BEDA is over...

Today is the last day of BEDA and I sort of got it done... I mean, I sorta almost kinda missed one day, but only by ten minutes so I choose not to count that. You can now officially expect to never see me again. Just kidding, I will still be updating just not everyday. Betcha had enough of me by now! I will of course continue to post 52 weeks pictrures!

Agility Class

Monday is Agility night, as you know. Lola is doing really well, but we need to work on the chute. We haven't gotten it out in a while and she was a little freaked. I hope to clear that up by Oct. 1.

I have been thinking about my AKC decision and I cannot, for the life of me, remember WHY I am trialing AKC. More expensive, less runs, farther away. Anyone want to give me hints? I LOVE USDAA, why am I not entering those trials? I guess I will try AKC, and see where I go...

Tired Kamie is tired...

So  only a picture for you!

Explore, and other image news...

The pic I posted yesterday made explore. Woot! Actually, explore is less exciting for me these days. I don't really know why. What is REALLY exciting for me is that I was asked permission for it to be in a magazine. Exciting, yes? I think so!

Hey I promised a picture...

And may the odds be EVER in your favor...

Have you ever read a book, that from the moment you read the first chapter has so captured your attention that you can't put it down? That expression is so cliched, "can't put it down" but it was true for me and Mockingjay. This book is one that I would call life altering. It is ultimately, despite they YA classification, a novel on war. It is of course the third in the Hunger Games series and should leave anyone reading it asking...Real or not Real? Honestly, I am still trying to process and it is hard. Today has been a LONG day, and this book made me cry a lot. I promise pictures tomorrow!

It's all the same if the fizzy drinks are nice.

I finally got Mockingjay. This is a big deal, because I have been waiting for it FOREVER. I plan to start it as soon as I finish the blog. When I went to the dreaded Wal-Mart to buy Mockingjay ( bonus fact, it was only twelve dollars) I was in line behind what were possibly the most confusing/exciting people ever. Their were these two very nerdy boys buying arrows (no bow), Sobe water, and shop mats... They were talking very animatedly about the people in their guild. I am going to assume this was their WoW guild, because they are not in my knitting guild. Are their other sorts of guilds in Jacksonville?

My classes were nice, that is all you need to know.

Lola is all registered for trials, but doing it online was one of the most confusing things I have ever done.

OMIGAWDMOCKINGJAYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School, and back to trialing...

School tomorrow. Woot?  I will certainly miss my friends, they understand the weird...

That's not important, what is really important is that I am writing out a training and trialing plan for this fall. I am going to actually start trialing in some AKC agility, which should be interesting. I have only ever done USDAA and NADAC. AKC will be a different, more expensive, experiment. The trial I sent off my entry for today is the Chattahoochee English Springer Spaniel Club show in Atlanta. Anybody else headed that way?

I can't wait, Lola was a friggin' speed demon at Agility last night, so it should be worth it!

Inside shots...

I fail. I fail, HARD at taking inside pictures. I just don't practice enough so that is what I did today. I practiced... and I practiced... and I practiced. The results?

Look at that little tongue! Isn't it cute!

I am coming along, methinks!

Hibiscus Tea!

I really enjoy hibiscus tea, and I decided to make my own! I have had hibiscus tea before (and it is VERY good!) and we do have hibiscus flowers here at home. The Cupcake Project blogged on the tea. Let's face it though, I am not going to find hibiscus tea in Jacksonville Alabama. I am also looking forward to the candied flowers!

Recipe? Why of course!

4 cups water
1/2 cup dried jamaica flowers
1/2 cup sugar

Another 3 cups of cold water
More sugar to taste
1 lime, thinly sliced

If you prefer, you can sweeten with any natural sweetener of your choice including honey in place of granulated sugar).
First off, pick out a pot that won't stain. Hibiscus has the potential to stain just about anything it comes in contact with including your countertop, cookware, wooden spoons, favorite jeans, etc. So keep this in mind.
Bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove water from heat and add the dried flowers and sugar. Place a lid over the pot and steep for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice along the way to break down the sugar granules.
Pour the infusion through a strainer into a pitcher or jug (this is usually where something gets stained). You are going to want to add about 3 more cups of cold water to the pitcher. Taste and adjust based on your personal preference. You can add a bit more sugar if you think you need it, or more water if you feel like the jamaica is too overpowering. This is usually just about right for my taste.
Cool completely and serve with plenty of ice in glasses garnished with a slice of lime.
Serves 8.

That recipe is from here: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/000172.html

We passed crazy a looong time ago...

You know, I have absolutely nothing to say today. Sooo... I am going to post the top five things I use on the interenet, why I use them, and my account there. Here we go:

1. Flickr: I started on Flickr for the photo storage. Then I found Standard Poodle-Caniche Royale group. I don't use SPCR much anymore, but Flickr has given me the interest in photography I have today. I have also made some great friends with whom I meet every year. My photostream is here.

2. Dogster: I started back on dogster when I was but a wee lass. I am fairly certain that the main reason it exists in my life today is to piss me off on a regular basis. There was a megathread about a year ago that I came off of with several friends that I talk to just about daily. Otherwise, I just shout obscenity in my head at the idiocy of the mass public. This is Lola's page.


3. Facebook: I am pretty sure that I use facebook for the same reason that everyone else uses facebook.
My profile

4. Last.fm. I like to listen to music, I like to learn other music to listen too. Therefore, I use Last.fm

5.  Twitter, I use Twitter to keep up with people... and Jesus. I exist here.


Soooo... friend me, contact me, follow me, send me dirty pawmails. Whatever.

Look, it is your daily dose of Lola!

And he was so filled with Joy...

My dear friendlys just left. Did I mention they are leaving for the year soon? Sad. BUT, that is not something I want to think about.
After we ate dinner, Ellen, Alison and I started watching these videos of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. That band HAPPENS to be in my top five bands of all time, so you should listen here:  Their Youtube Channel. I like to watch the videos, not just for the music ( which is amazing), but just so I can watch the band members. There are between ten and twelve at all times, so things are interesting.  Where am I going with this? Watching those videos led me to this guy :Dance of pure joy! Do you think he is on drugs? I think so too, but I would rather he was just dancing because he was so uninhibited. Isn't that a much more pleasant idea?

That was a non dog post, so I give you this picture of Lola's fresh shaved feeties to make up for it.

Melancholia...

You know, that sounds like a disease. Weird. Today was a very melancholy day. Boredom, combined with that oh so upsetting feeling one feels when [real life] crashes in. It sucks that I have to be an adult soon...  I don't want to be. It is so very easy to ignore real life when one is not working and it is summer. My friends leave for college on Wednesday, and I hate that I am stuck here. I honestly do. It's not that I am unhappy with my University, I just don't want to be in Jacksonville anymore.

Jeez, I sound like a whiny ass bitch. Call me Bella Swan and give me a friggin vampire to make out with.

This is what happens when Bella whines one too many times...
Real vampires pop out of his head.

On another note, I have officially signed up for classes that will end up with me having a major in photography. Wonder how that will go? Talk to me in a few years.
On the bright side, when I went to sign up for classes today there was a very attractive British Tennis player. Have I mentioned that I went there once? Twas lovely and very green.That would be Great Britain, not the british tennis player. He was quite pale.

I need to go bathe Lola tomorrow, there is a "petfest" on Saturday that I want to go to.


BTW, I spent like an hour on that in Photoshop. This is sad.

Sort of Wordless Wednesday...

Things that make me happy...

Pictures that make Explore:

and buying Lightroom!

How to go take pictures in places you aren't REALLY supposed to be...

I took Lola back to the fort today. I like to do this... but I am not really supposed too. SO, I have formed a guide to



Taking Your Dog's Picture Where BOTH of You Don't Belong*:

Step 1: Prep yourself before going. Find out the lay of the land. Dress casually, but not too casually. Running shoes are probably a good idea. Ya know, just in case. Bring a small note book or clipboard

Step 2: Look really expert at whatever you are doing. Stand erect, look at people that drive by as if THEY shouldn't be there. If you have some sort of badge, wear it. It will make you look more official.

Step 3: Dress your dog in stealth mode. I always take off Lola's fancy collar and put on a plain black one. If your dog has a ninja costume, that may come in handy.

In  case you get caught:

            Near a building: When someone is walking up, tell your dog to "Search" in an authoritative voice.                  When the dog stares at you blankly, nod your head and say "I do agree Watson, that building is     

              affected with deadly black mold, Good detection" Then write something down in your notebook 

              and look official again. If you have glasses, now is a good time to look over them officially.Take

             pictures of the building and mutter about accounting being unhappy with the price to fix.

           Not near a building: Pretend that you have never seen the dog. Take lots of landscape photos. To 

           be really convincing you may have to tell the dog to shoo. This will cause the person questioning your  

            right to be there think that the dog is a stray, and you are but an innocent landscape photographer, 

            hired by the government no less (this is where the badge comes in, feel free to brandish the badge at 

            the dog, while exclaiming that your are a government official.

                         And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I do it. Week 33 went something like this

*these instructions are by no means meant to keep you out of jail. If you do end up in jail, the author is not responsible for your bail.

I took Lola darlin' to the park today. She enjoyed it, I think. I took some pictures, my main goal was to get a good black and white shot for and new group I am in. Group Learning for Photography. This was my main choice:

                                                                  Heavy editing, but I like it.

While at the park, Lola did some squirreling in the mullberry trees.

We also worked on some obedience while at the park. It seemed to be the day for dog aggressive dogs to be at the park. I had Lola offleash, taking the above rock pictures, and some man came over and asked if she would bother another dog because his dog "bit hard". Ok...

After going to the park I had to go get some gas. I pulled in, rolled down the windows and walked in to pay. I was gone for approximately one minute, and in that time Lola barked twice (I could see her the whole time) and when I came out the man (I say man, he was younger than me. Between 16-17) in the car beside me told me I needed to "Shut my f-ing dog up". I said that I am sorry, but she was just wanting me to come back outside. He then said that my "f-ing dog was to f-ing loud and that he would shut her up" and started to walk towards me. I unhooked Lola's seatbelt and got her out of the car, because I had to pump fifty dollars of gas and felt threatened. He continued to approach until Lola "stacked up" in front of me and begin a deep, low growl. He muttered something else about a "f-ing bitch" and walked back to his car. Wonder which one of us was the bitch?

Not gonna attempt to explain this one...

 

That is all I have. I had a post started about designer breeds, but it was just plain bitchy.

"I'm just a little bi-furious!"

Yes, that is the quote that sticks out most in my mind from "An Epic of Epic Epicness". Scott Pilgrim Vs, The World!
Alison went with me, 

Here she is, striking a pose.

 Ellen also went.

I have no idea what she is doing with her hands, but it looks shifty. Also, her face is a little scary...

 We left around 10:30 for the midnight showing. That's just how we do things... We got there JUST in time to frighten our fellow midnight movie goers by taking really random pictures. Seriously, they were scared.

Sleep, LIKE A BOSS.

I don't really have an explanation for the fake strawberries, in the fake shower. The shower head was rather strong looking though. Maybe it was for the lonely ladies...

After a bit of frightening the moviegoers, we were allowed in the theater lobby... but not in the theater. Instead, they forced us to buy concessions. Which we all did.

What the HELL is a Kazoozle? or a Hufflepuff?

 

Ellen, standing like a hipster ( she was dressed as Kim Pine). With added Alison leg!

 

  

 

So, at 11:59 we started a movie. This movie was unbearable awesome, despite the jerks sitting behind us. As someone who has read the books, I think this movie ABSOLUTELY was as good. Maybe it was easier to do because it started as a graphic novel? Who knows, but it was AWESOME. I would even say COLOSSAL. I am not going to do a summary because it is WELL worth the 6-10 dollars to go see it. So do. Now. I command it. If I can get someone to go with me, I will go again. GO.


Need more convincing? How about reaction faces?

Alison

Ellen's face was too shocked to show on camera.

My friends, they are so full of normal. Yes, Alison is dressed as Ramona. These are their "Whatever, Ugh" faces. See the movie and you will understand!

 

I would like to note that, despite the pictures shown here, Ellen is commonly considered a NORMAL person.

Yet we know that Being Normal is Vastly Overrated!

Not much to say...

I need to blog early today, but my blog worthy activities are the reason that my blog needs to be early. So... since I have nothing to say, I am going to post a picture.
 

I promise a proliffic blog tomorrow, complete with tons of pictures. LOTS OF THEM!
A friend just showed up to swim, so that is all you are getting out of me today.

Week 32

She looks very mischievous doesn't she? That is because she is 60 lbs of pure trouble. She rolled in excrement when we went to the park yesterday. Gross dog. EWWWW.

Do you like the new background? I hope for this one to stay the same for a while!

I will be posting early tomorrow, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World at Midnight!!!!

In which I rip off some canadians, sing really loudly and give you lyrics to a children's song that never leaves my head.

Happy Tuesday all! How are ya? and your mom? Good, good.
Tuesday (other than being a tricky tricky day, thanks Perky New Zealanders*) is often known as Knit 'n Trivia day. Actually... I just made that up. It doesn't have much of a ring to it, but it does involve me mentioning the two things I did today.
First, I went to the knitting shop. This involved me learning WAY to much about Charles (called Charlie by his friends) Manson. Are Manson jokes too far? Maybe so. Foolishness and Fluff, We Go There. Actually, I stole that from Degrassi. Sorry Canadians! You know I love you. While at knitting I got very little actual knitting done, but I learned too much. About Manson and about The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Teenage Soap Operas! Hoorah!

After knitting, and some random driving around, we (Alison and I) picked up another lovely friend and went to Trivia Night. Manson knowledge did not come in handy. Sad. Trivia night was fun but driving home was also fun! Did you know that I cannot sing? Not at all. Not even twinkle twinkle little star. I make the Baby Jesus  Weep.  BUT, in my humble opinion, if you BELT it you can drown out the sad moaning of baby Jesus. I have invented a new key. It is Called the Key of K. Fancy, yes? Just feel lucky that you don't live within two miles of me.
Tomorrow I hope to get a 52 weeks shot with which to present you!

* I went to the UK at one point in my life and while their I learned a lovely song from a band of insane New Zealanders. It goes something like this:

Monday is Mighty Mighty Day!
Tuesday is a Tricky Tricky Day!
Wednesday is a Wugga Wugga Day!
Thursday is a Thugga Thugga Day!
Friday is a Freaky Freaky Day!
Saturday is a Silly Silly Day!
Sunday is a Sleepy Day...

Class rules.

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE my agility class and teacher. I can not imagine not being in a class, nor having with a less awesome teacher. But some things just make me SO angry. Rather than name specific situations (Because my classmates may find this, and Criminal Minds says that "The Internet is Forever") I am going to lay out the rules I try to go by and wish others would too.

1. This is my big one. WATCH YOUR DOG. Do not allow your dog to run off and be obnoxious. Do not allow your dogs to distract others. I think most of this rule for me comes from having and training a Dog Aggressive dog (Boomer) . I had to watch her like a hawk and it drove me CRAZY when people let their dog get in her face. That is a good way for your dog to get hurt. When not running, I prefer to keep my dog within three feet of me.If your dog is running about, it isn't learning. Not only that, it is stopping others from learning. Also, my dog is 60 lbs, and although not what I would consider reactive, she does not like dogs in her space. She can HURT them without meaning too. She has a very clearly defined personal space, and her body language clearly says, GET OUT.  Dogs that don't read that are the problem. Honestly, I likely make her space issues worse because I tense up when dogs get too close. This is leftover from having Boomer.
2. Dropping treats. Get a bait bag, get an apron, where something with pockets. I don't care if you hold them up your nose, don't drop them. There are several reasons, one of which being that I don't want my dog eating your nasty beggin' strips. It is also very distracting for there to be treats littering the ground.  
3. Clean up after your dog. If your dog pottys on the field, scoop it. Most trainers provide not only an exercise area, but also a scoop in case of accidents. Don't ignore it, because someone will end up stepping in it. That's gross. 
4. LISTEN. If the trainer says do this, DO IT. Don't be inventive, don't think you know better. You don't. There is a reason you are paying your trainer all that money. Especially in Agility, thinking too far ahead can get your dog hurt.
5. Do your homework. I am just as guilt of this as the next person. Sometimes weeks get to busy but if you want your dog to succeed in whatever you are doing, you have to work at it. 

That's about it. I could go on, give personal situations but I won't. I am trying to keep this anonymous. 

In other news, I fixed my sewing machine... sort of.

My sewing machine broke. RAWR, this should no happen when I am mid-sewing. I would be less upset if this had been my fault but actually, my machine is a magician. You know that crazy ring trick that magicians do? The ones where two attached rings become two unattached rings? Yeah, Betsy pulled one of those. (My sewing machine is named after Betsy Ross, but is occasionally called "Biting Betsy") So now I am stuck until I can fix her. Alas, It was becoming an addiction.

Today was Criminal Minds Sunday. This is the day on which my Grandmother and I gather to watch CM for SEVEN HOURS. Yes, we are awesome. Thanks for asking! Since I am fairly new to the Criminal Minds phenomena, I have yet to see a rerun. This is exciting for me. The last two episodes shown ( a two part thingy) were extremely creepy and only exacerbated my fear of pigs. They will EAT EACH OTHER! This is not normal. Don't try and sway me with their intelligence, it won't work.

My dear friend, Alison, got tickets for the midnight showing of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. SQUEEEEEE

I expect this to be much more awesome than the midnight showing of Eclipse. Much, much more. I wonder if they will X our hands?

Lola has been trying out her new seatbelt. She seems cool with it.

This is how we roll!

Paw in Hand

I made Lola two new collars today, a red one, and a blue. They are here:

and

That's all folks!

Opinions? and some randomness!

So, I am seriously considering switching to Wordpress. Would you follow me over there? Please? It gives a lot more control, and is prettier! Plus, super easy to switch.

One of my lovely lady friends and I went to Rome today with my Mumsy and Grandmumsy. We acted very strange and sat in a lot of chairs. Also, we bought things. Fun!

I also picked up some more fabric and ribbon for poodlmas's collars. Expect more of that soon. Do you guys think I could sell handmade collars on Etsy? I am thinking of opening a store for needlefelted stuff anyway, so adding the collars would be a cinch. I am quite broke, and even a bit of money here and there would be nice.

I am rather out of things to write about, bummer. How about I make a list of things I like and dislike! Whoo!

1.  I like dogs (obviously) but not dogs with brown noses. 
2. I like honest people, but not brutally so,
3. I like Nerdy boys, not geeky.
4. People with glasses are the best, but not creepy pedophile glasses.
5. Brown hair is  the best colour, but not blondes (I like blondes only if they are Australian... or maybe Australians only if they are blond...)
6. I like free apps for my ipod, not paying over 2.99 for an app.
7. I like dog figurines, but not the ones with creepy eyes.
8. I like my fish, but not cleaning his bowl.
9. I like music, but not country. 
10. I like children with accents, but not rude ones.
11. I like a sharp wit, but not a cruel one
12. I like lists, but not when I run out of things!

Week 31

Can I just say, that decal did NOT want to go on? I like it though...

I don't have much to right about, so I will leave you with Lola's smiling face. I spent the day watching Criminal minds. I need to get out of the house tomorrow.

In which I have ten minutes to post a blog...

So... It's ten minutes until midnight here... No blog. Oh well, if I start this in one day, I post that day, even if it is 12:20 when I post. Because that is the rule... Yes, I invented this rule. All I really want to do is read Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour. I am only two pages in and I know that they have Hooters in Canada. LEARNING!LEARNING! AND, Josh Whedon has a comment on the back of SPFH. This will become important later in the blog!

I actually created a list of things to blog about while I was at my dear friends house... the friend that will comment DOWN THERE. I know she will comment, because she vowed to do so. She is trustworthy, or so she tells her cat. Anyvay (said in fake german accent[a bad one at that]), on to the list! Onvard and Upvard! (once again, bad accent)
Buffy- See, I TOLD you Josh Whedon would come up again. I watched four episodes of Buffy today, so I have now seen five. Once More With Feeling, The Pack, and whatever the first and second episode are called. I rather enjoy the show, and intend to watch more.

Note: it is now 12:00

After Buffy, we watched Lars and the Real Girl. I know, I know, I should have already seen it. If it makes it any better, it was well worth the wait. What is there not to love about a man's innocent infatuation with a sex doll? It was extremely cute. The natural place to go to after Lars and the Real Girl was Freaks and Geeks (Makes sense to me). We only watched the First Episode of Freaks and Geeks, which is unfortunate since I have wanted to see it since I was 14. A segue that ACTUALLY sort of made sense was Funny People after Freaks and Geeks. I really enjoyed it, great actors in it. Not typical Adam Sandler though.

So... only seven minutes late. Do you still love me?

A day of wonder!

I have to start off this entry by telling you how wonderfully Lola did at Agility last night! She is really speeding up! I also worked a bit with nose work this morning and she is doing quite well at that as well.

Now I have to go on to the day I had today. It was... strange to say the least. Not that my days are ever really normal. I went to knitting at eleven today, mainly to discuss the huge drama in my Knitting Guild. Who would expect such drama?!?! We KNIT for god's sake. This should not be happening. The A/C was out at the shop, and in Alabama this is a death sentence! SO HOT! We spent a majority of the day in the back room.

My Mumsy dropped my fancy new car that is yet nameless (FNCTIYN) off at the knitting shop! I LURVE it! It is shiny, and blue, and shiny! It also has a cd player, which is exciting as my old one lacked a CD player. Can I get a hoozah? Please?

After knitting we decided to venture to Oxford for Mellow Mushroom's Trivia Night. Fun! We went last week for Geek Night. and it was a blast. This week was equally fun. One of my lovely lady friends went with me, as well as my Ginger. Yes, I have a Ginger, doesn't everyone?. He is boy shaped and very nerdy... also hilarious. Getting him to come with us was a hell of a job though. I had to chase him into the GHETTO! Frightening, yes? He was a bit stressy during the trivia, but still funny. I am also fairly certain that he needs at least an hour of social interaction a week, or he will become one of those people who sit inside their house and break into other's computers. We, once again, did not win trivia night but I think we did well. We only have three people on our team! Maybe next week...

On the drive home Ginger scared the Holy Spirit out of me by using a police light app. Not cool, not cool at all. I am a very nervous driver, so this was a bad choice on his part. We didn't die, but we very well could have. Have I mentioned that I am a BAD driver? Terrible, Just ask anyone that has ridden with me.

That is about it for today, Look I am on DAY THREE! WHOOT!

Trainiers need some sort of Oath...

 I am a big fan of Joanna at The Ruffly Speaking Blog. She is smart, and knows a LOT more than I do. Her latest blog entry made me think about the training I do and how I think of others training. I, as many of you know, clicker train. That is about all I do, yet I try not to limit myself to that. I do not think, in dog training, that the end justifies the means. Perhaps, I am just reading something she doesn't mean in her last two posts. She seems to be saying, " Do whatever, as long as you get what you want." That doesn't sit right with me. I believe that dog trainers, like doctors, should vow to "Do no harm." Correction based training is something that I personally view as viable. It works, it works fast. Dogs are not harmed when it is done correctly. I have never personally trained in that way but I know that it works. I am not OK with things that harm dogs. Hitting is not OK, shocking until the dog screams and urinates on itself is not OK. It happens, and it may work but there is a BETTER way to get to that point. I am not the person to push positive training on a person, I actually try to be as accepting of ALL walks of life not just different types of dog training. I like to compare this to religions, so stay with me here. I am accepting of all religion no matter what deity. I am NOT accepting of sects within certain beliefs that harm others. Make sense? So, if you are going to train dogs, I don't care if you do it with a cape and a magic wand. Just DO NO HARM, that includes turning your dog into a teacup.

BEDA

So, I am considering the idea of taking on the BEDA project. BEDA=Blog Everyday In August. I do think it would be difficult, and I would have to venture away from only blogging about the dogs. I realize that ALL of my followers (excluding one) are here for the copious amounts of poodle. I promise, there will still be a lot of poodle, more cattle dog, and a bit of nerd thrown in here and there. Is that cool with you?

I also have some design changes I want to make and I may change platforms if I cannot get what I want. 

I also vow to comment on blogs more. That is a problem that I need to work on.

So, since this blog has very little substance, I am going to throw in a picture of Lola.... showing very little substance between her ears.