Waiting for the storm of the century

Bundled up, and ready for the sleet, hail, rain and very cold temps.

One week until Super Bowl Sunday

This is the view of Cowboy Stadium, from a spot 2 minutes from our house. It's about as close to the stadium as mom plans on getting. She might check out some happenings in Fort Worth, but not getting anywhere near Arlington - too much traffic.

Sunshiny Day

It was so beautiful here today. Sunny and warm. So mom and dad took me and Arnie on a hike along the river. It's wooded, but close to home. We walked about 3 miles, and we were huffing and puffing at the end (me and Arnie, anyway - we are seriously out of shape). Now we're snoozing on the couch.

This is me, posing along the trail. Notice how good I'm staying - mom's been working really hard on my "stay".

BEERKNURD UPDATE

Mom's been kind of slacking on her quest for 200 beers. Weekends have been either lazy, rainy, cold or busy. So no going into Fort Worth for some beer at the Flying Saucer.

But she went to the FW Stock Show and Rodeo last weekend, and dad suggested they stop for a beer on the way home. Didn't have to ask HER twice! She added 3 more beers to her tab, ate a deeeelish Rueben, and watched the Bears lose. All wins in her book.

This isn't one of the beers she tried, because it was her first beer on her tab. Don't you love the name?

Wordless Wednesday

Made mom proud

After working my butt off all week, I rocked it at class. We ran a course, and I took every jump. Never hesitated. Whew!

I also did a really tough "send" to a jump then the a-frame. Mom didn't think I'd do it, but I nailed it.

Here's me on the a-frame. Not at class, but at my last trial. But check out the concentration. That's why I'm good at what I do.

Training by braille

Things are getting ridiculous around here. Mom had to work late again, but decided to train me anyway. No matter that it was dark. No matter that we have no lights in the yard. She grabbed me, the treats and her perky attitude and made me work LIKE THIS:

OK, it wasn't quite THAT dark. But it was NOT daylight, I can tell you that. But I did my job, working really far away from mom (of course). She's really started pushing the whole "distance" thing, especially at the weave poles. Sheesh, the woman never stops thinking of things to work on.

When we came back inside, I guess dad had been watching us out the window. He asked her what the "twirly move" was. She proudly told him "a front cross. I'm really working hard to do more of those". To which dad replied, "you better start working a LOT harder. You almost did a face plant on the last one." Boy, was she mad....tee hee.

No training today

Mom had to work late, so we didn't get to practice. She got home after dark. TeeHee.....I smell embarrassment at class this week.

That's a shot of Arnie doing agility. Mom didn't think I deserved the spotlight, since I've been such a butt lately. And she thinks his crossed paws are cute.

Agility Boot Camp: Day 2

Yup, mom has been true to her word and has been working my butt off. Usually that's not a huge deal (I DO love to train), but today she trained me IN THE RAIN. You heard me - rain. That yucky crap that falls from the sky. I guess "hell or high water" wasn't far from the truth.

So today, we ran our sequence over and over. And yes, I did it perfectly. So mom upped the anty and made it harder and harder every time. Like running in the rain wasn't hard enough.

And for your viewing pleasure, that photo of me at the top is me doing the weave poles.

Gotta lot of agility work to do

We went to our second class on Thursday. There was a new dog, and one missing this week. The sequence was super simple - jump, tunnel, jump, jump, jump. Easy peezy, right? WRONG!

I appears that I was unable to take a certain jump at class when it was in the sequence. It looked like the other jumps, but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to jump over it. Even when mom ran right next to the jump - I squeezed past her to avoid the jump. Even when she stopped - I ran right past it. Even when the instructor put a wing on the jump - went around that too. Even when the instructor stood next to the jump and the wing - went right around both of them.

Yup, I could do the jump when it was the only one I took, so it wasn't the jump or the footing or the lighting. Nope, it was THAT jump, in THAT spot, in THAT part of the sequence.

Needless to say, mom was NOT happy with me. She said I embarrassed her (like she never does that to me. Just every time we run a course.) So now we're into super-practice mode at home. She set up the same exact sequence that we had at class. And you guessed it - I did perfectly! Didn't matter, though. She still worked my butt off. At least we'll both be in shape for class next week.

I'll let you know how I make a fool out of her next week.

And just so you know I CAN jump, that shot at the top was me at the last trial I went to.

365 Project is falling behind

Mom drove around for hours looking for something to photograph. But all she did was put miles on the car. The weather was crappy, and things just aren't so pretty right now.

So she gathered together some of her older photos (well, from this past summer) until she can get some good shots.

Here's one of Snap cutting loose after a photo shoot.

By the way, my tail is getting better. It still droops every once in awhile, but for the most part, curly as ever.

Agility Class FINALLY!

I am soooooo happy. After many long months, I'm back in an agility class. Mom found a good class, indoors, not far from home, with a good instructor. So she signed us up, and has been prepping me for weeks. I'm in the most advanced level (!), but other than that, didn't really know what to expect. Would I be the class dunce? The class superstar? Oh, the anticipation.

So tonight mom packed our training bag, got my treats ready, loaded up the poop bags (because I always poop when I get to class), filled the water bottle, put the crate in the car and put on her running shoes. We got there a little early, and the instructor introduced herself and asked a few questions about us. Then the rest of the class showed up. The best part about the class is that there's only small dogs. And they're all "non-traditional". Min Pins, and Eskie, Schnauzers and a Chihuahua. The class is made up of mostly instructors for the training center, and they're all really nice.

But tonight's class kicked my BUTT! I haven't trained in months. I've only showed once. And I've been a big couch potato, between moving, new jobs and our living situation. And the session was tough. There were twists, turns, curves and lots of running. I was a maniac the whole night, but after our last run I ran out of steam. My tail came uncurled. And that never happens.

So I slept all the way home, then jumped up on the couch to relax. Mom gave me a long massage, and I'm feeling a little better. My tail is back to semi-normal, but I'm wiped OUT! I better get in shape this week, or I'm in trouble. Good night, now.

Shake It, Baby

After our photo shoot yesterday, mom let rewarded me with an intense play session.

Watch your fingers, mom.

Must....kill....glove....

Here you go, mom. You can have the slobbery, slimy toy now.

Glamour Girl

Mom joined the http://365project.org/screamink9/365, and I know what that means. LOTS of treats while I strut my stuff. Mom's taught me some cool tricks that help her get the shot she wants. One of them is to look into the camera. Here's the result:

For all you aspiring Diva's - you gotta work the camera, baby.

As usual, after our photo shoot, mom let me cut loose. And she shot the results.

You'll see those tomorrow.

Out with the old

And in with the new.

Mom got a new camera for her birthday in August, and she's been playing with it ever since. Now she says it's time to sell her old camera on Ebay.

It's a old fashioned, 35mm camera. It served her well, but she's moved on to the digital age. She hadn't used it in years, but hated to part with it until she got a new digital version.

She's also signed up for some classes at a local camera store. They have all kinds of quickie classes, on how to light things, and composition. So she's going to start checking those out. First one is in 3 weeks.

And lastly, she's started the 365 project. http://365project.org/screamink9/365

She needs some motivation to get her butt in gear and just start shooting. So she's committed to taking at least one photo every day. The goal is to see improvement. After 365 shots, she better improve.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and a wonderful New Year. See you in 2011.