Go Canada Go!

So I actually have a good excuse for not writing for a while. The Olympics has been taking up all of my time. Now, I know you are all asking, did I win Gold? Where can I find coverage of your amazing championship showing? Silly you! I know I can easily be mistaken for an Olympic athlete, and my physique rivals those fabulous Olympians, but the spotlight just isn't for me. So I leave it up to those who enjoy competing in front of the whole world, and I man my position on the comfy chair in front of the TV, cheering them on from the anonymity of my living room.

Anyways, I've been glued to the Olympic coverage for the past 2 weeks and that, combined with my already busy schedule, results in no blog posting.

The boys and I are busy busy busy! There is a BIG trial coming up in a couple of months, and I am aiming for a "Big Ribbon". The Canadian Shetland Sheepdog Association National show and trial is being held in combination with the Hub City Kennel and Obedience Club's annual show April 30 - May 2. Shelties from across the country will be gathering in Saskatoon to compete in obedience, Rally-O, conformation, and agility. Of course, I will be focusing on Rally-O, but may also dabble in a couple other venues. But details aren't nailed down yet, so I'll keep those plans secret for the moment. As of now, the boys and I are amping up the practice for Rally-O. They are already 100/100 scoring dogs, so we are now aiming at increasing the speed of execution. Fast, precise, and consistent. If I can nail those things down, then we are in a good position to take a "Big Ribbon". *fingers crossed*

Therapy dog visits are continuing as normal. Gio continues to visit his ladies twice a month, and Romeo patrols City Hospital every Monday. This year, Saskatchewan St. John Ambulance therapy dog program is focusing on child certification tests. There are two levels of tests in the therapy dog program: the base level adult certification test where dogs are tested to visit adults, and the child certification test where dogs are tested to visit pediatric wards, day care centers, schools, or anywhere with children. There are two child tests planned for Saskatoon, and two for Regina in 2010. Since I am the one doing the evaluations in Saskatoon, I can't very well test my own dogs. So the boys and I will be trucking off to Regina in a couple of months to be tested (and hopefully certified) there.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Gio has been having some more trouble with seizures. For a while, he was having one seizure about every 4 months. That is a level that I can accept. But recently he has been having one seizure every couple of weeks. I don't like that frequency, so last Friday I took him back to the vet for some blood work to see where things are at. Everything looks good, so we are just going to bump up his phenobarb levels a teeny bit and see what happens. So far so good!

And, of course, the photo project is continuing!

From last week:
Last Monday was Family Day, a random long weekend holiday that some Canadian provinces have picked up. The going theory is that it was added in the middle of February due to the increased suicide rates in that month. Regardless, it is a long weekend and I love it! Since the sun was shining brightly and the weather was actually kinda sorta warm, I took Gio to run at the park behind our house. The park was empty, so Mr. Run and Bark could run and bark to his heart's content. And that he did!

And from this week:
I have had plans now for weeks to do a particular shoot, but it keeps getting pushed to the side. I've now been lured by the sunlight two weeks in a row. Yesterday I got home from work full of plans to set up the shoot that has been backburnered for a couple of weeks, then I saw this beautiful square of bright bright sunlight on the wall and plans changed. During the winter months, it is generally pitch black when I go to work in the morning, and pitch black when I come home from work in the evening. So this sunlight on the wall when I got home from work made me very excited. First real sign of spring!

I quite like this picture. The only thing I would change would require home renovations. I wish I had a large window that would be at the right angle to catch this beam of sunlight that didn't have that extra bar down the middle. But that is a minor complaint on my part.

Lacey Brown Hairstyle

Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Lacey Brown, I love the look, soulfoul voice, she's cute and I love her hair too.
Her rendition of "What a Wonderful World" from Hollywood round was great and very endearing and what a great attitude about not getting through last year. I really liked Megan Joy (who got thru instead of her) but Megan didn't quite deliver although she was good. I'm glad Lacey was given another chance this week. Some people say her hairstyle is called "The Suspicious Duchess".

Must Watch - What A Wonderful World

Lacey Brown - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Audition

Scene Hair with Side Bangs

Scene Hair with Side Bangs

Scenesters can be seen all over the popular downtown malls and coffee joints wearing bumpy and stylish hairstyles and colorful headbands. Scene hair with side bangs covering one side of the face or slightly falling over the forehead is a little new trend among the scenesters. In fact, it was one of the most popular fad in emo boys and girls. However, scene boys and girls have also started to develop a liking for scene hair with side bangs.

Scene girls sporting scene hair with side bangs look more beautiful and hip as compared to emo girls, maybe, the scene girls know how to make their bangs and fringes more stylish and more colorful. Scene girls often try out different variations of bangs including short bangs with blunted ends and bobs with bangs, which makes it possible for them to look awesome and gorgeous. Scene hair with side bangs is more popular among scene girls and therefore, scene kids and scene boys with side bangs are less common on the streets.

Scene Hair with Side Bangs

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Razor cut scene hairstyles that were very popular in 2009 have lost its charm in the year 2010. On the fashion radar of scene hairstyles in 2010, you can notice newer trends that are very much bold catching attention of scenesters as well as other fashion forward crowds. Some of the latest scene hairstyles trends in 2010 display similarities with the growing trends of short hairstyles in the celebrity world.

Once upon a time, it was said that regardless of the season or year, scene girls hairstyles reflect the same styles and trends year over year. However, the reality is different from the rumors and speculations. That is why, don't be surprised if come across a scene girl wearing cutest medium long curly scene hairstyles with pink and chocolate colored streaks on their hair. Yes, the year 2010 is witnessing enormous changes in the world of haircuts and hairstyles fashions of scene girls as well as scene boys and scene kids.

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Scene Hairstyles Trends 2010

Don't Look at Me! ...

... I'm HIDEOUS!!

It is week 6 of our 52 Weeks for Dogs project. This was supposed to be last week's picture, but when the group challenge was introduced, this got pushed back to this week.

A couple of weeks ago, I took the boys over to a friends place for a visit. I had some business to discuss with my friend regarding an upcoming therapy dog test, and the boys needed a play date. Two birds!

All 4 dogs, my friend's two Miniature Poodles, Gina and Katie, and my two guys, are therapy dogs. Well behaved, well mannered, well trained dogs. And they all get along quite well. But, as dogs will be dogs, Gina has one rule that she insists upon. One rule that Gio was not aware of before.

DON'T STEAL MY TOY!

Gio now knows that Gina has a rule. He's a fast learner.

So, in light of Gio's new manly nose scar, I set up a photo shoot to tell the story.
The idea was to create a photo that suggests the nose scar (and the imagined emotions that might go along with that), without saying "Look! Nose scar!" So I took one of Gio's favorite tricks, "Are you sad?", and played around with the angles to give an impression of shame or embarrassment about his "horrible disfigurement".

I was quite thrilled with this week's submission because it required very little editing! I enjoy playing around with GIMP and learning all the tricks to making a photo look its best. But having taken a photo that didn't require any special touches is a pretty cool feeling! Just a slight adjustment to brightness, not even any cropping. *chuff*

And, before I sign off for today, thanks to everyone that sent good wishes to Gio after his seizure on Monday. He's feeling much better and there have been no more seizures since. He still seems a little dopey or head-shakey, but nothing has manifested from it. I'm still going to try and get him into the vet for some more blood work updates next week. Want to give it some time for his phenobarb levels to even out again, as I doped him up pretty good after the twitch on Monday.

The Emo Subculture

Emo, is a term which is given to the subculture of hardcore punk and pop, which originated from the Washington DC area, but which later spread like wildfire to the rest of the US and also to other parts of the world. Emo has since evolved into a musical and fashion experience which is embraced by quite a number of young adherents.

The word “Emo” actually originated from the term "emocore" which refers to the hardcore punk music scene which started in the mid-1980s. The term is a variation of the word "emotive hardcore", which is what the bands in the DC area sounded like. They have developed a unique punk-rock style of music, which blended the characteristics of the electric guitar with smooth sounded mellow tracks, which are typically screamed from the top of the lungs, hence the term emotive hardcore. Amongst the bands which pioneered this genre were groups such as One Last Wish, Embrace, Fire Party and Moss Icon.

The Emo subculture is also heavily influenced by the Indie scene, with the likes of people such as Fugazi heading off the first wave of Emo, with bands which included Far and Texas Is The Reason, which pumped Indie music into the Emo subculture.

The sound feels more like a chaotic blend of instruments laced with emotional singing which emanates deep inside the lungs. This attracts crowds of young people. Their chants and raves have become characteristic as far as Emo concerts are concerned. These concerts have in turn become some of the most vibrant in the entire rock industry.

The Emo culture is not all about music however. There are fashion statements and stereotypes associated with the Emo subculture which spread to other facets of culture. Black is considered the color of choice in the Emo universe and it permeates almost all aspects of the Emo dress code. The hair is typically dyed jet-black, and in some instances it is spiked and can contain other colors as well. For the ladies, black nail polish is also widely used. In the Emo world, make-up is utilized by both males and females.

There is now a wide range of products which cater to the needs of the Emo subculture. Cities such as Austin have fully embraced it and have great places which have an Emo theme such as restaurants, record stores and other joints. It is now common to even see special clothing lines, merchandise, toys and even TV programs and movies. Today, the Emo subculture has caught influences from both pop and rock and is beginning to be accepted as a lifestyle choice.

New Look

Yes, you are in the right place. Same crazy Shelties, same copious amounts of Sheltie hair.

Gio has been having trouble with seizures again (think it is time for another vet visit to check on the status of things), and last night was no exception. I was jarred awake by the sound of a Sheltie hitting the closet doors at just after midnight last night. Gio had fallen off the bed and was having a seizure on the floor. I don't know if he fell off the bed because of the seizure, or if the fall triggered the seizure. Regardless, it happened. And it took a good long time for him to settle down again. By the time he was able to lay down and go to sleep, it was nearly 5am and I had long since written off the idea of getting some shut-eye and putting in a full days work today. So, since I was awake already and Gio seemed to be settled down without too much twitching, I trudged off to work much earlier than normal, put in a couple of hours, and headed back home for a nap. Seems as if the world is trying to prevent me from sleeping though, as the phone started ringing about half hour after nap-time started. I ended up getting a couple of sleep sessions in, but now, at about 2:30 in the afternoon, I have discarded that idea as well.

Normally, I would be happy for the extra daylight time to practice some photography. But with my main subject still out of sorts mentally, I hardly think a session under the bright lights is suitable today. Hence, the change of decor around here! I had to fiddle with something, and as Life is Better With Sheltie Hair is hovering around it's year and a half mark, I figured it was time for a bit of a change.

So here it is ... enjoy!

Scene Hair Colored Highlights

Scene Hair Colored Highlights

If you want genuine scene hairstyles with true scene highlights that looks out of this world yet modern and extremely fashionable, you must try out new scene hair colors such as purple or pink. On the scene hairstyles, you should go for scene style colored highlights, maybe, multi-colored or maybe with black or blonde scene hair and with streaks of electric blue or copper or light red. Despite all the modern color trends, blonde with black underneath is supposed to be the most common scene hair colors and scene highlights.

Stark blonde with streaks of blue or pink and fringes covering your face is another commonly liked scene haircut styles. Nowadays, on the scene blogs and scene related social media platforms such as Bebo, you can find lots of tips, suggestions, ideas and the latest trends in vogue for scene girls and scene boys. Even the mainstream girls often look out Bebo for searching the latest fads in scene hair colored highlights and scene haircut styles.

Scene Hair Colored Highlights

Scene Hair Colored Highlights

Finally ...

... a blog post NOT related to the 52 Weeks for Dogs project!

It seems like the only blog-time I have allotted myself over the past few weeks is to keep you all updated on the photography project. As much fun as that is, that is not what this blog is about! It's about the crazy antics that my boys get up to.

So ... back to the crazy! And by "crazy", I really mean "your average run at the park". Sorry to get your hopes up.

The weather is beautiful here today, despite the overcast gray-ness of it all. It's warm enough to venture out to the park without worrying about frozen paws or frostbitten camera trigger-fingers.

The boys were thrilled to get to run at the park again. It's been either too cold or too hectic to get out for runs as often as they would like. And luckily for us, despite the fabulous weather, the park was pretty empty. Apart from a couple of kids tobagganing down the hill (read: small mound) and a couple more having a snowball fight in the distance, we had the whole place to ourselves. I like this park because it is usually pretty empty, and whatever kids we do happen across tend to either ignore the dogs or want to throw a ball for them. Both of which are perfectly fine with me! The park is also big enough that the barking fool (ie. Gio) can bark his fool head off all he wants, and while I am sure that some of the surrounding houses can hear him, they are far enough away that it isn't too distracting or annoying. (I hope!)

So, there was lots of running ...


And for Gio, running = barking, so there was lots of that, too ...


Then Romeo wanted to play "King of the Castle" with the snow piles, a game that Gio finds no real joy in and grudgingly tolerates ...

I was occasionally throwing snow clumps for the dogs to chase, when one magically turned into a stick!!
This resulted in more running ... and barking ...


So what, you may ask, is the eventual outcome of all this barking?

Glamorous spittle strings, that's what!

Short emo hairstyle

Short emo hairstyle like Adam Gontier.

Short Scene Haircuts For Girls

Short Scene Haircuts For Girls

You must have seen hundreds of pictures or even real guys and girls wearing medium to long straight black scene hairstyles. However, short scene haircuts for girls are relatively modern that have become popular especially during the last one year because of many reasons. Scenesters in itself is not a new thing for the Internet community but Short Haircuts for Scene Girls could be termed as the latest and newest hairstyle fashion.

Although scene culture and fashion are more prevalent in the Europe and USA but in some parts of Asia also, scene fashion and scene hairstyles are getting more and more popular. If you want to know how to wear a cute looking short spikes for scene girls, you could achieve it even by sitting at home as it is very easy and it doesn't require very hi-fi hairstyling tools and hair care products. On some of the scenesters blogs, you can find couple of tips and ideas on how to wear short scene haircuts for girls in less than five minutes.

Short Scene Haircuts For Girls

Short Scene Haircuts For Girls

Where Dogs Shouldn't Be

This week of the 52 Weeks for Dogs project included an optional challenge. The challenge: take a photo using the theme of "Places Dogs Shouldn't Be".

I initially had a totally different photo idea in mind, but when the challenge was issued, I couldn't pass it up! So my original idea got back-burnered until next week, and instead I started wracking my brain for unique ideas that play into the challenge theme.

I decided to take a little creative liberty in the process and finally settled on: Dogs should not be used in place of ...

Flower Vases
(only one flower was harmed in the making of these photos)

I liked the idea so much, that I had to take a couple more shots that included both dogs. I really liked how this one turned out, with both dogs glancing at the camera out the corner of their eye.