05/24/2026
Ramblings
So lots of stuff going on but don't necessarily have an overall theme this week but maybe that is the overall theme, random thoughts and ramblings.
I listened to a podcast this week (don't ever remember what it was) but it hit on something that really stuck with me about my friend group.
I don't have a lot of "close friends" which I have always been fine with. I know a lot of people and chat with them as I see them, however I don't have a lot that I am in regular contact with. I have found that in the last few years that group has shrunk even further.
My thought is that I'm anti-social, which to an extent I am, but what the podcast shed some light on why this group has shrunk over the last couple of years. What they talked about is when you get older you simply value your peace and protect it far more than you did in the past. As I look back on things I do find that to be really true.
I have moved away from those that want to talk politics or yammer on for hours about things or only call when they have a computer or dog training problem. I no longer watch the news because there is exactly zero percent of any of it you can trust. Even sports which I have always loved I have cut way back on because when you are from Minnesota you know that they are only here to crush your soul. It is especially no fun when the teams are not even trying to get better. I lived through the Twins of the late 60's and early 70's so I have seen this show before.
I have a lot of acquaintances including many people that stop by here to read articles on Sundays. Most everyone are very nice people and all in on things written here. I do really appreciate everyone that stops by and leaves a comment.
All of this stuff sounds pretty depressing but it really isn't. Not sure I have enjoyed life outside of work more than recently. Getting to build models, do research, play with the dogs and have my family is really pretty awesome.
On Big Bang Theory Leonard talks about how he takes Sheldon to the park every other week to throw the ball for him so he gets his "outside time". Thor is taking care of that for me. I go to lessons with him every couple of weeks and interact with our trainer. We generally have a good time and if she's good I bring Penny (her favorite) to visit her and help clean out the treats from under the shelving in one of the rings. We have also known each other for way too many years now so we understand each other (my goal of not having a perfect dog in the ring, just a dog that is a good dog).
This week a memory popped up on Facebook for Murphy who 10 years ago finished his Utility Dog Title (higher level obedience title) and I realized just how long I have been taking dogs to our trainer and just how many times she talked me out of quitting which gives me hope that human interact actually is beneficial.
The memory also brought up other funny Murphy stories. We were in the ring together for the first time in Novice class.
That day the judge was wearing a long flowing and very colorful summer dress. Apparently Murphy had never seen a long dress like this and as the judge walked over to us to start our heeling Murphy stuck his nose under her dress. Fortunately she thought it was funny but for me it was a tough start having to apologize to the judge before we even started.
Another Murphy story when he was in Open. We were competing at the club we trained at. We got to the dumbbell retrieve on flat (no obstacles, just a straight line to the dumbbell) and Murphy decided it wasn't challenging enough. When I sent him to retrieve the judge was standing in front of the jump for the next exercise. I threw and he went off to the left right toward the judge and stopped. He stood and stared at her until she moved. She stepped to the side and he proceeded to jump over the jump, run over and grab the dumbbell and then head back to the jump. The judge was standing on the other side and this time did not move. Murphy stood and staired at her for what seemed like minutes but it was probably 10 seconds. He then kind of huffed derisively and trotted around the jump and back to me. As I took the dumbbell he looked over his shoulder as if to say "she was in the way" and then we finished the exercise.
Final Murphy story. We were at a trial on the second day of a back to back trial weekend. Murphy was having a good day in the Utility ring. We were about halfway through the event. Amy had come along to watch and was hiding behind the other two token guys who compete in obedience. We got to the part that we call articles or scent discrimination. Basically you have a total of eight leather and metal dumbbells. They take six of them and put them out in a random order and you put your scent on whichever one the judge hands you (you have to do one of each).
This event always gave us fits. We started our training over in this event SO many times. Murphy would be locked in on it and a week later acted like he had never seen the exercise before. Well on this day we got a combo platter of Murphy.
First we set out the leather article. Judge took it, walked it out to the pile (Murphy was looking over his shoulder so I am pretty sure he was cheating) and then told me to "send your dog". We turned together and I sent him out find the dumbbell. He searched around two or three times and then confidently picked up the correct article and started to trot back. The judge gave me a thumbs up and just then it happened, Murphy dropped the dumbbell turned around and went back to search again.
There was an audible gasp from people that were watching, I don't remember what I was thinking because I am pretty sure my heart stopped beating. After two more rounds Murphy simply jogged over to the dumbbell that he had dropped, picked it up and continued to me to finish the exercise. I swear I hear him say "psych". We then prepped for the second article which he went straight out, picked up and brought back without issue.
On all three occasions Murphy qualified but it was rarely without just a little bit of drama!
Murphy was a very special boy and a good partner. He always worked really hard at whatever we did. If the field her ran like crazy, he loved hunting and finding birds. In the ring he liked being the center of attention. He was a very simple boy however. He was not blessed with deep thought, only a really good work ethic. No dog we have owned has ever tried harder to understand what we wanted from him. Also no dog was nearly as charming to judges who judged him. He was indeed a very good boy and a good friend to me.
While I have to protect my peace I also have to remember the four leggers around me. They lead to some very not peaceful moments but they have also introduced us to many people who have become friends.
I hope you have peace in your life this week!
-Dave
[Today's photo is of Murphy]