I've got a secret

Hey...*psst*...come here...I want to whisper something to you...I've started dating somebody...*giggle*...

That is why I've not kept up with the diary or the emails or updating the website. I'm working two jobs right now too. Velvet, Rosie, and the puppies are still getting all the same individualized attention, I'm just not taking the time to write about it. For some reason I'd rather sit here and IM with someone instead of describe the puppy poo. Rick is dating someone else too. We had lunch today and compared notes. Last weekend he came over to do laundry so he'd have something clean to wear on his date. I helped him decide what to wear. Today I called him in a near panic to ask him how to cook something (he is a fabulous cook), and he not only told me exactly how to do it, he even gave me a couple obscure ingredients. My mom thinks I'm living in a sitcom and my older daughter thinks she is going to be scarred for life. Rick and I are completely certain we will not be getting back together.

Life is grand.

A day off

Whew, that was rough working two whole days in a row. Today I moved the puppies to a whelping box in the utility room. They are just starting to play and are incredibly cute.

Bad Mommy Award

Today was supposed to be my day off from work. After all, I had to work one whole day after being off only 3 days. They needed me to go in today to do rounds with the doctor. I thought it would only take maybe three hours. Man, I was there all day. I kept getting side tracked and helped with other stuff. I loved it, the day sure went by fast. But...(never begin a sentence with the word "but")...I lost track of time and totally forgot I promised Jill I'd pick her up right after school so she wouldn't have to go to after-school. At 3:00 the school called to say she was waiting for me. I wanted to crawl under a rock. I promised her I'd be there. She does love going to after school and will usually cry if she doesn't get to go, so I thought it was special that she wanted to come home early today...and then I wasn't even there.

Velvet went with me to work today. She spent much of the time sleeping by my feet while I worked on the charts. She is getting more bold though and is starting to wonder around going to see all the people who love her.

Back to reality

Man I did not want to come home. I'm such a responsible adult, so I did. I arrived back to my house around midnight. I had to be up and at the med center for a physical for my new job bright and early at 8:00 this morning, ugh. After that, Velvet went to work. Velvet was so glad to go to work and see everybody.

This is the second post for the day

This could also be titled "Another reason why I don't want to be in the ILA (or ALAA or whatever they are called today)".
This morning the breeders all got together for brunch. I sat at a table with about 7 or 8 others. One of them turned out to be ALAA's treasurer. (The ILA is now called the ALAA) He was saying he didn't know why the ALAA didn't pay for every body's brunch since they have about $30,000.00 just sitting there. I asked him what he was going to do about the us being overcharged by the ALAA for last's night's dinner and sessions. He didn't know what I was talking about. I told him but I don't think he believed me until I showed him on Helene's Blackberry. Even then he has to look it up on his. Oh, I supposed I should tell you what I'm talking about. Before the convention, we had to go to the ALAA website and prepay for the lunch, dinner, and sessions. Dinner was $30, the 3 dinner sessions were $10 each. That is $30 + $10 + $10 + $10 for a total of $65.00. Oh wait, that is not right...that is $60.00. The ALAA charged us $65 online. We couldn't change the amount. Anyway, after I finally convinced him, know what he...the treasurer of the ALAA...said about it? "Not my problem" (uh dude, you are the treasurer, yes it is your problem) He said he didn't have anything to do with what was on the website. He just took in the money. I tried to say "but you are the treasurer-" he cut me off and said he just takes in the money. Then he said he is not going to cut 100 $5 checks. I tried talking to him but he just cut me off and said "If five dollars is going to brake you, Jane..." and he started reaching for his wallet. He was visibly upset. This just really really bugs the crap out of me. No, it isn't the $5 that bugs me, it is how this was handled. I'm not the one who made the mistake. I am simply the customer who pointed it out, yet he was upset and rude with me. When he found out the customers (that is what we are to the ALAA) were overcharged, as the treasurer, that absolutely is his problem and if it means he has to cut checks for everybody, than that is what he needs to so. Guess he just doesn't want to be bothered. No wonder the ALAA has $30,000.00 sitting around. Thank you ALAA for reinforcing that I do not want to be a member. I took and extra T-shirt. The treasurer said they are $5. Now we are even. Now what about everybody else who was overcharged?

After brunch, Renee, Helene and I went back to our room(s) and packed up. We checked out then went to the Lazy River Man, I did not want to leave. Alas, the time did arrive that we had to leave and go back home.

This was yesterdayHolly, Helene, Me, Renee

Next year's convention will be in Texas. I am trying to get Helene and Renee to help me put something together for the spring. I'd love to have a convention that is not tied to one of the organizations, and have it be mostly hanging out.

I can't sleep

Here is it 1:57 am (again) and I can't sleep. Helene brought her laptop and that is what I'm using right now. I wish I could check my email, that is driving me nuts. I'm not sure how to check it anyplace but on my own computer. I've decided I Have to get a Blackberry. Not the fruit, the little hand held email-checker-device-thingie. Helene and Renee were both sitting in the fascinating seminars checking their emails while I was left to have to actually pay attention to what was going on. I wanted to slap some sense in to some of the people there. Oh my gosh, they were asking questions that the speaker had just answered, and/or kept asking the same questions or hounding on the same topic. I wanted to tell them to just shut up so we can go out and enjoy the warm Florida sun.

So here it is, the middle of the night and I can't sleep. I feel wired like I had half a pot of coffee right before going to bed. If I were home I'd be checking my email, reading the Doodle forums, grooming a dog, or doing dishes. Maybe I'll go to bed and just enjoy not having to do work. After all, that was the point of my coming here. The seminars were just an added bonus (sort of).

More elbow rubbing

I am having so much fun. It is great meeting the other breeders in person. I spend so much time on the breeders forums and emailing back and forth with other breeders that I feel like I know many of these people already. We had a yummy lunch and some seminars this afternoon. Once again Helene and I skipped out early and waited for Renee to hurry and come back. Once she Finally got back (oops, we had the car and she ended up having to walk - sorry Renee), we went to the Lazy River. Renee wouldn't get in! Can you believe that? We have been talking about our fabulous Lazy River Experience for a year, and she wouldn't even get in today. At least Helene joined me. It was wonderful. The water was perfect, like bathtub temperature. I managed to avoid having to go under the waterfalls right up to the end. I lost my grip on side and got caught in the current and went right under the waterfall. I'm nearly sure I heard Holly (of Four Paws) behind me laughing at me. Speaking of Holly, she brought her kids! Can you believe that? What kind of mother is she bringing her kids to sunny Florida and taking them to Disney World and MGM and all those other places? For some strange reason she wasn't able to find any other breeders who would share an apartment with her. * Attention Bryony * in case you are reading this and wondering why that breeder brought her kids and I wouldn't bring you - Holly's kids work hard helping her. They actually do the following: scoop poop, feed the dogs, groom the dogs, take pictures as needed, mend fences, train the dogs, and do chore *without whining or coaxing* every single day.

It is so nice here. I think I'll just stay here. Why do I live in Indiana when there are nice warm-all-the-time places to live?

Doodle Breeders convention 2007

I'm in Florida now. Ha Ha Ha ha ha. I'm at a Doodle Breeders convention. There are about twice the number of many breeders here this year as last year. The weather is perfect and I'm having a great time. I'm rooming with Renee of Yesteryear Acres (my Lazy River Rafting Buddy from last year), and Helene of Westwood Labradoodles (Bear's breeder). We are sharing a 3 bedroom apartment at the Reunion Resort. It is so nice. There are no kids, no dogs, no husbands, no work...just sun and peace and quiet. I don't think I'll ever go back home.

Helene and I are rebels already. We were supposed to have some sort of dinner event this evening. The 3 of us (Renee, Helene, and I) went and mingled and talked to everybody. That was a blast! I loved seeing everybody in person. It was fascinating seeing who comes across as snobs in person. Anyway, after 45 minutes no one had so much as taken our drink order yet. I was tired and hungry and ready to be done rubbing elbows with the highbrows, and suggested to those two that we leave and go to McDonalds. Renee wanted to stay and Peggy (of Seaspray Labradoodles) offered to give her ride back to the room when they were done. So Helene and I skipped out, went to McDonalds (our combined total came to $11), the grocery store (we have a full kitchen), and the liquor store), then went back to the apartment and hung out and waited for Renee to come back and report everything we missed. Turns out we missed a yummy $45 each steak dinner, and some not nice comments from snobby holier-than-thou breeders. Did you know there are some breeders who breed only Australian Multigen Labradoodles who think only they could possibly be Premium breeders and those who breed the early gens are low-lives not worthy of sharing their air space? O.k., perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but some of them are rude about it for real. It shows on some of their websites. On the other side of that, there are some F1 breeders who are totally about the hybrid vigor and think those who breed beyond F1 are doing the world a terrible injustice. There were some F1 breeders here (Renee breeds F1 and beyond), but none of them are snobs. I would absolutely loooove to tell you who the rude ones were tonight, but that wouldn't be professional of me so I won't.