Have you ever looked Fear in the face and said, 'I just don't care'

I feel like I'm looking Fear in the face almost every day. Sometimes I wonder why am I challenging myself so much? Then I think, why not? I'll never know if I can do something if I don't try.

So, the business is still priority number 1 and I'm learning a lot about massage, but still longing to take the rehabilitation courses-in that way February can't get here fast enough!
Dogs are priority number 2(but only barely). The 4 star events for IFCS world team qualification are starting to be announced with the first one in JANUARY!! I have admitted to myself and my coach, Kim, that I want to do this. I may not make the team, especially since every one and their mother will be trying for this team since it will be in the USA, but it won't be for trying. I need to see what the competition is like and I know I have to work on my own anxiety and pre-run nerves and the only way to do this is compete!! Brink will be getting some serious work-outs in the next few months. We are drilling weaves and off-set jump shoots, making him bounce, read angles, and extend. Then we work collection on one jumps, with constant reminders to jump from the back-end. I know he is a special dog and hopefully one day the world will see it too. :)
On the other end of the dog spectrum, I some how got suckered into running River on a team event. Can she do this? Yes, if the event takes place in my back yard and I can have a cookie in my hand. Doing this at an arena is another story. Practice began today and she still seems happy. We will be practicing a lot of weave poles and starting anti-anxiety medication. I think my team mates understand (may be not to the full extent) of River's psyche. I keep reminding her, that it was her cousin that won Agility Finals this year.
Priority #3-Possibly starting a new agility club in New Mexico for USDAA. We need more trials down here and I'm unhappy with how the current club does things. I want to have the trials like I used to go to in Colorado and Utah. Starting a new club is hard and even in this very early, brain-storming phase I'm stressed. I have great ideas though!
Update from 2 posts ago:
Traveling to Texas was rough-I think the original 2 week vacation plan was better than drive to Texas one day, compete in Finals the next, then drive home. Both Rival and Tundra were super troopers. Tundra had an amazing time with a 6th place in jumpers and 3rd place in Rd 1 of Regular. She and I were amped for the last round, I knew I was going to push as hard as possible and unfortunately our combined adrenaline caused Tundra to literally leap from the top of the down ramp of the dogwalk. Even with that huge time eater and holding her a-frame after that, her time would have been close to first place and an over-all top ten finish. I will say that I will never forgot that run and maybe that was Tundra's plan all along:)
Rival did well, and we had some bobbles, but he gave me his all. I know he'll never be competitive, but he does it for me and that's all I can ask.
The future holds more Aussie promises, but we'll talk about that later...


P.S. River says, "Happy Halloween!!!"

"It's only half past the point of no return..."

Tundra is retired. I didn't realize I would have such mixed emotions with depression topping the list. I know she has no idea she's retired and will never think, "I wonder why I don't get to go compete at agility trials anymore?" But for me it is so hard. I truly believe I am doing the right thing. She is only ten, but I don't want to run her into the ground, I don't want to cause an injury, I don't want to push her until she hates it. Tundra has done many great things and I need to reflect on that and remember that, along with how much she has taught me. She is my first agility dog and my heart dog. She's a triple champion-twice over in USDAA and ASCA. She has given me so much of herself...

Great Expections...

Leaving me feeling overwhelmed. Hopefully in a good way. Can you feel the doubt oozing from the last statement? I wish I had this great insight into where I was going, but I don't. I still have this passion for an awesome, amazing canine rehabilitation business, but I have to admit that last week's Medical Massage course left me a bit flabergasted. I'm still optimistic that with time and practice and I will learn the art of massage and I will starting seeing with my hands, but right now they are blind mice. I start my first consults this week, so wish me good luck...

In the agility world, my Tundra's ATCH 2 and Indy Award win were quickly overshadowed by the running of USDAA Nationals. I so, so, so wanted to be there. The courses looked amazing with some tough challenges. I kept telling myself next year, next year. Thanks to my friend, Brink already has a Grand Prix Q and Steeplechase Q, so we are half way there with the whole year ahead of us. I got to work with my original trainer this past week and got some good feedback and training suggestions. Now I just have to get my life scheduled so I can actually practice!

I think the best way to get on track is to write down some goals to accomplish within the next month:

Medical Massage Certification

Place with Tundra in ASCA Finals

Clean runs with Rival in ASCA Finals

Work on 3 weave pole drill with Brink

Work on head turning/wrapping jumps with Brink

Schedule time to work out for triathlon training (needless to say my training has gone in the garbage with everything else going on)

Just basicly get organized!! This will always be an issue :)

"Having money is rather like being a blond. It is more fun but not vital."

To start, I have to admit I stole the idea of using a quote as a title from my friend's blog. I read this quote and just loved it. I did spend about 6 years of my life as a blonde and it was fun. I now live life as a red head until it fades to blonde...I can't really say if being a red head or blonde is more fun...

This past week was a blast. I struggled at class with Brink, he just didn't want to keep the bars up. I didn't work on the business much, except for making tugs. I kept the house clean and organized, which I love. And the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries aired!!!

Wednesday night was a special treat for the dogs. Tundra turned 10 on Monday, so for her birthday I bought all the dogs bully sticks. These are like crack for dogs, they love it, they covet it, and they have no idea that it's really dehydrated bull penis. This special treat keeps them busy for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the dog. Tundra actually couldn't finish her's, so I put it up for the night. The next morning, Rival was missing-this is very unusual since he normally always stands next to you. Well, when no one was looking he went and got Tundra's bully stick and started chewing it in the corner, he eventually came when called trying his best to hide the bully stick in his mouth. We now know he has a memory like an elephant.

Bark in the Park took place on Saturday. This is an annual event held in Rio Rancho by Enchantment Pet Resort to help support the Rio Rancho Animal Shelter. I helped microchip animals and sold my awesome Twisted Tugs. It was a fun event with lure coursing, flyball, and agility, plus tons of dog stuff! I microchipped 10 dogs and the biggest baby of all was a labrador retriever, even the 7 pound dachsund was better. The other dogs didn't even notice.

Sunday, was my biggest fitness challenge yet: The Tour de Acoma 50 mile race. Unfortunately, I flatted on the rail road tracks less than 5 miles in. Chris changed my tire and we played catch up the rest of the race. The one big hill climb was torture, but once again, Chris was right there to keep me going and get me up the hill. We ended up finishing in 3 hours, but I don't think I placed due to the flat, maybe next year. This race put me one notch closer to my Hawaii Half Ironman. That race has a 56 mile bike ride in it, so I know now that I can do that part of the race!
On the way home from the race, Chris and I stopped to visit Quid, and she is officially ridable! I'm going to get on her later this week.

Now for the training update. Brink is doing really well at home. We continued his running A-Frame on the ground, adding movement, including running and he is doing great hitting the box. I still am only using the clicker with treats, the next session will have to work in the toy. We also continued the post turn training, but added front crosses and continuing forward. He collects so well for the post turns and front crosses even if I'm not right there. I did confuse him at first when we were going to run straight, but he figured it out. I think these drills will really help him with his deceleration and acceleration understanding. This weekend brings a 3 day AKC trial, it sure would be nice to get out of open. Hopefully I'll sell a lot of Twisted Tugs also!

P.S. Title quote by Mary Quant
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUNDRA!

Don't Let Life Run You Over

Life has thrown me a lot of lemons lately, but things are finally start to turn around. Don't get me wrong, there were lots of hours of depression, but I believe I discovered a lot of things about myself. One, I can still get by with out a job, my life is not defined by my career. Two, this change allowed me to explore what I really want to do and finally make the commitment to go that way. By this time next year I will be a certified canine rehabilitation therapist! Three, if I'm going to have these lofty goals in dog agility, I better spend some time really working on Brink's skills. Four, have fun!! Find something that challenges you and go for it. Once again, by this time next year I will be an Ironman (Half-ironman in Hawaii in June).

Now for today's update. On Tuesday, I had a working interview in Edgewood. It went really well, I had to do a cat spay and even under the watchful eye of the owner, (making me very nervous) I did it in about 30 minutes and the cat did great. The job would be small animal emergency at night. I'm excited about this because it still gives me the days to work-out, train for agility, and get my business going. Today I got an email from the manager that was very positive!

I also went for a 3 mile run today-working up to that Half-Marathon in February and then the half-ironman. Brink got to go with me and I could tell that his week off got him out of shape. We saved the evening for working on his skills. This was a clicker training session. We continued to work on his running A-frame with the ground work. He did well finding the box and did really well hitting it when I stood in different places and even started adding some movement. We still kept the toy out of the picture and just used treats. I think we need to get it 100% before I can start adding the toy. After finishing this exercise, we worked on post-turns. This is very difficult for Brink, because he does not read deceleration well and really hates it. We started with ground work. Recalls to the side with a turn, Brink had to accelerate to my side, but then stick with me almost in a heal position while we turned. After clicking and treating this for about 10 on each side, we moved on to a jump. Wow!!! I was so impressed with my boy. I showed no movement, stood in the path of the jump a bit, used the off arm and Brink's name to pull him around the post, clicked when he was tight and treated. We did about 10 on each side and he was so awesome. We'll work up to adding movement from me. Tomorrow we will continue to work on his A-frame, post-turns, and some jump collection.

This weekend is busy, busy! I will be doing a microchip clinic at Bark in the Park on Saturday and either a Triathlon on Sunday or a 50 mile bike ride at the Tour of Acoma. I also need to continue work on the business ideas-I think a website is next in order. I have to continue writing the business plan as well-not much fun, but worth it.

I'm not letting life run me over anymore, I'm in the driver's seat now!

A New Beginning

Soul searching is not something I like to do. Recent circumstances have left me with nothing else to do lately. I know what I like, it's my profession I'm not sure about. I like training my dogs, I love competing in agility, I love to read, and I'm learning I really like training for and competing in triathlons. How do I turn these loves into earning a living? Should I stick with what I went to school for? Should I go back to school? Have I just not found the right place yet? I just don't know if I'm really any good at what I do-in this one area I always question myself.
I must focus on what I'm good at and build my confidence. So today I worked on cycling and reading. Tomorrow, I plan on swimming and either running or cycling. I also will work on Brink's jumping, I've been told he needs a lot of work in that area. And as a reward for all this confidence building, I will go see Eclipse for some nice brain candy time. Brain candy is always good.