I stink cause I have been at the barn in this heat wave.

Also I got bit by fire ants.  Apparently I stepped in a mound and didn’t realize it until they were biting.

so yeah.

that is all.

Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know…?

Do you get
What you’re hoping for
When you look behind you
There’s no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know…?

Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies
That filled our minds
You knew how I loved you
But my spirit was free
Laughin’ at the questions
That you once asked of me

Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know…?

Now looking back at all we’ve planned
We let so many dreams
Just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long
Before we’ll see
How sad the answers
To those questions can be

Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know…?

Do you get
What you’re hoping for
When you look behind you
There’s no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know…?

Couple of different things here.

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Alot of people get on me about the vagueness of my posts. What you have to realize is that there are many different people who read this blog and although I would LIKE to be brutually honest… I can’t. Its’ not in me to blog about something negative about someone and have them read about themselves on the internet. Although this is my thoughts and feelings, it is also my CHOICE to censor myself with regards to comments about others.

Also… this is MY space and how I choose to use it. Just because I give a daily accounting of my day, doesn’t mean you’re entitled to ALL my thoughts or feelings…. or the who, what, why, where’s …..

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I had 2 lessons this weekend. No complaints. Both days were good and I’m encouraged by my progress. I think for the first time today, my trainer was encouraged as well. I was called “game” today …. which I think is a compliment. Well, I’m taking it as a compliment or encouragement.

I have to take what I can get.

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Afterwards, I pulled Cook out. and well. she was disgusting as noted by these pictures. I hopped on anyway bareback.
How can one horse be so dirty? I just gave her a bath like 3 days ago. I put a TON of laser sheen on her, which is supposed to “repel” dirt… the dirt is supposed to just slide right off. Does the fricking dirt look like it’s sliding right off?

Here is a pic of both our butts after riding.

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Belle is way too cute! How cute is she!?!

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Another cuteness pic! My favorite kitty of ALL time. love him!

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OK I know you can’t stand anymore, but ONE more.

this is Birdie on the way back to Raleigh from Fayetteville after visiting my Dad and brother. I have stuff still in there from the horse show… and little space for the beagle. Poor beagle. BTW, I took this picture over my shoulder, driving on 40. Safe!

I haven’t blogged in a few days mostly out of laziness and fatigue. I have been riding alot, both Miss and Cook. I have been taking it easy on Cook, since she is recovering from back soreness. I mostly have been just hacking her out, letting her do whatever she wants, and really stretching her head down in order to stretch out her back muscles.

Like my friend Shelly, I have been having trouble sleeping. So i’m just trying to wear myself out until I can get back to a normal cycle.

I waited until it cooled off at 7 to go out and ride with AW. Much much fun. Ash is a cool girl and we get along well. I rode Miss and Cook and she hopped on Apogee and Lincoln. All were exceptionally good. WAY good. No complaints at all.

I had a good time on Miss and I like her alot. I really do. She has nice gaits, shes’ responsive. I rode Cook second and I just realized in my heart, how much I love her. I just know Cook so well, and know her movements so well, that riding her is second nature. We rode in a pasture today and just cantered around. She was relaxed and ultra chill.

Cook has a cut on her cornary band I’m treating. I hope that doesn’t turn into anything.

Today my dad, stepmum, and 2 younger brothers flew in from Washington state to visit.

It was really good.  It makes me miss them.  My two brothers, now 17 and 11 are way grown up.

They visited the barn and met Cook.

Anyway here is a cute pic from the barn.

Kitty and Peaches~

Here is a pic of Justin, Brandon and me.

Lastly here is a pic of my brother Richard, me, my Dad, brother Justin and brother Brandon in the front.

Nite all. Today has been a long day and I’m turning in early.

There was a horse named Triton that recently left our barn to move to Texas. His owner is attending vet school out there. On Jul 16, according to these reports, there was a pesticide in the grain and 27 horses died. Triton unfortunately was one of them.

I’m so, so, so sorry.

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It just makes your stomach drop to hear things like this. It just reminds us how quickly life can be taken away from you. I know that one day that Cook will be no more and it’s something I hate to even think about. I know “there will be other horses” and death is a part of life. Whatever. I’m sure it will not ease any pain of losing a pony that is truly THE special one.

I know I have a big arse scrapbook, I pick over Cook with a fine tooth comb, I clip her religiously, I bath her more than the dogs that sleep with me, and I have an entire website dedicated to her daily happenings… but I hope that people know that she’s more than just a horse. I know people might look at her and say she’s ordinary, she’s common, she’s “little” (term of affection, my a**!). Like Jack Nicholson said in “As good as it gets”, I watch people walk past her stall, or dismiss the ordinary, little mare and never get they just met the greatest horse alive. And the fact that I get it, makes me feel good, about me.

She is truly, truly the most special thing in my life.

I have to believe that on some level that she knows that.

so here is my day in bullet form.

- I rode Cook with Emily and Lincoln. She was way good. We did mess around a lil bit and I let her (encouraged her) to gallop along the long sides of the ring. I don’t have to use any leg… mainly I just say yaw, yaw, yaw, and then just tilt a lil forward and let her go. She has a sixth gear that she can immediately fly into. I’m not even gonna lie, it’s completely awesome. That horse can fly.

- Rode Miss too. She was good. I’m getting better and better on her. We jumped around. We can do individual jumps really well… and she’s good between the jumps. I just need to KEEP riding her after a line. I have come a long way. Miss knows what she is doing. I just have to adjust from being so used to Cook to riding a different type of ride.

- ugh. long story short. My saddle doesn’t fit anymore. It’s causing Cook to be back sore. Even tho it’s a wide tree, Cook is shaped weird (due to genetics and having 4 babies). It was tight on her but bearable BUT then she gained weight (remember my complaints about Cook being so thin). So now Fatty’s saddle doesn’t fit, to where it is causing issues. So. UGH! very boo. I have to figure out what to do. It’s not a smart idea for me to buy a saddle right now. I have to figure out something in the meantime. It also makes me mad because that saddle is molded to my butt! I love that saddle.

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this made me smile.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die a’fore I rise, at least in heaven I can ride.”

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Caddie is hanging in there.  She’s been a lil trooper.  Birdie makes me mad tho.  She is not gentle with Caddie and often times knocks her over or down.  She tries to play with her too.  I wish Caddie would just bite her on the nose… then maybe Birdie would get the hint.  What a dork.

Had a theraputic morning at the barn. I got up, hacked Missy, hacked Cook, bathed Miss, and then piddled around the barn until 2ish. Missy was good, I’m really really starting to like her. alot. I have a thing for seal bays’ anyhow, so right there she has an advantage. She’s not as sweet as Cook but she has alot more heart and she’s more consistent. You know what ur getting with Miss. There’s alot to be said for that.

It’s fun that I can do this now, being single and no kids. I know I need to take advantage of it while I can. I just have to make sure that whoever I end up with can put up with long hours at the barn. ** Or make enough money that I can quit my job and play ponies all day, come home at night. :-)

Know who I have a crush on?

Besides Wenty, Nelly and Usher.

Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs.  I like his voice and he makes me laugh.

Read this if you wanna laugh ur a** off at some funny frequently asked questions about Dirty Jobs.

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I’m glad to be home and starting the weekend. Gonna ride. :-)

what is everyone else doing this weekend?

I am a poster of song lyrics. especially ones that I deem applicable to my moods. Althought this is a remake, I love the live, unplugged version by Alicia Keys and Adam Levine. It is depressing but oddly, comforting.

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless you know who I am
You know I can’t let you slide through my hands

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn’t drag me away

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn’t drag me away

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don’t have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let’s do some living after we die

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day

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I’m blogging and then going straight to bed.  I’m soooo tired!  I did ride today!  Had a good time with Ashley W, Kathy, and Emily.

Cook was good.  She started out a lil gimpy but she quickly worked out of it.  We hopped over 2 jumps.  She was forward and willing.

Miss was the 2nd set.  She was awesome on the left lead canter.  Ash told us that we looked nice.  :-)  Big grin.  The right is still a lil shakey.  It’s fine but I think she leans on me.   We popped over a few jumps too and she was good.

I think she likes me. Or perhaps just tolerates me.

Either way, I’ll take it.