolutely terrible. I love playing my guitar, even though I'm not very good at that either. But I keep playing.

I love doing this. I love long hair. Seemingly so on guys now, too. Okay, only a few can pull off long hair. Eek. I love taking pictures, even though they all seem to be of the same subject - my dogs.

I love baking, and eating everything, too. I love chocolate. It's a severe addiction.

and I love you!

Bad Habits

2011-09-12T22:28:00.000-03:00

Yeah, I have a few. Nothing that is totally digusting or life threatening. Like drinking or smoking or drugs. Nahh.

I mean like repeating the same thing over and over again. And not going to bed. Like I meant to a half hour ago. And also obsessing over little things that don't really matter.

I had class tonight. It went really well...everyone is coming along very nicely. It`s fun to see everyone start the `big dog` stuff. :)

Okay, I`m really going to bed now...school happened to me :(

Beautiful Saturday!

2011-09-11T00:03:00.000-03:00

Who knew agility-less weekends could be so fun!?!!

The weekend is only half over, but already it's been a blast!
This morning I woke up with a sore throat...getting sick ALREADY. gosh.
But I had some meds with my breakfast smoothie and was good to go.
I went to the market...so much fun!

I got some fried dough. Probably the most delicious thing I've ever tasted in my life. It had cinnamon sugar, nutella, banana, rasberry and cream cheese icing on it. Umm...ya, I don't need to say anything thing more.

I got picked up by Brandon, whom I was giving a lesson to later. Him and his wife are the cutest people ever. Super chill and was super fun to hang out with in the afternoon while we played with their pup, Odis. (Who by the way, is dangerously adorable...)

Mom came to pick me up and then we took Rowdie and Mach for a walk on the walking trial. We had a little burdock incident, but we managed. We walked across the walking bridge and then to downtown to the lighthouse and looked over the river for a bit.

We then went out for a greasy supper. (Unfortunately, it was tasty...) and then we walked over to Jumbo to rent a movie...Burlesque. Ran into my friend who invited herself over to watch it with us...yaa!

I came home and did homework while watching Criminal Minds and then Tor came over and we watched the movie.

Burlesque was so good! Totally recommend watching it. Really.

I'm digging "Dearest - The Black Keys" at the moment. Literally. Listening to it right now. I'm too lazy to link it. So go look it up.

I guess this weekend isn't completely agility-less...I'm teaching a snooker class tomorrow evening. But the morning is wide open! I'm thinking smoothie and pancakes on the deck...or if it's too cold, a movie while bundled up in moofy socks and sweaters.

Good night lovely's! :)

First Week of Grad Year = Complete!!

2011-09-10T00:41:00.000-03:00

It's actually been an awesome week. I mean, the first week always is. And plus, it's actually only been 2 and a half days at school...but it was still exhausting!

I got really awesome classes this term. Wasn't the schedule I had arranged the week before...so all of that going in early stuff didn't help me at all.

This is my schedule.
Nutrition P.1 with the best teacher in the whole entire world. I love her to death.
Exercise Science P.2 with a pretty cool dude.
PE Leadership P.3 with THE BEST CLASS IN THE WORLD. Couldn't ask for a more wicked group of people. Gonna be a fun semester :)
Advanced Math with Calc P.4 IN ENGLISH (first time ever!) pumped about that.
FI LA P.5 to end my day off nice and easy :)

That's actually the last french class I have to take! I will have my french credits to get my certificate bi lingual or whatever that thing actually is thing.

Next term will be a little tougher, which sucks because that's when I'll just be thinking "GRADUATION" but, meh, whatever.

It's nice seeing everyone again, but it's enough already. I saw all the people I really wanted to see over the summer, lots anyways, so it didn't really matter. hahaha

But, hey. Whatever.
I'm going to get sick in the next week or two..it's enevitable. And I'll be sick for about a month. And I will be miserable. And it'll be wicked.
Okay, not the last one.

I love napping. Napping is my best friend. Also eating.

Tonight, my parents and I decided at 10:30pm that we wanted to go to Mama's pup for nacho's. We were all hungry. We live 15 minutes out of town, and they only serve until 11pm. We went. We ate. It was good.

Spontaneous trips, ftw!!! ya!!

I'm going to the market with my friend in the morning, then I have a lesson with a dude and his puppy in the afternoon!

It's my first weekend off in 5 weeks!! How insane is that?!

Happy Weekend!

Quite a fantastic end to summer :)

2011-09-10T00:23:00.000-03:00

We went to Salisbury on saturday for the trial. It was awesome.
Toffee rocked all day long and ended with 4/4 and Top Gamblers dog with 98 points!
Watch it here. :)

I have to basically stop all of my motion for her to even think about stopping on the dogwalk...man I so screwed her up hahah. Poor dog.
Also her alsmost ass-pass? Whaa? Silly dog. That was a messy run. hahaha..they make me laugh.

She's pretty isn't she? :)
I really like this picture...the sun hitting her and the green leaves in the background.

Macherman was a great boy at the trial.
His standard wasn't so bad, considering. He had an AWESOME dogwalk. He knocked the double..but we don't even train with one..so I better start doing so. He got on the table but jumped off...haven't worked ANY table in FOREVER. Gotta work on that. The teeter was hilarious. 1st attempt = fly off...2nd attempt = another flyoff, 3rd attempt = HOLY CRAP, IM TERRIFIED. Go slow.
hahah, he makes me laugh. Gotta work on that.

All in all, I was very pleased with him for that run. To be fair to him, all we've been doing all summer is dogwalks - at least he did that part right!!

hehe, he's special.

Sunday we went to Hopewell Rocks to go sea kayaking. It was awesome. Really relaxing :) We had a great day with the family.
Here are some pictures of the day.

They follow me wherever I go and torment the living daylights outta me!!!

We had a BBQ in the parking lot when is was more or less desserted. Veggie burgers, ftw. (y) Mosquitos attacked us, though.

Ah, school. You start way too soon.
(Okay, my computer was being wacky and I never got to post this until now...)

Macherman does it again!

2011-09-01T14:46:00.000-03:00

Yes he did! We went to a FAST trial last weekend.
Beautiful weather on saturday. I was a little dehydrated, though..so wasn't feeling too good. (Erin, you actually have to pack water to drink it!) Really sucked on packing.

Sunday Irene found us. I mean, it wasn't like we were flooded or anything, just terential down pours every now and again...but over all we lucked out. The first time it rained, though, I was completely soaked..bummer.

Toffee was running awesome, however she thought that actually hitting the yellow in the dogwalk is overrated. And knocking 2 bars? Whaa? So we didn't have the greatest weekend - Q wise, but she was handling really nice. We did come out with 3 Q's hahha

I ran Mach in adv. jumpers on sunday. It was such a NICE run! Couldn't have been more happy with how he ran! So beautiful! We ended up Q'ing, getting 1st place with a time of 26.17 and 5.84 yps!

My computer is being fixed right now, so I will share the video when I get that back. (yeah, I'm on an other computer at them moment)

That also means no pictures...so just boring text.

BUT wait!!! There's super exciting news!!

After the class was over, the judge, Sarah Mairs (she has some wicked dogs - love watching her run...here's her channel) came over to talk to me. We chatted a bit and she mentioned going to worlds with Mach!

(Yeah, I was doing the happy dance...secretly)

Now, it was always my intention with Mach. I mean, only if he showed the potential. When I first had him, he had a lot of issues - with motivation, confidence, etc. We needed to work through those first before I could even think about going to worlds for agility. So it went on the back burner for a little while.

Now that we've been able to work through those issues and are getting ready to start trialling more regularily, it's been in the front of my mind all the time now...more so in this past week.

As soon as I got home on Sunday, I got right on the computer and started researching how to get on the CKC team. (I only ever looked into the AAC for Tof..) It's definitely more complicated, but I think it's managable. I've become slightly obsessed with everything now. But first I have to register him with the CKC...name suggestions?

This Saturday we're going to a trial (only for the day - our family is going camping in Fundy for the rest of the weekend) I entered Mach in Standard, Gamblers and Jumpers. So for a dog whose dogwalk and teeter are not completely the way I would like them to be and for a dog who doesn't even know what "go" means, it should make for an interesting day..hahaha

I'm very very excited for Tori (Hippie Dogs). She leaves for France for Worlds in not too long. How awesome is that?! Ahhh!

Mach's Running Dogwalk

2011-08-23T14:50:00.000-03:00

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!

2011-08-22T14:16:00.000-03:00

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.

2011-08-19T00:32:00.000-03:00

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.

2011-08-18T10:58:00.000-03:00

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

2011-08-18T00:49:00.000-03:00

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

2011-08-17T01:02:00.000-03:00

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!!!

2011-08-12T10:20:00.000-03:00

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!

2011-08-07T00:01:00.000-03:00

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!

2011-08-05T23:57:00.000-03:00

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

2011-08-04T23:22:00.000-03:00

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'

2011-08-03T19:53:00.000-03:00

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

2011-08-03T00:23:00.000-03:00

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!!

2011-08-02T13:47:00.000-03:00

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!!!!

Evening to myself :)

2011-07-30T21:11:00.001-03:00

Tonight was awesome.
I drove myself to the field.
Four of us got together, two being from out of town.
We played around.
It was fun!

One lady was working on her running dogwalk and it's looking super great! She's on a full height, full length, full everything, whatever. It's awesome.

I set up some David Powell stuff for Toffee.
She rocked. She did everything perfectly. With ease.
Awesome dog :)
She is now in her bubble for Nationals.
I don't need anything to happen to her this week!

Mach did try one little part in the Powell course, and got it a few times, but we haven't worked stuff like that in a while, mostly obstacle performance, so it was pretty rusty. But speaking of obstacle performance...I did a session of dogwalks with him.

It was AWESOME!!!

He leaped a few times, but then I realized something. I've been saying "break" to him, after I set him up and throw the toy, to release him to run down. Um, duhhh. So I started saying "break" when he went up, and what do you know, perfection. He ran all the way down and hit it low. So now I need to fade the "break" to just "push". For now, it will be "break, push" until he gets the jist.

But it was so awesome!
So awesome!

I was so hot. And gross. And muddy (There was an enormous puddle by the dogwalk...exactly where I needed to run, on both sides. humph but my new shoes were up for it, and my feet didn't get wet! Thank you gortex) and there's a ice cream parlour/hut/whateveryouwanttocallit next door, and I've been craving ice cream for so long. So I went up and got some ice cream.

BEST ice cream ever. Peanut butter caramel cookie dough. *insert watering mouth here*
So delicious.
So I sat on the back of the van with Toffee and ate my ice cream.
Then I came home and rocked out to music all the way home.

Mm. That's my definition of an awesome night.
I'm going to watch a movie now.
Peace out :)

p.s It was my friends birthday on thursday.
We went out for brunch.
These are (some) of my best friends.
I'm so blessed to have them in my life.
They rock.

I will have dog pictures later.

New Agility Shoes!

2011-07-29T22:04:00.000-03:00

Yes...I got new shoes. When the entire sole comes off your old ones, I think it's time they be thrown out. ...actually, I don't even know where they are. Perhaps they knew their fate and walked themselves to the garbage already?

I don't particularily like shoes.
Not at all, actually.
Barefeet is the way to go.

I have an oddly disfigured foot.
It's like a bunion in a way that the bone sticks way out and doesn't like to fit into any shoes without a lot of pain.
I have crooked feet.
So I don't wear shoes.
Unless it's raining, snowing, etc.
And then I have to, or I'll get hypothermia. Or I'll fall (that's from experience). Or whatever.

I wanted to get minimalist shoes. But the whole point of me getting shoes would be that they would keep my feet dry for when it rained...when it's nice and dry out, heck, the soes are coming off - no matter how new they are!
And minimalist shoes, I guess, are not waterproof.
*Sad face* They're so comfy. For a shoe, anyways.

So we looked long and hard at Cleves when finally we found some lightweight running shoe with the added gortex layer.

Thank you Reebok.

I christened them tonight when I got home. They are actually nice. Lighter than the Solomon's I had before.
I did find out, however, that I am extremely and I mean *extremely* out of shape. Uh oh, Nationals, here we go...

Micheal Bernard Fitzgerald. = Love

2011-07-26T20:52:00.000-03:00

Just stumbled upon him.
I'm in love.
Here, listen. You will too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw4jJC6hy58

and this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlnuVE7FXFQ&feature=related

ahhh, he's perfect.

Productive Day!

2011-07-26T20:39:00.000-03:00

In the dog-training-guitar-playing sense...everything else was rightfully neglected.

So I watched Juno yesterday. I love that movie. Loved it when it came out, loved it the second time I watched and the third..(I actually don't know how many times I've watched it, but a good amount.) hehe

Anywho, you know the song they play together at the end? Anyone Else by the Moldy Peaches
Obviously, it's a cool song. And easy to play.

So I looked up the chords...and there's only 2..G and C.

I was super pumped that it was so easy, so I thought I should learn the lyrics, too.

I now have a new, very profound respect for people who can sing and play guitar/any other instrument at the same time. It's amazingly hard. Even with this song only have two chords that switch back and forth, I was having a hard time doing it all at once. It seemed I could only do one at a time. Like the pat your head, rub your stomach situation.

I did, however, get through it and now can play and sing the entire song without screwing up. Yay me!

I wish that was me...I want an epic picture with my guitar...sigh

Since I started actually playing and learning the guitar, mostly this summer, I have learned a decent amount of songs.
Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

Hey Ya by Outkast.
...something...by someone. No idea. It's a cool tune, though!
House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
Dreamworld by Robin Thicke
Anyone Else by Moldy Peaches
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

The last three in the past two days. Needless to say, my fingers are killing me and it hurts profoudly to even type these words. Ouch..ouch...ouch.

Just because Big Bang Theory is quite possibly the best.

In the dog training world, I went to the field today.
I did those other sequences that I've been wanting to do. Well, three of them. I was already an hour late coming home so I didn't do the last one. But I know Toffee would have kicked butt...duh.

Mach did some table work...as he really hasn't seen one in...I don't even know when..a very long time ago.
He rocked.
We also worked on weave entries.
He rocked.
We also worked on decels with me behind and driving ahead with me behind.
He rocked...duh.

Bob Marley love.

Not too long ago, I went out to our side yard and did some teeter work. Because his teeter is very slow and just not the way I want it. So I need to go back and play around with building speed and value. We played a fun game that had him racing down the plank and then having to dive off the end into his position. I think it was more of a workout for me than for him. I was beat!!

He rocked.
Again.

Some more guitar love. Sigh.

Lovely Weekend!

2011-07-24T20:28:00.000-03:00

This weekend was perfect. Everything that I love all in one weekend!

Yesterday I went to my friends house and we went tubing down the river. It was so nice.
Brutally hot though, I think something like 40 degrees. Wowza.
It was nice on the river, though. Especially when there was a breeze.

So there's a couple stories.
We we just chillin' and then all of a sudden, something lands on me and then bounces into the water. At the first second, I though Jess had thrown something at me. But then she was like "Dude!!! That was a fish!"

A FISH. Yes, a fish jumped out of the water and landed on me, then bounced off and tumbled back into the water.

umm...GROSS.

A little later down the river, we're approaching a strong current and a somewhat downhill sort of deal. There's two dudes out in their lawnchairs in the water. As we're picking up speed, we realize we can't get over into the middle in enough time to avoid these guys. So we start yelling "We're coming through!!!" But the water was too loud (or their hearing is gone...)

so being the nice people that we are, we hop off our tubes and boogey just in time to not clock them in the back of the head. But by being off our tube, the current was so strong it basically destroyed us. So our tube went flying, along with our garbage (thankfully the other people with us found it and picked it up), my hat and Jess' sunglasses. Except they are gone. Sad.

But who cares about those...I almost died. The rocks were so slippery and not to mention ouchie on my feet. And the water was so shallow that when the current took me under, I'd get abused by the rocks. Hello bruises on my back. Ouch. But we're alive. Whatever.

Also, when we got home, her brother set off a firework...from his hand. Scariest thing ever. Yes, I screamed.

Today, however was a dog day! Agility, more specifically.

I organized a funmatch in support of our club members going to nationals in a couple weeks.
It was super fun!
Mach did the big dog stuff.
He rocked it, of course.
Toffee did too, but what else is new? ;)
Here...watch the rockstar.
Do it.
I said, do it.
Watch it.
No videos of Toffee, but I'll just let you imagine the awesomeness of it.

Craving David Powell...

2011-07-22T00:02:00.000-03:00

I've always wanted to do a little International agility trial sort of deal. Not an actual trial, but just training, like a funmatch. You know, with lots of people and everyone tries the courses out.

But last week when we were doing just the short sequences, the people I was training with were tired after the first one. *sigh*. I guess I'll have a World Championship all by myself!!

So I started looking at courses tonight and ahh, I want to go play agility so bad right now. Even though it's midnight and I am utterly exhausted, I want to go NOW!

They all just look so much FUN!

But I will have to wait for a day off. This coming saturday I'm going to convince my mom to go to the field so I can finish the rest of those sequences.

Then Sunday we have a little Funmatch. In support of the Kapers who are going to nationals this year. There's only three of us. But hey, me and mom make up 66.66666666666666666666666% of it. Mom will be glad, as she told me I needed to get money for nationals.So I organized a funmatch. So hey mom! Look at the money :) hah.

I'm thinking next weekend, as our last training session before nationals we will do some David Powell courses. I can't wait until next weekend. His courses to me are like candy to children. I'm so exciteeeeedd!

On another note, we finally got pictures from this awesome lady in Quebec who took them at nationals last year!!

hah, I love this picture. You can see my two paparazzi's on the side. What can I say? We're famous ;)

The countdown is on...

Day in the life of...

2011-07-14T00:27:00.000-03:00

Ah, today was lovely.
Woke up early and took the dogs for a walk.
Then I did a session of contacts with Macherdude.
Then I hung out for a little, made a healthy lunch, watched some FRIENDS :)
Did another session with Doodlebop. (he's doing awesome, might I add)
Went for a run/walk for an hour.
Did some chores.
Went to the field and played with my children!!
Ate supper.
Learned a new song on my guitar!!
House of the Rising Sun.
This is my favorite version :)
I just wish they could do the whole song..

Perfect day!

I stole these from Tori.

They looked so fun! I always want to practice World team stuff, but never have the room to set up a full course. I always try to take any set up and make it 3x harder than the sequences they have made, but that doesn't always work out so well. I'm glad she shared these :)

We only got around to doing this one...I could have done more, but my drive home needed to go. We did other stuff before, though. Like gamble work. He amazed me, actually!

Toffee did this first and it was beautiful on the first try! read the serp nicely at 2 and I was able to stay way back to get a FC in after 5, basically beside the weaves to get a tight turn to 6. The serp at 7 was fine, I had to boogy to get around the weaves and into position in time, though! The RC at 8 was my favorite part. Because Toffee has rockin' weave entries, and I like showing them off. :) hehe I was able to hang back and let her finish the weaves, did a little TA between 9-10 and a FC at 11 and cue the turn to 12.

I tried it a different way the second time. Instead of the RC at 8, I serped the weaves, then RC 9, which pulled them in, so no need for a TA, and since I was down the field so much, I trusted that she would go to the tunnel so I could run down and set the line coming out of the tunnel. Perfection, of course. :)

I got Mach out and intended on breaking it down, perhaps making it a little easier for the baby dog, but he says NO WAY! I'M A SUPERSTAR!! And he did it!!

The first time through, he got the weave entry and let me do the RC (We struggle with onside weaves, and I haven't practiced weaves..in FOREVER) and I hung back like I did with Toffee and he finished them with no problem. I, however, was a little excited about the whole thing and flubbed 9-11 up. We practiced 6-12 a few more times. He's such a rockin' little boy :) I'm so pround of him :) Worlds, here we come!!!

Hopefully I will be able to do the other sequences soon.
I really should have taped training tonight. Ah well..next time!

The Weekend of a Lifetime :)

2011-07-12T14:10:00.000-03:00

Ah, so this past weekend we had a trial in Sussex with FAST.
It was a big weekend. A very exciting weekend.

Some may have known, but I only needed one more standard Q for my Lifetime award. (You need 125 games and 100 standard Q's). I had enough games at the beginning of last year, but have been working hard on getting all of my standards. Which is sometimes is hard, seeing how Tof has other plans on getting her DW contacts...hehe

But anyhow, there was four standards being offered, so I knew I could get at least 1/4!!haha I was waiting for this trial because Lynda Yielding was judging, and it just so happened that she was Toffee's first trial judge where we earned our 1st Q (and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th hehe). I thought it would be so cool to get it under her. Four years later. So cool!

Saturday decided to rain an ocean on us, all day. We were a little wet....

Tie Dye Long Johns anyone?

We had some visitors....

Standard was first, and Tof's "biggest fan" drove an hour to come watch us. How sweet :) Thankfully it was a nice course and I could feel that we were going to get it on this one.

There was only two little bobbles, her only getting the DW contact by maybe a toenail (eek!) and almost going over the wrong jump..thank goodness she had a little shake to get the water off so I could get her back! Phew!

It was so cool, running out. My mom had organized (friday afternoon, mind you) to get a bar for everyone to sign. I have ALWAYS wanted a bar! We're not as cool as the AKC people, apparently. And on top of that, I got to do a victory lap! I have ALWAYS wanted to do a victory lap!!!!!!!!!! SO COOL! Watch it here :)

When they awarded all the stuff, I got a hoodie with Erin and Toffee 2011 on the sleeve and Lifetime Award of Excellence on the back. It's so nice!! Also, they got a bottle of champagne (which I could not open). I tried and tried and tried and it just wasn't coming off...hahah

They also had a cake for me, which was really nice. My personalized ribbon is coming soon. I'm so excited :)

Toffee is just so good, that for the rest of the weekend, we went clean 6/7. (a missed DW contact...go figure.) She's just the best. Watch the runs here and here.

My mom has always wanted to run Newman and Bailey together in a team run, but when they were younger they wouldn't run for me, and would just want to play...some things never change. But this was probably the last chance they would get. It was fun :)

To make the weekend even more special, a team from NS was also going for their Lifetime. He needed 3 standard. He went clean for both on saturday, so he only needed to get one of the two on sunday. Rocky knocked a bar in the first run, so we were all rooting for him (even more so!) in the second run. But no worries, he got it! What a good old boxer! The first in Canada!! The FAST crew had all the same things (sweater, cake and champagne) for him as well. But he had no problem getting the cork off....

Two in one weekend!!

All 6 maritime Lifetimers were there at the trial!!

And then to top all of that off, Mach was entered in the starters jumpers. I was feeling good about the course (it was a loop..) and feeling good about him working with me. Last weekend was exactly what I needed for our confidence. Last weekend I was only hoping for him to stay on course with me, but this run I was in the zone. And with BIG success. First Q!!! I am so proud of my baby boy!!

Mach's Debut :)

2011-07-08T11:43:00.001-03:00

yay Mach!
Such a cool day. So special.

Here's the story. It's pretty extensive, so I will try to keep it short..eek.

(Completely failed on keeping it short, so here's the full story, beware, it's basically a novel, but it has a happy ending :))

So Mach is awesome, right? Everyone knows. Because, I mean, it's Mach. His training has been going great. I'm really pleased about how he works for me. Still working through little things, like keeping him (okay, me) upbeat through the troubling times, but mostly his confidence. He came to us a very very very timid little boy and that held us back a little bit, but no worries, he's pretty good nowadays :)

And since his training has been going along so great, I thought I would try him in a jumpers at a trial sometime this summer. Just to see where he's at in new environments, etc. I thought it would be really cool to trial him first under the same judge that Toffee and I had our first trial. Good karma, right? And so, I entered him.

A last minute one-day/Canada day trial came up, and I thought that would be awesome to start Mach off. There would be only about 20-30 dogs, therefore nice and quiet and (almost) stress free. But not under that judge..oh well.

We were at a two day seminar the weekend before. The first day he was fine. He did all the things I asked him to, and surprised me, even, on some stuff that I didn't think he would do. Yay, proud Mama :) The second day, however, he decided to ..uh, how do I put this..uhh...Say, "Hey! F*&k off! I'm going swimming! And running away forever and ever!!" And did that..like 4 times. So needless to say, I wasn't impressed. A little scared for his whereabouts. And, well. Sad.

But when he worked for me, he was quite impressive, I must say.

I then decided against the one day trial, and was going to email the trial secretary of the next trial to scratch him off the list for jumpers. We didn't need confidence building stuff, we needed Recall Rehab. Badly.

And so that's what we did all week. Recall games.

My mom kept at me, because I was without a doubt, no way in poohland, going to enter him in that trial. She thought it would be a good idea. I didn't think so. Especially since the trial was being held at the same spot as the seminar that he decided to run away from me.

Finally, I caved and entered just two runs, Steeplechase 2 and jumpers. I tried to be optimistic, but inside, I was a nasty little pessimistic parasite. Yuck.

When we arrived, we almost missed the measuring. Just under the 21" mark. Phew :)

We hung out for the first run, watched some of the newbie newbies run their first run ever. Mach got excited over a few, too.

Then, I had a ..umm..meltdown. I think that's the correct word. BUT, in my defense, if that lady didn't talk to me in the first place, I wouldn't have cried like a baby!! However, her words were very kind and sincere and very much appreciated, but don't ever do that again. :) :) hehe. She was very nice and consoled me when I was overreacting about running Mach (for the above reasons^^^) and ..well, I hate it when other people are right. Gah. So Vic, if you're reading this, thank you very very much. :) You're truly awesome :)

We prepared for our first official run ever, and I was feeling much better about it. It was a nice course, and I knew Mach could do it, he'd done much harder things before (and aced them, might I add;)). We were super awkward at the startline. I wasn't sure what he was going to do, so I put him in a sit, which I never do. I was going to do a lead out pivot at the aframe, but he was unsure about the whole thing, because I was. It looked like he was about to break, so I released him before he could. However, I was like...a kilometre away from where I wanted to be and almost broke his neck doing my front cross. haha

He missed his second aframe contact, but in his defense, he hadn't been on one before that for like..a month. So, I guess that's fair.

He was running great, so I decided to finish the course (whereas, if he wasn't, I was going to loop back around and leave on a *hopefully positive note). He lost his focus for a split second at the back as he was approaching a jump and went around it. I didn't want to stop him and bring him back, I wanted to keep him going smoothly, so what if he screwed up. We finished the run, fast (32 secs :)) and 25 faults. I was *SO* happy. So so so happy.

Right after the steeplechase was over, starters jumpers was next and this time I was feeling perfect fine going up and running. My dad and his buddy showed up, though. I got a little nervous about that. My dad rarely comes to trials, and since this was probably the first time he'd ever see Mach even doing agility (unless he snuck him a few James Bond moves and watched me in the yard without me knowing hahah), I wanted him to be impressed. There I said it.

We went up and started running, though bad mama over here forgot to call his name when he came out of the tunnel and he came shooting out straight (which is what I trained him to do!! Good boy :)), so he overshot the turn and went around the jump. No big deal. We kept going, and then in the homestretch he read the rear cross very nicely but went a little too wide and proceeded to go around the last three jumps. haha, oh well.

We ended that run with 19 secs and 80 faults. hahaha, that sounds so bad, but it was SO good.

And also, he had only seen a double twice and a spread once in his entire life. So, I applaud Mach on his awesomeness.

In the end of the day, I don't care how many jumps he went around, I'm just happy that he stayed with me and he seemingly was enjoying himself. He wasn't as fast as he could have been, but that doesn't matter. He's a baby dog, living and learning.

I just think back to when Toffee first started running. She wasn't the fastest out there, but she was consistent. As we grew older, grew more confident, her speed increased, my speed increased and a lot of other things fell into place, no she's not the fastest dog, but she still kicks some serious butt :). So Mach may never be the fastest dog out there, but that's alright. If he's consistent enough, we can get to where we need to go. But for right now, all I wanted was for him to go out there and run WITH me, and be happy about it.

Mission accomplished.

Things will start piecing together soon enough. Maybe it wont be as quick as it did with Toffee and I, maybe it will. Who knows. Only time will tell.

Watch it here :)

On another note, I drove all the way home from Salisbury. It wasn't bad at all! Kinda cool, actually.

On another completely different note, Canada Day was super fun, I went out with my good friends to watch the fireworks. They're friggin sweet.

Life is good :)