Itching for an NQ

Well... not these doggies, but moi. It was the first time I'd competed on grass and at this one certain point in the ring, you might have thought someone put scratchy powder there (although no other doggies did what I did). But tell you what: after I "did" it, I was like a deer in the headlights. I was totally flummoxed and didn't have a clue as to what I was supposed to do. I looked out at Dad, taking the movie, and standing stock still, looked at Ma. Was I supposed to go to her? Stay where I was? (After my booboo, Dad took pictures of the grass and surroundings, so since Ma doesn't know how to edit vids, you might want to stop after the "problem.")
Little did my rookie Ma know that she could have called me and just lost 3 points. Since I NQed at another show because Mom had to call me 2X on the "recall," Mom felt that I'd be disqualified if she called me to "come" after also saying "Heel." (2 commands again, in one exercise.) So we learned that it's an NQ to call 2x on the recall, but Mom could have called me in the heeling exercise with a minimum loss of points blah blah! Exasperating, but experience counts. And that is why, despite having earned my CD at the last show, I was here today - entered as insurance in case I didn't qualify at that last trial.
I'd rather be doing this!!!

R.I.P. Geckie

She was a good gecko.
I think her poor vision contributed to her not eating very well, especially lately. Or possibly something else was wrong. Leopard geckos can live to 25 years in captivity, and she was only eight, if the guy we bought her from was telling the truth. (She was supposed to be two when we bought her.)
She always went through periods of not eating, but would always snap out of it and make a comeback. But not this time. She died yesterday.
In this picture she was shedding her skin. Look how fat her tail was! (They store excess fat there.)
I think we're going to have to move her cage. Out of habit, I keep glancing down every time I pass it, expecting to see her. I didn't cry when we first found her dead, but that dang empty cage gets me every time.

Pat Conroy and His Cookbook

This is the view from the back deck which overlooks a small lake. I'm on Fripp Island for a few days to plan, rest, read, etc.
I brought Pat Conroy's Cookbook with me. I don't usually read cookbooks, but this isn't an ordinary cookbook, and Mr. Conroy isn't an ordinary writer. Put the two together, and you have one part lyrical autobiography and one part food from around the world.
So I began reading about making stocks when he says to take a whole chicken, wash it inside and out with cold water, then pat it dry. Why on earth would you do that, when the next step is to put it into a pot of water for boiling?
I've wondered the same thing at Thanksgiving. Why wash the turkey only to pat it dry? I never do that, and mine is always moist and flavorful.
Any of you cooking experts out there have an explanation? Seems a silly thing to me, but there's probably a good explanation I don't know about.

Treatments and Adams Park Meeting

Thursday was the half day of treatments and doctors. Well, it was supposed to be.
Went to radiation. The computer did not registered that i had checked in. So the therapist and I were waiting for me at different areas. Part of my treatment schedule is blood draw on Wednesday so they are available for Thursday Chemo. Late start on radiation. Then quick chat with the doctor. That is going well, other than the burn I am getting.
Checked in for chemo, eventually vitals and to the treatment room. Finally, the nurse came in, said has to call my doctor because one of the blood counts is low. They are too low for treatment, so went home without chemo treatment. Hmmmm, you think they could have told me later yesterday or earlier this morning?

Later in the day, It was time for the meeting at Adams Park. The meeting is where THOR (our trails group), Activate Omaha, The Omaha Parks Dept, and National Parks Service advised the community what is happening in their park. The partnership brought in the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew.
In the photo above, Trail Care Crew members Steve and Morgan Lommele and discussing the efforts with Adams Park Community Center Director Orentheian Everett.

Sunrise Over Cuesta

Cuesta Sunrise, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Twelve hours after the sunset hike yesterday, I was up on the ridge again, but this time for sunrise. The sunrise wasn't as dramatic as the sunset as there were no clouds to catch the light...hopefully they'll be there next time!

Luna Noctiluca

The moon illusion doesn't work very well here.
We're in a valley, and Selene is already well on her journey before she rises over the mountain.
The clouds played hide-and-seek, and it was all quite lovely anyway.
The moment the first shiny diamond chip of a moon slipped over the top of the trees, it was as if a cue had been given, and coyotes began howling in the distance. Chillbumps and laughter!
I suspect the show continued all night, but we slept through it.

We woke just in time to see her making way for Eos and Helios, early this morning.

River Spey, Christmas Day

Our Christmas Day walk was under a grey sky, with just a glimpse of a pale lemon sunset in the west. The Spey was sludgy with floating ice.
To the north, hail showers drifted over the lower slopes of Ben Aigen.

A last shaft of sunlight brought out warm colour in the willows by the river, but the water reflected that unique icy blue of the midwinter sky.