Just a quick update.  I spent last weekend in Orono Maine at the sportsmen's show.  I'm still tired.  The show is a way for us (Sebasticook Chapter of NAVHDA) to raise money and membership.  It's a trade show for folks who sell goods and services to hunters and fishermen.  Shouldn't that be hunters and fishers or huntermen and fishermen?  I like hunters and fishers because it's more gender neutral.  I know it's masculine, but masculine and feminine is much less important in English than most languages.  I'm not the most PC guy in the world, but I have bought into this wherever it's not too convoluted (like writing something like he/she/it).  But I digress...

From my point-of-view, this show was disappointing.  Not that it went poorly as a show, just that I drive 300 miles (one way) and about $200 out of pocket to have fun with friends, and spent two lonely nights in my motel room, and not one meal or drink out.  Didn't even have HBO.  I did get to see folks I haven't seen since September, and I always enjoy that.  But it's the extra-curricular stuff that makes NAVHDA fun, and I fear the chapter is loosing sight of that.

I'm looking at my calendar and I'm going to be so busy with dog stuff this year.  I'm in the spring test with Diva, the Handler's Clinic, and the fall test with Dove.  Dovie is headed to Quebec for a bit of a tune up, and an attempt at that elusive Invitation.

I either really love this stuff or I'm totally crazy.  It's possible that I'm crazy for loving it.

The truck goes in the shop tomorrow.  She's getting old and tired.  1999 GMC Sierra with 160,000 registered miles.  Probably closer to 175,000 because I've run oversized tires on her most of her life.  Never had a problem with the engine, exhaust, or rust.  I've abused the hell out of this truck, and it's got some issues, but overall it's been great.  The disappointing problems I've had are with the u-joints, this will be my second set, and the straps that are supposed to hold the tailgate up.  I've had three pairs on.  This set is stainless, but they should have given them to me considering it was a bad design from the start.  I've had trouble keeping the truck lined up too.  I got 93,000 miles out of the first set of brakes, and the 4.8 liter engine is very good on gas (17-18 MPG).  I don't change the oil like I should, and never wash it.  I beat my truck all the time.  I've got a couple thousand miles on dirt roads on there, and stop and go driving about 90 minutes a day five days a week.  Anyway, my truck will have about 200,000 miles before I send it to it's next life.  That will be "sacrificial vehicle" for a teenaged driver.