A Turn For The Better

I just returned from MD Anderson and the Adult Sarcoma Center with good news.

After scanning me from skull to toes my doctors have determined I have no cancers and have had enough chemo.
Yeah!
The doctors say that it will take about 3 months for the chemo to clear my system. Today I received a shot to bolster my red blood cells. I look forward to feeling normal and not tired all the time.

They say that it was my genes that brought on the cancers and, now, my genes are responsible for my tolerance of chemo and response. Osteosarcoma is rare but frequently deadly to adults.

I have to begin to imagine myself healthy while keeping an eye out for spread. I am glad to have this battle today and the support of my friends.

I am still a little in shock.

OK It's Fall

Yesterday a friend dropped by some Columbian squash soup. It was amazing. The squash has a similar flavor and color to the butternut squash but is a much larger squash. She roasted the squash and other vegetables and peppers used in the soup. The soup has a very rich orange color and a wonderful taste. I am going to have to find out what they look like and get one to roast. Maybe this would be a great Thanksgiving casserole dish?

I planted my President Johnson Amaryllis Bulb. It should bloom after the first week of December. Blooms should be white with a red fringe and about 20-inches tall. The bulb was as big as a baby's head.

The basil still looks good but the season is ending. I need to get some pine nuts and make some pesto before it's too late.

I have two tomato plants acquired very late. They have blooms but I doubt we will have tomatoes. I just got started way too late. We have had some bees by that surely pollinated them.

Today I made some chicken/corn soup from memory. Its a problem having all my good stuff on the bookshelf at home and not being able to access it. The soup turned out nicely. I have some roasted Hatch peppers to sprinkle on my bowl of soup. Mother is more Midwestern in her tastes than southwestern.

I have been bone tired since returning for the nationals. I don't know why. Hopefully its not a new symptom. I always have test anxiety before PET, CT, Xray and blood panel checks. Mother is feeling tired, too. She says she thinks she has a virus. I hope whatever it is will pass soon. Living on this edge is not too much fun.

There must have been about 15 people on the Ed Alexander obit committee. I think it turned out well. It should be available online Sunday (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/ ) and in the Statesman. It is still a shock and will be a sadness for a long time.

A blog for Ed:
http://earthfamilyalpha.blogspot.com/2009/10/edward-fales-alexander.html

Plants and gardens help sooth those thoughts of loss.

Dog Show

I enjoyed watching the judging at the nationals this year. I felt it was the least political conformation judging I have seen to date.

While the judge, Walter J Sommerfelt, did not select some of the dogs I like ( I like dogs with more head than he was looking for), he was consistent in the type of dog he selected when he made his final cut for each class. I think he would not have selected the head type in our 2009 logo.

I liked that he selected fit dogs that were balanced, hard muscled, and moved well. The dog's bodies length were as 10 is to 9. Dogs with more body than leg ( I have two like that) were selected against.

I think it was a fluke that his top picks were red dogs. This year we seemed to have more quality reds than we had in years past.

I heard that one exhibitor told the judge he had rewarded the "wrong" type.

It was one man's opinion on one day given the dogs presented that day.

Rock and a Hard Place

I am supposed to go to MD Anderson Monday and Tuesday next week for scans, tests and consult with the Adult Sarcoma Dr. Benjamin. My next chemo is Thursday next week.

I took the Honda into my longtime mechanic Michael Yost to be sure it was ready for the highway.

Austin Chronicle:

Best Auto Service/Repair: Yost Automotive
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/BestOfAustin?Year=2009&BOACategory=Services&Poll=Readers
Michael Yost and his crew of all-model experts may have moved from their old digs by I-35, but when they moved, they took something important with them: the amazing trust they have built up with their devoted fans. Ask anyone: They do just what's needed – no more, no less – to keep your four-wheeled baby purring. 5415 N. Lamar, 374-9678

They replaced the radiator and changed the oil. Then I drove an hour to Belton, TX and parked the car for mos of 5 days there. On the trip home the transmission started slipping. Michael says it's all the miles we put on that transmission (210k miles) and it needs a rebuild of $2150 and main seal.

I can't afford this or a replacement car now :<>
Cars! What can you do? The Honda has been cheap transport for years and now it wants some TLC.

Life in Space

I've always wanted to experience weightlessness in space. I think I would like to live in the greenhouse module section. Hanging with the plants would be cool.

This afternoon I sat in the mist of my avocado tree, tomato plants, bromeliads, aloe vera, yellow bells and herbs while visiting with an old friend and watching high altocumulus and lower cumulus blowing across the sky.

Find out what it's like in outer space from Rusty Schweikart, Apollo 9 Lunar Module pilot and founder of the Association of Space Explorers. Stanford Professor Lynn Rothschild lectures on Life in Space, Life on Earth from the course Astrobiology and Space Exploration.

http://academicearth.org/lectures/life-in-space-life-on-earth

Monday

Last Monday at the National Specialty :

We entered ND (SilverDust IndigoImage HSAs) in Properties -Altered Class. This class is for show quality dogs/bitches that are sexually altered (spayed/neutered) and usually have not had a show career.

Although I am pretty awkward these days, I tried to show her how to stack and be comfortable with a judge handling her. She would have none of it. As I would lean towards her, she would flip on her back for silly tummy rubs.

Junior handler Brianna Thompkins gamely showed ND who behaved surprising well. As long as she could see "Mom." She was relaxed and standing. The other bitch flipped for tummy rubs. ND was rewarded with a blue ribbon. Her dog competition knew how to stack (I think he had a CH title already) so good behavior and looks awarded him the Best In Show Altered Class. Anyway the entries all go to the International Committee fund and good works. It was all fun.

ND liked the snacks but prefers to retire permanently from showing. She is waiting for me to be well enough to take her herding.

Her eyes were examined and found to be perfect and healthy. We have not done the DNA testing for progressive rentinal atrophy, but she is likely a pattern B ( one gene carrier so never affected by the condition) at age 9 years.

Rosie (CH Riverforth's Red River Rosie HDAs) got nothing in best eye although she has very evil dark eyes. Her BAER test proves she can hear although how she interprets is a special ACD bitch thing. She was sort of good as Dr Freeman inserted the needles in her skin to measure the nerves response to sounds, but the alligator clips were a problem.

Rosie's brother Bixby tried ( or should we say his owner Noel tried?) for that last Qualifying score in obedience needed to get a title. It was not to be. Apparently our strategy to get him to focus on staying with Noel during off leash heeling worked so well he did not want to stay when told. Oh well.

Dash's sister Texanna was there too. Its so great to get to see the fur kids. Both Bixby and Texanna have stayed with me during their adult years. Bixby earned his Pre Trial title on sheep and we went to several herding clinics. He earned a Junior Herding Dog title in AHBA, but the paper work for that title was never completed.

Bixby is a powerful dog. Before the first JHD run famed herding judge Dana MacKenzie noted that the up right breeds (like ACDs would not be expected to hold the sheep off the pen like the eye breeds (Border Collies). We were not expected to lie the dog down, rather leave them standing. Bixby has a powerful eye. For him, lying him down was the right move. Dana agreed when questioned by another entrant if I was correctly following instructions from the judge.

I had the advantage of knowing the course better than the other entrants, too. It allowed us to qualify despite some glaring training weaknesses. Some good dogs could have qualified if their handler had just walked the course.

Watching the herding Calcutta that evening intensified my desire to start back training the dogs on cattle. Nice steady pressure from the dog resulted in the best runs. Our Calcutta winner says he moved and worked the cattle at least 60% to his inexperienced dog's 40% of work. Those cattle moved equally well off people or dogs, the dog could do all the work.

Of course I am always smarter watching outside the corral than I am inside with my dog. Apparently remembering to breath, walk and not walk through or into obstacles takes all of my brain during the trial.

My dear friend Ed Alexander

I was just notified by email from Charlie Loving that my dear friend Ed Alexander has died.

"Ed Alexander was DOA at Methodist Hospital San Antonio. He reportedly hit his head diving into the Medina River at 1 AM. Bridgette was at hospital. Kids under care of the caver women on the Medina River. "

I have known and been friends with Ed since I was 18 years old. I thought his special luck in life would out live all of us.

In tears and shock, Peggy

Can't Help Over doing It

I am home now after doing too much at the National Specialty. My body told me to go home Wed. but the herding trials were Thursday and Friday.
I went to bed at 6pm Thursday and stay until 7am. It helped but my feet were swelling by afternoon.

I am glad I stayed. I learned a lot and reinforced some of my ideas watching other's success and failures.
If I trained and prepared the dog, then in a trial my job is to be the handler and not worry about the dog.
If I trust the dog and watch the stock, the dog works so much better.
I really have to figure out cattle.

I threw up Friday morning but recovered enough to have breakfast and watch herding until 1pm.

On the way home I stopped at my favorite bead shop - Brazos Collection in Salado. I managed to stay under $20 and took home some nice beads.

Mom, Charley and Delma were happy I was back. I made Charley a couple of "Dagwood Bumsted" sandwiches.

I threw up dinner, but this morning I feel good. I think I can recover this weekend.

I will post some stories from the Nationals Sunday.

Spirit Award

My Texas and Oklahoma cattle dog friends made me cry.

During the BBQ they made a presentation to me of kind of a spirit award for positive outlook and inspiration. They presented me a gift in honor of my previous participation in rescue, dog sports and mentoring others interested in Australian Cattle Dogs.

Then everyone stood and clapped. I was beyond words.

I have never received such an honor and that kind of attention from so many friends.

The gift is a wood carving portrait of my first AKC registered ACD, Cobber (Champion Silverhills N'Dust Cobalt PT). Cobber died last year. He is in our hearts forever. Charley is going to cry when he sees the carved portrait.

Cobber started us down the dog world road. I had never been to a dog show until Cobber was 6 months old shown for the first time. He loved to show and it was great socialization for a young dog. Then he hooked us on exploring the world of training and herding. He changed our lives forever.

I am overcome by the support of my friends. It lifts me and carries me through many hard patches.

I am really looking forward to herding in the next year and competing at the next nationals in California.

Driving

For the fifth time in the last year I drove.
I drove IH35 in a heavy rain shower with the pickup trucks, SUV's, sporty cars and semi's.
It was nerve wracking, but then it always is that way.
Fortunately it was Sunday afternoon when traffic is lightest.
My goal was to deliver myself to the Australian Cattle Dog National Specialty in Belton, TX, about an hour north of my home in Austin.
Everything went well. I packed clean underwear and my medicine. I forgot the snack food and cheese.

It great being here.


I have some stories, but right now I need a nap before the BBQ, equestrian demo and herding Calcutta.

Friends

Sat we drove out to the Llano River between the towns of Llano and Mason for Remembering Benny. Seeing his cabin without him helped to accept that he is really gone. The event was a life celebration, greeting longtime old friends and a party.
I especially enjoyed being outside and greeting friends not as patient, but celebrator.

The weather could not have been nicer. It was both sunny and cool. Quiet a change from recent heat waves.

We are all older and some are grandparents. The dogs sort of took the place that the "kid mob" used to at these events. Sort of the knee high level party in the party. Fortunately they were a good lot and well behaved.

I should mention that there were several children - just not the numbers of our younger days.

Roadside flowers included outstanding purple Texas gayfeather ( http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=23065 ) and Maximilian sunflowers (http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hema2 )

I wish I could have camped out for the evening. A hearty crew had collected enough firewood to burn well into Sunday. It was a victory to be there and maneuvering around the uneven ground successfully. Next time I will be stable enough to visit the river front (requires climbing down a rocky slope).

My first visit there was Benny's house warming. It was warm, too. We took our folding chairs and sat in the river flow under the pecan trees. A Belted Kingfisher (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/lifehistory ) was irritated that we were in his spot. We were just hoping the river flow was more water than upstream cattle pee.

Today I leave for the cattle dog national specialty! More old friends and good dogs for me.

So far

So far this treatment has not been so bad. Its the Tuesday after the Friday treatment. My stomach is still iffy and my energy down, but I am feeling well enough to think of things to do.

I am fixing shrimp for tonight's dinner.

I had to nap in the middle of shelling :> Well it's done now.



I am excited about seeing my cattle dog pals and all the dogs in Belton, Texas next week.

http://acdca2009.com/

I hope I have half the energy to do what I want to do.

I sure wish I were trialing on the cattle the way I had hoped too.



Hopefully next year in California I can do that after doing some local trials. There is so much to do and look forward to doing.



On a sadder note, we will be going to Benny Martin's memorial-life celebration this Sat.

Now I can't think of Benny living on the Llano. I have to think of how it was the life he choose. What a fortunate guy to realize at least part of his dream.



http://www.benoconnor.com/bennymartin/



It will be great to be with old friends, music and good food celebrating and remembering.



Take care of your dreams everyone and God bless you.