DUMP

kitty in photo not actually the new kitty...but, pretty much is

I have a new kitty. Photo coming soon. No, not Claude. But, a real new kitty. It's what happens when you go into the vet to buy cat food and a man walks in with a little black kitty he found in the road. Someone threw him out of a car. What a meanie. He was so skinny and sad. Now he lives on my porch with Claude. I'm naming him Dump but Martha and my mom call him BJ for Boo Junior. Can't wait for everyone to meet him!!!

An Ode to Chase

In case everyone hasn't heard, Chase passed away last week. We were all very sad. No longer can we compare other fat things to my 21 pound cat. Every diet on earth was unsuccessful for him. I'm pretty sure he was eating small animals and sports cars when I wasn't looking. I guess when it's your time...it's your time (being a 21lb cat who's 14ish years old doesn't help). We will miss you Chase. The yard isn't the same without you.

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have knows.
-J.R.R. Tolkien

Soccer is for whimps...and Rachael

I think my foot is going to fall off. The whole top of it is black. SOMEBODY stepped on it Monday during the soccer game. You know who you are...even though I probably don't (but you don't know that). So, I will be taking confessions tonight at group. You will be responsible for the hospital bill should I require it at anytime during the healing process. Tommy, we want to come back and play at your parent's house again. That was the most fun we've had in a long time. Even when I slid across the grass after me and Joy whammed into each other. It's been a long time since I've played soccer. I'm sure it was obvious to all those watching. Hannah, Martha told me about the running commentary during my brief but famous moments in the game. I'll be tapping into your email address book later this evening when your not looking. We should have another swim, eat, swim, eat, play soccer, eat night. But, this time we get to wear shoes.

P.S: the whole soccer is for whimps title...I don't want to get flamed for it. It's a joke. So leave me alone about it.

Rachael's quote of the day:
"Ned: What are you doing later?"
"Phil: Something else."
-Groundhog Day

SOUL PATROL

Sigh of relief....America got it right! Maybe not in the past years of American Idol. But last night justice was had. How wonderful to see someone come from barely getting on the show to winning the whole stinkin' thing. If they had only seen Constantine's talent last year like I did. Oh well. We can't get 'em all right.

Brief horse show update: Have you ever been in a really bad thunderstorm? No, I mean the kind where you actually worry about yourself more than your horse that's in the trailer about 100 feet away under a massive tree that could go at anytime. Last weekend, in the middle of the stupid show, a hail storm like no other attacked the show. Everyone ran for cover. It was a very dramatic situation. Horses were crammed into trailers just in time for the winds, torrental rain, hail, lightning, and threat of tornadoe. When it was all over, the power in the ring was out. I know what you're thinking, "A horse show without that great music?" Well, they got the speaker working but not the ring lights and they had to cancel the show after class 19 because it was too dark to see the horses. What class was I in? Glad you asked. CLASS 21!. So, we packed Cole back into the trailer and went back to the hotel. Sensing something was amiss at the hotel....we locked the door immediately. And boy were we right. It was party time on the 2nd floor, all stinkin' night. We complained the next morning. Mostly because people slammed doors, yelled down the hall, and tried to come in our room. The guy at the desk told us there was nothing he could do because the police were at the hotel beside us and the security guard was at the one on the other side. YIKES! To make a short story long...Cole is home and the aweful show is over. But, Taylor won!!!!

SOUL PATROL!

**************I'TS A BOY************

And I will call him Ned Ryerson!!!!!

Tommy Boy

Does this look familiar to anyone? Hmmm.

Anyway, 15 million horse shows this weekend. I'm gonna have to drink my V-8 so I have the energy to pull it off. Oh, and Joy, don't even think about coming to get your horse. I'm keeping him forever. He looks so pretty out in my round pen eating grass. I'm sure he'll make Cole a nice little pasture buddy. So, stay away from my house and your horse...I mean...my horse. Oh, and my kitty is still cute. He actually sleeps through the night now instead of waking up at 6:00, tearing up my room, and going back to sleep right before I have to get up for work. As for the name, none yet. I had some great suggestions. But, I just can't find one that fits him. So, just calling him "Here Kitty" is working out just fine. As for the photo, this is Mike (obviously) at the lake in a canoe (another obvious).

David Thewlis...or is he?

Meet my new kitty. I would tell you his name but he doesn't have one. That's the reason for my post. I need some good name suggestions for the little stinker. These are some pictures of him at the office. I'm pretty sure Taco Bell is his favorite. He's a good little office kitty...except when he stands on the keys and locks up the computer. The only redeeming thing is that he plays hard for 5 min. and crashes for 2 hours.

Oh, and my doctor cleared me at my post surgery appointment. He kept the pictures or I'd have passed 'em around the group.

Black Butterflies

As I sit here and eat Pez from a Speedy Gonzales dispenser I reflect upon my life. The day is cloudy with the threat of rain. The phones in the office ring sporatically. The Andy Griffith re-runs...I've already seen. The girl they kicked off of "Starting Over" last season, they've just let back in. The world is just a little unbalanced today. I can't put my finger on what the problem is. Oh, yeah...I want my stinkin' horse back. But, to go get him now will be just a waste of money I've spent to...actually...I haven't spent any on training because he hasn't sent me a bill. But, the Peeps are piling up. My other horses won't eat them without slobbering and dropping them in the dirt and the temptation to keep my grubby hands off of them is becoming overwhelming. I need a nap, or a taco. I can't decide. Until I do, I guess I'll type some reports people are screaming for. I'll will be going to see Cole next Saturday May 6th if anyone wants to tag along. I can't stand it anymore. And, I'll be sneaking him candy.

Out of Cat Food

"Due to current financial restraints, the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off until further notice."

Over The Top

www.fileplanet.com

So, I went to a fight this weekend. And, everyone decided...since we're all here...why don't we show some horses. Next time I go out of town for a nice relaxing horse show I'll take a body guard, armored vehicle (since my new truck got hit by some nice person who decided to not tell me and drive off) and plan an escape route ahead of time. I'm not really proud of the Walking Horse industry right now. But, "the world is changing. I can feel it in the water. I can smell it in the air"....or whatever. Things better change soon or I'll be forced to buy a new horse and show elsewhere. That would just be a shame since I just got a new TWH magnet for the trailer.

Calling Up

"And Jesus, cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised."-Matt 27:50-53

9 to 4:30...ish

I'm working!! Finally! I can function like a normal human being...or whatever. And, I drove all by myself. Even better news...I turned the horses out on the new grassy pasture this afternoon. I'm getting ready to go take them off of it before we have 4 fantastic cases of founder. Well, with everything going so well, I should be up and running for the horse show next weekend. I finally get to see Cole. I'm pretty sure he thinks I've abandoned him. My doctor call me a little while ago to make sure my "stomach hadn't exploded." Yes, you heard it right. He actually said it. But, at least he was nice enough to call and check on me.

Headed home now to eat what's left of my peach rings and twizzlers.

CIPRO. THE OTHER...OTHER WHITE MEAT.

www.koala.net/media/

UPDATE: Hopefully surgery on Friday. If not, I commence to perform surgery myself. Ok. I have to go lie down in the corner of the office now.

OOOOooooooooo...........

AHHHHH.............
Check out Cole's ride. Tammy's son and his friend are working on it for us. I'm so excited. I went last night to see it and it's almost done!! We pick it up on Monday. I hope Cole likes it. If not, he can just walk and I'll ride in it. We didn't fix anything or paint inside the trailer because Cole will tear it up anyway. When I get it back...everyone in the College/Career group can come over and I'll drive you around.

Sleepy Monday

Didn't get much sleep last night. Aari decided that she wanted to go down in history as my very first colic case. Not that I haven't had to deal with colic before. I've been around horses for a long time. But, this is my first,"on the family farm" case. Have you ever tried to keep a 1,000 pound animal on it's feet? Didn't think so. Well, I have. I finally surrendered and let her stay in a heap on the ground until the vet arrived. Apparantly, Aari is very dramatic. While she was acting like she was dying, she wasn't as bad off as we all thought she was. A little muscle relaxer, pain killer, and a big tube down the snout with mineral oil and she was ready to stand in the corner and be left alone. As everyone already knows, colic cases can be very bad. So, we alternated keeping an eye on her all night. Well, not so much all night. Just once every few hours. This morning she was dragging me out of the stall and running for the grass. I'm guessing she's recovered. Now all I have to do is go out in the freezing rain to check her tonight. Hmm...I procrastinate a few more minutes.

Point to ponder: If you buy a horse. Have money in a savings account. Your horse will never get sick at a convenient time. It will always be on the weekend, in the middle of the night, or on a holiday. Therefore, afterhours bills will apply. And, your horse knows that.

Head Above Water

www.ellipse.3d.free.fr/Docs/whale.html

The next person who gets me sick will have to answer to...uh...well, me. I'm weary with sorrow and much coughing. Oh, and anyone who wants to be on the SBS calling list (not so much "on" the list as help call people who are "on" the list) it would be much appreciated. If I get no volunteers, then I will tie Cedar in your front yard until you volunteer. I haven't heard any news from Cole yet. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm going up April 1st to see him and I don't think I can wait that long. It's like sending Afty off and not being able to see him for an extremely long time. Only, it's not Afty, it's my horse. Which, is just as bad. Ok, bad analogy. I must still be sick. Oh, and I'm going to go pick up 100 bales of hay today. The sign up sheet to help is in the waiting area here at the office. There will be free mini Moonpies for whoever shows up. Well, until we run out.


p.s.- Joy and uh...Mr. I trim better than everybody came over and used their new degrees to trim Aari's feet yesterday. So, anybody know a good vet? Kidding!!! It went great. It's gonna be nice not having to pay $25 a horse now. Wahoo!!

Diggin' to China

www.bigphoto.com

Cole leaves Monday. I'm sad. I don't want him to leave. Eventhough he'll be back in a month it still makes me sad. Maybe I can use that month to raid someone's wallet and buy another horse of my dreams. Speaking of spending money on horses, Joy and I are going to a horse shoe course this weekend. Wish us luck. I know how to pull shoes but that's about it. I hope there's a good vet nearby when I drive my first nail. Poor horse is gonna' need it. I might get kicked in the esophagus. Maybe they won't use real horses. Just little fake plastic ones...like My Little Ponies. I think Kimberly said I could use her's. Stealing a line from Jesse, I would feel "like Bozo the idiot circus clown with my shiny new pet" if I didn't have to pay to have shoes put on my horses every 6 weeks. I'm a little nervous about shoeing Major however. Nothing like laming your sisters 22 year old race horse with a famous great-great-grandpa. I'll just practice on Cedar first.

Onion Volcanos

I have a funny ginger taste in my mouth. Does that stuff get in your blood stream? I think I'm gonna be full for about a year. Good luck to all ya'll who had Kanki food left over from last night. I think Martha wins the biggest doggie bag contest. It was a fun time though. I seriously need a nap. By the way, this picture was taken from a horse show last weekend. Yes, I have a good reason for not wearing my little man outfit. It was a fun show. We didn't even take his tail out of the braid until he'd won his first blue ribbon. Wow, I thought I would have somthing to say but I really don't. So, I'm gonna go. But, not without a giant HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CARROLL ANN!! (as I convert my cd cases into a pillow and put the phones on hold.)

Dragon Storm/Take 2

What can I say about this weekend? I was tired...but not real tired. Hungry...but not too hungry. Cold...actually freezing to death by Sunday. I had a wonderful weekend. A big THANK YOU to Carroll for letting me wear the blue dress. It's my favorite. Just to shut Martha up I have to inform you that yes, indeed, she did take these photos of all of us. She also wanted me to let Tommy know that his drum whamming didn't hurt little Neil Earl's ears. Maybe when he grows ears it could cause a bit of a problem. I think my favorite part of the weekend was when the movie director told us to be in the movie and stand there (for 3 hours) and then ask us why we were standing there. I learned my lesson. I guess my photo won't go on imdb.com just yet. It's all about timing.

Sick...as a dog

Hope everybody had a great Valentine's Day. I celebrated my Single's Awareness day on the couch with a stomach virus. The only thing I could eat and not get really, really, extremely, unbeliveably sick were Cadbury eggs my dad got me. It's a tough world. I caught the last few minutes of American Idolatry. The little guy with the grey hair got through. I'm so excited. I hope he wins...even though he won't cause the isn't "pop" enough. Oh, just in case I didn't tell everyone...Cole got a clean report from the vet. He's fine to go off to training in a week. So now I can get all sad again. But, knowing him his head will fall off and then another vet bill to have to deal with and another few weeks out of training. But, I'll let you know when that happens so you can console me.

Never...Ever Sift

I was sifting through some old horse show photos trying to find the perfect one of Cole to post. You know, where he's nice and shiny and picking his feet up high. Well, in my sincere search for a fantastic photo I found these. Just rock hard proof that watching stupid movies that no one else checks out because everyone else in the world knows they're stupid will make you learn really dumb things that will come out of you when you least expect it. But, I have also learned good things from our movie nights. For example: I can build an entire dragon killing spear flinger that won't jam every time you try to use it forcing you to cut the string...again. I have learned awesome facial expressions that are sure to get me to Hollywood and win that Oscar I have so longed for. I've learned how to dance (especially theatrical dance which is my personal favorite at the moment. For and example of this ask Hannah. She's the best at it). So, what useful tools have you learned from your favorite stupid movies?

False Alarm

Everybody sit back, relax, and take a breather. Cole isn't leaving until March. I haven't told him yet but I'm sure he'll be relieved. I have a funny taste in my mouth. It might be because I ate a mozerella sticks followed by a Jamoca shake. It might also be why my stomach hurts. The office got a bill today for $.01 from a company we had already paid. So, I taped a penny to the bill and sent it back. My question to you is...how do you pay a $.01 bill. Do you write a check? Do you send cash? Do you call them and say get real and go dig around on the floor of your car until you find a penny and pay it yourself (tempting but not very nice). Well, I have a few phone calls to make so I'll make this short. Plus, I have to go drink some water to get this taste out of my mouth.

Sparkly Things

About 2 days ago I met a local "starving artist". He came into the office for something completely unrelated and ended up telling us his life story and trials. Well, we will soon be the owner of one of his paintings. He should be back into the office in a few hours to present it to us. Not for free of course...but nevertheless we shall soon be the proud owner of a wren painting. Side note: I will be saying farewell to Cole who is going off to training. I'm sad and already going through withdrawals. I shall gaze upunst his empty stall in the morning and think, "Ha! Today I don't have to clean you. I don't have to add shavings to you or level you out and bank the sides to Cole can roll and not get cast against your walls. I do not have to haul heavy water buckets to you and empty and rinse them every night. I do not have to air you out and put lime on you so my horse can smell snuggle fresh. I am free from the bonds of keeping a stall!!" Wow, I feel better about sending Cole off already. Mabe I'll send him tomorrow.

P.S.-Martha took these "manatee" pictures at the zoo last weekend. We're going to have a sit-down with her and a National Geographic and explain to her the difference between manatees and seals.

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sunsplit clouds and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of -wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air, up, up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with ease grace, where never lark nor even eagle flew, and, with silent, lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand and touched the face of God.

-John G. Magee, Jr.(poem)
-Dru Blair(image)

What Could Have Been

I've been sitting here in front of the computer for the past 45 minutes trying to think of a good post. I could tell all of you that I'm now the secretary of the SBS. Or, I could discuss how the Carolina Panthers got stomped last night and Tommy was so sad that he wouldn't even squeeze the rubber chicken. Hmm, what about talking about taking the Promiseland squad (about 600 kids) rollerskating and how, in my attempt to teach the younger ones how to skate, I ran into them...tripped them...and caused massive pile-ups (sad but true). I could talk about all of these things...but...I won't. I'll just sit here basking in the glow of the lap top with the fam and surf through Star Trek, Cops, and America's Funniest Home Videos. Because, after all, what are Mondays for anyway?

hugs and kisses.

What is a Brown Recluse?

What I learned in school yesterday:
1) There is no such thing as a brown recluse
2) Brown recluses do not exist
3) There has never been a brown recluse ever on the planet
4) It's not a brown recluse bite...it's a pizza
5) If you find a brown recluse...first...it probably isn't one...second...if it is you have to be living somewhere other than here.
6) Sitting in class all day will make you crave tacos.

Cole's Job Just Got Harder

So, this is the banquet. Since the chocolate cake is still on the table this is probably when we first got there. We had a good time. The awards part lasted about 4 months but other than that the only reportable event that happend was a horse trainer who tried to dance with us. I said no...so did Joy....he didn't care. Joy had a death grip on her chair while he was trying to pull her up to the dance floor. Um, I think he finally got the point. We went running to find Tammy at the other end of the room just to nail our point down. Well, the next banquet is a year away. I'll take that time to actually get points on my horse so we might win something next year.


Why we do what we do..............................................................................................

Happy 100th Post!

www.tourismgraysharbor.com

Today I will celebrate my 100th post by having a rotten case of poison ivy on my face. My lips will be swollen and the large red blotches on my cheeks will itch uncontrollably. I will beg others for medication and take Benadryl like candy. I will procrastinate and not go to the doctor until my head falls off or until I can no longer stand how weird I look. So, the banquet on Saturday is looking really great right now. I'm so excited about dressing up with a swollen head and eating with people I hardly know. Maybe Joy and I will hit Taco Bell when we get home.

p.s.-Peri goes to the vet today. We think he might have to get x-rays. I can't wait to see how the vet gets him out of the pet carrier. He hasn't been to the vet since he was little and he hates other people. I'll keep you updated. You might read about it in the paper first though.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "It is bad to supress laughter. It goes back down and spreads your hips." -(Fred Allen: Family Circle)

Exposed to a Higher Standard

www.thecia.com

I officially had the best time ever last night. Despite the fact that I was forced to re-dress after getting into my comfortable stay at home clothes and go out to the scary movie theater with the girls. I know that most people don't like "chick flicks" and normally I'm one of them. But, this is one of the most all time romantic movies I have ever seen in my entire life. It was absolutely pure in every way and completely entertaining. I found myself curled up in my seat unable to stand the suspense. Yeah, I know. Not many people get really excited that somebody is going to get proposed to but, last night, I did. I want to see this movie again. And after that I'd like to see it again...
So, for those guys who think this is stupid and no one is really like this I think that you should know...If you don't act like the men in this movie, however stupid you think it may be, we won't marry you.

Joys of Horse Ownership

As of yesterday Cole is now on 1 scoop of Bute powder 2 x a day and 30 tablets of Isoxsuprine 2 x a day. Yikes!

Because of some pretty obvious lameness I had the vet come out to give him a once over yesterday evening. He specializes in chiro work and acupuncture in horses. He was great. He almost immediately found the problem in Cole. Well, he did have to do a nerve block to pinpoint exactly where he is having issues. Both front feet are the problem. His tendons in his heels have been overstretched. The vet thinks that with corrective shoeing (yippy...more $$) and some drugs the pain should be more managable. I think that pretty much rules out him going to the trainer at the end of the month. So, if anyone wants to come by and visit him or give him a call he'll be the horse in the stall with the disgusted look on his face because his mom keeps giving him nasty pills in his food. I don't think the meds cure him from wanting to throw people into jeeps though.

gettyimages

And the actual retail price is......

I don't have much to say so I'll just do something I haven't done in awhile.

Rachael's Quote of the Day: "A good friend will always pick you up when you fall. A best friend will laugh and trip you again."
-Anon.