Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Internet everywhere!

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I love that even budget-priced motels now almost all have free or low-cost in-room high-speed wireless internet access. So why am I at a motel tonight, and why am I posting this from my BlackBerry, you ask?

It’s about six hours from my home to Julia’s, and I drove down with Axel and a nice German Shepherd needing a ride today. Now in my younger days, I would have made the return drive right away. In my younger days, I also thought a full day on a motorcycle was a reasonable drive. But with age eroding my night vision, I decided driving back in the morning made more sense.

I made full use of the free internet access by spending a couple of hours working on the magazine. Unfortunately, my VAIO is one of those needing a warranty fan replacement and without my laptop cooler pad, it is getting molten hot.

Thus, tonight’s NaBloPoMo entry via BlackBerry!

(NaBloPoMo | January ’10: 4 of 31)

Saturday Freya: still on break

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I normally attend a group obedience class with Freya on Saturday mornings. We are still on break for the holidays, though. Since we skipped the last class of the previous session so I could watch Axel from afar as he competed in Rally Obedience at the Christmas Cluster, we have been off for three weeks.

Class starts up again next Saturday and it’s not a moment too soon! Three weeks off in winter is just a little too much downtime, since we don’t have as many opportunities to play or train outdoors. Rottweilers don’t seem to mind the cold, or at least my Rottweilers don’t mind it. This week’s single-digit temperatures don’t seem to faze them at all, except that they can’t pick up frozen Jolly Balls. I’m fearing frostbite and hypothermia because they don’t want to come in, and I’m the only one that seems to be suffering any ill effects from the extreme cold!

I’m still hoping that we will be ready for an APDT Rally Obedience trial on January 23-24. Freya’s attitude and performance in our first class back from break will give me some idea of whether we should shoot for that trial, or for one on February 6-7 instead. Both are at locations where we’ve trialed and/or trained before so at least the grounds won’t be unfamiliar to either Freya or me.

I haven’t been doing any training to speak of during the break. We have done some quick reviews of stationary rally exercises in the kitchen before meals, but not every day. On the days that weren’t too frigid, we did some heeling practice on the back walk before and after potty breaks. I should have done a little more with Axel since he will be trialing again next weekend, and I will do a “real” training session with him tomorrow. On Monday, we’ll go on a brief road trip to get him back to Julia, and then he’s off to shows in Texas and Florida. It is nice that at least one family member will get a vacation in some hopefully warmer spots of the country!

(NaBloPoMo | January ’10: 2 of 31)

New year, new decade, what else is new?

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So a shiny new year and a shiny new decade is upon us. I don’t feel too shiny and new myself, and it’s been a long time since I’ve tried to trick myself into thinking that January 1 and a clean slate are in any way synonymous. And despite this month’s NaBloPoMo theme, BEST, I’m not quite ready to say “Let’s have the BEST year EVER in 2010!”

That sounds a bit pessimistic, but I actually am planning for good things to happen in the coming year.

We’re enjoying a few more days of Axel’s company as he spends his winter vacation here at home. As you may already know, he’s just one major away from his AKC championship. There will be no majors at his first stop in Texas, but he is entered in Rally Obedience trials both days, and may be able to finish his Rally Novice title there. Next stop will be the Winter Classic clusters in Brooksville, Florida. The breakdowns are posted for the first cluster, and four of the five days are majors for Rottweilers. So think good, winning thoughts for Axel this month, please!

Freya will also be working on her Rally Obedience titles. She earned her UKC URO1 in November, but I don’t feel that she is ready to compete off-leash for her URO2 yet. So we’ll be working on the novice level titles in other registries: APDT and AKC.

So, you say, those are the dogs’ goals! Yes, sadly my dogs are more motivated than I am, or I am more motivated for them than for myself. Or something.

It’s true that my own goals are not as well-defined as my goals for the dogs. Professionally, 2009 was a year of just trying to stay alive, and thankfully, we did. I admire those who can still formulate long-term goals in the midst of treading water, because it’s not something I found myself able to do. Along with everyone else in the country, I’m hoping that as the economy recovers, so will our business and our ability to plan for the long term and the big picture. Even more so as I get closer to retirement age!

Personally, I want to do more with my blog and website. Hold me to it, will you?

So. What are you hoping to get done in 2010?

(NaBloPoMo | January ’10: 1 of 31)

Axel returns to Chicago

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Well, sort of! Since Axe didn’t finish his championship at home this past weekend, he’ll be home for the holidays only, and then heading out on January 3 to Texas, then Florida, which is way more exciting than what his human family members have planned for themselves for January.

As you’ve guessed by now, if you’ve been following Axe’s championship quest, our much-hoped-for 3-point majors for Rottweiler dogs did not hold for any of the three Christmas Cluster shows at the Rosemont Convention Center. Oh, I guess that should be Donald E. Stephens Convention Center now, but I don’t call the Sears Tower the Willis Tower either, so bear with me, please.

Despite the lack of majors this past weekend, I still have good news to report. Axe went Winners Dog and Best of Winners at Friday’s show for 2 points, giving him 13 total points. Now he needs just one more major win to earn his championship. On Saturday, he had a successful debut in the Rally Obedience ring, qualifying for his first Rally Novice leg with a score of 94 points, which was good enough for 3rd place. Have I mentioned before how much I appreciate Axe’s handler, Julia Foster? Not only does she make him look good, she gets him to work well with her, too.

I’ve added Axel’s November show photos to his gallery for you to enjoy.

What’s my point?

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axel_points120109

So, when your dog is out at the shows, and even when your handler is excellent about keeping you informed about your dog’s progress, and even when you know that AKC doesn’t update the points progression daily, do you keep checking it? Every day or maybe even more than once a day? Waiting eagerly for the next update?

axel_11points

Or is that just me obsessing about Axel?