Sunday, January 4, 2009

2009: Walking the High Wire

A common theme in my life, especially mid-life, is the desire to achieve balance.

Work and leisure.

Reflection and activity.

Being generous of my time to my family while not becoming a doormat.

I was looking at the little video clips my daughter and I took at the beach on New Year's Day. I noticed that Border Collie's video clips were like a little mini-demonstration on the principle of balance.

There's pure fun:

Fun with a little listening and discipline thrown in:

Notice on that last one how BC paused for a second with the stick? Asserting a touch of independence maybe?

Then there is the lesson of going out there, making friends, while at the same time being ready to let a new acquaintance know your boundaries:

This is one of my favorite Friends.

Ah. Salmon skin roll.

23 comments:

qtpie said...

Totally impressed with your dog flicks. Only my bird will listen to me... I laughed my head off on the "Friends" clips. Just what I needed to put me in a good mood! THANKS!

Joanie said...

Loved the doggie clips! Laughed my ass off (wish I could do that in real life!) at Oonagy!!

Kristan said...

Haha, Clip 1 = Gimme stick, gimme stick, gimme stick!

(Riley LOVES sticks too!!)

Clip 2 = You want tongue? I'll give you tongue! And bark too!

WOW BC really listens to you though.

Clip 3 = A lot like Riley, lol. Only right now he's in a phase where he'll nip the air in warning, so we're trying to work him out of that. Teenage pup thing, I think.

I love the sound of the surf in the back of all of these!

K Dubs said...

I want a dog that I can get to chase sticks on a beach! :)

Balance is a beautiful thing - even moreso if you can achieve it.

cheatymoon said...

BC is awesome.
Great post, and thanks for the Friends escape for 5 min. Good stuff.
Happy Sunday, Pseudo!

crone51 said...

I love Border Collies and often thought of getting one although the idea of having a dog that's smarter than I am scares me.

Pancake said...

I am SO jealous of the beach clips!!!

Ash said...

I could watch those BC clips all day, just to hear the waves roll in. The pup is pretty cute too!!

Casey said...

Would you mind training one of my dogs? Or taking her? She loves the beach!

Anonymous said...

Oh my god.... laughing my head off! Have I ever told you that I love Border Collie's- wish I had a life to support their needs! I also love Unagi- eel rolls, mmmmm!

Mama Dawg said...

Everytime I hear someone say Unagi or anything close to that, I always think of this episode. Ross made me laugh.

I love the dog vids.

Pseudo said...

BC had another fun day at the beach yesterday to finish off the break. He's exhausted and sleeping in this morning.

Ross cracks me up too. We have all ten seasons and I used to watch them daily when I was on chemo to keep me cheery. I can reference almost any life situation to a Friends episode.

Just B said...

Thanks for getting my Monday off to a great start. I have a house full of kids (mine plus a working neighbors) who don't go back to school until tomorrow and I needed a little Unagi today!

Pseudo said...

ah b You're the great mom when you take in extras ; -)

IB said...

Hi,

Just stopping in to say hello and tell you I dig your blog.

IB

Reeni said...

You were the comment above me at SITS today, stopping by to say hi. My New Year's resolution was to balance out my life a little better, how fitting that your post is about that. Loved that videos!

Melissa B. said...

And, just like the broken falange episode (the last one of Friends, I think) unagi isn't a state of being, it's a freshwater eel! OK, well, a falange isn't a freshwater eel, but a political party. Sorry about my misplaced modifier! I googled it, but still...I think I would have unagi if I could have taken a BC for a walk on the beach New Year's Day!

Anonymous said...

Damn those BC's are smart. Why don't i have one? Wonder if i could trade in the 4 bad dogs for one good dog...and He's lovely btw...great eye on him, bet he could actually work sheep if given the opportunity...

and beach scenes, complete with the sound of the ocean...very therapeutic for those of us in the snow belt, thanks for sharing :)

Pseudo said...

IB, Reeni, and Melissa - Thanks for stopping by!

thistle - he's such a natural, too bad he's such a housedog. when we play fetch at the park he cirlces me and does all kinds of stuff that seems a part of herding. I got him from a sheep and goat ranch on the north shore and his parents are working border collies. the breeder told me his grandpappy is an agility champ in the Mainland. oneof the things I'd like to do is learn about it and train him, but have not made the time.

I'll post more beach pics this week for you snow bound ones. It was beautiful today.

Vodka Mom said...

I LOVE to laugh in the morning!!!


Thanks!!!!!


(Ross really WAS funny.....)

Tricia said...

I love Border Collies, but I've never had one. I've always worried they'd be smarter than I am and would have me chasing sticks. What kind of balance would that be?

Pseudo said...

VM - Ross IS really funny. He cracks me up every time when he screams like a girl.

Tricia -That makes a funny visual in my head.

Lori said...

Love the videos but even more love your thoughts on keeping life balanced. Very important and one I needed to be reminded of!