Banana Slug

In the last spring storms, the slugs roamed freely
sliding graceful, bright-skinned across this forest floor.
Fungus and water and they,
readying these woods for another growing year,
eating
Slow and tender. In the cold times, in the moist times
in every patch of sorrel, quietly at work, at life.
And the cold went long this year.
And the spring came weak and tremulous.
But in these April storms sang flowers,
new green grass and still
the great spotted gastropods, yellow as joy.

And the sun dawned warm today.
Spring gone fierce and full, unthirsty.
There will be no slugs; they have traveled down the canyon
Made their quiet dens, blanketed in earth and slime
curled close, resting
wating to embrace this tired world
dreaming of renewal, and the rain times.

Weekend Wrap; Showdog rehearsal

So, the short version is, we had fun but we weren't in the show. kynekh_amagire , my wonderful, vastly appreciated dog show support, and I appeared at crack of dawn with housefox parfait fluffed and ready, but there was human error on both sides. It was a two-day show, and I only wanted to enter Saturday, but somehow I overlooked checking this on the entry form. They left a message asking which day I wanted to appear; I called the office, told the person who answered and left a message in the box of the person who'd called me, but I still didn't get entered.

So we called it a dress/tech rehearsal and spectated. It was fun and a good experience; I'm a lot less nervous about the whole process now, and got to carefully watch with Coba in hand and almost completely groomed up. At this level of regional showing, it looks like the little guy has a chance of being competitive, and I believe I have enough idea on how to handle him that I'll appear to be at least a competent amateur. It was a lovely class of shelties, but Coba was of like quality.

This looks like enough fun that it will be worth my time to do a couple times a year...more and I'd get bored and overtired, because it's the kind of high-group-energy kind of event that exhausts introverted little me, but I really like the idea of doing a couple per year. I've missed livestock showing since I gave up my rabbits and show chickens, and this fills that gap while adding more interesting complications and strong partnership with my exhibition beast. For his own part, Coba is ready: he seems to be coming out of his youthful shyness with the grave and wary confidence that shelties are ideally supposed to have. He was focused on me and permitted polite strangers to touch him. I don't think he's going to shy away from the judge in the ring.

Bliss Like Showdog, on the other hand, is really unlikely, but since I never planned to show Collies in conf and I actually find him more personally attractive than what wins anyway, I'm fine with that. He'll be lots of fun in the obedience ring once he finishes growing his brain and learns that, when called, to come to a stop before crashing into me snout-first.

So why do thia? Well, it's a pleasant game, and while my competitive streak isn't strong, it does exist, so why not play a few turns? More deeply, purebred dogs are one of my favorite universal human artistic expressions, the dogs themselves history, cultural commentary, artwork and participant all in one, and you're surrounded everywhere by gorgeous, mostly very happy animals turned out to their best advantage. It's all very exciting and pretty.

There are lots of issues and aggravations, of course...for example, wtf was with the handlers who left two barking and furiously protective Samoyeds ringside and didn't correct them? And of course the existence of show-type German Shepherd Dogs whose hips sway sickeningly and should never be bred. Pugs. Still, even with the breeds you don't like, it's like a request from the universe to respect the artistic expression of people who are nothing like you yet still share your love and passion. it's not a bad reminder to be tolerant, even when people are really stupid.

Kyn and I hiked the ridge today, in full and glorious spring with our coiffed showdogs, and really, that's what the whole point of it is: having beautiful animals to share your life, which truly complement you in a joyful expression of our ancient interspecies partnership. To live a little piece of humanity's unbroken artistic expression. Dogs are great.

...also, did I mention shiny new leashes? Bliss and Kyn's Rooster now sport the softest and most supple-feeling bright purple leash/collar ensembles, and Coba has a new show lead. It's basically a black and silver string with sparkly beads, and it's adorable. I'll confess that shopping was part of the agenda to begin with.

There are lots of other shows. Assuming I can figure out how to fill out an entry form.