And The Awards Go To

Here's the original post. Read it & play along, now will ya?

And I am not picking 15. Quoting from a VeggieTales SillySongs with Larry (The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything), "That's just nonsense!"

The Award Goes To...

1. Texas of Alllllll Places - Go Skeletor! You will not only heal, but become a good civilized little pony.

2. Always There Are Horses - Trail Riding, my dear. I'm jealous! Take me with you!

3. A Good Horse - I know I blew steam over the riding video critique. Peace?

4. Mugwump Chronicles - I doubt she'll do anything with it, but if you're like me, you LOVE reading her stories that train at the same time.

5. A Horse and a Half - First off, Phoenix is an Appy, which ROCKS! Secondly, I want to see the new saddle, and you on your pony with your bum in the saddle. Get to it! Chop Chop! Ride THROUGH the snow.... =)

6. The Aspiring Equestrian - You moved? To another barn? How nice! Take pictures, will ya? And some more riding video sure would be nice. Nudge Nudge

7. If Wishes Were Horses - Welcome Back, Jessie! Welcome back!

It's Award Giggle Day!

Mrs. Mom is at it again. ShaZam? KaPow? How about WhooPee?! Yeah, that'll do it. WhooPee...

It's taking the award & handing it back out time! Thanks Momma & the Mens! You already know I love you to bits & pieces, but I might as well tell the resta the world. okay okay I know, mush aside, I'll go behave myself now ...

Let me go back & read.. ah yes.. I'm supposed to do something with this. Tell you Seven Things about me, and find FIFTEEN others?! Yeah, ya'lls N-V-T-S Nuts! Ain't happening.. I'll settle for a small handful, how 'bout that?

Seven Things.

1. I ride horses

2. I'm a chemist

3. I live in Texas

4. I'm a Christian, and I try awful hard and don't always get it right

5. I like to blog to keep up with my rides, so later I can laugh at the old information, and cheer myself up when I think I'm not making any progress

6. I bite my nails when I'm stressed

7. I eat on a pretty strict diet because I'm hypoglycemic (translated - can't have lots of sugar, must have balanced proteins & carbs at each meal)

Yeah, I know. Not all of those are things ya didn't know. I'm not super keen on doing a "tell-all". However, let's give me a little "pat on the head" - I didn't tell a mystery testicle story like Mom did. LOL

I'm going to release this as it goes, to make a laugh here or there... And I'll edit it to add my tags.

I've Been Found! And Tagged!

Goodness! All at once, too! I think so, at least. I found a comment in my latest entry from A Lil' Horse Play, went to her blog, did some reading, and found myself! What, you say?! I did WHAT?


I found this!

Aww. geez.. I am?~ Wow.. *blush* That's sweet & stuff..

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk beside my keyboard

2. Your hair? Pulled back so’s I can concentrate on work

3. Your mother? Supportive

4. Your father? MIA, lately

5. Your favorite food? Homemade Tiramisu

6. Your dream last night? I didn’t sleep long enough to dream

7. Your favorite drink? “Flavored” Cappuccino on a Saturday morning

8. Your dream/goal? Hunter course at 2’6”

9. What room are you in? B2, Room 124

10. Your hobby? Horses

11. Your fear? Falling & getting hurt seriously

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Oooh.. I’m ‘fraid to answer that one

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren’t? A shadow

15. Muffins? Sugar-free please

16. Wish list item? Lights for my little Arena

17. Where did you grow up? Pennsylvania

18. Last thing you did? Reviewed Product Specs

19. What are you wearing? Jeans & a Lite blue tshirt

20. Your TV? Good enough

21. Your pets? 2 horses, 3 cats, 2 dogs

22. Friends? A few that are very important to me

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Today, pretty dern good

25. Missing someone? Every minute he’s not around

26. Vehicle? Dodge 1500 truck

27. Something you’re not wearing? Red

28. Your favorite store? Dover

29. Your favorite color? True Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? At lunch

31. Last time you cried? Last week

32. Your best friend? Incredible

33. One place that I go to over and over? R’s house

34. One person who emails me regularly? Mrs. Mom

35. Favorite place to eat? R’s house, when he’s cooking

Let me find a few folks to spread this one to, in a while. Probably tomorrow...

Twenty Questions

1. My ex ... works down the hall.

2. Maybe I should ... get back to work so I can succeed.

3. I love ... only a few, and I mean it when I say it.

4. People would say that I am ... intelligent & highly opinionated.

5. I don't understand why ... anybody in the country would want a Liberal hand-out, and wouldn't want to actually work for their checks.

6. When I wake up in the morning ... I can smile before I briefly pray for those I love.

7. I lost ... my mind a long time ago. Let me know when you find it.

8. If I had my way ... There'd be more daylight free hours outside of work.

9. My past ... is forgiven.

10. I get annoyed by ... stupid people.

11. Parties are ... okay, but I won't clear my calendar for one.

12. I wish life was not ... full of grouchy bad news!

13. Dogs ... love unconditionally.

14. Cats ... have a maintenance staff, of which I lead.

15. Tomorrow... is another work day.

16. I have a low tolerance ... of those who lack common sense.

17. If I had a million dollars ... I'd pay off debt, invest, and relax a while.

18. I'm totally terrified of ... being alone.

19. My spouse is ... (n/a) As I told a lady at a laundromat soon after I moved here, "If you find him, would you tell him to hurry up & get to the house?! I've been waiting over twenty years, and I'm getting a little tired of waiting." LOL

20. My life is ... pretty darn incredible.

reFlective Friday

How's that subject title for forcing it to sound like it Fits together? *laugh* I'm a nerd,, sorry guys. Ain't intentional, it just happens. Aren't you glad I get paid to be a nerd? If I did this daily for no good reason, well, then.. there's a thought to give ya nightmares. *giggle*

I'm in a Like It Don't // Like It Mood Today.. So here goes.

Like It ... When his number's on caller ID at work
Don't Like It ... It's August, and COLD in my office

Like It ... I'm cantering Ransom on every ride without fear
Don't Like It ... The mosquitos have overtaken my property

Like It ... SonnyBunz is doing better
Don't Like It ... Haven't seen an update from Mikey in a few days
(*of course, as soon as I blow this smoke, I see she posted an update.. Darnit*)

Like It ... Hurricanes are missing the Gulf so far this year
Don't Like It ... We need rain, desperately

Like It ... I've still got a good job
Don't Like It ... I want my promotion, and I want it NOW. I'm getting mixed signals worse than a bowl of spaghetti around here, and I'm sick of it

Like It ... I've got plenty of folks around that want to be around me
Don't Like It ... I can't replicate myself and do everything I want to

Like It ... My sweetheart's back in town
Don't Like It ... I'm still at work for another 40 minutes *smirk*

Like It ... Evenings are getting a little cooler
Don't Like It ... It's getting dark earlier

Like It ... When he holds me close
Don't Like It .. When the darned alarm goes off

Like It ... Choir starts back up Wednesday
Don't Like It ... Practice means one less ride-day

Like It ... I'm looking forward to the next Dressage Show
Don't Like It ... Part of me is terrified I'm making big plans for it. Nucking F-V-T-S

Okay.. Tag... Who's Next ..
looking, thinking, looking, thinking ...
I'm tagging Always There Are Horses AND Texas of All Places
Make a list!!! This will be fun! I listed 11 - why don't ya'll go for at least 5??

Honest Scrap Award

How nifty neat! An award! That sums my list to TWO! Pretty nifty! Gotta love the internet, where I'm opening myself and my boys up to all kinds of readers. Thanks Linda at The Mane Point for the gift!

The next seven... oooh.. Seven... Is she kidding? I don't read that much, at least I don't think so!

FSSunnySD - adding a warm cup of hot chocolate to last the rest of winter

PonyGirl - Appys are COOL!

TexasOfAllPlaces - Keep getting in the habit!

Jessie And Remington - Blog more! I miss your riding updates!

Oh HorseFeathers & Related Twisted "Tails" - For Sound Sunny

That's all I've got for now... I really don't read much, and try to focus on the little-rider and teacher updates, where I can learn something myself...

For Ya'll to follow when you find this...

Here are the rules, if you have been chosen:

1) Write a post (on your own blog), announcing that you have received the Honest Scrap award. Be sure to mention How Did This Happen?, the blog that conferred the Honest Scrap Award upon you. Add the Honest Scrap Award graphic.

2) Choose at least seven blogs that you admire. List these (with links) in your Honest Scrap Award blog entry.

3) Visit the blogs you have selected, and leave comments to let the bloggers know you have chosen to honor them with the Honest Scrap Award. Include a link to your blog post in each comment. (Click here for instructions on making simple active-links for blog comments.)

4) Visit the blog that offered you the Honest Scrap Award, and leave a comment with a link to your post.

5) List ten honest things about yourself. Try to have fun with this one, and include facts others may not already know about you.

6) Display the Honest Scrap Award proudly on your blog sidebar.

My TEN honest things::

1) I'm terrified of failure

2) I love being a chemist

3) I'm learning to be comfortable single & searching (stress the & searching part)

4) I'm an only child

5) I own a .410 over/under shotgun, and I've used it on a few raccoons and opossums

6) I'm vertically challenged, at only 5'3"&3/4" (But let's all round up to 5'4", eh?)

7) I'm stubborn, and often impatient (a 2-for-1 on my imperfections)

8) I was a NAMB summer missionary in Illinois during college

9) I enjoy singing in church choir, and had a really cool solo part yesterday (2/22/09)

10) I hate cheating more than lying

Book Tagged

The RULES:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one - pick the closest.
6. Tag five people to do the same.

Principles of Instrumental Analysis 5th Edition, Skoog, Holler, Nieman

3B Operational Amplifier Circuits

Operational amplifiers are used in circuit networks that contain various combinations of capacitors, resistors, and other electrical components. Under ideal conditions, the output of the amplifier is determined entirely by the nature of the network and its components and is independent of the operational amplifier itself. Thus, it is important to examine some of the many useful operational amplifier networks.

I am a nerd I am a nerd I am a nerd....

I'll tag a few of you tomorrow.... hide if you can. =)

I've been Tagged

Book-Tagged, that is. I'll get to the details here soon, but to pique your interest (and demonstrate the level of nerdy-ness I often shield ya'll from)... Here's the first book I looked at in my office.

Principles of Instrumental Analysis 5th Edition, Skoog, Holler, Nieman

Warning to all the following readers - It ain't horses. I'm an Analytical Chemist by career and paycheck... Pg 56 is in Chapter 3 Operational Amplifiers in Chemical Instrumentation

Bet'cha can't wait for that book detail... *giggle*

It was a Trip

And a half. I'm in Charlotte now, half-way back home. The trip was one I needed to make, but not one I can say I enjoyed. I was asked, "Will you miss being home?" and I answered, "I won't lie. I'm looking forward to getting out of the middle of this mess." Maybe unkind, but honest.

Had the chance to ride Sunday afternoon with a co-worker of Mom's. He has a 20 YO AHQA mare, Caramel, and a 2YO Percheron-Paint cross, Orion. I rode Caramel extensively, walk, jog, lope. Very sweet, well trained pleasure horse. She responded to every cue I gave, including leg & seat cues. Very relaxing and encouraging that I haven't lost my knowledge of how to ride a trained horse. Also rode Orion just a little, and learned how much I don't know about riding an untrained baby. I asked him to turn left, bit and leg, he refused, I thumped with my right leg, he crow-hopped. He landed, I thumped again. *giggle* He turned. Caramel was just what the doctor ordered on Sunday afternoon... much appreciated. I have a short video clip and a picture I'll get out here eventually.

USAirways surprised me with a middle-seat from here to Houston - An unfortunate surprise. I would have much more appreciated an aisle or window (as I thought we paid for), and even tried to upgrade to First Class, but no success. The middle it is. I didn't get a boarding pass for this second flight in Pittsburgh, and here, when the lady handed me the boarding pass, she said, "It's not a great seat, but you have one." I thought, "What the heck?! That wasn't what I paid for... oh well. It's not worth the argument. People are stupid!"

I am blessed... and I'll be very relaxed in my home-state, even if it does mean being stuck in Houston traffic headed home. I will leave you with the same message I'm sharing with everybody I talk to today...
Vote Early
Vote Often!
Can't complain for the next four years unless you participate!!!

I'm Not Alone, Afterall

I've been reading a lot of other blogs, and their bad luck and big falls.

The Eventing Percheron tops the list with her latest show videos. It's not for the weak, so don't look if you don't like to watch people fall. Glad to hear she is okay, and also glad to hear Brego fared well, and jumped again.

Of Horses & Men wrote vaguely about a big fall, with broken bones. Yuck! Whatta fall.. It's hard to tell from the blog entry what really happened, but I'm glad to hear her horse is okay, and she isn't hurt worse.

Training the VLC (FHoTD) wrote about all the things that adults think about that children riders take for granted, and commented that not only are kids unbreakable and flexible beyond reason, they have remarkable balance, and this innate sense of "how to stay on" when the horse has other plans.

FSSunnySD wrote a book review written all about a lady falling off her horse & working through the courage to get back on.

These have all given me confidence. Wow, that reads really rude & insensitive. That's not what I mean at all. What I mean is, reading about other adult riders going "splat" is giving me hope in two ways. One, it says "It's okay to go splat! Everybody's doing it." Secondly, it says, "I'm not the only rider on the planet to have my mind shook out of it's socket for falling. A lot of other people fall off their horses, in hunter saddles, on the flat, over fences, trying to be brave, trying new things. They get back up, dust off their hunt coat, dust off the horse, check for wounds, and get back on.

I'm glad to be sticking in the saddle. Admittedly, I wish it were my hunter or dressage saddle, and I wasn't "hiding" in that deep-seated barrel saddle, but for now that'll do. I'd love to be in the show ring in a flat class, or cantering over little fences. Right now though, I want to learn how to canter my horses with confidence. We'll work on the fences later.

Northern Front Blowing in

This is the best time of the year here in South Texas. It'll be a little muggy, a bit warm (70ishF), and the winds will be still. Then, all of a sudden, the winds change from South East to comin' out of the north, with a howl.

There's a northern front blowing down this morning here at work. It's a blustery wind, and my weather-fave, Intellicast, says it's 66F outside. 11mph winds, from the north, gusting at 17mph. It isn't cold or blustery, by all Yankee & up-north measurements, but here, it's awesome. Overcast, cloudy, with a forecast of 50% chance of precip at home. The rain will still do us good. Round pen was damp but not puddly last night. That means we can handle a bit more.

Pulled doveweed off the arena fenceline last night. Didn't wear gloves. Now I have blisters on the insides of four fingers. Dangit.. Sometimes I'm just not as bright as the average Jane.. Oh well.

Saw FSSunnySD put up a few Worst Rides Ever. Good reads - Check it out!

Adult Rider Confessions

I'm gonna set up a Question & Answer for ya'll readers... I'll even answer them myself to get the conversation going...

1. How many horses own you? Two, Chewie & Romeo
2. What is their current purpose? Chewie, healing lawn ornament; Romeo, trail buddy in training
3. What currently is your favorite thing to do with them? Chewie, walk bareback; Romeo, trot over crossrails
4. What is the best thing your horses do? Chewie - Air Brakes; Romeo - Whoa with reins & hand on his neck
5. Is there anything you really want for their ultimate purpose beyodn what they are currently doing? Chewie, Low-Level dressage, and ultimately, 2'3"-3' hunter eq over fences; Romeo, low-level open show english eq, and western pleasure eq
6. What prevents you from doing what you want to with them? Hooves, and riding ability
7. If there's something that's not being done, is it you, or the horse? Me
8. What's wrong with the party in #6? Big, Giant Chicken
9. Can you change anything to get either party better? More horse training; More rider confidence

There now... that was soothing. I just admitted to every one of you I'm scared to death of canter. Terrified. I've got "splat" too many times in that gait, and I'm 110% determined to get over it. I'm hoping Romeo will come back to me with such an easy neck-reining lope that I can get him out in an open field, squeeze him off, and he'll calmly lope about, hop over a downed tree log, and easily lope me on home. Chewie's got that easy canter.. He just needs healthy hooves, and a rider with a bit more confidence.

Non-Horse.. Good, and Bad...

No horse updates, gang... Chewie's been standing, becuase I've been up to my eyeballs in the rest of life. Romeo's still at Cowboy Les's, and I think he's been too busy with his massage-job to ride him. I hope to visit this weekend & catch a ride myself. Also hoping to catch up with Chewie, stick a saddle on his back, and ask for a few trot transitions. He seems incredibly sound & balanced, I don't see a reason to leave him stand & walk so much.

My employer has a process we call "Balance of Consequences", or BOC. We teach that, in BOC, for every 1 Negative Reinforcement (or punishment), there should be at least 4 Positive Reinforcements... So here I go, trying to live the Vision.

GOOD Tuesday night I attended a church meeting about introducing us to mission activities hosted by our church. How fun! The hosts introduced the program, and finding out "needs & fears" for the community much like brainstorming for a Six Sigma project. Stickie notes everywheres... We're at least making progress.

BAD Wednesday night, after a very long day at work adminstering training, I tried to interject myself into the church Praise team. It was good I went in with no expectations, because they didn't really make me feel incredibly comfortable or welcome. What a nasty feeling... uncomfortable in a church group. blech. 'nuf said. I won't bore ya'll with it.. but it is incredibly discomforting to know a church group doesn't treat everyone equally.

GOOD While sitting on the floor listening to the Praise Team, they sang a powerful chorus that, while I was singing along, I "heard" the lyrics, and realized God was teaching me something..
It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and Your name
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender, to Your ways

GOOD We're finally getting a program off the ground to assist Hurricane Ike victims in our sister plants in the Freeport area. I hate all the waiting, I've been a pestering little nag, and now the formal communications are waiting on Legal to approve. I'm learning patience in here somewhere. If the officials ever get spit out there, I'll probably blast it from the rooftops. Our leaders decided that, since I was one that pushed for the original ideas, and came up with the first suggestions, I'm in charge. Working with HR, we've contacted key personnel to assist, and we're already getting the word out. I can't wait to get started!!!!

GOOD Hurricane Ike pay is gooooood! When I was first evacuating, I was afraid the extra-duty pay would only be a few hundred bucks before taxes (thus about $50 after tax). I was frustrated, and scared I'd volunteered to put myself at risk for pennies. Then, after the storm, I figured, "We won't get a dime. I put in almost 3 hours that Sunday for nothing." Well, the official word is in... God is Good, all the time. I'm going to get a significant extra paycheck for my time on the extra-duty crew. I feel a bit guilty, as some of the sister sites aren't getting paid as generously, but I am blessed. This extra comes at a much-needed time. I told my Dad last night, this check looks a lot like truck insurance and a credit card payment or two. I am blessed...

GOOD John McCain heard me.. well, maybe me and thousands of others. I told a campaign fundraiser months ago, "It's time for John to do the job he's paid for. He's paid through my taxes to be a Senator. The gas prices are through the roof... My grocery bill is killing me... If he wants more funds from my bank account, you tell him to go back to the Senate floor, and at least act like he can lead with new bills & true bipartisan leadership." News yesterday is he suspended his campaign, and he's meeting with the President. Good job, Senator.. Let me go get the month's bills paid, and I'll cut ya another check.

That's FIVE GOODS to ONE BAD. I did it plus one. Everybody have a good day. I'll let in on the Ike relief secret as soon as the PR-Legal-Politically Correct communications are issued.

Those are Good Peoples!

How many engineers does it take to change a truck tire? About three... What I learned yesterday, after a co-worker told me he saw a bolt in my back passenger tire, and offered to change it out to the spare. Another car pulled up, two other engineers aboard. They came over, and while one supervised, another helped. So, technically, it takes two engineers to get it done, and one to supervise. HAH!

Took the stupid near-flat tire back to where I bought it, a Firestone in town. Boy, was I shocked. The guy at the desk looked it up, and said, "It'll be at least an hour before we can get to it, and it's going to be $19.73 including tax." I said, "Well then, the heck with you. See if I buy another tire here. That's almost brand-new, and that charge is ridiculous."

Walked out, and went to the Discount Tire down the street, the same place where I've bought two trailer tires. I explained my flat tire to a fellow behind the desk, we looked at it, and he said, "It'll be a while, but we'll get it fixed, and get it back on the truck."

I waited, and waited. The fellow that was assigned the job came into the waiting room, and said, "Not a big deal. It's fixable. It'll only be a few more minutes." A bit later, he came in, paper in his hand. "Alright ma'am. It's all done for you. Have a great evening. Drive carefully."

No charge. Absolutely zero charge. What good peoples! Discount Tire gets my vote, and my future tire purchases. If that's how they try to lure in customers, with no charge repairs, then it works. It's such a good way to treat customers, I'm blogging about it, so anybody with a shop in driving distance might consider them.

Horses are good. Ears were critter-free last night, and all are healing nicely. I'll clean them out tonight, and add more Tri-Tec. Beautiful cool morning today, with a few more on the forecast future.

It's an Award!

Folks that look forward to my little ditty updates.

Nifty good!

Thanks to fssunnysd for sharing in the magic. The ones I like already have this little gadget for the most part, but I will try to find somebody I read up on and share it.

I do have a detailed update, but will keep it general for this minute.. update more when I can..

Chewie . Round pen. Last night. sound walk & trot both directions! :) Very brief work, but good.

What's Your Favorite Urban Legend?

We've all heard plenty of them, I'm sure. I have a handful of legends that irk me, annoy me, and flat out make me wanna scream, "You're Nuts if you believe that!"

Plastic in the Microwave... That has to be my favorite.
No it's not bad for you - I used to work for a food packaging company. Worst it'll do is cause minor digestive upset as your body tries to figure out how to process without digesting.

Snopes has disputed it, as have many other more scientific resources.

Whew.. got that off my chest. I feel better now.

No pony updates. Chewie got the mud & sweat hosed off, and I think he's happy about it. Bugs have settled a bit with the rain coming & going.

Whatta Trip

Some photos are owed, and I'll get around to that....

Friday, I packed, organized, cleaned, told the boys they were loved, and prepared for the journey.

Saturday, cleaned a bit more compulsively, packed more, and headed for the airport. Travel to PA was good. The first flight, IAH to PHL, was good. Long, but easy enough for dog & human. the second flight, I felt like I was in the middle of a family reunion. Each trip teaches me more about how uncivilized people can be out in public, I swear. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR SHOES ON DURING THE FLIGHT IF YOUR FEET STINK! For the Love of ManKind! NASTY! Lady sat beside me, flipping in and out of her shoes, the fumes almost as foul as a trash pile. Crying out loud.. I didn't deserve that stench! Happy to arrive in PIT in one piece, late in the evening.

Sunday, Mom & I startled Dad at the camp with a visit he didn't anticipate. Happy Birthday Daddy, your baby came home. We spent that day relaxing, sleeping, watching the camp fire. Allie-dog was a goof, startled by all the surprises, all the scents, the reminders that other types of animals lived there.

Monday, I adventured to a trail riding facility, and Pebbles the "almost 30" Appy mare took me on a nice wooded rocky walking adventure. When we pulled up to the place, first thing I looked at, were feet. No hooves, no happy horses. I watched each of the horses for disposition, paid close attention to their overall body condition (all were chunky & happy), and went to register. A mom scared the staff and her small daughter with "falling off the trail horse at other facilities" stories. I laughed out loud, because if the mom wanted to encourage her kid to ride, horror riding stories wasn't the trick. They chose a half hour ride, me, the hour. Why go all that way and only ride a half-hour? As the guide introduced each of the horses, calling out their names, I listened carefully to age & breed. As Pebbles was identified as the "older Appaloosa mare that everyone picks on in the herd", I knew I had the horse. "That one!" I hollered, and her ears perked happy as he untied her, and said to her, "Okay Pebbles, it's your turn, out alone with Comanche & me."

The guide was chatty, the trail was rocky & muddy in spots, and the horses enjoyed every minute. Pebbles tried me by seeing if I'd let her eat on the trail. I didn't, but instead thumped with both legs, and a gentle tug on the bit. She quickly figured out that wasn't going to work out, and behaved angelically. She let me direct her around some mud, and her ears said, "Lady, this is great! I have a leader! Been a while since somebody bright rode me." I felt satisfied with that, as she wandered up & down the steep hillsides, only sliding on a rock once. I love Appaloosas... I really do. If Chewie and I ever part company ...... It'll be an Appy in the barn.

Tuesday, the family scampered to a clothing store in Warren, PA. Bought some "dress up for church" clothes, gotta latte in a really neat little shop, and headed for camp. Ran off to a park attraction (Kinzua dam, pictures to follow sometime). Mom and I went to the park where I rode Pebbles, grabbed a few more photos, and then to a tourist souvenir shop, and I snatched up a coffee mug for my collection, and some moccasins that are to die for. Deerskin leather, and incredibly comfortable. ooh.. nice shoes!

Wednesday, we headed for home, had a dinner-out celebration for Dad's birthday, and cleaned up in preparation for the trip back to TX.

Thursday, all day travel.

Friday is here, and I'm glad to be home. Through some emails and texts, it seems Farrier Mike & I are back on speaking terms, socially getting along. Can't say the same for Robin, as she's still not trying to initiate conversation. I'm not going to waste calories on it. Chewie is still off for no riding, and Romeo is on light-duty until those shoenail holes grow out.

I'm resolving to learn more about barefoot trimming for Romeo - make him a more solid horse barefoot, and perhaps learn to trim & rasp him down myself. It could happen... If I can learn it on Romeo, maybe Chewie has a shot of growing out those evil front heels & being happy barefoot at least sometime of the year.

I'm off to get some chores done, grocery shopping, and all things necessary to be back at the house alone again... I'm responsible again for every calorie I consume, and every niblit that goes into my body. MacKenzie will certainly be happy to be home, later today. I'm happy to be back by myself, make my own choices, and keep my crazy life moving.

Vacation has taught me... I don't sit still well. That half-done word search puzzle book, two read magazines, and one full read book are evidence.

Cheers, all. It's good to be back.

Another 2008 China Olympiad Blog

Neat!
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/debbiemcdonald/

And Blogging from an Announcer.
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/brianoconnor/

So Cool!

Raccoons, Mice, Redneck Sunbathing

I'll get back to the horses in the next update.. For now, a little South Texas "single girl living in the country" amusements.

I've had at least one raccoon munching down horse grain in the barn for a few weeks. A borrowed trap served no purpose other than a minor distraction - twits kept opening the lid & setting themselves free. I bought new trash cans, bungee corded the lids shut, and still no success. One morning last week, I swear the whole county heard me scream - Opened Chewie's feed container, and ACK! Little dork was IN the feed can. He split the scene, me hollering him into the pasture. That's when I decided I needed him to DIE! :)

Went to Tractor Supply Co, bought a "humane trap", considering it only a containing device, and set it. Saturday morning, there was a fairly small raccoon in the trap. "Stinks to be you, don't it?" I told him while I gathered morning grain & fed the boys. Cowboy Les and I brought the little fellow to his end courtesy of quick hands & a 20-gauge shotgun. Still, the next morning, with stray Kit-Ten in the trap, meowing her teenie little head off, the feed can lid was flipped over.

Overnight, I set the trap again, absolutely 100% convinced I was going to nab her before heading out of town on the 9th. Woke up this morning, had that "got somethin'" feeling. Headed to the barn at 4:30am, the "morning fuzzies" not worn off, MacKenzie in-hand on the leash. She and I cautiously opened the feed stall door, heard a little rustling, and turned the light on. SUCCESS!! That same raccoon that scared the living beejeebies out of me last week, in the trap, looking at me with that same terrified face I had. Mr. Coon may have had a good life the past few weeks, but that happy life will be ending tonight. Cowboy Les is going to head back to the house again tonight, and he will find his end. Inhumane, maybe, but I don't have time to rescue every vermin that lives in my pasture. I'm not hauling the trap off to "set him free" just so he can terrorize someone else's feed barn. There are plenty more raccoons in God's wild creation, and I'm not tolerating one in my barn at 5:30am every day when I wander out in the dark to feed.

Had a mouse in my bathroom, living in the cabinet, for about a week. I was certain the cats would serve their purpose in the family, as they have before, and the critter would end up belly-up in the bathtub, cats smiling. But not so much. Bought some traps, set one with Pnut butter in the cabinet. Woke up Saturday morning, opened the door,,, BINGO! One dead mouse, squashed by the trap. Again, inhumane, maybe... But I have low tolerance for unwanted house guests.

That reminds me.. Must tell the "Possum on my Pillow" story sometime... one sure to get your creepies crawling.

Yesterday afternoon, Les & I tackled some fix-its around the place. The power to the barn is now in a more secure switch box - a little left to do there. We also repaired some PVC water pipe at the barn, and now I have water at the stalls again. That'll be great when it's time to water again. No more dragging a long, heavy hose around the back yard trying to get the boys water. Also a bit easier for soaking beet pulp when it starts cooling off (but before it's 35F and I'm stupidly dragging buckets of warm water out there "so they don't have to drink cold water" hmph spoiled).

Having my fix-its done, went to Les's place, and finished a horse-lean-to that had been blown apart by Hurricane Dolly's winds. Two weeks ago, we put up the framing, and I became a "wood hammering" expert of sorts, in some tiny little girl way. I climbed up & down the ladder, in the 90+ humid heat, battering sun, and got the work done. Yesterday we got the tin sheeting up for the roof. Nailing the tin to the wood wasn't so hard, however, screwing the tin together, a whole 'nother ball game. The power screwdriver was attached to wimpy arms, and I had to bear down, my whole upper body pushing the screwdriver into the screw, into the tin, to secure the pieces. All that's left now is to nail up some flashing, and the roof is complete. That's one more stall and a tack room someday. For now, it's another place the horses at Les' house can get out of the wind & rain. None too soon, either, as Edouard hasn't decided where he's going to land yet.

As I was sitting up on the tin, nailing it down, work shoes, goofy frog ankle socks, blue shorts, blue shirt, I looked at Les, and laughed.. "Hey, Les ! LooK! Redneck sunbathing!" with the sun reflecting back off the tin. The roof was about the only place mosquito free. The blood-sucking monsters arrived in a blast last week, and haven't let up at his house yet. They're moderate at my house, but just insanely thick at his. Monsters... I'm covered in nasty little red itchie bumps, that will last at least two weeks before going off. Don't scratch, don't scratch, don't scratch. Yup, I told myself that, tearing up my left leg on the couch last night scratching about 6 all at one time.

If I Were a Natural HorseTrainer...

Which one would I be... See, I've been sitting on my arse watching RFD-TV a bit too much. Can't ride, heck, can't even put any effort into my boys with the weather, and the hoof/back/whatever it is. So I've been watching the horse trainer TV shows, and reflecting on what I see..

Ryan Gingerich - tap the horse with a whip on his front leg, he goes forward. Stop him, make him go backwards, repeat, repeat, repeat. Get in saddle, tap with heel rather than whip, repeat, repeat, repeat. His only clients are spazy goofy, can't control 'em ever at all horses, and riders that don't seem to know anything. They've taught their horses that disobedience is acceptable. Lesson? Nada, nothing, zero, zilch

Julie Goodnight - Gadgets for headset, multi saddles, variety of riders. Each a specific problem, and a specific lesson. My fave had to be the young boy that rode with his legs far in front, and hands up as if holding a serving platter. She took his reins from him, asked him to stand in the saddle & almost perch forward. Second fave had to be the Ayyy-rab that couldn't be caught. I pondered to myself while she was following that goofy nut horse around the arena, "How'd they catch her & bring her here in the first place? Did they free-chase here to this arena?" Lesson? Nada, nothing, zero, zilch. The lessons are so specific to particular problems, there hasn't been an episode yet I could use

Pat Parelli - Lots of commentary while they tell stories & move horses about in a show demo. They advertise buying all their gadgets all through the show, explaining only enough of the methods to make a curious horsewoman want to buy the gadgets and books. Horses step on boxes, push balls, scary-trot past plastic squishy barrels, and spook at their shadows. Maybe I got in on the parelli-game a bit late, because I don't see education, I see advertising. Lesson? buy the junk to get a better horse, because we've got secrets to training, and you have to pay for them.

Clinton Anderson - Chase the horse, chase the horse, chase the horse, chase the horse, flex, flex, flex, flex, chase the horse, repeat. LOL.. I'm giggling just writing it. On the ground, it's a lotta horses cantering around, and a gazillion lateral flexions. Under saddle, plenty of flexions, bending necks, and a gazillion rollbacks. Then, fast forward through all the training lessons you'd have to buy to see, and the horses are suddenly in a curb bit, performing bridleless training activities. I missed something in the middle here, too. Anytime I've tried these techniques, I get the basics, and somewhere along the way, we miss something, because I just end up with goofy spooky sensitive horses galloping out on a rope halter & lunge line. Lesson? Buy the junk for a better horse. Nose knots are necessary, as is the $100 version of a lunge whip. All the secrets must be in the purchase dvds.

Ken McNabb - Useful, but again, I feel the "middle" is missing. His latest shows have been with wild colts, and horses with attitude. The last one I recorded was with a horse that was supposed to be horribly difficult to saddle. He pulled hard about 3 times on a rope halter, and that gelding gave up. He quit fussing, quit trying to buck, accepted saddle & rider, and never once got yanked in a one-rein stop. Ken used that one rein just long enough to get the horse's attention, and pushed him back forward. Lesson? Good for getting nervous-nelly control, but not particularly helpful for me.

Where do all these trainers fill in the blanks? What happens between "playing a game with my horse" and getting him to happily jump over barrels? What steps did I miss between "flexing my horse's head side to side 300 times", and scoring 1s and 2s in a reining pattern? How do I get from walking on the ground with dressage whip, tapping the horse's front leg, to neck reining & going on a trail ride?

Why can't they run an episode with a horse that has the basics, and demonstrate a middle-step? Why is it "basics" or "experts"?? Anybody ever wanted to see an episode of "intermediate" other than me?

My musings & rants for the day.... A reminder to the weather it needs to stop raining so I can go shut my brain off & just ride.