Monday, October 29, 2012

Hobby No More?

I am kind of feeling over agility. It’s weird to feel that way about something I have enjoyed for so many years. Just…tired of it. It has lost its luster, for sure. This weekend didn’t help. I don’t usually do the whole drive up day-of thing. I don’t enjoy getting up at 4. Being up before coffee shops are open is just stupid. Bella has never enjoyed it either, even when she wasn’t almost double digits old. Always been a fan of sleeping in that one. Kate doesn’t care because Kate doesn’t sleep. To her, 4 may as well be noon. But, since Kate also doesn’t do agility so her opinion doesn’t really matter here.
 
This is what a non-sleeping weirdo looks like
 
 
 
I did the day-of thing on Saturday because I was only doing one day of this trial. The only remotely cool thing that happened – and this won’t matter to you unless you live here – is that on the way up I made it all the way up 19th without getting stuck at a single traffic light! No lie – 280 to the Golden Gate – not one stop. Miracles do happen!
 
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It was downhill from there, though. The day of waiting. Hour and a half for my first run. 5 hours after that for my second. Did I mistakenly enter an AKC trial? This is not how CPE shit should go. Oh sure, it may be the non-competitive venue, the everyone-gets-a-ribbon silliness, a class for all even if you should have retired your lame dog 3 years ago, but we are not a patient people. We want Run, Run, Run, Lunch, Run, Run, dinner at 4. Five hours between runs? WTF?! Hell to the no. I left at 2:30 after my second run. No way I was waiting around to see how long it would take to get the remaining 3 in. Shit.
 
Our first run was also horrible. Like I was running someone else’s dog. Not my good brown dog. Some non-listening, disconnected thing that just felt awful. Not a good way to start an already sort of irritating day. We redeemed after our 5 hour break, though. Smashing JP run. Just perfect all around. Buzzer went off just when I asked it to, good brown dog returned (with weaves, to boot), smooth gamble, lots of points and a blue ribbon if I were so inclined to take those things.
 
And then Bella died because it was 85°.
 
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85° in almost November time. Weird. This is supposed to be the rainy and cold trial. Wet feet and runny noses. Not, why-didn’t-I-wear-shorts?
 
She does love a good roll in wet grass DSC_4730
 
Maybe a bit much?
 
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The dogs did dig all the waiting, though, because it meant more ball time.
 
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I mean, we could do this at home
 
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I guess the novelty of Different Field carries some weight with them
 
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And Kate used her down time wisely and figured out how to origami her tongue into a travel mug. Totes her own water now.
 
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We are not doing anymore agility for the rest of the year. Heck, maybe not ever. I guess we will see how we feel in January.
 
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6 comments:

  1. Gotta go with your heart. If you stopped now, you went out on a good note and should be proud. This November heat is ridiculous
    Benny & Lily

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  2. I have never tried to go through SF to get up there! (I always go up 880 and across the SR bridge) But making it all the way up 19th with no reds is AMAZING!

    I hear you on the agility thing...sometimes I get burned out on it and have to take a break. I hope I'm about at the point of coming back to it with fresh enthusiasm!

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  3. We should get the dogs together for a hike sometime. That should get their minds off the agility blues at least.

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  4. Bella would do nasty things to you in your sleep if she knew you posted such an undignified picture of her on the internet!

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  5. Whatever came of the agility, the photos are beautiful. And that tongue origami thing rocks.

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