Ribbon for Nadia today Not sure if she will make it into the finals. Maybe by default like last time.

Sadly I am an imitation blonde, and I mean no offense to any true blonde's.

This week is the Washington Sportsmen's Show in Puyallup. I wasn't going to enter the dogs at all, partially because of how cold it has been and partially because of money being tight. However, I got a bug due to my extreme boredom now that I am off work for the winter and Wednesday night decided to enter Nadia.

Planned it all out. Go to practice first thing Thursday morning. Was told I should be able to get in early, just tell the gate keepers(rent a cops) that I was there for Dock Dogs.

The problem with my plan was I had not checked the schedule for Waves to enter

Arrive at the Fairgrounds early as planned. Rent a cops wouldn't let me in. Mind you, I had Nadia, in her crate, on a cart, that I had pulled from across the street where we parked. There wasn't a LOT of people there. She COULD have walked!! And then I COULD have used the crate for all of our gear and made just one trip! Gate keepers tell me to go to the Gold gate for a wrist band or I will have to buy a ticket. What???

There was no way I was going to pull her all the way to another gate. STILL didn't click that I could walk her down there. Probably a good thing since the cart belongs to my son and I can't afford to replace it if it gets ripped off. So I left her there, tucked against a wall. Ran to gold gate....nothing there for me- I didn't pre register and wasn't a volunteer.

Back from the Gold Gate, I am really irritated. Begged gate keeper #1 to let me run over to the Dock to let someone know I was there. Permission granted. But I have to leave my dog there, outside where I left her the 1st time. Run to the Dock. Get a Wrist Band. Back to grab Nadia. Then out to my truck to get my bag of towels.

Check in. No waves till 6:30 pm and it was maybe noon! So I took advantage of the practice time since no body was there. Nadia jumped about 7 times. No problem! Except for my complete embarrassment

Since I paid then, I had to go back at some point to get in a wave. Decided to go today. Get down there and they had the streets all blocked off, parking was unpleasant, I had to drag the wagon longer distance, this time with my stuff in it and Nadia walking with me. Get signed up. One practice jump-she won't jump. Hmmmmm We are assigned our Group number and order. Group 3, number 7. Almost last in the wave.

Our turn comes up. Up on the Dock, in front of a HUGE crowd...get her as amped up as I knew how....run down the Dock with her....NO jump

Still holding my head high oblivious to all those who were laughing at the big bad GSD that won't jump. Back in line. Our 2nd turn comes up...run down the Dock with her.....she hesitates...and Jumps! About 6 feet! She got a 4th place {Participation} Ribbon for the Novice Division.

There is supposed to be Big Air Finals at the end of the Event. I read the schedule a dozen times. Could have sworn it said EV and SR Finals but not Big Air(BA) Finally I saw it for what it was and Finals are tomorrow at 2pm. So, I very well might have to go fight the traffic and crowds again. For some reason this has just struck me as very unorganized even when I acknowledge all of my blonde moments here. One thing that totally bothered me was I found out just before I left today that we could drive in the back gate and right into the area by the dock. I would not have needed the wagon/cart. I would have had a MUCH easier time all the way around. But no one bothered to tell me until I was leaving.

Of course no pics because every one I know is either still there or too tired to upload pics, IF the took any of Nadia, which I kinda doubt. It was really hectic and crazy all day there. I should have stuck to my plans to not enter at all. And meanwhile poor Zisso, he had to stay home alone all day(4 hours) but he will get his turn soon!

If you made it to the end of this, Thank you for reading it all and I am sorry for writing a book!

Awww, Bev - what a day! But you did it and so did Nadia!!! Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and all that stuff..., but oh, how much you learned about what you can do! Huge congrats to you today!!! Nadia will have her big day tomorrow and you'll be that much more prepared to focus solely on her!

Oh my it sounds like quite the adventure! But it sounds like you hung in and despite all did well. Congrats!

Tomorrow will be better.

LOL, wow, sounds... fun?? I love dock diving! And I know the feeling of having the big bad GSD who won't jump. Glad she finally went in

Thanks for understanding my friends! I think I am going to pass on Finals. Between the two trips, the dragging a heavy wagon of towels and dealing with Nadia not jumping, trip #3 isn't sounding very appealing. Will see how I feel in the morning but right now, it's looking like a day to chill at home.

Oh Bev, that sounds like a mission of a day! Good girl Nadia to finally jump

Thank you Bianca

We are definitely staying home today. My back hurts from dragging the wagon behind me, loading that heavy thing into my truck, unloading it, etc. Parking so far away was annoying and made it more work than fun. I was so not impressed with the event layout. Organization was not their forte' on this one.

When I went to check on Nadia's distance for her one jump that counted and they gave me the Ribbon, I never did get her distance, and later on FB someone asked why we already got the Ribbon and aren't they for Finals. Turns out they are "Participation Ribbons" which is a good thing because I would not be happy if I had to go give it back today.

Eventually I have to take the wagon back to my son-45 minutes away. I should have stuck with my original plan and not entered this Event at all. .

Oh, maybe not - I think you are probably much smarter now than you were before at selecting just what events you'll do in the future, so all was not lost. Too bad you don't feel all that well though...

If it makes you feel any better, I have the big, bad GSD that not only goes crazy and runs down the platform like he's *going* to jump far, but literally belly flops off the platform. The only reason I keep jumping him is that the crowds laugh so hard, he's like the comic relief and then I don't feel pressure to be really competitive. Nikon's the "bwahaha" dog, not the "whoa" dog!