Cats, dogs, and belt repair.

The fishline looking stuff that holds the blingy stuff on my belt has failed, well, partially.  Actually it’s only failed near where my phone case hooks onto the belt.  It’s been struggling for a while, and by saying a while… I think months, maybe since the beginning of the year would be accurate.  Yes, it started coming loose sometime around January or February.  I remember because I was so disappointed that it happened, and I realized that the only new thing was my phone case and well… you can see how that goes because I got my phone on a black Friday sale, and I know it was after Christmas when my belts blingy holding fishline looking stuff started to suffer. 

This of course means that I’ve spent months waiting for it to get bad enough that I have to fix it, take the blingy stuff off, or replace the belt.  I really like my belt.  It’s just the right size and has just the right amount of bling to make me happy.  Plus, I got it on clearance so I’m pretty sure that replacing it would be difficult.  I like the blingy stuff too much to cut it off, so… that leaves me only one rational choice.  Fix the belt.  (We won’t discuss the value of preventive maintenance here, that’s another discussion for another time.)

The repair really wasn’t too difficult, all I needed to do was get out a needle, pick some thread, and use as much of the fishline looking stuff that was left as I could before using cheap (dollar a spool cheap) cotton thread to fix it.  The resewing wasn’t much of a problem, there were already holes from when the manufacturer sewed it on, and so I didn’t even need a thimble.

I do however have cats.  I even have a really cute little kitten, we’ll call him Mewzer, because, well that’s his name.  There really isn’t much in this world that kittens like to play with more than something you are intently focused on, except maybe long dangly things… like a belt or string of any kind… including thread.  I don’t guess it takes a rocket scientist to figure out this formula.  My intense focus plus one belt plus some thread equals unequaled temptation for a certain little one eyed gray kitty.  It doesn’t end there though.

Yes, as much as I like to pretend I’m not predictable, you’ve probably already figured out that what should have been a simple sew it back together job became a sew, dodge, sew, sew, get it back from the kitty, sew, dodge, dodge, sew… you probably get the idea.  Yep, I had more Mewzer help than I knew quite what to do with.  Granted I’ve missed having time with my little Russian Blue (that’s what I was told he is) so I humored him for a bit, but then I got a little frustrated and said some magical words.

“Careful, or I’m going to have to call the scary dog.”  That’s all I said.  Joy heard all she needed to hear and took her little lion dog self over to give that evil glare of hers to poor little defenseless Mewzer.  Joy glared him all the way off of my lap and then jumped in it for good measure.  Even though she’s a Pekingese and they were bred as lapdogs, that’s never really been Joy’s favorite thing, but she did it long enough for me to finish up.  As soon as I was done, she jumped down and within seconds my lap was reoccupied by a little gray one eyed kitten.  I had put my computer in my lap, and for that, he wasn’t having enough fun for Joy to think it necessary to intervene.

Am I becoming Socially Impaired? I hope not.

Sometimes I worry about myself.  I think of great things to do, make plans to go out and meet new people, just get out of the house… and then I don’t.  I have to convince myself to do everything I do.  Sometimes it’s hard to go to the grocery store, and it’s been more than once that I have managed to patch together a meal to avoid going.  It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that when it is time to do it I just… I don’t know how to describe it… but I just can’t.  It can be hard enough at times to do with people I know and love, but to go out and face people I don’t know, well I’m good at excuses.

I know once I go that I’ll have fun and be glad I did, but that is not always enough.  It’s not that I’m anti-social… I think.  I don’t dislike people as a rule.  I can get along with almost anybody, even if I really don’t like them.  I can even have fun around people I don’t like.  I’m not sure what it is that makes me into such a homebody; at times it just frustrates me to no end.

Tonight was one of those nights that I almost backed out of.  I was working up excuses not to go, but I couldn’t disappoint a friend, especially when my truck was parked right in front of her house while I was at work.  She was having a “Belmont Party”.  She put together some hors d'oeuvres for the event and had invited everyone at work.  I realized I had to go or I’d hurt her feelings.  I didn’t think anyone else was going.

Well, I was right, almost.  No one at work was planning to go.  Later she did finally get one person.  It turns out she had more people coming.  Had I known, I’d have had excuse enough to convince myself not to go.  I’m so glad I didn’t. 

The race was a great disappointment.  Once again, we’ve failed to get a Triple Crown winner.  We were all crushed as California Chrome not only didn’t win, but wasn’t even a real contender at fifth place.  You could see he just didn’t have it today in the backstretch if you were looking close enough.  There are a lot of speculations, but once again, we weren’t meant to have a Triple Crown winner.  That was okay though, because it was a great time.

The wine flowed freely.  I was so glad that I only had 100 yards on a dirt road to get to my half mile driveway.  We drank, ate, and were merry.  We discussed many things, I had that fuzzy drunk head going on, and I was far from the most inebriated person there.  It was a wonderful time with some wonderful ladies and I am so glad I made myself go.  I can’t help but wonder what the next great adventure I’m going to convince myself to go on will be.  Maybe next I’ll make it somewhere that I can meet people I don’t work with.

Almost Done

Team Army (my co-pilot is also an Army Veteran ) and Ben waiting for our turn to go

The good news is, five of the tests are done and there is only one left.  The bad news is, I don’t get to drive anymore while I’m here.  I’m kind of sad; it’s been fun driving these horses.  Okay, it’s just fun getting to drive so much in general.  I really enjoy driving, a lot.  Annie is still my favorite horse, but Ben is a close second.  He’s a ploddy Haflinger that has to be convinced he can or wants to move.  Poor fellow, by the time I drove him today through the dressage test and cones course, the same ones we drove yesterday, was clearly done with the whole program.  He went through them three times yesterday, and I was the second person to drive him today.  He had two more people after me.  Despite being sick of the patterns, Ben plodded on.

Been waiting for his turn to go back to the barn

                                         

            I was much happier with today’s dressage test than I was yesterdays, although I’m quite certain I won’t be getting any great scores on impulsion.  During the cones course, going through the last pair I managed to knock a number over, but the ball stayed on the cone.  Otherwise, I was very happy with my cones course as well, and since I knew where I made my error, I’m okay with it.

            I felt great after teaching my able-bodied driver.  After the general comments to everyone though, I wasn’t feeling so good about it after all.  My teaching was good, but I missed a very important technical part of the movement I was teaching.  The worst part?  When I was contemplating this lesson plan before I got here, I had intended to be sure to put that technicality in.  I completely forgot about it when I got here.  Major brain fart, I get those sometimes.

            All in all, the certification is going well, as far as I can tell anyway.  I am tired, and although I’ve enjoyed the people, the atmosphere, the opportunity to learn so much, and getting to drive different horses, I like Ben am pretty much done.  I’ll be glad when it is all over with tomorrow and I can stick a fork in it.  I miss my baby girl, my ponies, my doggies and kitties, the bird… if I wasn’t so tired about now I’d be just plain homesick.

            So, if all goes well, tomorrow I’ll be writing some great news and I’ll officially be a PATH Intl. certified driving instructor.  Please keep the prayers going, and for those of you who have been praying for us to get some rain… it worked too so let’s keep those going as well.

Now comes the hard part

            First test down and five to go!!!  WoooHooo!!!!  I passed it too!!!  It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve met some really neat people.  Well, it’s a given that I’d meet some neat people at anything with PATH Intl., the organization is full of great people.  Today like every other day this week has been a really busy day.

            We did our practice dressage test which as far as I was concerned mine stunk.  I went off course, and then I stared at a cone I was trying to avoid which caused me to run it over.  We had to negotiate around the cones course when we did the dressage test.  Apparently I didn’t do too badly, my lowest score was a 6, and I got two 8’s.  One of my 8’s came from the horse’s submission, the comment was “you have this horse”.  Made me feel pretty good, but I didn’t see that until several hours after the test.

The cones course/dressage arena

            The cones course now, I felt really good about.  I owned that course!!!  It was so much fun!!!  I can hardly wait until I can get a chance to do more.  I’m thinking about getting to work on Jade and training her so that we can compete in the large pony division of CDE shows.  That’s Combined Driving Events for those of you who haven’t been immersed in the language for the last, um, oh my gosh only three days.  There has been a lot of information going around over the last few days.  It’s hard to believe it’s only been a few days.

            I have a favorite horse, her name is Annie.     Well, technically she is a large pony.  She’s super sweet, has an incredible work ethic, and is fun and easy to drive.  Annie is also a senior citizen being somewhere in her late 20’s.  Don’t tell her though because I don’t think she knows it.  Shes full of personality, and gave us all a big kick when she was sticking her head out of the barn window.

Annie didn't want to be left out.

Check out all those harnesses!

            This place is incredible!  The barn appears to be four stories tall.  The bottom floor has stalls in it, the second floor has all of the vehicles in it and is strong enough to bring the horses in to groom and tack up as well as store hay and have the offices in it.  It’s a beautiful place, and this is the area to find these really neat barns.   As beautiful as this place is, and as much fun as I’m having learning so many neat new things, I can’t help but get excited about getting home and applying everything I’ve learned to our program.  Just a couple of more days, and if I keep it together (i.e. don’t get too cocky) I’ll be coming home a certified driving instructor.

Check out the harnesses we used!

They have a goat!

It’s almost time…

July 2013 lesson at Good Hands Training Center in Navasota, TX I was driving Chance

It’s done; I just finished up my lesson plan for an able-bodied driver.  Thanks to one of my peers reminding me, I have it completed in time. I had forgotten it needed to be done before the certification started.  That little reminder came right after I completed walking the cones course, the second time.  My new friend who is a seasoned competitor was kind enough to walk the cones course with me after I had walked it by myself.  I’m starting to feel pretty good about this… I hadn’t been far off when I had walked the course by myself.

            My confidence has really picked up on this whole process; it grew quite a bit after our orientation/start last night.  I guess part of my self-doubt was dealing with the unknown.  By mid-morning this morning I knew I needed to go ahead and go for level II, that was after I had the opportunity to drive out here.  There was a very positive reception to my change, and it had already been encouraged last night.  As we go through the workshop, I realize that my concerns were nothing but that of my overactive imagination.

            Does that mean I’m guaranteed to pass?  Not by a long shot.  During my riding certification, two very competent people failed over silly oversights.  I’m not out of the woods yet and I’ve learned now is not the time to get cocky.  That won’t do anything but get me into trouble.  Do I have the skills I need?  Yes, I am now confident that I have the skills necessary to accomplish this goal, but I am by no means the most qualified here.  My greatest strength is my teaching skills and knowledge and understanding of disabilities.  That great strength can also be my undoing if I am not careful.  My greatest weakness is my lack of competitive experience in combined driving.  If I can remember that being a PATH Intl. Driving instructor isn’t about coaching future Olympians, it will take some of the pressure off.  I should do something about that weakness though… it would be fun beneficial to my career.  Yeah that’s it, beneficial to my career.

            All in all, I guess my main point tonight is that now I know that I can do this.  I’ve got a confidence now that I didn’t have before.  In reality, I am better prepared for this certification then I was for my riding certification, yet when I went for my riding certification I was convinced ahead of time there was no way I would fail.  This time, I went in knowing how much preparation it takes for a certification, and had managed to intimidate myself.  You know, Kathy had warned me last time that I may have needed more preparation… she grilled me and drilled me an now looking back she was right to have done so.   For this certification she was insisting I am ready and that maybe I should go for my level II.  I’ve learned that Kathy knows what she’s talking about… so, this is beyond doable, as long as I keep my head, breathe, and remember to keep the mandatories in mind.  Please pray for me, I’m not out of the woods yet, although I have found my path.

My Latest Great Adventure

Me in New Hampshire with proof that some streams really do have water in them.

We had a bit of a theme song at our last Gala for Triple-H .  It was called “The Great Adventure” by Steven Curtis Chapman.  It starts with the words “Saddle up your horses” which made it fit pretty well for us and I had even done a cute little video with the song guiding the pictures.  It’s all about facing the unknown, what’s ahead of you, putting faith in God to lead you to where you need to be, where you need to go, and that life is an adventure.  I’ve lived most of my life with the mentality that life is a journey, one fraught with many adventures be they positive or otherwise.  Well, I’m on my next adventure and so far it’s been positive, kind of.

            Yesterday was the first time I’ve been on a plane for somewhere around ten or twelve years.    It used to be a regular thing, and although I fell right back into the old routine, I don’t miss it.  Touring Chicago’s O’Hare airport did have some interesting sights to it though and I took some pictures and videos for Barbara Ann. Poor kid has never been to an airport much less on a plane or even been outside of the state of Texas.  Adding to that, Barbara Ann has some separation issues I had never experienced with Georgia and she wasn’t too happy about my leaving.  Barbara is being strong though, my brave baby girl as she accepts my absence.

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport

            Anyway, this adventure is another piece of my journey in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.  I’m going for my driving instructor certification through PATH Intl.  It’s pretty exciting, although I got a bit nervous when I first met folks this morning.  All these people had years of competitive driving experience and I began to feel totally underqualified.  I did begin to feel a bit better though when I found out they were the people presenting the workshop and certification.  I’m still feeling underqualified though with these people having such an advantage over me, living in areas with an active driving community, or more precisely, an active non-commercial driving community.  Then again maybe its my old insecurities from adolescence coming back to haunt me.  Either way I’m a bit envious that they live in an area where getting combined driving training doesn’t take a three hour drive to get to the nearest instructor around or they’re financially in a position where that doesn’t matter.

            So intimidated, I face this adventure much the same way I face any other daunting adventure, head on.  I go forward because that is the only way to go even if my self-doubt is running high.  I put on my brave face, the one that fools people into believing I’m calm, cool, and collected, and then I’ll pretend that I have every right to be here just like the other candidates.  Who knows, maybe I do belong here and in the end I’ll pull it off like so many people back home are sure I can and then another fairy tale dreams will come true.  God please help me… and yes, that’s a prayer.    

Finally, it's done.

It took a while, but it’s finally started… and completed.  A couple of months ago when the taxes came in I bought a few things.  One was a wagon we could use, instead of getting a wheelbarrow.  That in itself was quite a project to put together, but we got it done, in the dark, BA and I.  We were feeling pretty cocky starting out, about half way through a bit desperate and in the end glad to have it done.  The dog house was slated to be done the next day.  Yeah right.  Within a few days we did get a nice little foundation put in for it, but it wasn’t until tonight, with it getting close to dark, that we started, and consequently finished it.

            Now granted, it seemed as though every time we had time it rained, and today was the first day in well, a couple of months that we’ve had a day with no plans, a day we could just stay home and get some things done, finally a day off that I wasn’t too exhausted to do anything.  A day that I could get some cleaning done, cook a real dinner, fix a bicycle, read a book, anything but put together that dreaded dog house.

            Now, I’m a bit embarrassed because it turned out to be the simplest assembly project yet.  Unlike the bench we put together and the wagon, this one I could have done solo, by myself… with no help what so ever.  The thing was pathetically easy to put together.  I can’t believe I had put it off for so long thinking it was going to be another monster project that would take hours to assemble (okay, maybe just an hour) and require thought in addition to reading the directions.  Even opening the box and getting the pieces out of this one was easy.  I’m beginning to think the hardest part of this project is going to be convincing BA that this really is a dog house and not her new club house.

            Maybe though, maybe it wasn’t any easier than the others.  Perhaps, BA and I have gotten ourselves in sync well enough that things just go easier.  Maybe I wasn’t so tired that my functioning was limited, then again… it may just have been easier.  There’s only one way to know for sure.

            Use my new (to me) toy, and get that chicken coop done!

A Bright Sunshiny Day

         

          Jade's home and the weather was absolutely delightful (for a change).   My excitement was mounting as the day wore on.  I hadn’t woken up freezing and I had energy, energy to spare I believe.  My first two classes went well and I was feeling great!  The great debate was, do I walk home for lunch or do I drive home.  I debated until I didn’t have time to walk.  Once home I put the little dogs out… all except Joy.  She wouldn’t go.  I took that opportunity to love on her while my lunch was cooking and then I found her pinch collar and decided to take her to back to the ranch with me.

         Joy was a delight while she was there, endearing everyone that pet her.  The afternoon classes went well and the weather was still great.  It was finally going to happen; I was finally going to get to go see Jade again.  It had been two been two days since I had gotten to see her.  I still hadn’t had an opportunity to groom or ride her since I got her back.  As I was grooming her, I felt like I was trying to talk myself out of riding.  There were so many good reasons not to ride, especially when the new bridle I had gotten for her was too big and I didn’t have a hole punch to make it fit.

         I knew I had to ride; something was dragging me to it.  The day just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t ride so I did a hopeful knot on the buckle to make it fit.  When I got on, we couldn’t walk a straight line. It was sad.  We got a few big circles in at the walk, I wasn’t planning on doing anything else, but I couldn’t call it quits.  We had to trot.  Straight lines weren’t happening there either.  Circles again, big circles, and some little ones too since big circles at times were a lot like trying to do straight lines. 

         Then she did it, her characteristic moves.  First she tried to goad me into using my leg to push her over, Jade’s signature move to when she wants to canter.  That didn’t work the way she wanted, so she threw her shoulder forward to go into a canter.  After a few more of these moves, I couldn’t deny my princess.  We cantered.  She did her best to make sure she had her leads and at one point she even threw in a flying change so she wouldn’t have to break into a trot.  She was so happy and I was in heaven, almost.  My core is weak, so I wasn’t riding nearly as well as I should have been, but that aside, I was in heaven.  So was my girl.

          I cut it short, Jade hasn’t been ridden in forever and she hasn’t been on the right feed.  I didn’t want to risk an episode of tying up.  She was disappointed; it was hard for me not to be disappointed as well, but it was okay.  We’ll get to go out again.  She’s right here nearby.  Jade may not be in my back yard anymore, but she is close enough, close enough that I’ll be able to ride her again as long as we keep having these bright sunshiny days.

Look What We Built!!

            The girls and I went dress shopping for upcoming events for each of us.  We had some great girl time fun, and it was a real treat to be able to go out and do something fun with both Georgia and Barbara Ann.  After we parted ways though, Barbara and I had a few more things to accomplish.  First things first, we swung by Starbucks for our guilty pleasures and then proceeded to get Tinker Bell washed.  She’s a great truck and her white color helps to hide some of the dirt, but it was getting to be past due.  After the car wash and free vacuum that comes with it, we hit Tractor Supply Company.  As we looked at the dog houses I saw the wheel barrows and remembered how desperately we needed one.  How many projects was I ready to start and had to cancel because I didn’t have a wheel barrow.  Too many and it’s about time to rectify that problem. 

            Once inside, I saw the garden wagons and remembered that I had decided one of those may be a better option for  us.  To confirm this, I had BA take a look and see what she thought.  Of course I was dead on in that decision and I had BA hold the shopping cart in place while I muscled the big box onto it.  Just as I got it on the cart the way I wanted it, the helpful TSC employee made it over.  In his defense, as soon as he realized what we were doing he got there as quick as he could saying he could have helped with that.  I graciously accepted his offer to load it up into the truck after purchase and then asked him to point us in the right direction for dog houses. Immediately he offered to bring it up to the front of the store while we continued our shopping and even brought our wagon in a box as well.

            I thought it very kind that he was so anxious to help this “lady” out so she wouldn’t have to do all that heavy lifting.

            Yep, as so many things do, it came in kit form.  I thought there was going to be plenty light to complete it by when I started, but there wasn’t.  Being me of course meant that it had to be completed tonight so we didn’t lose any pieces.  I gotta say, Barbara Ann is a trooper.  After she got a flashlight for me to work by my little country Princess stuck with me until the end and we got it done.  She even kept a good attitude when I made some silly mistakes and had to undo and then redo something.  I will admit, toward the end she was getting a little antsy, but she stuck it out. 

            So, here it is.  Check out what we built tonight.

            

            It never occurred to me that all these things we do are not typical Mother Daughter stuff until Georgia’s comment about our “Father Son time” on New Year’s Eve.  It was driven home a little more by the concern of the nice man at TSC that was so anxious to help us.  The thing is though, I rather enjoy our independence and the fact that we girls can do just about anything.  Life is good and I really am enjoying the way life is playing out right now.

            In case you were wondering, here's our project for tomorrow night.

                                                    I hope the dogs appreciate it!

Father Son Time

            On New Year’s Eve this year, as Georgia and I were dragging some wood to the fire in the fire ring she told me “Mom, I really enjoy our Father Son Time.”  We had a good laugh as she pointed out how many things we do that fit into that Father Son Time category, and then I cranked up the chainsaw to cut up some more of the cedar trimmings so that they would fit well in the fire ring. 

            I got a good laugh out of it and posted some pictures from my super-duper cell phone to Facebook.  I had these great plans of writing a blog all about our Father Son Time that night.  Like most men, I didn’t get around to it.  Wait, I’m not a man.  Never have been, and although our everyday life may at times seem like stuff guys scramble to pull off for their Father Son Time, THAT’S NOT WHAT IT IS!!!!  IT’S OUR REGULAR STUFF.

            A full month passes as life goes on.  We’ve done some more clearing out here, Barbara Ann and I cleared out the beginnings of a trail.  The other day we brought home a build it yourself storage bench, you know, the kind Moms the world over love getting for Mother’s Day, and put it together.  It’s what we do; build things, clear things with the chain saw, cut up oak wood to smoke a brisket for a friend’s birthday at his girlfriend’s request.  Drink some wine (so not a guy thing) while smoking the brisket all through the night.  You know normal everyday stuff.

            So tonight as we’re driving home in the big four door F-250, Barbara asks me what we were supposed to remember to do together.  Of course, as children do, she was asking me a question she already knew the answer to.  Barbara Ann was excited and anxious to see my BB Gun so that we could go shoot together.  I took my BB Pistol (it’s a pistol and not a gun but I didn’t go into that with her) and she grabbed her shiny new pink air rifle that her Dad’s Santa had gotten her for Christmas and we went out to what wants to be the creek so we could shoot with the bluff for a backdrop.  Safety comes first of course.

            After shooting at a bucket in the creek, some reflections in the water, an old Coke can, and some leaves we headed back to the house discussing the best way to clear and mark a good path to the dry creek in our back yard.  Before we got into the house I fired up the grill so it could get pre-heated before I threw the steak for dinner on it and headed inside to get the rest of supper rolling.  Again, I was thinking of Georgia’s comment about how much she enjoys our Father Son time together. 

            Barbara, Georgia, and I have shared so many of these non-traditional activities, well non-traditional for our gender.  It’s a bit ironic that we do more of these “Father Son” activities on a daily basis as a matter of our lifestyle than many Father’s ever do with their Sons.  We are blessed to live in a world and in a time when it is acceptable for a woman to be independent enough to teach her daughters to be self-sufficient in much the same way men would do with their sons.  God Bless America and God Bless our way of life and our freedom to live the way we want to.

Ann Jacobs: Keeping to the Facts

Ann Jacobs: Keeping to the Facts
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