March 13 - Lisa's Musings (from the Michigan Classic) and Every Day Life

The sweet taste of success has touched my life not once, but twice, this week.

First, the difficult birth of my first video -- you did go and watch it, right?

And today, that elusive group placement.

I must be doing something right.

Little Driver, in his third UKC weekend, finally snatched a Group 4 from the paws of a large Gun Dog group today. (Thanks, Judge Kim Himes!)

And Ryan, dear, sweet Ryan, in his debut in the show ring as an altered dog, took not one, but TWO, Runner-Up Best in Shows with my friend, Nancy Jennings, at the other end of the lead.

And, perhaps I should mention it was the first time Nancy'd shown in the stand-and-eat-food ring (aka the conformation ring).

So, she kicked serious butt today.

Ryan's wins totally trumped Driver's; but not in my book.

And, I'm not playing favorites here.

Really.

I wanted that first group placement in the worst way and I got it.

This is how you get sucked into going back to more dog shows and paying more entry fees for a chance to win ribbons. Not money, but maybe $2 or $10 ribbons.

It's that sweet taste of success; it makes you want to go back for more.

And, it's customary at dog shows when a dog takes a group placement that you have a photo taken by the official show photographer with the judge to chronicle the win.

And in this case, I gladly forked out the $27 for a picture of Driver's first group placement.

What I hadn't planned on was doing it two more times for Ryan's Runner-Up Best In Shows. It became almost humorous, going back to pay for another photo and then another.

Not that I'm complaining mind you, but these photos add up.

En route to Kalamazoo to the dog show, Nancy and I had decided to stop at Firekeepers casino on the way home. To try something different and fun.

I'd never been to this casino and Nancy had never been to a casino.

But after I wrote that third $27 check -- there went my gambling money.

But it was worth it.

Nancy will have a photo of her first big win.

Ryan's breeder can have a photo -- since she recently lost her North Dakota home and all its contents in a house fire.

And, I can have a photo of Driver's first group placement.

Today, in my blog at least: Toller's Rule, and the rest of those dog breeds?

They just drool.