Frienenimies?

So NMML(New Man in My Life) did make it to the barn. We went and caught Granite (who was happily munching in his huge green pasture w/ Vino attached to him at the hip). I think NMML was equally afraid of the large bugs of the stinging variety and the large equine toddlers. When I got Granite out of the pasture, I backed him up and moved his hind quarters as instructed by Cynthia to get his mind into work mode. The Barn owner was cleaning stalls so I had to put Granite in the aisle to groom him. I chose to see if he would ground tie... I was right! He stood like a perfect gentleman and didn't even chew his rope as he is accustomed to doing! I was the proudest mama ever! He was even a gentleman for his fly spray which is the behavior that prompted me shipping him off for a month of summer camp. NMML fed him some apple wedges and brushed him a bit. He was none to happy about being there, but didn't complain or gripe about it. So I will take this as a baby step and be excited. I put Granite's fly mask on and popped him back into his field. Did I mention that he has no kicks or bites? I am thrilled with his transition to this new facility! YAY. I am heading to see him after work if it doesn't rain too much. This will be the first time in well over a month that I have had him to myself and I could actually do some ground work and have some mama-baby bonding time... Will let you know how it goes.

In other news. My apartment has gone down the shitter at an alarming rate and the last straw for me was walking out of my apartment this morning to a bad of dirty diapers and seeing a lawn littered with used baby wipes. VOMIT! So being so short on cash due to some car repairs and the $250 increase in board for Granite per month, I am concerned with the cost deposits and Daphne destruction (yes she ate a hole in my carpet last year too... its beginning to look like a trend, or a possible job skill when I kicker her out). Either way, we are looking at a new place Monday that is closer to my new job & Granite's farm. I love the floor plan and perhaps its a touch classier than my current residence.

Work(s) are crrrazy as I am leaving them in one and two weeks respectively. I am trying to leave both places as prepared as possible as they were both such wonderful places to work. However, that does mean that I am slammmmmed!

Updates to come...

Boy, Meet Horse...

Yes, my friends, you made a correct infrance when you determined that this title must mean that the New Man in My Life had (begrudgingly) agreed to meet my favorite Equine this evening! He is not happy about it, mind you, but he has yet to back out, so I am taking what I can get and running with it! He is meeting me at my house at 5:30 and we will make the 30min treck to the B-arn! YAY. I haven't checked on Granite since his move (late meeting at work last night), so I am anxious to check on him and introduce two of my very favorite boys tonight!
Updates to come...

Outer Banks-tastic Weekend, Someone's gotta pay taxes around here & Granite's Big Move... aka the saga of Rachel's life continues

Sooo much to share with you!

Friday my friend Hannah and I headed to my parents house and the lovely land in which I was born and raised, the Outer Banks of NC. Home sweet home. We took of after work at around 5:30 and drove the arduous 5 hours to my folk's house. My poor mother had oral surgery that day so she was in LaLa land but was obviously so excited for the arrival of "her girls" (myself and the dog of course).

We got up the next morning and hit the Sand after a delicious breakfast of homemade muffins and fresh mixed fruit (Jesus, why did I EVER think moving away from home was a good idea?). I got a hella tan in the 3 hours we spend on the beach :) YAY tanlines! We then headed to watch my little protege ride! I used to babysit this little girl and she adored me (perhaps says something about her character... questionable judgement much?). Anyway, this child is 16 now! Holy Monkeys, am I getting old?! I watched her ride the standardbred she is rehabbing and she did a stunning job. It is really nice to see someone so passionate about horses, I thought there were few of those children left (she has never owned a horse in her 12 years of riding and rides whatever she can get her hands on and works off lessons!). After watching her ride, Hannah and I headed back to my parent's house. We had steamed shrimp and beer on the back porch w/ Daddy (Really Rachel? leaving was a BAD choice). Then I took a nap on the hammock in the shade before being fed hamburgers, potato salad & pasta salad. To put a cherry on the evening, Daddy took us on a sunset booze cruise. I am not sure if I or Daphne enjoyed it more...

Hannah and I then got dressed and went to the bar with an old High School boyfriend of mine (who is still soooo hot! If I were single....) So saturday was pretty freakin frappin awesome....

Sunday Mom took me shopping b/c (get ready for BIG news....) I had a interview with the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & the Manager of Oak Ridge for the job I applied for. I needed to find a shirt to wear w/ my black pencil skirt. I found a cute pink shirt. We got home and we were welcomed by my lovely puppy and a hole in the front door AND chunks of carpet, padding, and wood, as well as door mat ripped to bits around the sliding glass door. I don't think the pup will be welcomed back at her Grandparent's house any time soon... OPS. So, yea, we ate lunch and split considering we had done quite enough damage.

Yesterday was a biggg day in the world of Rachel & Granite. I had a meeting (the aforementioned one in Oak Ridge) at 11am. Well, the "interview" was actually...waiiiit for it.... A JOB OFFER!!!!!!!!! Yes folks, I (one of the few out of my group of cohorts) will be paying taxes and am entered into the State Retirement Fund! WAHOOOO. My very first "big girl job" w/ a salary and benefits working in a Local Government using my degrees! This means I will take over my health insurance and will officially be 100% financially independent :) I am so stoked albeit scared to bits. I start August 3rd, which means these next three weeks will be insanity finding a replacement & training them for my Part Time job all the while completing my internship hours and projects before I leave my internship on July 31st. I think my life is about to begin...

As if this wasn't a big enough day, Granite came back from the trainers and moved into his new Farm... Lil' Aspen Farm. He did great on the ride over and was fairly calm about the situation. His trainer walked him around for a while then we let him into his new pasture after showing him the perimeter. I had always thought you should introduce them into the herd more slowly and over a few days, but we put him straight out with his 2 new pasture mates. They hit it off beautifully. No kicks or bites! The other 2 year old he is out with is in L-O-V-E with Granite. The 6 year old draft cross couldn't care less. The pasture is HUGE and is about 80% vinyl fencing with a super run-in and some woods too. The tack room is nice and clean and organized and the barn is well kept, yet relaxed. I think we may be really happy here. Here are some pics of the barn and pastures and Granite with his new bff, Vino.

Momma visits Granite at 'Summer Camp' for the last time...

I finally made my way to King, NC yesterday after work to visit my baby boy for the third and final time at training. His month of training comes to an end next Monday. I am so proud of him. I sent a horse who was scared of the trailer. He now self-loads. I sent a horse terrified of fly spray. He now ground ties for it. I sent a horse who had never had a bath b/c he panicked... He is now shiny clean! He also puts his head down, moves his haunches, w-t-c on the lunge. He does better going through gates and other small spaces and crosses creeks. Mainly, he has learned to think about situations before he reacts to them! I am so proud. Cynthia did a fabulous job with him. She has given him confidence in himself. She even took the time to work with me and help me to know how to direct my energy at him to get him to react the correct way. He moves to his new farm on Monday after work, so I need to begin preparing...
Here are some pictures from my visit yesterday:

On the Road Again...

Ok, I promise, I am ACTUALLY going to visit Granite at his trainer's after work today. I mean it this time! I am armed with my camera and camera phone and D is coming with me, so hopefully I will have some pictures and a nice post about his progress to share with you tomorrow.

I spent some time at the Porter farm yesterday which was really nice. I had dinner with them and visited with Karma for the first time in a really long time. I have been feeling about her like I have felt about some boyfriends in the past. I often remain friends with ex boyfriends because in my opinion if you truly loved them, you always will in a way the type of love just shifts as the individuals grow. I promise, hang with me, I am getting to the point... Anyway. When I first go through one of these breakups (and I am a pro, I go through them often) I need some space. Pretty much no contact for a month or two so I can regain my Independence and not dwell on what I lost when losing the relationship. After that, I can usually spend time with the particular ex as friends and not have those feelings of loss or jealousy etc... So, this is how I was feeling about Karma. I guess it was about 3 weeks ago when I decided to return her to her previous owner and despite an open invitation to ride her or spend time with her, I have kept my distance and haven't even groomed her or went out to her pasture to visit although I am at the farm daily to drop off and pick up the dog. Yesterday I petted her for the first time in a while. It was bitter sweet. I had missed her, but had not allowed myself to dwell on it. I think what may hurt worse is knowing that others are riding her and giving lessons with her. I feel like I know her better and that they won't do her justice... but I also know that it is only my Ego and 'Only Child Syndrome' speaking. So I have to swallow it and slowly, I hope to spend more time with Karma as 'friends' instead of 'lovers' as I have done successfully with so many ex flames...

Theres my giant analogy for the day. Thanks for dealing with me. I promise pictures of Granite and stories of what I hope will be success and growth tomorrow. He moves back to Greensboro and into his new digs next week. Official date to come...

an episode of Real World Oak Island, and thoughts on Granite's big move...

So the beach trip was fabulous! We got in late Thursday night and immediately popped tops. I ended up going for a swim at 3am and the Ocean kicked my ass! I scraped my knee, hurt my ankle, and lost my bracelet... I would totally do it again! Friday was kind of annoying as the New Man in My Life (NMML) was a complete ass. He actively seemed to ignore me and I was pissed. That evening after a few rounds of shots, I finally lost it and he and I ended up having an overly dramatic heart-to-heart. It ended well however because he was clear that I would not accept that type of behavior and he was perfectly attentive and fun for the remainder of the vacation. Saturday we went to see Ice Age 3, which provided us with an abundance of funny quotes for the rest of the weekend. Saturday night was continued fun. 1/2 of the group went to see fireworks and Rich, Colorado, and myself went home to decorate the house for NMML's birthday. We put curly ribbons up all over the place and I had a Happy Birthday banner. I think he appreciated it...at least I hope he did. Sunday morning was lazy. None of us really wanted to leave but we began cleaning fairly shortly after waking up and we hit the road by 3ish. I was so car sick on the way back and we got stuck in really bad traffic on I-40. We made it home around 8 and I took NMML to a quick Mexican dinner then we went to my house where we passed out around 10:30. Roomie is gone until the 16th, so it will be quiet around the house for the next 2 weeks.

I had planned to go visit Granite tonight, but his trainer had to work overtime all weekend so she asked if I could come out tomorrow evening instead. We plan to discuss which day is best for moving him to his new farm. I am out of town for the next two weekends, so I think it will have to be on a week day after work. I plan to move some of my stuff over fairly shortly. I am not sure if I should keep my saddle's at D's barn or move them with me. There is always a chance that the new barn owner will ask/offer for me to ride a couple of her young paints, but I know I will probably be riding Karma on occasion. I think I may take the less expensive saddle to the new place and keep my Bates at D's where I know it is safe. Any advice on creating a smooth transition for Granite and myself to our new barn? I haven't moved farms since I was in High School! I am pretty excited by scared about keeping up with the finance end of it all. On that note... I have made the final 4 for the Oak Ridge Town Clerk position!!! The Manager was checking references this morning. Cross your fingers I get this!

4x4x4 Beach Trip

Well Well, 18min till 5:00-- productivity is long gone. So I figured I would jot a quick note about my quickly approaching Beach Vacay. 4Girls 4Guys 4Days at Oak Island at the New Man in My Life's Grandmother's Beach House. I cannot wait. Colorado and I have been scheming already of all the fun things we can do while we are there. Flip Cup, getting the Goody2Shoes wasted-face, Wiffle Ball, Man in My Life's Birthday Par-tay... Should be a blasty. I am mostly looking forward to laying on the beach and working on my tan. THIS my friends is when I can appreciate the freedom of a non-horse-owner. Although I miss my boy terribly, I can go on this vacation guilt free knowing that he is at training and I wouldn't be with him anyway. I will, however, miss my baby dog-girl terribly while I am basking in the glorious sunshine. How can you not miss that cute face? Thanksfully D is taking good care of her over the long weekend. Thank god for "daycare".