Gage's Victory!

If you have followed my posts on Gage, found here and here, I am happy to announce the defendant was found guilty in court yesterday! He was found guilty of "Aggravated Felony Animal Abuse" for the shooting death of Gage on 3/12/08. He will be sentenced in September.
Quote from his Mom's myspace page;

Guilty, Wow what a day

He was found Guilty as most of ya'll know (thank you, Sherry)
This was the longest week of my life and when they read the verdic that he was guilty and proved that he murdered my Gage with out cause, I was happy but yet overwhelmed with emotions, it was like I have been holding my breath for 5months and that was the first breath I have taking since. The court was full of lawyers and DA's and defence attorneys and court clerks. I was really surprised how many people came to see the results and this was the biggest thing happening in our court house in a while and everyone was waiting to see the out come and they all agreed that this case will make a difference for the future cases. This is the ONLY trail ever like this here. Mr.
Stanfill CAN"T say Gage was vicious and the only monster in this story was Stanfill
I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, for all thier support for this 5 long months. I will sit down and try to write out all the details as best as I can tonight are tommorrow.

I could not have went threw this with out each and everyone one of you. Now that justice has been served and Gages name has been cleared from any wrong doing that was untruthfully placed on him. He is free to fly.. Spread your wings baby and you know you will always be my angel. And we will honor your name until my death, and join you. But until then we will save and help as many as we can in your name. As of today we are the GAGE FOUNDATION..........

And a Poem written by defendabull on PBF
Gage's poem

i keep hearing rest,
but i want to play...
it's sunny just now,
i wanted to stay.

i am a sweet whisper
on evening's wind.
i'm a thousand candles
that dance then descend...
into open hearts,
that remember me when...
i danced in your arms,
i will dance there again

Marian Antoinette T. 9/24/40 - 8/28/05

Three years ago today, at 4:30 am, I got the call. The call you dread - the call, that as a child, the thought of the event keeps you up at night. The call that makes you go numb, that turns your stomach over, that gives you cotton mouth, that makes you pace constantly, the call - that in a split second your life is forever changed.

I was sleeping when the call came. It was the second time the phone was ringing - the first I ignored. I heard my brother say, "Mom's not breathing". "What?" I asked. He repeats himself....I yell again, "WHAT???" Then I hear him speaking to someone "Has she passed?". "Yes", the unknown person replies.

BOOM!!!!!!!!! You never forget that moment. You replay it over and over again thinking it's a bad dream - or maybe you think if you keep repeating it the news it will someone sink in.

The next days , the next weeks are a blur - but certain memories from that time are forever imprinted in your mind You can recall and picture them as if it was just yesterday.

I spoke with my Mom every day - sometimes more than once. Sometimes the calls lasted a while and sometimes they were just short. They ranged from in depth conversations to just asking if you watched a certain TV show. To go from talking all the time - to well - nothing......

I heard someone share a story at a meeting recently. A man lost his wife and was talking about life without her. He said "The only thing that did not change, was my sobriety date." I could relate.

I wish I had more photos of my Mom. She hated her photo taken because of her weight. She didn't believe she was pretty or beautiful enough for the photo. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She was the most beautiful woman I knew. The kindness, humility, and her unselfish giving to all made her beautiful. No, she wasn't perfect, but she had a good, kind, loving heart - something she tried to share will all she met.

I will admit - today is a hard day for me - in fact the last few days have been. Could of, would of, should of , still kicks my @ss when it comes to the time before she passed away. I try not to stay there, but well I am human. I wish for one more hug, one more I love you, one more vote of confidence from her, one more talk, one more touch of her hand or to touch her arm again, one more smile on her face when I arrived in town, one more ____ (just fill in the blank). But one more would never be enough - would it?

I sometimes look at the below photo - as it looks as if she is looking right at me. I try to look back at her - in the eyes, and say all the things I want to tell her - all the things I wish she could hear, all the things I need to share.I cry as I right this - tears of sadness. But I must remember the tears I shed are a representation of the love and all the memories I have.

I don't know what I believe about death or the afterlife anymore. But if there is any chance her spirit is somewhere - anyway she can hear or see me,
I miss you much Mom and I love you.. Please come visit me in my dreams...

WW - Jake at Course A' Lure

Thanks to Cyndi and Bob for the photo :)

Kristin and Justin's Wedding

My friend got married Saturday evening at the Cottonwood Club.

Everything was gorgeous! They were married outside, under shade trees. During the reception, you could sit inside or outside.

She did such a great job organizing and decorating.

It was so good to see so many of my friends. People came from far and wide to attend.

Here are some photos - remember I am NOT a professional photographer - lol

Before the wedding



Patiently waiting for the ceremony to begin.



Groom awaiting his BrideExchange of vows

Father Daughter Dance - The song was "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (MUCH better than the Dixie Chic version). The song, and seeing the two of them dance, brought tears to my eyes.


Some of us "sisters" hanging out. Later the photographer took a photo of all the "sisters" and our generations. i was unable to get that on my camera - mostly because my friend, who had my camera, was focusing on "something" else - LOL


The couple left yesterday on a two week road trip. They are riding their Harley up to Portland, and then down the 101 in California.

We wish you much love and happiness!

Skid boots

Jake's Skid boots arrived. We purchased the boots from Z control Skid Boots.

Jake isn't skidding, per say, but he was bending his wrist at the box the last tournament. But that may have something to do with the box we were using; as it had a different slope than our regular box. So, maybe we really don't need them, but it might help protect his pad and dewclaw.

She actually carried, for a limited time, our flyball team color.

I put them on, and he was walking so funny! It will take him some time to get use to wearing them.

Isn't he too cute?! He looks pretty good in green doesn't he - lol.

Words can not express how much I love this dog! I just look at his photos and smile.

Draper Fire

Draper Fire as seen from my street.

Animal Witness - DId you watch?

See my original post here.


I watched. Here are my thoughts;
I liked the second half better than the first half.

I closed my eyes during the fighting parts which imho they went a little far with, but I guess it needed to be shown. I cried when the one dog was whimpering and crying in the ring.
My complaint is that they interviewed people from PETA and HSUS - when in the beginning they wanted, especially PETA, for the dogs to be destroyed. PETA no like pitties - but changed their mind really fast didn't they?

I loved that they had Tim and Donna from BAD RAP on. Her closing words saying "pit bull are our teachers" made me cry.

She also said that PB want to please their owners - that is what I have found with my Maddie. She just loves to work. And she is starting to offer behaviors that get her rewarded.

I did not know that the lead detective had to go above Surrey county DA Poindexter. He was sure turning a blind eye wasn't he. Then the lead detective got canned - I felt bad for him. SO glad he went federal....If he did not the investigation would have stalled..

But, I did not understand why the lead detective said he did not think MV should be tried at the state level.

One other thing, I LOVED how the woman from ASPCA said she was sad after the MV talk, after he pleaded guilty, She said not once did he apologize for the violence he put the dogs thru or sorry for hurting the dogs.

Oh yea...

I have a break stick and a treadmill....Do I participate in dog fighting?

I wish they would have explained that just because a home has a break stick - doesn't mean that there is dogfighting present...

Miss Maddie even watched part of it. I originally kept her out of the room because she usually barks at the TV when a dog was on.
Well, I sat on the floor with her and stroked her as we watched. She did not bark or lunge at the tv. But she watched very intently and kept checking in with me via her eyes.


Overall well done - again loved the second half more than the first.


If you watched, please comment your thoughts and feelings.

Thanks!