Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

The first duty of love is to listen.

Paul Tillich (1886 - 1965)

sun-day

first motorcycle ride of the season, just 2.5 weeks postpartum.
glorious!

too bad mother nature was only teasing:

sunny sunday
snowy monday

tricks with brix

i never stopped working brix, but i did have to dial it back for a while...

today we were out in full force: tugs, retrieves, bitework, recalls, shadow handling, startlines - she was solid. it felt unbelievably great to run and play again!

diaper daze

how can it be day 11 already?

i'm loving every minute of this motherhood thing!

(but we do go through a lot of little diapers...)

sippin starbucks

10 days old

out and about

first outing
3 days old

waking up is hard to do

this little one hardly ever opens her eyes!

i guess i shouldn't complain... i'm sure it's the calm before the storm...

green is the new pink!!

it is with overwhelming joy that we announce the arrival of our st. patrick's day angel.

everything went smoothly and mom, dad and baby are home now and doing exceptionally well.

"how the frail human heart manages to contain the rapturous power of this will forever be one of my life’s true wonders. simply unbloggable."
michael lang,
brilliant artist and father extraordinaire

rest assured

8.5 months pregnant, feeling healthy and strong and still working 7 days a week.
(not to mention preparing for the new arrival).

however, sciatica is starting to slow me down (just a little):
if i don't remember to take breaks, i now get lovely little reminders...

preparation

i've never been very organized.

i usually pack my suitcase when it's about time to leave for the airport.
(which doesn't lead to a relaxing journey)...

but this time, i'm working hard to be ready in advance.
this is one trip i want to be prepared for.

last-minute shopping - check
items laundered - check
packages opened for easy access - check
gizmos and gadgets set up and functioning - check
car seats installed - check
bags packed - check

you're never really ready...
but i'm getting closer.

fairy odd mother

a few more fairy cakes...
in pink.
and chocolate.

why not?

shopping spree

who knew that babies (and their mommies & daddies) would need so much stuff?

we spent several hours and considerably more than several dollars at dear-born-baby.

i think we have everything we need now...

[having said that, i just have to stop and picture new babies in africa (and you don't have to go nearly that far to find impoverished families) to know that we have far more than necessary.]

we're going to be just fine.

door jam

i climb into the jeep and go to close the door.
it won't latch, probably because it's so cold out.
i have to get to an appointment, so i pull the door closed, hit "lock", and off i go.

the only thing more irritating than a door that won't close is...
one that won't open when you arrive at your destination!
climbing over the stick shift and out through the passenger door is never easy.
try it in a dress.
8 months pregnant!

grace embodied.

but wait, it gets even better...

after my appointment, i prepay my parking ticket.
i somehow manage to scramble in through the passenger side.
i pull the jeep up to the ticket-reader and roll down my window.
i can't reach to insert my ticket!
i can't open my door.
and i can't face climbing out through the passenger side *again*.

at a certain point, you just have to laugh.
i'm hanging out the window, struggling and stretching, gasping and giggling.
finally, a kind passer-by comes to my rescue.

grace, i tell you... grace.

wait loss

funny, the earlier i am for my doctor's appointment,
the longer he seems to keep me waiting.
not that i mind, really.
he's probably right across the hall, delivering a baby.
besides, i always have mountains of work that has to be done.

eventually, i had my check-up and all was well.
except, oddly, that i'd *lost* 3 pounds.

i guess i've got a green light to eat haagen-dazs this week...

ruff daze

poor brixie.
poor us.

that's what you get, though, if you absent-mindedly allow your young dog to ingest too much of a good thing. it becomes a bad thing. for everyone.

the bathing and cleanups and trips outside have left us all a bit... pooped!

ruff day

puppy playdate

what a lovely evening of puppies and pasta!
dinner with fabulous new friends and their precious new puppies.

when it showers, it pours

wow.
*another* baby shower!
this one was put on by my biker chic friends.

it was a lovely evening at liz's place.
great company, great food, and...

the biker chics spoiled my baby chic.
thank you, ladies.

baby talk

two friends dropped by today and we had a fabulous lunch.
of course, the talk centred around our babies, 4-legged and 2-legged.

baby, be mine

happy valentine's day!

i can't remember the last time valentine's fell on a saturday.
it meant that i got to see many of my students on "the big day"

AND

enjoy a lovely valentine's dinner at richlee's restaurant: scrumptious food, old-world charm.

i've been spoiled all day long!

cookie queen

the domestic goddess has been hard at work making valentine's cookies for music students:

downs for dinner

the redheads must "down" and stay down while i prepare their dinners.
then, i put their dishes down, one in front of each dog.
they must maintain their down-stay.
i verbally release them and then, the fur flies:
each redhead rockets to her own dish and the feeding frenzy begins...

fairy cakes

i made fairy cakes last weekend.
they were such a hit that i made another batch yesterday for my doggie students.
and another batch today for my music students.

surprise!

tonight was my last night teaching agility for a while.
after my classes, i was scheduled to teach a private lesson.
turns out, the private lesson was a surprise baby shower!

spoiled, i am!

tickled pink

one of my girlfriends threw a baby shower for me today!

it was a lovely afternoon and the girls spoiled me rotten.

thank you, everyone!

brix is fixed

thank goodness

brix is broken!

poor baby's limping.

birthday brownies

pink and blue

they say it's normal to go through some ups and downs when you're pregnant.

i was definitely feeling blue today.

hormones raging, body changing, house re-arranging --
life is all upside down.

there i was, picking out pretty items for a baby registry.
should be great fun, so why all the tears?
i dunno.

a quick nap did wonders.
i'm seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses again, as usual.

cherry blossoms

i've been trying to decorate the baby's room.
there are so many lovely things to choose from.
but somehow, nothing has felt quite right.
until today...

pink and red AND asian-inspired!
just imagine it with a big, round paper lantern, a beautiful ikebana arrangement, and a set of original cherry blossom paintings (which i'm starting tomorrow)...

i will get busy and post up a picture when it's all put together...

udderly cool baby gifts

pink AND red... what could be better?
(thank you, matthew and cynthia!)













and... a reversible (and washable!) leather bib with magnetic closure
(thank you, susan!)

doggone great day

met two great new dogs today: doodle (8.5 weeks) and riley (9 months)
a.dor.a.ble
meeting their new owners was terrific, too.

and then...
the long-awaited meeting of the sisterhood
(sisterhood of the chocolate cake)
(aka sisterhood of the malinuts)
(aka sisterhood of the agility addicts)
(aka sisterhood of the redhead fanciers)

plus...
new bling:
(thank you matthew and cynthia)


all of this followed by a cozy evening with my own perfect pack...

hit me like a ton of brix

brix is 15 months old now, and testing boundaries everywhere.
i must continue to socialize, stimulate, teach and train.
i must build confidence, maintain criteria, harness energy, prevent mistakes.

with all the baby excitement, i completely forgot to report on brix's lessons with the wonderful man who trains malinois and gsd's for police/military work.

brix took it all in stride and although she was wary at first, by the end of lesson 2, her bitework was incredible. she hits me like a ton of brix! so i work hard to keep my tummy out of the way...

why bitework? building brix's drive to interact with me and bite the toy on command affords me more options for rewarding her when she keeps cool under stressful situations. having a whole lot of dog means you need a whole lot of potential reinforcement! and besides, it's so much fun for us both!

and no, i'm not going to tell my piano students why my finger is bleeding today...

...no pain, no gain... or something like that.

what are the odds

...that one of the few people you would dream of entrusting your dogs to

would unexpectedly come home from working overseas

just as you discover that you're expecting and will need help with the critters?


and what are the odds

...that she would also be looking for a nanny position

just exactly when you need to hire someone to help care for baby?


i couldn't have planned it that well if i'd tried!

gung hay fat choy

rockin socks

a dear friend's gift for baby:

pink is the new black

lovely gifts from my wonderful mother-in-law...
thanks, nana!

something special for soshi

well, ok, actually it's not for soshi;
it's for her adoring fans.
but the diva did enjoy the shoot
(photographer had bacon treats...)

many happy returns of the day

happy birthday, soshi!

i can't believe my little girlie is 9 today...

radiance

three different people told me that i was glowing today...

pretty in pink

let me preface this by stating that i almost never wear pink.

my favourite colour is black.
really.

my second favourite is red.

black and red.
and that's about it.

so why am i suddenly drawn to all things pink?

why did i choose pink for my beautiful new blackberry?

perhaps it has something to do with these pretty gifts i've recently received...?
(thank you, grandma and grandpa!)

a berry yummy breakfast

resting and nesting

i can't believe how wonderful pregnancy has been so far.

i am truly lucky.
i completely missed the first 4.5 months.
i just lived my life, completely oblivious:
-motorcycle trip
-track day
-cross country drive to give dog training seminar
-national championships
-travel, travel, travel
-teaching dog sport, music

no sickness. no discomfort.

now that i'm aware, i'm taking extremely good care of myself.
eating right, resting a lot, sleeping well, drinking lots of water, staying away from coffee and alcohol.
i've never felt better in all my life.

and funny things are happening, too.
i'm nesting! becoming domestic!
who is this girl?

the first thing i did was buy a new vacuum cleaner.
then some cook books (fast, easy, nutritious).
i asked for a stand mixer for my birthday!
i've been baking and cooking, cleaning and organizing.

today, i ran amuck in williams sonoma:
i bought a beautiful set of german-made ceramic mixing bowls, teddybear cake pans, pancake molds, cookie cutters...

i hope this little girl likes to bake!

here are some of my new toys:

happy new year!

had a wonderful holiday filled with family and children, baking and celebrating.
lots of lovely snow - a beautiful white christmas.
and then, a relaxing, refreshing new year's at blue mountain with dear friends.

and now, it's back to routines.
how i am loving routines...

here's to a very exciting 2009.
all the best to you and yours.

that was then...

this is now...

















it's hard to believe my puppy is one year old today...

happy birthday, brix!

belly burn

note to self:

when pregnant, do not lean forward over hot fry pans to reach for spice jars.

baby, baby, baby, i love you

testing, testing...

never have i had so many needles.
even a big one in my belly.
but it's all been worth it to make sure baby is safe and healthy.

finally got the good news.
no genetic defects and... it's a girl!
i sobbed uncontrollably when i heard.

this whole idea of having a baby is really starting to grow on me!
(pun intended!)

i was not expecting

finally able to hold my head upright.
so sorry i haven't been blogging.
simply couldn't physically do it.

was in hospital on thurs night.
have spent 2 days and 2 nights flat on my back, getting up only to pray to the porcelain god.
it hurts. everything hurts.

i'm still just resting in bed, hurting, trying to force myself to drink water.
but i think i'm on the mend.
even ate a cookie today.

they don't know what it was. something viral.
they were worried it was viral meningitis, but my fever has finally gone down, and my headache's at 4/10 instead of 11/10, so that's ruled out.

however... while i was in hospital they did a gazillion tests and they found...
...a mass in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen.
quite worrisome.
more tests.
and it turns out....

i'm 18.5 weeks pregnant!
total surprise. i was told at age 18 that i would likely never be able to have children.
i was not expecting to be expecting!

(no wonder my clothes weren't fitting right in vegas.
i thought i just needed a personal trainer...)

sick as a dog

soooo sick...

santa fe

had a lovely time in santa fe, new mexico.

little did i know that it would be chilly here.
brought little skirts and tank tops to wear.
ended up buying an alpaca sweater, a wool blazer and some arm warmers!

highlights:
the food (red or green?)
the architecture
the history
the albuquerque international balloon festival (no balloons?)
fall colours in the mountains
did i mention the food?

aptly named

drove from vegas to the grand canyon, stopping at the inimitable rosie's den along the way...



yep, the grand canyon is aptly named.

viva las vegas

what a place - i can't wait to go back!

highlights:
"o" - cirque de soleil
"the ratpack is back" - dinner theatre
shopping at caesar's palace
residing at the mgm grand
relaxing poolside - perfect weather every day
dining in paris

me and my latest theme song

well i went to bed in memphis
and i woke up in hollywood
i got a quarter in my pocket
and i'd call you if i could
but i don't know why
i gotta fly

i wanna rock and roll this party
i still wanna have some fun
I wanna leave you feeling breathless
show you how the west was won
but i gotta fly
i gotta fly

like steve mcqueen
all i need's a fast machine
and i'm gonna make it all right …
like steve mcqueen
underneath your radar screen
you'll never catch me tonite

i ain't takin' sh** off no one
baby, that was yesterday
i'm an all american rebel
makin' my big getaway
yeah, you know it's time
i gotta fly

like steve mcqueen
all i need's a fast machine
and i'm gonna make it all right…
like steve mcqueen
underneath your radar screen
you'll never catch me tonite

we got rock stars in the white house
and all our pop stars look like porn
all my heroes hit the highway
'cause they don't hang out here no more

you can call me on my cell phone
you can page me all night long
but you won't catch this free bird
i'll already be long gone

like steve mcqueen
all we need’s a fast machine
and we're gonna make it all right
like steve mcqueen
all we need's a fast machine
and we're gonna ride it, all right
like steve mcqueen
underneath your radar screen
you'll never catch me tonite

photo: kevin v
song: performed by sheryl crow

brix is back!!

i've never been so happy to see a poop in all my life!

sunday

is this what sunday is supposed to be like?

brix is sick, so i couldn't attend the agility funmatch at spot on.

instead, i had a quiet morning, cuddling puppy and enjoying coffee.

had a fabulous, fabulous breakfast at yet another favourite restaurant:
the bluestone.

took a ride in the country, and as always, marvelled at the beauty of rural ontario... i love this place, especially in the fall.

spent a quiet afternoon with the redheads, following the agility world championships online.

inspired, i did some training with soshi in the neighbourhood. and, as often is the case, i was approached by a dog owner looking for training instruction. another client!

after caring for the redheads, i played some tennis and enjoyed a lovely and quiet supper at home.

had a bubblebath and flipped through the latest vogue. unheard of! who has time?

is this what days off are like? i could get used to this!

i just wish brix was well...

i spoke too soon

brix is still sick.

*sigh*

brix is back!

ok, finally keeping food down.
and playing with reckless abandon.

yay!

brix is sick

poor baby.

damn!

success in some areas.

new projects in others.

success is a decision you make

three big successes today!

denial

i am pretending i'm not sick.
i don't have time to be sick.

but...

i made chicken soup, just in case...

corn meal

rofl

after dinner, i let brix nibble on some leftover corn-on-the-cob.

HILARIOUS!

i held onto it and offered it to her. she immediatly attempted to crunch through the entire cob, but quickly learned that to get the good stuff she had to nibble politely along the rows!

i don't know why, but i found it so funny.

heart singing and spirit soaring

heart singing and spirit soaring after a phenomenal ride through beautiful rural ontario.

irritation is motivation

...and boy, am i motivated...

brix gave me a wake-up call this evening.
daily socialization and desensitization must be ongoing!

your dog is a reflection of your abilities as a trainer...
so train, don't complain!

fabulous feedback

the following was posted on a canada-wide agility forum today:

TailBlazers on Vancouver Island would like to thank Brandi for travelling all this way and presenting a wonderful seminar with something for everyone!! She is very personable and an upbeat, fun teacher.

Thank you Brandi! Weather was perfect, company was perfect and the skills you taught were a good reminder of why we do this.... to play with our dogs, bond and continue learning training techniques!

We were so thrilled to have her the entire three days and would highly recommend anyone hosting her for a seminar!

imagine

...an all-expense paid trip to a beautiful place.
...spending the weekend doing what you love, surrounded by fabulous dogs and wonderful people.

and then imagine being paid for it, too!

the seminars went well and i'm heading for the mainland.

moonlight sonata

after a weekend filled with dogs and training seminars, i was invited to a drum circle at dusk on the spit at comox.

full moon, clear sky, twinkling stars, sparkling calm water, sandy beach, a bonfire, and 20 or 30 free spirits, dancing and singing, chanting and drumming. together, they created a throbbing, pulsating, ever-changing musical tapestry. it was unlike anything i'd ever experienced. and then they handed me a drum to play... intoxicating yet invigorating. freeing yet mesmerizing. creative yet primal.

one final moment of magic: a shooting star appeared in the darkness above us. in slow motion, it coursed across the sky, and for a fleeting moment, seemed to hover overhead before vanishing...

fantasy island

brix, soshi and i are on vancouver island.
it's beautiful beyond words.

i'll be here in comox for three days, giving seminars on dog agility training and peak performance through mental management.

cute counting

hee hee! check this out!

garden of eden

the only thing as spectacular as the natural wonder of banff's rimrock resort is the incomparable eden restaurant.

i had:
Tasting of Tomatoes
Tomato Water Terrine, Tomato Panna Cotta, Brioche and Smoked Tomato
2005, Pike and Joyce Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, Australia

he had:
Grilled Cèpe and Smoked Pork Hocks
Celeriac Fondue, Sage and Elephant Garlic Oil
2004, Trimbach Pinot Gris, Alsace, France

i had:
Marie-Ville Foie de Canard au Torchon
“Sous Vide” of Summer Peach, Gastrique of Blueberry Vinegar
2006, Quail’s Gate Optima, Okanagan, BC

he had:
Dungeness Crab Ravioli
Coconut and Macadamia Nut Puree, Fresh Grapefruit
2005, Black Arts Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, BC

i had:
Diamond Willow Organic Beef “Benedict”
Fairwinds Farm Goat Cheese Cornbread, Yukon Ring, Foie Gras Hollandaise
2004, Saint Cosme, Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, Rhône Valley, France

he had:
Black Trumpet Loin of Kurobuta Pork and Roasted Belly
Thyme Panisse, Courgettes, Rum and Raisin Reduction
2001, Carpineto, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Toscana, Italy

i had:
Tasting of Lindt Chocolate
Raspberry Mousse and Chocolate Gâteau with Dark Chocolate Ravioli
2006, Domaine Pouderoux, Maury, France

he had:
Trio of Summer
Passion Fruit Granité, Gehringer Brothers Ice Wine Jelly, Green Tea Parfait Glace
2006 Quail’s Gate Optima, Okanagan, BC

we had:
Chocolats et Friandise
Espresso


heavenly!

and as we left, they gave us a bag containing two chocolate encased banana loaves.
i know what i'm having for breakfast!

customer service

"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises.
He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him.
He is not an interruption of our work. He is the purpose of it.
He is not an outsider of our business. He is part of it.
We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to do so."

Mahatma Gandhi, South Africa 1890

back-to-school

had a great time teaching agility tonight.
i've had some time off, which was much-needed, but getting back to it today was a thrill.

and brix was a delight.

mosport

went out to mosport to take in the races.
what an experience! i loved it.
great times with great friends.

brought the dogs and the mountain bikes.
brix and i made quite an impression with our training routines.
she was able to focus and work well, even with the earsplitting roar of the motorcycles racing around the track.

in the evening we all got together again to see "the dark knight"
great performances (and more motorcycles!)

hope

i have been unable to write about the terrible accident that has befallen a dear young student and friend. thank you everyone for your support. it has been difficult to cope.

today some friends and i planned an event to raise some funds. it comforts me to feel that i am doing something. i have felt so helpless and hopeless.

i've been to the hospital twice. huge improvements, and today i feel thankful for each little thing. she can breathe on her own. she can speak. she has no brain damage. she has some movement in her arms.

if you believe in miracles, please hope for one...

writing

deadline passed.
article overdue.
trying to focus.
trying to write.

unspeakable tragedy

i am filled with deep and profound sadness.
this cannot be happening.

road trip

just got back from a lovely little trip around ontario.
fabulous inns, gorgeous countryside, great times.

takin trin for a spin

17th sideroad.
hockley valley road.
a glorious, glorious day for a ride through the country.

out of the mouths of babes

quoting my young nephew:

gee, i'm sure glad auntie brandi was born... born to be my auntie.
cuz she's the best auntie in the world, i guess.

brandi loves track

exhausted but elated

just finished teaching two dog agility seminars.
long days in the hot sun, but oh-so-worth-it!

great dogs, great people, lots of tails wagging and lots of smiles.
i swear, this is something i was born to do.

brixie was a brilliant demo dog (though i may have done more exercise on the bosu than she did... i'm glad nobody was taking pictures)

gotta rest up.
big day tomorrow...

top dog goes gold

soshi and i won top dog at the spot on agility trial!
and we achieved our gold award of merit, too.
big day for little dog!

the music in my heart i bore, long after it was heard no more

my students were magnificent, strutting their stuff at our gala concert.

i am so proud.

hit me like a ton of brix

in comic books, when a character gets clobbered, there's the onomatopoeic "crack!" in red lettering.
then, swirling lines and yellow stars and little birdies appear overhead.
in the next frame, the cartoon character always sports a huge, red lump with little lines radiating outward toward more stars.

in comic books.

i didn't realize these things ACTUALLY happen when you get your clock cleaned in real life.

until now.

brix and i were ruff-housing like usual.
she knocked a magazine off of the coffee table in her exuberance.
i stooped to pick it up just as she leapt upward joyfully.

CRACK!

our heads collided with a sickening sound and i was down for the count.
literally, lying on the floor, seeing stars and hearing little birdies.
and, you guessed it --
within a minute, i had a gigantic goose-egg above my eye.

of course, my main concern was whether i'd be able to get my bike helmet on...

(note to self: wear the helmet when playing with the dog)

tv is going to the dogs

soshi and me on breakfast television

we wroar-ed!

keep your eyes peeled

for soshi and me on breakfast television tuesday morning

there is always time... you just have to find it

i spent over 10 hours working with young music students today.

as always, i emphasized the importance of daily practise.

and i assured them that short, energetic, focused sessions are better than gruelling "practise marathons".

that is how i work best.

the same goes for dog training.

since i was teaching all day, i was only able to squeeze in a "few" activities with my dogs... (are you ready for this?)...

brix:
-recall
-123 game
-sit
-down
-impulse control
-heeling left, right
-get out
-balance/core strength/hind end awareness
-out
-take it
-off
-retrieve
-tunnel
-jump
-post turn
-front cross
-leap into lap
-stand on plank
-crate games
-socialization with kids/adults
-greeting strangers
-lots of cuddling and interactive play

and Soshi:
-back up
-stand on plank
-hand target
-target
-recall
-down
-sit
-stick-em-up
-play dead
-weave walk
-impulse control
-go mat
-cuddling and interactive play

podium finish

soshi and i took third place at the ontario agility championships!

we had a great time with friends old and new.

the spirit of agility is alive and well in ontario.

spot on at spot on

soshi went 3 for 3 today at spot on, snapping up a couple of firsts.
she was her sassy, shiba self and we had fun, in spite of the rain.

thanks, afj, for my new dita turf shoes!

thanks, k, for another great trial!

4 stroke engines

intake, compression, combustion, exhaust

celebrity puppy

dogs in canada
may issue
p. 14-16
brix & me

just don't ask

last night i met a woman in the ladies room of a restaurant/bar.
she seemed to be in some distress.
i asked her if she was ok, if there was anything i could do.

she snapped at me. "no, i'm not ok," and then proceeded to tear a strip off me, her voice laced with sarcasm and contempt. what did i care? what did i think i could do?

and it just didn't stop. her sneering insults were punctuated with fits of manic laughter. and all the while, i was stuck in my little stall, wishing i'd kept my mouth shut.

her mean-spirited and expletory soliloquy went on ad nauseum.

was she was trying to pick a fight?

was she strung out? high? mentally ill?

i don't know, but it sure surprised me.

so what's the lesson? when you see a fellow human in pain, just don't ask?

bah. that's a lesson i'll never learn.

we have work to do

gary white seminar at spot on.
excellent.
and humbling.
we're out of condition, soshi and i.

time for spring training.

no problem

i don't use the word 'problem'.
nor do i use the word 'can't'.
they just aren't part of my vocabulary.

there are no problems. only challenges.

um, yeah.
like the challenge of dealing with a leaking roof.
again.

international female ride day

asphalt battlefield
ducati goddess of war
reigns victorious

great taste

how funny that all 6 of us wore skinny jeans, high heels, and little black tops to salsa night at
sette mezzo.

we have committed ourselves to salsa.

to be continued...

spring

spirit soars, blissful
pink blossoms blushing softly
sunshine's tender love

powerblogger

i've blogged a lot today, publishing thoughts and ideas from the past couple of weeks.

i must credit my friend melissa of pop dog blog for inspiring these updates.

she was surprised to discover today that this blog is as old as soshi is (see melissa's comment here.)

some things never change...

ascension

what a thrill it was to attend the sport seneca gala dinner last friday evening.

one of my piano students is also an elite athlete with sport seneca gymnastics.
imagine my pride when, at this beautiful dinner, attended by sports celebrities and torontonian high rollers, she played o canada on the piano, then donned her gymnastics outfit and wowed the audience with her floor routine, and then, after a quick costume change, took the stage again to perform another piece of music at the piano. her playing was flawless.

not only that, but the next day she won at a regional event, qualifying easily for the national championships. look for this rising star on the next canadian olympic team (and onstage at my upcoming piano recital).

on the go

friday morning i was in florida.
friday evening i was teaching in toronto.
saturday i was teaching in toronto.
sunday i was training in ottawa.
monday, and here i am teaching in toronto again.

dogs 'n dinner

spent the day dog training in a horse arena near ottawa.
another fantastic seminar with clinician, terry simons, this one hosted by shake-a-paw.

soshi and i were a little slow and out of shape; time to step up our training.
brix was brilliant and was even called up front to demonstrate her leave-that-cheese-on-your-paw-until-i-tell-you-you-can-have-it trick.

a quick trip back to the hotel and i was dressed and ready for a wonderful dinner hosted by paula and prepared by her husband, dave. the food was incredible and the company, magnificent!

business and pleasure

on the way to florida i met the general manager for suzuki public relations and racing.

on the way home, i wrote an article for dogsport magazine.

in florida... i did nothing but relax and enjoy...

epcot hot spot

ok, i really thought the magic kingdom would prevail.
who'd have guessed that i'd spend not one, but two days at epcot?
i loved it.
slower-paced, less crowded, interesting and diverse, while still, undeniably disney.

played ghanian drums
donned japanese fashions
cheered for chinese acrobats
bought a moroccan jalaba
danced with incredible american musicians
took in a minstrel show
sampled french perfumes
strolled through lovely gardens

and... was unexpectedly taken with tinkerbell.

i am thankful for the opportunity to spend three fleeting days with my wonderful family.

re-treat

nothing like sunshine and fresh air to get your creative juices flowing...
and a little mid-week treat never hurt anyone, either.

student/teacher

this morning i attended a pedagogy workshop given by the chief examiner of the royal conservatory of music.

it was the kind of presentation i give regularly, so it was so refreshing to be on the receiving end this time around.

the workshop was terrific, but i didn't stay long: too much to do!

baby chic

i am the newest member of something far greater than the sum of its parts

[editor's note]
i am a baby chic.
i am not *having* a baby chic.

let's all be perfectly clear on this one.

gold medal performance

one of my junior handlers made a special medallion for me to commemorate her dog's graduation from foundation agility into novice agility.
she also made little medals for all the dogs in the class!

brix is back

keep her calm and still for 10 days.
yeah, right.

i miss brix

tune up

practise, practise

tune up course

simple, but not easy.

prep talk

i gave a dog sport pep talk tonight at paus-n-train.

it was a three-hour seminar, designed to help handlers prepare mentally for the upcoming aac regional championships.

the participants were delightful and the discussions, lively. i thoroughly enjoyed myself.

spring fever

you know you have spring fever when the sight of a dandelion beginning to sprout makes your heart sing.

agility ability

agility classes were amazing tonight.

and so was my training time.

the dawn of a new era