:Fractals…
Posted: October 29, 2008 Filed under: Apso Aficionados | Tags: Debby Rothman 2 CommentsThis has nothing to do with dogs…well, maybe a little something if you go to the smallest detail, if you really stretch. Fractals. Last night Nova aired Fractals: Hunting the Hidden Dimension.
Here’s the description taken from the PBS website:
What do movie special effects, the stock market, and heart attacks have in common? They are connected by a revolutionary new branch of math called fractals, which changed the way we see the world and opened up a vast new territory to scientific analysis and understanding. Meet the mathematicians who developed fractals from a mere curiosity to an approach that touches nearly every branch of understanding, including the fate of our universe.
The DVD will be released the beginning of December and can be ordered through the link above.
The term, the geometric term was coined in 1975…which left me out of that learning loop! I graduated from high school in 1971 and from vet tech school in 1974. When Nate was in grade school I do remember him drawing and coloring fractals. I probably thought it was an art assignment, not a math assignment. Don’t laugh too hard. Look at these images and you can understand my confusion.
And the most famous fractal of all, the Mandelbrot set…
Wikipedia has great information about fractals, including lots of moving graphics. Have fun exploring!
:Blessing of Chandra’s puppies
Posted: October 28, 2008 Filed under: Apso Aficionados 1 CommentI met my dear friend Bobbie a number of years ago. Having purchased her first Lhasa Apso, she subscribed to the (now defunct) Lhasa Apso Reporter. Seeing my ad, she contacted me about grooming Bailey. Later my Antha, an FFT Apso, went to live with Bobbie and Bailey. I continued to groom Bailey and Antha for their entire lives. Always supportive of my endeavors, here she is a the film premier of Ancient Treasure…
Bailey left this world before Antha. After Antha left, at first Bobbie thought she didn’t want anymore dogs. She didn’t want her dog/s to outlive her. Some time later, not a long time, she contacted me and told me, “honey, life isn’t worth living without a dog.” And so, Garma entered her world with the agreement Garma would need to participate in continuing the Gompa lineage. Bobbie raised Garma’s puppies, Chandra, Arsha and Vajra. Chandra remained with her, again with the understanding that Chandra would participate. And, she did producing Kipu, Karma, Skyob and Akasa.
For years and years – longer than I’ve known her – Bobbie’s spritual practice has centered around the Sacred Mountain Ashram, established in 1974 just outside Boulder. A description reads:
In the majestic Colorado Rockies at 9,000 feet, Sacred Mountain Ashram, on a mountaintop with spectacular views of the Continental Divide, comprises 108 heavenly acres of evergreens and aspens, wildflowers, snow, deer and other furry and feathered brethren. Jyoti Mandir, the Temple of Light, with architecture inspired by temples of Himalaya, offers a sanctuary of peace and upliftment for Satsang, prayer and meditation. Annapurna, a two-story geodesic dome, houses a spacious dining room, community kitchen, an extensive spiritual library and publications sales.
Residences include Jyoti Dham (Gurudeva’s dwelling), Shakti Dham (women’s monastery), and Sadhana (men’s monastery). Cottages and rooms are available for guest and Retreat accommodations primarily in spring and summer. A quarter-mile away, Sevalaya (Center of Service), on 15 acres of aspen-bordered meadows and pines has three residential buildings and guest accommodations (all guest stays are by prior arrangement). Sacred Mountain Ashram is a pilgrimage of heavenly beauty, silence and deep meditation, filled with the Presence of our Gurudeva.
In August prior to bringing the puppies to me, Bobbie took them to the ashram for a blessing.
:Tibet Kitchen
Posted: October 27, 2008 Filed under: Apso Aficionados Leave a commentOne of Kathy’s questions last Friday for Tenzin and Paldin was which, if any, of the restaurants serving food from the Himalayas serves Tibetan food. Most serve food from India or Nepal. There is only one that serves real Tibetan food, Tibet Kitchen in Boulder.
The restaurant is located at Arapahoe and Folsom; phone number 303.440.0882. Serving lunch, dinner, momos and buttered tea, visit the website for more info.
:Weekend Update Photo Essay…
Posted: October 26, 2008 Filed under: FFT Lhasa Apsos | Tags: Debby Rothman, Julie Timbers 1 CommentIt’s been a weekend, a long weekend, with lots to share.
Yesterday Shellie’s Iris, affectionately known as Irith, finished her Championship in grand style, winning Best of Breed for her third major, now officially known as Ch. FFT She Tsabo For Your Eyes Only (I think that’s her registered name…).
Shellie wonder what number that was for FFT. Both Julie and I think she’s 101. (I really need to spend some time on other parts of the website!) Funny thing, last week when Ginny and Christi were up at the shop with Ethan and Ruby, Ginny mentioned wanting Ethan to be our 100th Champion. I didn’t realize others felt a vested interest in the ‘count’. For several years, realizing the possibility was real, 100 had been a personal goal. Zena’s title was the magic # 100. That she was handled to her Championship completely by Tammy was the icing on the cake for me, representing not only our breeding but the community we’re so lucky to have.
Ginny’s Ethan is looking awesome, having matured into a dog that reminds so much of our roots. I’d told her 101 was even better than 100, as we laughed about Cruella De Ville and 101 Dalmatians. Well, Ginny if 101 is better than 100, then 102 is better than 101. You and Ethan go in Pueblo!!
I mentioned a progesterone test, but didn’t write about breeding Ponya last month. I didn’t want to jinx it. Although she hadn’t conceived prior, she represents many things to me, in spite of her age I felt a need to keep her in Gompa Plan B. She was a 4-month puppy when the Gompa group was delivered to my doorstep August 31, 2001. Not sure of the approach I was going to take with introducing the dogs to western breeders, one of the avenues I explored was exhibiting them at either UKC shows or IABCA shows. The later shows are formatted similar to European shows, where the exhibitor gets a written critique from each judge. It’s never been my intention to make the Gompas into show dogs, but written critiques from outside sources wouldn’t be a bad thing, so Ponya, Vickie and I trapsed off to an IABCA show one March weekend several years ago.
Okay. There, Vickie. I finally announced her Championship in public! I shouldn’t write this because it’s going to come back to haunt me…but Ponya lived a normal kennel life, in the girl group, allowed to romp with all the dogs. Another sidebar I considered was showing exhibitors that, given time, dogs with really good adult coat can live like dogs not show pieces. It is an issue I still struggle with; each situation, each dog is different. Ideally I prefer my show dogs to run with their packs, but that’s not always realistic. Thateus ran with the clan. Edie had to be kept separate, the other dogs thought she was a living pig’s ear.
Ponya was ultrasounded Thursday. Three puppies!!!
It’s another long story…I’ll spare the details. A chain of events starting with Bobbie (Garma and Chandra’s Bobbie) frequenting a local Farmer’s Market resulted in me reconnecting with Paldin, meeting her cousin Tenzin. Kathy joined the three of us for lunch here in the snowy beyonds Friday.
Over the weekend Karma’s new people, Rod and Olga, made the trek up from Albuquerque to pick him up. I’d given Rod the choice of driving up here or meeting him for the hand-off Saturday morning on our way to watch Nate coach. It feels a bit clandestine, a bit like sitting in the grocery parking lot selling kittens from a box, but meet, we did, in a Park-n-Ride parking lot.
After spending a few minutes…very few…neither Rick nor I miss the smell of chlorine, the hot humid environment…watching several races, seeing Nate on deck coaching at the DU Invite…
..we headed down South Broadway looking for GB Fish and Chips. When I saw this grooming shop, I couldn’t resist the photo op!
You’ll never see that in my grooming shop window! Just like you’ll never see a political sign of any kind in my grooming shop window. (Go Obama!!!) It’s a mid-west tradition, a rather wise one, not to mix religion or politics with family or business.
Somehow I managed to squeeze in a long nap late yesterday afternoon, along with sleeping almost 12 hours both Friday and Saturday night. Not sure if I’m fighting off the beginnings of a cold or if it’s sheer exhaustion. Nate, Kelly and Em are coming up this afternoon, so I’d better pick my hiney off this chair and get on with the day.
:Winding down…sent by Vickie
Posted: October 25, 2008 Filed under: Apso Aficionados Leave a commentVickie and Melissa have been in Boston this past week, participating in the American Lhasa Apso Club’s National Specialty week. Thanks to Vickie for sharing the following…
Kunza at FleetFire Timbers 