SATURDAY, SPECIALS
I can feel the tension. It is early, the frost is on the ground, the air is crisp. The arena is empty, and the ring looks great. They have moved the announcer’s (and Blog) table to the side, and there are flowers on the table for the first time.
They have started to set up the presentation table in the middle of the ring. I did talk to Bob Grady and John Jones who both dressed for the show. Yes, Bob had on a new white suit, in the same style of the others.
I saw Ed and Libbie first thing, and Jen told me she was the one George was yelling at, that I mentioned on the List. Rick is walking the ring, and there is Rita at the end of the ring talking to Dean Wylie. Only a few others in the building, and those that are here are the dedicated that come an hour early. Nancy and Erin were here, but they are everywhere.
What memories already. Good friends, dinner last night with Jean, Tedi, Twyla, Jeff, and Jane. We had a great time and didn’t stop laughing all evening. Tony got here and is doing his tie. It continues to grow in tension.
Helen GLEASON is sitting with me, and isn’t even nervous. She shared with me that her daughter just got accepted for a doctorial program, and how great is that. She is jazzed and ready to go, looks great in a black pin stripped suit, and a great cowboy hat. Nancy is talking to us too, and she is in black sparkles.
Helen is sure, she will complete all dogs, because of the superintendant. Because it is in the catalog, that is how it has to be done. Too bad, her theory would have been more fun.
The arena is filling up now. I have been sitting with Helen talking about her procedure. She has a form that she is going to have filled by a scribe. She is going to have a form to give to every dog at the end of the class. Now there is a meeting in the ring with Helen, Nancy, Karen, Tom and John, and it is about her table. She wants it moved and it gets moved. I love that the buzz is about her hat. She has assured me that she is not going to wear her hat.
The Juniors are in the ring, and there are seven, and they are a great looking bunch, western music on the speaker, what a great mood.
The table in the ring is with a black cloth, and Bob Grady is going to sit there in his white suit. This is going to be interesting
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL
Jack Kilgore is going well and is here with a leg brace. Nancy Harber got her room robbed and lost a lot of jewelry. They don’t know what Ben’s dog died of, and Ben seems better. Paul is here to spot dogs for me, and my wacky friend Jane just by. Yes, there will be good memories again, but some sad as well.
No one seems to know why they moved our table, but it doesn’t make any difference, AND HERE THEY COME INTO THE RING.
I won’t bother to mark them in, and Joe Bahari came by, and I see Ben McGovern is here. Everyone is in the ring, Bob Grady is checking number.
Sally is setting up her booth, and after what I spent, I thought she might go home. JR just came by to shake my hand. Patti came by to say hello to us, and I see Kent out talking to Bob. Morris is in there, Lenny, Bill Basu, The Guz in the first group, George, too. In the first 12, (she is going to work them 12 at a time) are mostly the top handlers. Although, I guess they are all tops. Helen first said there would be a group of 15, but Paul corrected me, Karen said they are in groups of 12.
Richard Sottile is here, as is Liz Leshhorn, Tedi, Jane, Jeff, Rinke, Ed, Maryellen Kish, I see Bill Leonard, Paula, and Grace is in the ring.
Helen says, “I know everyone is excited, and take them around, don’t run up, and we will work on a loose lead later on”. There they go, 12 in a row. The tension is low, but starting to build. Cindy is wearing a sort of tuxedo.
Helen has the first dog out there and is reciting a critique to Bob who is writing it down, she goes to look again, and tells him something else, goes to the front, goes back and tells Bob again. This could be a long day. Helen says she can’t do this for every dog, so get him loose early, and off goes Pastor Burgos.
We saw Nancy and Bobbie at dinner last night, what a great restraurant.
Helen now brings the dog back and walks around him and goes to the table to dictate more. She still hasn’t done the individual exam and she sends him around for a second pass. I missed the individual.
Next dog is Rambling Man with Patti, and she does a loose lead test, looks at him and does the individual exam, teeth, etc. She goes to the table and dictates to Bob, he writes it down, and she looks and talks, looks down, and talks. Patti is listening, and will have lots to tell her owner. Down and back, more dictating and now around. With the table where it is, they lose about twenty feet of this side of the ring.
The Guz with Bounty Hunter. Her owners are nice folks and Helen is checking the form and telling Bob what to write. I see Bob Eaton, and Gloria just came by to say Good Morning, and now Hunter goes down and back. And now around. Jerry brings him back to the table for Helen to finish the critique. Now Hunter goes again. Helen checks Bob’s notes.
Helen is taking about six minutes a dog on the individuals. Helen goes to the end and says something, now Diesel is there, (Full Throttle), and George has him. I like the dog, and he is the Canadian GV. She sends him down and back in another direction and say to “Let him stand, and don’t touch him” and she heads back to the table to instruct Bob, and they both look at the template, she tells Bob more. This is her third dog, and it is half an hour. Off he goes and some lukewarm crowd response but it is early.
Helen directs him in order Diesel got put in front of the group, Pasto Burgos in second, Bounty Hunter in third and Rambling man in fourth and in fifth so far is Green Knight.
Out there is Stealing The Show with Kent. I wonder if I should change my flight for tomorrow at noon? I see Sandy Anderson is here and so is Bob Eaton.
I see Alex outside the ring, and Nancy Nellis is working
Helen takes Kent around and says, loose and slow. Even I can hear her. She looks at her template and moves him into second.
I see Joyce Eberts in the stands.
Now Eric Me & Bobby McGee. He is a dark Bi, and Helen walks around him and makes more notes for Bob. Bob is talking to Eric and laughing and there he goes down and back.
Bart is outside the ring talking to Jimmy.
In the ring, Helen is giving direction to Eric. Helen is talking to Bob and they are looking at the forms, Bob makes some notes and Helen now goes over and tells the dogs that Eric to move up one.
Cindi is in the middle with In Cahoots.
Cappy is ringside watching and so is Jim Hall.
Helen is giving direction to Bob. Helen is reading her list and checking it twice and walks back to look at In Cahoots and back to the list, giving direction to Bob. Down and Back and Helen gives her some direction and tells her to do it again in another direction. Helen gives direction to Bob, and he writes it down. Cindi stands with the dog posed and Helen tells Bob what to do and tell Cindi to just go to the end.
Now Patti with Green Knight. The dog is wound up, baking, and Patti give him a love tap on the top of his head, and Helen laughs. Helen puts her hands on the dog and goes through the list and directs Bob. Helen and Patti are talking and they go down and back again. She sends her around. And puts him in second.
Now Twyla’s dog with Patron and JR. Helen checks her list and instructs Bob. Bob writes it down. She takes him down and back, and then again in a different direction. Helen says, “Let him stand, and don’t direct him”, and tells Bob what to write. Take him around on a loose lead. Now it is nine o’clock. There goes Patron, and he moves too hard, but Helen watches him, directs Bob, and has JR bring him to pose, Helen looks him over and checks her list. Boy, is it quiet. She puts third from the end.
Bill Basu brings out Whalen, Richard Sottile’s dog, she does the teeth etc. I am going to have lots of time to type, and she rugs her hand along the side, backwards and on the chest, back spreading the hair. Helen walks to the rear of the dog, and looks him over, and back to Bob. Says, “Let him stand natural, when he comes back after going down and back”. Bill yells at Richard. Helen directs Bob, and Bob does what he is told. Helen watches him closely and walks to him and puts him up somewhere like fourth from the end.
Now All About Me with Lenny. Thedog loves Helen, she stacks him and goes over him. He is a handsome male type dog. She works over his mouth and has her hand wrapped in his color. Helen directs some notes to Bob, walks back and has her clipboard and is giving some more information. She is spending moe time on this dog and now wants down and back. Helen makes some more notes,nd sends him around. Helen goes to her notes, the dog is standing waiting and she leaves him at the end.
Paul Root is here and working the crowd. I see Ed talking to Ken Tank, and Fower Boy is waking outside the ring. Bill Tank is voer there with his number on.
Julie Hammeranski has Good Vibrations in the center now. (I know I spelled her name wrong, but how would you spell it?) The individual and she back brushes the coat again, and with the side of her hand. Notes to Bob. I will just use ntb, from here on. Helen takes her clipboard. She instructs Julie and down and back. Again. Now around and Helen has put down her board. The crowd likes that dog. Helen waks over to her and puts her in fifth. Helen gives them directions, and it took her an hour to do twelve dogs,.
Helen sends them to the other side, stands about five feet from the wall, and has all of them run by her. Sort of an obstacle course.
Now they all have to walk, she said you walk, they trot, and George is in the lead with Diesel. And she says, keep going, now the second pass. The Guz is laughing. Helen is as the table and they keep walking and says take them out. Keep them in that order. The Guz is talking to Helen and he looks serious. They are being checked out in order by Tom Mesdag.
In the ring is Helen, Bob, Tom and Karen, as they go around, now just Bob and Helen, and they all take a pass while she watches them from the middle.
Midnight Harley in the ring. Helen does her thing watching Harley, tob and tells him to go around, Harley, not Bob. He is sniffing the air for his owner. Helen looks at her clipboard and give direction to Bob.
Ben has Top Shelf in there. Helen does her thing. She keeps looking at her clipboard and Ben is getting bored and moves the dog around, gets him to pose, the dog, not Ben. Yes, there he goes, down and back. It is 9:30 and we have the first dog of the second group. And down and back again. Jammie has a bell, and Top Shelf is keyed on him. Ben tells the rest of the class to stand back and there he goes. California likes the dog. I have to tell Ben where to go. He listens to me.
I just got to shake hands with Shean Conboy and wants me to say hello to his mother. We all miss Joann here, and maybe she will be in Ohio.
Bavo is there with Grace, Bob and Helen are looking over their clipboards. Helen directs her, Grace changes the lead and there they go. Helen puts her in front. Now Sean with Micah. Jane and Pam’s dog. We talked about him at dinner last night, but most of the talk was about Last Harrah, winner’s dog. What a group of beeders. We have one of their puppies. I like the way Sean lets him stand naturally with a fist in the color and now on a loose lead and there he goes. Sean does a good job. Are you as bored as I am, and the crowd? Helen does nothing with him.
We have Diane with Hudson. I like the dog and the handler. What a good looking pair. Hudson is everything you want when you think of a German shepherd. He is being doubled too much but loves Helen. Back brushing again. Helen gives her directions and down and back. Clipboards, Bob, notes and instructions. There they go. Helen wants to see him again, and so do I. Too fast. But not too fast, she goes to the front.
Olivia brings out Cacique. I did see Ileana here, but only spoke to her for a second. Too busy trying to keep up with the furious pace of the judging. She takes him in third.
I talked to Jack Kilgore and he is getting an MRI when he gets home. He looks good and has a leg brace but is climbing the stairs. I am relieved he will be OK.
HiCliff’s Hunter is there now, being clipboarded. Clipboarding is not as bad as waterboarding but to me, it is close. More talking between Helen and Bob. There she goes with Hunter and the crowd either wants to warm up their hands or likes the dog. Helen calls for the next dog,
Vito is there with his handler, and that is Lamar’s dog. He finished with Dave Rinke in California. Lots of talk between the clipboarders. There he goes. He does look good. Helen instructs Bob and leaves him at the end.
Next up is Sky Warrier. More of the same. Sorry, I took a break to get some hot chocolate.
Fair’s Simon Says, and Helen says to slow down,a nd good looking sable and Helen does go up to her and puts her in third.
JR has Cooper. Clipboarding, talking, moving.
Bret Taylor is behind me talking to his wife. Next to them are Bobbie Kindy and Nancy. Iza is here with her camera.
I talked to Ken Tank at the concession stand. He computed just for individuals it would take ten hours.
There they go with Diane in front, the JR and Grace with Morris.
There she goes to form a human tunnel, and they all run between her and the wall. Helen takes a step closer to the wall to make a smaller space, it is kinda fun. Helen smiles and sends them out.
Another group, now I am excited.
Sergio is out there with a real mouth, O’Danny Boy. He won’t stop barking. He goes, he stops, and he stands, and goes off to the side.
Wind Walker is in the ring with Sean. Clipboarding. Mickey came by to chat, and people are milling about. The handlers are talking to the crowd, the crowd is talking to each other, and the show is going on.
Helen is doing what they do in Germany and going over the dogs and making notes. But in Germany they do it the day before the show. I don’t object to it, but it isn’t exciting. More of the same.
Peter Cassiopia is sitting in his club jacket, while Sean is doing his thing withWindWalker. Helen makes more notes and leaves him, and now Abby Hathaway is in the ring.
It is Lone Ranger. Abby has the best clothes of any handler, except maybe The Guz. Sparkly red top and black skirt. When I start talking fashion, you know I need something more to take my interest. The stands are full, but no one is talking. I see Linda Fox in blue, and she is watching the crowd, and Lone Ranger is doing his thing.
Flower Boy came by to say he was approached by a kid selling testicles. He didn’t buy any, but he said he was offended that he was asked.
LannaLee is with me and we got her on line, and it actually worked with my air-card. I can’t get on line here to do video, but maybe next year.
Bill Tank is out there getting CBd on Cruz Control. I have always liked this dog, and his owner, Will Guerry. He is co-owned with Bill. Some applause, and Helen watches them. Checking clipboards and she takes a drink, Bob opens it for her, and she goes over to Bill and puts him in third.
Rogue is here with Mickey. Maybe Helen will change her procedure. Hope springs eternal. No such luck. I do admit, she is picking the better dogs, the evaluation is going to be great for everyone, but it sure does drag out a show. But, this is the last group, so only seven more to go of this stuff. Mike poses Rogue and takes him around. Some applause for that dog and Helen goes over to him, without studying him and puts him in front, (I think). Hey , if you were here, you wouldn’t be sure either.
I have no idea why they moved our table. I did just see the kid selling testicles. I told Liz she didn’t need any, she already has Bobs.
Art has Reward, Bobbi’s dog. He has done lots of good winning and is a quality dog. He looks like you could us his picture for the standard. Wow, the crowd likes him. He goes to third.
Avion Chief of Staff with Lauri. He is another West Coast Dog that I like. What a great job of grooming. Notes by Bob, talking by Helen, Posing by Laurie, and Typing by Evan. What more could anyone ask for a dog show? LanaLee is sitting next to me typing forms. I wonder where Paula is. He looks good and the West Coast says so. Helen looks at her board and doesn’t do anything.
Bob Dresher, (the Voice of The National), is telling me about his life, and finding new jokes.
Greg Eshette has Simon Says out there, as close to an all black you can get without being there. What a good looking dark dog. It is 10:30. A lot of laughing behind me, and I feel like chucking this typing and talking to Flower Boy who keeps on laughing. Between him and Rita, you can’t miss those laughs. Comparing matching clip-boards. In number two.
Kristy with Gable. I expect the crowd will like him. If you have been reading my nonsense, you will know I like this dog. I think I have said so before. Jimmy is tanding out side the ring anf Bob Eaton is explaining something to Alex. Bill Leonard is talking to Ed Ferrell. And Sally is watching the show, and her booth is behind her. She sold out of the Bling stuff the first day, but the rest is great too.
Gable is posed perfectly, Kristy does a great job of handling. There he goes, I hope he looks good, and yes, he does. She stops, was going too fast and Helen says so, and he takes off again, too fast again. Helen checks her clip-board and talks to Bob and points to it and goes over to Kristy and puts her in third. I guess it doesn’t make any difference, but they are being placed.
Wind Sweep is there with Jamie Clute. A great proportioned dog, and I like the style. I do like her decisions so far, but it does not hold my interest. Maybe it is just me. Carolyn Gerragos is here talking to Tony, and Helen goes to Wind Sweep and puts him in third. It was short lived placing for Gable, but that is what dog shows are all about.
Tiffany has Badboy. I bet Bart wants to get in there and handle. I even want to get in there. How stupid is that? (Shut up Paul). I still need to find Paul to talk. He remains another of my favorite people and what a job he has done for us all on the board. But, I digress. Bad Boy stands free in a reverse pose and is clip-boarded and Helen goes to look at him from the front. And again. They compare clipboards and she sends Badboy around. Nice and smooth. Helen checks the board and talks to Bob. They point at their boards and she walks to Badboy and doesn’t move him, and now moves him to sixth.
Ross has Phamtom of the Opera. That’s how it is spelled, yell at the owner.
I see Linda Curry in the stands, and people are starting to move around. I don’t’ see Paula yet, but she is probably causing trouble somewhere. Karen Taylor is behind me talking about Elmo. There goes Ross, and a little applause. PAUL IS BACK.
That is the group with Mike in front, the Greg, Jamie, and Sergio, Art, Kristy, Tiffany, Sean, Bill Abby, Laurie and Ross. I think I know too many people, but not too old to remember them, yet. He moves Mike to the front with Rogue. Second is Solitare Traveler, third is Wind Sweet, and then Danny Boy. And a lot of other dogs. She is getting the best stuff up, what more coulde I ask. She walks to the middle and tell Cristy to move up one. She stands back and the crowd is into it now and tells them to stay in order. Out they go.
In comes the last group. The fourth group. There can’t be many more.
Diamond Davinci with Malisa Chevez. What a great job she did with the junior handbags. I saw the table, lots of good stuff. The crowd likes the dog, and I agree. Boarding going on, and not changes. Helen give some information to Bob and he moves the new ones to the front.
In the middle is Dashell Hammett. A nice dog, well put together. Off he goes and where he stops, Helen knows.
Nicaragua, a dog I did like. Suzie Witmer owns him and he impresses me when he moves. He is a dark dog in full coat, but so dark, he doesn’t show the coat. Loren came by, she makes me think we need to do a calendar of shepherd girls. This is a good looking ring. Boarding, and he stands. Not his best pass, but the crowd likes him and Helen goes over and puts him in first.
Joshua is there with Jimmy and he is another of those good looking dogs. They make a lot of notes and Jimmy nods his head and there he goes. What a good one that is. Helen talks to Bob, looks at her clipboard andgoes to the group and gives some directions and left him at the end.
Kelly is in there with Miracle in The Making. That dog does impress me. All breed type. She moves him to second.
Hunka Love with Ariel. What a dark dog. Helen walks to him and moves him to fourth and she moves Jimmie up to second.
Here goes Scott and Loren is here, and says she prays for him, and he has Aregon. Loren is nervous and it is funny. Good looking dog. Sort of looks like my breeding, but a good one anyway. Boarding and more down and back, twice now and Helen says she wants to see him, he is a nice dog, and there he goes for the third time. Helen is comparing boards and directing Bob, Bob writes and they compare boards again more than most, and tells him to head out. And there he goes. Pulling too hard, so Scott starts over. He needs a loose lead, as I recall. And yes, there he goes. He brings him back to the table and Helen asks him something and yes, they are letting him go again. WOW, that is what we all want. Helen goes t him and puts him in third behind Jimmie.
We have Alex with Last Harrah, winner’s Dog. Donna came by and had a kind word for us. Helen works with him, he is being a shit, a young dog. What a shame, he is a great one, but not in this class. He just is looking for someone outside the ring. She gets the individual done without a problem, but I would have rather seen him stand like he did in the class. I feel bad for Alex, and of course Jeff, but I know how sound he is. Down and back and stands. Helen writes on the board. And the dog poses perfectly. Alex can hear what she says to Bob and so we will know soon what she thinks. There he goes. What a nice dog, and moves the way the standard calls for.
Channing with the veteran dog, Midnight Shadow. He doesn’t look that old. A good looking animal. Still can move. Channing has him too fast, so he starts over. She looks at her dogs and she goes to the end and takes the veteran and puts him in fourth.
LAST DOG, the older veteran, No Regrets, the 9 and over. There he goes.
There goes the last group, Nicaragua, Joshua, Aragon, and then Gable, and then the veteran. She wants them again. And makes the magic tunnel, and they all get to thread the Helen.
She does have the best ones up front.
ALL GROUPS IN THE RING. So Helen says. Here they come. Karen comes into the ring to get directions and they all come storming into the ring. Karen is checking the placings and so far everyone is still there. How cool is that for owners. They fill the ring,a nd Karen is walking to the end of the ring, and they are still coming in. She gives directions to Tom and he tells them to move to the other end, and Helen knows what she wants. Tom, Karen, Bob and Helen are in the ring,and they are being directed. She has them lined up in five lines across the ring, I love it.
She pulls the first three from one group, then four from the other and two and two from the last group. One from collume A, etc. No supstitutions. Ten
Full Throttle, Green Knight, Stealing The Show, Nicaragua, Joshua, Aragon, Solitair Travelor, Hudson, and Cooper. WOW!
The other lines or what is left of them start to get pulled too, and brings in ten more and brings in one more and then two are sent to another line going the other way. Three lines headed one way, and now they get some sent to the line going the other way, and three lines left in various lengths, and she keeps pulling to the left facing lines from the right facing lines. And she goes back and forth and then brings down. There is a first group of ten, a second group of ten, an all the rest. The first two groups are separate. In the outcast group are 25 strong and she gives them all another look as they go around. OUT THEY GO.
Now the second group and there they go. I think the first group is her Select dogs, but she gives the second group a look. The Guz is there, as is Miguel, and Basu, but they don’t seem to be much, OUT THEY GO.
A very different system. And, here we go.
Helen lines them out on the far side, not relation to the cartoon. Ten. First is George, Pattik, Kent, young handler, Jimmie, Scott, Mike, Greg, Diane and Bill Basu.
Helen tells them to walk. The handlers don’t look happy, but they do as they are told, she moves Stealing the Show to Second Joshua to fourth. Aragon to fifth. And they walk. They walk. They walk and Helen looks at them and she keeps them walking and they walk, George, Kent, Patti, Jimmy and moved Rogue to sixth, and they walk, and she looks and they walk, and she looks and they walk. She moves Cooper to seventh and they walk, and they walk, and they walk. YES, they walk, and the last three stop and stand, and the rest walk. In front is Diesel and they walk and she moves Jimmie with Joshua into third and they walk. They walk and they walk, Oscar is second, Joshua is third. And, they stop.
She walks to the front and the crowd tells her what they like, and she walks to the third and puts Joshua to second. Green Knight is fourth and Aragon is fifth, and she wants them to walk. George, Jimmie, Kent and Patti and there they go at a full trot, Helen watches them and watches them and Jimmie is working harder with his dog, and Aragon into fourth.
They pose and she tells them to go again,a nd Jimmie and Kent tell the double handlers where to go, and there goes George with Diesel, by himself. Now Jimmie with Joshua, the crowd loves them both.
Next Kent with Stealing The Show. Now Scottie with Aragon. The crowd loves that dog. Now Patti with Green Knight. JR takes Cooper. Mikie with a crowd favorite Rogue. And that looks lie the Selects. At least the first seven and Rogue goes to six.
They pose and Helen stands back and there they go, and Diesel looks great and YES, that’s the way it goes. The last four reminded her they were there, and she says they are excused.
1. GRAND VICTOR FULL THROTTLE SELECT EXCELLENT
2. JOSHUA SELECT EXCELLENT
3. ARAGON
4. STEALING THE SHOW
5. GREEN KNIGHT
6. ROGUE
7. COOPER
