Canine Musical Freestyle

Verdell and I are taking a Canine Musical Freestyle course at Teamworks Dog Training Center.

"Canine Freestyle is a choreographed performance organized with music, illustrating the training and joyful relationship of a dog and handler team. Freestyle is an excellent discipline to illustrate the conformation and movement of the dog. The reach, drive and beauty of an athletic, trained dog moving to music can take one’s breath away."
(From Canine Freestyle Federation)

We will be posting our own video as soon as we have learned enough moves to fill 90 seconds.

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorites.












Enjoy!

A Long Break

After 5 weeks of teaching Intermediate Micro in summer school, I needed a break!!

I will begin updating you soon, but here is a sneak peak:

1. We got a big screen TV (waiting for HDTV though)


2. Henry is in Distraction Proofing Dog Classes


3. Verdell is in Canine Musical Freestyle Classes


4. We are starting to volunteer at the SPCA (no, we are not adopting another dog)

5. Pete and I played our first mixed doubles match in 5 years

Best Dessert in Raleigh

We have found the best restaurant for dessert in Raleigh: Hayes Barton Pharmacy.

This 50's themed, close-knit eatery oozes retro charm. Walking on a checkerboard floor, we were greeted by a black and white TV playing the Andy Griffith show. The cherry red walls and bar stools sealed the deal: this place has got spunk! The people are friendly and they serve a full menu of items, including a terrific meatloaf.

After dinner, you must visit the cake case: the best display of high calorie eating around.

We have been twice and ordered the Heath Bar cake and the Double Pecan Chocolate pie.
Both were delicious.

The Heath Bar cake has chocolate pudding layers with a terrific chocolate frosting. Don't order two slices! Four people could easily munch on one slice. Pete and I took home a good portion of it. Believe me, they are generous with their slices.

The owner said they sell about 180 slices of dessert each week! I believe it.

Tonight we ordered a slice of Double Pecan Chocolate pie. Delectable to its very core. Be sure to heat it and get a scoop of ice cream on the side. The inside of it tastes like the best brownie you've ever had with surprising spring and moisture. An absolute winner.

The diner is small though. It is probably better to go on a weeknight to really soak up the atmosphere.

Easy Walk Harness Review

We have a 7 month old puppy named Henry. He is 35 pounds and has recently become harder to control on leash. While we are working on our loose leash walking, it is difficult to get him the exercise he needs without him pulling and tugging on the leash.

Verdell has a Gentle Leader Head Halter. This product worked wonders with him as he stopped pulling 5 seconds after he had it on. The Vet made sure it properly fit him. A big downside of this is that people think he has a muzzle on and give us strange (and sometimes mean) looks. I tell people, he can still bite you if he wants.

So I was wandering in PetSmart and saw a new product (to me): Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness.

From the site:

"Unlike traditional collars, the Gentle Leader® Easy Walk™ Harness never causes coughing, gagging, or choking because the chest strap rests low across the breastbone, not on the delicate tracheal area.
Why it works:

Traditional harnesses can actually encourage dogs to pull harder because of the “opposition reflex.” That’s the reflex that makes sled dogs do what they do. The Gentle Leader® Easy Walk™ Harness redirects the pressure through the front leash attachment. And, our patent pending martingale closure tightens slightly across the chest and shoulder blades when your dog attempts to pull forward.

Quality features:

We included a quick snap buckle on both the shoulder and belly straps to make it easier to get the harness on and off your dog.
Our soft-but-strong nylon and 4 adjustment points provide maximum comfort and a reliable fit.

The complementary color of the belly strap makes it easier to identify each strap, while keeping the overall look pleasantly color-coordinated. You can quickly see which strap goes over the shoulders, and which goes under the belly."

This produce is a must-have for pullers. Henry stopped pulling immediately. If he tried to pull, a very gentle tug on the leash brought him right back to my side. It has really made my life easier in the 24 hours I have had it.

In fact, tonight I was able to take Verdell and Henry on a walk together! At my own pace and with no pulling. I am very impressed with this product and highly recommend it.

More Hair Pics

At first I wasn't completely sold on the short hair, but now I am really starting to get comfortable with it.

Today I put in John Frieda Beach Blonde Ocean Wave Spray.

From the site:

"A blend of seawater and light conditioning oils designed to give your hair that fresh from the beach look. Volume, curls, and a shimmery shine are only a spritz away. Perfect for blondes and all other shades of hair."

Pete is experimenting with black and white shots.

Get 6 Percent Interest from FNBO Direct!!!

From Clark Howard.com/shownotes/2007/05/09

"Over the past two years, online bank accounts have become the new phenomenon in the banking world. It’s the modern banking equivalent of the credit union advantages Clark often mentions. And the latest deal is unbelievable! FNBO Direct is now offering 6 percent on FDIC-insured savings accounts. It stands for the First National Bank of Omaha and it’s available through September. That is the highest interest rate on a savings account Clark knows of at the moment. FNBO is an existing bricks and mortar bank, and the “direct” entity is an offshoot. But the deals offered at the “direct” versions of the banks are not offered at the traditional banks. That’s because the company doesn’t have to pay for the branches. Don’t miss out!"

The rate is valid until 9/08/2007. Before the 6 percent offering, their rate was 5.25 APY. This is better than my 4.5% APY money market account at a credit union.

It only takes $1 to open an account.

You don't need to change banks and "may keep your existing accounts at other financial institutions. You can link up to three external accounts to your FNBO Direct Online Savings Account. You may transfer money between those external "linked accounts" and your FNBO Direct Online Savings Account. The FNBO Direct Online Savings Account is a supplementary account that enables you to receive the benefit of a high yield."

Your money is insured and you have 24/7 access to it.

This is easy to do and you can enjoy 6% interest until 9/07. Take advanatage of it!

The following is a link to FNBO Direct's Frequently Asked Questions:

https://www.fnbodirect.com/01d/html/en/personal/faqs/index.html

Fracture: Does Pete Look Like Ryan Gosling?

We saw Fracture last night. It's a great movie with a better than average plot and above average cast. Anthony Hopkins does a great job and the movie keeps a good pace. Well worth the price of admission. I don't want to spoil the plot, so I won't go into details. It's almost 2 hours, so be prepared.

Does Pete Look Like Ryan Gosling?


Pete



Gosling

UVA Rays and European Sunscreens

Everyone knows how important it is to wear sunscreen. What everyone does not know is that U.S. labels are misleading and while you think you are being protected, you are not.

Here's why. U.S. sunscreen labels only have UVB ratings. SPF refers to the amount of UVB rays it is blocking. SPF mostly refers to the probability you will get sunburned. But there is no scale for UVA rays. Therefore you could be wearing SPF 40 sunscreen and only blocking out half of the UVA rays.

Why is this important?

UVA rays cause wrinkles and sun spots. These are the rays that will make you look 70 when you are 50. There are many suncreeens that are broad-spectrum, meaning that they protect against UVA and UVB rays, but U.S. lables give no indication of the level or wavelengths of UVA protection.

European manufactuers in particular use the PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) rating system to measure how well the suncreen protects you from UVA light.

Since UVA light is what causes you to tan, these are the rays we definitely need to protect ourselves from. To recap, U.S. sunscreens do not offer a reliable or obvious measure of UVA blockage.

European sunscreen makers do using the PPD rating.

Below are European sunscreens and their PPD ratings. If you are extremely sun-sensitive with issues such as freckling or melasma, the higher the PPD the better. If you are worried about these issues, you should be looking at a PPD of 15 or higher.

Bioderma Photoderm AKN Spray SPF 30/PPD 26
Bioderma Photoderm Max Fluide SPF 50+/PPD 35
Avene Emulsion Ultra PRotection for Sensitive Skin SPF 20/PPD 10
Bioderma Photoderm MAx Tinted Cream PPD 41
Vichy Capital Soleil Kids Multi-Surface Mild PPD 22
La Roche Posay Anthelios XL sunscreen PPD 30 (this one has been reported to be effective at combating freckles and melasma).

All of these can be ordered off internet sites and even ebay. They will be more expensive, but they are also doing more to protect your skin. What you pay now will decrease dermatologist visits later.

I noticed that Neutrogena advertises UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70 as the "latest breakthrough in UV protection...offer the best UVA/UVB protection there is." They use PFA, a UVA protection factor, and measure is at 23.3 I don't know what this means, but it seems worth researching.

Check out makeup alley and type in the screenname sunscreen to get more information.

Save face and use broad spectrum sunscreen.

Verdell Arm Wrestles

Shake on it.

My First Poll

For the second time in my life, I have short hair.

What do you think?

Please vote in the poll!!!