Jam Packed

It's been a long time since I've taken the time to write. I'm finding it hard to put pen to paper lately. Many changes in our lives have kept me busy. This post is like a stream of consciousness video you would see on YouTube. Just writing through the things that have been on my mind lately. Be careful, it's a lot. ;) 

We are planning on selling our house and of course buying our next one. We are continuing to work on getting pregnant. We have fostered and placed an exceptionally intelligent deaf heeler mix puppy. I am taking a part time job as a dog trainer. Agility training is exciting and interesting. My motorcycle engine has been taken apart and is in need of a proper cleaning. Disc Season is fast approaching, scheduling and organizing several events/competitions. We're going to Florida next month for 10 days. Adventuring with the Adventure Puppy Club.

In order to get our house ready, we have some small improvements to complete. Nothing major, except for the basement. Need to replace some wall framing in the utility room due to some old water damage that took place before we moved in. Just need to throw up some 2x2s and finish it up with some insulation and sheetrock. Jess did some backsplash in the kitchen and has patched and painted some walls (reckless dogs break things). We need to paint the basement and update some fixtures and we'll be good to go!

We're looking East of the cities. We have family and several friends out there. We'll see though, we love being out West and have always imagined being a little further out. More space, less house. Jess's job may be moving as well, likely further West than it's current location. That means if we move East, that commute will be tremendous. We value our home time, and a commute that long is dangerous just by time spent on the road. I can likely find a bus as long as we are come what near the burbs. 

We're not great at talking about our pregnancy struggle and sharing with people outside of our family and tight circle of friends. It's a very intimate and personal experience. It's frustrating, scary, painful, and emotionally draining. We try very hard to keep a positive outlook on our situation and to understand and learn methods to get us to our goal. We've been trying for at least 4 years. We hope that 2017 will be the year we achieve our goal. 

Last night Akela went to her forever home! She was born in a litter of 11. Her mom and the rest of her litter mates were brought up to MN. Australian Cattle Dog Rescue MN took them in. Akela was adopted before we found out she was deaf. The family was unprepared for that diagnosis and decided to return her to the rescue. Our family took her in to foster until we could find the right family. We trained her on vibration stimulation and worked on her focus and drive. She was a tiny ball of spunk! We were able to connect with another disc dogger in the club who was looking for a new puppy to start training. She was also interested in being a deaf dog advocate, to show people that these dogs can do what all other dogs can do! Perfect match if I ever saw one! 

I've been lucky enough to be chosen to take a part time job as a dog trainer this summer! I'm extremely excited to begin working with dogs and handlers. Training dogs has always been a hobby of mine, but now I get to take it to the next level. I'm interested to learn new techniques and help people be successful in shaping the companion they want to have.

Agility training is increasing in its intensity and awesomeness! We have started to become familiar with all of the equipment we could encounter on the course. We're starting to learn what is called "discriminations", which is your dog completing the correct obstacle when two are present. So if we are going towards the tunnel and A-Frame, we need to get them to perform the correct obstacle. Cedar and I are working very hard on our connection while on the course. Working to engage her at the right level and put my body in the right place in order to communicate with her. She's a hard head and "thinks" a lot, which leads to her "knowing" what I want before I tell her what I want. Little Miss Know-It-All! Birch kills it! He's very motivated to complete the obstacles for Jess. It's awesome to see them connect with grace and speed! 

I wanted to take my motorcycle engine apart before the end of winter and have it all done by Spring. Well climate change has kind of thrown a wrench in that since it was around 60 degrees last week! I rushed to pull the engine and remove the top end. Took off the head and got a look at the cams, valves, and pistons. The valves and pistons are hideous! Black and burnt. The seal on the very top end had been melted and worn. One of the screws holding the breathe plate on seized and the head sheared off. I think I am going to bring it to a Honda guru and have him glass bead it to clean it all up and then order new seals. 

Disc, oh disc! I'm learning so much this year! Being President of the club is a great experience! Of course it is a little stressful, but its that good stress. Keeps me learning and engaged in the sport that I love. I enjoy the members and the board, great people with the same goal, building that bond with our best friends!

2017 is going to be a great year for the club. I plan on engaging other dog sport communities, showing them that this sport is all about fun and anyone can do it! Dog sports tend to be intimidating to the onlooker. I really want to change that, every demo we perform we get several people that want to learn how to do what we are doing or think that they can't do what we are doing. What they don't know is that it is easy! If your dog chases a disc, you've already won half the battle!

We're also taking a new approach to one of our staple competitions this year. June Dog Jam, as it was previously known, will now be called Land of Ten Thousand Discs. We're hoping to revive this competition with some new designs, contests, and a new location. It's always been a part of Rochesterfest but it has been removed from the actual event by several miles. This year we are moving to a new park that is only a couple miles from the action! 

Naples Florida. Never been there. I hear it's nice ;) I'm excited to get to some nice weather. I'm also excited to see one of my long lost best buds. The best man at my wedding, Danny, decided to move down to Florida several years ago. The jack wagon never comes to visit so I figured this would be a good opportunity to see him and catch up in person. We also plan on heading to Key West for a couple days via a ferry. It's been a long time since we've seen the ocean. I'm excited to get back to it. I recently finished a book titled "Blue Mind". It centers around the health, body and mind, benefits that water provide. It's calming properties are unparalleled. 

Adventure Puppy Club! This training club has been a game changer for us. It's training for the real world, IN the real world. Recently, we took an adventure out to Stillwater. As a group we worked on several behaviors that are key to master in public. Walking along the streets with dozens of people walking by we were given excellent direction on how to maintain focus. Danielle is a great trainer and has been great in adjusting her information for everyone from new to experienced owners. 

Obviously 2017 has already been packed and I anticipate that it will stay that way, so let's strap in and roll with the punches!