My weekend.

Sitting, playing, and shooting.

While working at a kid and baby expo, I met some trainers from Sit Means Sit dog training. They recently came over to our house for a free demonstration. A couple of days later we signed up. The first day of training we learned four commands. Come, off, quiet, and go play. "Go play" means that they can do what they want. The whole lesson lated just over an hour and was more teaching us than the dogs. It has only been a couple of days, but I feel like we are all much happier. I am no longer worried about either dog running off while not on a leash. Lando doesn't sleep on the couch whenever he chooses. This is good because Ben and Courtenay might be here soon and I wasn't sure where they would sleep with Lando owning the futon.

So next week the trainer comes again. Our trainer likes to fly fish and ride bikes. I think that he is a good match for us. He has group lessons at the park, but for now he comes to our house whenever we want a dog training session. His dogs are very impressive. Walking backwards, barking on command, staying on the grass, not getting distracted by other dogs, and millions of other tricks are all in his repertoire. I had the camera, but was too enthralled and focused to remember that I could use it.

Today I was at the Tanner Gun Show. Yee-haw. It was busier than I thought that it would be. There was a lot of camouflage, flannel, and Carhartts. In fact I saw a coupla' dozen fellers that I thought was Larry the Cable Guy. Maybe he will be there tomorrow. I did get a nice camo hat for myself. I didn't see who was selling the anti-Obama t-shirts, but apparently nobody at a gun show likes our Commander in Chief.

USAT Hall of Fame!

Last weekend, in the middle of the Denver Golf Expo, we were invited to the Hall of Fame dinner for USA Triathlon. Thanks, Rudy Project. It was impressive to see the original race directors and athletes like Barb Lindquist and Pauly Newby-Fraser. I was surprised by the amount of religious rhetoric at the dinner (by the speakers) and I was surprised that the athletes weren't competing for themselves. They claimed to be doing it for God, because that is what He wants them to do. That seems like a good way to get out of feeling selfish. Too many families suffer when you have to train 40 hours a week. Either way, I felt very lucky to be there. It isn't too often that we get to have dinner at a place as fancy as the Broadmoor Hotel.

We have been swimming twice a week at the YMCA. They finally approved out financial assistance so we can afford to work out there. There is a masters class that they call something else. Tonight I was the only person to show up. I swam about 3,000 yards (meters?) tonight with the main set being 20X50's. The first 5 on 1 minute, the middle 10 on 50 seconds, and the last 5 on 1 a minute. It was hard, but made the laps pass by quickly.
I have also been watching the Endurance Films while riding my bike. It is a fun, sweaty, hour long workout that is always entertaining when it is snowing outside. Friday, we have our first lesson with Sit Means Sit dog training. They came to our house to show us a free demonstration and it was very impressive. We spent a few days with them previously and they have been wonderful. They even have payment plans! I will try to post updates as we progress.

Awwww.

Our little guy followed Mojdeh up a slide at the park yesterday. He started going down the slide and then get scared (brave?) and jumped off. He broke a toe. The vet said that it was not a weight bearing toe, so it could have been worse. She also said that labs usually have some sort of injury while growing up. We go back this week to change the bandage, but he will be out of the rough play for about 4 weeks. That will be tough for the puppy.

1,000 words.

Today while snowboarding, we shared a gondola with these people. Now, I have learned from Loren that my blog would be much more exciting if I were constantly secretly taking pictures of people different from myself. This first thing that caught my attention as we were standing in line was this guy's jeans. The beanie with the baseball cap on top was a nice touch as well. I assumed that he was from Texas since all "those" people wear jeans and Starter jackets when they come to Colorado. Turns out they were form Louisiana. The nice girl beside him was dating/married to the guy sitting beside me (not in the picture). Can you see "HATE" tattooed on her knuckles? Remind me not to go to Louisiana. Her boyfriend beside me looked to be about 18. We were discussing skiing and things and I asked if he had been to Arapahoe Basin for the 4th of July. He mentioned that he was in Iraq last year. So he must be 19. "HATE" girl and him are thinking about coming out this year, but they need to find someone to watch their kids. I wonder if the guy in jeans is one of their offspring?

I will not be returning to Keystone any time soon.

The pack is growing.

The pack of dogs is growing and I am more determined than ever to be a good pack leader. If this doesn't make sense, you can check out one of my heroes, Cesar Millan. Of course you can just watch this South Park episode about him as well. The small white dog shaped animal is Mojdeh's Westie, Topper.

I come up with creative ways to walk the dogs. Holding them both seems too easy and when they try to run in different directions, this method is much more fun for me.

Today, we went snowboarding at Keystone. It was a Saturday. That is something that I wish to never repeat again. And the snow hasn't been very good. I am so spoiled. After a few runs, we took the dogs for a walk near Frisco. Beside the awesome bike path (that people cross country ski on now) was an igloo. I have never been to Alaska, but I imagine that this is what they all live in. It was made os snow that had been cut into blocks. I mean the thing was legit.

 We even brought the dogs inside, but they didn't seem to be very impressed. In fact, I think Lando was miserable because he caught a cold at the kennel when we went to New York.

 The Alaskan igloo.

 Living the dream, one day at a time.

I think that Topper might be gay. He holds up his paw and it looks like a limp wrist. Now I know that having a limp wrist doesn't automatically make you homosexual, but stereotypes come from somewhere!