No One Gets All Wound About The Ides of May

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Have you noticed that? Every month has its own “Ides” yet only the Ides of March gets any attention. Even the Ides of the Year gets passed right by. I’m sure a bunch of things happened on July 2nd, but the Ides of the Year just doesn’t get any press.

This year the Ides of March found me at the Louisville Dog Show. That was fun. It wasn’t the best dog show ever, but it was pretty good none the less. The biggest problem for me was that for some reason they decided to hold the Louisville Dog Show in Louisville this year. They hold it there every year (actually twice a year, but right now I’m just talking about the one in the spring), but this year it was inconvenient for me because I actually went. This means I missed all the good dogs. All the good dogs were showing at 8:00. In the morning. A two hour-ish drive away from my beddy-bye. So you see, there was no way I was going to see the good dogs. The little Beagles? Nope. The Boxers? Uh-uh. The Brittany (which is not a spaniel, by the way)? Naw. The Jack Russells? No way there either. (Which was the biggest disappointment.) P.B.V.G.'s? Just check out the pattern here. (What’s a P.B.V.G. you ask? It’s a dog. Duh! The Petite Basset Griffon Vendéen which is smaller than the regular Basset Griffon Vendéen.) Siberian Huskies? Well, you get the picture.

But on the upside, the show went pretty much all day. And then it went on through Sunday. (It started on Thursday, so it was real long. It was a cluster show, and that’s all I’m saying about that.) So there were still plenty of other dogs to look at. And scritch on. That’s one of the best parts of a dog show, all the dogs you get to scritch on. This time around I got to scritch on this teeny tiny Pom puppy this guy was carrying around in his purse, then the next dog I scritched on was this great big Irish Wolfhound. The Irish Wolfhound was definitely not going to be carried around in a purse at any time.

My sister got a little lucky, timing-wise. Right as we got to the show, they were starting with the Italian Greyhounds. (The little freaks.) Since she already has one and may or may not be in the market for a second one (or she might get one of the full sized Greyhounds, or just stick with the one (sorta) dog for a while) she was happy to see them. Next to the stupid I.G.'s they had the Papillons so I could watch them instead. They were real cute. Then I had to find a manly-man dog to look at, like the Rottweilers or the Great Danes. Too much cute could ruin my image.

We were totally gypped though. There weren’t any Wiener Dogs showing! Not one! How can they have a dog show without Wiener Dogs? I ask ya? But the hot dogs we had for lunch we good and fresh. (It’s a tradition, we have hot dogs at dog shows.) Hey… no… naw… I’m sure one isn’t at all related to the other.

While we were eating lunch we watched the Doggie Games. They had the Agility course set up and the dogs ran through the obstacles for our amusement. Except the Border Collies. It’s no fun to watch them do the Agility course. They just do it. And you know they’re just going to do it. There’s no suspense, like when a little tiny Poodle can’t decide whether going all the way up the teeter-totter is a good idea, or the Cocker that just doesn’t “get” weaving. No, the Border Collies just zip! and they’re done. Where’s the fun in that?

Another bad thing about this weekend that isn’t even dog related was that I over-estimated the healing power of slathered unguent. My leprosy wasn’t quite cleared up for the dog show. I wasn’t like a disfigured freak walking around with a bag on my head, but I wasn’t back to my natural smooth-faced beauty either. I’m pretty much healed up now, but Saturday not so much. Curse you after-cold leprosy! Curse you!

Then when we got back from the dog show, we had pizza for dinner. All in all it was a good day.
-Rue.

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I pay attention to the Ides of January. OK, it’s only because that’s my birthday, but still …

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The Ides of March falls on my wife’s birthday. Woe is me should I ever forget that.

Et tu, Bruticia?

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No Weiner-dogs? At all? Are you sure you didn’t just miss them? They’re kinda low to the ground. And they’re shown in the hound group, which is just silly. By function they’re terriers. They ought to by in the terrier group. And border collies are machines. It’s almost scary - if they get it into their heads that they need to take over the world, I’m sure they could do it. They’re Nazi Dogs.

I have an Irish wolfhound calendar even though I don’t have and Irish wolfhound. I’m hoping maybe to score a wolfhound pup in the next couple years. I have an airedale, a doberman and a German shepherd presently. Does Casa de Day have any dogs?

StG

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If I point out that you dislexified P.B.G.V. will you hound me till I rue the day?

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Just to add to the educational value of this thread, because as a Daddy, I know you’re always alert to Teaching Opportunities [sup]TM[/sup], Rue, here’s something you may or may not have known, from this site.

And the grand tradition of hijacking Rue-threads continues. :smiley:

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I have a border collie/something (we think lab) mix and I think the machine part must be a recessive gene. She’s just a lump. Lovable and affectionate, but a lump. And a nearly bald lump right now - the groomer kinda goofed and gave her a haircut when I just wanted her bathed, but that’s another tale. Her tail is the only part that didn’t get balded.

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I had a border collie when I was a kid. That was one smart dog. When my sister was about two or so she was acting in her typical irresponsible brat fashion and started toddling out into the road. The dog sort of herded her back into the yard, and kept an eye on her all the rest of the day. Whenever my annoying little brat of a sister even looked like she was thinking about doing something stupid, that dog would save her from herself.

Best dog I ever had.

She couldn’t hunt worth spit, but she was still the best dog I ever had.

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When you fill out forms Steve, and you get to the part where it says “birthday” or “date of birth” or “the day yous was borned” are you tempted to put “the Ides of January”? I would. But this would probably come back to haunt you since everyone knows the Ides are in March.

Are you even tempted to buy your lovely wife a jeweled dagger for your anniversary lieu? You really probably shouldn’t. Forget I said anything.

Not a Wiener Dog to be seen Germain. I double checked the program and nothing. They had them on the list for Friday and Sunday, but nothing Saturday. Like I said, it’s a cluster show and they could have been holding a specialty somewhere. But I didn’t ask.

They did have a flier for a Wiener Dog and Terrier Day in a month or so. They’re gonna have races (with and without hurdles) and Go To Ground. Gotta find that flier to see where and when things are. (I think it’s in Shelbyville, so we can take the monorail.)

And currently we have two dogs around here somewhere. One is a Shetland Sheepdog with no sheep to bark at and the other is my Jack Russell Terrorist. There’s talk of acquiring a cat sometime, but I think that’s just an idle threat at this point.

It’s OK Davebear I used the French spelling of the initials. Just to seem all worldly. Also, shut up.

I did not know that Snickers. And really, there’s not much chance of me retaining that bit of information. I’m just that way.

The one thing I do remember is “Ides” is short for “Divides” (and since I’m not sure where I read that, maybe one of Cecil’s columns, maybe The Word Detective or maybe one of Joel Achenback’s “Why Things Are” columns, you don’t get a cite). So really, now that the calendar has shifted around a little and there are 31 days in March, the Ides should be the 16th. That way it really divides the month with 15 days before it and 15 days after it. Not that I’m going to lobby for the change or anything. The calendar’s goofed up enough as it is.

Did you dog tell you when your sister fell down the well Ex? Or when she got stuck under a tractor? That’s the sign of a real good dog, having them run back to June when Timmy falls into the well to get help.

I never really had that kind of dog though. My dogs were always like “Uhh… Timmy won’t be coming home tonight. He said I could have his dessert. And I’m supposed to keep his bed warm. It’s what Timmy wants.”

Good thing my name’s not Timmy.
-Rue.

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My birthday is on the Ides of July. Which per FCM’s citation is a true Ides month.

Glad you enjoyed the show, Rue. Are basenjis allowed to compete in this one. I’d pure forgot that I almost considered going down to this. We spent the perfect weather outside, doing stuff instead. Like shopping and bicycling, but not at the same time.

Oh, and now I caught my son’s cold, which he caught from your thread last week. At least it doesn’t yet appear to be the super virus, although I am scheduled to head out to that part of the world in a couple of weeks.

What should I have for lunch?

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Nah, my dog mostly did normal dog stuff, Rue. She once chased a stray horse out of my Dad’s vegetable garden, but that’s about it. She was a take-charge sort of dog who never came running to the humans for instructions or help. If she saw a doggy-type problem she just took care of it herself.

My brother and I used to play a mutant version of “hide and seek” with her. One of us would cover her eyes (she actually sat still and put up with that sort of nonsense) and the other would hide three or four of her squeaky toys. Then we’d say “get the ball,” or “get the frog” or whatever, and she’d go search. She always came back with just the toy we asked for. I’m telling you, that was one smart dog.

Smarter than my sister was, anyway.

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When I’m filling in forms that ask for my date of birth, I’m sorely tempted to leave the darn thing blank, these days …

(It is January 13th, by the way.)

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Yeah, there were a whole whack of Basenjis milling around waiting for their turn in the ring. The real nice thing about Basenjis is they don’t whack you with their tails when you walk by like, say, Labradors or Danes.

Rotties and Austrailian Shepherds don’t whack you either, but for different reasons.

You should have minestrone for lunch Shibb. With garlic breadsticks.

Ohhh… so your real birthday is just Ides-ish, huh Steve? Although it really works with Snickers’ link quote. So there’s that.

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I love dog shows! Scritching on poochies is the most wonderful thing in the world!

I have a border collie-esque pooch, and we are frequently herded. I’ve never taught her agility, but even at her advanced age (11) I’m sure she could learn. I’m always inadvertently training her to do things, like … I’m a snapper. Whenever I issue commands to either dogs or children, I’m apt to snap my fingers. Molly sits when I snap my fingers, when I want her to sit, and she is able to interpret my snap as “come here” when I want her to do that! Amazing dog, she is!

I’m having a salad for lunch. With sesame seeds I toasted myself. Ask nice and I’ll tell you how.

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Oh yeah, toasted sesame seeds are sooo hard. Tiast a bag of sesame beagels then shake the toaster. How hard is that?

May 4th there’s an all breed show right there in Lexington held at the Horse Park. Just so’s you know.

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Bagels. You put bagels in the toaster. If you try to put beagles in the toaster they bite you. They don’t like being shoved in toaster ovens either.

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Well! I will not be bestowing upon you any of my tips of culinary wisdom, though you appear to be sorely in need of them. :wink:

And, you mean there’s another event scheduled in Kentucky on The First Saturday in May? Do they expect anyone to show up? It’s nearly as important as the NCAA tournament.

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Hey, Rue…I want to go to the Rolex 3-Day Event that’s held at the Horse Park in April. I used to go to the Rolex every year. Way back when, before it got so popular, and you could actually see the jumps on the cross-country day. You should take Soupo and Catcha (and even the Little Woman could go). Pretty horses, lots of dogs, a good time had by all. The kids get to run in the grass and climb fences. You get to eat horseshow food. The trade fair’s always good, and the Pony Clubbers always have a raffle for a new saddle. You need a new saddle, don’t you? I bought a new saddle, bridle and helmet last week. Neener.

StG

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I want a puppy. Kitten, what do you think about us getting a puppy?

Kitten doesn’t seem to care. He’s asleep on one of the shelves, which is His Personal Shelf and I’m not allowed to try and store things on it.

All right, I want a big puppy then. Maybe a husky, or a Bernese mountain dog. Can you store them under a bed if most of the space is occupied by clothes and the cat?

Oh, yeah. I finally got over your cold, Rue. I was sick until Saturday.

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Are basenjis those big goofy looking dogs? Like afghans? I don’t like them, because there just ain’t a lot of room for brains in those little narrow skulls.

I want another dog. Dogs are cool, but if you try to feed them toasted sesame seeds they get all farty and stuff. It’s the fiber, I think. Maybe a German Shorthair Pointer, those are good hunting dogs. Maybe another border collie, them dogs is smart.

I probably won’t ever get another dog. It just hurts too much when you loose them.

I still haven’t got the hand of these Rue threads.