Debby on…Hip Hip Hooray!

I’m stoked because a problem I’ve been working on, off and on for months, has been resolved. I figured it out! Yippee!! The blog is now seamlessly, elegantly, integrated into the FFT website. Note the links across the top of What’s New…that is, if you’re viewing the blog through the website. Doesn’t look like much to be excited about. The links are on nearly every page, right? Nope, not until today. I’ve been trying to get the navigation bar seen at the top of most pages within the website integrated into the blog (which is hosted by a different server). Finally! I succeeded!

Before I celebrate for days upon days 🙂 I will need your feedback. If you come across any broken links, please let me know. If you’ve been viewing the blog through wordpress.com, rather than through a link on the FFT website, please consider doing it now through the website. It will make navigation much easier, should you want to go to another area.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Now…on to figuring out how all posters can have an avatar. The photo of me you see, in the left hand column, whenever I comment on a post is my avatar. It would be fun to have one for all contributors, rather than that gray and white silhouette.

The obvious…or not

Sometimes, I forget how much I know about dogs, dog shows and animal husbandry. What’s obvious to me, isn’t necessarily obvious to others.

There is an AKC process called a Bench Show Committee. Every all-breed show has one. The officers of every specialty club are the Bench Show Committee. The Bench Show Committee addresses complaints (bad sportsmanship, foul language, threatening a judge, etc.) with a trial at the show. The verdict is sent to AKC. AKC determines the punishment, which usually includes a fine and suspension of AKC privileges anywhere from 3 months to lifetime. Five years is the average.

In an effort to address the issue of misuse of motels/hotels by exhibitors, AKC encourages the use of the Bench Show Committee to discipline those exhibitors. The all-breed clubs encourage local motel/hotel owners to contact them if abuse of the motel/hotel facility occurs. This is actually a ‘selling’ point when local clubs are soliciting motels/hotels and rates for show exhibitors and includes barking dogs, not cleaning up after your dog/s and destruction within a room. The trial happens at the dog show. If you’re found guilty by the Bench Show Committee, co-owners are effected as well regardless of if the co-owner/s was at the show.  AKC privileges include being able to breed, register and show dogs as well as judge dogs.

Here’s what is printed in nearly every premium list (the information packet on a dog show), usually on the page listing the motels/hotels.

Debby on…just for fun.

In April 2006 Rick and I, along with Rick’s sister Chris and her husband Herman, took a long weekend trip to San Francisco and spent a day in wine country. Kaz’s very small vineyard was recommended to us by one of the big vineyards. I ended up joining his wine club. This tasty treat was in the last shipment I received. Hey, Kathy, notice the name of the wine…Deevah! I’ll have to share Diva Deva on the blog!

Family Owned and Run
Winemaker/Owner Richard Kasmier, a.k.a. Kaz, is the only full-time employee of himself. He’s supported by his lovely-artistic-creative wife, Sandi, and their two kids, Ryan and Kristin. The Kaz family creates all of their own labels, ads and even this website. Our humble winery/tasting room, in Kenwood, is typically staffed by one of the Kaz’s.

Visit Kaz.

Debby on…cool wine glasses

For those of you not necessarily interested in the epigenome…or those of you that prefer your science and genetics with a little wine..

My niece Em gave me these easily transportable wine glasses. Look how the base screws off and fits inside the glass. Some connoisseurs might protest the plastic, but hey! They’re far classier than the paper cups we use at the dog shows! Em surely has a set in her camping gear.