OR my backup wallet with the work ID/keycard and some cash. I even realized it 3 miles from home but decided I should not go back because I wanted to get there quicker. Walk into my office and realize DOH, I cannot go to my physical therapy appointment with no co-pay, kaiser card or id. (could get by w/o the kaiser card.) I really did not have time to drive 30 miles home and back by this time so I had to call and cancel my PT appt until July 11th. Well at least I am guaranteed not to get told I should not ride horse.
Um no, that is not working to cheer myself up. I really did want to go and find out if I should avoid specific arm positions and get started strengthening my rotator cuff before I get a real injury to it. I briefly flirted with the idea of calling Kaiser about coming in w/o the ID and borrowing the co-pay from a coworker but typically most of my coworkers write checks or pull out their CCs when we go out to (usually planned) lunch events (I don't know if this is related to the liberalism or something else) so I did not think my odds of being able to borrow $20 were very good even if Kaiser would have waived the photo ID at checkin so I just said that something had come up and I had to cancel when I called about the appointment.
Ugh, I hope I much better at remembering stuff when I finish packing and at the ride this weekend. I also hope my new work computer arrives soon. I feel like I picked up some malware or something -- my desktop got nasty slow a couple weeks ago. But they wanted to spend money anyway and asked me about upgrading my 5-6 year old cpu 4-6 weeks ago (spend as much as you requested this year or you're funds will be cut for next year too --stupid gubmint rules) so I don't feel like "oh noes I broke it and made the gubmint spend extra money"
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sadie shows she is a young MARE
I rode Sadie last night with L on Lady. Sadie had some young mare moments but never got wild. She has an awesome power walk and trot. Thats my condensed FB entry.
We went about 3.5 miles. Sadie was very cranky at one point when alongside of Lady. Pinned ears and a few ugly faces. A bit later she was in front and was swinging her butt to block Lady from being able to come alongside or pass. So L rode behind for a bit because I told her Sadie is so green I probably couldn't keep her from kicking out. She moves off my leg some but not reliably that I could swing her butt the other way to prevent kicking. Then a bit later Sadie thought something was scary in the water in the ditch, went into the CRP alongside and was circling --I was not going to let her think I'll just go home if she does this kind of thing. L and Lady led for a ways and then Sadie went back to wanting to be in front. Someone told me once that green mares like to be in front to feel safe. Shade wanted to get in front of a group when she was green too although she didn't get the 'tude to make mare faces till she was older and I would always put her at the back of the group when she did that.
Sadie does have an awesome swingy ground eating walk. She trotted quite a ways in the lead and kept up a good steady pace even though she felt like she was thinking OMG I've never been here before and its kind of scary. She did buck a little bit when L and Lady were in front and started trotting on the single path trail that is fairly overgrown with grass. I am glad I did not take her out on the poker ride but overall I am pretty happy because even when she was bucking it was just crowhopping and not anything that would fling me off, and later when we on the way home I made her stay behind Lady. There were a few spots she wanted to follow and then I held her back when she wanted to take charge again.
We went about 3.5 miles. Sadie was very cranky at one point when alongside of Lady. Pinned ears and a few ugly faces. A bit later she was in front and was swinging her butt to block Lady from being able to come alongside or pass. So L rode behind for a bit because I told her Sadie is so green I probably couldn't keep her from kicking out. She moves off my leg some but not reliably that I could swing her butt the other way to prevent kicking. Then a bit later Sadie thought something was scary in the water in the ditch, went into the CRP alongside and was circling --I was not going to let her think I'll just go home if she does this kind of thing. L and Lady led for a ways and then Sadie went back to wanting to be in front. Someone told me once that green mares like to be in front to feel safe. Shade wanted to get in front of a group when she was green too although she didn't get the 'tude to make mare faces till she was older and I would always put her at the back of the group when she did that.
Sadie does have an awesome swingy ground eating walk. She trotted quite a ways in the lead and kept up a good steady pace even though she felt like she was thinking OMG I've never been here before and its kind of scary. She did buck a little bit when L and Lady were in front and started trotting on the single path trail that is fairly overgrown with grass. I am glad I did not take her out on the poker ride but overall I am pretty happy because even when she was bucking it was just crowhopping and not anything that would fling me off, and later when we on the way home I made her stay behind Lady. There were a few spots she wanted to follow and then I held her back when she wanted to take charge again.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Well I hauled the bay mares to the poker ride
Got a cool hat in the drawing. Rode Shade and did a bit of extra road work as the poker trail was under 2 miles. Although my extra was no more than 2 miles but it will have to do. Dang I had a headache after the ride. My first worry is I'm becoming a weenie for any heat or sun but I did also have a headache at work friday and was inside in the AC all day.
Dang I'm so sleepy/lazy today
Dad asked about stacking hay and I put him off till tomorrow so I could take Shade somewhere for a training ride. Now I need to decide on going to the poker ride or what alternative and get moving but I am sitting on the couch with an itchy nose --usually my spring tree allergies are done, hope I am not becoming sensitive to grass pollens.
I have been mesmerized by flood pics of Minot and surrounding area on facebook. Usually pics of flooding don't resonate with me, but knowing the town and having relatives that live there makes it different for me. humor in place of rage or tears I've been browsing the whole album quite a bit. It really makes no more sense to stare at these pics then if it was way off in Memphis but the mind is a curious thing.
I have been mesmerized by flood pics of Minot and surrounding area on facebook. Usually pics of flooding don't resonate with me, but knowing the town and having relatives that live there makes it different for me. humor in place of rage or tears I've been browsing the whole album quite a bit. It really makes no more sense to stare at these pics then if it was way off in Memphis but the mind is a curious thing.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
My cousins are living this: Flooding
minot flood updates
Three of 4 of my cousins have houses in Minot. One is out in the country and the Souris river runs through their property. They and family and friends that live on high ground spent yesterday sandbagging around their house. They are finishing up now and have to be evacuated by noon. Another cousin had groundwater seepage earlier this year but I think is on high ground as far as the river is concerned but I'm pretty sure her son's house in in the evacuation zone. My aunt, their mom, is in assisted housing in downtown Minot. They say they are going to keep the street that apartment is on open so I guess its considered fairly high ground.
If I understand correctly this flooding is because Canada is having to release a shitload of water from Lake Darling because they got hit with heavy rains and have to avoid over-stressing that dam. They have had a wet wet spring in the area and my uncle has been busy with crop insurance because farmers couldn't get into their fields to even plant -- similar situations throughout the upper midwest + the flooding the ACE did along the Mississippi river = I expect food prices are only going to go up even higher in the coming year. Which would not be so horrible if P/R/O had not crashed our economy but good, but IMO some people are going to be hurting even in America.
Plenty of the "third world" that normally counts on free food aid and cheap food commodities from the U.S. is probably going to have actual hunger for a significant percent of their populations . I'm afraid they picked a bad year to dump somewhat benevolent presidents-for-life/ semi-dictators and scare away businesses etc with their radical jihad ways. I hope they don't end up causing a nuclear war; it is a very scary time to have this dumb marxist administration here in the U.S. In some ways the dumbness helps counter the marxism, if they had been more clever they probably would have stealthily implemented 80% of their agenda and not stirred up any backlash among the voters but still its scary.
A huge GOP field with some real duds in it, a media that is still acting as Pravda for Barry and company, a way too large segment of the U.S. population who thinks the world owes them a good standard of living just for being born ...... the times are way too interesting right now in the ancient Chinese curse sense.
Three of 4 of my cousins have houses in Minot. One is out in the country and the Souris river runs through their property. They and family and friends that live on high ground spent yesterday sandbagging around their house. They are finishing up now and have to be evacuated by noon. Another cousin had groundwater seepage earlier this year but I think is on high ground as far as the river is concerned but I'm pretty sure her son's house in in the evacuation zone. My aunt, their mom, is in assisted housing in downtown Minot. They say they are going to keep the street that apartment is on open so I guess its considered fairly high ground.
If I understand correctly this flooding is because Canada is having to release a shitload of water from Lake Darling because they got hit with heavy rains and have to avoid over-stressing that dam. They have had a wet wet spring in the area and my uncle has been busy with crop insurance because farmers couldn't get into their fields to even plant -- similar situations throughout the upper midwest + the flooding the ACE did along the Mississippi river = I expect food prices are only going to go up even higher in the coming year. Which would not be so horrible if P/R/O had not crashed our economy but good, but IMO some people are going to be hurting even in America.
Plenty of the "third world" that normally counts on free food aid and cheap food commodities from the U.S. is probably going to have actual hunger for a significant percent of their populations . I'm afraid they picked a bad year to dump somewhat benevolent presidents-for-life/ semi-dictators and scare away businesses etc with their radical jihad ways. I hope they don't end up causing a nuclear war; it is a very scary time to have this dumb marxist administration here in the U.S. In some ways the dumbness helps counter the marxism, if they had been more clever they probably would have stealthily implemented 80% of their agenda and not stirred up any backlash among the voters but still its scary.
A huge GOP field with some real duds in it, a media that is still acting as Pravda for Barry and company, a way too large segment of the U.S. population who thinks the world owes them a good standard of living just for being born ...... the times are way too interesting right now in the ancient Chinese curse sense.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
long form version of my weekend.
I had put in for taking all day off work friday, and had visions of arriving at the ride in the early afternoon and spending lots of time just visiting with rider friends as it is only a 75 minute drive.
Thursday morning my farrier calls to tell me she has to cancel, her hand is numb and she has to get an emergency chiro adjustment. Umm yeah, that will be ok, I have been using easy boots on Shades front feet and they have been working well. Then dad asks if I can help them get hay out of the field on friday morning. Umm sure, I was taking the whole day off anyway I can do that. Later at work --oh I hope my shoulder/elbow can handle that. Friday morning about 10 minutes before we planned to leave the hay grower calls; Equipment breakdown, things will be delayed a while. So a leisurely cup of coffee, then I finished my trailer packing instead of waiting until after the hay fetching. I had pulled everything out last fall which I don't usually do so I had to repack things that normally stay in there.
Friday early afternoon hay is ready and we go and fetch it. My arm held up fine, yay. Get home, dad hooks up my trailer while I shower, it needs air in two tires also so he backs it up to the garage and his air compressor. I get going later than I had planned but still with plenty of time, decide I will top off the fuel tank in Brighton. I do manage to do this with no more disaster than the fuel pump not shutting off automatically and dumping probably a gallon of diesel I was washing my windshield and not right there watching it At least the cashier was nice about it.
Traffic was heavy even though I took the route that is almost never backed up. Then it went to slow and go on c-470. Shortly before we get up to it I hear on the radio that there was an injury accident. Poor folks, that ruins a weekend, a little delay is no biggie.
Realize I left my suitcase at home as I'm driving and call to see if dad will just deliver it since it is not a bad drive just with the small car. He did volunteer to rescue me so I did not have to ride in my jeans the next day. The mantra of the weekend had become "so glad we are only doing the 30" by this point.
I did not have water from my faucet in the trailer, well no biggie, I have 2 gals of water in plastic jugs for drinking and don't need to do much washing.
*later I realized I had only shut one valve under the trailer when I put in water for the trip and the other valves probably needed to be closed for the mini-pressure tank set up to work --tested this sunday at home and it was the case*
Saturday morning as I am heating water for instant coffee my burner is very low, because my propane tank is nearly empty, also I only have my luna bars, trail mix and granola --I usually try to have string cheese and bacon and usually manage to pack at least one of the two so that I have some protein and salt or calcium before a long day of riding in the sun. Mantra: 'So glad I'm only doing the 30 and going home tonight", and since I only have beer, water and some ice wrap things for Shade in fridge there are no spoilage worries.
The ride went fine. Shade got 9th place out of 30 starters, 25 finishers. It was not a very fast ride time, just barely over 6mph but that is pretty good for this difficult course. I decided to do the BC judging just for giggles so didn't vet out right away, just got a Cardiac Recovery Index at 10 minutes. Back to the trailer for Shade to rest and eat and me to rest, drink (emptied my camel back on the trail) and eat. Beer sounds really good so I have one + water and some trail mix but I don't feel very hungry and don't much down other than the beer.
The BC vet is treating a horse so I and the people that finished just in front of me decide to just vet out with the other vet. I almost felt like I was going to faint when I led Shade over to pick up the saddle I pulled when we pulsed down to complete and had left there. I had to tie her up to the fence and sit and drink some water and lemonade at the rider/volunteer station for several minutes and dump some water on my head to cool myself off. *note to self, don't drink beer until you have had more water and will not have to trot the horse out, especially when it is quite warm and sunny.
Hung around rehydrating and recuperating for a few hours, enjoyed the yummy ride supper of pulled pork barBQ. Pack up Shades food and her and drive back home, completely uneventfully thankfully.
Lazy day on sunday. I had no ambition before 1:30pm and then the weather kept threatening to rain &/or get very gusty wind. Stepped out at 4 and decided to toss the horses a flake of hay so Sadie would not be HUNGRY if weather let me ride later. Finally about 5:30 it seemed pretty decent so I saddled her and we went about a mile out and came back. She was a bit nervous a couple of times but was really good for me. We were almost home and a couple of ATV's were coming side by side fairly fast so I swung off JIC. They slowed up a bit and went single file when I did, but not real slow, Sadie barely acknowledged them, she was busy eating the tall grass and Lady was just over the fence at that point, but I do think that Sadie is going to be a couple notches less reactive than Shade is and I am going to LOVE it if that holds true
It rained sunday night and continued monday. Horses were not wild about getting pedicures in the drizzle but they all coped. I am going to have to get a new farrier, hopefully the guy L recommended will take me as a new client. I was worried I would have to find a new farrier before the ride I want to go to in 2 weeks when L had to cancel on thursday so having 6 weeks and a suggestion is a relief but still a wee big of angst until I have someone and they prove able to balance Shade's feet nicely like L, and R before her have been doing so well.
Tuesday (today) L came out and rode Lady. I grabbed RazzMo because I have concerns that if Lady is in GO mode (L doesn't really have skill to make her just walk) and I am riding Sadie along Sadie might get too wound up and then have some sort of meltdown event. Lady was very mellow, at least until a mile from home so I probably could have been fine with Sadie. Oh well whatever.
Thursday morning my farrier calls to tell me she has to cancel, her hand is numb and she has to get an emergency chiro adjustment. Umm yeah, that will be ok, I have been using easy boots on Shades front feet and they have been working well. Then dad asks if I can help them get hay out of the field on friday morning. Umm sure, I was taking the whole day off anyway I can do that. Later at work --oh I hope my shoulder/elbow can handle that. Friday morning about 10 minutes before we planned to leave the hay grower calls; Equipment breakdown, things will be delayed a while. So a leisurely cup of coffee, then I finished my trailer packing instead of waiting until after the hay fetching. I had pulled everything out last fall which I don't usually do so I had to repack things that normally stay in there.
Friday early afternoon hay is ready and we go and fetch it. My arm held up fine, yay. Get home, dad hooks up my trailer while I shower, it needs air in two tires also so he backs it up to the garage and his air compressor. I get going later than I had planned but still with plenty of time, decide I will top off the fuel tank in Brighton. I do manage to do this with no more disaster than the fuel pump not shutting off automatically and dumping probably a gallon of diesel I was washing my windshield and not right there watching it At least the cashier was nice about it.
Traffic was heavy even though I took the route that is almost never backed up. Then it went to slow and go on c-470. Shortly before we get up to it I hear on the radio that there was an injury accident. Poor folks, that ruins a weekend, a little delay is no biggie.
Realize I left my suitcase at home as I'm driving and call to see if dad will just deliver it since it is not a bad drive just with the small car. He did volunteer to rescue me so I did not have to ride in my jeans the next day. The mantra of the weekend had become "so glad we are only doing the 30" by this point.
I did not have water from my faucet in the trailer, well no biggie, I have 2 gals of water in plastic jugs for drinking and don't need to do much washing.
*later I realized I had only shut one valve under the trailer when I put in water for the trip and the other valves probably needed to be closed for the mini-pressure tank set up to work --tested this sunday at home and it was the case*
Saturday morning as I am heating water for instant coffee my burner is very low, because my propane tank is nearly empty, also I only have my luna bars, trail mix and granola --I usually try to have string cheese and bacon and usually manage to pack at least one of the two so that I have some protein and salt or calcium before a long day of riding in the sun. Mantra: 'So glad I'm only doing the 30 and going home tonight", and since I only have beer, water and some ice wrap things for Shade in fridge there are no spoilage worries.
The ride went fine. Shade got 9th place out of 30 starters, 25 finishers. It was not a very fast ride time, just barely over 6mph but that is pretty good for this difficult course. I decided to do the BC judging just for giggles so didn't vet out right away, just got a Cardiac Recovery Index at 10 minutes. Back to the trailer for Shade to rest and eat and me to rest, drink (emptied my camel back on the trail) and eat. Beer sounds really good so I have one + water and some trail mix but I don't feel very hungry and don't much down other than the beer.
The BC vet is treating a horse so I and the people that finished just in front of me decide to just vet out with the other vet. I almost felt like I was going to faint when I led Shade over to pick up the saddle I pulled when we pulsed down to complete and had left there. I had to tie her up to the fence and sit and drink some water and lemonade at the rider/volunteer station for several minutes and dump some water on my head to cool myself off. *note to self, don't drink beer until you have had more water and will not have to trot the horse out, especially when it is quite warm and sunny.
Hung around rehydrating and recuperating for a few hours, enjoyed the yummy ride supper of pulled pork barBQ. Pack up Shades food and her and drive back home, completely uneventfully thankfully.
Lazy day on sunday. I had no ambition before 1:30pm and then the weather kept threatening to rain &/or get very gusty wind. Stepped out at 4 and decided to toss the horses a flake of hay so Sadie would not be HUNGRY if weather let me ride later. Finally about 5:30 it seemed pretty decent so I saddled her and we went about a mile out and came back. She was a bit nervous a couple of times but was really good for me. We were almost home and a couple of ATV's were coming side by side fairly fast so I swung off JIC. They slowed up a bit and went single file when I did, but not real slow, Sadie barely acknowledged them, she was busy eating the tall grass and Lady was just over the fence at that point, but I do think that Sadie is going to be a couple notches less reactive than Shade is and I am going to LOVE it if that holds true
It rained sunday night and continued monday. Horses were not wild about getting pedicures in the drizzle but they all coped. I am going to have to get a new farrier, hopefully the guy L recommended will take me as a new client. I was worried I would have to find a new farrier before the ride I want to go to in 2 weeks when L had to cancel on thursday so having 6 weeks and a suggestion is a relief but still a wee big of angst until I have someone and they prove able to balance Shade's feet nicely like L, and R before her have been doing so well.
Tuesday (today) L came out and rode Lady. I grabbed RazzMo because I have concerns that if Lady is in GO mode (L doesn't really have skill to make her just walk) and I am riding Sadie along Sadie might get too wound up and then have some sort of meltdown event. Lady was very mellow, at least until a mile from home so I probably could have been fine with Sadie. Oh well whatever.
Monday, June 20, 2011
I could get used to this
I rode Sadie today. Her 4th time riding down the road, just the 2 of us. Breeze was up on the way back and when we were almost back I saw 2 ATVs coming fairly fast side by side on the road. I swung off JIC but Sadie barely acknowledged them, she was busy munching the long grass. They also slowed down some and went to single file when I swung off -- most of the neighborhood is very considerate that way.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Another notch in Shades belt
She completed the 30 mile LD at Mtn Mettle today. We were 10th place. We did not ride very fast. Start time 8, finish p/r time 1:52. But hey only 9 horses of 30 starters finished any faster. Its a fairly tough course but some years they have had a larger # of LD riders that are more serious and would finish faster. When Shade is fit enough that I might toy with trying to be competitive in LD we ride a slowish 50 instead. I needed this close to home ride but camping the night before to shake out all the bugs for camping. I should make a list so I don't forget to correct a biggish one. No pressure for water but I think I may just need to close a valve. When I filled it I only closed the one that had water coming out. At least one of the other 2 is probably an air valve that needs to be shut for it to pressurize and work. I know it is a mini-pressure tank set up where the pump runs and builds up pressure and then water flows w/o the pump running right away.
Also need to get full propane tanks. I was low on propane and the fridge used up the remnants while we out on trail. Luckily all I had in there was beer and water and some ice inserts things for the horse which I didn't bother with. And need to find my holding tank chemical packets, and should replace my outside light bulb.
Also need to get full propane tanks. I was low on propane and the fridge used up the remnants while we out on trail. Luckily all I had in there was beer and water and some ice inserts things for the horse which I didn't bother with. And need to find my holding tank chemical packets, and should replace my outside light bulb.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Riding update
Saturday I rode Sadie. Started to go down the ditch by ourselves with Ole tagging along but someone was target shooting about 1/2 mile down the route I would take. Ole is scared of guns and was not wanting to come. Sadie was just wanting to eat; I do not know what her reaction to guns up closer would be yet. So I turned around, collected the dog and rode Sadie a bit in the arena. Too funny --she did not want to go in the part of the arena where the mud puddle was. Eventually got her to step in the area and stand for a bit. Funny little Ayrab.
Sunday I trailered to the trailhead where the endurance ride will have basecamp on the 18th. Rode about 14-15 miles. I was on call (took the shift on friday) because the snot (actually sort of my boss) did not bother to pay attention that he was due to be on call when he was going to be gone on vacation covering 2 weekends and arrange to swap duties beforehand. Normally I just ride from home when I'm on call and would have got my fat butt in gear and trailered out on the weekend of the 4th-5th but since I did not know I would be on call .......
Had a decent training ride, I think Shade will be fine for the 30. Got a speed boost from someone who was riding 25-30 miles to prep for doing the 50 when she passed me. I stuck with her for a while; then met someone who was able to loan me a tool to adjust my easy boot to fit. THAT saved me from a big DOH, I have 3 boots of this type and rode Shade in 2 of them over memorial weekend. I did not check size when I grabbed 2 of the 3 boots for my day trip and come to find out one was adjusted smaller and would not go on. NOTE to self: Make sure that I get a leatherman tool in my camelback before leaving for the AERC ride on friday.
Monday I rode RazzMo with L and Lady. Lady was kind of a brat but L was able to cope. Razz was a good boy, he was tired after the 5 miles but not overly so.
Tuesday I did a slow ride on Shade. I think she is ok, but she felt a little bit uneven.
Sunday I trailered to the trailhead where the endurance ride will have basecamp on the 18th. Rode about 14-15 miles. I was on call (took the shift on friday) because the snot (actually sort of my boss) did not bother to pay attention that he was due to be on call when he was going to be gone on vacation covering 2 weekends and arrange to swap duties beforehand. Normally I just ride from home when I'm on call and would have got my fat butt in gear and trailered out on the weekend of the 4th-5th but since I did not know I would be on call .......
Had a decent training ride, I think Shade will be fine for the 30. Got a speed boost from someone who was riding 25-30 miles to prep for doing the 50 when she passed me. I stuck with her for a while; then met someone who was able to loan me a tool to adjust my easy boot to fit. THAT saved me from a big DOH, I have 3 boots of this type and rode Shade in 2 of them over memorial weekend. I did not check size when I grabbed 2 of the 3 boots for my day trip and come to find out one was adjusted smaller and would not go on. NOTE to self: Make sure that I get a leatherman tool in my camelback before leaving for the AERC ride on friday.
Monday I rode RazzMo with L and Lady. Lady was kind of a brat but L was able to cope. Razz was a good boy, he was tired after the 5 miles but not overly so.
Tuesday I did a slow ride on Shade. I think she is ok, but she felt a little bit uneven.
Monday, June 13, 2011
UGH I hate stupid performance reviews
Stupid PC CYA paperwork is all they are but still I do stress about updating my activities summary etc, gulp, have I accomplished enough. BLAH. I tried to be a team player and help out a 3rd boss after one of his visiting scientists quit him with project undone. I don't feel like I accomplished much for him but it didn't help any with getting to projects for my 2 core programs. Not sure I would have gotten much more done there anyway but trying to juggle too many different things was not a help.
MUST focus on remembering that these things ARE just stupid PC CYA BS and just whip out some statements of I did this/than and T'other. I don't think they have staff in this narrow field that they could fire me right now, the worst that would happen is a slightly dinged review and 'needs to improve in the coming year' , and we were told we would be in a salary freeze months ago so its really not worth stressing about. Deep exhale, OK I feel better after typing things out. Must be a sign of mega nerd or geekdom, I type things out to feel better instead of actually talking to someone. But the keyboard cant brush me off or act bored and indifferent.
DONE, once I got over the angst and just typed out the few key activities it didn't take much time even. I'm such a whiner sometimes.
MUST focus on remembering that these things ARE just stupid PC CYA BS and just whip out some statements of I did this/than and T'other. I don't think they have staff in this narrow field that they could fire me right now, the worst that would happen is a slightly dinged review and 'needs to improve in the coming year' , and we were told we would be in a salary freeze months ago so its really not worth stressing about. Deep exhale, OK I feel better after typing things out. Must be a sign of mega nerd or geekdom, I type things out to feel better instead of actually talking to someone. But the keyboard cant brush me off or act bored and indifferent.
DONE, once I got over the angst and just typed out the few key activities it didn't take much time even. I'm such a whiner sometimes.
Help I'm stuck to the couch
I was up fairly late sunday and was pretty tired after trailering out and riding 15 miles on Shade which I intend to journal later. So I set my alarm back half an hour so I wouldn't get behind on sleep. But I woke up earlier than normal and was not getting any rest laying in bed so I just got up. Now I am already fighting inertia and I have barely started the day. I hate that, but I guess the coffee will kick in this afternoon and then my sleep will normalize in a day or two. I must start packing the big horse trailer. I pulled everything out of my under manger storage compartments so I could clean them up last winter. Now I have to replace what I need. I will be really bumming if I don't get my portable holding tank in there and have to hike to the portapotties every time nature calls. But right now have to get ready to ride with L. I think I'll take Razz out. I don't want to ask her to babysit me on Sadie as she has a freelance job and can't come T-F and I was gone yesterday and will be gone saturday. Things are not to a point where L could just catch and saddle Lady and ride out and I can't commit parents to help her out when I'm gone.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Fun morning ride today
What a blessing Lady is lately. My craigslist ad listing her for "pay for her hay" lease has gotten me a riding buddy :) We went about 5 miles today. A fair amount of trotting (Lady gaited and did some canter or possibly largo.) A quicker start than a typical solo ride in Shade, she always wants to munch grass and walk slow (plays the "oh I'm not warmed up yet card very well) Lady tries to turn around a bit but she tends to move out right away. Only a very few canter strides on Shade but overall a pretty acceptable weekday conditioning ride.
L may come tomorrow and I may take Sadie to ride out with her. Sunday I need to go ride the sharptail trail and get some hillwork before the 30 mile AERC ride on the 18th. I could almost invite L to join me but I think the distance and pace I want to go would be a bit much for both her and Lady.
L may come tomorrow and I may take Sadie to ride out with her. Sunday I need to go ride the sharptail trail and get some hillwork before the 30 mile AERC ride on the 18th. I could almost invite L to join me but I think the distance and pace I want to go would be a bit much for both her and Lady.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Neck is ok today, but I'm a grump
I should take a diet from the web for a few days or something. Well at least my fingers are not relaying the snarky thoughts. Someone in AZ is very angst about the big fire. Understandable yes, but the places she visited have NOT been wiped out. Just the pine trees in those places. Sheesh a river does not get taken off the map by a fire. I sort of want to post that the new growth will be surprising in 10 years but am not in mood to be diplomatic enough about it. Hopefully someone else posts something about renewal after a fire. The damn pine trees choke out other things and need to go once in a while although 400,000 acres is a huge fire.
Yellowstone Fire web page I had satisfy curiosity about the huge Yellowstone fire. 1.2 million acres total, 7xx,000 in the actual park. We went trail riding in the burn area several years ago. The number of downed trees was remarkable. They do not break down very fast at all, but lots of 5-10 foot pines growing and lots of grass. The deer and elk are not too hampered but the deadfall, but my weak-backed gelding didn't go very far before he was tired and sore from having to do all that hopping over stuff.
Yellowstone Fire web page I had satisfy curiosity about the huge Yellowstone fire. 1.2 million acres total, 7xx,000 in the actual park. We went trail riding in the burn area several years ago. The number of downed trees was remarkable. They do not break down very fast at all, but lots of 5-10 foot pines growing and lots of grass. The deer and elk are not too hampered but the deadfall, but my weak-backed gelding didn't go very far before he was tired and sore from having to do all that hopping over stuff.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
owie neck and food prices
Chiro visit today. My shoulder was out in 2 joints that Dr W said are very close together. Hopefully everything feels better in the long run but today it seems all the muscles that have been having to compensate are now free to whine or things are inflamed because I waited nearly 2 weeks or something. OTOH I came off Shade AGAIN yesterday so if I had gone to chiro earlier it probably would have gotten undone anyway.
Went on my ~ every 10 days target shopping trip. OH MY, prices are going up up up. I think I need to plan on pushing to get my barn/quonset built and well digging done this summer/fall or my savings to do this will be eaten away by the inflation. HOW I WISH we could pull U.S. citizenship for everyone that wants socialism. We'd be better off even if we bribed Canada, France, Cuba etc 10-20K to take them. Canada probably does not want them but they are letting in loads of muslim freeloaders, or were, perhaps Harper will tighten up their immigration policies. Anyway it really pisses me off that they could go to any of dozens of places that already HAD socialist governments but NO, they want to stay here but turn the U.S. into another socialist society and they are damn close to succeeding in making sure we can't just go back to a capitalist republic. Very soon things will just have to collapse and odds are higher that the most ruthless power hungry slick talker gets in and becomes a dictator than we get another proper republic after any collapse.
Some times I think *I* worry more about the future of the country BECAUSE I don't have any kids. I'm not distracted with concerns about their individual opportunities so I turn the mothering instinct to the country overall (+ the horses and pets of course but that is not as long term as humans) Of course it may just be that I'm surrounded by libs at work so their concerns for the country are all "oh noes the stupid public might reject our smart solutions again" And I was apathetic about politics until 2008. I can only hope enough people that can understand how badly socialism fails every time it is tried have been aroused to turn things around, if its not already too late.
Went on my ~ every 10 days target shopping trip. OH MY, prices are going up up up. I think I need to plan on pushing to get my barn/quonset built and well digging done this summer/fall or my savings to do this will be eaten away by the inflation. HOW I WISH we could pull U.S. citizenship for everyone that wants socialism. We'd be better off even if we bribed Canada, France, Cuba etc 10-20K to take them. Canada probably does not want them but they are letting in loads of muslim freeloaders, or were, perhaps Harper will tighten up their immigration policies. Anyway it really pisses me off that they could go to any of dozens of places that already HAD socialist governments but NO, they want to stay here but turn the U.S. into another socialist society and they are damn close to succeeding in making sure we can't just go back to a capitalist republic. Very soon things will just have to collapse and odds are higher that the most ruthless power hungry slick talker gets in and becomes a dictator than we get another proper republic after any collapse.
Some times I think *I* worry more about the future of the country BECAUSE I don't have any kids. I'm not distracted with concerns about their individual opportunities so I turn the mothering instinct to the country overall (+ the horses and pets of course but that is not as long term as humans) Of course it may just be that I'm surrounded by libs at work so their concerns for the country are all "oh noes the stupid public might reject our smart solutions again" And I was apathetic about politics until 2008. I can only hope enough people that can understand how badly socialism fails every time it is tried have been aroused to turn things around, if its not already too late.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Had to open the AC vent in the office
and my face still feels flushed. I had sunscreen on this morning so shouldn't be sun-burned. Blech I don't like this flushed sensation. Hope to heck I'm not going to have a summer of early onset hot flashes or other menopause crap, and am not getting sick. I probably just got pretty overheated before I realized I was getting too warm. Thank goodness I don't live in the deep south - maybe I would acclimate in a few months but I fear I'd just become a total couch potato.
Morning ride on Shade
5.5 miles. Went up the little hills a couple of extra times. Then I drove my p/u to work since I did not trailer out anywhere this weekend. Horse chiro was out about 10 am and I don't like to trailer and ride the day after the horse is adjusted. It is not a rigid rule for me, but it tipped me into staying home when I was having trouble working up any gumption to hook up the trailer and haul somewhere. Mom rode with me in the evening so Sadie had 2 rides this weekend. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun riding Sadie in the coming years. I am not getting any younger so having a horse that does not test how well I bounce very often is going to be NICE. But Shade has to keep on for a bit, I'd like to get her in the 'decade' horses club at AERC. I do not think she'll make the 3K horses list. We are only at 1400 miles to date and she is 14. It could happen, 14 is not that old but I don't plan to try to make it happen. I want to at least get some fencing done in WY and really should push and get a well dug and barn/quonset type building put up in case/ before the regime unleashes ZImbabwe/Weimar republic type inflation with their bloated spending and printing money to cover it.
Well I am just going to have a very modest riding season unless I get big fall streak and usually what happens is a minor injury or illness pops up in September &/or I start feeling a bit burned out so most likely a very modest ride season. But that is ok. Yesterday I dug out the clippers and took a bit of hair off Mia's chest and throat and just a bit on her tummy while she was outside. Then she came in the house and was pretty well crashed and I was able to brush out quite a lot of her undercoat, worked off and on for 3-4 hours over the afternoo. Poor thing got so matted in a few spots this spring that it made a few patches bald. So I'm kind of wary of just taking her to be clipped because she needs the hair left long around the bald patches to provide some sun protection.
Well I am just going to have a very modest riding season unless I get big fall streak and usually what happens is a minor injury or illness pops up in September &/or I start feeling a bit burned out so most likely a very modest ride season. But that is ok. Yesterday I dug out the clippers and took a bit of hair off Mia's chest and throat and just a bit on her tummy while she was outside. Then she came in the house and was pretty well crashed and I was able to brush out quite a lot of her undercoat, worked off and on for 3-4 hours over the afternoo. Poor thing got so matted in a few spots this spring that it made a few patches bald. So I'm kind of wary of just taking her to be clipped because she needs the hair left long around the bald patches to provide some sun protection.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
No longer waiting to exhale
I never saw that movie or read the book? think it was based on a book. But I like the title so I'm using it. I rode Sadie down the rode today. No buddy horse along. I had a gal out to try Lady this morning and was sooo close to taking Sadie along instead of reliable old Grey Moun because mom decided to join us on Razz. But Lady was being pretty wound up so I put Sadie away and grabbed Grey Moun. Glad I did because the ride went well but it was nice do be able to trot up and advise L that she could check Lady up until she walked etc.
So after a long rest in the house I wanted to ride Sadie and I didn't feel like arena work so we went down the ditch and then the road after the gravel ended and it was just sand. Only went 1/2 mile out and back trotted just a few steps when Sadie offered. I did dismount a few hundred yards from home when I saw a car was going to come around the corner JIC. Then I had to lead Sadie back down the road because the car stopped to check out Ole. I just led Sadie the rest of the way home afterwards. She had no reaction to the pickup that came fairly fast, she was busy enjoying the grass in the ditch. Then I let the crew out to graze the scrubby pasture for a bit and I did some cleaning of the run in shed and some weed control on the goatsheads. The rest of the weeds I leave alone, keeps the sand from blowing + working up the soil invites goatsheads to come in.
Tomorrow I should trailer Shade out to a trailhead to do some hill work. Forecast is pretty hot so the bit of extra elevation will probably be very welcome.
So after a long rest in the house I wanted to ride Sadie and I didn't feel like arena work so we went down the ditch and then the road after the gravel ended and it was just sand. Only went 1/2 mile out and back trotted just a few steps when Sadie offered. I did dismount a few hundred yards from home when I saw a car was going to come around the corner JIC. Then I had to lead Sadie back down the road because the car stopped to check out Ole. I just led Sadie the rest of the way home afterwards. She had no reaction to the pickup that came fairly fast, she was busy enjoying the grass in the ditch. Then I let the crew out to graze the scrubby pasture for a bit and I did some cleaning of the run in shed and some weed control on the goatsheads. The rest of the weeds I leave alone, keeps the sand from blowing + working up the soil invites goatsheads to come in.
Tomorrow I should trailer Shade out to a trailhead to do some hill work. Forecast is pretty hot so the bit of extra elevation will probably be very welcome.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Goatsheads gone wild
I'm almost scared to walk to the pasture gate. I have been very happy to see other weeds and not goatsheads there, its one spot I put out goathshead weevils for control last year (I have also done quite a bit of mechanical removal in this spot the last 2 years) I don't want my horses walking in goatsheads burrs. Its rather sad to look at a paddock full of weeds and go YAY, these aren't nasty goatshead burr weeds but such is life on a sandhill.
I hate the way those things pack tight in a hoof, well hell I just hate those vile burrs with a mild? ok its probably not that mild, obsession. Last year I could NOT keep up and didn't want to just disk endlessly and create extra sand so I bought some weevils (2 units) I didn't order until July and it was nearly the end of the month when I got them. I think I am seeing some fewer goatsheads sprouting where I had the weevils but still plenty. Soo I ordered 3 units this year yesterday so they should arrive as soon as the place starts shipping. So either june 30 or July 7 as they ship to arrive on a thursday.
In the meantime the last couple of days I am scuffing out goatsheads that are sprouting in abundance after our wet may (heh I think its under 6 inches of rain) But that is quite wet for here. Before the end of the month one of the local tv channels had a blurb about how 5.x inches of rain so far in May had wiped out our precipitation deficit from having hardly any snow all winter.
Scuffing out goatsheads ---scuffing with my feet to uproot the teeny little seedlings. Don't have to remember to grab a hoe, and doesn't disturb the soil as deeply either; also don't get fingers pricked with burrs that hadn't sprouted yet. They are thick in some spots I had put out weevils last year but I didn't have enough weevils starting early enough so hopefully this year with geting one more unit + getting an extra 25 day life cycle the weevils will help me keep the damn burrs in check without crowding out all the other things I want to do.
I hate the way those things pack tight in a hoof, well hell I just hate those vile burrs with a mild? ok its probably not that mild, obsession. Last year I could NOT keep up and didn't want to just disk endlessly and create extra sand so I bought some weevils (2 units) I didn't order until July and it was nearly the end of the month when I got them. I think I am seeing some fewer goatsheads sprouting where I had the weevils but still plenty. Soo I ordered 3 units this year yesterday so they should arrive as soon as the place starts shipping. So either june 30 or July 7 as they ship to arrive on a thursday.
In the meantime the last couple of days I am scuffing out goatsheads that are sprouting in abundance after our wet may (heh I think its under 6 inches of rain) But that is quite wet for here. Before the end of the month one of the local tv channels had a blurb about how 5.x inches of rain so far in May had wiped out our precipitation deficit from having hardly any snow all winter.
Scuffing out goatsheads ---scuffing with my feet to uproot the teeny little seedlings. Don't have to remember to grab a hoe, and doesn't disturb the soil as deeply either; also don't get fingers pricked with burrs that hadn't sprouted yet. They are thick in some spots I had put out weevils last year but I didn't have enough weevils starting early enough so hopefully this year with geting one more unit + getting an extra 25 day life cycle the weevils will help me keep the damn burrs in check without crowding out all the other things I want to do.
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