The International is a very special show that many of us hold near and dear to our hearts. Everyone dresses up a bit and giddily looks forward to the event and seeing their friends from around the world. This year was no exception as the Silver and Golden Division was well represented by exhibitors from all of the country and Europe as well. We had 46 Silver and Golden entered this year which is huge and absolutely awesome!.

Barbara Whitman (Dalee), Vay Kaplan (Vay) and I droved down to San Mateo in the wee hours of Friday morning to avoid, the usual horrendous traffic jams that are a hallmark of the Bay Area during commute times, arriving at a little after 7:00 am. This gave us plenty of time to check in, settle in and get our kitties ready for the first rings. Personally, I always try to arrive early so I have plenty of time in the case of any unforeseen event that might crop up and plenty of time to relax so I don't pass my jitters on to the kitties!

Upon entering the huge show hall, the music from the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her friends enter the Emerald City and view the parade inside loops over and over through my mind. The International is full of pomp and circumstance which sets it apart from any other show in CFA. Huge banners noting every breed hang from the ceiling. Everyone is benched according to breed, so all the Persians are benched together, Maine Coons with Maine Coons and Exotics with Exotics and so on.

Large fabric panels separate all of the judging areas in colors of teal, violet and white, the colors of the International. The International judging cages have doors on the back as well as the front. To access the back doors of the judging cages there is a little walkway behind the judging cages where one goes to put their cat into the ring when called. The seating area is large with many seats for the spectators and exhibitors and is usually full to overflowing.

As the Silver and Golden Division was well represented the judges had a tough time making their selections and of course it varied from ring to ring to ring. All of the judges were impressed with the quality of each class and took their time making their selections carefully. In nearly every ring the judges took a moment to tell the exhibitors how impressed they were.

Friday flew by as everyone was so busing meeting and greeting and getting their cats up to the ring. It is so much fun to see everyone and take a moment to chat and catch up and admire each other's kitties.

The show hotel this year was the Crown Plaza, it is a nice hotel, but did not have a central seating/bar area where everyone could sit comfortably while waiting for their friends, so many were stuck standing, on sore feet waiting uncomfortably for everyone to come downstairs to go to dinner. One can stand for only a short time on tired feet so it was difficult to get everyone together, but we did for the most part. The show is tiring and most of us are not spring chicks anymore so it was off to bed early for most of us.

Saturday arrived quickly and back to the show hall we went. Now that we were all more settled, most took a moment here and there to explore the "Meow Mall" with many, many different vendors selling all sorts of kitty food, supplies, equipment and toys. Some of us took a moment to watch Joan Miller's presentation of each of the breeds to the spectators. She is a wonderful speaker and spoke glowingly about each breed. She described to the audience what features and characteristics are unique to each breed. For example, she described the difference between a Norwegian Forest Cat and a Maine Coon while handling an example of each breed.

Outside, there were some "Animal Rights" protestors imploring everyone to spay and neuter their pedigree cats to "save the life of a feral/Alley cat." Being the opinionated as I sometimes can be, I approached one protestor and asked her if she was a "Animal Nazi" to which she naturally took offense. I did remind her that if she really believes all pedigree cats should be spayed and neutered then she is indeed calling for their genocide as is thus indeed an "Animal Nazi." To which she replied, some will survive, and to which I responded if so, the remaining gene pool would then so decimated and tiny any future existence can not be considered viable, thus it is indeed genocide.

There was some further back and forth other exhibitors taking her on, but my main point to her is that we all must work together to educate the public to ensure that their nonbreeding cats spayed and neutered and reduce the number of animals that hit the shelters. To this end, I suggested she focus her energy on getting donations to support low cost spay and neuter programs. She and her partner did not return on Sunday as more of us were ready to take them on again.

Purebred cats make up only five percent of the domestic cat population world-wide. Of that very small percentage only a tiny fraction are choosen to carry on the precious geneolgy that makes-up a particular breed of cat. The balance of the kittens born in the home of a reputable breeder are placed already neutered or spayed (if there is a nearby clinic that performs early spays/neuters) or are placed with a strict spay/neuter contract. Please spay/neuter your precious pet(s) and prevent unwanted or unexpected or unplanned litters. Please be a responsible pet owner.

Sunday was more relaxed as we all had more time to visit and finally drag out our cameras. The presentations of the best of Breed in each division was exciting and again full of pomp and circumstance as all of the presenting judges and helpers had changed into formal wear, the men handsome in their tuxes and the ladies sparkling and elegant in their gowns. It was very exciting and the ribbons lovely!

Then we focused our remaining energy on packing up and saying our "see you soons" and preparing for the long slog through late Sunday afternoon traffic. As I drove I kept a close eye on Barbara and Vay to make sure they were behind me all the way. We came home to lovely dinner of Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and salad with pineapple upside down cake. My mother and Barbara, who are about the same age had on Thursday reminisced about the favorite foods of their childhood. It was delicious and we were starving as we could not get through the long lines at the food booths for lunch. Y'all will love this, once I had unpacked CH, GP Shadedknoll So Divine and GC Dalee Special Edition's rosettes from the show, My dear mother asked "Why did you bring home so many ribbons?" Sigh......

Monday morning came fast and sure. The Monday morning following the International is always a conundrum for me as we pick up our Thanksgiving turkeys at noon at work. So I had to go in to work, so I said my ‘see you soons" to Barbara and Vay and made the slog back into San Francisco to work. Once there I was able to catch up on a ton of email and things that needed my immediate attention and then when my boss arrived with her parents recently arrived from Europe, asked if I could have the afternoon off to meet Vicki Blandford (Peerage, Atlanta, GA), Teresa Bailey (Hastings Hall, Jacksonvile, FL) and Patrecia Bunter from Australia. Yes! So I met them in downtown San Francisco and picked them up at the St. Francis Hotel. From there we drove through the Financial district to the San Francisco harbor and enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Waterfront Restaurant right on the Bay with a close view of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island.

Afterwards we did some sightseeing, admiring Coit Tower, the San Francisco wharf (very touristy and tacky), Ghiradelli, and drove down Lombard street, the windiest street in the world all while admiring the awesome views of the islands dotting the bay (Alcatraz island, Angel Island, Belvedere Island) as well as the boats and ships sailing in the bay. We drove by my workplace and glimpsed the wonderful statue of Yoda and pointed out my office windows facing the Golden Gate Bridge. The drove through the Presidio where we found a lovely look out spot with huge views of the bay, and onward to the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge for more pictures.

We then hopped back into my car and headed north across the Golden Gate Bridge heading toward the picturesque town of Sausalito. We first took a detour to Fort Cronkite Beach to admire the surf of the Pacific Ocean. We then headed to Sausalito to the Spinnaker Restaurant to enjoy the spectacular view of the hillside homes of Sausalito and a direct view across the bay of the skyline of the city of San Francisco. We relaxed and chatted enjoying wonderful drinks and watched the sun set and the lights of the city come on one after another. This day was a rare jewel, warm and balmy. We could not have asked for better weather and better views of the city and a better time with each other.

Darkness had fallen and it was time for the return drive to San Mateo to the Crown Plaza and then the long drive home, which was not bad as there was not that much traffic. Yes, I was a very tired exhibitor!! Here is a huge congratulation to everyone showing, winning or exhibiting at the International this year!

Participating:

Bruno Picasso and Sumara Meliti (Italy) showing Brumar Benjy and CH Lion Blanc Mimi of Brumar

Lois Pomeroy showing Chelcecats Jillian

Barbara Whitman showing Chenet Cotton Candy of Dalee and CH Dalee Angel's Whisper and Peppermill Tara of Dalee

Teresa Bailey showing Hastings Hall Sherri Sings Sinatra

Shirley Crawford with Sanmar Lola

Sherry Sullivan showing Extasse Final Destination

Tracy Smith showing Simbakui Lance Pawstrong, Simbakui Okeanas and Simbakui Denali

Mix McGraw showing 2M Cimmaron

Barbara Boscoe showing Castlegate Luvmedo of Catchurheart

Doreann Nasin showing Gillies Lucky Charm of Dalee, Gillies Last Call and Gillies Butter Nut

Kathy Zennaiter showing SilverestateSilverestate Awesome Blossom and Silverestate Inspired and new Grand GC Jenew's Passion Bloomed at Last

Sally Daniels showing Shadedknoll Laci Ann and GC Shadedknoll Bijou

Tammy Mendez showing Ultamint's Sincerely and GC Ultamint's Imagine

Gail Persinger showing CH Kittikamir Deuteronomy

Betty Minotti showing Angelicalpaws Prince Charming of Stardazl and CH Angelicalpaws Cinderella of Stardazl

Cheryl Riley showing CH Labrese Royal Flush of Cheerybirdie and GC Labrese Q.P. Doll of Cheerybirdie and GC, GP Cheerybirdie Doll E. Darling

Irene Jensen showing new Grand GC Sunnybeach Don Ciccio

Liv Kelly showing GC Ultamint's High Roller of Chazlee

Diana Frailey showing CH Kimberlite Golden Touch

Laura Gregory showing GP All Aglitter Esparanza

Vickie Blandford with PR Peerage Luminaire.

Karol Cummins showing GC Dalee Special Edition of Wyndcreste and CH, GP Shadedknoll So Divine of Wyndcreste.

Silver Exotics:

Elise Scafani showed kittens Jade River's Raggedy Andy and Jade River's Thunderbolt

Pam Hill Showed GC, GP Echo Hill Carmen

Susan LaFlash showed GC Echo Hill of Silvr Shadoz

And the winners are (unofficial):

Kittens

Brumar Benjy

Shadedknoll Laci Ann

SimbaKui Lance Pawstrong

Premiers:

CH, GP Shadedknoll So Divine of Wyndcreste

GC,GP Cheerybirdie Doll E. Darling

Championship:

GC Ultamint Imagine, 2nd Best LH in Show and 3rd Best AB

VOID

GC Sunnybeach Don Ciccio

GC Jenew Passion Bloomed at Last

GC Shadedknoll Bijou and

Congratulations to everyone on a great show!