Staying Honest

A while ago I posted about my new lifestyle and promised to keep on posting to "keep myself honest".

So, I am posting to let everyone know that things are going well. Not without a few hiccups along the way, but it is going well.

After much debate and soul searching I changed my diet plan. I left Weight Watchers and joined the Biggest Loser Club online.

I think it is the single most positive move I have made.

I'm not going to trash Weight Watchers because it is a good plan and it works for lot's of people but for some reason their new program just did not work for me. I actually believe that the problem is that I exercise at a very high rate. I don't think that Weight Watchers is equipped to cope with that type of exercising and their Leaders don't have the expertise to really deal with it.

The Biggest Loser Club is great. A very similar website but their support from nutritionists and exercise experts is absolutely phenomenal. I think its what I have been seeking for so long.

So, I am very comfortable with my plan. I am able to cope with it, live with it and I very much enjoy feeling healthy and energized.

Since January, I have lost 25 lbs. I still work out at Curves but I have added my elliptical trainer to the exercise regime. I am getting stronger every day.

I am pumped!

In The Light of Day

Last night on my way home from work I was involved in an extremely serious accident.

I had two of my dogs in the van with me yesterday. I was on the road for a while and thought it would be nice to bring them along.

As I was leaving work, I opened up the crates, and for a minute, thought of letting Jett ride shotgun. It's my way of telling her that she's special. It's her turn to hang out with me. It's her privilege.

I had her out of the van and was just about to put her up front when I decided not to bother.

In that moment, I saved Jett's life.

Not fifteen minutes later did I make a left turn, when a car coming in the opposite direction, ran a red light and t-boned me.

I saw the car coming. I saw the red light. Funny, I wasn't scared. I knew the car was going to hit me and I knew it wasn't going to be a small accident. But in that second, I turned to look at my dogs in the back. I was so afraid for them.

The car hit us at full speed. It didn't even try to brake. My van took a direct hit, lurched up on two wheels and almost toppled over. It then righted itself and came down hard at which point we were hit again by another car. We spun until we stopped facing in a macabre direction.

I remember looking back and seeing Jett bounced around. I don't recall watching Porter. But Jett bounced in her crate.

When we finally came to a stop. I put the car in park. I couldn't move. All I could do was shake.

Some very wonderful people came running to help us. A lovely woman with a very soft European Accent came to my aid immediately. It was really hard for me to talk. She held my hand and told me I was OK. When I was finally able to speak, I asked her to check my dogs. I could see the look on her face. I think she thought the worst. I had not seen the condition of my van at that point. A man came up and asked what I needed. I asked him to check my dogs. He ran to the back and flung open the back. He yelled that they were fine. Jett was doing her happy dance. I couldn't see as my glasses were thrown from my face. It was dark and I couldn't find them. But I could hear Jett greeting everyone who came to look at her. I was so relieved. The police checked on them, the fireman checked them out, and the paramedics did a quick check of them as well.

In the end, we all walked away unscathed. A little sore, a little shocky and somewhat traumatized but OK. The police officer told me over and over how lucky we were. It could have been much worse. He told me that if my dogs had been loose in the van, they probably would not have survived the accident. To tell you the truth, I heard the words but I didn't "hear" the words.

This morning I got a ride to the dealership to survey the damage and get all my stuff out the van.

In the light of day, it was much worse than it appeared the night before. I actually had to stand quietly for a while and take it all in. My Van is a write off. I went to the back and opened the lift gate and it was then that I saw the condition of the crates. Porter was nearly pushed right through his crate into Jett's. The force must have been quite something. The crate was bulging on one side the the top of the crate was buckled.

My dogs would dead today if they had not been in their crates. They would have been thrown through the windows. Everything in the front seat ended up in the back. It would have been horrific.

Sometimes I find myself defending my use of crates to friends who don't use them. They think it's terrible that I confine my dogs. They actually believe it is inhumane. They think a dog should be loose in the vehicle with their heads out the window.

I love my dogs. I always have and I always will. From this day forward, the best thing I can do for my dogs is make sure they are in a crate when we travel. I will show them how much they mean to me, every time I close the gate, and slip the latch. I won't fall for the sad eyes that beg to come sit up front.

I'm very sore tonight. The Jett and Porter seem quite happy. There is no appearance of any soreness with them. They're wrestling around in the living room right now. Life is good. I bought some very special bones for Jett and Porter tonight. I think we will have a quiet evening together, on the couch, watching Glee.

Hug your dogs tonight. They deserve it.

My New Lifestyle - Something Completely Different

About a year ago I started educating myself about nutrition (human not dog).

My entire life I have been heavy. I am one of those people that loses weight, gains weight, tries every diet out there....low carb, no carb, grapefruit, soup, glycemic, weight watchers, etc. etc. looking for 'THE" diet that "WORKS" for me.

I AM THE POSTER CHILD FOR FAD DIETING FAILURE

So, after doing a whole lot of reading, research, etc. I have finally convinced myself that it is not a diet that I seek. What I actually need is to get a grip and to change my way of thinking and not try to fool myself. All I need to do is change my lifestyle.

I rejoined weight watchers a week and a half ago because truly their eating plan is sustainable and healthy. It hits all the right points and it is something that I can do for the rest of my life.

I rejoined Curves and work out 6 days a week. I enjoy working out and feel so much better afterwards. I also joined the Y so that I can mix up my exercise.

I have pledged to walk my dogs everyday unless it is too cold for them and me or its really poor weather.

I'm going to post periodically on my blog to keep myself honest.

This is a positive step in reshaping my body, my health and my mind. I'm on a new journey that I am excited to be taking.

It's Been A While

It's been quite some time since I have posted on my blog. No particular reason really. Things were just very very busy both at work and at play.

Meg and I had a good trial season. Meg Jammed her first Junior. Placed in her second Junior, and then placed third in our first Qualifying Stake. With limited trialing it was a successful first season.

I brought Meg home in October for a break and then at the end of November Meg flew off to Colorado to train with Kenny Trott at Horsetooth Retriever Kennels. As of a few weeks ago, Kenny, Marcy and the crew arrived in Texas for the "winter trip". So far so good. Meg is getting along famously and from all accounts working well.

I'm planning a couple of trips to Texas in the next couple of months and I'm really looking forward to it, as I didn't get to go last year.

Since Meg has been gone, Jett was somewhat depressed. She didn't have Logan to play with so....I am fostering a beautiful golden retriever named Porter. Porter is about a year old so he is still quite the puppy. Porter's future will be in the show ring. I'm just very fortunate to have some time with him.

You may recall the puppy fits I had with Meg with her determination to "be free". Well, Porter puts all of Meg's efforts to shame.

Today, I went out and bought a new door for the grooming room. I had Rona Hardware saw the top off at a point where Porter can't reach his paws up to. Tomorrow, the new door is being installed and Porter will spend his alone time in the grooming room with no way of escape.

Jett and Porter love each other. My plan is to put the two of them together in the grooming room. They can play, chew on bones, sleep....do whatever their little hearts desire. The only thing Porter won't be able to do is get into the food bins, chew up my boots, distress my cleaning lady, and in general,...get into trouble.

Although I sound like I'm complaining, Porter has been great company for Jett and he's very playful and very sweet. I've got him figured out though. He's smarter than he looks. I can no longer be sucked in by his antics. I was talking to Porter's owner the other day and I told her that Porter was exactly what I would consider a golden retriever to be like. His temperment is awesome. He is generally laid back and sweet. He doesn't fight with other males and he just wants to have fun. Porter makes friends with everyone he meets whether they be animal or human. He has such a gentle way about him. He manages to wrap everyone around his little finger. It's quite amazing actually. Marcy says that Miikka makes her laugh. Trust me when I say that Porter genuinely makes me laugh. I really enjoy having him around.

Sherhaven's Wee Highland Fling

Today, I said good-bye to my best friend after 12 1/2 years.

It's important that I tell you the story of Logan because sometimes people don't understand the bond that people and their animals build and what our best friends teach us and how they change us.

When I moved out to the country with my first dog Kinsey I decided that she needed a buddy and I waited for a year for the right breeding. I wanted a male golden retriever and I wanted to show him. That was the plan.

Along came Logan. He was pick of the litter and beautiful. I was short on cash because I had to buy a new car and I had just bought a house. The car was a surprise and not in the budget, but I really wanted Logan. I sold a family heirloom to purchase him (my aunt's engagement ring). My aunt loved animals and had a poodle at one time. I knew she would understand and I believed wholeheartedly that she would approve. I brought Logan home in August.

Kinsey and Logan forged a friendship quite quickly and we were a happy little family. I started taking Logan to show handling class and things were looking good.

When Logan was 6 months old I started questioning his vision. Shortly thereafter Logan was diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes, a circular nystagamus and a brain lesion. How, why we never knew. The plan for Logan changed and it changed for me.

When Logan was 18 months old he had cataract surgery however, sight for Logan was not to be. The surgery did not go well and he developed scar tissue over BOTH corneas. Logan's life from this point on was destined to be different.

I was told by many to "put him down". Others said, "send him back to the breeder and get your money back". Others could not believe that I would keep this dog. I never ever thought of giving him up or sending him back. Putting him down was not on the agenda.

I became literally Logan's "seeing eye person". We worked it out. We had a system. I clapped - he followed. I put a bell on Kinsey's collar so he could follow her. I moved furniture so he could get around. Logan was never left home - he was always part of the party. Logan even went hunting. He sat in the blind with me. He was never left out.

Logan swam and in fact, he would throw himself off the dock and retrieve bumpers by scent. He was a good swimmer. We all laughed because he and Kinsey would "tag team" retrieve. Kinsey would launch herself off the dock with Logan in pursuit. Kinsey would retrieve the bumper and hand it off to Logan who followed the claps and my voice and brought it back to me. We had a great time playing that game. He went on every walk, he came to work with me, he went everywhere. Everybody loved him.

He was afraid of the sound of the wind if it got really windy. It would send him into a panic. I would bring him up on the bed, put him under the covers and hold him. He would shake and shiver for a bit and then eventually he would calm down and go to sleep. Thunder was another thing that could send him off the deep end but the thing that really shook him up was the sound of the computer music when the computer came on and when it turned off. I just stopped turning my computer off when he was around.

Being blind, never stopped Logan. This is a dog with the most heart I have ever seen. He managed to slip out of a friend's house one time and went on "a toot". I got a panicked call at work and flew home to search. He was found approx. 1/2 mile from my friend's house swimming in a pond in someones yard having a blast. He wasn't worried - he was having fun.

Logan played with all the dogs and was the king of "de-poofing" toys. I have swept up more stuffing out of toys than I care to discuss. Logan loved shoes and needed to have a shoe in his mouth when you came in the door because he knew he would be chased by me to get it back. He would roll onto his back with the shoe in his mouth and a goofy grin. He would get his tummy rub and then give up the shoe. This was the routine. In the evenings he was my couch buddy. He got up on the couch and we assumed the position - me at one end and he at the other with his head in my lap. I would stroke his ears and he would groan. We spent many a night that way. He was a great comfort to me and I think I was to him.

Logan had a fabulous relationship with my nephew and my sister. He loved them. I don't think there was a single person that Logan didn't like.

In the last few years age began to tell on Logan. I always worried what would happen if he lost his hearing too. I was worried he would be in a world of his own and afraid. I worried about that a lot.

So in the last year his hearing do go. Not entirely, but enough that it could get him into trouble. We went to Plan B which included louder clapping and now his walks were on a flexi. He still rode out to the end of the flexi. He never clung in close - he just marched on. He became afraid of swimming which was hard to see so I went to ponds where he could puddle and to the beach where it was shallow. I walked in the water with him. He really like the water and I didn't want to see him lose that joy.

And snow....my how he loved the snow. He rolled in the snow endlessly. It became hard to walk him because all he wanted to do was roll!

In November, I had a scare with Logan but he bounced back and I breathed a great sigh of relief. I really thought that we had dodged a bullet. I knew whatever was ailing him would reappear but I needed it not to happen too soon.

Dogs are incredible creatures and I know they sense things and worry too. I was scheduled for surgery in early January of this year and he went to my sister's while I was in hospital. I could tell he was worried when I left him with Cathy. I was out of hospital 3 days later and stayed at my sister's for a week.

I brought Logan home with me to recouperate and he was my constant companion. If he hadn't been here I would have been totally alone. It would have been unbearable. He and I assumed the position on the couch and pretty much spent the last two weeks that way. I really needed him in these past two weeks and I believe he knew that. I think he waited.

This weekend, Logan took a turn for the worse and by last night I knew it was time. I sat up all last night with him just like we had for years - me at one end of the couch and he at the other with Logan resting his head in my lap.

This morning I took that horrible drive to the Vet and said good-bye. My heart is broken and I cannot stop the tears.

I can't tell you all the life lessons that Logan has taught me, but for sure he taught me never ever to not try. Logan always tried, always wanted to do stuff, always wanted to be active - he never gave up. NEVER. Until today. The spark left and he had given all he could. I think he hung in there for the last two weeks for me. I really do believe that. I believe with all my heart that he knew that I needed him. He was a friend that was "there for me" and that's what friendships are all about.

I just hope he knows how much I loved him and how much I am going to miss him. He was my buddy and there will never be another one like my Logan.

Our Big Win!

I'm so proud of my Meg.

At the second last trial of the year in these parts Elmingo's Prime Suspect (Megan) WON the Puppy Stake at Mountain Valley!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Meg and I. It's probably one of the nicest that I have.

Since the trial season is over, we're spending our time with some light training and hunting.

Next weekend is the big Dovetail Kennels Pheasant hunt and shortly thereafter it will be time for Meg to head south for the winter.

I'm going to miss her....

Noula - The New Star

This is a picture of a friend of mine, Margot, who, over the years has owned several Irish Water Spaniels. I met Margot, 11 1/2 years ago at Handling Class. I was learning to show Logan and Margot was teaching the ropes to Claire. Over the years, Margot has done obedience, conformation and field with her Irish Water Spaniels. For years Margot has been telling me how adorable Irish Water Spaniel puppies are and when Libby had her first litter this year, I went off to visit and was instantly "sucked in" by the IWS charm. Yes, Margot, they are adorable.

Margot kept one of these puppies and her name is Noula. Noula is also known as Noulie and affectionately called "Noodle". Whatever we call her, Noula is a doll and was the hit of training this past weekend. Below are a series of action photos of Noula's first swim and water retrieve.

This picture was taken of Noula on Saturday at training. She puddled around and spent a great deal of time at the line watching "the big dogs". She found it all very interesting and was very intent on watching what all was going on.

These next pictures were taken on Sunday when we trained at a local quarry.

Check out that water entry!!! Go Noula Go!!! Go Noula Go!!!

Amost there......

Got it...what a proud puppy and she turned right around and brought it back.

And away we go....let the games begin.

There you go Margot. Won't be long before she's ready for Master Hunt and maybe Field Trial???