Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday. I'm at the age where the day is more about celebrating with loved ones than receiving presents. Good thing too, because nine years ago I got the best birthday present ever --

Logan!

 

 

I had only been working at the county animal shelter for a few weeks when this beautiful German shepherd came in. One of the animal control officers had found him running at large. The dog was dirty and skinny, but had personality to spare. Surprisingly nobody came to claim him. When his hold was up  -- sometime around my birthday -- I brought him home and named him Logan for very nerdy reasons. We had seven great years together. (You can read the rest of his story here.)

I'm running out to have a birthday lunch with friends. What are you doing on this Wordless Wednesday? Why not hop around and see what others are sharing today? TTFN, -- K

 

Star Wars Dog Toys

Petco has more Star Wars dog toys. I couldn't resist. What do you expect from a woman who names her dog "Jedi Mind Trick"? I was able to show some restraint and only walked out with a 12" storm trooper squeaky toy. (Seriously, you'd be impressed if you saw what I passed up.) What do you think? -- K

Sepia Snoozing

Three days of dog shows can take it's toll on dogs and handlers alike, especially when you're driving to and from the site everyday. I'm glad it's over. It's taken a good week for us to unpack and unwind. We spent this weekend doing a lot of this:

 

We sat in the bleachers between shows and Jedi actually took a nap resting his head on the bench. Unfortunately he woke up when Hubby tried to take the picture. I wish I could sleep like that.

It's Sepia Saturday! Hop around and see what others are up to today. -- K

  

Pet Snack Launcher

We won a couple gift baskets at the Match last week. Inside one was a Pet Snack Launcher. WHAT A BUST! You load small treats into the clear bubble, pull back the launch leaver and have to wiggle the thing just right so that a treat falls into place. (Be careful, the treats can't be too big and you must get them in one at a time.) Then you hit the button. The thing will make a loud, distracting click -- whether or not the treat launches is a crap shoot. Even if it does launch it may fly across the room or it might just tumble out with all the grace of a drunk chick exiting a cab. The dogs were unimpressed. Even my gadget-loving husband was bored after 3 minutes. Seriously, this isn't any better than the Beggin' Party Popper. My advice, save your money and go old school using the underhand toss/catch command combo. -- K

Be Worthy

This monument is outside the Mexico Café in my hometown of San Bernardino, California. If you love dogs and good Mexican food, why not stop by?

It's Wordless Wednesday (not that you can tell from my post!). Hop around and see what others have to share today. -- K

The Good, The Bad, The Goodies!

What a weekend. I am so glad it's over! I think I bit off more than I could chew with both working the shows and participating in the shows. Sometimes I forget that I'm not in my twenties anymore.

 

I was sore after our Specialty Shows on Friday. I handed Jedi off to a teenager, Sweetie, for the Match on Saturday. A Match is a practice show (no points) for newer dogs and handlers. Jedi likes Sweetie and she said she could use the practice. She also handled Jedi's mother, Zasha, and half brother, Trump. Sweetie was switching dogs ringside like a pro. So how did they do? Jedi and Sweetie took first place in the class, then took best dog, THEN took best in match! (Zasha took best bitch.) The judge said some very favorable things about Jedi too. I was very proud. And then a bit sad. Maybe all the second place ribbons are saying "It's the handler, not the dog." I need to step up my game if I'm going to be an owner/handler.

Look at those Easter colors. How fitting. Sorry about the picture, Jedi stomped on the ribbons.

Something came up and Jedi didn't take the Temperament Test like I had wanted. I'm a bit disappointed. His mother, brothers and sister all took it and passed. I'm sure he would have passed as well. Hopefully we'll have another chance to take it in the future.

We had a gift basket raffle at the end of the day and I won big. LOOK!

This one is huge and really heavy. It's full of toys and treats and more. And I got this one too:

You can't see it, but there is a treat launcher in the back, along with a couple tug toys and more treats. The dogs are going to be so happy.

Sunday was cold and damp. (Surprise! The weatherman lied.) Our club hosted the Futurity/Maturity shows. This is a special match just for breeders. The way I understand it, breeders nominate their litters before the puppies are whelped (born). The young dogs are shown months later and the money from the nomination fees is split among the winners. I'm pretty sure there's more to it, but I can't find a better explanation anywhere.

Jedi stayed home on Sunday while Hubby and I worked the shows and then broke down the site. Thankfully clean-up went faster than I had expected because we were all tired. Is it wrong to say that I'm glad the shows are over? -- K

P.S. One final picture. Madam President had a photographer ringside taking candid shots. Here's one of me and Jedi. Just ignore random smoking dude.

25 Years, 47 Dead, and 1 Personal Miracle

I know this is Kelley's Dog Blog, and I always share fun dog-related stuff, especially on Saturdays. But today is a special day and I'm doing something different. Please bear with me. You see, 25 years ago today something horrible happened -- and I missed it. If it weren't for a random decision made by someone I never met my life would have been forever changed. At the time I was annoyed, but now I am eternally grateful. Here's the story of my personal miracle.

Me and my M-14 on patrol in Italy, 1988

In late 1988 I was in the US Navy. I was on the fast track in the male-dominated field of weapons technology. In December of that year my naval career was derailed by a surprise pregnancy. At the same time my new husband (also a sailor) was offered his dream job: Turret Two Center Gun Gun Captain of the USS Iowa. The Navy was not friendly to dual-military families in the 80s so we had a hard decision to make: one of us had to quit to raise that baby.

In January of 1989 I returned to civilian life and started packing up our household to make the move from Mayport, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia. At the last minute my husband received a call from a Senior Chief Reginald Ziegler. The senior chief wanted Hubby to attend a school in San Diego, California for three months before reporting to the Iowa. This required us to put all our stuff in storage and drive across country (and back) in a Camaro as my belly got larger and larger. Hubby was to join the ship in June, a week before it left port for a 6-month Mediterranean cruise. This new plan left me to find a place to live and unpack, alone and 8 months pregnant. Yeah, I grumbled. In fact, I bitched at all the way to California.

The USS Iowa in all her glory

But then tragedy struck. On April 19, 1989, there was explosion on the USS Iowa inside the center gun of turret two. 47 people died, including Senior Chief Ziegler and the Turret Two Center Gun Gun Captain. Had it not been for that last minute change I would have been a 20 year old unemployed, pregnant widow.

The story doesn't end there! When the Iowa pulled back into Norfolk in December of 1989 families of the 47 victims visited the ship and laid a wreath upon the turret. Iowa sailors then gave tours to various family members. Can you guess who Hubby was assigned to escort? Mrs. Ziegler. (I'm not making this up!) She shared that she had MS and was having a hard time with her husband's death. Hubby shared the story of how her husband's arbitrary decision saved his life, and then showed her a picture of our newborn son. They both cried. 



I have a large, framed copy of this on my office
wall. The Captain gave it to my husband when
the ship was decommissioned.

Several weeks later, Hubby was assigned to discreetly remove and dispose of the wreath. He did, but not before pocketing one of the iridescent plastic stars. It's chipped and it's ugly, yet I hang it on my Christmas tree every year in memory of the Iowa 47.

And on this day every year I say a prayer for the families, with an extra one for Mrs. Ziegler. The accident was pre-internet. I have no idea where she is or what became of her. If I did, I would tell her how sorry I am for her loss and how grateful I am for her husband. I would tell her that Hubby and I have been happily married for over 25 years and have two wonderful children. Her husband saved me from the unimaginable grief she had to go through. I feel so blessed; and at the same time I feel so guilty. I hope that Mrs. Ziegler eventually found peace and happiness.

I rarely tell this story because I can't share it without sobbing uncontrollably. Fortunately, I can cry and type at the same time. Thank you for reading this to the end. If you were touched please do a couple things for me:

1. Say a prayer for the families of the Iowa 47. I know it's been a quarter century since the accident, but I doubt that the pain of their losses will ever completely go away.
2. Share this post. I would love nothing more than for it to reach the Ziegler family, wherever they are. I don't wish contact, but I would like them to know how indebted my family is to their husband/father/son/brother. He will always hold a special place in our hearts. I hope that brings them a small amount comfort.

OK, enough tears. Fun doggie stuff returns tomorrow. Promise. -- K

P.S. It's Sepia Saturday. Hop around and see what stuff others are sharing today!