!

You know, I was just sitting here minding my own business, and I just got ambushed.

Working away on the computer, when I hear pffffffssssstttt, from behind me. Hmm, that sounds like a fa...........

Oh

My

God

That odor should be qualified as a weapon of mass destruction. Hell, even the cats left the room. I followed their lead.

Putrid, vile, just nasty. Not fit for human nor beast.

And Mir was quite proud of himself. How can he just LAY there? I swear, the paint is now peeling off the walls. I think I need a new mattress. And he just lays there looking at me, as if to say.....what smell?

My nose hairs are burning.

Vehicular conspiracy

My modes of transportation are attempting to break me. Not funny.

The Astro (aka "Little Pig") needs a new starter and battery. It sounds pathetic when I start it. It also needs an oil change and tune up. $$

The Dodge 350 (aka "Hog") needs upper and lower balljoints on both sides. And I think the sway bar bushings are also shot. An oil change and tune up are needed here as well. $$$

The Ford work truck (aka "Asshole truck") needs an alternator, oil change and two u-joints. The alternator is the fly in the ointment. Seems it's not the normal alternator found on this truck. This is because the truck is a custom build with a utility bed and lift gate. Since we can't find it, it will have to be sent off for a rebuild. The u-joints won't be a party either, I will replace all of them while the drive shaft is on the ground. Major $$$$$ on this one.

Thankfully I have a very talented and not so expensive mechanic. Looks like I will be seeing a good bit of him for the next few weeks.

Decidedly un-funny.

The next few weeks are going to be nuts, and a rant

The schedule is full to overflowing with doggie stuff. Next weekend I head out to Louisiana to judge an AKC trial. I LOVE going to this trial, the food there is just totally over the top. Of course, I will get to see several good friends as well, and there are always good running dogs there. Unfortunately, none of them will be mine, since the two opens I wanted to take just came in season.

The clock is ticking on the NLCC, it will be here before you know it. My entries are in. I had to cut way down on the number of dogs I wanted to take. I initially sent in three entries, with the intention of sending in two more, but that just is not going to happen. Things are breaking here. Things that cost money to get fixed. So three dogs it is.

The other weekends I will be out in New Mexico doing something the dogs really love. Right up until the end of February.

It looks like work is taking an upswing. I am mighty happy for that, believe me. Despite what our great leader says, the economy is NOT recovering, it's getting worse. More folks out of work every day, and now we have the thinly veiled bailout of the health insurance industry, in the name of "health care reform". Sorry, but the gubment has no business requiring folks to purchase something from a private industry. They can KMA, because I will NOT do it. Thankfully Gov. Perry has stated that he intends to invoke states rights if it comes to it. I haven't much cared for him up to this point, but if he does as he says, I will most certainly change my way of thinking. The health insurance industry is already making a mint, and you are only fooling yourself if you think yomama's plan is going to be affordable. Hasn't he already gotten us into enough debt with bailouts and other stupid ideas? I am just about tired of this regime thinking that throwing money at problems will solve them, particularly when they are spending money they are not entitled to............MINE.

I can't believe that the majority of this country wants to live in a nanny state. What in the world has happened here?

AT&T and Apple both suck

They are playing the blame game. Most of the time I have no service and a shitload of dropped calls.

Of course, AT&T says it must be the iPhone. The Apple folks say that it must be AT&T. No one wants to take responsibility.

Something is going to give on Monday. As far as I am concerned, AT&T has broken the contract. They are not providing the service I am paying for. Either they figure out what in the hell is going on, or I am walking away from them.

The ball is going to be in their court. Let's see how they like to play my way, because I am sick of doing it their way.

I am rightly tired of this.

Attaboy

I gotta hand it to Porter Cable tools. I have always used their tools and found them to be dependable and long lasting. Until now. The charger for my year-old cordless drill died today. Just a *pop* and it was game over. Needless to say, I was unhappy.

So I called Porter Cable, and just like that, I was happy again. They are sending me a shiny new charger to replace the one that died. And at no cost to me.

I still say that Porter Cable tools are some of the best out there. Almost every power tool and pneumatic nailer on the truck is Porter Cable. I say almost because I do own an ancient Paslode roofing stapler. It refuses to die, but when it does, guess what brand it will be replaced with.

There will be yet another black and gray tool in my truck.

Hey

Be sure to check out this post on the Zoiboyz blog for updates on pups from both the Kazan/Sara litters and the Rodeo Legends (Ambassador x Phoenix). Tom has all the bases covered, so no need for me to repeat it all again.

In other news, Colleen reports that Baron (Flagg x Phoenix) has gotten his SC. He's a super nice runner, with three majors and a single in limited running. He has certainly grown up to be a handsome fellow.

We are gearing up for time in New Mexico, and the NLCC is right around the corner as well. I have decided to hold off on getting JC's on Spirit and Jack, and just get their QC's after the first of the year, since I probably won't be running them before then anyway.

Cuda, Van Geaux and BeBe have appointments in New Mexico all the way through till the end of February. They are going to see Mr. Jack.

Because of this, you won't see me on the lure coursing field very much. Most of the trials I am going to will be where I am judging. The economy is hurting everyone, so I am going to concentrate on what I (and the dogs) love most. None of my current runners have anything to prove anyway, and there's jacks to be chased.

And coyotes. Can't forget the coyotes.

Yap dogs

No, not lap dogs, yap dogs. 19 of the little shits. Chihuahua's to be exact. Did I mention there were 19 of them? Unfortunately for me, they were ALL present at my last job site. They barked when I came in, then fell silent......until I turned to leave, then they all barked again. And if that wasn't bad enough, they barked at me while I was under the house. Mind you, they were not under there with me, they were barking at the floor above me. The racket was muted a bit, but still plenty loud enough to be irritating.

And it woke up the skunk that was living under the house. Let's just say it got a bit exciting for a minute or two as the striped beastie stomped his feet at me in warning.

No fears Mr. Stink, I come in peace, just fixing water lines here, no need to be alarmed. Needless to say, I got REAL still and tried to not even breathe. He finally decided that I wasn't all that interesting and went back to his den. And I got the hell OUT of there.

Of course, I have to go back, because now they have decided to replace the sewer lines.

I see a live trap in my near future. Somehow I don't think the skunk would be quite as amiable when I fire up the grinder under the house to cut out the old cast iron drains.

Time to evict his ass.