Around Dutchland, April, 1995

by Penny Pyrbred

Once again the Canine Learning Experience, held January 
28th at the Agricultural Hall of the Allentown Fairgrounds, was the 
social event of the winter. The weather was much better than last 
year and the turnout of both people and Pyrs was sensational! Penny 
enjoyed seeing many old friends and making some new ones.

Gail Hillard designed the decor this year, with an adorable tent covering 
our display. There was a constant ocean of white fur in front of the 
booth as the Pyrs of Penn-Dutch strutted their stuff for a fifth 
award for best booth. Of course Gail deserves a lot of credit for 
providing the correct ambiance, but I think we Pyrs really wowed the 
judges.

And the judges in Allentown are not the only ones coming to appreciate 
us Pyrs. Great Pyrenees seem to be popping up everywhere in the media 
these days. Recently Penny was getting settled in on the couch with 
a plate of tartar control Milk Bones and decided to watch "Those 
Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" on TV, when she discovered 
that there is a really handsome Pyr who steals the first few minutes 
of the film. As far as she can tell (she got a little sleepy before 
the end), he never makes a reappearance. Probably he quarreled with 
the director over artistic differences, or perhaps his agent negotiated 
such a great contract that they couldn't afford any more of his time. 
As he is shown wandering around a huge English estate, it is also 
possible that he merely wandered off and was never heard from again 
(except perhaps for a postcard from France).

A more recent example of the media exploiting the magnificence of 
us Pyrs can be seen in a current TV ad campaign for Sun Jet Airlines. 
The ad implies that you should hop on a Sun Jet plane to get away 
from the tedium of walking your dogs. Hurrumph! Penny suggests a boycott.

Closer to home, our own Bailey Caron accompanied by loyal associate, 
Christina, spent a day posing for pictures recently as a visual aid 
for the "French Cultural Weekend at the Reading Public Museum. 
He was a big hit with the public and got his name in the Reading 
newspaper, but not his picture. Once again an example of the media 
showing poor journalistic judgment.

The article on the 1994 Educational Seminar, which Penny has been 
promoting for the last two issues, was finally completed and mailed 
to the editors, but has been lost by the US Post Office. Penny suspects 
that it ended up in the newsletter of the Pennsauken Great Dane Club. 
We are sure they will enjoy it, but they may wonder at some of the 
grooming tips! We still hope to include it in a future issue.

A variety of events are coming up this Spring for Penn-Dutchies and 
their Pyrs, and Penny hopes to see many of her friends partake. The 
wacky Ohio Pyrs are preparing a real blowout for us at the National 
Specialty in Cleveland, April 27-29. Penny may just have to overlook 
her bi-coastal bias and venture into the vast interior of the country 
for this special event. Conrad Gill has kindly offered to act as escort, 
although Penny suspects he really wants some moral support for his 
appearance in Open.

May 13th is the Walk-in-the-Woods which Bo Bowes seems to think 
Penny is attending. It is true it is on the calendar, but Penny is an 
urban animal who believes that trees are best when confined to tubs in 
the lobby of a five star hotel. While it is true that Penny's nails are 
professionally shaped and buffed (using the Dave Simon approved 
method), she has no objection to stepping out when the occasion demands. 
Speculation on Penny's geographical location is fruitless because Penny 
has wheels (alas, not the Volvo 850 Turbo wagon she covets, but adequate 
to reach anywhere in the continental US). So, we'll have to wait and see 
if Penny makes it. It would be nice to see Bo, and maybe sneak off for 
a romantic interlude. Hmm. This has possibilities.

If Clondike Kintsfather attends, keep an eye on the dachshunds! She 
has confided in Penny that she likes her dachshunds with pickle relish 
and ketchup. Remind her that she's on a low protein diet.

June 17th brings our very own Regional Specialty at Ludwigs Corner. 
There will be a tailgate party we can probably mooch our way into, 
and a banquet which is probably only for the people. Ha! We're already 
booking the canine hospitality room and saving up for the rather 
extensive damage deposit required (after word of the Allentown 
National party got around). Party hearty (or should that be Hardy?) 
folks, and we'll see you back in the rooms...sometime.

Have a great Spring! 

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