I am happy to have from Facebook a photograph of Belisarius Fiona. She is a littermate to Lucy, making her a Blyss Majenkir Mikhailya grand-daughter, too.
A Quiet Winter at Blyss; Until Westminster!
I cannot seem to overcome my negativity about being alone in the heart of winter and so I feel no need to write about it in my blog. We are all well at last. Jelly had a serious injury last October that kept her in pain until well into January. I am so grateful all of her problems appear to have dissipated. Now I have to work harder on mine.
Now, it is only mid-February. So much snow is still expected to fall. A kind neighbor snow-blowed my driveway last week when we had a large snow-fall. I do not seem to be able to shovel anymore. My body tells me, “No”. I listen. My mind tells me things, too, and although I do not know what to make of them, I listen. They are not good. But not only do I listen, I believe.
But all is well with Tresor and Jelly now. I have fun with them, and I can truly say they are my only joy. I live alone now, friendless, and as they say, even when I meet someone, “The Song Remains The Same” by Led Leppelin, or like the B side of a 45 with a bad needle stuck in a groove.
This week was the 141st Westminster KC Dog Show. Again, for the second year in row, Lucy, my Blyss Kennels’ “Mikhailya’s” grand-daughter, won Best of Breed. Sadly, she did not win the Group. She was robbed by Norwegian Elkhound handled by a very old, frail woman with a strong presence in past Hound Group rings whom the Judge acknowledged. Lucy was given a Group Four instead. My son and I were there in person Tuesday night to see the Sporting Group, Herding Group and Terrier Group judging, and Best in Show.
Somehow, we got over that Lucy was not there and had lot of fun. I got to stay overnight in his new apartment in the East Village. It was a happy and fun occasion. Then, Wednesday I had to take a taxi to Penn Station to catch a NJ Transit train that would take me home to the Summit, NJ station. A girl-friend picked me up. We had lunch in Summit and fantasized we were on the Upper East Side instead.
I don’t know how any of this has happened to me. Why am I here in such a lonely place, I ask myself? I am beginning to believe true happiness is not meant for me in this world. When my borzoi both pass away, I will a have to reevaluate what I am doing. But for now, living with perfect love, borzoi love, this is as happy as it is going to get. For now, they can make me smile.
Still January at Blyss Kennels; the day of the new President
If there was a day to be glued to the television, this was that day. For it was the historic transition of power from one administration to another, and in this case the two could not be more disparate. Instead, I could not sleep last night and was up too late to rise early enough to see it from the beginning. I was indifferent at best and found it to be just another big news day for television, even if it was one with more pomp and circumstance than usual. I can only pray for the best possible outcome by the newcomer to politics. I am sure it is not as easy as his predecessor made it look. And he did that part very well, indeed.
Here at Blyss Kennels, it is still winter although we have had some warmer days. We have even had everything from a blizzard like snow storm that mandated me shoveling the driveway myself and cleaning snow off my car, with the assistance of Jelly watching on. No sooner did it melt did, the temperatures rose to sixty just a few days later, and then I did not know what to wear. That day dawned bright and clear. It brought its own special brand of joy. For, we were visited by a very gracious gentleman, N34, whom I have known about six moths. He recently bought a borzoi bitch from my very own breeder and mentor herself, N5. His borzoi’s name is Blondie. The question of the day was how my Tresor would behave toward her, another dog in his home. I am proud to say he was a perfect gentleman and Blondie was treated like the borzoi royalty she was. A wonderful day was enjoyed by all. There is no word to described how happy his visit made me. I’ve harbored a serious crush on him for about six months.
I was careful to play it very cool, just being friendly. Seeing him in my own house was very overwhelming, to say the least. I went into “hostess” mode and just tried to relax. I cannot imagine what he thought of me. He seemed to smile a lot though, and Blondie seemed relaxed and happy, too. We had a nice lunch that I prepared, and he seemed to appreciate all of my efforts on his behalf. I could not get over that he was really here. To make his trip a bit more worthwhile, I drove him to the Watchung Reservation’s main parking area known as The Loop, and we walked along the paved pedestrian walkways, in the area of the new Science Nature Museum, and the road that leads to the Scouting Field where the dogs all run off lead. I told him there was much, much more to see but it would have to wait for another time.
My sister has taken steps to grow closer to me recently. She has had reason to be very afraid for her health and I was helpful to her in getting through it. I appreciate the improvement of our relationship enormously. After the lonely place I have been since the separation from a friend with whom I had been close for three years this is appreciated. A difficult recovery from my broken shoulder in May only underscored how isolated I was. It was, however, a catalyst for change. I never would have undertaken the separation from that man or met N34 if that event had not happened. As horrible as my accident was, it was a wake up call to make something better of the rest of my life, rather than wallowing in misery. It’s nice to know there have been some good outcomes from it.
The borzoi, Lucy, the grand-daughter of our Blyss Mikhailya, continues to be shown in the south, after being shown at the AKC National dog show in Orlando in December, which she did not win. She is still in the country though and in a discussion with a reliable source, I have learned she is entered in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show coming up on February 13 – 14, 2017. She will also be entered in the Borzoi Club of America’s National Specialty Show in Hunt Valley MD on May 12 – 20, 2017. I plan to see the borzoi judged at Westminter on Monday, February 13, and will be in the stands on Tuesday night, Febryary 14, 2017 as well for Best in Show with my son and daughter-in-law. It will be a wonderful experience to be there in person, since it is a show I have watched annually on television my entire life. It is my prediction that she will continue to do well.
I think I will chose to believe that at this very early part of 2017, with a new President, new friendships, and a new and different kind of relationship with my sister, I will count my blessings and be optimistic for the future. I wish everyone well and may everyone’s efforts, from the personal to the national level, result in a successful outcome. As recently as late October, Jelly suffered severe injuries to her neck and legs but I am pleased to report they have all healed nicely. Even Tresor is doing well being Tresor, even better than expected. He was so gracious during Blondie’s visit to Blyss you would never believe he ever had a bad day.