Meme, aka attempt to post again #18d

[wheeker]

FOR TODAY Saturday, July 4th, 2009

Outside my window... The day is quite warm but lovely. I can see the sun filtering through the Japanese Maple outside the front, bay window. The neighborhood is surprisingly still. Is it bad of me to be pleased that the neighborhood kids aren’t trampling my landscaped yard and leaving their toys underfoot?

I am

Comments

[icecreamemperor]

Dog show? Really?

[wheeker]

Are you:
a) filled with disbelief?
b) changing your opinion for the worse about my personality?
c) trying to decide which character from 'Best in Show' I'm most like?
d) ... something else that I can't quite ascertain from the three words and two question marks?

It's very tough for a hiding-in-my-hidey-hole introvert like myself to work up the courage to do the dog show thing, but my boy is worth the effort. If we don't have several successes in the next 3 or so months, I'll probably stop the conformation end of things. We'll still pursue lure-coursing and Rally/Obedience titles, however.

My dogs are one of the few things in this life that actually get me to drag my shy butt out into public. But don't get me started on the subjective (and often not-so-fair) judging process. That said, my boy took his first point toward a championship last weekend. Woo hoo!

TPQ

[icecreamemperor]

Mostly a), I guess? With some accidental b) implied. I suppose it just surprises me to hear that anyone I know is interested in dog shows at all, let alone participating in them.

I mean my opinions on dog shows are pretty undeveloped, except that they seem to be (even more than other social activities) pretty transparently about the egos of everyone involved. I have them grouped with beauty pageants, basically, except at least there's no children at stake.

I'm not trying to start an argument, though -- I'm curious what it is you enjoy about them.

[wheeker]

I think your undeveloped opinions about dog shows are spot on in many/most cases. I don't do it for reasons of ego -- it's not particularly a pleasure to do for a perfectionist so new to something so complex (from the showing point of view). However, I strongely support the breed. I love seeing them gathered in one place, and that's a rare thing to find elsewhere.

To be clear, I find both the arrogance and irregularity of appropriate impartiality disgusting: there are obvious examples of the dirty and egocentric nature of the pursuit anywhere you look at a show. It is only because I have found enough people who do not fit that description, who truly have a love for the breed and compete together in a good-natured, collective manner who have kept me willing to have a go a few more times.

I'd assert that you need only sit surrounded by IW's and you'd understand why I put up with the rest of it. But I'm partial. And that brings us full circle. Come meet a half dozen of my favorite hounds, and I just might make you a believer.

TPQ

[vaxhacker]

You're alive! Yay!

And you have excellent taste in games. I'm particularly fond of YDKJ, and played more games of Cosmic Wimpout as a teenager than I could ever count. :)

[wheeker]

I think (not sure) it may have been you who introduced me to the excellent-ness of YDKJ. We should have a wimp-a-thon!

TPQ

[vaxhacker]

It's quite possible. I did bring it to your house to play one night many years ago...

And I'm always up for a Wimp-a-thon. Bring it on... :)