We lost a good lady!

Yesterday, I returned home, after working a very long day, excited that I was going to start a five day Stay-Cation. I settled in for the night and checked my email, that is when I got the news. Mary Jane had passed away. Wow, I was speechless.

I met Mary Jane online at a golden retriever forum. She was our mother hen. It was the year that my mother was very ill. Mary Jane was encouraging me to go to Goldstock. At one point, I stated that I didn't think that I had the physical or emotional strength to drive the six hours by myself to get there. Mary Jane would not hear of it. I went and I am so glad I did.

I attended two more Goldstock's after that. Mary Jane was a pivotal figure for our group at all of these events. She planned and organized everything so that we all could make the most out of our time together.

There were days where you would come home from work and there would be a package from her. She was always sending gifts. She sent them when you got a new furbaby. She sent you a memorial gift when you lost one. She sent gifts when they had surgeries. She was just always thinking of others.

Mary Jane, along with Pam, was pivotal in rescuing Travis from the Amish farm. Mary Jane and her husband put up all of the money to spring him until we could fund raise to pay them back. She didn't hesitate, she new this wonderful dog deserved more. It was because of Mary Jane, Pam and Travis that we now have our Golden Friends Rescue group.

In early August, Mary Jane was having some back troubles. When she was at the beach, walking the dogs, she slipped and fell. After that, her back troubles got worse, then she started loosing feeling in her leg. She went in for tests and they found a lesion on her spine. It was cancerous. She had an operation and started receiving therapy. She kept getting worse. She never came home.

I am shocked and saddened that this all happened so fast. I am struggling with questions I have. Why? Why someone good? Why not someone evil? The hardest question I have is why is my mother still alive, when she clearly DOES NOT want to live, yet Mary Jane and my mother in law Nancy, both wanted to live so bad and they were denied. Why? I don't want my mother to die, but she clearly doesn't want to live, she is content to live in a nursing home having others do everything for her. Why?

We lost a great lady yesterday. She has touch so many lives, especially all of the animals that she helped have better lives. I thank her for Travis, he truly is a special creature that would have had a horrible life. We may have lost her, but heaven is a little brighter today. A fiery redhead has joined the ranks and she's keeping her fellow angels in line.

God Speed Mary Jane.

Goldstock 2008

We packed the car and headed to Goldstock on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend. I used my mother-in-law's station wagon. It was perfect for the boys, they had the whole back.
About three and a half ours into our nearly six hour drive, I noticed this in my rear view mirror. I had to take a photo, which I promptly texted to a few friends. Kylie asked "Where's the rowdy one?", I informed her that he was sleeping.
We arrived at camp. Everyone says that Disney World is the happiest place on Earth. I think Goldstock is. This was our cabin, we occupied the right side. Our bed was right by the window and the boys loved laying in bed, barking at everyone as they walked by.
Travis was entered in the Olympics. His first event was the Obstacle Course. He did very well, he wouldn't take three steps backward for me, but he did all the jumps, ran through the tunnel, which was constructed from a golf cart, and he did sit in a hula hoop for three seconds.
Next event, Sassy Walk. Travis HAS NO sassy walk, so we decided to help him, Auntie MJ gave all the dogs pink and purple fluffy things to wear around their neck. We borrowed Riley's and put it on Travis' nether regions. Style Points (dollars) were collected and inserted into the fluffies. He looked like a little stripper, all he needed was a pole.
Next was Righteous Retriever. This amounted to me holding Travis at one end and Pam holding his favorite ball at the other end. When they said go, I had to release Travis and he had to retrieve his item and bring it back to me. If he retrieved any other dogs item he would be DQ'd. Well he ran to Pam, got the ball, and turned around and ran back to me. A foot from me, he took off running with a group of puppies. It was mass chaos. It was a good 45 seconds before someone finally crossed the finish line. Travis came in third, earning him a bronze medal.
Finally, the swimming competition. I had taken Travis to the lake the day before and he swam for the first time. He was a natural. I even got him to jump off the dock a few times. Dock diving for puppies was not allowed this year. When it was time for Travis to swim for the Olympics, he took two steps in and just watched the other dogs.
He did have a blast swimming with his new BFF Bailey. Those two could have swam all day.

Riley, on the other hand, still is a cautious swimmer. He would only go in to his belly. You could actually see him be all like "Oh my, my belly is touching, yucky!" I would throw the ball out real far for Travis and while he was out in the water, I would throw the ball a short way in for Riley so he could retrieve it without Travis stealing it.
This is the only picture I was able to get of both of my boys in the water together!

Travis was so much fun to watch. He would get out so far, until he could barely touch, then he would take this big leap, kind of like a dolphin and then swim like crazy.
After campaigning all day for Sweetest Boy, Travis was taking a nap. Riley attended the Live Auction with me. I thought he was sound asleep under my chair, but when I put the camera down to take a photo, I found that he was checking out all the people behind us.
On the last morning, those of us still at camp had breakfast together and posed for a photo. One thing I like to do is encourage people to take a "goofy" shot. They are always so much fun. Here is ours!

On the way home, I saw this in the rear view mirror.
Once we were home and said our greetings to Daddy and Kallie, there were two golden throw rugs on the floor. They were two pooped pups!! I know they are dreaming of Goldstock 2009, I know I am!

Glow Ball!

One of the gifts that the boys received at Goldstock this year was Glow Ball from Auntie Carolyn. What a fun game that is! If you have a dog, you MUST play glow ball!

It's easy, just get yourself a glow in the dark ball and some glow necklaces, that you can find in the party section of Walmart. Activate the ball, by holding it to a bright light, then activate the necklace and put on on each dog. Then you go out in the dark and throw the ball and the necklaces allow you to see where they are. It's genius! As you can see, my boys LOVED it!!

Why?

So, it seems as though some people have a problem with the fact that Travis campaigned before he got to Goldstock. I thought the whole reason to campaign in the first place was to raise money for rescue. What better dog to campaign in his hometown, before coming to Goldstock, than Travis.

Travis' story, locally, is well known and Travis is very loved. People were horrified at his story and joyous when he received his forever home with us. Everyone wants to die and come back as one of the Kibuk pets.

People were very generous with their donations. Sure, they wanted to see Travis win the Sweetest Boy title, but most importantly, they wanted to help other dogs like Travis escape horrible situations and find better homes.

Advance campaigning wasn't against the rules and Travis brought $373 from Armstrong County PA to Lakewood, PA. I personally think everyone should come to Goldstock with money from those that want to help but can't attend.

Bottom line, money was raised and goldens are being rescued. That's what it's all about!

Travis comes home a winner!

We are home from Goldstock and exhausted! Travis won the title of Sweetest Boy with $555 votes! Thank you to everyone who voted!

His competition was tough, a senior, Irish, at 16 years of age, with an awesome Mom, Laurie, who's been through this a time or two. Somehow we pulled it off! All in all, everyone is a winner, since money was raised for rescue. Irish is totally Sweetest Boy in his Mom's eyes. Aren't they all Sweetest?

Travis competed in the Olympics and brought home a Bronze medal in Righteous Retrieving, Puppy Division. He swam for the first time and is a natural. We all had a great time visiting and meeting new friends.

Watch for a detailed, photo pictorial of the weekend coming soon. I am STILL on dial up. When I got home on Monday, DSL was working so Mr. Bruises talked me into rescheduling the Comcast appointment for next Monday due to some scheduling issues on our end. I did that and the next morning, DSL promptly quit working. I think it's a conspiracy. Living for Monday now!

Goldstock Bound!

Well, we almost have the car packed. The boys are ready for a fun-filled weekend at Goldstock!!! Thanks to a lot of friends, Travis has already raised $373 for his campaign for Sweetest Boy!

I will be entering Travis in the Olympics. I think he is going to medal in either Dock Diving or Righteous Retriever since jumping and running are his best traits.

I will be sure to get a full pictorial update up as soon as I can when I get home. I am still on dial up. Comcast is being installed on Tuesday.

Happy Labor Day everyone and THANK YOU to everyone who $Voted$ for Travis!

Glitter Toes for Golden Retrievers Fundraiser!

Glitter Toes to help Golden Retrievers!!

One day only! Monday, August 18, just in time for BACK TO SCHOOL!!

Travis will be attending Goldstock this year, which is a huge fundraiser for Golden Retriever Rescue and he will be running for Sweetest Boy. You vote with dollars. I would like to go into the event with his voting can totally stuffed, which I am allowed to do!

Get our famous Glitter Toes for the awesome price of

$30 (That's a $5 discount)

Every penny of this goes into Travis' vote box!

The Purple Pinkie is not normally open on Mondays, however, I will be providing my services for this exclusive event that day!

To book your time slot, please email me at rsk@arm-tek.net

The Purple Pinkie will gladly take your check or cash. Sorry, but we don't accept credit or debit cards.

Here's the deal on Glitter Toes:

• Pure glitter encased between two layers of gel.
  
• Glitter Toes will last 4-6 weeks depending on how rough you are on your toes.
  
• They need to be filed to shorten, don't cut them!
  
• We have over 30 colors to choose from!

The Purple Pinkie
345 Main Street
Ford City, PA 16226
www.arm-tek.net/~rsk/page21.html

I saved a life Labor Day weekend!

I attended Goldstock in Scranton, PA (six hour drive) Labor Day weekend with Riley, my golden retriever. It's a weekend fundraiser at a summer camp for Golden Retriever Rescue groups. It's like Meatball's (remember that movie) with your dog.

I excitedly took Riley, along with others and their dogs to the lake to see if Riley would swim, or jump off the dock. He had went into the water once when he was a pup to retrieve a stick and was horrified! I hoped he had grown out of it and thought that seeing hundreds of dogs in the water would make him want to go in too. He was having nothing of it. Go figure, a Golden that doesn't like water!

While at the lake, I suddenly heard Jen, my roommate screaming hysterically. Bailey, her Golden had swam out really far to retrieve a buoy that he thought was a ball. The buoy was roped and anchored. Bailey was swimming with all his might to bring the "ball" back to the dock. He was getting exhausted, yet he would NOT release the ball. We feared that he was tangled up in the rope. He was not going to stop until he had retrieved the "ball", retrievers just can't leave something!

Without hesitation, I went running toward the dock along with Karen from England. I started dropping all my gear, my backpack, leash, took off my jacket, sweatshirt, kicked off my shoes, socks and threw my hat, sunglasses, cellphone and purse on the dock as I was racing to the water. Despite it being 54 degrees, I jumped in the lake with all my clothes on, swam out to Bailey and attempted to take the buoy from him. He growled at me, (that stinker) but gave it to me. I then checked to be sure he wasn't tangled and he immediately swam for the dock. He was so tired, it took three people to lift him out of the lake.

I arrived at the dock to find Riley looking down at me from the dock with my socks, jacket and sweatshirt in his mouth. Seems that he went behind me and gathered up all my clothes for me. Too bad I was the one in the water and not him! Guess he was the smart one all nice and dry!

Attending this event was a wonderful thing for me. Up until the moment I got in my car to go, I didn't know if I had the physical or emotional strength to go. My Mom's illness and hospitalization has really been sucking the life out of me. Something made me go. I truly believe that I was meant to be there to save Bailey.


Karen and Rhonda get Bailey situated with Jen, his mom.



Here's Bailey, the precious baby, sleeping on a spare bed at camp later that night.



7 MALE dogs, waiting for their treats. Riley is first on the left. Believe it or not, no fighting, snipping, nothing! I am amazed at this breed!

Riley, Starlight, Fletcher, Bailey, Noah, Conner and Leo