I didn’t feel good today.  I felt like I was carsick all day…. but I was sitting at my desk.  weird.

Scootie drove me to THS today to try on paddock boots, buy treats for Cook and some misc items.  Oh, and some nameplates I gotta pick up later.   Then we had to go drop his truck off at the shop cause it’s a crappy Ford and needs work.

I went to the barn after work but I didn’t want to put Ariana on Cook cause the construction crew was very noisy.  I didn’t want Cook to be fresh.

Went out to dinner with Mom and Ariana.

Then I threw some softballs with Ariana.  She has started playing softball for the first time.  I played as a kid / teenager for a billion years.  Richard played baseball.  My younger two brothers played baseball.  One funny thing is that all 4 of us pitched.  My dad is the common denominator.  He taught us all to pitch.   I hadn’t thrown or caught a softball tho in YEARS.  Its’ still fun tho and I had a good time with Ariana.

Night all.

quote of the day.

(during a discussion of wedding intoxication)

“my mom told me I was dancing.  You don’t understand.  Dancing!  I don’t dance.  I’m white for crying out loud.  Very white.” - not to be named. 

ha!

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Had a jump lesson with Mere (rode in with Eva and Pharoah).  It was good and bad.  The lesson was good.  Cook was good.  Crystal can use some work.

Cook was sleepy on the flat so I had to use alot of leg, which was a tad annoying.  But when we started jumping, she at least woke up.  I wish I had had just a tiny tiny tiny bit more horse under me.  Ironically it was the last 2 lines of jumps where I thought she was the right amount of response/energy I like. 

highlights.

bad - can’t keep my fingers closed, loopy reins. intermittent contact with her mouth, two pt position is on top of her neck in her mane instead of to the side, not getting the lead over the fence, no cleaning flying changes, on the flat she’s intermittently not bending in, pole ground work… don’t even go there.  we almost killed ourselves the first time through.  Cook tripped instead of trotted every pole.

good - we can turn well.  Mere had us doing rollbacks and an S formation to the jumps which involved tight turns.  Cook’s small.  She turns well.  :-P  This was also close to the end and she was very responsive and listening.  and……. let’s see…. another good thing….. um…   we went over everything?  we will brave and willing to every jump.  I’m stretching here. 

Eva and Pharoah did very well. 

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My mom and sister are up for 3 days.   We had to go back to the barn last night after picking them up to wash fungus off of Cook’s legs.   She fell asleep in the cross ties.  She likes for me to fuss over her.  Spoiled rotten.

Speaking of which… know what Wednesday is???  Her birthday!!  Very yay.  I want to get her a present but I don’t know what yet.  I need to go by Triangle. 

but back to mom and sis.  So my sis might ride….  If she wants to just sit on someone, I will just have cook do it, and I will lead her.  maybe.  Cook can be pissy sometimes.  Ask Alexis.  If she wants to try and really ride, then I will borrow a pony from Mere. 

I had a ridiculously awesome weekend. It’s been a longgggggggggggggggg time that I had a weekend where everything I did was just… fun and for ME. I needed this mentally in a big way with all the stress of my job and life.
I did get tempermental at the end of the night but that was due to extreme fatigue. I came home and crashed hard. Waking up this morning, I’m a lil sore as well. I rode many hours Saturday morning and my back is like ‘what the hell’?

Blogging this quickly cause I am short on time. Sat on 4 yesterday (cook - awesome, missy, early and Lincoln).

First time on Lincoln. Trot nice nice NICEEEE. I asked for the canter and he launched. That horse has the HUGEST stride EVER that I have ridden. My heart was in my throat. And hes’ strong!! I think he pulled my arms out of their sockets.

Hats Off to Alexis. Cause she rides that horse and makes it look easy.

I’ll stick wth my itty bitty pony.

This reminds me of a boy I know.

I got the best compliment from my brother today.

He told me “U will never……… not be strong.”

Aw.

I was thinking about how most people better remember -negative- things said to them than positive…. especially concerning areas near and dear to them. I can tell u prolly 100 negative things said about Cook and my riding before I can tell u good things.. and I hear good things all the time… it’s just the bad things stick.

So before I start sounding like an afterschool special, please be mindful of the criticism / smart remarks that u give someone. (this is especially for my younger fan base of barn kiddies). Be also mindful of remarks disguised as “advice”, “humor”, or “constructive criticism”.

what’s the best compliment that u have gotten (not related to riding)?

I dragged myself out of my Tylenol PM state to take Scootie to the airport at the crack of dawn. Actually it wasn’t the crack of dawn, just 8am but whatever. He was running late (not my fault) so he drove like a bat out of hell to RDU. He scares me with his NJ driving. I think they must hand out licenses like tic tacs up there.

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Because my boss is merciful, I got out a lil today. Riding time! I rode cook (for a short spell, very excellent, way cute) and Missy (who was way good and very tolerant of me).  I have a couple of pictures from there and I will throw them in with the pictures from Thursday.
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I must blog about my mare’s new objection of obsession.

His name?

Lincoln.

Lincoln, apparently.. is THE MAN. Cause my mare is crazy about some Linc! I had to actually -SWAT- my mare with the ends of my reins to walk past Linc cause she was trying to do some heavy flirtation with him.

I’m just glad she has a friend. :-) she’s happy, I’m happy. She gets the weekend off due to weather and the fact I am out of town.

Rode Cook with Lauren and Elvis (very big yay to having Elvis back) and Emily and Taylor. We took a few pictures which are located in the gallery but only one turned out of Cook.

How cute is she??????? Look at my mare’s lil square legs!!

Cook was excellent but she was very tired and not very interested in picking up her feet over the jumps. As a result, we looked very ugly over a few, and we also knocked down one (u can actually see the knocked down jump in one of the Emily pics). Oh well.

Nothing eventful at home. I’m worn out but can’t sleep so I took a tylenol PM and soon, sleep will come for me. Night all.

Saw this on nchorsenews board as a tagline.  too cute! 

~ Advice from my horse: Take life’s hurdles in stride ~ Loosen the reins ~ Be free spirited ~ Keep the burrs from under your saddle ~ Carry your friends when they need it ~ Keep stable ~ Spur yourself on to GREATNESS ~

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Rode Cook in the pasture.  She was super awesome so we didn’t ride long.  She’s a lil on the thin side so I don’t want to work her too hard.  Got some Weightbuilder for her so we will see if that helps.

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everything seemed to go right tonight.  I went to a wine and cheese opening at a new Tack Shop and I had a good time.

I drank Pepsi. 

I know I’m obsessed with Wentworth but I dont’ even care! Prison Break is absolutely the best show on TV! Last night’s episode showing how they all got in prison was surprising intriguing.

One note tho… Wenty, men don’t wear ear muffs with no hat. It’s not becoming.

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GUESS WHAT COOK WAS DOING WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE BARN???

grazing.

YES YES YES!! Good!! yaya!!!

Go lincoln!! Be friends with my mare!!

Theresa and Toddler Montgomery met me out there to see the baby foal again and then we went and had dinner.