The princess has landed......

hmmm....thats right. I was so tired the other night I only went into half of the sight seeing the team has done. On Friday we went down to Dallas and went to the book depository 6th floor meuseum where JFK was assasinated. There is even a big X in the middle of the road where he was hit and it was very educational. We then went to a glass blown exhibit in the botanic gardens by Chulay ( I think it was called). Was much nicer than it sounds and My photos wont be uploaded until I get back. So fast forward to Sat night. About 9 pm a car arrived carrying a very special princess on board called Raya. Funny you know as you try out for the team, go through the selection process and then it dawns on you. Out there Somewhere is a little dog with my name on it that I have no idea of who it is, and they have no idea what an important part of my life they will play. That little dog for me turned out to be a little silver Poodle called Raya - who I got to meet on Sat night. I have to say, she is very striking to look at and has the most insightful eyes. Turns out Miss Raya is from Germany and had a personality much bigger than her size. That was evident with the walks down the hall way last night where she decided that she knew exactly where she wanted to go and really -my imput was not required as we were going raya's way. She is staying with me the entire time thats to her wonderful owner who saw the need to ensure we had a long time to get to know each other during that week. I have to say, that it is a brilliant thing to happen as I am really seeing into this huge personality in this tiny body. I guess the first sign of what I will refer to as "raya's way" was when I woke up and found a poodle in my arms. We both slept right through ( she had an 11 hour car trip to get to us and I was up since 4am as I could not sleep the night before) until 8.30 am. We went out to the toilet and apparently the grass at the hotel - as neat as it is, is not to her liking so we actually dont want to walk on there unless we absolutly have to. Then I had to rush down to breakfast so I put her in her crate and headed out the door. Well I got about 2 doors down until you heard this screaming as if she was beign murdered. Now usually I would say deal with it, but in a hotel of 180 rooms, I thought I had better go back and address her. I walked into the room to see a very happy tail wagging pup bowing down saying "I dont think so lady" I am comign to. Raya came to breakfast and thankfully Billie ( another team member took her and put Raya in her room with Rayas brother ( so to speak) called Sonic. So there ends my peaceful breakfasts. We then headed up to the training grounds which was an hour and a half away. Well that is how long its suppose to take, not the 4 hours it took us to get home from there the day before when a truck took out a road bridge. It was hot, and I got to run her in a few sequences which she did well at. her mum was there and she kept running to her but I was not concerned with that at all as today was more about getting help from Suzzane and finding out cues, and distance rather than try to run her for speed and accuracy. I did have some great work from her before her mum arrived and with the indoor airconditioned stadium and her mum not around we should have a great time together. Tomorow we are training at an indoor training center which will be great and much better than the heat today ( about 93). Raya can cope with the heat but for me its a little hot. Anyway, its 10.30 pm and we get to sleep in tomorrow and that is a good thing as we are both very tired and as I type this sitting on an office chair, I am unable to sit back as I have a tiny silver back pillow that has actully taken up the whole seat and is snoring. So its really like sitting on a massage pillow that vibrates with each breath. So in a nut shell, I had spent many many months wondering what do was going to be a part of this chapter of my life and I am wrapped and thrilled with the dog that the dog god sent me. I am not excited, I am not nervous - to word it perfectly - I am content. This is Natalie and raya signing off looking forward to our big adventure together and are ready for what ever will be thrown at us.