Older and Wiser?

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Well, the lion showed up a day early this year:


Big, wet snow flakes making for sloppy streets and sidewalks. It was gone in the lower elevations (translation: around our house) by the afternoon. We're getting a brief respite from the clouds and rain this weekend. It is very nice today with temps into the low 60's predicted. The birds are taking up residence in the nest outside the computer room window once again, cleaning and fixing it up for the next generation. I'll try to get some pictures and figure out exactly what kind of birds they are.

We're into March which means I've passed another birthday. I find they are becoming less and less significant at this time in my life. 56. Still a long time to go to retirement, been a long time since the dreaded "Big Five Oh". What with R into his third year of retirement, P getting ready to start on Social Security later in the year, and our good friend, the Widow Davis, retiring in January, I'm still the young one. All this birthday does is provide a measure for how long it will be before I can join them. Discussions about future activities often end up with the observation: "except for John, he still has to WORK!"

When the weather clears up and the rivers calm down some I think I will be sick occasionally, the kind of illness that only a boat ride on the river and a wet fishing line can cure. We have a fishing trip scheduled for early June in southern Oregon, along the Rogue River. Last time we were anchored in the Sixes river, plunking our bobbers into a pool at a bend in the river. This time will be in a boat drifting down the river. R assures me it’s a totally different experience. I’m looking forward to it.

Several weeks ago we went to a dog show in Albany, about an hours drive from here. Last December R lost Hanna, the Basset Hound that ruled his life for 14+ years. While nothing will replace Hanna, he is starting to adjust some. Not that he’s ready for another dog just yet, mind you, but some friends of his have English Springer Spaniels that he’s had fun with in the past. He talked to local breeders and found out about the dog show. We got to the show around 10:30 only to find out that the Spaniel judging started at 8 am, naturally. Luckily, admission was free so we wandered around taking in exactly what a dog show entails. There were 12 large areas with three foot fences around them where the judging took place. The judges evaluate the contestants as a group and individually, checking the eyes, teeth, shape, physique, how they stand, move and run. The handlers were just as fun to watch, a different breed altogether.

We were able to wander around the grooming area in the hall next door. All the dogs resting in cages, or getting baths and being primped for their moment in the ring. Very interesting, behind the scenes. Here are some pictures I took during the Sporting Group judging. In the morning the dogs compete against others of the same breed. A Group competition takes all the winners from similar breeds for judging. There were 22 different breeds in the one we watched: half a dozen different spaniels, a slew of terriers, poodles, labradors and others I'm not sure about.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. I didn't see any one else taking pictures except for official winner photos. I didn't use the flash and was using the zoom a lot. I need more practice, obviously. The black and white dog in the last picture above is an English Springer Spaniel names Stewie. This is the type of dog R want to get. And, as it turns out, Stewie was judged best in the Sporting Group. That means another blue ribbon and a chance to compete for Best In Show. I still haven't been able to find the results on line so don't know how he did on Sunday. It was a very interesting experience, all in all.