Summer 2008 (with updates since February...YIKES!)

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Dear Diary

OK, well I will just stop even trying to fool myself and anyone else by saying I will have more usual updates.  I will try to do better than this, but in all fairness to myself...my host computer sucks and runs really slow and is really a nightmare to work on anymore. Plus it is ALL THE WAY upstairs.  But, there is so much to update on.  So, even though I am anxious to just write this minute about Shine's Champion title and our new pup, Yogi, I shall resist the urge and give you a Readers Digest version of happenings since February. Since we lead relatively boring lives, this shouldn't take too long anyway.

OK, well February of course means Westminster. This year Tom and I went together for the first time in at least a couple of years. What a treat! It once again snowed for my visit.  We decided to take a day and walk the entire length through Central Park. About halfway through (a couple of hours) it started to snow .  Don't you love my pink coat?  Central Park is much bigger than I originally thought. Here is Tom by the turtle pond, or lake or something .  Westminster was extra special this year because I personally knew two of the handlers exhibiting dogs there, and was familiar with a third.  Betty Brown (Shine and Yogi's co-breeder) was up there showing a mini-poodle , and Steve (Shine's handler/my mentor and friend/Yogi's co-breeder) was up there showing a Great Dane .  We ran into Steve Saturday night before the show as he was pulling his weathered and far traveled van up to the hotel.  It is quite an undertaking to travel all that way with two Great Dane's and all their giant equipment! As exciting as Westminster is to just be attending, it is ever more so when you know people showing.  I believe the poodle that Betty was showing got an award of merit of some kind, and the Dane Steve was showing got Best of Opposite Sex...a tremendous achievement at Westminster. Heck, it is a tremendous achievement anywhere, but Westminster...that is like, the Show!  I also know the Dane's owner, Margo, and both she and Steve were positively beaming after the award .  The other person at Westminster that I knew was a familiar face from last year....remember these two ?  That is Chris Manelopoulis and the stunning Remy.  Remy once again made it to Best in show but was denied to title yet once again.  Another exciting thing this year was that we had ringside seats for Monday night. I mean, we were this close .  We had a really good time, we saw a couple of shows...Blue Man Group and Spamalot and had a few good meals.  Soon it will be time to go again!

Let's see....other than that...the school year kind of ended with a huge BANG with all these things happening at once. The kids managed to get promoted to the next grade with ease. Victoria graduated 8th grade and will be starting her freshman year at the new 9th grade center.  Sadly, her BFF will be moving to BFE and won't be attending the same school anymore.

David turned 16 in May, so both kids are busy doing their best to make me feel as old as possible.  We traded in the Pathfinder and got him a 2003 VW Jetta.  For some reason is smells like melted crayons on the inside. But, this isn't an awful smell and is really the only fault the car seems to have (other than that the stereo is not up to David's standards).

Shine managed to earn her Champion Title with her Major wins occurring in Biloxi after being with Steve for about two months.  I was filled with such joy! I can't even describe it. I wish that I had been able to see it, but I can imagine it all in my mind very vividly.  Steve said that in the last month of her showing, she was truly remarkable. She looked gorgeous and held her head high as the sailed around the ring.   If she passes all of her health testing, Steve is planning on breeding her to a blue male that he has.  She has now left her show coat behind and seems much happier in her shorter hair cut .  Her coat is still a work in progress, as I have to wait for the once shaven parts to grow out in order to put something cute on her.

Finally, we have the small matter of the addition of Yogi to our house.  You can read all about him, how he came to be at our house and see his pictures on Yogi's page.

David has been active on the soccer field as usual, his team did really well this season .  He just had his wisdom teeth extracted today, which is why I actually am taking the time to update my website.  He seems to be weathering it fairly well.  He will be a Junior this new school year.

Another thing that has happened is that my BFF, Esther, has quit her job at Dell and is moving to Raleigh NC. You might think I would be sad about this, but actually it works out just fine for us. We can meet in Vegas, plus....Raleigh is a convenient place to weekend-over on my way to Westminster.  We talk on the phone more than we ever see each other anyway, so all's well. She assures me she has bought a house that has a room for me with a bathroom with a bathtub.  What more could I ask for?

OK, well i am sure I have left off something, but I am worn out.  I put so many pics in this post and in Yogi's page that I don't really have many left but some random dog and soccer pics. So, if you want to see those, follow the link. Until next time, ttyl!

Pictures