That Sick Feeling

You know that moment when you go out to feed your horses and one is missing and the gate is wide open? Yeah that feeling. Then there is that big smile, huge sigh of relief as you give your "come and get it" whistle and here comes a big red horse at a dead run from somewhere just outside your property line. God kept my guy safe and close to home.. thanks God!

One Minute

I have about a minute, then must go shower and get my butt to bed.

Many things to write about, but so little time.

Old job let me go the same day I put in my 2 weeks notice.   I learned so much from that job as a cashier.  It looks so much easier than it is.  Always be nice to that lady ringing you up for your purchases. She might be slow because she is struggling with a job she never pictured herself doing.  It might be the first job she has ever had.  Or maybe she is trying to figure out how she is going to pay her bills on the meager amount she is making at the job of cashier.

The new job is good, everything there seems so easy, but probably only because it is so similar to my jobs in WY. But I think I am going to like it there very much.  I do miss my mornings with my horses though.  Now I just get to throw food and leave.

Took Big K out for a jaunt around the block last week.  We went bareback and it was just a nice easy ride.  He likes being a trail horse. He does not like being an arena horse.

Rode Trax the next day, he is happy doing either, or neither.  I think he is just happy in his life here with this herd.  He always comes to me now, even if he knows it is time to go to work. I love my horse so much. We worked on serpentine's again that day. Only we worked more on my skill than his.  I gently picked up the reins rather than pulling, and he responded quite nicely.  We also worked on stepping correctly to the side. One right stop got him the rest he deserved.  it is paying off.

Sassy has been getting her walks and seems to be getting better.  We watched some roping at the neighbors house and when they left the box at a run she thought that maybe she should run too.  But mostly she just loves to go out and about.  She gets visibly angry if she has to miss a day.  We also do some round pen work and although she still short steps sometimes, it isn't as much.

Today I spent the entire day trimming some of the big trees on the property.  I used the tractor as my ladder, and then had my son use the chainsaw extension on the weed eater to get the big stuff.  I wished I had been smart enough to put the trailer under the trees as I trimmed.  Instead I had to drive around to my piles and pick everything up. My neck hurts now but I feel like I got a lot accomplished.

Tomorrow starts a new week, and I probably will not be on line much. So I am wishing all my blogging friends a nice easy happy week, with as much equine time as each of you need to be ok.

Take care.

Nightmares

Last night I had a terrible dream.


It was time to feed my horses.


And it was snowing like crazy.


I got rid of all of my super cold weather horse blankets.


I couldn't find any winter jackets for myself.



I couldn't find any boots.



And my ex-husband was there having a support group for men on why women are stupid.
(hence the word "ex")


Luckily it was just a dream, and it is not snowing and my ex is no where near here.  So I am headed out for my morning equine ritual and then off to Wickenburg for Simon's football game.

Just for the record, I would not mind the drive to the game if my son was permitted to play more than one down per game.  I mean I'll be the first to admit that he is not the best player on the team, but the team has not won a single game so clearly none of the players are all that good (like any self respecting parent I blame the coaches)  and so it probably wouldn't get too much worse if they let him play a little.  But one of the rules of this league is that if we don't like it, we can mention it to the coaches but the decision is still their own.


Have not been able to ride at all this week, not since Monday anyways, Maybe tomorrow night.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

A Bit of News

Through a conversation with one of the kids at work a light bulb came on in my head.  He had mentioned that there is a diesel truck parts place in Mesa, and that maybe I should apply there since I have so much experience in that field. 

DUH!!! Why didn't I think of that before?

Not only did I try that particular one, but there was another one more specific to the experience I have located in Chandler, so I went there as well.  

I handed the manager my resume', he looked it over and said, "Wow."  We talked about this and that, and the fact that although the company did have openings they were all in Tolleson.  That would be an incredibly long drive for me. But he said that he would send my resume' over (yeah for the right amount of money I would make that drive) and possibly give it to his service dept who might be looking for a service writer.  

As we were talking we discussed who his regional rep was.  It was the same regional rep that I had in WY.  I had really only brought it up because I was curious, but it paid off in the long run. 

After I left he called that rep and asked him if he knew me.  I guess the rep said, "If you can find a place for her, it would be a good thing for your company."

Yesterday he offered me a job. It is a pretty good job, with some damn good pay, in a field that I am really really good at. AND it isn't in Tolleson. This is a company that I can (and most likely will) move up in, and it won't take 20 years for it to happen. It is a fast growing company that cares about its employee's. 

I have enjoyed my job at the ranch supply store, but what I have learned through this experience is that I am a horrible cashier.  I am great at customer service, but the whole cash register thing puts so much stress on me, I buckle under pressure.  I suddenly forget how to count change, how to ring anything up...yeah it's bad. 

 Or at least it feels bad to me.  

I can't help but think back as to the day when it seemed as though God was sending me to work at that store. If it wasn't to become a big part of that store...what was it?   

I have some theories.  

I have met some great folks there, who I have become pretty friendly with. Folks who also have horses and ride and stuff like me.  

I met a gal who says that she was inspired by me (long story- another day) and that inspiration has lead her to pursue something that she had been putting off for a long time, and that something is coming together for her.  

I also found myself humbled by that position.  For me humble is vital, and I was glad for that wake up call. 

So I am off to take my pre-hire drug test and physical, neither of which will be an issue for me, and if all goes according to plan I will be putting in my 2 weeks notice by Friday.  

I am excited to be back in a position where I know I can excel.  I am relieved that I will be making enough money to pay my bills and take good care of my animals.  I will be glad to be pulling my own fair share again. I hated that I wasn't.  I will be glad to be able to say, "Yes son, you may have a new football."

So for now Bonanza Boarding will be put on hold.  It isn't like anyone was beating down my door anyway. LOL

What I love about the Mare

Every morning before feeding I have been taking Sassy for her walks.  Yesterday's walk also involved chasing 2 of my dogs down the road and being really mad at TC for letting them out and then not watching them...but that is a different story.  But suffice to say that I was so busy being angry and chasing dogs that I did not really get to watch Sassy to see how she was doing. 

This morning we went the opposite direction down the longer end of our road and back. As we left she was wide eyed with wonder. Not fear or apprehension, just excitement.  Not even excitement, just happy to be going some place.  That is the thing with Sassy, she is the opposite of barn sour, and the only horse I have ever known who was. 

As we walked down the road she was right beside me, even a little a head of me. Not chargey, or pulling on the lead, but more like a little kid, 

"Mom, come on!!! Can't you walk any faster! There is so much to see!"

Am I the only one who has seen their horses smile?   Killian does it a lot but today Sassy was literally grinning from ear to ear.  Okay well maybe not that much, but still she had a very happy look on her face.  You could see it in her eyes, and the set of her mouth. I swear the corners were turned up just a little.  

I love seeing her like this.  

It is that curiosity and confidence that she has all the time which has driven me to keep trying to fix her.  She is going to be one of those awesome horses that is so much fun to ride.  Of course with her handicap I know that she will never be anything more than a trail horse now, but damn, how could you not love a trail horse that actually looks forward to going out?

As we reached the end of the road and turned around, she realized we were headed home.  Her pace slowed down and she got that little kid pouty look.  

"Aw Mom, do we have to go home already?"

By time we got to the drive she started getting stuck.  

"No I won't go and you can't make me"

But I did make her and now she is in her pen tackling the hay net.  

I did have time to watch her move this time...I honestly and truthfully believe that she is walking better!

AND...she hasn't had any Bute in 4 days. 

Another Video

I spent so much time playing with this video that now I am having to rush to get to work on time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TgphU_lCYo&feature=youtube_gdata

Lots of bad stuff, but a few good steps, so I'll call it progress!

One man's trash....

Friday the 13th was pretty tough, the 14th wasn't much better, and today, even though I have the day off and I know that riding would make me feel better, I didn't get up and ride.  I caught up on my blog reads instead.

I think that maybe I am experiencing a certain amount of depression. Don't worry, I'll get over it.

I did take Sassy for her walk this morning before letting her out with the boys. This time we made 2 laps around the arena. (note to self, DO NOT wear sandals next time)  I might be wrong, it might just be wishful thinking, but it sort of seemed like she is walking better.  By better I mean her short steps are less prominent and sometimes not even visible at all.  Do I dare hope that we are making progress?

Trax on the other hand limped all the way to the pasture. I stopped and checked for a lodged rock or something, but found nothing.  Once he got to the grass he was fine and ran and bucked and trotted and moved completely sound just like he always does.  

In a minute I am going to go clean stalls, and then work my arena  and my round pen and make them nice and soft. Then I will take Trax out there this evening just to make sure he is ok.  Please God, let him be ok.

One good thing happened yesterday, I was at my sons football game and walked past a dumpster where someone had thrown away 2 almost brand new folding lawn chairs.   TC and I have been trying to find some exactly like them, so yes I took them out of the dumpster and put them in the back of the pick up. No sense letting something good go to waste.

Go ahead, and say it...I'm a dumpster diver.  *hangs head in shame*