Fun stuff!

John and I went out to the barn (with Charley, of course) today to trim Boomer's back feet and hangout.  It was actually a really nice day today, not too humid with temps in the low 90's.  It would have been a perfect day for a ride,  but I didn't want to ride in the new western saddle again because I want to send back the pad and cinch for smaller ones.  So, we trimmed up his back hooves and I took him out to the round pen.  As soon as I unhooked him he just started hauling balls around at the canter.  When we were conditioning for the ride season this spring (grumble, maybe next year, grumble, grumble) we were doing 2-3 days per week of hard riding.  Now I am riding him more often, but at much less intensity.  We only walk on trail rides and in the arena we do mostly trotting with some cantering.  Still, nothing near the 1.5 hours straight of trotting he is used to.  So, he got to cook all his beans this afternoon and John got it on video!  After a while I hopped on him bareback and walked and trotted a little.  I am so impressed with how well he neck reins.  I really like that because I feel like I can really stay out of his face.  I think of neck reining as a reward for the horse.  If he responds quickly to the rein on his neck, I stay out of his business.  He ignores the neck rein, I direct rein.  No harm, no foul.  It sure seems more comfortable and easy to respond to the neck rein.  He responds much better with the lead rope or with weighted sprit reins than with my english reins.  I may switch his bridle around a little once we have access to our stuff again (oh, moving...) and see if I can give him more freedom and stay out of his face more.  

Racehorse:

Here I was asking him to reverse.  I usually get halfway across the round pen from him, swing the rope and say "hup".  You can see the rope in the picture and he is about to turn on the next stride.  I thought it was a cool shot:

This one is cool too!  I didn't realize how high he was stepping over that pole until I saw John's pics!  I think he looks awesome here!  As you can see, I didn't have to encourage him on at all!  

After he ran around a little, I got on him for a bit bareback.  Because you know how much I love to embarrass myself, here is a video of me mounting bareback!

The catch:

Here is the full video with goofy commentary:

Anyhow, we walked around the barn a little and took some pictures of the place.  So, hopefully this will give a good idea of how lucky we are to board Boomer here!!!  

Here is the road to the trails and also the hill we park the trailers on:

The trailers:

The outdoor arena and bleachers.  To the left is the barn, the paddocks are behind you and down the hill a little, and the road to the trailers is to the right and up the hill.

Cool tire swing by the bleachers:

Aww!

Charley enjoys the shade under the tree by the outdoor:

The view from the round pen down the hill, the barn is to the right, The one in the middle is for the horses in training and hay storage, and the one on the left is an old milking barn.  I really want to know what is inside, probably just really old stuff...

The indoor is attached to the barn:

The barn holds about 20 horses, has two cross ties, one wash rack, and a tack room:

The super scary wash rack:

My solution to the super scary wash rack:

Gross drool!!!

Busy and crazy!

There has been a ton going on around here!  We sold our Bville house and John actually made a little money on it, which was a surprise in this market!  We also made an offer on a house we really liked!  It was in a neighborhood I had been eyeing for a few weeks now.  We offered 3% below her asking price and she accepted, so we are thrilled!  Needless to say, our time has been taken up with lots of paperwork and frustrating loan officers.  

The temps have been hitting the triple digits for the last few days so I haven't been able to ride unless I get out to the barn by 9.  I went out this afternoon and just hose off the poor horse because he was soaked from the heat just standing around!  I have ridden him once since his freak out last week.  I rode him in the arena and he was really good.  His right bend is getting much better and his cantering is also getting calmer and more balanced.  I am trying to stay focused on the positives for now and working on the things I know I can do.  Next time I see Jim I am going to see if he can start working with us once or twice a week as soon as possible.  

Another thing I am getting help with is Chemistry.  The first three chapters were fine,  but this 4th chapter on Molarity, pH, and concentrations is really giving me a hard time.  So, I found a tutor from KU and I will start seeing her tomorrow afternoon.  Hopefully she will be a help and she only charges $15 per hour!  I was expecting to pay twice that!  So, hopefully I can see her 2-3 times a week.  Between the Chem tutor and horse training, I am spending $60-75 a week of money that I just don't have.  That $8000 tax credit is already spent.  

Speaking of spending money I don't have, I decided to get a new (used) saddle.  The more I assessed my needs as a rider right now, the more I leaned towards a western saddle.  I like the security, and Boomer is mostly working on slow work in the arena anyway.  I ride him like a western horse and do trails.  That is about it right now.  Sure, a custom fitted endurance saddle would be awesome, but more practical if I a) had the money or b) was riding endurance.  I check eBay every few days for used Circle Y arab saddles and I have seen a few come and go, but not many.  It just so happened that there was one this weekend.  It was pretty much everything I wanted/needed.  It is from the late 80's, which I have heard is the prime era for the Circle Y saddle.  It is in great shape and the only repair is it needs a new stirrup.  A Circle Y arab saddle new is about $1500 and this one was listed for $450.  It was just too good of a deal to pass up.  The other arab saddles I have seen on eBay have all gone for around $800 so I felt really lucky I got this one!  It should arrive on Friday and I want to try it out on Saturday morning.  

Tonight, John and I are going to work on some Chem, tomorrow morning I am going to go ride, then in the afternoon I will meet with my tutor.  

Something to think about...

Today Boomer started his antics at the barn.  I couldn't get him to move forward, he was backing and spinning and not listening.  So, I got off and went to the arena where he was awesome.  The two others who I was supposed to trail ride with worked in the outdoor for a while, and then I joined them.  A trainer who lives at the barn, Jim also came out on his mare.  We all headed out after discussing our various issues.  We got past one 'stuck' spot with Jim hollering and whopping Boomer on the butt with his reins.  His good mare is a cow horse, so she was used to chasing unruly beasts.  It actually went pretty well after that spot, he would test and I would win with Jim's help.  Then we got to where we had trouble yesterday.  He was just going backwards and he started bucking when Jim would wave at him to move up.  He was backing down the ditch, back up the other side, towards a drain pipe, into a field.  I couldn't get him to stop.  He would spin around and just move further and further from the road.  He would move out like he might bolt when I got him facing away from the road.  I gave it a few good tries and asked if Jim would ride him through it.  Honestly, I went from being frustrated to being scared.  If I am scared of my own horse, what good am I as a rider.  So, right there in the middle of the road, we stripped tack and switched horses.  I got to ride sweet little "Sugar" and she was probably happy to have that big ole western saddle off.  Boomer got his first experience being ridden in a real heavy western saddle, plus a new heavy man rider.  Well, he tried all of the same shit, but Jim wasn't scared and he had spurs.  So, he got Boomer to get over it.  He took him back around those scary areas and Boomer tested a little and they fought more, but eventually Boomer shaped up.  By the time we went up the road and to the hill past the barn where he was bad yesterday, Boomer didn't give him any trouble at all.  

Now, I know he isn't  fixed.  I know he isn't better until I can get the same result on my own.  

After we rode I asked if I should hose off Jim's mare and I mentioned that I was just going to bring the hose outside because I didn't want to deal with the wash rack.  Well, Jim wanted to work on that too.  So, we spent about 10-15 minutes and Jim got him in.  He sniffed around and was calmer than he had been before so we hosed him off.  He got him in a second time and then Boomer bumped into a bucket with his butt, sent it and its contents flying.  Freaked him out, but Jim held him in there and talked to him telling him "it hasn't got you yet, its ok, it isn't going to get you".  Boomer did relax and he led him in and out one more time.  I had a little more trouble getting him in, but he did go in for me, and he relaxed.  We called it a day and I have a ton to think about.  

I asked him if I could pay him for his help today while we were still out riding, and he said no and that he doesn't like to charge for every little thing he does for people.  I told him that in the future I may like to have him work with me some more.  Not having a job, I don't have a ton of money and my savings account is shrinking faster than ever, but I sure would like to work with Jim to get over this.  I think I need help at this point.  There is no way I would take him back out on a trail ride without help right now.  My confidence is shot.  I think if he could get Boomer over this testing BS, and I could see it happen, it would give me the confidence to ride him supervised until he gets his act together.  I also think Jim could help us with the wash rack issue.  I wouldn't mind his help when it comes to the trailer as well.  But, really, the most important thing is to have a horse that I can ride without fear.  It sure is a lot to think about.    

My horse is a jerk

Kidding, kidding!  He isn't really a jerk, but he sure is acting like it lately!  We went on a trail ride on Monday and he was great on the road going over bridges, through gates, etc.  A little after we turned back to head home (we were in the saddle for a little over 2 hours total) we had to go down a small but steep hill that we had come up on the way out.  Boomer went down it, and I just wasn't balanced.  I'm not good at going down hills I think.  Well, then he bucked. I went up on his neck, and when I came down I was off to the left and he bucked/jumped right.  Off I came, off he ran.  He did stop, to pee.  I caught him and got back on and he was a little stupid on the way home, but not that bad.  I know that there is no excuse for falling off except that I need to be a better rider.  Though, I can't help but wonder if having a saddle that was more 'trail type' couldn't help me be more balanced on obstacles.  My saddle now is a great little Crosby CC flat seat saddle.  There is no scoop to the seat, it is a little pitched forward, and there are no knee rolls.  It is great for jumping, showing, and flat work.  

On our ride today I borrowed Belinda's Abetta western saddle.  Now, I would never buy a synthetic saddle as I really love the feel and tradition of leather.  But, I thought it might be good to try a western saddle because I have considered a Circle Y Arab saddle.  I did feel more secure with the high cantle behind me.  The stirrups really hurt the outsides of my knees though.  I didn't have that problem with Sallie's western saddle on Pete even though it was brand new a cheap leather.  We did have to punch new holes in Belinda's stirrups to shorten them, I wonder if they were too short.  

Boomer was a real ass on this ride today.  We headed up the road and got about a 1/4 mile and he started going sideways, backwards, down in the ditch, etc.  I was kicking and popping him with my reins and he was just getting madder and madder.  He wouldn't follow the other horses either.  I tired getting off and walking.  He still wouldn't go north up the road.  So we walked a circle and headed back.  We passed the road to the barn and continued south because I wanted him to know that he wasn't winning by getting to go back to the barn.  He didn't fight at passing the barn road at all.  When we turned around to head back north TO THE BARN, he freaked out again.  In some lady's yard, when she was standing there watching us with her dog.  Finally, I just kept him backing up when he started going back away from the road.  I got him backed up onto the road and he turned him around and he was a little slow, but he went.  I was so frustrated.  I just don't have the confidence I need to deal with that.  In the arena, I wouldn't hesitate to get after him and get what I wanted.  But on a road, in someone's yard, 1/4 mile from a highway, I just can't do it.  I am afraid that he will step into  the drainage ditch and hurt himself, I am afraid of getting thrown off and him running out to the highway, you just can't know what could happen.  I know people who may think, oh you just need to have better control of him and that starts at home.  Well, he is a gentleman in the arena, and I can move his hips and shoulders wherever I point them.  But, when he doesn't want to do something, I can't force him.  This is the first time he has ever acted like that and I don't know what his problem was.  We went down the same road on Monday and he was fine.  It is hard to work on something like that when you are in an uncontrolled situation  like being on a road or trail.  Though, after I backed him and got him going again, he was fine for the whole rest of the ride.  We rode the barns trails for about an hour and he was fine going through mud, standing so I could get a water from Belinda and hand it back, and he didn't even freak out when he had a vine wrap around his back leg!  Overall, he was very good, but there was still that ass in him that I hate to see.  

Back to the saddle issue, I did feel very secure with the cantle of the saddle being so high, but it really hurt my knees.  I am just not sure a western saddle is the right choice for me.  I don't know if it was stirrup length, position, or twist, but it wasn't good!  Sallie's cheap western saddle didn't torque my knees too badly and I was the one breaking it in!  So, even though I don't actually have the money to spend on another saddle, I am trying to choose between the Arabian Saddle Co Solstice and the Circle Y Mojave Arab saddle.  The Solstice has a nice deep seat, longer flaps, and small knee rolls.  It looks like it would really hold you in a comfortable position.  It almost seems like a dressage saddle to me.  It would have the stirrups I am used to and the feel I am used too.  It is also fully customizable and is custom fit to your horse.  Price: $2300.  The Mojave is a western saddle built on an arab tree.  Not much else to know about it.  Price: $1500.  

I really want the Solstice, but it really is cost prohibitive.  Though, if I have learned anything in my years it is that spending money on a good saddle/tack is worth it as they can last for decades if well taken care of.  

To sum up my life right now: Chemistry is hard, my horse is bad, and I want a new saddle.  

Wash rack mayhem

The horse has adapted really well.  We have gone on two trail rides with other horses and ridden in the indoor arena twice as well.  He stands fairly well in the cross ties and is good around other people and horses.  Something had to give.  Enter the wash rack.  I COULD NOT get him to go in.  Luckily it has a back door (people sized) and I had the trainer, Charlie, help me lead him through.  I got him hosed off and he stood fairly well for a while.  Then Charlie suggested I try taking him out and putting him back in.  Nope.  I got him through the back door once more but then he had that figured out too.  So, I tired backing him in.  I got him to back in three times and it was a pretty forced deal.  The winning ticket? A blind fold.  No kidding.  I noticed that he was looking around and wasn't focusing on me at all.  He is often like this.  I usually just wipe my hands over his eyes and he comes back to me.  So, Charlie got a saddle cover from the tack room and we blind folded him.  He went right in.  I let him stand there and gave him a handful of grain when he stood still.  Overall, I think we spent about 1.5-2 hours working on the wash rack issue.  He is stubborn, but so am I.  

Today I tired the whole thing over again.  I let him sniff the wash rack and asked him to move towards it, but I didn't give him a chance to say 'no'.  I blind folded him, and walked him in.  He stood well while I tacked him up.  After our ride I did the same time.  I let him know I wanted him in it, but didn't push him until he could say 'no', which is when he shuts down.  I blind folded him, and led him in.  He was prancy and a little nervous about being hosed, but was a very good boy.  He goes in to the other cross ties no problem, I don't know why the wash rack is different.  I was able to leave him in them long enough to put my things away in the tack room.  That was a big deal to be able to trust him to stand there unsupervised.  

Our ride went well.  I figure if he has enough energy to spook, he isn't working hard enough.  So I made sure to keep him busy and he was fine with the light sprinkling on the arena roof.  Good Boy!  We are still working on the same stuff, bending and cantering.  He is getting very consistent with the canter departs, but he is still very speedy.  I have been working on circles at the canter for that.  I did our regular warm up of cantering both directions at large, then doing some figure eights with simple lead changes through the trot.  Then I did 12 circles to the left and 12 circles to the right.  That took the wind right out of his sails!  I think that exercise will help him slow the canter and also be a little less of a freak at the walk or trot after the canter.  

This trainer at the barn started riding saddle seat when he was a kid as his dad was a saddlebred trainer.  He has shown gaited ponies, saddlebreds, harness horses, arabs, etc.  Then when he was in his 20's he started bulldogging and doing rodeos.  Now he ropes and trains.  Quite the background.  I really like that he knows how to handle hot horses.  He never tried to push Boomer when we were working on the wash rack thing.  I am interested in his harness experience and if he ever brings a cart out here I might take some driving lessons.  That would be too cool!  I drove Fire a few times, but never competitively.  I think it is really fun but really know nothing about it.  I have always thought it would be fun to drive around, but I'm not sure I would trust Boomer or any other Arab to drive outside of a confined space.  

Don't know why I haven't posted these yet!!!

Rain, Rain, go away!-

It started raining this morning pretty early and has just been soaking the place for 8-9 hours now!  Our parking lot was a river a few hours ago.  There was a short break in the rain so I took Charley out to play with the horse and to put a cinderblock under the trailer so it wouldn't sink too much to get the truck under it.  Wouldn't that suck!  I tried to get a few pictures around the place, but I would rather do so in the sunshine.  

Here is my corner of the tack room.  I bet there are 20-30 saddles and about half of them are english or dressage!  

Here are the cross ties we have been using.  There is another set to the right of these that also doubles as an entrance to the barn.  Since Boomer pulls back, I don't want to crosstie him where he can go backwards!

Here are the hitching posts, the round pen, and some of the paddocks in the distance.  The paddocks make a horse shoe shape with one huge paddock in the middle and a huge mare pasture at the top.  

Boomer is in the 4th paddock on the left of the 'alley'.  My best guess is that it is a half acre.  It has a small shed and electric fencing.  The front and back of the paddock have wooden posts and the sides have capped T-posts.  Here you can see his shed, he uses the left half of it.  In the foreground are his two water tubs which are filled daily and his feed tub which is filled twice daily!  The blue bucket outside of the fence line is the muck bucket.  I muck, they take it away!

Here Boomer is looking out his gate, across the alley, and into the middle large paddock.  

Here I am in the doorway of the shed and Boomer is at his gate.  This gives some size perspective!

Poor Boomer hates the rain.

While I was out taking pictures and showing Boomer that he can, in fact, go into the scary shed, CHarley was playing with some birds.  It was awesome to watch.  It started with him chasing one bird that swooped low.  Then it came back and started making low circles around the paddock.  Then two other birds joined in.  There weren't dive bombing him or chasing him.  They were swooping in in front of him practically begging to be chased!  Charley loved it.  I'm not sure if you can see the birds in the video, but it is fun none the less!

Moving right along!

I swear, I will take pictures tomorrow!!!  

I rode on a trail ride again today with Belinda who I met yesterday.  Sarah (a KU student) and her mom also came along.  Sarah rode English Pleasure on Morgans, so we have similar backgrounds.  Her horse Tater is really cute.  He is 20 and she has had him since he was 11.  He is a very good boy but he prances instead of walking.  We mostly walked with a little trotting today and Boomer was perfect.  He leads and follows equally well, but he has a really slow walk.  I have never had anything to compare it to before but yesterday and today we couldn't keep up with the group at the walk!  On the plus side, Boomer doesn't mind being left behind at all.  I had him on a loose rein for pretty much the whole ride and he was an angel.  Tomorrow I want to work on cantering in the arena.  I had him in the cross ties again and he was pretty good.  I worked on his feet a little and he had some issues with his back feet, but was pretty good considering all of the commotion around him.  

Tomorrow I will take pictures, put a cinderblock under the trailer foot, and work on cantering.  If it rains, we will also get to experience the indoor arena!  

I am missing John, but I know he is really busy right now.  He only has three days left of work and then he has to direct the packing of our house.  I feel sort of bad for making him deal with all of the final stuff, but I think I would just stress out if I were there and wouldn't be of much help.  I can't wait to see him again though!  I am hoping the movers will be there on time  and he will be able to drive up Saturday.  

Jumping right in!

I went out to the barn this morning to ride the horse and we had lots of new experiences to deal with.  Boomer had his first experience in cross ties, of course it sprinkled and he about jumped out of his skin at the sound.  After that he was fine for me to tack up.  I rode him in the outdoor sand arena and he was understandably looky but very good.  We had some issues at the canter, but I will work on those later.  Mostly he was very good, if only a little tense.  About halfway through our ride a lady came up and invited us on a trail ride to show us the trails and property.  John left and I went out with the three ladies and we rode for about an hour and a half.  Boomer was very good and was really only tense at first.  He spooked once and bumped into little Halflinger Ella, but other than that he was fine!  He really seemed to enjoy himself and was very relaxed for the last half of the ride.  I untacked him in the cross ties and he was much better.  Afterwards, the lady gave me a ride home.  I think she is really cool and I see her as someone I could enjoy riding with frequently!  

John just left to go back to Oklahoma for the week and I am feeling pretty bummed.  I think I will study for a few hours and then go back out to see the horse again.  Sometimes I worry that as proud of him as I feel, I don't show him that.  I want to start working on being more appreciative of him.  I think he deserves to know that I appreciate his work!  

We made it!!!

This morning came early as John and I packed up our cars full of things like my clothes, computer, kitchen ware, and charley stuff.  I also put the fish in a tupperware and packed him onto the dash.  I got the orchid and venus fly trap and we were off to get gas, top off my oil, and get the horse.  Boomer was a little hesitant to load and was moving around a lot for the first 30 minutes.  John was behind me so he could see what was going on pretty well.  After that first 30 minutes, Boomer settled down and didn't move much.  In rural areas the high way junctions are often at stop signs, so to give warning, there are usually three section of road that are grooved to make the car vibrate about a 1/4 mile from the intersection.  John said that Boomer's ears would pin as we went over each one, popping right back up as soon as we were over it.  Back, forward, back, forward, back, forward.  Too funny!  The drive was uneventful and took about 3.5 hours.  We arrived and unloaded with no issues.  The paddock is at least a half acre with grass and a small shelter.  He will get watered daily, hay and his grain twice a day.  When we clean out his paddock we just leave the muck tub outside of his gate and they will haul it off.  I am so happy to have him at a full care facility.  Every single horse out there looks shiny, happy, and well fed.  I think it will be a great place.  It is a little hard for me to relinquish control of feeding, but from what I have seen, it will be easier to let them do it.  I trust them.  It is a shared feed room and they just load up the 'mule' with everyones buckets and go along the fence line giving grain and hay.  Every horse out there is on various supplements and they feed them also.  I think I will ride him in the outdoor arena tomorrow and maybe give the indoor a try later this week.  They have a trainer out there named Charlie who grew up riding english on saddlebreds, standardbreds, and gaited horses.  He also showed in harness classes. Then he switched to rodeo events and did steer wrestling.  So, he seems well rounded.  There are a number of friendly boarders, so I am excited about that as well.  

We have pretty well set up the apartment.  It is very tiny.  I think we will make it though!  Charley is having some trouble staying his usual happy self, but I think he will probably have a hard time adjusting until John moves here full time next weekend.  

Oh, Charley and Boomer both got shocked by the electric fence today.  Charley barked and peed himself.  Boomer snorted and trotted of, tail in the air.  So, the fence works!  I was curious but couldn't convince John to touch it.     

Getting Closer!!!

So, I move tomorrow.  It has truly been a whirlwind around here.  Our house has been shown 3 times and our realtor said that "everyone really loves the house".  Big deal.  Not enough to make an offer, I guess!!!  I am mostly packed.  All that is left is my computer and my genetics and chemistry books, Charley's dog house which may not fit in the truck bed with the gooseneck, and the pile of stuff in the living room.  And the plants and Feesh.  Tomorrow morning we load up and go.  Yesterday and today the horse has gotten beet pulp and salt to help his start hydrating for the trip.  Tomorrow he will get the beet pulp and salt, but no grain until an hour or so after we unload.  I anticipate it will take us near 4 hours to get there with a stop halfway for water and gas.  I picked up the blankets that I had embroidered and they look great.  I couldn't be happier with them!  The blanket and hood are waterproof, so I had to place the stitching where it wouldn't compromise the waterproofing.  I think the cooler looks especially sharp!  

I started my Chemistry class on Tuesday and dove right in.  It covers 11 chapters over 7 weeks.  Each chapter has a homework (10%), lab (20%), and exam (70%).  All components are done online.  The homework and exams each have three opportunities with the highest grade being applied towards the final grade.  I did the homework portion myself a few days ago and tanked.  I got 7/10 all three attempts.  I was really down.  I started doubting myself again, convinced that I was right all along, I really can't do science.  John made an 'appointment' to help me today.  So, bless his heart, we spent two hours after he got off work doing Chemistry.  He is so smart and such a good teacher.  John has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is a total math dork.  He has taken Calc 1,2 &3 AND differential equations (whatever that is).  Last math I took was Calc 1 about 6 years ago.  Needless to say, he was very helpful.  He really simplified the problems for me and got me thinking of how to work some pretty complex problems!  I took the exam with his guidance and got 19/20!!!  The one I missed wasn't even a math problem, it was a reading mistake.  So, getting a 95% on the first test is huge for me, especially since I have two more chances to make a 100% on this test!  I am so lucky that John is such a great tutor!  I couldn't do this class without him.  I damn well won't be able to do Physics without him!  So, I am back on track and feeling confident!  I think my short term goal in life right now is making a 4.0 in my science pre-reqs.  Long term goal is getting into vet school.  I have six more classes to go after this summer: Chem 2, OChem 1, Bio Chem, Micro Bio, Physics 1 & 2.  Those courses will qualify me for entrance into schools like KState and CSU.  OSU and North Carolina also requires OChem 2 and Animal Nutrition.  Washington State  is the same as KState minus the MicroBio and a semester of Physics.  So, you see, I am preparing for the middle ground, hoping for admission to KState.  If I don't get in, I will take more classes and apply again to more schools.  That was my dad's plan for med school and he got in on his first try.  Maybe it runs in the family.  

Next time I post I will be living in a new AHA region.  Good Bye Region 9, Hello Region 8!!!

National Running Day

This wednesday was National Running Day and John had talked about capping his daily run with a beer mile.  I upped the challenge by betting him that I could run a regular mile faster than he could beer mile.  I don't do beer miles because I can't drink four beers in one evening, much less in one mile.  John's PR in the beer mile is 8:03.  He even broke out his old racing spikes which have never not given him a PR in whatever he ran.  The ante had been upped.  The beer was bought and off we went in search of a track.  Check it out:

getting crazy!

John and I have a very small apartment now.  We also have a storage unit and a PO Box.  The horse has a home and I have started Summer school.  The house is on the market.  The realtor and her cronies are coming to 'pre-view' the house this morning.  I washed John's phone, and it died about 3 days later.  Now my phone wont charge.  John bought a new phone and a new charger.  The new charger didn't help my phone.  Now I get to buy a new phone too.  It rained last night, so now I get to take Charley out to play in the mud while I feed the horse when the cronies are at our house.  I wanted to ride, but alas, it rained.  John went to his new job on Tuesday and got to meet a lot of people.  I think that went well.  They are on a 4 day work week, which means that salaried people take a vacation day every Monday until they run out of vacation, then the go negative.  Hopefully the economy will pick up and oil will stay above $60 a barrel.  On the flip side, three day weekends every week will be awesome!!!  Back to the first side, going on a honeymoon might be hard.  But hey, we aren't even married yet.  John has heard that we may be able to use the $8000 tax credit as part of our down payment, so that would put us in a new home much faster.  Which is important because our apartment lease is up July 31.  I am kind of excited to live in the little apartment for some reason.  It seems like a fun diversion from the stress of moving.  Very college-y.  Which is good because I just started my Chem class yesterday online.  It is 7 weeks long and we have 11 chapters to cover with a homework, lab, and test every chapter.  So, pretty much the next 7 weeks will be spent immersed in Chemistry.  It is probably a good thing for me to move early so that I can study rather than stress about movers.  The plan is for John and Charley to follow (and block) for Boomer and I (and the feesh) when we drive up this Saturday the 6th.  I will take up as much stuff as I will need, horse stuff, clothes, bathroom stuff, plants, files, etc.  Then the movers come Friday the 12th and will drop it off sometime between the 15-19th.  John will drive up to Lawrence on Friday the 12th as soon as the movers are done.  In addition to all of this going on, Charley has had two seizures lately.  He had one last Monday.  It was very minor and he didn't lose consciousness (he was looking around, worried).  Though yesterday, he had one outside in the front yard and it was more serious.  He didn't lay flat out and have full body convulsions, but it was close.  He lost consciousness (his eyes don't move and are glazed) and was easy to pull over into my lap.  Then he had two more smaller ones a few minutes later.  He didn't lose consciousness for those.  I think that having seizures only affects his quality of life for that day.  He is more subdued after a seizure for the rest of the day.  Though, I am afraid it would be hard to put him on medication because there is no real pattern here.  If he goes two months between seizures it would be hard to know if it was working.  It is a tough place to be in.  I want what is best for him, but I am not sure we are at the point where medicating is the answer.  Sorry to end on a down note, but I need to get reading on my Chemistry and I need to go get a phone, go to the post office and be gone from the house for a few hours.  

Don't worry, the blog should be back to its normal 'non- stream of consciousness' self in a few days.