Tukwila & Monroe, WA - March 28-29

Oh my, crazy weekend I'd planned. Friday in Tukwila, Saturday in Monroe, Sunday in Tukwila, all the while having a house guest. Friday was fun, but I only brought two cats, Blondie and Grissom. Grissom picked up one final and Blondie picked up three. Steve stopped by on his way to the house to say hi to everyone. It was really nice to see him. We both went to the Monroe show together, I brought Grissom and Blondie. Sammy was entered into both shows but his tail is infected again, that boy needs to be neutered (Sammy, not Steve!) Blondie picked up some nice finals and Grissom picked up some points. I decided to skip the show on Sunday. This is something I've NEVER done before. But spending time with Steve seemed so much more important. Who knew I'd ever say THAT about a man...who knew?

Steve and I dropped by the show on our way up to Idaho Falls to check out his place. It was nice to see everyone again and see the smiles on friends faces when they realized that Steve and I were together. We seem to have at least 50 friends in common.

Boise, ID - March 20-21

Ok, did I say that Eugene was a long way? Boise is insanely far from home. My friend Jovannah and I set off in a rental car Friday around 3pm. We saw every type of weather we could possibly have run into, then drove into Boise around midnight. I drove most of the way. Thankfully, the rental was very comfortable. The radio sucked, and the GPS unit took us odd places, but the companionship was fun and the trip, uneventful. During the show we experienced thunder and lightening outside, but it didn't do much to affect the goings on inside. I had brought Grissom and Blondie with me. Blondie picked up 5 of 7 finals and Grissom picked up 62 points. A very successful show for both of them. Donna Bass was there with another breeder (Donelle?). They were both very nice to me and helped me with grooming and showing, great comraderie.

Saturday night found Kay, Jovannah, Phyllis and I at Joe's Crab Shack on the water. POURING down rain. We had a great time though, drinking too much, eating too much, and watching Phyllis dance on the table and spell her name with her butt. It was her birthday after all!! After dinner I met up with a cat friend at the nightclub in the hotel. We talked for about 5 hours and decided to call it our first official "date." I will see him again this weekend. I would say more but I know that lots of my cat friends read this blog and you'll just have to wait and wonder. I like him, he likes me, its a good start.

Ride home had some scary parts. Like Jovannah saying very quietly.."I don't think we should be doing 80 through the snow." The trip was a gentle reminder that if you speed, you only win about 5 to 10 minutes per hour and it really isn't worth it. I'm glad I went to the show. A successful show, a little romance, great friendship - woot!

Eugene, OR - March 14-15

Eugene is a long way, a long boring way. But add a good friend (Wendy Heidt) and the trip is a very pleasant one. My cats kicked butt!! I brought Sammy and Blondie to compete, Cassie for fun. Sammy and Blondie each picked up about 120 points each. There were many compliments from the judges and exhibitors. Lots of fun, no stress, love Eugene.

Las Vegas, NV March 7-8

In hindsight I saw this show as an experience rather than a cat show. Jazzycats cat club is awesome and I really like the members, so I try to go to their shows. This time it was in Primm, NV. Primm is about 45 minutes south west of Las Vegas in the middle of nowhere. Blondie, Cassie and I flew into Las Vegas in the evening on a crowded flight. It was such a trip to see slot machines in the airport the second I got off the plane. "Ding Ding Ding" as soon as you leave the plane! I managed to avoid the slots, got my luggage, and made my way to the Avis counter via a shuttle bus. Avis gave me a red Prius. I gave no thought to how to operate the thing, I just wanted to get out of the airport. The Las Vegas airport has to be, by far, the most crowded airport I've ever travelled to.

The Prius proved to be a challenge. I had to call my Brother In Law to find out how to start the damn thing because I was too proud to ask the attendant! The car is not one I would purchase for myself. The spedometer is at the base of the windshield and the windshield is at a sharp angle. If I sat up straight, I could not see out the windshield. Add to that it has huge blind spots on either side. Granted it felt very smoothe at 95 miles an hour down the vacant Las Vegas highway - but still...don't like it.

I spent way too much money in the casinos, nearly died from cigarette smoke inhalation and Blondie only got one final - not worth the trip, will not go again.

Photo of Blondie/Sugar Rush