Camp Berner Wrap-Up, Make Way for Ducklings, You Know You Are a Narcissist When..., Trust, Facebook & Etc. (Whew)

It is a sign that I am starting to recover when I can write about it. Camp Berner was GREAT fun but maybe the best way to share the (fun) strain of the last couple of weeks is to say that I have the worst cold sore I have had in years and that today I simply had to go to bed in the middle of the day because I was just exhausted and feeling sick -- and I NEVER take naps. However, exhaustion and a nasty cold sore are small prices to pay for an excellent adventure in camping!

Dear Husband was a huge help as we got our place ready to host Camp Berner 2010 -- and we had help from all over -- here is the flag that Carol sent from Iowa, ready to welcome Campers...


In Oregon, Ralph made special Camp Berner 2010 jumps -- they sold like hotcakes so guess who didn't get one???? Oh well -- I am sure Ralph can make more :)


I tried VERY hard not to show preference to Kaibab Campers, and between that and being so busy I never got any of the group pictures I wanted -- we had FIVE of the eight Glitterati in one place and not a single group shot :( But with about half of the Campers having a Kaibab dog, I got to see that yes -- we are achieving our goal of breeding typey berners with a strong work ethic -- that was wonderful!

Here is Zaida Jamaica


Alex (from Jennifer and Ralph's "A" Litter ;) was a big help at Camp, and got to practice agility each day with Mrs. Maize -- I believe that is Cooper Whitby with him...


Happy Campers...


Each morning I got up before 4:30 and started baking -- I took this just for my daughter, Nicole, who thinks I am unsafe living alone and should have one of those panic buttons -- why?! Just because I set the oven bottom on fire and then my first reaction was not to grab the baking soda and put it out???


The Camp Berner arena...


Camp Directors -- me and Kris...


One of the events in the first ever Berner Pentathlon was to put a draft harness on the dog -- here is Camper John with Mika Ireland...


Barb with Zaida Jamaica...


We tracked, we did obedience, we drafted, we tubed, we ate, we did agility, we groomed berners -- but most importantly, we had fun and helped to create community and so I rate Camp Berner as a huge success :)

Moving on to ducklings... A few weeks ago Carol (of flag fame) shared that when a flock of ducklings are "attacked" they split into groups as they flee, thereby confusing the predator who cannot decide which group to pursue, and making it easier to get away. Wow -- what a great life lesson!!!

At Camp Berner I talked about goal setting, and I could not stop thinking about ducklings. Our goals are like ducklings -- we all have too many things we want to pursue, and like ducklings, when we try to pursue all of them at once we are left with nothing but frustration and lost dreams (i.e., no ducklings).

All of us would do better to set our sights on one group of ducklings and go for that, ignoring the ducklings that are swimming out of sight. We cannot catch all of our dreams at once, but if we stay focused and determined, we can achieve much more than if we try to chase all of the ducklings in the pond at once. Which ducklings will you set your sights on?

My dear friends -- a true and sincere compliment involves another person. It is focused on that person and her achievements -- and does not include ME, ME, ME and MINE. In other words, a compliment is not an excuse to talk about yourself!!!!! Think about it, friends...

Moving on yet again -- trust is a key ingredient in all good relationships. We need to trust that those we care about will be honest with us -- in fact, I think trust and honesty go hand in hand. If one is less than honest, one robs relationships of trust -- and that causes much pain and erodes connections between people. When trust is damaged and honesty has been absent -- well, that makes for a seriously Unhappy Camper -- worse than tubing for nearly 4.5 hours.

How does one forgive for a violation of trust that has generated a product? In other words, if something is created in less than optimal and honest circumstances -- how can one forgive and move on in the face of a continued reminder of the cause of Great Unhappiness? I have not figured that one out. Some things cannot be undone -- should we just have faith that Karma is at work in the universe (not the cat, although she is...) and that seeds planted in untrustworthy ground will -- well, you know. I cannot wish bad things or poor outcomes -- but I do believe that good things do not come from bad starts...

Facebook -- unlike people who seem to collect Facebook "friends" as if there is some contest I do not know about, I am pretty selective with my friends. I regularly unfriend people who are not interactive with me and/or whose postings do not help me to have positive feelings for them. I am always amazed at what people will post, and if I say to myself, "really? Did she really just post that?!" too often I will unfriend during one of my Facebook Friend Pruning sessions. It isn't meant to insult -- I just do not want Facebook to influence me in thinking poorly of someone nor do I want to have "friends" who do not seem to notice I exist.

So if you have been unfriended by me, take it as a sign that, a) I want to like you more than Facebook allows; and/or b) you didn't seem to notice me until I unfriended you; and/or c) you might want to try using a filter when you post -- as in a filter between your head and your typing.

George and the rest of my deer friends stayed away during Camp Berner (gee -- wonder why?!) but today they came calling, indicating that -- like me -- life is returning to normal here in Montana.


Soon my dreadful cold sore will heal, I will have caught up on my sleep, and it will be time to set my sights on a new bunch of ducklings...

I hope you are a Happy Camper -- honest, trustworthy, and kind in your pursuit of ducklings.