Saturday

First off, this part of OKC didn't get much snow. Mostly just accumulation on cars and roofs.

We started with tunnelers which is always a fun way to start. It was a good run, so I imagine we Qd.

I did find out we were eliminated on our last run yesterday, so that makes me a little nervous. I don't know exactly why we got an E. We had a briefing this morning so it is one of two things. This judge doesn't allow treats in the run before you go in. Also he won't allow you to tell your dog to stay while you are leading out. Brad won't stay at a trial without that, so we'll have to do running starts all weekend. At least I found out first thing today. This is very different from any trial I've ever done, but we'll go with it!

We got first (OK, so we were the only dog...) In tunnelers. We just ran touch n go and it went well! Don't think I trained the start line.

Our run of bad regular courses continues. On the first run, he just wouldn't do the weaves. On the second, I saved him from nearly going off course only to turn my back and have him sneak back onto the A frame. We have two more shots at regular tomorrow. However, counting the runs tomorrow and the ones we'll have in April, we will only be able to do 9 runs before the Champs cut off. So, with only 150 points going into this weekend, we won't be able to get the points we need to enter regular at Champs. There has been some talk of the possibility of lowering the points requirement for Open dogs, but I am not counting on it. We can always try to enter special classes only and see if we can get in for those.

I forgot to mention that we did Q (1st place) in touch n go, so we got that title. That's 3 special classes we're eligible to do in Champs--hoopers, tunnelers, and touch n go.

Well, no Q in chances, as usual. There was a split second where I thought, "He's going to do it!" Then he came running right back to me, crossing the distance line. He did take the tunnel (and not the A frame) when I told him to, though!

The jumpers run was nice, but I should have known when I beat him ti the finish line that we wouldn't make time.

I noticed they were doing move ups in regular for tomorrow, so I asked if I could do a move down. I got a strange look, but they said yes, so tomorrow we'll be back in novice for regular. I also sent an email to ask them to move us down at the WAG trial next month. I'm wondering if I should have moved down in weavers, too. It's a hard decision, because that would be completely giving up on entering everything at Champs (just in case they lower the point requirements), but maybe we don't need to do weavers at Champs!!! Oh, well, I still have a day or two to decide.

Trial Updates...

We made it t o Norman around 4:00. The rain was pretty bad through most of Oklahoma, but it was still in the 40's so no ice. That is not the case right now! It's right around 32, so there is some ice on the car. It was sleeting earlier, but it is just misty now.

We did our two weavers runs. He ran right past the last hoop on the first run, so no Q. I don't think it would have been fast enough anyway. With the weather the way it is, we didn't wait for results from the second run. It was clean, but might not have been fast enough either.

We are nice and warm in our hotel room now. Brad is checking all the trash cans to see if he can find any goodies. No luck for him!!

Leaving for OKC in about 10 minutes...

Current temp in Norman, OK: 48
High for today in Norman, OK: 49

Current temp in Austin, TX: 62
High for today in Austin, TX: 76

And I thought Texas weather was crazy...

Click the link above. That's just about all I can say.

Just about...

Norman is right outside of Oklahoma City. One to THREE inches is what is forecasted. You have GOT to be kidding me. Seriously.

I will update throughout the weekend if my fingers aren't too frozen to type on the tiny little phone keys!

Maya

Poor Brad...he doesn't shed, so I didn't think it would be appropriate to enter him in the Bissell MVP Pet Photo contest! Maya is entered, and voting for her group began today. If you have a chance, click the link at the left, and drop a vote for Maya! If she wins, Bissell will make a donation to the pet charity of our choice. We would love to donate to Operation Baghdad Pups. The link is in the title, in case you are not familiar with the program. It is an awesome effort to help keep soldiers and the dogs they have found in Iraq together. Those of us that have pets know the great impact they have on our well being. How cool would it be to help this organization get these dogs to great, loving homes, and help our soldiers at the same time?!

Decisions, Decisions...

Well, we have two trials between now and May that we are signed up for. One is in Norman, OK, and the other in McGregor, TX. That will give us the opportunity for 7 Q's in regular, but lets face it, we haven't been doing that well lately!! The only other trial in Texas will be over the 4th of July in College Station. So far, there's been no word on NADAC lowering the points requirement for Open dogs, so I'm assuming I still need 250 lifetime points. We have 100. Even with the College Station trial, we'd only have 4 more chances, giving us only room for one NQ! However....we may not even be able to make it to that trial. So, I've spent all morning comparing two trials that are sort of on our way to our possible vacation destination--the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

One trial is in Montpelier, OH, and the other is in Davenport, IA. Either trial will require me leaving Texas before Phil can. I've compared hotel costs, flights to either Detroit or Chicago, runs offered at each trial, price of each trial, etc... (Can we say Type A?!?!) As far as costs go, I think it will be slightly cheaper to do the Iowa trial and that one is indoors. The one in Ohio is outside, and we've never done that before. Our class is outside, though, and Brad handles that. Is it hot in Ohio, though? Will there be any shade? Hence the title, decisions, decisions!

We are already qualified for Hoopers and Tunnelers at Champs. All we need to qualify in Touch N Go and Jumpers is one more Q in each. We'll make our first attempt at Open Weavers next week in Oklahoma, so we still need 3 Q's in that. I'm positive we'll get the TNG and Jumpers titles, probably next weekend, but if not, definitely in April. We'll have to see how Weavers goes since Open has 12 weave poles rather than just 6! Weave poles are still hit or miss for us. So, if we don't get the points we need to regular, we could always go to the Champs and just enter the special classes. We just wouldn't be eligible for the big prizes, not that I expect to come close to winning any! It would just be fun to say we did it!