Isn't it amazing how powerful the bond we have with our dogs can be?
I mean- I was having a HORRIBLE day today-- one of those days that makes you wonder who you pissed off "Upstairs" to ruin your life so badly-- A real " I hate myself, my life and everyone in it" kind of day---- know what I mean??
But...Tuesday is Rally Training night~ and it was Bugsy's last Rally class. Plus, I had to bake frigging Cookies to celebrate Bugsy's birthday- of all things- to take to class. (I bet you can tell how much I felt like doing that!)
I SERIOUSLY did not want to go to class- Hey- I didn't even want to get dressed today! But for Bugsy I went- after all, it wasn't HIS fault I was in such a funk- and he does like to go to training.
Somehow- Bugsy knew I was in a bad mood- and he did everything his little blue brain could think of to improve my mood! He worked BEAUTIFULLY~ He "grinned" at me and wagged his tail; jumped and woofed and danced so he could make me smile. While we waited between runs, he jumped up on the bench and sat beside me, shared treats, and gave me cardi-kisses!
Now- please tell me-- how can I stay in a bad mood when I am lucky enough to own such a wonderful dog??
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Moving Forward
I have been unemployed for just about 2 months now- and I guess thats my mental limit.
Before I was laid off, when we all KNEW it was coming, I had these grand plans for my 'down-time'!! I was going to sit home, collect unemployment (for the first time in my life!!) get a tan, spend time training the dogs, go back to school, go to dog shows, relax, organize the house, remodel the kennel, decorate the living room...etc...etc... I think, since I KNEW I was going to be unemployed at some point, I was almost looking forward to it!
HOWEVER- I was totally unprepared for how it was going to effect me emotionally~ and ~ completely out of my element with being a "stay at home" person!!
I am- to put it mildly- BORED OUT OF MY SKULL!!
It's not that I don't have THINGS to do! I definitly COULD be training the dogs, organizing the house, working on the new kennel, decorating the living room- Hell-- I could be cleaning- and gardening- and grooming!
But most mornings I find myself having a hard time doing ANYTHING!!!
I am enrolled in school- but class doesn't start until August. I am going to dog training classes- several of them- and I do work the dogs- but there is a limit to how long and how often you can train a Corgi; they are too darn smart and they burn out fast!!
I would be going to more dog shows- but that involves spending money- which I am having a hard time justifying- since I have a reduced income. My specials bitch has dropped all of her coat and my class puppy dog is really not at all competative yet- so there is no sense in giving my money away to the kennel clubs and then giving breed points away, too! So I am staying home more!
I think the dogs and my husband- and even my sons- are LOVING that I am home all the time.
But I'm not! I feel like I don't have a purpose- I guess I was just MEANT to be a worker-bee; even though I have so often been accused of being the Queen Bee!!
I can't wait for this economy to turn around!!!!!!!!
Before I was laid off, when we all KNEW it was coming, I had these grand plans for my 'down-time'!! I was going to sit home, collect unemployment (for the first time in my life!!) get a tan, spend time training the dogs, go back to school, go to dog shows, relax, organize the house, remodel the kennel, decorate the living room...etc...etc... I think, since I KNEW I was going to be unemployed at some point, I was almost looking forward to it!
HOWEVER- I was totally unprepared for how it was going to effect me emotionally~ and ~ completely out of my element with being a "stay at home" person!!
I am- to put it mildly- BORED OUT OF MY SKULL!!
It's not that I don't have THINGS to do! I definitly COULD be training the dogs, organizing the house, working on the new kennel, decorating the living room- Hell-- I could be cleaning- and gardening- and grooming!
But most mornings I find myself having a hard time doing ANYTHING!!!
I am enrolled in school- but class doesn't start until August. I am going to dog training classes- several of them- and I do work the dogs- but there is a limit to how long and how often you can train a Corgi; they are too darn smart and they burn out fast!!
I would be going to more dog shows- but that involves spending money- which I am having a hard time justifying- since I have a reduced income. My specials bitch has dropped all of her coat and my class puppy dog is really not at all competative yet- so there is no sense in giving my money away to the kennel clubs and then giving breed points away, too! So I am staying home more!
I think the dogs and my husband- and even my sons- are LOVING that I am home all the time.
But I'm not! I feel like I don't have a purpose- I guess I was just MEANT to be a worker-bee; even though I have so often been accused of being the Queen Bee!!
I can't wait for this economy to turn around!!!!!!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Cat's Out of the Bag
I'm going to be a Grandma Again!!
I had to keep it a secret for awhile- but now that the cat is out of the bag... I can tell everyone how happy I am about it!! I am not good at keeping secrets- and its been really hard for me not to spread the news!
My baby is having another baby!! Our newest arrival is expected around November 20th- so just in time for Thanksgiving!!
I really like being a grandmother! It is so much easier than being a mom was!! All of the fun, and none of the responsibility!! I get to do all the spoiling I want to, and not have to be all that concerned over the consequences!
Of course, I would prefer that all of my little chickens were closer to home, but no one gets everything they wish for in life, I suppose!
I even turned down a judging assignment for that time period- I know that I am not going to want to miss being near by when this little one makes his or her grand entrance to the world!!
I had to keep it a secret for awhile- but now that the cat is out of the bag... I can tell everyone how happy I am about it!! I am not good at keeping secrets- and its been really hard for me not to spread the news!
My baby is having another baby!! Our newest arrival is expected around November 20th- so just in time for Thanksgiving!!
I really like being a grandmother! It is so much easier than being a mom was!! All of the fun, and none of the responsibility!! I get to do all the spoiling I want to, and not have to be all that concerned over the consequences!
Of course, I would prefer that all of my little chickens were closer to home, but no one gets everything they wish for in life, I suppose!
I even turned down a judging assignment for that time period- I know that I am not going to want to miss being near by when this little one makes his or her grand entrance to the world!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Peace and (almost) Quiet
The Puppies have almost all gone to their new homes! We hosted a very successful Puppy Party on May 17th, and every new owner got to meet us, and their new fur kids, and each other! Then everyone went off in new directions to begin their new little lives together as new Cardi-families!
We still have the two we are keeping here: Polly, who is now Carrie, and who will be registered as Xtacee Lessons Learned- and Bobby, who is now FES, and who will be registered as Xtacee Foreign Exchange Student. We are also taking care of Wanda, who is now being called Tovah, for her new owners, for a few weeks, as one of her new owners just had foot surgery and is not up for a new, rambunctious baby in the house just yet.
It's very quiet in the house (despite the contractors and the 7 adult Cardigans and 2 adult Danes~ and Achilles) with the rest of the puppies gone, and I am enjoying it!
Lisa and I took off for a Memorial Day Weekend visit in Pittsburgh with her mother and three days of dog shows! Sera was BOB two out of the three days- even dead out of coat-and brought home a healthy Group III one day- so I was very happy with that! We showed the Dragoon all three days, and each day he was better on the table and on lead- by Monday he actually looked like a little show dog- so I do think, with weight and conditioning, he will do very well. He has a lot of breed type and such a beautiful head: he just needs to grow into himself! Oh-0 and learn to move forward with some degree of grace and purpose!
We don't have any dog shows planned for a few weeks; it seems so strange to not be running off every weekend! But I am certainly busy enough! Bugsy goes to Advanced Rally Training class every Tuesday night; Jitterbug goes to the Performance Puppy Training class on Wednesday nights, and then Thursday nights Sera and Bugsy head to New Jersey for our Agility classes! I am hoping to start Herding Training with Bugsy and Sera soon- Janet has Saturday classes, and since we are not showing very much, I think we can start the classes now.
And work on the new kennel room and den continues- albeit at a snails pace, since we have had so much rain! I am overly anxious to get this all done! I have waited so long to have 'my space' and now I want it finished!!
Till next time...
We still have the two we are keeping here: Polly, who is now Carrie, and who will be registered as Xtacee Lessons Learned- and Bobby, who is now FES, and who will be registered as Xtacee Foreign Exchange Student. We are also taking care of Wanda, who is now being called Tovah, for her new owners, for a few weeks, as one of her new owners just had foot surgery and is not up for a new, rambunctious baby in the house just yet.
It's very quiet in the house (despite the contractors and the 7 adult Cardigans and 2 adult Danes~ and Achilles) with the rest of the puppies gone, and I am enjoying it!
Lisa and I took off for a Memorial Day Weekend visit in Pittsburgh with her mother and three days of dog shows! Sera was BOB two out of the three days- even dead out of coat-and brought home a healthy Group III one day- so I was very happy with that! We showed the Dragoon all three days, and each day he was better on the table and on lead- by Monday he actually looked like a little show dog- so I do think, with weight and conditioning, he will do very well. He has a lot of breed type and such a beautiful head: he just needs to grow into himself! Oh-0 and learn to move forward with some degree of grace and purpose!
We don't have any dog shows planned for a few weeks; it seems so strange to not be running off every weekend! But I am certainly busy enough! Bugsy goes to Advanced Rally Training class every Tuesday night; Jitterbug goes to the Performance Puppy Training class on Wednesday nights, and then Thursday nights Sera and Bugsy head to New Jersey for our Agility classes! I am hoping to start Herding Training with Bugsy and Sera soon- Janet has Saturday classes, and since we are not showing very much, I think we can start the classes now.
And work on the new kennel room and den continues- albeit at a snails pace, since we have had so much rain! I am overly anxious to get this all done! I have waited so long to have 'my space' and now I want it finished!!
Till next time...
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Leaving On A Jet Plane
I love to travel- and love to Fly to my destination (although I don't LOVE the airline restrictions post 9/11) I am really looking forward to flying to Nebraska tomorrow morning-
Of course, the #1 reason I am excited is that I get to see my daughter, Jessica, and my darling grandaughter, Amera-- who I have not seen in over a year! It really is horrible having someone that important in my life, that far away!
And, I am really looking forward to getting away-- from the construction; the day-to-day routine- yes- even the puppies!
Hubby dearest just came back from 7 days in Myrtle Beach playing golf- while I stayed home and prepped the new kennel for the contractors, and took care of the 17 dogs! Of couse, because of the upcoming construction- everyone is out of their normal "houses" and back into crates and in unusual places and out of their routines- so "running dogs" has become a part time job in itself!
The babies are now 7 weeks old- and 7 Cardi puppies at 7 weeks is-- well-- a lot of puppy poop- and a lot of noise- and a lot of feedings- and a lot of time!
Bugsy, Sera and Jitterbug are going full bore with training these days- Rally, Agility, Herding and Obedience; on top of a few dogs shows on the weekend and a judging assignment thrown in -- JUST to keep me out of trouble!
Add to that, the regular house work... I haven't had any time to moun the loss of my employment all that much-- or look for anything else while Gus was out of town.
As I said to my mother the other day, I think it was Gods Will that I was laid off before Gus took his golfing vacation- if I had tried to get through that week, and worked full time- I probably would have lost my sanity!
Although there are those that would argue...
Anyway-- to tomorrow I board a west bound flight for Denver, then a 4 hour drive to North Platte, NE, where I get to spend 5 days with Jessica, Amera and my sons, James and Rich, my Mom and my husband-- Oh-- and my Ex-- who I haven't seen since the kids were in junior high. And I get to RELAX
I can't wait!
But- in the meantime- I have to pack
Of course, the #1 reason I am excited is that I get to see my daughter, Jessica, and my darling grandaughter, Amera-- who I have not seen in over a year! It really is horrible having someone that important in my life, that far away!
And, I am really looking forward to getting away-- from the construction; the day-to-day routine- yes- even the puppies!
Hubby dearest just came back from 7 days in Myrtle Beach playing golf- while I stayed home and prepped the new kennel for the contractors, and took care of the 17 dogs! Of couse, because of the upcoming construction- everyone is out of their normal "houses" and back into crates and in unusual places and out of their routines- so "running dogs" has become a part time job in itself!
The babies are now 7 weeks old- and 7 Cardi puppies at 7 weeks is-- well-- a lot of puppy poop- and a lot of noise- and a lot of feedings- and a lot of time!
Bugsy, Sera and Jitterbug are going full bore with training these days- Rally, Agility, Herding and Obedience; on top of a few dogs shows on the weekend and a judging assignment thrown in -- JUST to keep me out of trouble!
Add to that, the regular house work... I haven't had any time to moun the loss of my employment all that much-- or look for anything else while Gus was out of town.
As I said to my mother the other day, I think it was Gods Will that I was laid off before Gus took his golfing vacation- if I had tried to get through that week, and worked full time- I probably would have lost my sanity!
Although there are those that would argue...
Anyway-- to tomorrow I board a west bound flight for Denver, then a 4 hour drive to North Platte, NE, where I get to spend 5 days with Jessica, Amera and my sons, James and Rich, my Mom and my husband-- Oh-- and my Ex-- who I haven't seen since the kids were in junior high. And I get to RELAX
I can't wait!
But- in the meantime- I have to pack
Friday, April 24, 2009
Puppy Stuff
I love being a breeder! I really do! HONEST!
BUT- I don't love having to deal with puppy people. I confess~ I am not a good PR person; I am not nearly patient enough!!
By the time my little fur-babies are 5 or 6 weeks old, I am just starting to think about which one(s) I may consider keeping in my breeding program. However, the pet people want to know for CERTAIN which one is THEIR puppy! They want pictures and daily updates and all the details of their puppies little lives!!
When I tell them I have absolutely NO IDEA yet- they get a little unhappy! They tell me that they like Puppy A because of her markings- and don't like Puppy B because her eye color~~
Well- you know what??? I don't CARE what they like or don't like!!
(GASP== I said it!!!- oh and it felt so good)
I don't do breedings to make pet people happy!! I don't breed to provide the pet buying John Q Public with companion dogs!! I breed to improve my breeding program! I breed to have something of quality to show! If I could figure out a way to put my order in for ONE- show quality- knock your socks of bitch- ONLY-- I would!! But since I can't do that-- I end up with having to deal with --
Puppy Pet People!
It's not like you can go to a puppy vending machine and just pick out what you want!!!!
Why can't they understand that???
BUT- I don't love having to deal with puppy people. I confess~ I am not a good PR person; I am not nearly patient enough!!
By the time my little fur-babies are 5 or 6 weeks old, I am just starting to think about which one(s) I may consider keeping in my breeding program. However, the pet people want to know for CERTAIN which one is THEIR puppy! They want pictures and daily updates and all the details of their puppies little lives!!
When I tell them I have absolutely NO IDEA yet- they get a little unhappy! They tell me that they like Puppy A because of her markings- and don't like Puppy B because her eye color~~
Well- you know what??? I don't CARE what they like or don't like!!
(GASP== I said it!!!- oh and it felt so good)
I don't do breedings to make pet people happy!! I don't breed to provide the pet buying John Q Public with companion dogs!! I breed to improve my breeding program! I breed to have something of quality to show! If I could figure out a way to put my order in for ONE- show quality- knock your socks of bitch- ONLY-- I would!! But since I can't do that-- I end up with having to deal with --
Puppy Pet People!
It's not like you can go to a puppy vending machine and just pick out what you want!!!!
Why can't they understand that???
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Among the Unemployed
Well Damn!!
I have joined the ranks of the unemployed!
When Hartmarx Corporation filed Chapter 11- I knew that things were going to get shakey at our office. But, technically I worked for HMX Sportswear Division- and specifically Jack Nicklaus Golf Apparel- and was told over and over again that OUR division was solid and safe!
HA!!
Not So-- I guess I should have suspected that things were not going well with the bankruptcy when the Lead Dogs let all the corporate Buyers go! In the garment industry- that is a VERY -bad sign! And then, of course, there were the waves of lay- offs! Every week the parking lot was more empty and the phone list company wide was getting shorter and shorter.
Yesterday was my turn~ ahhhh~ but I was not alone!! I was among another 38 in our office and 300 company wide!
Do you know how much I hate job hunting??? Anyone have a winning lottery ticket handy???
I have joined the ranks of the unemployed!
When Hartmarx Corporation filed Chapter 11- I knew that things were going to get shakey at our office. But, technically I worked for HMX Sportswear Division- and specifically Jack Nicklaus Golf Apparel- and was told over and over again that OUR division was solid and safe!
HA!!
Not So-- I guess I should have suspected that things were not going well with the bankruptcy when the Lead Dogs let all the corporate Buyers go! In the garment industry- that is a VERY -bad sign! And then, of course, there were the waves of lay- offs! Every week the parking lot was more empty and the phone list company wide was getting shorter and shorter.
Yesterday was my turn~ ahhhh~ but I was not alone!! I was among another 38 in our office and 300 company wide!
Do you know how much I hate job hunting??? Anyone have a winning lottery ticket handy???
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