Westminster - is Markie going?

Maya's breeder is there !! ( very good friends of ours) with their Bulldog.

Oh, I wish I'd seen this sooner.  The Bulldogs were benched right across from the Bull Terriers - I would have sought her out.  (There was one called Smoochie, I think, but any one of them could have gone by that name - big wrinkley sweet faces - sadly panting in all the HEAT.)  I did go and find Jaime - actually milled around Markie's benching area, trying to be sure that was REALLY Markie.  Then came back later and saw Jaime sitting w/him so I said hello and got to pat Markie.  His pictures still don't do him justice - he's a very self-assured and handsome dog!  Jaime couldn't have been any nicer, either.  Markie showed really well, despite what the final results say.  He seemed among the precious few who remained calm and confident among the absolute zoo that is Westminster. 

I cannot believe how little space these dogs have, with THOUSANDS (??) of spectators of all shapes, sizes, and social abilities...crammed into the aisles, staring in on thedog (or worse with pokey fingers and baby talk).  Add in the hotter than hades environment, plus (potentially) nervous handlers, etc - I don't know how those dogs perform. Let alone hang around like that until 8pm - they're NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE before 8pm.  As if they need to be on display for the public, the poor things.  It was good to go and learn some of the ins and outs... but, I'm BEAT and I was only a spectator. 

My friend's dog did not enjoy the chaos of it all and didn't show as well as usual.  He got the experience and his sire received a Merit award, so it wasn't a totally crapped day - despite the hopes otherwise.  "Next year"... maybe...they're hoping it's like childbirth and after some time, you forget how troublesome it was and are willing to consider going again.

Congrats to all who competed/will compete, regardless of outcome!  I'm looking forward to watching tomorrow night's show from the comfort of my couch! 

I did go and find Jaime - actually milled around Markie's benching area, trying to be sure that was REALLY Markie.  Then came back later and saw Jaime sitting w/him so I said hello and got to pat Markie.  His pictures still don't do him justice - he's a very self-assured and handsome dog!  Jaime couldn't have been any nicer, either.  Markie showed really well, despite what the final results say.  He seemed among the precious few who remained calm and confident among the absolute zoo that is Westminster.
 
Isn't Markie just gorgeous!?  I've seen him show a few times & wow, what an experience.  You're so right how calm he is.  Did you get some kisses from him?  They are the BEST!  I'm biased though.  I am the founder of the Markie Fan Club.  All I can say is that the judge must be blind in one eye & couldn't see out of the other.  That being said, I'm proud of him & Jaime for making it to Westminster.  He's Best in Show in my eyes.

While watching briefly last night, I saw Jaime and Markie on TV when they were showing backstage stuff!!!!!!
 
I started screaming OMG!!!  DH thought I was nuts, and then I had to try to explain to one of our friends why I was going nuts!  LOL!

I thought I saw Markie also!   

And now, congratulations to Parker...Best of Opposite Sex!

Wow lots of girls making it to the groups....that's great to see!
I will be going for Macey the Akita in BIS...I think. She has a good chance if she's "on"....that would be amazing, the first Akita to go BIS at Westminster and it's a BITCH to boot []

Did all you papillon people hear them say last night that Kirby had passed?  []

WHAT??????????????????????????????????????

It's true, they were talking about it last night when Musashi was showing.  Apparently he passed yesterday sometime.  He must've been fairly old.  He won the PCA national in 2005 at the age of 15. .. RIP Kirby boy.  []
 
I wonder if Deb and Brando know...

Fly free Kirby!!!  [sm=angel.gif]
 
Edited to add:
 
I started a Rainbow Bridge thread about him.

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I couldn't watch last night, but I TIVOed it.  I watched most of last nights show earlier, & I saw Jaime & Markie during an explaination of benched shows.  I started yelling OMG that's Jaime & Markie, my BF thinks that I have lost my mind, but that happens more than I care to admit.

OMG that's Jaime & Markie

Seriously, trying to explain how much I looked forward to meeting them, was a task... "See, there's this online forum... she's the big-time moderator..."  What was really great, was to learn how remarkably nice she was in the middle of all that chaos and her own stressors of the day.  She reminded me of a very hospitable "southern miss" - strong and holding her own, all with a smile and pleasant sweetness to her!  I share that because I respect her here, and now I like her even more. And Markie, PLEASE... he's delicious!  No wonder he has a fan club!

OMG!
 You guys have me bawling my eyes out here!! Westminster was a blast and as always I couldn't be prouder of Markie, I couldn't have asked him to show any better. The judge did consider him when we went back in but that was about it...that was all I ever ask when showing at big shows like that...everything else is extra! I have been told we were on TV but I didn't get a chance to see the re-runs..one of my friends called as we were leaving the city to tell me and I asked what Markie was doing and she said "Markie was being, well...MARKIE" LOL!
 
Meeting up with Paige was exciting!! We had a fun time chatting and Markie feel in love with her too! Paige, thank you for your kind words, you are too nice...and Smoocher is Markie's secret lover...she is owned by one of my good friends who is a Phila detective. Smooches papa is a big time celebrity, he is the official Mack truck calander dog!!
 
I have been missing you guys!!! Work has been crazy and as you all probably know I am not here much at all now...they have me locked in a closet with Jim...I broke free for a moment to get this out to you all...LOL! Just kidding!!
 
I'll be back to play soon!!
Thanks again for all your kind words and support for Markie and I

Waving frantically at Jaime....good to see you!

Yes, we've missed you!

Jaime, let me at Jim!  That's just cruel & unusual punishment.  We need our Jaime.