As usual, I start getting busy and don't find time to write. I started to write about my vacation and then my dad and his wife came back from condo shopping and we went out to dinner. My dad is such a serious computer addict (if you read this dad, I apologize...it's just so true) He plays solitaire, checks his stock portfolio. He and his wife have a tiny little office where they sit side by side. Dad on his desktop and Shirley on her lap top. It's very cute. They like each other very much. My dad is very happy.
On Sunday night after riding we went to my dad's house. Being at Dad's is very relaxed. They let us come and go as we please. We do stuff together, but we do stuff with them too. The big excitement for Maggie in Columbia, besides her grandparents, was seeing her old pony Joe Bear. The weather was very rainy while we were in town, so riding was kind of hit and miss, but Maggie had such much getting to play with and ride her pony. He, on the other hand, was really not pleased to have her on him so much. By the third day of riding, he was running away from us when we showed up to ride. But, true to Joe Bear nature, he would come when feed buckets were shaken. Poor little guy just can't help himself.
We stayed at my dad's until Thursday morning, when we had planned to go to Worlds of Fun to swim and ride. There had been a chance of rain all week, so we didn't really want to get wet and cold and decided to wait till Friday to go. We drove to Liberty, got massages and went to see a movie. We just needed to kill time till Susan got off work. Then we went to Red Lobster (always our favorite place) to eat dinner with Susan and her friend Mary.
The weather was so pleasant that we were able to sleep with the windows down at Susan's house all the nights we were there. It was so cool that we decided not to go to Worlds of Fun or Schlitterbahn the next day b/c we knew we'd freeze. We couldn't believe we were worried about being cold in August. Since we were going to the CTR with Eric on Saturday, I knew I needed to buy a jacket or I'd be freezing! It was supposed to be a low of 53 on Friday night. Susan had to work on Friday since the post office had gone back to mandatory 6 days, so I went to Robin's, where Maggie rode one of her horses and we walked. Then we loaded up with her girlfriend, Kelli, and Kelli's daughter and went to a wine shop in Excelsior, owned by yet another HS friend, Daphne. We were treated to a wine tasting and great lunch food and just passed the afternoon. It was four before we all realized how late it had gotten and headed back to Robin's house, just in time for Maggie and I to head to the CTR to meet Eric.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Friday, August 28, 2009
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Vacation at Bar 50
Maggie attended camp at Bar Fifty Ranch last week in Bismarck, Ar and with gas prices so high I decided to give up a week of work and stay here and ride rather than being burdened with driving back and forth twice. (What a hardship!) Liberty has never really traveled alone so it was a bit of a shock to arrive in a mostly empty campground and find himself alone. He called a little but settled down pretty quick and we had a short ride around camp on Sunday. I have never been much for bareback riding but have discovered that my recent weight loss and strength training on our wii fit has really helped my balance and I was more comfortable without a saddle than I have been in the past.
Monday morning I rode out with a nice family from LA and their grandchildren. We rode for about 3.5 hours and Liberty never got tired or footsore. He was super sure footed and did everything I asked, including not running down the hills after the other riders. He still fusses with his head when I would rather he give a little a little more but he is really coming along.
The trails are rocky and technical and i am looking forward to riding again tomorrow. He isn't used to all these hills but is doing great!
I haven't seen Maggie to know if she's having fun but I'm sure she is. Another NATRC person fom OK brought her daughter to camp too. Gail Kimery, who I met at Indian Territory in 2003, brought her daughter, who is just a few months younger than Maggie. Chris was having a great time, but apparently drinks lots of caffeinated sodas...which makes her a little hyper.
On Tuesday, I rode Liberty today and Kim Harrison came and rode Lissa. Yesterday he was tearing up and down the hills and today he was tired. Toward the end of the ride he wanted to go down the hills sideways and almost ran me into a few trees. He's reining great, but when I tried to move him over with my leg he was annoyed. He gives nicely to pressure from he ground. He's better on his left side than right. I think that he needs the chiro out again, but I won't know for sure until next month.
I gave him Wednesday off to give him a rest. Peter and I ran into Hot springs, walked around, read historial land marks, got a massage, ate good food...basically did very little. I was looking for new boots for Liberty, but couldn't find any that fit (I did buy some but had to return them the next day). When I got back on Wednesday Liberty was bored and rested. I got him out and grazed him. I had switched his pen to a slightly larger one b/c it rained over night both Tuesday and Wednesday so I felt like he could use some more space and a dry base to stand in.
Thursday, my agenda was to ride alone. I used to ride alone when I had my first horse, 20 years ago. However, after my shoulder injury, I got nervous of being out alone and I just haven't ridden alone. Kate Love is always encouraging me to get over it so I have been working up to it. At the stc we did our last 7 miles alone and made it but there were other horses around so we weren't alone alone. Today it was just us. I rode down the road out of camp with no problem, but at the first fork in the road he fought with me. I waited, we went on. At the next fork, same thing. We circled a bit,and we backed, and he went on down the hill. Then half way down the rocky hill out of camp he threw a major hissy and before I could get him straightened out he got part way up the hill. So we waited some more. He went the rest of the way down with no more trouble! He wasn't concerned about the footing, he just didn't want to go out of camp all alone.
Our next bit of trauma were all the puddles left from the storms. This horse loves creeks and lakes, but those puddles were going to eat him! I finally found a puddle in a safe place and worked him through it for 15 or 20 minutes till he would go through it straight both directions. We then went down a stretch of trail that reminded me of the bogs at davy crockett and he was really good! Until we got to one that must have had deep erosion on the bottom b/c all of a sudden I'm ankle deep in muddy water. He handled it fine, went straight and later went on through more of those that were not so deep.
We rode about two hours only but it was productive and he really began to listen to me. We came back in as Maggie's group was going up the mountain. He stood quietly for the others to pass him. I was very proud.
I also finally had a chance to play with the heart monitor I bought from Linda Stanford a couple years ago. He recovered pretty quick on all the climbs but continues to run a little high-12-13 after 10 min. He has a resting heart rate of 39. His breathing continues to be quick. What are the best exercises to work on breathing? Some say more canter and others more trot.
The only thing wrong with my time here is not having more NATRC friends here too.
Monday morning I rode out with a nice family from LA and their grandchildren. We rode for about 3.5 hours and Liberty never got tired or footsore. He was super sure footed and did everything I asked, including not running down the hills after the other riders. He still fusses with his head when I would rather he give a little a little more but he is really coming along.
The trails are rocky and technical and i am looking forward to riding again tomorrow. He isn't used to all these hills but is doing great!
I haven't seen Maggie to know if she's having fun but I'm sure she is. Another NATRC person fom OK brought her daughter to camp too. Gail Kimery, who I met at Indian Territory in 2003, brought her daughter, who is just a few months younger than Maggie. Chris was having a great time, but apparently drinks lots of caffeinated sodas...which makes her a little hyper.
On Tuesday, I rode Liberty today and Kim Harrison came and rode Lissa. Yesterday he was tearing up and down the hills and today he was tired. Toward the end of the ride he wanted to go down the hills sideways and almost ran me into a few trees. He's reining great, but when I tried to move him over with my leg he was annoyed. He gives nicely to pressure from he ground. He's better on his left side than right. I think that he needs the chiro out again, but I won't know for sure until next month.
I gave him Wednesday off to give him a rest. Peter and I ran into Hot springs, walked around, read historial land marks, got a massage, ate good food...basically did very little. I was looking for new boots for Liberty, but couldn't find any that fit (I did buy some but had to return them the next day). When I got back on Wednesday Liberty was bored and rested. I got him out and grazed him. I had switched his pen to a slightly larger one b/c it rained over night both Tuesday and Wednesday so I felt like he could use some more space and a dry base to stand in.
Thursday, my agenda was to ride alone. I used to ride alone when I had my first horse, 20 years ago. However, after my shoulder injury, I got nervous of being out alone and I just haven't ridden alone. Kate Love is always encouraging me to get over it so I have been working up to it. At the stc we did our last 7 miles alone and made it but there were other horses around so we weren't alone alone. Today it was just us. I rode down the road out of camp with no problem, but at the first fork in the road he fought with me. I waited, we went on. At the next fork, same thing. We circled a bit,and we backed, and he went on down the hill. Then half way down the rocky hill out of camp he threw a major hissy and before I could get him straightened out he got part way up the hill. So we waited some more. He went the rest of the way down with no more trouble! He wasn't concerned about the footing, he just didn't want to go out of camp all alone.
Our next bit of trauma were all the puddles left from the storms. This horse loves creeks and lakes, but those puddles were going to eat him! I finally found a puddle in a safe place and worked him through it for 15 or 20 minutes till he would go through it straight both directions. We then went down a stretch of trail that reminded me of the bogs at davy crockett and he was really good! Until we got to one that must have had deep erosion on the bottom b/c all of a sudden I'm ankle deep in muddy water. He handled it fine, went straight and later went on through more of those that were not so deep.
We rode about two hours only but it was productive and he really began to listen to me. We came back in as Maggie's group was going up the mountain. He stood quietly for the others to pass him. I was very proud.
I also finally had a chance to play with the heart monitor I bought from Linda Stanford a couple years ago. He recovered pretty quick on all the climbs but continues to run a little high-12-13 after 10 min. He has a resting heart rate of 39. His breathing continues to be quick. What are the best exercises to work on breathing? Some say more canter and others more trot.
The only thing wrong with my time here is not having more NATRC friends here too.
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Never Ending Very Bad Day
Today didn't start out looking like a very bad day...but it sure ended up that way. Today was supposed to be the day that the holistic vet looked at Deli so we could figure out what was "really going on" with her so I could see if we were going to be able to fix it.
I had breakfast with Cat and we moved the round pen so we could put electric fence around it (so that Merlin would quit pushing on it) We waited for the vet and the girls rode bareback in the field. At 10:22 I called the vet who was supposed to have been there at 10am and got no answer. He did finally call back around 11 and this is where the day began to go downhill.
The vet was a vet I had not used before, but one who came very highly recommended for Holistic Medicine. He was coming from Pilot Point, which is a little ways away and he had gotten hung up with other clients and was late. That wasn't a problem at all. He had directions. Over one and a half hours later he called to tell me he was in North Richland Hills which was close so I headed over to the field after dropping Maggie and her friend Jena at the pool. I called him again and he was in Irving...he had missed the turn through NRH and had gone on 121/183 instead of staying on 820 and was heading north again toward home. Not only was he lost, he was mad about being lost...and it was somehow my fault. He said he was on the George Bush going north and he would pull over and get his bearings and call me back for new directions...and then I never heard from him again. So, I set aside this day for him to come and I had high hopes of him seeing my horse and he never showed up and never called me again...and then it was MY FAULT that he couldn't read the directions. HE said it was my fault b/c I gave him different directions than the ones Mapquest gave him. I gave him really good directions, which he read back to me, and he still got lost. I checked Mapquest and I got the way I said to come if he'd had the address right...but I'm thinking that he only had mapquested from Pilot Point to Arlington. I felt terrible that he got lost, especially because I knew exactly where it happened, but then he wouldn't let me help him fix it and gave me "it must be your fault" attitude. And then in the end, he didn't show up nor did he call me again. I can completely understand his frustration. I just can't get over how unprofessional he was.
So, I went to sam's, I gassed up my truck, got our snacks and clothing that we needed, went back to turn Deli out (I had locked her up pending the vet visit, GRRR) Picked up the kids from the pool and was heading home...
Then I remembered (it was 4:30 by this time) that I had forgotten to get copies of some paperwork for my trip to Arkansas and I frantically got on the phone with Dr. Lampe's office (one of my normal, real, good vets) to get my paperwork started. I ran home to have it faxed to me, since we are leaving for our trip on Sunday...to find my printer didn't work anymore. It was over, I just cried and cried...for the second time that day. I cried when the other vet wouldn't come see my horse and started giving me attitude too. So then I had to run out to get more ink and hope that the fax machine had saved the last document in it's memory...which, fortunately it had.
By this time I was just really, really tired and I ordered pizzas for Maggie and Jena, drank a cold beverage and called it a day...only I still had to pack for the trip. sigh...Most of my stuff is packed up, but I think I'm done.
I had breakfast with Cat and we moved the round pen so we could put electric fence around it (so that Merlin would quit pushing on it) We waited for the vet and the girls rode bareback in the field. At 10:22 I called the vet who was supposed to have been there at 10am and got no answer. He did finally call back around 11 and this is where the day began to go downhill.
The vet was a vet I had not used before, but one who came very highly recommended for Holistic Medicine. He was coming from Pilot Point, which is a little ways away and he had gotten hung up with other clients and was late. That wasn't a problem at all. He had directions. Over one and a half hours later he called to tell me he was in North Richland Hills which was close so I headed over to the field after dropping Maggie and her friend Jena at the pool. I called him again and he was in Irving...he had missed the turn through NRH and had gone on 121/183 instead of staying on 820 and was heading north again toward home. Not only was he lost, he was mad about being lost...and it was somehow my fault. He said he was on the George Bush going north and he would pull over and get his bearings and call me back for new directions...and then I never heard from him again. So, I set aside this day for him to come and I had high hopes of him seeing my horse and he never showed up and never called me again...and then it was MY FAULT that he couldn't read the directions. HE said it was my fault b/c I gave him different directions than the ones Mapquest gave him. I gave him really good directions, which he read back to me, and he still got lost. I checked Mapquest and I got the way I said to come if he'd had the address right...but I'm thinking that he only had mapquested from Pilot Point to Arlington. I felt terrible that he got lost, especially because I knew exactly where it happened, but then he wouldn't let me help him fix it and gave me "it must be your fault" attitude. And then in the end, he didn't show up nor did he call me again. I can completely understand his frustration. I just can't get over how unprofessional he was.
So, I went to sam's, I gassed up my truck, got our snacks and clothing that we needed, went back to turn Deli out (I had locked her up pending the vet visit, GRRR) Picked up the kids from the pool and was heading home...
Then I remembered (it was 4:30 by this time) that I had forgotten to get copies of some paperwork for my trip to Arkansas and I frantically got on the phone with Dr. Lampe's office (one of my normal, real, good vets) to get my paperwork started. I ran home to have it faxed to me, since we are leaving for our trip on Sunday...to find my printer didn't work anymore. It was over, I just cried and cried...for the second time that day. I cried when the other vet wouldn't come see my horse and started giving me attitude too. So then I had to run out to get more ink and hope that the fax machine had saved the last document in it's memory...which, fortunately it had.
By this time I was just really, really tired and I ordered pizzas for Maggie and Jena, drank a cold beverage and called it a day...only I still had to pack for the trip. sigh...Most of my stuff is packed up, but I think I'm done.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Maggie swimming with Doc
Maggie has been attending camp in Aledo this week at Ironstar Farm. She has had so much fun. I heard Monday that they were going to have a surprise today, but since it was a surprise I didn't know about it ahead of time. Maggie has grown to really like all the Parelli games and is now wanting to get her Parelli level 1 certificate. I have never been a huge fan of Parelli, but I admit that his followers really seem to enjoy him, so I'm willing to give it a try.
Camp is keeping her busy every day and she is active. The other thing keeping us all active is the new Wii. I have lost 1.8 pounds since Sunday (could be normal fluctuation, so we'll see) and Maggie has lost 1 pound. Tomorrow am we're going to get up and do 15 minutes on the Wii and the treadmill and then switch so we get 30 minutes of exercise in first thing in the am. My abs and side muscles are so sore. One of the games at which I really stink is a hoola hoop game...I am just terrible. I can only spin about 30 times before I lose the hoops and they crash. Peter is currently the king at 303 spins. The other game that I keep practicing is a game where you have to keep good balance while a team of soccer players kicks balls at you. You have to head the balls and dodge the shoes and panda heads. You lose a point for every shoe that hits you and lose 3 points for every panda head. You gain a point for every ball you butt. It's hard b/c the panda heads look a lot like the balls as they come flying toward you. I've been surprised how little control I have over parts of my balance. I also am very sore in many of my deep muscles. There are also aerobic games and strength and yoga games. It's really so much fun. My goal is to log 30 minutes every day.
Maggie is looking forward to going to see my mom next week. She is going to go to Silver Dollar City and a couple water parks...I guess that means that Peter and I get the Wii all to ourselves.
Friday, January 11, 2008
First week back
Why is it that working after being on vacation is often harder than it was to work before vacation? It seems like we build up to the break we're going to have, and then it never quite turns out as planned...we then go back to work more tired, or as tired as when we started our vacation. I know that Peter and I had planned a quiet Christmas. We wanted to read books and watch movies and just generally lay around. Instead we rearranged and cleaned the house for company, ran around with the company and then had a couple days at the end to lament how our vacation had gone away. For the record, I'm not actually complaining, just sighing over lost time. I loved my Christmas and spending time with my dad and I wouldn't trade it back to have a peaceful week. I'm just really tired this week after working all week and I'm wishing I had carved some real time off.
I managed to complete a whole week of music and massage therapy. My hands are tired and sore from working all week, but I think I'll make it. I only missed 2 clients all week, which is good. I still have to write notes and get them in the mail by tomorrow morning, but right now, I'm just enjoying a quiet morning off. Maggie is playing with her Sims on Peter's computer and I'm contemplating taking a shower and then picking up my truck from the mechanic. I woke up to the ringing of the phone this am (telemarketer right at 8am) and I had a horrid headache. I took aleve, drank coffee and feel a little better, so I am contemplating going riding or coming back home and watching TV. Maggie is leaning toward the hanging out at home. I'm wanting to ride b/c I should and it's a nice day...I will go get my truck and eat something and see where we are at that point.
ON the truck: it could have been much worse! I hadn't driven it almost a month and I started it up to help Shawn with something and the check engine light started flashing. I had never seen it flash before and I found it a bit freaky! I ran it straight to Milt's Auto Repair just knowing it was something terrible. It turns out it just needed a tune up, but they are a little pricey. So my truck should be good as new again!
I had a couple of good successes working with Liberty last week. If I ride today I will pony him on the south trail so he can get some much needed work on hills. I'm still feeling bad that Cat got hurt on Merlin. She wanted to longe him before she rode and I talked her into to just getting on. I don't know why he acts that way with her as he hasn't done before...
Now I need to get going on my day. I bought some meat earlier in the week that has to be portioned into freezer bags. My kitchen is a wreck and I want to get that squared away. Not sure if we'll ride or lay around. Laying around looks awfully good right now!
I managed to complete a whole week of music and massage therapy. My hands are tired and sore from working all week, but I think I'll make it. I only missed 2 clients all week, which is good. I still have to write notes and get them in the mail by tomorrow morning, but right now, I'm just enjoying a quiet morning off. Maggie is playing with her Sims on Peter's computer and I'm contemplating taking a shower and then picking up my truck from the mechanic. I woke up to the ringing of the phone this am (telemarketer right at 8am) and I had a horrid headache. I took aleve, drank coffee and feel a little better, so I am contemplating going riding or coming back home and watching TV. Maggie is leaning toward the hanging out at home. I'm wanting to ride b/c I should and it's a nice day...I will go get my truck and eat something and see where we are at that point.
ON the truck: it could have been much worse! I hadn't driven it almost a month and I started it up to help Shawn with something and the check engine light started flashing. I had never seen it flash before and I found it a bit freaky! I ran it straight to Milt's Auto Repair just knowing it was something terrible. It turns out it just needed a tune up, but they are a little pricey. So my truck should be good as new again!
I had a couple of good successes working with Liberty last week. If I ride today I will pony him on the south trail so he can get some much needed work on hills. I'm still feeling bad that Cat got hurt on Merlin. She wanted to longe him before she rode and I talked her into to just getting on. I don't know why he acts that way with her as he hasn't done before...
Now I need to get going on my day. I bought some meat earlier in the week that has to be portioned into freezer bags. My kitchen is a wreck and I want to get that squared away. Not sure if we'll ride or lay around. Laying around looks awfully good right now!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Christmas Vacation
Maggie is on break now and I'm still working. My work ethic is in the toilet! I'm taking off next week, but I still have to get through this week. I'm seriously tired today from getting up early to take Cat's son to the airport. Her purse was stolen and she couldn't check him in and his flight left at 6:45...only we missed it b/c we waited in the wrong line 2 times (and then they told us we couldn't check in a minor in either of those lines) He got on the 7:25 flight by just a hair...we went to breakfast and now I'm home.
My computer is ill. I'm on Peter's. Some of the drivers started malfunctioning and now the wireless part doesn't work. Peter took it to work to fix it but I don't know if he'll have time or not.
The weather is beautiful and I want to be outside riding...
My dad is coming for the Cotton Bowl, which is fun, but makes more busyness too. I was looking forward to a real vacation break with lots of sitting around, but now I'll be cleaning and entertaining. I'm thinking of taking off two weeks instead of just one, or only seeing a few clients the week after Christmas. I really need a break. I feel like I'm so busy.
My computer is ill. I'm on Peter's. Some of the drivers started malfunctioning and now the wireless part doesn't work. Peter took it to work to fix it but I don't know if he'll have time or not.
The weather is beautiful and I want to be outside riding...
My dad is coming for the Cotton Bowl, which is fun, but makes more busyness too. I was looking forward to a real vacation break with lots of sitting around, but now I'll be cleaning and entertaining. I'm thinking of taking off two weeks instead of just one, or only seeing a few clients the week after Christmas. I really need a break. I feel like I'm so busy.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Vacation travels
I've been wanting to start blogging about vacation before I Have a chance to forget all the good stuff that happens, but I have been so busy since I got home I haven't really had a chance to write anything.
I can't really start at the beginning and write it all, but I did want to tell a tale of our trip to Silver dollar City.
When I was a kid, SDC wasn't that exciting. It was OK, but I don't remember it so much for the rides as I remember it for exhibits. But, my goodness, I liked it now. The food was everywhere and it smelled fantastic. Unfortunately, I only had about $15 so I couldn't eat everything I wanted to eat. That and we were with my mom who never buys park food, and my brother and his wife and kids who had plenty of snacks from home. We didn't need the food, but I wanted it ALL. We were going to dinner that night and it would be plenty, but boy it was hard to skip it all. I only got 1 container of homemade potato chips and a funnel cake in addition to dinner, and Maggie and I shared with all the kids so we didn't pig out too much.
I haven't had much of a chance to be around my nephews and niece and they were all a lot of fun. Travis is 7 and in the 2nd grade. Reagan is 5 and in Kindergarten and Truman is almost 2. Truman ate all day long...when I got the funnel cake at the end of the day he followed me down the aisle (we were in a show) wanting funnel cake. I think he liked it as much as I did. He also liked his brother and sister's smoothies too. He's such a cute little mooch...who could care! Reagan took to Maggie right away and Maggie seemed to enjoy the younger kids more than I would have expected. They took turns riding with her on rides and it was fun for her to be the older, popular kid after spending part of the summer being the little kid.
At one point in the day I got off a ride and Cindy, my sister-in-law told me that Truman had asked to ride on a ride with me. It was so cute, I was so impressed that his verbal skills were that well developed. Mostly, he pointed at the balloons (bawoon or baba) and me (awa) We had a great time. He's such a cutie! And for once Maggie didn't act jealous. Cindy doesn't ride many rides as she gets motion sickness, but she enjoys the hanging out. Truman reached a milestone on this day. HE was finally 36 inches and big enough to ride almost all the tamer rides with supervision and the kiddy rides alone.
The biggest laugh of the day came from Travis. He wanted us to ride a ride called Splashdown. We had ridden some other rides and my mom had told me the kids sometimes get wet and brought us a towell so I knew that dampness was out there. I wans't all that worried about it b/c it was a warm, but not hot day and I figured getting wet would be fun as it usually is. The other rides we had ridden didn't get me very wet and this was the last water ride. I asked Travis if I was going to get wet and they said that it depended on where I sat in the raft. I didn't see the ride going in, so I didn't have a clue what the ride was like. My brother suggested I leave my cell phone with my mom, but I had been doing that on all the wet rides, so that was no big deal. We got up to the top of the ride and I saw that the ride didn't sport cars or boats, but rafts...like the kind you find in the water park, not at the amusement park. At that moment, I thought (now, remember, I'm blonde) "How will I NOT get wet?" I asked Travis again and he told me that it depended on where I sat in the raft. I got in the raft and they sent us on our way (Maggie, Reagan and I were in the raft together) I didn't make it to the first time and I was soaked down to my underwear. I was wetter than I had been at Ocean's of fun on Monday before after going in the swimming pool. I was totally soaked. Travis had a huge laugh and told me that it's not where you sit in the raft it's if you're in the raft you'll get wet. Evidently the time before they had tried to get my mom in the raft and she didn't want to do it b/c she hates to get wet. Then after she saw how wet they all were she wouldn't do it again, so he finally got to play his trick on me. I was so wet that I still had damp clothes when we got home at 8pm.
The photo at the top is last year's photo of my brother and his family.
I caught my dinner, how about you?
These are the words my daughter said to me today when I spoke to her at dinner time. She is in Nantucket visiting her grandparents on her dad's side of the family. His family is strange and complicated, so technically, they are not blood grandparents, but she is having a great time with people who love her and in the end, I think that's all that matters.
We got home from our Missouri trip on Monday at about 4pm. I washed her clothes (the few that were dirty--Mom let me wash most of them at her house on the weekend which was a huge help) and repacked them and then on Tuesday morning her dad picked her up to take her to the airport for Nantucket. Originally, he was supposed to go to Nantucket with her, but he changed jobs earlier this summer and was at the last minute unable to go with her. So, Meg and Lori paid her unaccompanied minor fee and she went on her own. As much as she wanted to go to Nantucket, she didn't really want to travel alone or be away from a parent. She's been in a weird spot all summer with wanting to be away from us, but the tickets were purchased and I fairly made her go. Shawn took her to the airport b/c I knew she wouldn't melt down if he took her and I wasn't sure she wouldn't if I took her.
She spent this morning on the beach with Lori while Meg worked and then they all went out on the boat this afternoon. Meg and Lori have a new dog, Buster, who is a schnoodle. Maggie says that schnoodles are the best dogs ever and if we ever need a new dog we should get one. Buster evidently slept with her part of last night which has sealed her love for him. As for the title of this blog, this is what she said to me when I spoke to her around supper. They went out on the boat and dropped anchor and caught mussels, which Lori cooked in wine and then served in a garlic butter sauce...wish I were in Nantucket.
Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. I'm a little nervous, but I think I'll be OK. I lost the client whose mother was giving me a good time...good riddance as far as I'm concerned.
We got home from our Missouri trip on Monday at about 4pm. I washed her clothes (the few that were dirty--Mom let me wash most of them at her house on the weekend which was a huge help) and repacked them and then on Tuesday morning her dad picked her up to take her to the airport for Nantucket. Originally, he was supposed to go to Nantucket with her, but he changed jobs earlier this summer and was at the last minute unable to go with her. So, Meg and Lori paid her unaccompanied minor fee and she went on her own. As much as she wanted to go to Nantucket, she didn't really want to travel alone or be away from a parent. She's been in a weird spot all summer with wanting to be away from us, but the tickets were purchased and I fairly made her go. Shawn took her to the airport b/c I knew she wouldn't melt down if he took her and I wasn't sure she wouldn't if I took her.
She spent this morning on the beach with Lori while Meg worked and then they all went out on the boat this afternoon. Meg and Lori have a new dog, Buster, who is a schnoodle. Maggie says that schnoodles are the best dogs ever and if we ever need a new dog we should get one. Buster evidently slept with her part of last night which has sealed her love for him. As for the title of this blog, this is what she said to me when I spoke to her around supper. They went out on the boat and dropped anchor and caught mussels, which Lori cooked in wine and then served in a garlic butter sauce...wish I were in Nantucket.
Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. I'm a little nervous, but I think I'll be OK. I lost the client whose mother was giving me a good time...good riddance as far as I'm concerned.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Last Day of Vacation
A lengthy post about my fun yesterday at Silver Dollar City will be coming once I get home, but not today. It will have to wait until I can really think about what to say b/c there are some really good stories to tell from my trip and I want to do them all justice. Today, I'm just tired and ready to be home. I haven't seen my horses for over 10 days. I haven't seen my husband in almost as long, or the dogs. Of the bunch the husband will be the most welcome sight, with horses and dogs lagging not far behind.
The worst part is that when we get back, Maggie has to turn around and leave almost immediately. Cat and I had plans to redecorate her room while she's gone. I don't know if we'll accomplish that or not, but I want to do something to that end. I figured I could at least get the pink, lower part of her wood painted to a nice green color while she's gone. IF it's not too hard I'll even get some of the wallpaper peeled, but I just don't know.
It hasn't been very restful on vacation. I have job interviews for 3 districts this week while I'm working on the people I have scheduled already. I have riding lessons to teach and I need to trim feet. I will definitely have to hit the ground running when I get home. One of the school districts holds my interest in particular, but I can't say more about it till I have the interviews. I can't believe I almost let my music therapy certification go last year and now I'm about to go back to work in the field.
This should be a lucrative financial year. It's my plan to pile up a bunch of cash and then pay off a bill or at least be able to quit worrying about what if the car breaks down or we need a new one. I'm planning to save about every dime (save tithing and some personal money) for a better future. I really want to pay off debt, but something tells me I may need a little extra cash in my immediate future, so I'm making a plan to do that first. Dave Ramsey says that you're better off piling up the cash and doing one thing at a time, and if you think there is something coming up in the future, better to pile up the cash first. I'd like to get one credit card paid off by Christmas, but piling up the cash may prove to be a better move in the short term...more on that later.
Today we went to church with my mom and then she made lunch. Now Maggie and the older cousins are playing, we watched The Incredible Journey (which always makes me cry) and I came in here to check on my maps, and write something...didn't mean to linger so long so I will go for now. More tomorrow.
The worst part is that when we get back, Maggie has to turn around and leave almost immediately. Cat and I had plans to redecorate her room while she's gone. I don't know if we'll accomplish that or not, but I want to do something to that end. I figured I could at least get the pink, lower part of her wood painted to a nice green color while she's gone. IF it's not too hard I'll even get some of the wallpaper peeled, but I just don't know.
It hasn't been very restful on vacation. I have job interviews for 3 districts this week while I'm working on the people I have scheduled already. I have riding lessons to teach and I need to trim feet. I will definitely have to hit the ground running when I get home. One of the school districts holds my interest in particular, but I can't say more about it till I have the interviews. I can't believe I almost let my music therapy certification go last year and now I'm about to go back to work in the field.
This should be a lucrative financial year. It's my plan to pile up a bunch of cash and then pay off a bill or at least be able to quit worrying about what if the car breaks down or we need a new one. I'm planning to save about every dime (save tithing and some personal money) for a better future. I really want to pay off debt, but something tells me I may need a little extra cash in my immediate future, so I'm making a plan to do that first. Dave Ramsey says that you're better off piling up the cash and doing one thing at a time, and if you think there is something coming up in the future, better to pile up the cash first. I'd like to get one credit card paid off by Christmas, but piling up the cash may prove to be a better move in the short term...more on that later.
Today we went to church with my mom and then she made lunch. Now Maggie and the older cousins are playing, we watched The Incredible Journey (which always makes me cry) and I came in here to check on my maps, and write something...didn't mean to linger so long so I will go for now. More tomorrow.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Another day on vacation
Another day in our vacation...
Today we went to breakfast and then my dad took Maggie and I to a couple of colleges. He had heard from friends in the community that there was a need for college professors in the equestrian department b/c many of the folks who teach riding don't have Masters or PHD's. I didn't know if it was true, but I was willing to check it out as he was so insistent...well, it wasn't true. Steven's college is a small college in Columbia and they might eventually need help, but William Woods University in Fulton positively didn't need any staff. They must be a great place to work as they have only had one new teacher hired in the last 2-3 years with the reaminder of the staff having been there since the 80's. Both places were nice and took my resume, but I'm sure there isn't anything for me to do in either location.
On the way there I saw a sign for Mexico, MO and said something to my dad about some friends that he and mom had out that way. I can't remember their name, but I thought it was Curtis or something like that.I remember that they had a pony and once in a snow storm we tried to get on and off the pony and I feel off the other side into the snow. I don't think we ever did ride b/c none of us could get on. She was a gregarious, patient thing, but I didn't get to ride that day. I know they had a girl around my age, but I can't remember her name. Anyway, my dad says he's never known anyone in Mexico, MO, so now it's really bugging me. I'm going to have to ask my mom to see if it was somewhere else in the state. I just really thought it was Mexico b/c I thought we had joked about driving to Mexico. He thinks I dreamed it, but I know I didn't...just don't know who the people are.
Now we're back at dad's. He had to go to his bank for a couple hours. Shirley is eating lunch. Maggie is playing on my computer. I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do when you're at a parent's house with no "entertainment" I'm happy to read my book or surf, but it seems like I'm supposed to be interacting or doing something. I don't really travel enough to have good ettiquette in this department I guess.
Back to my book, the comfortable chair calls.
Today we went to breakfast and then my dad took Maggie and I to a couple of colleges. He had heard from friends in the community that there was a need for college professors in the equestrian department b/c many of the folks who teach riding don't have Masters or PHD's. I didn't know if it was true, but I was willing to check it out as he was so insistent...well, it wasn't true. Steven's college is a small college in Columbia and they might eventually need help, but William Woods University in Fulton positively didn't need any staff. They must be a great place to work as they have only had one new teacher hired in the last 2-3 years with the reaminder of the staff having been there since the 80's. Both places were nice and took my resume, but I'm sure there isn't anything for me to do in either location.
On the way there I saw a sign for Mexico, MO and said something to my dad about some friends that he and mom had out that way. I can't remember their name, but I thought it was Curtis or something like that.I remember that they had a pony and once in a snow storm we tried to get on and off the pony and I feel off the other side into the snow. I don't think we ever did ride b/c none of us could get on. She was a gregarious, patient thing, but I didn't get to ride that day. I know they had a girl around my age, but I can't remember her name. Anyway, my dad says he's never known anyone in Mexico, MO, so now it's really bugging me. I'm going to have to ask my mom to see if it was somewhere else in the state. I just really thought it was Mexico b/c I thought we had joked about driving to Mexico. He thinks I dreamed it, but I know I didn't...just don't know who the people are.
Now we're back at dad's. He had to go to his bank for a couple hours. Shirley is eating lunch. Maggie is playing on my computer. I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do when you're at a parent's house with no "entertainment" I'm happy to read my book or surf, but it seems like I'm supposed to be interacting or doing something. I don't really travel enough to have good ettiquette in this department I guess.
Back to my book, the comfortable chair calls.
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Resuming my blog
I used to write in here all the time. I stopped b/c after doing facebook stuff it seemed unnecessary. But lately I have been wanting a for...
