Sort of a lot rambled together.

So the Aussie girls had their first three trials since July these past few weeks. My consistent girls… each, had few Qs. 


Java, just didn't seem right at first, slower, and skipping jumps, sometimes running by the aframe, missing weave entries, taking lots of off course tunnels (she's always done that, don't start your dogs career by doing lots of tunnelers runs). Finally, this  past weekend things seemed more "on" for her. We Q'd in PSJ and PGP (so close! a missed dw). Otherwise no masters Q's but that was on me. So maybe the heat was getting to her and our first cool weekend she seemed much improved. 


Trin's been mostly perfect, as usual, just some weird things. Twice she's come off the teeter, once she bounced off in a dramatic fashion. (Seriously click that.) She crashed two jumps in two different trials, like completely taking the jump out. Trin has knocked a total of *2* bars before this crashing started, both were my fault for being in her jumping path. These crashes both happened on straight lines, one she took off entirely too early and the other she didn't lift enough. Also, once she stopped dead in front of the last jump like she never even saw it. All of that is quite disconcerting, so I'll get her eyes checked out, and also start working on some more serious conditioning for her. She seems happy to be trialing and her contacts and weaves seems normal. I ran her on a P-team this weekend and they came in 2nd getting a medal. For Trin I'm mostly focusing on the Invitational and thinking that will be her last big event. I keep saying that to myself... we'll see. 


Filled out my Invitational bio… I didn't fill one out for nationals, thinking we wouldn't be in the finals. ;) I always ponder at the question, “Where do you train?” As Tori said when we were filling them out for Nationals, “In my head” which is true, a more applicable answer for me would be “anywhere” or “everywhere” but for this time I wrote “with friends” which makes me happy and is totally true. The bio is tough… what do you say? I’m a 28 year old dog training enthusiast and I have the best dogs in the whole world? I ended up saying… “Trinity is Sarah's first dog, and she is a rescue. She has a MACH and has been an AKC National Agility Finalist. Her breed was recently changed from Australian Shepherd to Miniature American Shepherd, while unexpected, a nice surprise as it came with an invite to this event.” Hoping I can have Trin back to normal by December. 


This weekend Kate and Bayer are off to Purina Farms for AWI finals, a trip I'm very much looking forward to. Lots of good friends and good times, and a visit with an old family-friend. I'll most likely be dead on my feet by the end of it from watching Tori on livestream all night but hey, sacrifices. 


And on a different note, today is one of my best friends from high school's 29th birthday, he was adorably handsome, funny, clever and gay. He was my prom date, though we left prom rather quickly and went to the beach instead. We met in 8th grade, talked on the phone all night and skipped school together several times after he got a car in 10th grade. We would mostly just play video games and go on long walks, making up stories and predicting the future. He never really had a future in mind for himself which is unfortunate because I'd love to say he accomplished it. I know he is very proud of what my dogs have accomplished, even though I don't believe in heaven. He passed away in 2009. Happy birthday, Ruben. 


They left me with your shadow, 
saying things like 
Life is not fair  
& I believed them 
for a long time. 
But today, 
I remember 
the way you laughed 
& the heat of your hand in mine 
& I knew that 
life is more fair
than we can ever imagine
if 
we are there to live it 

-Story People