I'm eating peanut butter at my desk.
No, not on crackers. Nope, not on an apple. Na-uh, not in a sandwich.
Out. Of. The. Jar.
Why, you ask? Because I ran out of food money and I don't get paid until Friday and a (fat) kids gotta eat!
To add insult to injury? My boss is an uber healthy dude and if he comes into my office, this could be difficult to explain.
Now, if you'll excuse me, my board is due today and I must run a check out to the barn...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
My Horsecentric Saturday
I love weekends, don't you? Weekends are even better when I get to see my best friend and hang out with horses. Yesterday Eva met me at my house at 8:30ish in the morning (setting my dog off barking and thus waking my roomie). We headed out to breakfast (greasy diner food...YUM; I could never be a vegetarian) then we hit the road for the 45 minute trek to Baby Morgan's farm! He lives in the most lovely 2 stall barn. It has cobble stone floors and a huge tack room. You could probably fit 4-5 stalls in it but its laid out so lovely to house just two very spoiled Morgans.
I'll let Eva tell you about the experience herself. But know it was very positive and I think Reggie looked even better than he did the last time we saw him. But Reggie? I am not a fan of that name!
Eva had some spare time after our horse shopping, so she volunteered to accompany me to a local schooling show where my judging team was practicing. I wasn't really looking forward to going to the show (I'm not sure as to why, I think I was just tired and wanted to spend some time with my own horse), but Eva joining me made it sound like a lot more fun. I brought Daphne along as well. I don't see the kid much during the week (thank god she gets to go to "daycare") so I try to bring her along as much as possible on the weekends. The hose show reminded me so much of one of the open series that Eva and I used to do as kids. Its english in the morning and western in the afternoon with halter and leadline somewhere in the middle. People of all ages and socioeconomic statuses attend and you see a wide range of horses from well-bred and well turned out horses to backyard ponies with furry crusty coats and dirty saddles (no excuses people! you can't change your horses conformation or breeding, but you can clean them and yourselves up!!).
Eva and I did quite well for ourselves at these shows as kids but most importantly we created some great lasting memories. We had a crappy two-horse trailer with no tack room that our dads would haul for us. We had no trainers or fancy things. We looked forward to morning stops to get a krispy kreme doughnut and a power aide on the way to the show grounds about an hour and 15 minutes away. We loved to win and were super competitive but usually rather supportive of one another (ok-- I was a bit more of a sore sport if I didn't do well)
All of that to say that being there made us both miss those days. There were even two girls (who seemed to place quite well) that would do a little "shake and bake" hand shake after being placed 1st and 2nd together. That was SO Eva and I! My judging team did pretty well and I got to meet the coach of a team from a neighboring county who is willing to give my group and myself some guidance since we are all so new at this. The most exciting news from the horse show venture however? Daphne! She was soooo well behaved. I don't know what was different or why (unfortunately because I want to replicate this...like, always!). She didn't growl at all. People approached her and a lot of people knelt down to pet her (which gives me a heart attack because I am always afraid she will bite!) but she was exceptionally well mannered. One person even told me that I had a very well behaved dog, to which I responded by asking her to repeat herself and perhaps document the statement in writing so that I may quickly have it notarized.
After the show, Eva had to be on her way and I headed out to the barn. I borrowed D's fancy ShowPro clippers because I wanted to introduce my man to clippers for the first time and get some of the winter fuzzies away. He had feathers (no joke folks, I think he may be part draft and someone lied to me!) on his feet and he is generally scruffy despite losing mass quantities of winter hair during every grooming. I am pretty sure after yesterday, I could have knitted a small pony with the excess.
This didn't go quite as planned. It seems that since Granite returned from his time at bootcamp with wonder-trainer Cynthis last summer, I have forgotten that he used to be quite ridiculous and almost scary on the ground. Now he is my resident dead-head that no one would peg for a 3 year old if they didn't know better. But upon introduction to the clippers near his neck and head, he lost his marbles. I went on and clipped all four feet-- I don't think they look too bad but there are only 2 settings on the clippers and its hard to make the smooth transition from clipped legs (up to the knee) to non-clipped legs, so it may look less-than-amazing for a week or two.
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I'll let Eva tell you about the experience herself. But know it was very positive and I think Reggie looked even better than he did the last time we saw him. But Reggie? I am not a fan of that name!
Eva had some spare time after our horse shopping, so she volunteered to accompany me to a local schooling show where my judging team was practicing. I wasn't really looking forward to going to the show (I'm not sure as to why, I think I was just tired and wanted to spend some time with my own horse), but Eva joining me made it sound like a lot more fun. I brought Daphne along as well. I don't see the kid much during the week (thank god she gets to go to "daycare") so I try to bring her along as much as possible on the weekends. The hose show reminded me so much of one of the open series that Eva and I used to do as kids. Its english in the morning and western in the afternoon with halter and leadline somewhere in the middle. People of all ages and socioeconomic statuses attend and you see a wide range of horses from well-bred and well turned out horses to backyard ponies with furry crusty coats and dirty saddles (no excuses people! you can't change your horses conformation or breeding, but you can clean them and yourselves up!!).
Eva and I did quite well for ourselves at these shows as kids but most importantly we created some great lasting memories. We had a crappy two-horse trailer with no tack room that our dads would haul for us. We had no trainers or fancy things. We looked forward to morning stops to get a krispy kreme doughnut and a power aide on the way to the show grounds about an hour and 15 minutes away. We loved to win and were super competitive but usually rather supportive of one another (ok-- I was a bit more of a sore sport if I didn't do well)
Here are just some of our winnings, still on display at the barn we "grew up" at.
After the show, Eva had to be on her way and I headed out to the barn. I borrowed D's fancy ShowPro clippers because I wanted to introduce my man to clippers for the first time and get some of the winter fuzzies away. He had feathers (no joke folks, I think he may be part draft and someone lied to me!) on his feet and he is generally scruffy despite losing mass quantities of winter hair during every grooming. I am pretty sure after yesterday, I could have knitted a small pony with the excess.
This didn't go quite as planned. It seems that since Granite returned from his time at bootcamp with wonder-trainer Cynthis last summer, I have forgotten that he used to be quite ridiculous and almost scary on the ground. Now he is my resident dead-head that no one would peg for a 3 year old if they didn't know better. But upon introduction to the clippers near his neck and head, he lost his marbles. I went on and clipped all four feet-- I don't think they look too bad but there are only 2 settings on the clippers and its hard to make the smooth transition from clipped legs (up to the knee) to non-clipped legs, so it may look less-than-amazing for a week or two.
(Is it just me or does his "special fin" not look as special as it used to?)
After finishing up with the legs, I figured that I would go back to the head/neck area and work on just holding the clippers and running them along his neck to relax him. No such luck my friends, he violently bobbed his head up and down and up and down. It was not pretty or comfortable for either of us. I tried offering him a treat near the clippers, I tried sitting on a stool and letting his curiosity take over, I tried asking him to drop his head or releasing the clippers when he was still (which was never). Nothing really got me very far. I worked at this for about and hour and half before conceding and letting him go back outside before I knocked his head off or he killed me, whichever came first. This is so frustrating. I am a horrible "horse trainer" really, nothing I did worked. One of the girls from our virtual barn (this is Kristen's phrase about our little horse blogging community and I love it and am therefore stealing it) suggested buying one of those back massagers from the drug store that make a similar sound. This will be good so he doesn't knock the clippers out of my hand (they are borrowed and expensive) and because I need to return the clippers and I can't work with him on a regular basis. But any advice from the 'trainers' among us, would be much welcomed. I hate horses that can't clip and I refuse to struggle with Granite for show seasons to come.
Well, now its sunday and its not sunny! I love sunday mornings, I try to get up at a decent hour and watch CBS Sunday Morning while drinking a copious amounts of coffee and catching up on the blogs. Daphne enjoys this weekly ritual as well.
After this, we normally prepare for our 5 mile run at the park and then we head to the barn from there. But today is rainy and cloudy and my hip is killing me. I injured it in January and have been taking joint supplement and trying not to run more than 2-3 days a week or on consecutive days to keep from upsetting it. But, I ran friday and saturday and am now in pain. UGH! This is my 11th week of 5 workouts a week. I don't want to have to rest now! I finally even lost a couple of pounds. I'm not sure what I will do today as far as working out. I guess I will venture to the barn and resume work on clipping 101 eventually despite the rain, buuut the forecast is thunderstorms so, I don't know what to do. I hate not being able to follow my schedule.
In a final tidbit of news. D's best friend, Joanna, works at an embroidery/screen printing shop and decided to surprise all of the horsie associates of Dianne with a wonderful personalized saddle pad. I was so excited and Granite looks so grown up in his! PS-- look at the ticker on the top of my blog SIXTEEN DAYS until my boy is THREE! As soon as I get shoesies on his feet its time to riiide :) Also, a development in the Oak Ridge Horse Show. None of my trailer owning associates will be attending, so alas, neither will Granite. I guess there is always next time.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Whats a girl gotta do to ride in this town?
My weekend was mucho perfecto. Being back to the real world sucks. I drove 5 hours back here and went straight to the barn (didn't even stop off at the apartment first). After a brief horsie visit, I headed out to my 4-H Horse Judging Team's practice. The kids began watching a video which turned out to be a real bummer then they decided to use the real thing. We pulled out 4 QHs and the kids judged them. They practiced giving their oral reasons and they did an awesome job! I may not be much of a coach, but I have a sensational team with which to work. I will tell you more about what we have been doing eventually, but right now my life has been too crazy to have the opportunity to debrief. Last night and tonight I volunteered to judge senior projects for a local high school Because of my job with the local government, they asked me and at the time (October) I was just really excited to be important enough to be asked. I am only 6 years out of high school and i can still (for the most part) relate to these kids and I thought it would be a nice opportunity to do my civic duty. Upon further examination, I would have rather spent my evening hanging out with my kids (G and Daph of course), but the high school kids really impressed me and it was kind of fun. I have the same feeling about tonight. Its a perfect spring day and I miss my pony, but I won't mind judging projects from 5:30-9pm after a full day of work and a 5:30am working...nooo problem. I'm getting relatively tired of judging things to be honest. Its time for horse shows so someone can judge me for a change! Speaking of which...
So I rode Chance over two weeks ago while B.A. was with her students at a 'C' show for the weekend. She let me ride because we had to cancel our lesson due to a downpour. This was the 4th lesson we have had to cancel (mind you I have never actually HAD one with her). The weather has been an absolute bear since I met her in the fall and I work big kid hours (8:30-4:30) and she has lessons with children after school and is gone to shows on the weekends, so scheduling anything with me has been a huge challenge. I also feel like she is getting a bit older and may not be as interested in expanding to new clients. Especially clients like me who don't board with her and can only afford a lesson or two a month. To be honest, I can't see any trainer getting too excited about working with me. I don't have much to offer them in the way of convenience or a lucrative agreement for them...
I usually communicate with everyone via email because of my regularly insane schedule and my lack of desire to speak on the phone in general. Thank god for the blackberry, it is very easy to catch me via email almost immediately. B.A. usually responds to emails within a day or so. I emailed her twice after I rode Chance to let her know it went well and that I would like to reschedule for Monday (2 days ago) because I would have the day off of work and would be driving home from the beach early and I could meet her for a lesson. I never heard a response from either email, which is strange. This leaves me without having scheduled another day to go and school Chance either. I am wondering if she is trying to cast me off without hurting my feelings, or if maybe she doesn't have the time or energy to deal with me, or if possibly she could have just missed two emails?
I really don't want to be a challenge to her, but as I may have mentioned, I am not a good student. I don't often mesh well with trainers and I have a hard time keeping my spirits up when being criticized (I know, its the purpose of lessons). I really liked B.A. She is a tell-it-how-it-is kind of person, but shes not razor sharp either. I respect her (she showed with Margie Engle, so I automatically love her) and she runs a great facility which produces some quality youth hunters. So I want so badly to work with her, but I don't want to push her either because like I said, shes slowing down and there isn't much benefit to her in taking me on.
VS. 
So I started browsing the interwebs yesterday to find alternate hunter trainers in the area (I'm not originally from here, so the horse community here isn't super familiar). I was trying to begin lessons on Karma with a trainer in the area last year but she only lets you trailer in, she doesn't offer lesson horses. She is the one who sent me to B.A. I really didn't find many barns I trusted online. I want a reputable hunter barn that shows NCHJA rated shows. There are plenty of nice 4-H/ Qh style hunter (you know what I mean? long and low flat work hunters...its what I grew up riding for the most part) in the area and they focus on youth and compete in area open circuits. But, I really have dreams of competing in the real hunters with Granite! His trainer/my BO is fabulous but she teaches the same kind of Qh style hunters. So I need a trainer of my own to help me grow in my jumping!
I shot out about 4 emails to local hunter barns asking if they gave evening or weekend lessons and if they had school horses available. I didn't go into much detail but wanted to see if I had any options. I've only received 1 response and they referred me to B.A.
Whats a girl got to do to ride in this town??!!! I'm so frustrated. Can I just please find a rich man to marry who will fund my riding habit and make this a million times easier??
OK, back to work I go...
So I rode Chance over two weeks ago while B.A. was with her students at a 'C' show for the weekend. She let me ride because we had to cancel our lesson due to a downpour. This was the 4th lesson we have had to cancel (mind you I have never actually HAD one with her). The weather has been an absolute bear since I met her in the fall and I work big kid hours (8:30-4:30) and she has lessons with children after school and is gone to shows on the weekends, so scheduling anything with me has been a huge challenge. I also feel like she is getting a bit older and may not be as interested in expanding to new clients. Especially clients like me who don't board with her and can only afford a lesson or two a month. To be honest, I can't see any trainer getting too excited about working with me. I don't have much to offer them in the way of convenience or a lucrative agreement for them...
I usually communicate with everyone via email because of my regularly insane schedule and my lack of desire to speak on the phone in general. Thank god for the blackberry, it is very easy to catch me via email almost immediately. B.A. usually responds to emails within a day or so. I emailed her twice after I rode Chance to let her know it went well and that I would like to reschedule for Monday (2 days ago) because I would have the day off of work and would be driving home from the beach early and I could meet her for a lesson. I never heard a response from either email, which is strange. This leaves me without having scheduled another day to go and school Chance either. I am wondering if she is trying to cast me off without hurting my feelings, or if maybe she doesn't have the time or energy to deal with me, or if possibly she could have just missed two emails?
I really don't want to be a challenge to her, but as I may have mentioned, I am not a good student. I don't often mesh well with trainers and I have a hard time keeping my spirits up when being criticized (I know, its the purpose of lessons). I really liked B.A. She is a tell-it-how-it-is kind of person, but shes not razor sharp either. I respect her (she showed with Margie Engle, so I automatically love her) and she runs a great facility which produces some quality youth hunters. So I want so badly to work with her, but I don't want to push her either because like I said, shes slowing down and there isn't much benefit to her in taking me on.
VS. 
So I started browsing the interwebs yesterday to find alternate hunter trainers in the area (I'm not originally from here, so the horse community here isn't super familiar). I was trying to begin lessons on Karma with a trainer in the area last year but she only lets you trailer in, she doesn't offer lesson horses. She is the one who sent me to B.A. I really didn't find many barns I trusted online. I want a reputable hunter barn that shows NCHJA rated shows. There are plenty of nice 4-H/ Qh style hunter (you know what I mean? long and low flat work hunters...its what I grew up riding for the most part) in the area and they focus on youth and compete in area open circuits. But, I really have dreams of competing in the real hunters with Granite! His trainer/my BO is fabulous but she teaches the same kind of Qh style hunters. So I need a trainer of my own to help me grow in my jumping!
I shot out about 4 emails to local hunter barns asking if they gave evening or weekend lessons and if they had school horses available. I didn't go into much detail but wanted to see if I had any options. I've only received 1 response and they referred me to B.A.
Whats a girl got to do to ride in this town??!!! I'm so frustrated. Can I just please find a rich man to marry who will fund my riding habit and make this a million times easier??
OK, back to work I go...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Home Sweet OBX
Warning: Relatively Non-Horsey Post; my apologies.
I'm going home after work tomorrow. After 6 years of living 'on my own', I still can't figure out how to say "I'm going to my parents' house". Its still my home! I haven't seen the family (I'm an only child, so I have always been super close with mom and daddy) in 3 months and I miss them. I also miss the flat land of the coastal plain, the salt air off of the ocean, and the sunsets over the sound (which happens to be 'my' back yard!).
For your viewing pleasure... some photos to help you know why I love home so so very much.
I'm going home after work tomorrow. After 6 years of living 'on my own', I still can't figure out how to say "I'm going to my parents' house". Its still my home! I haven't seen the family (I'm an only child, so I have always been super close with mom and daddy) in 3 months and I miss them. I also miss the flat land of the coastal plain, the salt air off of the ocean, and the sunsets over the sound (which happens to be 'my' back yard!).
For your viewing pleasure... some photos to help you know why I love home so so very much.
This is the view from my parent's back deck
A different night; same beautiful sight.
Out on my Dad's boat (sheesh I look fat-- lets hope this summer's version will be more pleasant)
Me on another booze cruise!
My parents adore my dog. Can you see her shirt "I am the Grandchild"
She equally adores them AND playing with all things nautical.
Like mother, like daughter.
Grandpa's little PUPkin.
So, I will be absent from the bloggy world and the barn for the weekend. I took monday off as well, because its a 5 hour drive back to reality and I hope to schedule a riding lesson and my 4-H Judging Team has practice monday night. I will update you then. I will also continue my lobbying efforts for a new digital for my birthday :)
HAPPY WEEKEND!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Evolution of the G-Man
It responding to some comments on the preferences of long v. short manes (I overwhelmingly prefer neat, tidy, short manes), I mentioned that Granite's was LONG when I brought him home (1/17/09). Then I realized that I didn't really have any pictures on the blog of when I first got the baby. So here are a few of from various times in the little man's life. Enjoy:
You all know what he looks like now (at least in fuzzy blackberry pictures). Perhaps Carrie will come out and photog him for his 3rd birthday!
Baby Granite (only a day old) and his mom 'Grace'
Getting bigger!
The day I brought him home (he was 1 yr 9 months)- Check out that mane!
Getting adjusted to his new paddock (at D's barn).
Photo Shoot on his 2nd Birthday
And Again.
You all know what he looks like now (at least in fuzzy blackberry pictures). Perhaps Carrie will come out and photog him for his 3rd birthday!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Gettin' his hair did
Hello Daylight savings time, I have missed you so much!
It's 7:30 and the sun is beginning to set. YAY!
After going on a wonderful 5 mile jog with the pup, She and I headed out to the barn. It was a bit too chilly for Granite's first bath of the year, but it was the perfect afternoon for mane pulling. Mane pulling has always been one of my least favorite tasks but pulling a 3 year old's mane is even less fun.
Can we all lobby my parents for a camera for my birthday? Until then you get more blurry blackberry pictures:
It's 7:30 and the sun is beginning to set. YAY!
After going on a wonderful 5 mile jog with the pup, She and I headed out to the barn. It was a bit too chilly for Granite's first bath of the year, but it was the perfect afternoon for mane pulling. Mane pulling has always been one of my least favorite tasks but pulling a 3 year old's mane is even less fun.
Can we all lobby my parents for a camera for my birthday? Until then you get more blurry blackberry pictures:
We had to take a few grass breaks to maintain my patience and his sanity.
Impatient much Granite? Chew, Chew, Chew (note Daphne waiting patiently).
The finished product! Doesn't he look sharp?
Friday, March 12, 2010
Boots: Highs and Woes
Well, I let you all know in my Sunday Funday post that my Ariat Paddock boots had been sent to be rehabbed and that my Brand New Field Boots had busted after just one ride. Well, today in the mail, I received a box that looked and sounded suspiciously like boots. Hmm, I thought, these boots were supposed to take 3-4 weeks to be refurrbed, this can't be good. It wasn't. I opened up the box and saw a note saying that the stitching that had come apart could not be repaired.
Usually, I'd be pretty bummed out by this. But, Ms. Apply let me borrow some of her slightly used Ariats that she recently purchased off of ebay. They fit perfectly and she let me buy them for $46. That was cheaper than getting my old ones repaired, but I had already sent them and thought having 2 pairs would never hurt. But, now I guess I just saved the $60 it would have cost to have mine fixed. Only problem is-- my 1/2 chaps are brown! So I look like a retard, but they are in good shape (they are Ariat also, and I got a killer close-out deal on them) and I don't foresee myself replacing them simply because they no longer match my boots. Sigh, thus is the life of a poor kid.
The good news? The AHhhhhmazing folks at Horse & Rider, Inc. (seriously, I am NOT a big spender, yet they still constantly bend over backwards to help me!), just called me and told me they got a new pair of boots in for me! That took less than a week! I am starting to think I will just bring Granite to the Oak Ridge Show and not take him in a halter class, but I had hoped to get the boots before the show regardless. But, I got them in one week! Nicole and Lynn over at Horse & Rider are like tack and apparel super heroes! My only fear is that, if these boots broke after 1 ride (I spent $271 on them), what happens if they break after 15 or 20 rides? At that point, they are worn enough to probably not merit a manufacturer return like these did, but I still don't think 15 rides is worth $271... So, I am a little less thrilled about getting replacement boots then one would expect. Ahhhh! Why are boots such a difficult thing for me. In "real life" shoe shopping is my favorite b/c they ALWAYS fit and I never feel fat! Riding boots? Different story!
And an update on the riding lesson? Didn't happen :( Ms. Apple did say that I could go ride Chance this weekend while she and the clients were at the horse show in Raleigh. I think we are going to re-schedule for Monday the 22nd. I think this is the 4th lesson she and I have had to cancel due to weather. I'm starting to think she just doesn't want to be my teacher. But she is so nice to me and I really really want to train with her (She has a great reputation and her students are very solid and successful riders).
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