Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I may not be the best candidate, but I sure the hell am the best dressed!

So, biggest news of the day? Yes, my friends, I had a job interview. For a big girl full time position! There were 3 people interviewing me and I think I did well. I didn't straight knock it out of the park or anything, but I was in there for an hour and I didn't bomb anything. I really hope I get it! They said they would let me know by the middle of July. --Great, I get to be anxious for two whole weeks while they decide my fate... Oh well, I tried my very best and now its up to hoping the other million candidates sucked! On the bright side I wore the greatest shoes ever!

In other news. Daphne was SO good on her walk yesterday! She passed bunches of people and did not growl at all! She also didn't tug on her leash. We are making progress. I am going to visit Granite tomorrow since I will be out of town all weekend... I will try to get some pics to post along with an update.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Daphne walk/ Visit to Granite @ Summer Camp & Daytrip...

Well Happy Monday to all. Hopefully we can all start this week bright, considering that most of us (the lucky ones) have a 4 day weekend to which to look forward. I will be heading out to Oak Island, NC with 7 friends. It should be a complete blast and I cannot wait! Although I will miss my little dog person as she will be staying for extended "daycare" while I am gone. Next weekend she will head down to my parents house on the OBX and will be staying for her trip to summer camp/ behavior modification...

Friday evening, I took Daphne for an hour long walk on along the road on which we live. We went close to 8pm when it had finally cooled down. I worked on snapping her leash (attached to a harness, not her neck) quickly every time she started to pull. She is FINALLY getting it and by the middle of the walk was looking like this:

Can you believe that? Yes folks, that's SLACK on her leash! What a good dog. I took her again last night for a shorter walk around our apartment complex and I had surprisingly similar results in less time. I think I will do the same with her this evening. I will let you know how that goes.

I went to see Granite at the trainers on Saturday morning. I took my favorite Colorado girl and she thought my boy was handsome (and huge). Cynthia worked him in a circle a bit and he was fabulous. She then backed the trailer up and loaded him. He walked on without her even leading him. This is after it took us close to an hour to load him when I bought him! Then she let me try it, and what do you know? He loaded right up for me too! I groomed and loved on him-- all the while he was ground tied! He is making such progress and it has only been two weeks! I am going to see him Wednesday after work since I will be away all weekend. If only I could convince the new man in my life to come meet him with me on Wednesday. I don't think I have a snowball's chance in hell of that... but hey, a girl can dream cant she?

After visiting Granite at summer camp Colorado and I went to Mayberry (Mount Airy,NC) to do some touristy stuff. We went to see a lot of "free" things that "we wouldnt see anywhere else in the world" and then realized where we truly belonged... the wineries! We did 2 seperate wine tours and I had a blast. Colorado is trying to plan my wedding at a winery... too bad there is no groom to speak of :( We had a real blast none the less!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Granite Goes to Boot Camp & Changes in the Troupe

Much has happened in my world since the beginning of the summer.

The first big bit of news was a difficult decision that I was forced to make. I chose to relinquish possession of my mare, Karma. In order to properly care for both horses, I was investing a lot of time and money but each horse was getting less than their fair share of time and resources were spread terribly thinly. The Porters were also having to take on the expense of feeding and housing my GIANT warmblood youngster who eats just as much as the other 5 horses combine did. So, after much deliberation, chose to return Karma to D and focus all of my efforts on Granite who was to be my future show horse anyway. In addition to the decision to pare down to one equine, was the decision to move Granite to a new farm. This choice was made for a multitude of reasons but most importantly because Granite needs more space with which to run and be a healthy growing youngster. Also, he is eating so much and making the limited space at the Porters hard to work with. Moving Granite was the best choice for everyone with the exception of Mr. Wallet. Mr. Wallet always gets shafted however, so whats new? Granite will be moving next month to Lil' Aspen Farms in Summerfield, NC about 25 minutes from my apartment. He will be pasture boarded but we have access to a washdown, barn, round pen, arena with rubber footing, and lots of green green pastures. Along with lots of Paint horses-- I expect an identity crisis in the near future from Granite wondering why he doesn't have spots!

In other BIG news... Granite left for training with Cynthia Turrentine of King, NC. He left on June 13th and will be in training for a month. I went to visit Granite last Saturday. He is adjusting well and loves his temporary pasture mate, Duke. He is working on confidence building and his fear of small spaces. He is learning to ground tie and deal with scary things such as fly spray, water hoses, creeks, the trailer, and life in general. Cynthia is diligent about sending me updates as she knows I am queen of the Helicopter Moms... She just sent me a picture of his first bath time experience! I am going to visit him tomorrow and will share our new updates. Granite will go to him new home when he returns from training and hopefully I will be able to take over from here!

In other news. My dog is getting out of control. She bit the new man in our lives last week. She didn't draw blood but he simply leaned down to kiss me and she lunged. I have enacted a new "no daphne on the furniture" rule when we have guests to visit. I have been trying to get her out on some more walks on these warm summer evenings. I will be sending her to summer camp with my parents in the next three weeks when we go down to visit. They will keep her for a couple weeks and inevitably "learn her sumthin." I wish I had inherited their animal training abilites. I have recently decided that I shall avoid reproduction as my children would turn out to be gang bangers at the rate in which I am proceeding with my two critters. Hopefully sending the two of them to their respective "Summer Camps" will help to aleviate the problems we have encountered.

Finally, I have a big job interview next week. I think I am a prime candidate for the position, so just pray I don't screw up the interview. This is a full time position that will allow me to only take 4 class hours next semester and then graduate with my Masters in December. The job is close to Granite's new farm and will afford me the time (and perhaps a bit of extra money) to spend ample time with him!

Updates to come! Thanks for sticking with me :)