Monday Night Dog Show

What do two kid-less people do for fun on a Monday night?

Why - they watch the 131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! (Or some American Kennel Club Event!)

What else?

I never thought I would sit and watch "doggie tv" with Nathaniel, but here I am. I think that's how life is in general, though: one unexpected event leads to another... one opportunity forsaken in lieu of a completely different path. And voila - you find yourself exhausted, sitting on the futon, your husband asleep in the bed, your cat curled up by your side.

Watching The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The show itself is pretty interesting. I am always amazed at how much dogs resemble their owner/handlers. Is the same true with cats? Or hamsters? Birds? (Oh God, I hope not, lest I should resemble my 18.2 pound House Monster. How would YOU like to resemble the House Monster?!? Didn't think so!)

"There goes the Corgie - short, stout, big dog in a small packages. The same could be said for the handler, a lively gentlemen, short on the stature but muscular and fierce..."

And...

"Behold the Smooth Collie - short haired, nice expression, bright eyes, smooth coat. Ditto for the owner...."

You get the drift.

Another thing about these doggie shows, is the manner in which the dogs AND the people walk. Or trot... Or canter? What's the word - glide? Who knows. Whatever they're doing, they look as though they're making their way in one continuous fluid motion across the floor. (Just like what I'm not doing in the pool. I've got some work to do in that department).

And for a good reason too: the last thing you need is a weeny dog getting yanked around by some over-zealous handler, bounding along next to the dog, jerking on the leash. The dog and handler run together, as one. I'm sure that lots of time is spent schooling the handlers AND the dogs on how to run. (Hhhmmmm.... kind of like technique work and form work while running...)

But the end result is spectacular, even if the handlers appear to be flat footed. They match their dogs stride-for-stride, trotting from one end of the carpet to the other (and back). One thing's for sure: they look as though they could balance a full tray of chrystal on their heads.

And the dogs look pretty spiffy too.

The announcers for the show - which is aired live from Madison Square Garden on CNBC - include Lester Holt and some other guy whose voice I don't quite recognize. I wonder if they ever imagined that they would broadcast Live! from a show featuring our four legged friends...

But that's one of the neatest things in life. The adventure, the suspense, the different roads we venture down. We don't always know the end, don't always know where our choices will take us - but we continue on. We venture foward, set out on our journey.

Just like these puppies (okay - they're not all puppies. But doggies. But they're puppies to me!) - are doing their dog-show thing. We're all doing this life-thing.

And before you know it, you might just end up, exhausted on the futon, husband asleep in the bed, and a little grey kitty (er, Fat Grey Cat as Lelia would sing), snoring soundly away.

Last year at this time, I could have never imagined myself at this point: training for my first Ironman. I am so excited, can hardly contain my enthusiasm. Yes I'm tired, and yes I can feel the effects - but it's worth it. I'm working towards my goals, reaching towards my dreams, so here I am. Last year, I could have never comprehended this... never even imagined that I would be training my heart out for my race 2008 season. Yet here I am.

Where will you be next year?

Where do you want to be?

I don't have the answers. It's up to you. However, as the Westminster Dog Show is an annual event, it'll probably be on for next year around this time... What will you be doing?