The Westminster Kennel Club

We are finally home after a full week in NYC.  We will fill you in on how our 4 day trip turned into a 7 day one later, but maybe for now we should start at the beginning.  We were scheduled to leave town on Thursday last week, and on Monday our housing fell though.  We were going to stay with Jenny’s Aunt Jackie, Uncle Russ, and cousins Billy & Bryan, but their building has a no dog policy (can you imagine?!)  We thought they would give us an exemption, but it was promptly denied.  What to do?  Rooms in NYC are CRAZY expensive (especially last minute)…our 4 day trip would have cost more than our mortgage!  Then word got over to Jenny’s Mom and she promptly saved the day by making us a reservation at the Ink 48 — where our friends Jamie/Chuck/Tokaji and Carol/Andrew/Bijou were staying!!  Thanks, Mom!

So with our rooming situation under control, we headed out!  A direct flight and one taxi (Karma’s first!) later we pulled up to our SUPER nice room.  Again, thanks Mom!  Friday was the COLDEST day in 20 years in NYC.  It was 18 degrees with a crazy windchill.  So after her morning walk, Jenny tucked Karma back into bed and headed out to meet Aunt Jackie for brunch at a diner right off Time Square.  It was so fun.  Something about getting to play tourist.  Then it was off to do some sight-seeing with the Cali gang.  We found this awesome chocolaterie, Jacques Torres Chocolates.  They had LIQUID chocolate.  Ahhmazing.  We did some more shopping in Chelsea and then headed back to the hotel to potty the girls and get them a bit of exercise.  After the dog park, we went to Barbuto for the world’s best chicken.  And Jenny’s Aunt Maggie was able to come too!  Two days in and this trip is perfect!

SATURDAY!!! SATURDAY!!!  Jenny was bouncey all day long, just couldn’t contain herself.  Our friend Kathy Matejka saved us a crate space (and drove Jenny’s soft crate out from CO!) so we were able to sleep in a little extra.  At check in they gave us all this swag, including a WKC shirt from the sponsor, ProPlan.  Love getting presents.  After setting up and checking in, we headed next door to the Meet the Breeds both.  Happy to see the Vizsla booth was well staffed, we headed around to check out some of the other booths.  Then it was go time!  First up for us and Jamie & Tokaji was Jumpers, Carol & Bijou were running in Standard.  Just as we were about to leave the line, Jenny looked over and saw Uncle Russ, Aunt Jackie, and Billy & Bryan!  It meant so much that they would fight through the crowds to watch us 🙂  Karma had a clean and FAST run!  We were sitting in 6th spot to head into finals!  What an absolute high.  We wasted some time by shopping all the vendors before coming back for our Standard run, and this time Aunt Maggie was there ringside!  Jenny was SUPER SUPER nervous.  We were 16 obstacles in when Jenny called Karma while she was still mid-jump.  It caused Karmie to drop the bar…whoopsie.  But we finished out the course and found ourselves in 11th place after our 5 point penalty for the bar.  Dang, just missed finals.  BUT over in Jumpers we got to watch Carol and Bijou not just Q, but finish their MACH title!!  It was so awesome!  What a venue to finish your Master Agility Championship at!  We headed back to the hotel to hit up happy hour and put Karmie and Tokie Smokes to bed.  Then it was back to Pier 49 to watch Carol & Bijou.  They were awesome!! Clean and Frenchie-rrific!  After their finals round, we headed out to this super fun tapas place…Sangria and tapas — can’t think of a better celebration!

Sunday we all headed to the airports.  Carol, Andrew, and Bijou were lucky enough to make it home.  However, the rest of us were stuck in NYC due to weather.  Jamie, Chuck, and Tokaji were re-booked for Tuesday, Karmie and Jenny for Wednesday.  So Sunday we headed over to Aunt Maggie’s house.  Initially, we didn’t stay here because she has a kitty and we didn’t know how Karma would do with a cat.  But we worked out a schedule and Karma thought Aunt Maggies Yorkies, Mickey & Macy were pretty cute.  Aunt Maggie made us this awesome spinach salad which we enjoyed with a glass of Presecco!  Then Aunt Jackie and Uncle Russ came over to watch the SNL 40th anniversary special.  What a fun night that may have never happened!

Monday, Jenny worked from Maggie’s apartment in the morning and took all three girls on a couple walks!  It was pretty fun being a legit NYC dog walker!  The doorman even gave us these samples of rubber boots for the dogs!  So nice 🙂  Then Karma and Jenny hopped in another Taxi and headed back to Ink 48 where we were sharing a room with Jamie & Chuck.  Tonight we decided to make lemonade and catch a show — Wicked!  But before dinner, we hit Capital Grille and enjoyed a pretty fabulous dinner, and bonus, it was restaurant week in NYC, so we got a smokin deal!  Then we headed to the theatre, and OMG, Wicked was AWESOME.  Like awesome, awesome.

Tuesday, we walked down the street to this cute diner and had a real diner breakfast.  It was Chuck’s one request, so we figured we should oblige 🙂  Then we headed over to 5th Avenue and did some shopping.  All signs were a go for their flight so we said some goodbyes to Jamie & Chuck and crossed our fingers that their flight would make it out.  But we swung back by the piers to watch the Vizslas do their thing in the show ring.  Our friend Rebecca had an extra ticket because her boy Odon was in the Top 5 last year and came as an invitee.  So she gave us her ticket!  So nice right?!  Before the Vizslas, Parti-Cockers were showing and they took FOREVER to take their pictures, so Unfortunately we didn’t get to see all of the Vizslas, but we did get to see the boys — including the handsome Odon 🙂  Then we headed back to Aunt Maggie’s to drop our bags and walk the girls.  Then Jenny headed over Jackie & Russ’s sans Karma, and we had one more awesome family dinner.  It was the perfect ending to a suprising long vacation, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

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