What's Been Happening...

I know it has been a while; I actually tried to blog a couple months ago but it wouldn't publish no matter what I did. So I hope this gets published!! A lot of things have happened since my last blog. I have taken up vlogging, my boss got married, and I will be going to Virginia for a job interview.

Vlogging, in case you haven't heard, is video logging. It's another good way for me to get creative and let my family and friends know what I am up to, which is normally no good, but I try. I'm getting a little better at it, but I still think they are boring. Oh well, it's not like a lot of people watch them.

Paige got married at Martha's Vineyard a couple weeks ago. Her husband is a wonderful, nice, hard-working man that cooks! He is a definite keeper. It seems like only yesterday they met! I farm-sat while they were gone and everything went smoothly. Now a couple of the younger horses are getting the sniffles as the temp drops. It is something that a lot of youngsters get, and it's basically a cold, and is really nothing serious when it is caught and treated early.

While Paige was away, I got a job offer in Virginia on an Arabian farm. It seems like a very good job with great benefits and I hope it works out. I fly out in a couple of days for a face-to-face interview and will be there for a couple days. If things don't work out, at least I got a vacation! I won't say what it is for sure yet until I know more details and take/get hired on.

I think that is about all for now. Otherwise, nothing else major is going on. I'll try to think of more things for next time!

Prom King

I had just gotten home from getting a few groceries when I got a text from my mom saying that my baby brother, Reed, just got Prom King!!! I am so proud and happy for him!

We have also had a few visitors at the farm in the form of Guinea Fowl hens these past few days. A couple of them are solid white, while the others are a dark gray. They usually come around at 7:30ish and are very verbal. They come around the house area and eat worms and bugs. Occasionally one will get left behind and then find their reflection in my big living room window and squawk at its reflection. The other day a duck accompanied them and it was by my window along with a couple of the hens. One of the hens started squawking and pecking at its reflection in the window and then left. It was so cute seeing the duck with them and the song "One of These Things is Not Like the Other" popped right in my head.

Madusa's owner has been coming around more and riding her so I have been riding Barney more. Lately he has been going a bit faster than normal, especially when Paige is around so I am trying to slow him down a bit.

That is about all that is happening lately.

He Is Risen!!

The prophecy has now come true. Jesus Christ destroyed the temple and, on the third day, rose it up again. This temple, as his persecuters failed to understand, refers to Jesus Christ himself.

Looking back, I didn't do such a great job with my nail-biting this year, but I did blog every day. The beautiful thing about that is, I got out a lot of feelings that would otherwise eat at me for days, thus causing me to lose sleep and be stressed out constantly. I can always go back and edit entries later, another beautiful thing about blogging!

Easter mass was very nice. I was able to remember most of what I was supposed to sing and I did it in a dress and heels!! I'm surprised my mother didn't whip out the camera to take pictures to capture this rare event. The family get together was a blast. I was able to see everyone, play with the dogs, eat homemade ice-cream, and play a couple games of Hands and Feet. I got back around 9 this evening and I'm surprised I'm not more worn out.

Back to the Roots

After the evening feed, I headed back to Britt. I stopped at Casey's along the way to get gas and get some supper, which was a slice of cheese pizza...exciting, I know. I made my first stop at Grandma's to see how she and Grandpa were doing since I don't get to see them that often and probably won't have many more chances. Then I went back to my parents'. Not much changed since I was there last. The upstairs has been repainted and looks very nice and modernized.

I helped Dad make taco dip and cuddled with my old dog, Riley, who is the smaller black dog in my profile picture. Man, he is getting old, too! He was curled up in the garage and shivering. I wish I could take him to Cedar Falls with me. I miss having a dog around all the time. Paige's dog is nice, but he lives upstairs. Oh, well. I always have my plant.

Tomorrow is Easter. I actually brought home a couple dresses to wear to church in the morning. Shocker!! I plan to sing in the choir instead of sitting in the congregation, since I do that all the time in Gilbertville. I haven't practiced the Easter mass with the choir, but I mainly go off the sopranos and tenors to find the alto notes anyway, so I shouldn't have a problem. I can't wait to see the rest of my family tomorrow. Easter dinner will be at my parents' place, so I will get to see everyone and go back to Cedar Falls from there. Hopefully we can get in a card game or two.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter tomorrow!!

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. It went like any other day, I had to work, couldn't go to church. I went to mass for Holy Thursday. That was a very nice treat to get out and meditate for a while. Tomorrow evening I will be heading north to visit the family for a day. I am so excited, even if it is for a day. I haven't been up there in what seems like ages!! I hope I can remember everyone's names! Hahaha.

Tonight, I went out to ride Madusa. As I was brushing her, her owner came to ride. It was a nice surprise...but it was a little hard watching someone else ride Madusa. I have been working with her for a long time, so I have become a little attached to her.

New Sport? or New Hobby?

Well, it seems as though the horses have found a new game to play with us humans. Normally two horses play it, but it seems as though some other horses have heard of this. It is called Hide the Halter. This game consists of the horses somehow removing their halters from their heads, which they can have an assistant horse do or a good scratch behind the ears can do the trick. Following the removal, the halter than gets thrown on the ground far into the paddock or pasture, or stomped in the gooey mud so well that the human can barely see it. Running in circles around the humans can bring extra fun, but is not necessary.

We had two young horses play this game yesterday, in which the youngest had hers buried in the mud. They decided to run around us full blast for a couple minutes before they stopped to let us catch them. Today, another horse had caught wind of this game and removed her halter. Luckily for me, she didn't stomp it in the mud and was easy to catch. Otherwise, Barney and YoYo usually play the game at least once a month. However they are too lazy to run around in circles, so that makes it easier for us to catch them.

Looking Ahead

I am going to be going North to visit my family. I plan to leave after chores on Saturday evening and coming back on Sunday night. Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay until Tuesday. My cousin, Rachel, is coming to Iowa from Boston to visit for a few days and will be in Britt on Monday. My cousin and my mom have tried to get me to stay or go up to play cards, but I can't. It would be nice to have that little vacation, but other opportunities will probably come around.

Right now I am working on my 500-piece puzzle and listening to Eminem. The past couple nights I have been listening to music and working on the puzzle and I have quickly remembered why I love puzzles so much. They are relaxing and a way to unwind and not watch TV or be on the computer all the time.

Snow?!

This morning I woke up and it was snowing like crazy! Iowa weather never ceases to amaze us with its bipolar-ness. Haha.

Today was my day off, and I was feeling a little under the weather. I stayed in all day, napped, got little done, and am feeling better now. I finally closed my checking account at Farmer's Trust and that's about all I got done today. That's about all I have on my mind at the moment.

Well...

I have been given an opportunity to go somewhere in the near future. Julie said that she would be able to cover for me if I decide to go. With the current struggles, I don't know if I want to or not yet. I did talk to someone whom I haven't spoken to in a while and he gave me some words of encouragement. I trust his word as well, so I am going to do like he told me and take my time in my decision, stop stressing out so much about my conflictions, and get some sleep.

Otherwise I had a pretty good day. I put in another ride on Madusa today, got everything done in a timely manner, and even had some time to kill.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday. The stretch run; the start of Holy Week and, so far, it is off to a good start. The weather was a lot better, Father Huber told me that it was a great day to go for a horse ride after Mass, and I agreed. I put in another great ride on Madusa after Paige finished her lessons for the day. It is always nice having an empty arena to work in and a quiet atmosphere with the radio for background noise. Yesterday I went to get a few needed items and decided to splurge on a new 500-piece puzzle. It is a picture of a white horse galloping near the ocean shore and it's titled "Ocean Winds." I started on it tonight while listening to Boyce Avenue on YouTube. It was a great way to end the day.

It was relatively stress-free. Jan was pretty quiet, it was a nice change. I finally snapped at her yesterday after chores. She was trying to calm the horses down as she was sweeping the cobwebs off the stall bars, and I could hear her on the other side of the arena! I finally just told her to just keep going and stop talking to the horses so they could figure it out for themselves. It felt good to yell since I had been wanting to do it all week. Poor Jan. I did apologize this morning and I kept a somewhat straight face, since it wasn't really sincere because I meant what I said. She accepted it and Paige had her do stuff away from me since she understands my pain now as well. She decided to work alongside Jan for a few days the past few weeks and she admitted that Jan is really annoying. At least Jan only has a couple more weeks left of her internship.

Differences

Recognizing and accepting differences is one of the major issues in our society today. I grew up in a religious, old-fashioned family, in the same little town my parents grew up in. Before I left for college, I didn't really know what my true opinions of what was going on in the world were. My first job working at the grocery store didn't really give me a lot of cultural variety. All the employees were from the same area in general so we were all the same race and heterosexual.


Going to college and working at McDonald's was a whole other ball game. I came across homosexuals, African Americans, who outside of McD's were more of Chicago's hip hop culture, and rebellious teens who listened to hip hop, rap, heavy metal, and some of whom were into the party scene already. I found that a lot of these people are some of the most beautiful people I have met. I'm not just talking about the physical beauty, even though the lesbian I worked with was a gorgeous young woman; I'm talking about the mental and emotional beauty. They were also more sure of themselves as people.

These people taught me how to listen with an open mind and heart, blocking out our differences in race, or sexuality, or culture. They would actually listen to what I had to say and not question or judge or try to help. In turn, I also listened to what they had to say about their views on life. Through this, I have learned what beliefs I have set in stone. I still am not too keen on the whole gay marriage/homosexual lifestyle, it is not my lifestyle of choice; but if some of my friends want to choose the homosexual lifestyle, I can't stop them. It has been proven that sexuality is NOT a choice. It is the way a person IS. Thanks to those that I have met, I can now say that I can blend in with just about anyone or any crowd I happen to be a part of. But that doesn't mean that that is who I am. It means I know what they are saying, even if it isn't in proper English. I can say I don't judge others on their sexuality, culture differences, skin color, etc.

If we are all God's children, then won't He accept everyone despite those differences?

Back to Business

My grandparents and parents stopped by for a speedy visit today. It was very windy, rainy, and cold out, plus I had to feed the horses, so we only spoke about 10 minutes. Mom had to go use my restroom and get a drink for Dad so he wouldn't be parched the rest of the way to Cedar Rapids. Dad is attending a men's conference while Mom and my grandparents are going to be visiting my aunt in Swisher. Grandma is so funny. She kept trying to get me to say that I am having issues with my brother, which I was able to dodge. She started out with "How are things going? How are you? What is new?" then just came out and asked "How's Micah doing?" I had to roll my eyes since she just wanted me to admit that he and I are at odds. We have another situation like that going on in our family, and we don't need another.

Meh.

I have too many feelings racing through my mind right now. I just don't know what to post on here anymore. I don't know if I want to just throw in the towel, put my blinders on, and just focus on work and prayer, or continue to post, but just put stuff on for shits and giggles. These past few posts I thought would make me feel better by getting things off my chest that people otherwise wouldn't let me get out without analyzing, advicing, and assuming, but I was obviously wrong.

Meh.

Just Sayin...

When you are trying to repair a relationship, is it really a smart idea to expect that person, and that person only, to contact you? Is it a smart idea to post stuff about that person without getting the facts in order, instead putting in names that have had absolutely nothing to do with what has happened in your life? Is it a smart idea to publicly call out that person and say "here I am, wanna fight?" Apparently that is what is expected of me.

As I have stated in a previous blog about my brother wanting to fix our relationship as brother and sister. I only stated my views of why our relationship is how it is today. Well, I had apparently pissed him off and after the shock of seeing how he is still acting like a immature brat, I have decided to just let it go. According to him, I am the one who has to know his daily schedule, call him in his free time, and talk to him about my current events. Excuse me, but I am not the only one who knows how to work a cell phone, or drive a car, or send an email, or send a message on Facebook. Just sayin'. Speaking of Facebook, he also removed me from his friends list and didn't answer any of my phone calls. Ok, so if he wants to continue to act like an immature brat who is also bashing me online and giving "knee-jerk responses" then I'm just fine with that. I have more things to worry about in my life than people like him.

Just sayin'. G'night!

Day Off

Today was my day off. I got a lot accomplished such as deep cleaning the apartment, re-organizing my closet, and going to the bank. I had been looking for my savings bonds for a while, and while I was reorganizing this morning, I found them! It was such a relief. Now I hope that I don't forget where they are again. I vacuumed, washed dishes, dusted, mopped, cleaned windows on the inside and out, and swept the outside area around the apartment.

I also sorted through my pants to see if they would at least still stay up by themselves, and they did, so I won't have to worry about buying new capris or shorts yet. I have lost at least 25 pounds since working at the farm and becoming a vegetarian and I'm still getting used to this weight again. I haven't been this light since high school.

I went to the evening mass in Raymond and went to the final CCL talk. Tonight was about spiritual healing. Sister Therese told us how important it is to forgive others AND ourselves for any mistakes or mistreatments that may have come to us. She also suggested making a bad situation into a good one. For example, when a family member becomes ill with cancer and eventually dies, we shouldn't think we are being punished, but are given a new reason to be thankful for the time we had with them, how we can remember them, and how we can honor them by being alive and living our lives to the fullest.

I also got to see Mom and our friend, Brenda Smith after they were done with their Mass music clinic today. They came over to the farm and we visited and walked around a bit since they had been sitting all day. It was nice visiting and seeing them again.

CCL- Night 2

I went to Night 2 of the Creative Christian Living seminar. Tonight, Sister Therese gave tips on how to pray 1)verbally, 2)mentally, and 3)emotionally. Verbally, is actually saying a prayer that we either may have learned in school, such as the Lord's Prayer, or just saying a prayer out loud. Mental prayer is the silent prayers that we pray when we want to feel close to God or need to pray for guidance in a tough situation. Emotional prayer is the prayer that comes from the heart. We can pray to praise God, give thanks to God, ask for guidance in our daily lives, and to bless those around us in our daily lives.

Before she starts her talk, Sister Therese asks us to pray with her. She tells us to rest our hands in our lap, close our eyes, and take a few deep breaths. She had us do it again at the end for even longer. I have to say, after working all day, I had to fight to stay awake during those moments.

Tomorrow, Mom and our friend and her fellow musician, Brenda, are coming to Cedar Falls to attend a music clinic to learn new mass music. They might come to visit afterward, and I have the day off. I hope they have a safe and successful trip! I know that Father Huber is going to bug my mom while she is there. He knows that sometimes she can be forgetful of what she can and can't do...so I will help him in reminding her that you can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd!!! Love ya, Mom!!

Creative Christian Living

This morning, I went to church as usual. Before mass started, we were entertained by a small, young altar server who was not having much luck lighting the wick on one of the candles that was at least twice his size. The light he was using kept going out. A musician tried helping him, and when she thought he was going to get it lit, it snuffed out again. Finally, Father Huber came out and eventually, they got the darned candle lit.

After mass, Father said he would see me at the Creative Christian Living seminar tonignt, tomorrow, and Tuesday. I made it this time! I did not fall asleep again!! It was long, but interesting. Sister Therese had some good points and said that we shouldn't hold onto the bad that has already happened, to look back on our relationships and see how any bad ones can be fixed, to change what we can and accept what we can't, and to open our hearts to receive not only God's love, but others' love as well.

Relationships. I do look at my relationships with the people I see every day, and even if they don't like me a whole lot, they do show me respect and that is a good start. I try to greet everyone with a smile and ask them how their day is going. Moving on to my family, I do have a great relationship with my parents. I know that I can go to them for advice and support if and when I need it. They have their quirks, but who doesn't? My youngest brother, Reed, and I have a pretty good relationship. It may have had it's rocky periods, but we are pretty good now. Micah, well, he's the poor middle child. He and I, I think, are polar opposites. I know that he wants to fix our relationship as brother and sister, but I think he tries too hard at times. When Mom and Dad are away, we are good. Everything is calm, we can talk like normal people, have some good conversations, and he is okay. However, when the 'rents are around, things change. He acts like a little kid, which in turn, compels me to act like a bratty little girl, and I don't like that. In a nutshell, I don't know if we'll have the relationship that Micah wants to have between us. I'm going off bad experiences when it comes to being around him with the parents and being the blame for everything he does to make a scene when most of the time, I don't do anything unless it's to make him stop acting like he is in elementary school.

Anyway, I didn't see Father Huber tonight. Hmm, maybe he was there in spirit, or he sent one of his clowns to see if I made it or not. We shall see! G'night, readers.

Spring Storms

We are expecting our first batch of storms tonight and tomorrow. I am actually excited! I can't wait to watch the storm clouds come in. They always amaze me with their powerful looks and torrential downpours. So bring on the rain! Haha.

A vet came out to check to see if a young horse is ready to be castrated. The bad news is that he didn't have both testicles dropped yet, so the owner is going to have to show a yearling stallion for the first couple shows. The good news is that he is already easy-going and easy to handle. He is still a baby and is a little nippy and testy, but that should grow out of him as he learns. He is already like a different horse since he has been here.

Madusa went great. I asked her to use her back and collect even more, and she did amazing considering she is coming into heat. We even broke a sweat! It was really warm out today, I just love T-shirt weather. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be in the upper 70's.

One of the forums that I am on has had a discussion on religion going on the past day and a half (dangerous territory!), and some of the things that have been said I would love to show my dad and see what he has to say! The things that come out of some people's mouths can be quite odd. A couple of them are also Catholic, but I have to wonder just how they are really set. It seems to me that they built a lot of their houses on sand instead of stone. It's a good thing they are still young.

That is about everything I have for today. Happy storm-watching, readers!

Rain

We finally got rain last night! Only 3/10 inch, but I'll take it. We are supposed to get more rain this weekend and storms on Sunday. I can't wait!!

Everything got done as usual today. We have set up a new feeding schedule so that one person does the feeding instead of three. That actually makes it a lot simpler, because then we don't have to worry about missing someone or feeding someone twice. While one person feeds, though, someone follows with the broom. Today was the first day doing this and we got chores done in 20 minutes!

I will also start having Tuesdays off. I wish it were Sundays, but I'll take what I can get. At least I will still have Sunday mornings off so I can attend mass. I probably won't be able to go home for Easter, but Paige said that it depends on what happens so we'll see how things go in the next couple weeks. I was thinking I would go home after chores on Saturday evening, then come back Sunday evening or afternoon. I'll take whatever, but if I don't get it off, then I can go home on Tuesdays. At least then I will be able to see my family again. I'm really going to fight for Reed's graduation! Time seems to fly by, and soon my baby brother will be graduated. Gosh, I must be getting old!

I was reading my other brother, Micah's, blog earlier and, despite some big mistakes, he mentioned an event I had moved on from and forgotten: a phone call in high school that ended up being a prank call asking me to a dance. Oh, the things he remembers! I may not be able to remember half the events like he does, but once he mentions it, I can remember the facts. The phone call was NOT from Jake Mohr, nor was he my crush, like Micah mentioned. It was from someone else who liked to try and get a rise out of me. It's funny, but looking back, the only guys who treated me with respect from when Kanawha and Britt merged in Jr. High were my two crushes. All the other Kanawha boys gave me a hard time. Oh well, that is the past; this is the present; let's all just move on with our lives.

We get two new horses in tomorrow. They will be here for a couple weeks or so. It's scary how within the next month at least six horses will leave. I hope we get more to replace them!

Until tomorrow, readers!

Calmer Day

Today was more normal. All the daily duties that need done went by smoothly. The vet did come over to do a vaccination and check on a horse. He was supposed to come tomorrow morning, but had some things come up and had to do a last minute rescheduling. It was nice seeing him again, he is easy to talk to and is some pretty nice eye candy. It's too bad he's taken!!

Otherwise, nothing else really happened today. I had another headache, went in and, finally, cooked a meal, and it went away. Paige said that Barney missed being ridden, but one of the boarders that I dislike was working his horse, so I laid low tonight. He was pretty cool at first, but he thinks he's a big shot since he's from Chicago and everyone else is below him for that reason. I don't really like that kind of attitude. Tomorrow, Barney would be ridden so he will be happy. Until tomorrow, readers...

Crazy Day/Nice Surprise

This morning went from normal to crazy at the drop of a hat. One of the horses had rubbed herself against one of the posts in her stall that was stained yesterday and had a good size patch of it on her neck along with other splotches here and there. I wasn't too worried about it at first, I tried to wipe some of it off with a rag, but that didn't do too much. The stain is a slow-drying, nonlethal, sticky substance that gives a nasty taste to the horse if they decide to chew wood or crib, but is otherwise harmless unless the horse has sensitive skin. Once Paige saw it, she freaked, saying that it was a stupid idea to have painted that stuff in a stall with a horse in it in the first place, and that she could have a reaction. The horse was fine. She wasn't rubbing it obsessively and was otherwise playing around with the other horses. The stain was on her coat, which has yet to shed anyway, so it wouldn't have stayed on for very long anyway. One of the interns and I did end up getting it off with warm, soapy water. The thing that got me going was how Paige kept going on about how stupid it was of us to have let it happen in the first place. I normally mentally beat myself up for my mistakes, I don't need any help in that department.

Not ten minutes after the stain incident, one of the other horses was pawing quite high at the new horse on the other side of the fence. He wasn't being mean, he was just letting the other horse know that he was the boss. While he was doing that, two of the new agri-stretch plastic wire got caught in-between his hoof and shoe. This caught him off guard and he started backing away quickly. Boy did that stuff stretch!! He got halfway across the paddock before one of them snapped off the post, the other kept stretching until he stopped. We were able to clip off the remaining wire from his hoof and fix the fence.

I also rode Madusa and Barney tonight. They both went pretty well, despite the fact that Barney hasn't been ridden in a while.

As I was tacking up Madusa for her ride, I overheard Brian and Paige talking outside the groom room and Brian mentioned that he hadn't seen me ride Barney that much. Paige answered that I don't have the ambition to ride. I only ride a couple times a week and I could be riding more. Yes, that is true. I could ride every day, I have two horses that are finished and need the exercise. I do not have as much ambition as I used to, but that is because 1)I don't have the freedom to think for myself and share my achievements without being mentally knocked down; and 2)I am out working in the barn all day, at the end of the day, I am tired; if Jan is working, I am annoyed; and I enjoy socializing with the boarders since I don't go out at all. I barely ever leave the farm, I go work in the barn for at least 6 hours every day, then either ride or go inside and watch TV and go online. I even tried to see if I could have Easter off, and Paige said it's probably going to be a "no." Well, now I can work toward getting Reed's graduation off. *crosses fingers*

I did get a package in the mail today from my mom. She sent me three T-shirts, two of them barn-related, and one with the Latin translation of "Lamb of God". Thanks, Mom!!

Work in Progress

Julie and I started a new project today that will keep the interns busy for a couple days. We started staining the new wooden posts and boards on the dirt side. Today, we got the wood dusted off and 5 stalls stained. A couple of them only had a tiny bit to stain, others had a few boards that needed done. I was a little high from being around the fumes for a couple hours and one of the boarders commented on how strong the smell was. Julie couldn't smell anything with her allergies, so she was lucky. She wasn't affected or anything, but after chores I began to feel a little light-headed. After a break and some fresh air, I was a bit better and am feeling fine now.

I also got to watch Julie ride Brian's horse, Hobbs. She has the basics down, but she will do well once Paige starts giving her lessons.

Tomorrow, one of the horses will leave to get bred. She won't be coming back afterward, but we will get another horse in. Brittany'shorse is going to leave on Thursday. Brian doesn't want it to leave, because he likes the horse a lot. He is thinking up new and creative ways to convince her to keep him here, but she just won't budge. She has promised to bring pictures for him to see, and I told him that the horse will send him postcards every now and then. Hahaha.

Later, readers.

Productive Day

Despite the windy, cold weather, today was a very productive day. Julie and I did all the usual barn duties, plus got the hay shed door back on its track, got the dead coon in the hay shed to the burn pile, and cleaned up some hay in the shed. I also rode Madusa after chores and she went very well.

I was riding with one of the boarders, who decided to chase me when I called his horse an Arab, an inside joke between some of the boarders and me. So Madusa and I did quite a few jog to lope transitions. He was being nice and didn't come close enough to attempt to push me off. When he tried to demonstrate by coming closer, Madusa pinned her ears and raised one of her hind legs in warning that Brian's horse was getting too close. He is also trying to persuade Brittany, one of the stall cleaners/boarders, to keep her horse here. It is always fun to laugh with the boarders after a busy day in the barn.

That's about all that went on today, until tomorrow readers!

Mixed Feelings

This weekend, I found out that one of my fellow high school graduates is engaged. My congratulations go to him and his beautiful fiance. While I am very happy for him and wish them the best, I am a little sad; he was my on-again, off-again crush throughout jr. high and high school. Oh well, I'll find someone who is just as good, maybe even better, than him.

We were supposed to get rain today, but haven't gotten any, even though we need it pretty badly. It was a very warm day out today. The high was 78!! Whew! That is some crazy Iowa weather for you!

In the homily today, Fr. Huber spoke about one of the veiled messages in the Gospel and that was fear. The blind man, who was given sight by Jesus, kept telling the people how it was that he could see, and they wouldn't believe him. So, they brought his parents into the middle and asked them how their son, whom was blind since birth, could now see. They said to ask their son, since he was a grown man and could speak for himself. But they said it in fear of being cast away from the synagogue, their social networks, and their home. Father went on to share that he had wondered how different their lives would have been if they had told the Pharisee's the miracle that Jesus performed on their son. We shouldn't be afraid to proclaim our faith in God. What if we do get ostracized? Things usually have a way of getting worse before they get better, right? If we can stick through the hard, rotten times in our lives, and have faith that He will help guide us along the bumpy road to salvation, then we can get through anything with His help. I constantly find myself in that predicament. I find that I can't say things and then get yelled at or beaten down for it if it sounds wrong. I can't just tell people my theories, I have to SHOW them to get my point across. Switching Madusa's bit is just one example, even though I told Paige too soon about the change, Madusa has been back to her old self and is happier being ridden. I can't pat myself on the back and tell my success' all the time, the things I say I have done in the past can't be proven unless someone asks around. I'll leave you with that tonight. Later, readers!

New Intern

Julie, our new intern, started today and I think she is going to do better than Jan! She handled and got along with all the horses very well, did her work quickly and accurately, and was quiet! I was cleaning stalls with her, and didn't hear any humming sounds or loud comments. That is unless Jan was with us. Tomorrow she has the day off, but I look forward to working with her more on Monday.

We got some stalls ready for a trainer who was passing through on her way back to Canada from Florida, where she was training and showing for the winter. I asked if they needed any help and they handed me a young, new horse whom they were bringing North for training. He seemed to be the most easy-going of the bunch. Once they got him off the trailer, I took him to his stall, which he walked right into, stood quietly while I took his shipping boots off, drank some water, and rolled before they fed him his supper. He was so ready to be fed, he started chewing on the wood! The other horses balked at one point, but this one was completely fine...like he had been here his whole life.

Tonight I made Rice Krispie treats and Chex Mix. Now I have something to snack on when I take a break. I also had another headache today, which Jan didn't help with her loudness, but I took a nap after chores and it had diminished to a dull throb. I think I am getting them more ofter now because of the weather. The wind had been blowing quite a bit, and I go in and out of it a lot during the day. Hopefully they will pass once the weather calms down.

Horse Kids

I remember the good old days of my childhood like they were yesterday...ok, they kinda WERE yesterday; but seeing one of the lesson kids today, and meeting a little girl whom's parents are old friends with the groundskeeper, made me remember what it was like being a horse-crazy girl. Those were the most rewarding, tough, and life-changing years of my life.

I remember begging my parents to go on the pony rides at the fair at a very young age. It wasn't until I was about 6 when I realized that I wanted to be around horses for the rest of my life. Thanks to me, my best friend, Emily, also caught the horse-bug. Our neighbors, who had Haflingers, POA's, and shetlands, gave us our first taste in horse ownership, riding skills, and horse handling skills. When Emily and I were on the bus to and from school, we would plan on getting our own horses together. We had it all mapped out as to what breed, color, size, and where we would put them. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way and she got a horse before I did and she had it until it died. I got one eventually, then sold him. I know that he is still with the people who bought him, and they are very happy with him, so that makes me very happy. When I was 14, my grandma let a horse dealer board his horses on her farmland and he let me dink around with them as long as I was careful. I rode my bike there as often as the weather permitted and went in amongst the herd, eventually gaining their trust and making them more used to human contact. One young sorrel mare that I had a connection with I named "Honey" and she would whinny and come up to me whenever she saw me coming on the road. She was a yearling when she arrived and she was a little wild, but I eventually won her over; she was sent to a trainer a couple years later who almost ruined her. For a few days, I was the only one who could approach her without running away. The next year, she had a beautiful baby colt and I was so proud of her!

Amongst the great memories are also bad ones. My obsession with horses made me a walking target in middle school and I was bullied by some of my classmates. They would torment me, saying that they were going to shoot all the horses, let them loose to fend for themselves, or send them all to slaughter. Unfortunately, one year, there was a shooting at my Grandma's property, but it had nothing to do with any of the harrassing people. Those were the worst and that wasn't everything, but I got through it, and today, I am working with horses for a living.

Watching these kids that come in for lessons brings me great joy that I get to share my love and knowledge of horses with them. The little girl I met today told me that she wants to be a "horsey-girl" when she grows up and her parents are supportive of her despite being from town. I hope they continue to help her follow her dreams and follow the right path to being a responsible, respectful young woman-whether she stays with horses or not. I wish the same for all of the students who come into the barn to ride and enjoy the horses.

Melting Pot of Thoughts

I have felt very drained all day again today. My mind was so out of focus, and Father Huber's newest picture had a caption that said it all. It was a picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head saying "I have no idea what you are talking about...so here is a bunny with a pancake on its head." Another example of how I felt: Everyone seemed to be saying "wop, wop, wop" like the adults in "Peanuts" do. I about lost it with Jan today. She is just so annoying and I am too polite to tell her how I feel. Some days, I wish I wasn't that way. This post is obviously going to be very short. I am going to turn in early in hopes that I feel better to conquer another day tomorrow. Hopefully I can get as much done as I did today amidst a foggy mind. G'night, readers.

And the Beat Goes On

Today was pretty much the same. Jan was here, we got everything done that we were supposed to do and then some. One of the boarders used the arena all day to practice loading a couple horses in training so they would be comfortable going in when the time comes to load them; she also worked a couple horses and her farrier came out to trim her horses' feet. I really like this farrier. Every time he comes, it is like a classroom. He explains what is good and bad about each horses' legs and hooves and if it is good or bad. If it is bad, he explains why and exactly what is going on. It is so interesting! Some of the stuff I either already know, or is kinda fuzzy in my memory. The hooves are the foundation of the horse and if they are not trimmed, shod, or looked after properly, the horse could end up lame for life. He also showed us a few radiographs of 30 year old Arabian gelding and they did not look pretty!! Even before he started explaining, I could see what was wrong.

I also got to ride Madusa this evening and she went really good. I think she likes the bit she has in her now, and I dropped her bridle a notch and she didn't shake her head as much. All in all, it was a great day. I didn't have to listen to Jan talk a lot and was able to meditate while I was doing my stalls, like I always do.

As I type this, Lent is halfway through and the Little Black Book said to look back on the commitments made this season. Have I made any mistakes? Yes, I have bitten at my fingers a little bit. Can I fix it? Of course. I am going to work even harder to find a way to stop biting nails, let them heal, and find a habit that is not self-destructive. Any suggestions, readers? I will leave you tonight with that question. Until tomorrow, readers.

Signs of Spring

Ah, Spring. The time when Mother Nature teases us with a warm weather stretch only to be followed by a cold snap. Well, I think that the cold snaps are over. The oldest mare on the farm, Miss Cabana, has been letting go of her winter coat in the past couple of days, and I swept up enough hair to cover Lassie after I groomed her this afternoon. The birds have also been heading North in full swing. These past few days, the trees have been full of birds and we have a few robins that have made their home on the farm. I just love Spring!! Sadly, I am fighting a headache right now, and my back and neck are a little stiff. I am really hoping I am not coming down with something...such as the dreaded flu! Good night, readers!

Poor Thing!

This morning I went out at the usual turnout time. Paige was late, so I started without her. As I was going out with one of the horses, I saw Paige approaching. She looked a little tired and, when she got within hearing distance, told me that she woke up covered in hives, except for her neck and face, and said she was probably having an allergic reaction to an antibiotic that she is taking. She took a very late trip to WalMart to get some Benadryl and only got a couple hours worth of sleep. After turnout, she went in to get some more sleep, while I got some work done around the barn. By the time turnout had come around, the hives had spread. She is now on some new meds that will get the hives under control and is not going to take the antibiotic anymore. I am going to do morning chores for her tomorrow. I'm thinking I may have to do the morning turnout alone, but that shouldn't be a problem since the horses are pretty eager to go out in the morning. Later, readers!

Not What I Had In Mind

I like to plan things out. It's fun for me, and it helps keep me organized. Today, I had planned to go to church at ten, come back to the farm to clean stalls and all of the other barn duties that I normally do every day, then change and go to the 7:00 speech made by Fr. Colter at Immaculate Conception followed by the Benediction. Only half of those plans happened. I went to church this morning, which was great as always even though I was absent-minded through half of it since I tend to check out a little on Sundays so I can relax a little more. I also did the usual barn duties that I normally do after stalls. However, I didn't do stalls today. Paige sent me a text before I went to the barn telling me that all the stalls were done. When I asked what the occasion was, she told me that since I don't get a full day off, she would give me another day off from stalls. That was a nice surprise, but it felt odd not doing stalls. So to pass the time after I got the horses switched, barn aisle swept, and the prep work for chores done, I helped her out with the jumping lesson she had this afternoon. My parents also came to see me after visiting my brother in Dubuque today. That was another nice surprise since I didn't think they would be coming to see me as well. That just leaves the evening plans. Well, unfortunately, that didn't happen either. After Mom and Dad left, I ate supper and put the leftovers away, got ready to go to church, and decided to relax for a while before I had to go since it was a few minutes after 6. I told myself I would close my eyes for a minute....and woke up at 6:58! Although I had a refreshed feeling, there was no way I was going to make it without missing the beginning of Fr. Colter's speech, so I jsut didn't go. I am still kind of disappointed with myself, since I don't get off the farm that often and was looking forward to going to this thing for a few days. I think I am going to turn in a bit early tonight. The refreshed feeling after that nap has come and gone and now I am tired all over again. So until tomorrow readers...

Movie Night

This morning Paige asked me if I wanted to go to a movie with her and I said yes. We went to see "Battle: Los Angeles" and it was pretty good. It had a lot of action, had a creative storyline, and the effects were pretty cool. A funny thing happened while we were out. After buying our tickets, we went to the concession stand to get some popcorn and drinks. We got a large bucket that was over-flowing and Paige asked me how we were expected to make it all disappear. I jokingly said, "Oh, I'll just dump half of it on the floor." Ironically, halfway through the movie, I accidentally tipped the bucket of popcorn that was on my lap just enough for it to dump most of the contents on the floor. We had only eaten about 1/4 of the bucket and luckily had some more on the bottom so some of it was saved. What is still scary is how I said it would happen, or that just over half of the bucket was spilled!

Otherwise, today was just like any other. I'm going to hit the sack so I can be ready for church tomorrow. Ttfn!

Frustrations

Today, again, we were blessed with nice weather. It was still a little chilly, but the sun was out and we didn't get any rain. The ground is starting to firm up and get less muddy. Hurrah!

Today was also a day of frustrations. The stall cleaner who is usually scheduled to work today and tomorrow didn't show up again. Paige sent her a text yesterday and she said she would show up, and she didn't. That is frustrating. I tend to plan out my day, then try to stick with the plan. My plan for today was to try to get all the stalls done by the turnout switch, since the stall cleaner normally shows up around 10am. I was set to clean the stalls that were still occupied, while she would clean those who were already outside, since she isn't that comfortable around horses. By the time we would get done, I would switch horses, take my lunch break, ride Madusa, and clean the last two stalls before pm chores. Unfortunately that didn't happen. However, I did get to ride Madusa this afternoon while Jan did stalls.

I have a bit that I bought for my project horses at Kirkwood; it is a D-ring snaffle and I thought it would be more comfortable for Madusa instead of the fat baby snaffle she has been currently working with. I have been riding her since June 2010 and I think I know her well enough by now to know when she is comfortable and happy, and when she is not. I had noticed in the past few rides with the last bit, that she would avoid the bit by opening her mouth, going hollow in her back, and tossing her head up and down. She normally doesn't do that. Normally, she will shake her head a few times from side to side and then stop after a few minutes and settle into the work. It doesn't usually have anything to do with the bridle or bit, she just likes to see if the rider is going to let her get away with it, or continue asking her to work. So today, I used my D-ring to see if she would do any better. She had been in another D-ring before, but that one was a copper bit, and mine is stainless steel. I lunged her a bit, then got on her. As she got settled into the bit, I noticed that she was starting to round her back and neck, gather her hindquarters, and listen to my cues better than she had been doing. I was so happy! She had the same amount of saliva as before, and she seemed more relaxed and happy again. Alas, my victory was short-lived. I told Paige that I had used my bit to see what she would do, told her the results, and she said that I was full of it and she had to see it for herself. Then I realized my mistake...I had used my own brain. What was I thinking?!

Well with all that aside, I got to watch one of the boarders, Mikayla, learn how to throw a lariat on her horse, Rocky. Brian, another boarder, was showing her to see if Rocky would tolerate having something else being swung around his head other than her Clinton Stick. Rocky did just fine, but Mikayla doesn't have the best coordination, but she was determined to get the lariat over Brian's hand. She ended up hitting it, then called it quits because her arm was getting tired.

I had vegetarian fajitas for supper tonight and they were AMAZING!! They were just what I needed to end this crazy day. Until tomorrow readers...

Today was a nicer day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and we didn't get any rain! It was nice to have a break from all the precipitation that Spring brings. Things on the farm went as usual, and Jan was working in the small barn, so I didn't have to hear a lot of yacking and humming from her. I also got some errands done today. I went to the bank during lunch and got some groceries after chores. Otherwise, I had the usual chat with the boarders. I love it when they come around. We get to have a few laughs, play with the horses, and have a good time. One of the boarders, Jolynn, invited me to go with her to the Iowa Horse Fair in a couple of weeks, but only time will tell if I can go or not. It would be great to have another day off and actually go out of town.

It's going to be another early morning tomorrow, so until tomorrow readers!

Spring Shots

I had to go to the barn early because today the vet came out to do spring shots. All of the horses were good, except for one who wanted to push me out the door to get away from the vet. I just held my ground, said a firm "whoa," and we got the job done as quickly as possible. While the vet was out here, we had him do some Coggins tests, teeth, and sheaths. Fun stuff!

Otherwise the day was pretty normal. All the horses got outside despite the rain and vet delay. Jan was here, but we kept her busy enough in different parts of the barn so I didn't have to put up with her talking all that much. We had a couple people looking in at the barn. Paige wasn't here, so I introduced myself, told them what we provide, how many stalls are available right now, and they went on their way. As they were walking out, they asked about the pricing and Jan told them a number that was $50 less than what we board. I really had to hold back the urge to yell at her. Needless to say, Paige gave her a good talking to.

Tomorrow I need to go to the bank and get some groceries. Until then readers...that is all I have for now. Ttfn!

Blustery Day

Today was quite the day. It was windy, cold, and rainy...quite the opposite of yesterday's lovely weather. We ended up turning the horses out in the indoor arena, which is a pain in the rear, but at least the horses get to go out for a little while at least. I was about 3 groups away from being finished, when Sheena, one of the boarders, came in to work her horses. She also has a couple of training horses in the barn so it took a while. It was a good time for me to saddle up Madusa and ride her for a while. She hasn't been going as well as I know she can, so I am going to really try to ride her more so I can get her back into her old form. I think I am going to us my own bit next time since I just don't like the one she has now; I think it is still too small for her mouth, and the bit rings look like they would be pinching her mouth.

Tomorrow the vet comes to give spring shots, do some dental work on some horses, and maybe clean some sheaths...not the most pleasant of jobs, but it needs to be done! Jan will be there to help hold horses while I do my half of stalls, so that should give her some good experience.

The wind has been horrible today! I came in for lunch to find my door was wide open, allowing the mist and cold air to come in. I shut it and made a note to close it more firmly next time. After lunch and a little more work in the barn, I decided to take another short break while Sheena worked a couple horses and the door had again blown open! At this point I was a little aggravated since my apartment is really a basement and, since heat rises, it takes a while for it to warm back up. The door at this point had to be open for a few hours so far. After chores, I went back and the door was still shut, so I thought I was in the clear for the rest of the night. I still had to turn out a couple more horses and the day would be done. When I came in for the last time tonight, my door was again open! Paige was going inside as well when she heard me growl in frustration and curse at the door, and she just started laughing at my bad luck. I sat down and could literally see my breath! So now my apartment is finally starting to warm up again, so I can stop shivering. Haha.

The weather for the rest of the week looks miserable. The high's are back down to the upper 30's and it's supposed to rain quite a bit. Hopefully the wind will die down soon though. I think I should go to bed so I can survive another busy day at the barn and putting up with Jan. These last couple of days have been nice, quiet, and calm!! Aahhh. Good night, readers!

Busy Day

Today was a pretty full day. The farrier came this morning during turnout. He was supposed to show at 9, but instead arrived around 9:45-ish. It didn't really matter though since the horses got turned out and those that needed their feet done, got them done. We got a new horse yesterday, so we turned him out in the arena with one of the top geldings to help get him acquainted outside. They got along great, and he eventually got to meet the rest of the group. No problem.

While Paige held horses for the farrier, I continued turning out horses, swept the aisle, dusted the stall doors, and started loosening the sawdust pile for the stall cleaner. Mondays and Tuesdays are my days off for stall cleaning and another girl, who otherwise does half the stalls on Wednesdays and Thursdays, cleans all of them after her classes are done. About halfway through the job, Paige got me to turnout the last horse of the morning once he was done getting his feet trimmed. After that I held the rest of the horses for the farrier and let Paige take a break. After that, Paige and I switched horses, then I went in for a late lunch. After lunch, I cleaned a couple stalls, as in those on the dirt side, which is occupied by 2 horses. Then I did the evening feeding, swept, and finished loosening the sawdust pile so the stall cleaner could finish her job a bit easier.

The day was complete when the boarders started coming and I joined one, Jolynn, in giving another, Brian, a hard time. You see, Jolynn has a big Quarter Horse, YoYo, whom she likes to bring a container of sweet feed and smarties every day. He is a pretty spoiled boy and she only gives him 3 little packages of smarties a day. Brian gives her a hard time and has tried to get me to side with him, telling her that it is not a healthy diet for a slightly overweight horse. Instead, he suggested she should take her farrier's advice and try giving YoYo peanuts or black sunflower seeds as a healthier treat. She humored him today and bought some shelled peanuts and tried feeding them to YoYo. He didn't like them. So Brian took them out of the shell, he still didn't like them. So Jolynn decided to just give YoYo his smarties, which she gave some to Brian to give to him so YoYo wouldn't hold a grudge. Haha. I joined Jolynn in saying that there is nothing wrong with giving her horse a few goodies...seriously, a 1500lb horse is NOT going to be affected by 3 measly packages of smarties and some sweet feed. He pointed out to me that as a horsewoman who has gone to college majoring in Horse Science, I should know that it is not healthy for a horse to be fed that much sugar...vets, farriers, and trainers would say that it is just not right. That was a good point! I have had my education, too much sugar is bad for a horse, especially since the winter months are over and he won't be burning a lot of extra calories to keep warm. But in the end, we know that Jolynn will still end up giving her horse whatever treats she wants to give him since she loves him and wants him to be happy. I still think it's cute that she gives her horse some candy every day. :-)

Well, I have another day free of cleaning stalls tomorrow. It is supposed to be yucky outside, so I hope I can squeeze in a ride or two in a free arena! Later, readers!!

Dance Club...Pony Club Clinic

Well, I finally went out last night to the Half Pint Saloon in Waterloo. It was my first time to a dance club in quite a while and it was fun. The band that one of the boarders at the barn is in, Eleventh Hour, played and they were pretty good. I also did some line dancing with my friend Ashley, and I really suck at it! For one, I haven't line danced since my cousin's wedding, and two I didn't know one of the dances at all. I was also watching her dance while trying to dance alongside her and that just messed me up even more, so I told her next time I am definitely going to have to go to her place to practice first!! I stayed out until around midnight and was still able to get up for church this morning.

Today, LaBella Farm hosted another Pony Club event. This was a natural horsemanship clinic with Bob Smith. Bob was pretty good. In my years spent at Kirkwood, I learned the Parelli Natural Horsemanship techniques and that has stuck with me through the years. Through Sylvia, I learned Clinton Anderson's DownUnder Horsemanship, which is generally the same idea. I have also worked with Jeff Griffith and a few other trainers and they generally use the same techniques: Be fair to the horse, earn/ask for the horse's respect, etc. Even though a lot of people like to point out the flaws in this trainer and that trainer, all of the aspects and goals are the same. Bob was the same. He really believes in creating a calm, respectful horse through patience, body language, and kindness.

To me, those are all good things, but I tend to handle horses just fine using the tools that have been drilled into my head and the style that I have developed over the years. I do greet and approach new horses more slowly than with horses that I have known for a while; I use my voice in various tones to let them know when they are doing something good or when they need to start thinking about what they want to do; I use the lead rope in my hands as an extension of the arm when needed and have the mind to know how much pressure to give a horse and when to stop. I approach and greet every horse as I would another human being. You don't see people approaching other people while cooing to them and telling them how cute/pretty/dirty/big they are in a baby voice, do you ? I don't think so. I normally give a casual "Hey, buddy. How's it going?" then go from there. If a horse gets scared, I am not going to coddle it, I usually get them to do something else to get their mind off what is scaring them, keep them off of me, and get them to listen/pay attention to me. Since I am on the other end of the rope, I want them to see me as a leader, guardian, and guide. I expect the horse to keep a reasonable distance, walking beside me; not crowding me and pushing me around....that is rude!

My brother, Micah, stopped out during the clinic to give me some goodies that Mom sent for me. Thanks, Mom!! Until tomorrow, readers!

Nothing New

Hmm, I don't really have anything to post. Today went like every other Saturday, I did stalls, boarders came and messed with their horses. I met a possible new intern. She will not replace Jan, sadly enough, but I think she will do better than Jan since she is in a horse program at a college in Ohio. I also met Bob Smith who will be doing a natural horsemanship clinic for a local pony club here at LaBella Farm. I am about to get showered and go out for a while to a club where a boarder's band is playing at. Some social time will do me some good!

Until tomorrow readers. :)

Temptation

Temptations are all around us. Whether it is a temptation of lust or to have another piece of our favorite chocolate or to tell someone off, we can't avoid it and eventually give in. In the Bible, temptation is discussed frequently starting with Eve and the serpent and continuing on to the devil tempting Jesus after his 40 days in the desert. Although we know the differences between the two with Eve giving into temptation, dragging her husband, Adam, along with her, and Jesus not giving in and defending himself with scripture, we find ourselves among the two. Some temptations we face are easy to concur while others are more difficult. The Little Black Book that I am reading for Lent is very helpful in how to do a self-evaluation. How do I handle my temptations? How much time and money do I spend on others compared to myself? Do I really trust that God will guide my way through the path of righteousness? Basically, how can I do better as a person to help and be patient with others?

This is coming from working with Jan. Jan and I have been working together for over a week now and I am really tempted to just tell her to just be quiet already!! Every day she is constantly talking and humming. I'm not just talking about quiet musings to herself, but loud comments about why a horse is whinnying or acting the way it does, loud greetings to the animals and people, loud humming to the songs on the radio or just sounds, she also says one thing one minute, then the opposite the next. It is so annoying. Today I said something to Paige about it and she agreed with me; Jan is getting on her nerves, too, and it's even worse for me because I work in the barn with her everyday. She is also very slow at developing a routine and mapping out which paddock or stall each horse goes in. One would think that after doing the same thing everyday for the past week or so, she would start to get the hang of things. I have to constantly remind her of everything, every minute of every day and that can get frustrating.

This is a real trial for me. Even though I know she has a few weeks left with us, the end just seems so far away. I am praying God gives me the strength and patience to deal with her until that time comes.

Focus, Focus....What??

Today was pretty confusing for me. It seemed my mind was all over the map and I just couldn't concentrate on a single task like I normally can. I am normally a living memopad, people tell me information such as a date that a horse/person is coming/leaving, events that are coming up, and important appointments that need to be remembered...and I remember them easily. Some people think it is freaky, while others find it quite helpful. Today was a definite off day.

This morning I went to see a dermatologist to see what was going on with my forehead breakout, which was more for my mom since she worries about everything. Otherwise I was just going to let it clear up on its own. I was filling in the paperwork and kept mixing up the simplest stuff on there. For example I would put today's date as my date of birth and my date of birth as today's date. Before I left for the appointment, I had eaten breakfast, looked up the directions to the place, and gotten ready as I would any other morning, so there was nothing out of the ordinary there. I just brushed it off as me not being a morning person and continued my day. Not much really happened until chores. During turnout, the youngest horse in the barn snuck a bite of my arm leaving a lovely bruise on my bicep. That really sucked. Stalls went fine, Jan had to pick some up since the other stall cleaner hurt her back the night before. As we were bringing the horses in, I felt a headache coming on, probably from Jan's constant jabbering and going in and out of the wind constantly. After chores, I went grocery shopping and also had a hard time focusing there. I actually forgot my PIN number...which was really embarrassing. So the car ride home consisted of prayers for guidance and a lot of concentration. I guess I was due for an off day, the last few days were pretty nice with it being my birthday and having a day off after a 2 month stretch. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

Good night all!

Day of Birth

So, today was my first day of working on my birthday EVER! It didn't go too bad either. I got my half of the stalls done early and was able to ride Madusa and Barney. Madusa went ok. She was a bit distracted by the open arena doors, the stuff in the arena that is still here from the Pony Club clinic two weeks ago, and the different bit in her mouth. I went easy on her considering those conditions, but the next time I will expect more from her. Barney went great! He's a pretty nice horse to ride. Chores went pretty fast, since I was able to get some of the prep work done after riding Madusa. It felt nice to have a non-eventful day at the farm on my birthday.

I got a call from my dad as I was finishing chores. He said that something happened this morning and he thought he would call and tell me. At first I thought Mom had a seizure, but then he said it was funny so that thought escaped my mind. He said that this morning, he and Mom were talking about our day yesterday and he asked her what ELSE had happened in Cedar Falls yesterday. Mom then asked if he had talked to me already and he said yes. (Keep in mind I had actually forgotten this one event that just pissed off my mother but had no effect on me whatsoever.) She then got mad and said that I should have waited for HER to tell him about the parking ticket. He then asked what parking ticket she was talking about and she then realized that I hadn't said anything about it! In fact, I had forgotten about it and didn't even bring it up at supper with Fr. Huber!! I must be slipping already...how sad. Dad told me that I should have seen Mom's reaction because he got quite a kick out of it. He said that her face was just priceless because she had just admitted that her perfect record was now tarnished by a measly ten dollar parking ticket. Poor Mom!!!

That was my day...how was yours? Until tomorrow, adieu.

Relax! It's Your Day Off!!

Other than a half hour today, that is just what I did. When I worked at McDonald's, I would normally get called in on my days off and it was mainly to close the store because they were short-handed. So it didn't surprise me that when Mom and I were at my apartment for a while, I was expecting a text from Paige saying they needed some help bringing in the horses or that Jan couldn't make it and I had to bring in the horses and do the evening feed. I continuously said that I should at least go see if they needed help, but Mom stood firm and said "Gabby, it is your DAY OFF! So relax!!!" After I saw Jan and Paige walking out to get the horses, I finally did.

Last night after a busy day and my brief post, Mom and I checked into the hotel and went to Pizza Hut where we had breadsticks and a delicious thin crust mushroom pizza. After a stop at Casey's for some chocolate, we headed back to the hotel and spent some time in the hot tub. Back in the room, as we were enjoying our chocolate goods, my dad texted me asking if we had any surprises. I replied that we had not, and he told me to look in Mom's bag. Sure enough, there was a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate in her bag for us to enjoy.

This morning we went to the Jiva Spa and Salon. My massage was at 9:00 and it was an amazing treat having a full body massage with hot stones. During Mom's massage, I got my hair cut and looked around the store a little bit. After that we had lunch at the Olive Garden, went to the mall (without getting anything), and went back to my apartment. While there, I sorted through my closet a little, mopped, and we played cards to kill the time before we went to Raymond for the Stations of the Cross and mass. After mass (and Mom nearly pulling over the pew in front of us several times before she realized she should stop pulling on it to help herself up) Father Huber joined us for supper at Applebee's where we had an awesome time catching up and torturing Mom with our Facebook talk and exchanging what annoying songs we would get stuck in our heads at the most inappropriate times.

When I got home, I went out to the barn to visit the horses a while and see if everything went smoothly, which it did. I was glad and Paige was showing me a chunk of shavings that was still frozen. I went in to see if I could kick anything off of it, and she promptly shooed me out of the stall, saying it was my day off and I didn't need to be doing that!

I don't know why it is, but I just can't seem to stop working lately. I remember, as a kid, being incredibly lazy. I never did my chores when told to, if I did any, they were done poorly or at the last second. It wasn't until I got my first job at the grocery store in Garner, IA that I started working a bit more and got into the habit. After 3 years of that job, I went off to Kirkwood, took a semester off to get situated and found myself bored. So I got the job at McDonald's. Shortly thereafter, I got a job at Papa Murphy's and quit at Mickey D's. I soon realized that that was a big mistake. At Papa Murphy's I was making more, but wasn't working very many hours. I also couldn't keep up on the line and found that I like working in the back more, doing dishes, making the cookie dough, and pizza skins. I eventually went back to McDonald's and worked both jobs while going to class. That turned into too much stress and not enough sleep, so I quit Papa Murphy's. Eventually, I worked my way up at McDonald's and when I left I knew how to do everything on the front line, closed most of the time, and started working in the kitchen. Some of the coworkers would be douchebags and either not show up or call and say that they quit the job when they had to close. So I would be called in on most of my days off because no one wanted to close the store. Some days I didn't mind, but after working a solid 3 weeks, I really needed the day off to save my sanity. I had to learn how to say "no" to my managers and coworkers and look out for myself for a change because if I had to deal with another night of bratty teenage coworkers, grumpy managers, and disgruntled customers, I was going to either collapse or scream. The job itself was easy. Take orders, take money, clean, scrub, mop, dishes, etc. It was the same thing everyday and for the most part, I got along really well with everyone, but it only takes one person, be it a coworker, manager, or customer, to just ruin the mood for the night. That's what was hardest about that job. Working on the farm is great! I get to work with horses everyday, something I have been dreaming of doing since I was a little girl. I also get to meet some pretty cool people.

I start out the day by turning out the first group of horses. Then I clean stalls, sweep the barn aisle, and switch the morning group of horses with the afternoon so all of the horses get some time outside. After a lunch break, I clean a few more stalls, prepare the hay cart, fill water buckets, put hay in the dirt side's stalls that are occupied, and ride if I have the time. At 3:30, I bring in the horses, feed the horses, and sweep the barn aisle. If I have the energy, I ride, otherwise I go in for the day or for an hour to give the horses time to eat before I ride. Whether I ride or not, I always feel like I put in a full day's work. Now that the days are getting warmer and longer, I am looking forward to being able to do more and am hoping that I can continue to grow as a horsewoman.

I think that is all for now. See y'all tomorrow!

Mom's here!

That is all!! lol I will post of my pampered day off tomorrow! TTYL!!

Little Black Book

Good evening to all! I am getting used to the new time since last night was daylight savings. I think I like falling back better, but what can I do? Haha. I went through my normal Sunday routine of going to mass in the morning, then heading to the barn at noon. Jan keeps improving everyday and tomorrow is her day off. We'll see how she does flying solo on Tuesday since my mom is taking me out for the day!! I can't wait!

Tuesday will be the first day off that I have had in over a month. Mom is coming down tomorrow evening and will pick me up from the farm. I hope I have everything done by the time she gets here. She has already told me she is ready for a foot massage.

Today's readings were about temptation, starting from the beginning when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve with the fruit of the tree that God had forbidden them to even touch. We all know what happens in that story. In the gospel, the devil, not realizing who Jesus was exactly, tempted Jesus three times while Jesus was in the desert, yet Jesus did not give in and the devil was defeated. The homily that Fr. Huber gave told of how we are all tempted by the devil every day. The devil is lazy, meaning he quickly finds our weaknesses and goes with that instead of dreaming up new temptations, which is why we find ourselves sounding like a broken record whenever we go to confession. He also gave the analogy that the devil tempting us is like a bullfight. The bull, after being lanced open, is tempted by the toreador (aka torero) waving a red cape. With each charge and pass through the cape, the bull tires until it's head is low enough to expose the shoulder blades. The toreador then takes his sword and, if he is strong enough to do so, plunges it between the shoulder blades and into the bull's heart. We are the bulls that are tempted by the devil's toreador cape. If we continue to give into temptation, the devil will eventually kill us spiritually. If we are really smart, we would spend less time attacking the cape and go for the bullfighter!

I thought it was a brilliant homily. It had many good points and I got a lot out of it. After mass I picked up The Little Black Book...no, it's not what you are thinking. It doesn't contain a bunch of addresses and phone numbers. It is a book that has 50 six minute meditations for us for each day of Lent starting with the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter. I am going to find some time to catch up with the days that I missed so I can get the most out of it.

That is about all I have to say for today. Until tomorrow, ttfn!

So...

Hey, all! Today was very blustery day. The winds were really nasty this morning and I was thankful for having a horse attached to me to keep me on the ground! I don't have a lot to post about today...

I passed up another opportunity to go out and have fun with some friends tonight. I should have gone, but I just didn't feel like it tonight. The last time I was too exhausted and tired to go out. One of these days, I'm going to actually go have some fun. Oh wait! I will have one soon! My mom is coming down from Britt to pamper and hang out with me for a day. I am sooo ready for it! I haven't had a day off in quite a while. Lately I have only been taking Sunday mornings off to go to church and get some errands run. Otherwise I just work all the time. It sounds boring, but right now I have the energy and I get to be around horses all day so it is definitely a win-win situation most of the time.

Of course I get tired and a little burnt out, but Sunday morning is actually enough for me. It's refreshing being able to have that little time off where I can dress up a little, and go to mass. It's also nice that I know the priest personally, so we get to pick on each other every once in a while and I have someone to say "hi" to.

Did you think I forgot already?

Ha! It is almost midnight and I'll be you guys were thinking I had already forgotten to post. Nope. I was just trying to figure out what to post!

I had a pretty good day, I am starting to tone out Jan's consistent noise-making since I will be working with her for a couple of months. So I might as well get used to it. I think she is seeing how much work being an assistant barn manager actually is. Today I had to put her on stalls and we pretty much did stalls all day since the other stall cleaner had a family emergency. She had almost all the morning turnout stalls done before we had to switch horses for turnout. After that I went to lunch while she cleaned the last stall. After our breaks, we cleaned more stalls, swept the cement side, brought in horses, and did chores. I noticed that even though she has had horses for quite a while, she doesn't have very good handling skills and is quite nervous around the horses. I had to switch horses with her today because the horse she was leading got scared of the farmhand's kids, which in turn, scared her. So I had to turn around and give her the horse that I had, who can be a pushy jerk every now and then, but that ended up going ok. In other words, they both got in the barn in one piece.

We had amazing weather today and I got to ride in an empty arena after chores. It felt so nice and Madusa, the Arabian that I normally ride, did pretty well despite the fact that we switched bits with her again. I know that she goes fine in about any bit we put in her mouth, but horses are creatures of habit and it would be nice to just let her have the same bit every time. The last bit she likes, but Paige wants her horse, Barney, to be the only one who has it. Since there is nothing I can do about that, I can only hope that Madusa keeps improving and gets back in the shape that I had her in at the end of the summer last year. The bit that she has now is fatter than the others that she has worn and I am hoping that she is able to swallow, so I will be looking out for any sign of excess saliva dripping from her mouth. It is normal for a horse to salivate a little with a bit that they like, but too much can be uncomfortable when they can't swallow properly. Imagine talking or doing something physical and not being able to swallow when your mouth gets full of saliva. Pretty gross isn't it, and not being able to breathe properly just makes it even harder! Well, I guess I will just have to keep an eye on her.

So I guess I will leave with that. We'll see what tomorrow brings. TTYL!

Coping Techniques

So, Lent is going pretty well so far. I have been dealing with some anxiety and nerves, which I get every once in a while when a bunch of stuff gets in my head all at once. Nothing major, but when I get to feel that way, I tend to nibble at my nails/fingers, and so I have been finding other ways to cope. For example horseback riding helps me to breathe, focus on the ride, and just plain lose myself. Riding normally gives me a sense of mental quietness, escape, and peace. Well, I went out to ride this evening and I got the horse, Madusa, tacked up, chatted with some of the boarders, and went into the arena after they had gone. Well, in an enclosed space with four other people doing four different things makes for a limited amount of space to ride and find that kind of mental quietness, escape, and peace. I only rode for a few minutes before I felt an actual anxiety attack coming on. I couldn't breathe correctly, started getting kinda shaky, and my mind just wouldn't clear, so I got off Madusa, put her away, and went back to my apartment. So tonight, that technique didn't work tonight. So I did something I think my mother would be proud of...

I started CLEANING!! I washed all the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, scrubbed my bathroom, and swept my tile floor. So now, I am more relaxed and my head is clear. This was after Paige came down to see if I was OK. She was out working with another horse on another farm so she wasn't here to know what was going on, so I texted her to let her know in case the boarders asked why I cut my ride so short. She and I talked for a few minutes she showed me some new warm up yoga positions and then she went back upstairs.

We have also gotten a new intern on the farm. Her name is Jan. She is in her lower 50's, and is doing OK so far. She is also about 4'10" and likes to take the really gentle approach when it comes to horses and that makes me nervous and scared for her because if she lets the horses push her around too much, she could get hurt. I told Paige about that and she said that she is going to try to be out more tomorrow to see what is going on for herself. I hope things get better as the time goes on. She also is constantly making some sort of noise...I am not talking about constant chatter with another person either in person or on a cell phone. No, I am talking about a constant humming; sometimes to a song, other times to herself and it gets annoying pretty fast. By the time we were finished with chores, I said a quick "goodbye" and went straight to my quiet apartment. I don't mind it if there is noise such as the radio or people talking to each other or on the phone, but when someone is humming really quick like and tries (in a non-rhythmic, monotonous) to hum along with a song, I just get annoyed. I guess it's just a pet peeve, which I normally don't let get to me. Oh well, eventually I will either get used to it or just tell her to shut up...whichever happens first.

So that about wraps up my second post of the Lenten season. I suppose I could add a bit more of a religious aspect to this blog, since I am making a committment to this. In yesterday's homily, Father Huber told us that we should push ourselves during Lent. He said to not just give up something as simple as chocolate and try to hang in there for 40 days, but to push ourselves and try to do something to try to get a better relationship with God. I had to smile at the chocolate part as I have been thinking about the past Lent seasons as far back as I can remember and I HAVE given up chocolate before (and it wasn't too bad I guess) as well as soda on several occasions. However, lately I found that I have been challenging myself more. Last year I decided to stop biting my nails, the year before I chose to read out of the Bible every day. I know that I have been changing my way of thinking and challenging myself, but I do wonder how I can push myself next year and maybe even this year. In recent weeks I have been looking at the daily readings every now and then at night while thinking of the message in each reading. Some days are more of a challenge than others but I enjoy thinking about the message that God is trying to tell us.

That is another thing you followers can look forward to in my posts other than reading about my petty life. I am not goingto or even trying to push religion, or God, or Jesus, or ways of thinking down your throats; I am just letting you get even more into my thoughts and feelings. These are things that I otherwise can't say out loud. If any of you have ever fought with me face-to-face, I am very easy to beat, but with blogging, I can think more about what I am going to say instead of putting my foot in my mouth.

I think I have said enough for tonight. Until tomorrow, happy reading!!

Ash Wednesday

Today, as the title implies, is Ash Wednesday. A day which marks the beginning of the Lenten season where we remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert and reflect on how much we need God in our lives. At the end of the Lent is of course Easter. I am planning on going to church at 7:00 tonight in Raymond. I am hoping the roads won't be slick as it is snowing out right now and we will probably get more of it as the day goes on.

Every year during Lent, we are asked to give something up or commit to doing something every day. This year I am going to do both. I am going to NOT bite my nails in hopes of kicking the habit for good and I am going to post on this blog every day. So those of you who follow my blog will have something to look forward. Haha. I have noticed that some of my blog posts have been negative and I mainly use it as a way to vent and I hope to change that as the days go by.

I am now a full-time assistant barn manager at LaBella Farm. I am now on a weekly salary and have been keeping track of how much time I spend in the barn. So far, I have spent over 40 hours in the barn each week a couple of weeks have pushed the 50 hour mark. I do take Sunday morning off to go to church and have some time off the farm. Monday I usually make light since I don't have to do stalls and I use that time to clean the apartment. Traci has come and gone so I have the apartment to myself again for the time being. It was kind of nice having someone to talk to and a dog to spoil and play with, but I will get another roommate eventually since we are looking for someone to do stalls in exchange for the rent.

That about sums up what has been going on since the last post. I will post again tomorrow, so ttyl!