Home of the Spikester Okay okay okay........ Who or what is a Spikester???? Spikey is but a figment of your imagination........ Nooooo not really. I guess I am Spikey. My real life nickname as well. I have had this nickname almost as long as my real name. Alot of people here only know me that way. By the way, Spikey is not a hair thingy....giggle It's a depiction from my dog business. My real life name is difficult to remember more or less pronounce. But, it settled a family arguement with the birth of my grandmother in 1904. My real name, Vergetta (first half being Virginia, second being Etta) is now a 4 generation name within my family. I was a Christmas baby, in 1959. Born December 23rd and came home just in time for the holiday opening of mom's newest gift to the family. I am the youngest of 5 children (ended with perfection). And by the way, Spikey is a girl. (oooops, hold on, gotta check something, wait, just a moment. checking, ummmmmm just a sec. Nooooooo thanks anyway guys I can do this myself. Yep, got it....) Birth Certificate says female. My family moved to western Nebraska in 1964, when my father became ill and needed to be away from the area where we lived just outside of Los Angeles (Buena Park to be precise for those of you who know the area.) I have always said, I have lived here since 1964 and hated it since 1963. Being that close to Disney Land, Marine Land and Knotts Berry farm as a kid then, up and moving to the open plains (desolute) panhandle of Nebraska....AAAAKKKKK. But, with today's world it is a wonderful place to raise my family. Which by the way, I have two children. Both of them girls. Danielle (Dani as she is more renouned) is 17 now and going on 3.   Courtney (my baby) (Corker's is family pet name for her) She is now 11 going on 19 (she will say going on 25 though. Just ask her.)   For as long as I can remember, I have always been an animal lover. First love was horses, but Mom said......NO So, we substituted with a dog. A German Shepard. A small German Shepard (miniature). We agreed to the simple name of Bingo, only to settle the arguement between mom and my middle brother who wanted to name her........LIPS. Again, mom said.....NOOOOOOOOOOO She was not going to up and down the streets (if she got out) yelling at the top of her lungs.....Here Lips, Come Here Lips. Asking the neighborhood if anyone has seen her missing Lips. We settled on Bingo......if only for peace in the family. She was my bud, my total companion, my best friend. And she was the greatest. I started showing her in 4-H when I was 12. She was unbeatable. Bouncing back and forth with Grands and Reserve Winners with a friend of mine showing his Sheltie. She retired from showing after 6 wonderful years with 39 Grands Champions and 17 Reserve Champions. After my graduation from High School, I went on to study at the local Jr. College. Working on a major in Accounting and a minor in Criminal Justice. I was putting myself thru college with my job at the local County Sheriff's Department. After one year of college, I moved to southeast Wyoming where I took a position with a local guard dog agency. Beginning as an agressor (dogs attacking me). I got my recognition as a trainer with this company doing contract work with the airforce and police K-9 units. Since that time (after returning home) I now teach Household Obedience. Work with 4-H youth here in Nebraska and in Wyoming, grooming (privately) and do entertainment shows for nursing homes and schools. But the true love of my life is the prestige of being in the Dog Show Ring building what is know now to be (Banner by: Idgaf's Internet Services) . The life's love of the Spikester since 1972. I am a contract handler. Contracting with the owners, training, grooming and handling the dogs. I have showed primarily within my area, Ne. Wy. Co. SD. with one in NM and TX. But even for my area, would keep me going atleast one weekend out of every month. I prefer the larger breeds but have placed (pointed) with 51 different breeds-varieties. My other hobbies include: Bowling (Tuesday a.m. Tuesday p.m. Thursday, Friday Sunday afternoons with my youngest) I am a licenced YABA Coach, so in my spare (no bowling pun) time I help coach the kids on Saturdays. But is only a hobbie. I grew up with a rifle instructor for a father I am currently a 5th Bar Sharpshooter with the NRA and a member of the West Nebraska Sportsman's Assoc. So don't ever challenge me to game of Duck Hunt Nintendo style......heh heh In January of 1997 I was injured on my part-time job and am currently on medical leave from my dogs. But........maybe someday........................hopefully........well. Shortly after that my significant other (NERyder) downloaded a chat program for me on our PC. This was the beginning of Spikey on the net. :) Powwow has become my outside link in the people contact I seem to have lost when I was injured. It has been at times somewhat of a means of survival. For if I had a rose for everytime a powwow friend has uplifted me, inspired me, I could walk in my garden forever.......... This photo of the Scotts Bluff National Monument. I can see out my window at this view. Passing by this hill is the North Platte River following the Oregon and Morman Trails.