Agility Update

This weekend Gabby & I were able to get into the agility trial in Glen Carbon and we did AWESOME!!! I am very pleased how fast Gabby is running now and someone even made a comment saying, "Woah - that springer actually is fast compared to most!" Gabby and I came home with 3 1st place wins (2 Jumpers w/ Weaves, 1 Standard) and 1 2nd place win (Standard) and we now have the 3 qualifying legs to earn a new title - Novice Standard Preferred! The agility trial photographer got a few good pictures of Gabby flying over the jumps, and was able to put a little collage together for me!

And here is a picture I took in the backyard with all her ribbons!

Quilting, Jazz, & Doghouse Swimming

So I finished my next quilt.  It's a black and white "shoo fly" variation throw quilt.

This was a fun project and I learned about piecing triangles! 

For a break from sewing today, I went up to the Wine, Dine, & Jazz festival downtown and listened to my old band director play in a group.  We saw the Dance of Life Dancer lady, who I never knew had a "name" for her act.  I've seen her various music concerts - you can't miss her in her tutu!  

Also, this morning I took the dogs up to Kim's "Doghouse" to play in the baby pool.  Jackson, Giant Schnauzer and his owner Wendy were there and so were Amy and her Aussie, Megan.  All the dogs played together and had a great time! 

This was the 1st time I'd ever gotten Roxie in a pool!  Tossing the tennis ball in there seemed to ease her worries! 

Under The Big Top

I had a lot of fun at the circus.  There were a ton of kids (which I knew going into the deal) but the one one kid behind me kept kicking me all night which kinda sucked.  Besides that, the whole thing was fun.  There was a crazy tiger tamer man dressed in all black leather pants with fringe, shirtless with long black hair.  He was fun to watch dance around the cage while pretty much 6 out of the 8 tigers did anything but sit.  Then the ringmistress who looked like Gloria Estefan meets a dominatrix had a crazy announcery voice that once you mock it you can't stop it!   They had some really neat acrobatic features and some crazy guys who walked around in this Circle of Destiny thing which needs to be re-named Circle of Death, because that guy almost fell off like 5 times!  Also, there were Shriner's kids hocking merch which was hilarious to witness - "Popcorn, get your popcorn, get it while it's fresh, $1.00!"

I also went to the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire on Sunday.  I had a blast (and no I did not dress up in period costume).  I learned about weapons and got to throw stars, knives, and axes. 

 I also learned how to hold a pike and run thru a combat drill with it! 

 There was a good music group called 3 Pints Gone which we listened to for a bit.  Some of their songs are hilarious!  We also saw a joust, though no one actually fell off a horse, it was more like a skill test of what these guys could do on the horse with the poles catching different things.  

I also ate my 1st turkey leg, which will be my last turkey leg - yuck! All in all, it was a great day and was worth the 100 mile round trip to get there! 

Fun In The Sun!

I know it's been awhile, but I thought I'd start back with the blog and post my fun summer adventures!  I've been working hard on getting the pups ready for summer agility trials.  Here they are taking a break after a hard workout earlier in the day! 

I've got some exciting things planned for the summer.  I just started at SIUE again, and will continue working there until "the real school job" starts again in August.  I'm headed to see Rent in a week at the Fox with some of the original cast.  A few trips planned - Medieval Times, Dollywood, Biltmore Estates, Chicago & Michigan! 

I've also been busy learning how to quilt! I made a baby quilt top for my 1st project. I just sent it off to have it finished professionally.  I think I'll try making the whole thing next time. Thanks to Patti for helping me learn how to do all this fun stuff!  I think I'm addicted! 

Tonight is the Shrine parade and the circus tomorrow! Looking forward to all of that!  I'll write more soon - I promise! 

Let It Snow?

Ok - seriously, we might get some snow tonight!  That is just crazy!!!!  I can't believe the weather this past few weeks.  It's great - not bad - sorta yucky - gorgeous - rainy - SNOW?!?!  What the heck midwest, you need to get on the Spring-train and start warming up!

Last night we went to a fundraiser for the SIUE chapter of NSSLHA.  The NSSLHA Loves dinner fundraiser is something I was a part of when I went to school and it's really nice to come back each year and see how the event grows.  There is a trivia night portion which last year our table was 2nd place and the SIUE faculty was 1st.  This year, we were short a player at the table, and got 3rd while yet again the SIUE faculty got 1st.  I'm starting to think the faculty have an upper hand, since their students are writing the questions!!!  

As many of you know, I had to put Scout to sleep due to continued behavior issues about 3 weeks ago.  This is the worst decision for any animal lover and ranks up there with loosing a loved one.  As my physical wounds heal, my heart will never forget the good times I had with him!   A few weeks ago, my trainer suggested I adopt another dog that she knew needed a home.  I didn't think I was ready for another dog, but it has turned out that Gabby, who is an 3 year old champion English Springer Spaniel, is wonderful new companion for me and Roxie.  I will be showing her in agility and maybe obedience (if my trainer has her way).  Here's a pic of Gabby!

This afternoon was my friend Kara's bridal shower.  I've known Kara since high school and we played in the jazz band together.  I think it's really neat how many of us from high school still stay in touch!   It was a lovely event and in a really neat local place that I had never been, Bellecourt Place, which my mom has informed me used to be a Baptist Church.  I actually got a prize when the timer went off and they were opening my gift!  Actually, everyone at our table, except 2 people recieved a "timer" prize!  It was too funny - Kara's oldest sister had to keep walking back to the furthest table 6 times to give away prizes.  We told her we all should get another prize for having the most prize winners at one table!  Kara's wedding is in May and I hope it a much prettier day out than today.  Showers for a shower huh?

It's Only 1 Mile...

That's what my "faux-bro" Jon kept telling us as we hiked thru Forest Park for 3 miles this afternoon!  Anyway, let's back up a minute - we started off the day by Laura and I riding the Metrolink to Union Station to meet up with Julie, Carla, Mike, Jon, Joe, and 20 other McGinnis family members.   Upon arrival Laura and I proceeded to get our 1st "green beers" which were really just dyed Bud Lights.  I was on a quest for a Yard-O-Beer,  but they weren't selling them, so the 32 oz of green beer would have to do for the time being.  Then we all headed up to the parade route and watched all the marching bands, floats, Irish cloggers, etc pass by then it was time to fight the crowds for a potty break inside of Union Station.  

We were also playing LUCKY, which is my version of an Irish Bingo game, throughout the day.  We all managed to win I believe, here is my card! 

Julie bet me to ask 3 guys wearing kilts if they were wearing underwear and I did, so Juls you owe me $5.00!!!  

We all went to Houlihan's for lunch, where we saw an Irish Flav-a-flav, and I again asked for the Yard-O-Beer but no luck.  After lunch, we all headed over to Jon's place, which was only "1 mile" from the Forest Park Metrolink stop, so Jon's says!!!  However, after about an hour of walking we realize this 1 mile was more like 3, but we finally made it and hung out over there for a bit.  Jon made this really good granny smith infused vodka that we put with Sprite.  Though, it sorta looked like pee in a jar, it tasted really great!  Then Carla, Mike, Julie, Laura, and I headed to Pat's Bar for dinner.  They had 1/2 fried chicken with fries for only 5 bucks today!  What a deal! Also, no Yard-O-Beer :(  Apparently you have to buy the cups at Walgreens or wherever and just fill them with beer.  I will be more prepared next year and bring my own Yard-O-Beer cup.   I also have quite a collection of green beads, shot glasses, etc from today!  

At last it was time to go home, Kate (Laura's sister) was kind enough to drive us to the nearest Metrolink station so we wouldn't have to hike back thru Forest Park in the dark!  Julie had been talking about ice cream for a little while during dinner, so Laura and I took her advice and headed up to Sheridan's Frozen Custard for a little St. Paddy's day treat.  I happened to look inside and see my old neighbor Cathy, whom I see in totally random places all the time!  

All in all it was an awesome day and I'm really glad I got to go and I'm already looking forward to next year and my Yard-O-Beer.  

It's a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

OMG! It's been GORGEOUS outside the last few days!  Laura and I actually took advantage of the good weather last night and decided to go miniature golfing before hitting up the local fish fry.  I had a BOGO coupon from my senior year in high school (not joking - over 10 years old,  but no expiration date on the thing) for Centerfield and they totally honored it!  After that (which I won the mini golf!!) we decided to hit a few ball in the batting cages.  Of course the cage I pick it is messed up and won't work so I have to get the workers to go running in there with balls flying at them to fix it!   Oh and if that isn't enough, the bat I picked was totally greasy and I ended up using Laura's bat!  Then it was off to the fish fry at South Side.  They have all kinds of stuff at this place.  I had some cod-cut ups and Laura got fried shrimp, we brought that yumminess back and decided to watch Penelope - a little strange, but cute and entertaining nonetheless.  We decided instead of staying inside and playing Wii, to take the evening back outside with some crazy games of Phase 10 (Laura won) and Skipbo (I won). 

I'm glad we got a little fun time last night, Laura has been working hard for a long time on our local speech group conference that was during the day.  Kudos to all the SWISHA board this year for putting on an outstanding presentation.  Our speaker, Barbara Hodson, was a DELIGHT!  Such a nice person and excellent speaker!  Laura and I went to pick her up last night and she was one of those people you just enjoy meeting!  

It's already 72 degrees outside, so I'm headed out there to get some much needed yard work done!  Picking up the remainder of the leaves, filling in some holes - courtesy of the dogs, and maybe a little spring decorating outside!