tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325096885781230112024-03-13T07:06:37.164-07:00If Wishes Were HorsesDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-48625265167115218102011-08-06T21:21:00.000-07:002011-08-06T21:24:32.316-07:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So much has happened since my last post. Here are the major bullet points:<br />
<ul><li closure_uid_kmuk6k="117">I moved Miss to a new barn.</li>
<li closure_uid_kmuk6k="118">I had lasik surgery for the second time on both eyes.</li>
<li>I bought a new car (well, new to me).</li>
</ul><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="120">I'm guessing you're most interested in the first point, so here's the rest of that story: about six months ago my trainer Willow starts to go on trail rides with the guy who ponies the foals and works with the difficult horses (they aren't a couple). Owner of the barn takes offense to this and eventually bans the guy from the property, even though he was bringing in business. She is so jealous that the trainer is spending time with him instead of her she starts to make her life hell, talking behind her back, spreading lies, accusing her of everything from stealing tack to charging for services never rendered. Then Willow was involved in a car accident in which the other party was killed, she was unhurt. Her vehicle was impounded, and she was questioned at the scene and released. When the owner found out about the accident the next day, she took that opportunity to fire Willow, saying she was mentally unstable and she didn't want her around her horses. Completely unbelievable, and probably illegal. Then the owner starts calling all Willow's clients and contacts, telling them she will be charged with murder and that she is going to jail, and calls all the other barns in the area and tells them the same thing and not to let her train at their properties. Willow has worked at this barn for 15 years and she's only 32. How you can treat someone like that I don't know, she has no compassion or even common sense. As if the poor woman doesn't have enough on her mind with the investigation and just living with the fact that she caused someone's death, now the rest of her world falls apart. The owner alienated everyone who is or has ever trained with this trainer, to the point where it was intolerable to even be at the barn.</div><br />
Within 48 hours the owners of 8 horses, including myself, had given notice after Willow found a wonderful barn that would take all of us at once. A total of 15 horses ended up leaving, the rest went to other barns, which equates to the owner losing well over $100,000 in annual income. When I showed up to oversee her being hauled to the new facility the owner was convinced that the contract I had with her prohibited me from taking Miss off the property. Fortunately I had a copy of the bill of sale (which wasn't even with her) and a copy of the contract, which did NOT say that. It says a lot of other crap but it doesn't say I can't move her. In the face of irrefutable evidence she was forced to concede that I did own the horse and did have the right to take her but blamed Willow for not including that clause in the contract 4 years ago. Blaming right until the end!<br />
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As I mentioned the new barn is lovely, and just happens to be a lot closer for me, but it is primarily a dressage training facility and doesn't quite feel like home yet. After being stuck in an arena all her life I'm sure it will take Miss a while to adjust to trails and an open covered arena but I am hopeful this will be a good new beginning for us both. She is making faster progress than I could have ever hoped and I'm very proud of us both! <br />
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</div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122">The lasik surgery went well, much less traumatic than the first time in November 2009. My vision is still adjusting but I am glad I did it, my distance vision had deteriorated from 20/20 to 25/30 and the surgeon was concerned that my eyes were changing at different rates. Fixing my distance vision has also made my near vision better, but I know that will eventually settle back to needing reading glasses.</div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122">I have been thinking of replacing my 2001 VW Jetta for a while now, not because I don't love her or because she is having issues, but rather due to the fact she has nearly 200,000 miles on her and I wanted to avoid having to pay more than she's worth to have her fixed the next time something big does go wrong. I decided on a 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S, Hot Chocolate Metallic with yummy milk chocolate-colored leather interior. It was a corporate lease return and only has 12,000 miles on her, looks and feels brand new. I LOVE it, so much fun to drive. </div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122">Pictures of all of the above are below.</div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="122" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8eE18fx7xM/Tj4Jass2EXI/AAAAAAAAA-E/GYo3n5rxE3Q/s1600/%25282+of+27%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8eE18fx7xM/Tj4Jass2EXI/AAAAAAAAA-E/GYo3n5rxE3Q/s320/%25282+of+27%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="122" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "mare motel" where Missy's stall is.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="123" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXiwuSRL53w/Tj4JlEGBFyI/AAAAAAAAA-I/UVGBRqz8xpU/s1600/%252814+of+27%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXiwuSRL53w/Tj4JlEGBFyI/AAAAAAAAA-I/UVGBRqz8xpU/s320/%252814+of+27%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="123" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Full-size dressage court.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="124" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-nArkr155Y/Tj4JtEyJsYI/AAAAAAAAA-M/ywVeUG_87YI/s1600/%252818+of+27%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-nArkr155Y/Tj4JtEyJsYI/AAAAAAAAA-M/ywVeUG_87YI/s320/%252818+of+27%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="124" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enormous covered arena with sound system and lights.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="125" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3dhQoxtdCQ/Tj4KQkUEIrI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/dS2nsFCQaCU/s1600/%25289+of+27%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3dhQoxtdCQ/Tj4KQkUEIrI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/dS2nsFCQaCU/s320/%25289+of+27%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="125" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My girl at dinner.</div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="126" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9haPWyBOrk/Tj4KTkkB9kI/AAAAAAAAA-U/HKFc_SdFvQE/s1600/bangs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9haPWyBOrk/Tj4KTkkB9kI/AAAAAAAAA-U/HKFc_SdFvQE/s320/bangs.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2keqwj="126" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eyes post-surgery and new bangs.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFODIfSODUU/Tj4KjhCFg5I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/uE_G0iS0TDY/s1600/%25282+of+10%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFODIfSODUU/Tj4KjhCFg5I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/uE_G0iS0TDY/s320/%25282+of+10%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3T2TLPWw88/Tj4KqXpEUOI/AAAAAAAAA-c/HxNC374UHaU/s1600/%25285+of+10%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3T2TLPWw88/Tj4KqXpEUOI/AAAAAAAAA-c/HxNC374UHaU/s320/%25285+of+10%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFpqdvfUGSE/Tj4KvNIMu9I/AAAAAAAAA-g/wlmttivjIEE/s1600/%25289+of+10%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFpqdvfUGSE/Tj4KvNIMu9I/AAAAAAAAA-g/wlmttivjIEE/s320/%25289+of+10%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm47jDybpAM/Tj4KyoWZ_aI/AAAAAAAAA-k/4Y3eBgu77zE/s1600/%25287+of+10%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm47jDybpAM/Tj4KyoWZ_aI/AAAAAAAAA-k/4Y3eBgu77zE/s320/%25287+of+10%2529.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_kmuk6k="122"><br />
</div></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-6225195761985533952011-05-15T22:22:00.000-07:002011-05-15T22:22:17.562-07:00May Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18YkicHtDQI/TdCsw_yGLVI/AAAAAAAAA9g/GyDu7ifx6D4/s1600/_5154156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18YkicHtDQI/TdCsw_yGLVI/AAAAAAAAA9g/GyDu7ifx6D4/s320/_5154156.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Since I wasn't able to ride today due to a heavy downpour last night, I took advantage of the freshness of the day and took a few shots at the farm. I find that if I always keep my camera bag in the car I take more pictures -- sometimes the answer is so simple! <br />
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I've been able to ride Miss more in the last six weeks than any time I can remember, and the progress is obvious. There is a fine line with her, you have to work her consistently to keep her mentally in check, but you can't work her too hard or she falls apart physically. It seems three times a week is the magic number. <br />
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Unfortunately someone else will need to pick up the weekday rides as I have finally landed a job. (Yay!) In fact, I applied for this same job a year ago and they hired someone else, who just resigned due to "cultural fit" issues. Hmphf. They could have saved themselves and me a year of misery, but I will try not to hold it against them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkG1lCqK3m0/TdCs0FAqiXI/AAAAAAAAA9k/3dk4JoJVYl0/s1600/_5154159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OkG1lCqK3m0/TdCs0FAqiXI/AAAAAAAAA9k/3dk4JoJVYl0/s320/_5154159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This will be the largest company I've ever worked for by far, some 40,000 employees worldwide, and that may take some getting used to. I had another opportunity at a pre-IPO start-up but I felt that there was at least a 50/50 chance that they would be acquired before they went public. I've been down that road before and decided it was worth it to join the Big Fish Company than risk another Little Fish. Although I'm sure there will be more redtape that I would like, I will also enjoy the many benefits including restaurant-quality cafeterias, inexpensive on-site gym facilities and many others. They were voted the #16 company in the US to work for by Fortune in 2010.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRYIRltDgZ8/TdCs3-HiJxI/AAAAAAAAA9o/ahsoroBIue0/s1600/_5154165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRYIRltDgZ8/TdCs3-HiJxI/AAAAAAAAA9o/ahsoroBIue0/s320/_5154165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For now this is a contractor position, but that is generally how they bring people onboard as getting approval for a full-time regular employee is a long process. My medical/dental coverage is already through my husband's company so that isn't an issue, and I am technically an employee of the agency that placed me, so I will have taxes withheld and won't have to deal with making estimated payments and paying the additional self-employment taxes.<br />
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Most importantly, my new boss is the antithesis of my last one. I haven't work for a man in a long time but honestly I think it will be easier. I've asked around and everyone has said I couldn't ask for a better advocate or manager, and from the few times I've met with him I am hopeful. He's very easy to talk to (even in an interview), funny, hands-off but supportive and generally a very normal person who seems to genuinely care about his team.<br />
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I've been staying at the house in the mountains but now that I have to travel for work every day again I am going back to my little cottage to stay during the week. I've cleared out the weeds and debris from the winter in my garden and am looking forward to making it a colorful oasis once again. </div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-38864089252920924182011-04-24T17:00:00.000-07:002011-04-24T17:00:07.877-07:00Rhinos & Winged Wonders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm still unemployed but have been averaging about one interview a week, a fact I am not taking for granted. So far there is only one job that I actually want, but I think I have a very good chance of getting that one, it's just an incredibly long and frustrating process, both for the applicants and the companies. The severance money is holding out fine but at times I find myself terribly depressed and unable to enjoy the time off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been able to ride more in the last couple of weeks but without my weekly lesson I find I am not making any progress, another frustration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least there are plenty more Africa photos to share with you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSzvlnEM8bQ/TbSzLtxxEqI/AAAAAAAAA9E/rEDLq5XZLQA/s1600/%252833+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSzvlnEM8bQ/TbSzLtxxEqI/AAAAAAAAA9E/rEDLq5XZLQA/s320/%252833+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A foursome of white rhinos consisted of two females and their calves at a watering hole, who were curious enough to come within 10 to 15 feet of the vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have poor eyesight but very good hearing and wanted to check us out, their cupped ears rotating like satellite dishes on the tops of their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3IJsv7R0o0/TbSzSFh4_JI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7PlvM2ZE6zU/s1600/%252834+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3IJsv7R0o0/TbSzSFh4_JI/AAAAAAAAA9I/7PlvM2ZE6zU/s320/%252834+of+312%2529.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White rhinos have a large hump on their back while their cousins the black rhino do not, but both animals are actually gray. Their coloring has more to do with what kind of mud they have been rolling in! Also, the Dutch settlers differentiated the two species by the shapes of their mouths, the flat shovel-like mouth of the white rhino evolved to help them pick up food on the ground. The Dutch word for wide is "wije", which was mistranslated as "white".</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSzDp_slxo4/TbSzaljDMcI/AAAAAAAAA9M/HMVHzLvvqb4/s1600/%252835+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSzDp_slxo4/TbSzaljDMcI/AAAAAAAAA9M/HMVHzLvvqb4/s320/%252835+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These calves are about a year old; they will stay with their mothers until they are weaned at about two years of age. Doesn't it look like a little tank?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCSqyqlCQEk/TbSzjNqPv5I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/bo9lJCoF3pI/s1600/%252817+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCSqyqlCQEk/TbSzjNqPv5I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/bo9lJCoF3pI/s320/%252817+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm quite sure this isn't a Monarch butterfly, more likely a smaller African cousin.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoTF69v_LoY/TbSz23vc5pI/AAAAAAAAA9U/wHvGBtNhBFA/s1600/%2528199+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoTF69v_LoY/TbSz23vc5pI/AAAAAAAAA9U/wHvGBtNhBFA/s320/%2528199+of+312%2529.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I know where the idea for the Stealth Bomber came from!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaOw1S2bXlQ/TbSz_Mz38vI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/akZgrvBHRmY/s1600/%2528200+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaOw1S2bXlQ/TbSz_Mz38vI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/akZgrvBHRmY/s320/%2528200+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This stunning moth sports twin heads of either snakes or birds of prey on its wings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Click to enlarge the photos)</div><div align="left"><span id="goog_6624727"></span><span id="goog_6624728"></span></div></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-12909949432475746262011-03-27T17:23:00.000-07:002011-03-27T19:02:24.494-07:00Out of Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been home for a couple of weeks but I'm still not feeling fully reintegrated into my life. Perhaps that's because I haven't been working and haven't even been worrying much about finding a new job. I've been on a few interviews but I'm feeling very cautious after my last experience, I want to make sure that it feels right emotionally to me before I accept any offer.<br />
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I also haven't been able to ride much, in fact I've only ridden Missy once since I returned from my trip due to constant storms. In addition, the trainer who does my lessons during the week is taking a break from teaching for a while so I lost the only covered arena available to me. <br />
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Trying to relate four weeks in Africa is a daunting task, even with literally thousands of photographs to refer to. You can't capture with a camera the scent of wildflowers across the savannah, the sound of Zulu schoolchildren singing or the softness of a cheetah's fur. I will do my best and include what I think will be interesting to others without being too self-indulgent.<br />
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Most of the month was spent at a camp that was originally a hunting lodge, called Inthebane (in-ta-bonn), which means "warthog" in Zulu. This camp was part of a sprawling 14,000 acre private game reserve which also included a base camp where some 80 staff lived and a 5-star resort, I got to visit both. The reserve is approximately three hours northwest of Durban, in eastern South Africa. There are no fences once inside the reserve so game was able to come into the camp at will, which they often did. Herds of impala and wildebeest as well as a family of warthog with seven piglets were our daily companions. A set of 18 month-old lion triplets, two males and a female, were often in camp as well. Sometimes we saw them and sometimes we could only hear them, but we got used to their presence while maintaining a healthy dose of respect. It's amazing what can become normal in a very short period of time.<br />
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The first week was spent in an intensive workshop with a professional photographer from South Africa. Although I did learn a lot, the volunteers felt like the course was geared towards the one member of the group who wanted to become a professional, even though we had been asked for and provided in advance our level of experience, our goals and the equipment we were bringing. What was most frustrating was when it counted the most, when we were out in the bush sitting in front of a pride of lions trying to take the best photographs we could, we were completely ignored while he went about the business of trying to get his own shots. Needless to say we all provided a lot of feedback on the course evaluation form and had a lot of fun at his expense after he left.<br />
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Here's some shots from the first week, click to enlarge (see more at my <a href="http://artmurmur22.blogspot.com/search/label/blog">photoblog</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4NaN98EW9s/TY_RrtylMHI/AAAAAAAAA8A/9ENNOvBMhyU/s1600/%25285+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4NaN98EW9s/TY_RrtylMHI/AAAAAAAAA8A/9ENNOvBMhyU/s320/%25285+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My home away from home, a private chalet with a hot shower and air conditioning.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1Rwvw4pYXI/TY_R6RXTlMI/AAAAAAAAA8E/_Nlf-OcdT38/s1600/%252811+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1Rwvw4pYXI/TY_R6RXTlMI/AAAAAAAAA8E/_Nlf-OcdT38/s320/%252811+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the main lodge.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XObomRN2WvY/TY_SGjAcM_I/AAAAAAAAA8I/XmPFXdl4xIc/s1600/%252815+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XObomRN2WvY/TY_SGjAcM_I/AAAAAAAAA8I/XmPFXdl4xIc/s320/%252815+of+312%2529.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gorgeous giant grasshopper.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcYbjiuFzs8/TY_SX4yMHkI/AAAAAAAAA8M/r4nKZrhubuw/s1600/%252819+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcYbjiuFzs8/TY_SX4yMHkI/AAAAAAAAA8M/r4nKZrhubuw/s320/%252819+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise on our first game drive.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ophTOTDcedY/TY_SgNQutTI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/kuRIz2pk5LA/s1600/%252820+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ophTOTDcedY/TY_SgNQutTI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/kuRIz2pk5LA/s320/%252820+of+312%2529.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Male impala.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnV2eiAl9jA/TY_SsLuKa8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/ufu1qEPdm6E/s1600/%252827+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnV2eiAl9jA/TY_SsLuKa8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/ufu1qEPdm6E/s320/%252827+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two of the triplets.</div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwRBY4vnInw/TY_TQXckLNI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/8I0iMiSWtVA/s1600/%252828+of+312%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwRBY4vnInw/TY_TQXckLNI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/8I0iMiSWtVA/s320/%252828+of+312%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Their daddy, the alpha male of both prides on the reserve, sleeps while his daughter hunts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-42197679869979151492011-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:002011-01-23T11:15:40.524-08:00Art Murmur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been working on a photography blog, a place to show my favorite and best shots in a format better suited to large photo files. While there aren't that many pictures up there yet I wanted to share the link with you all and invite you to check back often as I will be posting pictures from Africa there as well as here.<br />
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Introducing <a href="http://artmurmur22.blogspot.com/">Art Murmur</a>. Let me know what you think. </div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-21704240758608060792011-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:002011-01-23T11:10:27.278-08:00The Long Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TTx1mFHr5II/AAAAAAAAA7c/dQ7BGAcOLKI/s1600/UK_campsite_balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TTx1mFHr5II/AAAAAAAAA7c/dQ7BGAcOLKI/s400/UK_campsite_balloon.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>I've never been one to take shortcuts. When I have gone against my better judgement and tried to save time I've become lost, literally or metaphorically. The process of becoming a horsewoman has re-emphasized the need to take my time in order to be safe and successful. <br />
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I've been able to ride Miss the last two weekends and decided not to take a lesson, I wanted to be able to take things slow and pay attention to how she was responding to me. She hadn't been ridden in a while so of course Willow wants to give her a shot of Ace. I told her, I think we'll be fine. Several more times she offered to give her a shot and each time I politely declined. I've always felt very strongly that if she has to be drugged, she shouldn't be ridden.<br />
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I lunged her for a long time, letting her set the pace, and she galloped and galloped and snorted and bucked and got all that pent-up energy out. Then I hand-walked her for a long time, and when her breathing was back to normal I got on and walked some more. She trotted quietly and we worked on stopping in the center of the arena. Willow was doing a lesson in the arena next to where we were and at one of those moments when we were standing in the center she yells over to us, "Missy has matured so much, she's so much calmer now!" It was all I could do not to roll my eyes. I realized that the reason Willow still thinks that Miss is difficult to ride and still wants to take so many precautions is because she takes shortcuts. She wants the same results you would get by patiently going through all the steps but without the effort. I also realized that even though Willow has known and ridden Miss her whole life, to her she is just one of many horses. She's never owned her own horse, she hasn't needed to, with so many horses at her disposal she's been able to do everything she ever wanted, including competing in a few different disciplines, using other people's horses.<br />
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While I have gained a lot of technical knowledge by taking lessons on many different horses, having my own horse has taught me the invaluable lesson of patience and how important having a personal relationship is between horse and rider. I'd like to think that Miss does what I ask of her because she wants to, instead of doing what Willow asks of her because she has to.<br />
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I took the picture above on our honeymoon, we camped for the night in the field next to these horses' corral and the next morning a balloon hovered overhead. I've always felt this was an omen leading me to horses.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-53870926069820988772011-01-06T22:56:00.000-08:002011-01-06T22:58:12.312-08:00PreparationI'm simultaneously preparing for an end and a beginning. That's usually the way it is when you leave a job, which I've done many times, but this is the first time that I'm not preparing for a new job or even for the immediate foray into an intense job search. This time I'm preparing for a journey of epic proportions to the other side of the world. I believe humanity migrated out of Africa to populate the rest of the globe, which makes it the very cradle of civilization, the literal mother land. As the date looms closer, less than a month away, I'm feeling serene and completely sure of this decision.<br />
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Let me get one thing straight: I'm not brave. Or spontaneous, or rich. What I am is determined, willing, and hopeful. I'm very aware that opportunities like this where one has both the time and the money to take a month off are few and far between. The fact that this is a conservation project makes it affordable and meaningful. A lot of planning and thought went into choosing the place and the activity, but the timing was arbitrary, which presented a bit of a challenge but ultimately narrowed the possibilities and made the decision-making process easier.<br />
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I think I'm pretty much ready.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSavjmTvQHI/AAAAAAAAA6I/x52ssrs46M0/s1600/683204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSavjmTvQHI/AAAAAAAAA6I/x52ssrs46M0/s320/683204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I bought this carry-on bag specifically designed for camera equipment and a laptop but which looks like a regular carry-on. It's solidly built and very light, and the base comes off.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSawHxV2BoI/AAAAAAAAA6M/KvnjJYWmGnM/s1600/562236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSawHxV2BoI/AAAAAAAAA6M/KvnjJYWmGnM/s320/562236.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I also got this backpack for carrying my camera gear on daily excursions. It's also very light and comfortable, and holds an amazing amount of stuff for how small it is, including a new telephoto lens.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSax3JLPLyI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/c9uIlPGIKPc/s1600/Ariat_70024_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TSax3JLPLyI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/c9uIlPGIKPc/s320/Ariat_70024_15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've been breaking in these Ariat hiking boots, which of course are amazingly comfortable and light -- can't beat Ariat boots! Especially with Thorlo padded socks. A few pairs of walking shorts, a great mesh hat and some eco-friendly tshirts and I'm half-way packed already.<br />
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I'm flying direct from San Francisco to Dubai on Emirates Airlines, a 15-hour flight but at least the plane is huge, new and has a lounge. I have a long layover in Dubai and plan to visit the <a href="http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/language/en-us/the-tower.aspx">Burj Khalifa</a>, the tallest tower in the world, which just happens to be right next to an enormous mall that contains not only a ridiculous selection of stores but also an aquarium. Then a 8-hour flight to Durban, where I spend a night at a charming B&B recommended by the project before being picked up the following morning for the 4-hour drive to the private game reserve.<br />
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I fully intend to spend one of my four free weekends riding, preferably on the beach overlooking the Indian Ocean. I was thinking at my lesson last night that I need to spend more time in the saddle just riding. I love my lessons and my riding group but I'm back at a point now where I want some freedom, to be riding for the pure joy of it without thinking every second about the last set of instructions. I've come to a place where its not only not selfish to think of myself first, it is essential.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-4944031097318070732010-12-31T21:02:00.000-08:002010-12-31T21:06:28.628-08:00Simple GiftsThe local dog beach is one of my favorite places on earth. The unbridled joy of running free on the sand and in the water is intoxicating for both canines and their owners. The beach is a finite space, there are cliffs behind and on each end, giving urban dogs a rare chance to be off-leash outdoors without man-made barriers. My little girl loves loves LOVES the beach, she is very fast and gives me ample opportunities to practice my high-speed photography skills, which will come in handy for capturing cheetahs soon. She's also not shy and has absolutely no idea that she is a small dog. She's confident but not aggressive, playful, smart and generally the life of the party. I want to be just like her when I grow up.<br />
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The light was amazing that day, as the sun lowered in the sky the ocean turned into molten metal, a sea of mercury, and the dogs all became pitch black.<br />
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The last picture is of our new family member, Taiko. He's a two year-old Gordon Setter mix, a long-legged gentle soul just coming out of his awkward puppy stage, also a rescue from a local shelter. He lives with my husband at the house in the mountains and Aubrey's with me at the cottage during the week, and we're all together on weekends. She bosses him around and chases him around and around the big oak tree in their yard, but he's very tolerant and gentle with her. He's very cuddly and affectionate, another very special creature, he's helping to heal the grief of losing Tucker so suddenly.<br />
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I haven't done much riding lately but what I have done has been fun and fulfilling. I'm looking forward to better weather and the end of my tenure at Soon To Be Ex-Company at the end of January.<br />
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This year has been extremely difficult and extremely wonderful in big dollops. I have to say I wouldn't have it any other way. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vE113v_I/AAAAAAAAA54/ROKVkqB3OFc/s1600/_C241622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vE113v_I/AAAAAAAAA54/ROKVkqB3OFc/s400/_C241622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vKzqCfpI/AAAAAAAAA58/uXNSpTydD6w/s1600/_C241629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vKzqCfpI/AAAAAAAAA58/uXNSpTydD6w/s400/_C241629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vOEh_1KI/AAAAAAAAA6A/Dnt-sHMZ2G0/s1600/_C241633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vOEh_1KI/AAAAAAAAA6A/Dnt-sHMZ2G0/s400/_C241633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vRxq9JiI/AAAAAAAAA6E/sG16Dj9lLKY/s1600/_C241654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TR6vRxq9JiI/AAAAAAAAA6E/sG16Dj9lLKY/s400/_C241654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-85515837910606674052010-12-18T23:39:00.000-08:002010-12-18T23:39:56.755-08:00Still Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2yk_dvhgI/AAAAAAAAA5o/MRgXWAWn99M/s1600/054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2yk_dvhgI/AAAAAAAAA5o/MRgXWAWn99M/s400/054.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our neighbors own an electrical company and use their home as a showcase for new and interesting lighting effects, often bringing clients there and hosting parties. This is their latest addition: a herd of custom-made sheetmetal horses. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2yqkyhZnI/AAAAAAAAA5s/vg0nHDJzx88/s1600/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2yqkyhZnI/AAAAAAAAA5s/vg0nHDJzx88/s400/055.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>They are life-size and magnificent, with individual spotlights embedded in the ground next to each horse for maximum effect when viewed in the dark.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2ysuEUx8I/AAAAAAAAA5w/1Umiq8rFmhY/s1600/067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TQ2ysuEUx8I/AAAAAAAAA5w/1Umiq8rFmhY/s400/067.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>During the day they are no less awe-inspiring. I'll have to invite myself to their next party and try to capture their stunning beauty under the lights.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-9492833401376626942010-12-05T19:10:00.000-08:002010-12-05T21:44:32.281-08:00At Liberty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPxTDfaRTII/AAAAAAAAA5E/6WTMqj5WSeE/s1600/cavalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPxTDfaRTII/AAAAAAAAA5E/6WTMqj5WSeE/s1600/cavalia.jpg" /></a></div>Photo credit: Jean-Francois Leblanc<br />
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This week I was lucky enough to see Cavalia for the first time. I think my expectations were a little bit too high, as it wasn't the experience of a lifetime that I wanted, the continuity in the second half was a problem and a couple of times there were no horses on stage at all during long trapeze numbers. Having said that, I would still recommend it to horse people and non-horse people alike, just to see the "at liberty" work. We all know how difficult it is to gain the trust of a horse and to successfully pass on our wishes using all the aids at our disposal. This is Sylvia Zerbini and part of her group of 9 Arabians. She was able to control them with just her voice and a very small whip, used for directionality only. At one point she had 4 of them cantering in a circle clockwise and the other 4 cantering in a circle counter-clockwise inside the other circle. At the beginning and end of the show I saw, two six-month old colts wandered into the performance space by themselves and playfully and gently frolic with each other and the horse toys strewn about the stage, seemingly without noticing the lights, the music or the hundreds of people watching them. Another piece showcases a single dancer and a white Andalusian playing in and around a shallow pool of water -- they might as well have been a wood nymph and a unicorn -- truly magical. This amazing work is worth the (hefty) price of admission. <br />
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The recent bad weather has made riding Missy on the weekends a hit-and-miss proposition, but at least she is being worked during the week. Every time I get the chance to ride her I am cantering, so that's a step in the right direction. She is so uneven and crooked and falls out of it easily, but at least we're doing it. My lessons during the week have made this possible, I am so grateful for my trainer and for the wonderful group of women I share her with. We all went to see Cavalia together then the next night had some fun doing poses while we cantered around in a circle together. <br />
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How did it get to be less than 60 days until I leave for South Africa? So much to do. I'm just trying to get through each work day one at a time and avoid completely freaking out about my decisions.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-88067042000940070022010-11-27T13:02:00.000-08:002010-11-27T13:07:04.912-08:00Where the Wild Things Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFsyuobL-I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/NpkDoHPtR4w/s1600/cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFsyuobL-I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/NpkDoHPtR4w/s320/cheetah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Safari. Africa. Two words that evoke a myriad of images and emotions. This is where I will be spending four glorious weeks, the entire month of February 2011, in the north east corner of South Africa, on a private game reserve. My only job will be to show up each morning with my camera gear and my sense of adventure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs2oA9-_I/AAAAAAAAA4c/On0BiEvy3B8/s1600/giraffes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs2oA9-_I/AAAAAAAAA4c/On0BiEvy3B8/s320/giraffes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have no idea where I will end up after I return from Africa. Seldom does one have the time and the money to take a month off and I wasn't about to squander it sending out resumes and waiting for the phone to ring.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs6M7FKVI/AAAAAAAAA4g/hoyBGdFu_SQ/s1600/hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs6M7FKVI/AAAAAAAAA4g/hoyBGdFu_SQ/s320/hippo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>No matter. Since I made the decision to leave the environment has been much better, since my manager got the mandate from her manager to avoid pissing me off, lest I walk out and demand the severance package without fulfulling my extended notice period.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs-P86_MI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Jvg0AcU_MDc/s1600/zebras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFs-P86_MI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Jvg0AcU_MDc/s320/zebras.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The project is run by a conservation organization that uses the photographs of the volunteers in their efforts to educate the world and the local population. These images are from the September project volunteer portfolio.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFtBblHvlI/AAAAAAAAA4o/WLsnANlGszg/s1600/mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TPFtBblHvlI/AAAAAAAAA4o/WLsnANlGszg/s320/mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>I continue to make lemonade from the lemons.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-37097829746296619052010-11-14T19:44:00.000-08:002010-11-15T21:38:46.561-08:00Forever Young<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TOCtN5wFHqI/AAAAAAAAA3w/D8Aaw02ZqXA/s1600/P1000796.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539617996018097826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TOCtN5wFHqI/AAAAAAAAA3w/D8Aaw02ZqXA/s320/P1000796.JPG" /></a>Still reeling from the loss of Bailey in March, we lost Tucker Friday afternoon. We knew he was 11, we knew he was old dog, but he didn't know it, and he was a puppy to the end. He never got gray, or crippled, or stopped jumping for joy or playing ball with the intensity of an Olympic athlete. In fact he played ball with abandon on Thursday evening, as it should be. He was gone within 8 hours of showing any signs of distress, so he didn't suffer. For that we are grateful, but it was so fast, so shocking, so unbelievable...I still can't wrap my head around it. He passed at the vet's office and we went there to say goodbye on Saturday morning. I didn't get the chance to do that with Bailey and I felt it was important to see him and stroke his beautiful red coat one more time. Some might think that strange or morbid, but, as difficult as it was, it was helpful. And it was all we had.<br /><br />We would walk along the sidewalk above the beach with them, Bailey on D's left and Tucker between us on my left, a formidable phalanx of four. Countless people stopped to comment on their good manners and their beauty and to ask if they could pet them. Countless more said nothing but smiled at the sight of them, and we always joked we should charge $1 per smile. Tucker's favorite place on earth was the dog park across the street from the beach. We never brought a ball, we would just let him loose and he would always find one, that's how I think of him, like in this picture, resting on a bench at the dog park with a found ball, just waiting for someone to throw it for him. He's worn paths through the trees on either side of the driveway, the ball-throwing routes across the property. He was the definition of Golden Retriever -- sweet, smart, playful, polite, loyal, athletic. He was loved beyond measure and radiated happy. Right up to the end.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-14702708012720260992010-10-17T20:36:00.000-07:002010-10-17T21:21:47.265-07:00Channelling William Shatner<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLvBvSzbHOI/AAAAAAAAA3o/of3wVBVOwcA/s1600/kf9vBxISYmnbpmegcPnQYtlio1_500.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLvBvSzbHOI/AAAAAAAAA3o/of3wVBVOwcA/s320/kf9vBxISYmnbpmegcPnQYtlio1_500.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529225985772952802" /></a>In keeping with the rebel spirit that has been 2010, I now have three essential negotiations going on at the same time.<br /><br />Since July I've been in negotiations with my husband on where to live and when we live together again. He doesn't want to move, I couldn't live where we were any more so now I have my little cottage but we live apart during the week. Recently I asked him what his plan was and he wants to wait until the spring to see how the real estate market is before putting the house on the market. Our realtor told us if we didn't get it on the market by September to wait until March, but the choice to wait was made by inaction, which is highly disappointing. <br /><br />My trainer has finally started a dialogue with the property owner to see what kind of deal we can work out in order for me to keep Missy, I'm hoping they will agree to a half lease. In my mind this is a perfect solution, she will get ridden more consistently during the week, I will keep my current schedule of riding on the weekends and my expenses will be cut in half. The trick is finding someone acceptable to all of us, which may take some time, but at least there is some movement happening.<br /><br />Two weeks ago I had a huge argument with my manager, something that's happened about every six to eight weeks since I started working for her in June 2009. This one ended in an ultimatum: she said I had one week to tell her whether I thought this was "going to work or not", because she wasn't going to change. After three days I scheduled a meeting with her and called her bluff. For the first time in my life, I quit a job without having another one lined up. I had just had it, I dreaded coming to work every day, I had the title and responsibilities of a manager but no authority, and I had to report literally everything I did to her in real time. That was on a Friday, on Monday she came back with the promise of a severance package if I would agree to stay for three more months. I told her I would have to know what the offer was before I could agree to anything, and I hadn't planned on staying that long so it better be worth my while. Obviously after she got over being pissed off from our argument she realized how much she needs me in order to complete the project we've been working on for the last six months on time. It took a week for her to come back with the numbers, which she told me on Friday. It's a decent offer, more than what I was expecting. I would love to just walk away and leave them in the lurch but that isn't very reasonable or responsible. At this point I really have no choice, I will take their offer knowing that I can still leave at any time if I find another job before the end of January. I'm also going to make it clear to her, her boss and HR that if she continues to maintain the hostile work environment that has been the norm, I WILL leave and I WILL get the severance package as well. This New Donna can be quite formidable. <br /><br />Aubrey is doing fine, she seems none the worse for her adventure last weekend, if she remembers it at all. I had to bathe her three times, the last with Gojo grease hand cleaner, to get her head clean.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-6491274688152863372010-10-11T21:38:00.000-07:002010-10-11T21:58:37.810-07:00Crisis ManagementLast night I came back to the cottage as usual and let Aubrey outside. I was busy doing whatever and after a little while I thought to go outside and check on her, I hadn't heard her or seen her for maybe 15 minutes and she wasn't coming when I called her. I was shocked to see her body sticking out from under the fence in her dog run, seems my silly little dog was chasing some critter and tried to fit through a drainage hole embedded in cement. Of course I didn't know that at the time and I thought I could just pull her free. I tried, the neighbor tried and finally I decided it was time to call 911. The nice policeman tried and then he called the fire department. I was so afraid they were going to break her neck or she was going to suffocate! She was very brave. Me, not so much. More than an hour and 4 professionals later, they finally freed her, but I was shocked again to see a filthy, rusty tin can lodged tightly around her neck. Thankfully it had not cut her, although I'm sure her neck will be sore for a while. It was exactly like one of those stories you see on the news, happy ending and all. Today I stayed home from work, bathed her (again) and fixed the fence, putting up sheet metal over that hole and another one I found. At the time I felt a little strange calling 911 but both the police and fire departments were very concerned and took it seriously.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm5AKXdcI/AAAAAAAAA3g/f8M6ZOzcik0/s1600/_A111543.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527015034684143042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm5AKXdcI/AAAAAAAAA3g/f8M6ZOzcik0/s320/_A111543.jpg" /></a>This is the hole her head was stuck in, after a fence board was removed and some of the concrete was chipped away, it's about 4 inches across.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4y87GaI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/5euXBbKAm7c/s1600/_A101541.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527015031138097570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4y87GaI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/5euXBbKAm7c/s320/_A101541.jpg" /></a>This is the rusty old coffee can that someone was using as a drainage pipe, the reason she couldn't get her head back out of the hole.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4vE-69I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/nC3auy6xbVY/s1600/_A101538.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527015030098160594" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4vE-69I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/nC3auy6xbVY/s320/_A101538.jpg" /></a>Here you can see where the can was wedged around her neck, a fireman cut it off with tin snips.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4e3KBrI/AAAAAAAAA3I/WYeoUSzegLw/s1600/_A101539.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527015025745200818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TLPm4e3KBrI/AAAAAAAAA3I/WYeoUSzegLw/s320/_A101539.jpg" /></a>She was filthy from all the goop they put on her to try to help her get free, after two baths the back of her head is still greasy.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-25735712159276768572010-10-03T22:49:00.000-07:002010-10-03T23:44:27.195-07:00Goals and Aspirations<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TKlruj6aqJI/AAAAAAAAA3A/IFtcuUuXWnc/s1600/whisper.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TKlruj6aqJI/AAAAAAAAA3A/IFtcuUuXWnc/s320/whisper.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524064865605036178" /></a>Whisper at twilight, a new friend from the new barn.<br /><br />Rising Rainbow mentioned my "horse goals" in her last comment. I honestly don't know what those are, which obviously makes it nearly impossible to achieve them. I feel like my equestrian journey has moved in fits and starts, derailed by injury, doubt and my own ignorance. <br /><br />Since my aunt told me that she thought Missy had a back problem I've been doing research and talking to local experts at my disposal. I've come to believe that she doesn't have an issue with her back, but rather that what my aunt was seeing was a combination of an overweight mare who has never been taught to collect, who doesn't engage her hindquarters except at a full gallop and has had far too little asked of her. The property owner and trainer don't ask much of their horses or their students, including me. Many times my lesson has lasted 30 minutes or less, in an effort to "end on a good note" and to ensure that it was a good experience for both horse and rider. While I applaud this attitude in theory, in practice (for me) it has been stagnating.<br /><br />Thanks to my new trainer, for the first time in my life I can now say that I've been "galloping Donna", as I pushed my gorgeous black Thoroughbred lesson horse Potter past the canter at the end of Wednesday's lesson. I didn't need to be told my technique was correct, I could feel my legs had just the right amount of contact and my seat felt secure, but it was incredibly satisfying to hear her say that was the best she's seen me canter, that I don't pitch forward anymore and my hands stayed quiet. <br /><br />I'm rambling a bit...I guess my thinking is that after 4 years I'm just now feeling strong enough and good enough to be able to branch out into other disciplines and really discover what I like and what I don't like. Only after I've tried many more different disciplines and activities will I be able to set some goals, perhaps multiple goals. Giddy up.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-89816297742164199132010-09-20T20:46:00.001-07:002010-09-20T20:49:42.276-07:00Courage<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TJgq4VWajMI/AAAAAAAAA24/lwgNyHyB2MI/s1600/courage.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TJgq4VWajMI/AAAAAAAAA24/lwgNyHyB2MI/s320/courage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519208490634742978" /></a><br /><br />I spent the last three days at Lake Tahoe, and spent a lot of time alone (by design). I have many thoughts and images to share but time is short this evening. I bought this tin sign at a classic car show on the California/Nevada border; I'm not sure where it will be hung up but I just couldn't not buy it.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-61497845620125311332010-09-13T21:21:00.000-07:002010-09-13T22:06:54.989-07:00Cottage Industry<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76Esbdg-I/AAAAAAAAA2o/40cFtrC8v7Q/s1600/_8221355.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76Esbdg-I/AAAAAAAAA2o/40cFtrC8v7Q/s320/_8221355.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621552128197602" /></a>At my cottage I have a tiny private patio and a little strip of garden to call my own. When I moved in there were 6-foot weeds of various descriptions, dead plants with stringy far-reaching roots, rocks and sticks and a sad aura of neglect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76EQthdYI/AAAAAAAAA2g/BIrI3cxptdI/s1600/_8221357.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76EQthdYI/AAAAAAAAA2g/BIrI3cxptdI/s320/_8221357.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621544687760770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76D--FTCI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TZhm_ZDeJj0/s1600/_9061456.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI76D--FTCI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TZhm_ZDeJj0/s320/_9061456.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621539925380130" /></a>Now it looks like this. It's not much but I did it myself and I love it and that's all that matters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI752FwIEcI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/ZFhDns9pPNc/s1600/_9061457.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI752FwIEcI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/ZFhDns9pPNc/s320/_9061457.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621301227721154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI751iQWPcI/AAAAAAAAA2I/BRqJPyyTzfE/s1600/_9061462.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI751iQWPcI/AAAAAAAAA2I/BRqJPyyTzfE/s320/_9061462.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621291699191234" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI751OwS11I/AAAAAAAAA2A/cqPN0vZun78/s1600/_9061458.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI751OwS11I/AAAAAAAAA2A/cqPN0vZun78/s320/_9061458.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621286464477010" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI77zGr6f6I/AAAAAAAAA2w/AOIIo0iYkzY/s1600/_9061459.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI77zGr6f6I/AAAAAAAAA2w/AOIIo0iYkzY/s320/_9061459.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516623448962138018" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI750uVrfGI/AAAAAAAAA14/TCE_Mr3YtV0/s1600/_9061461.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI750uVrfGI/AAAAAAAAA14/TCE_Mr3YtV0/s320/_9061461.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621277762911330" /></a>Hopefully this Princess Flower will bloom before it gets too cold, it's in the middle between the purple fountain grass and the Spanish lavender. Coming outside in the evening and smelling the rosemary and lavender makes me happy, as does the simple task of watering.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI750ZIAVRI/AAAAAAAAA1w/iWiPZFxPHMI/s1600/_9061466.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TI750ZIAVRI/AAAAAAAAA1w/iWiPZFxPHMI/s320/_9061466.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516621272068412690" /></a>I have some additional opinions and thoughts of my own to share on Missy but for now I'll just leave you with the flowers and the promise of more.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-21231330398270195302010-09-07T20:06:00.000-07:002010-09-07T21:28:49.252-07:00Second Opinion<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIcAVO2FrNI/AAAAAAAAA1o/sfciDiBX8mw/s1600/_9051435.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIcAVO2FrNI/AAAAAAAAA1o/sfciDiBX8mw/s320/_9051435.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514376633500675282" /></a>My aunt came to visit me this weekend for the first time. We visited her several years ago when she had a small ranch in Reno, breeding, raising and showing Arabians. I took the opportunity to have her look at Missy and give me her opinions. I was a bit nervous, having a professional horsewoman watch me tack her up, lounge and finally ride her, but of course she is also my aunt and was very kind and chose her words carefully. She watched me walk, sit the trot and post, then asked me to trot her in a tight circle in both directions. After watching for about 10 minutes she had me jump off and ran her hands over her hind legs. "She has a problem in her lower back," she said. "I can't tell where the problem is exactly, but it's the left side, that's why she sometimes doesn't pick up the right lead on that side, why she kicks out on the lounge line and why she gets abcesses in this hoof." She told me she was in pain, sometimes more than others. I was stunned. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIcAUtzGdSI/AAAAAAAAA1g/RYSFa04JQMY/s1600/_9051421.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIcAUtzGdSI/AAAAAAAAA1g/RYSFa04JQMY/s320/_9051421.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514376624629773602" /></a>Then she started watching my trainer, who was riding a young warmblood in the arena next to us. She said that although she was riding the mare fairly well, she wasn't training the horse to do anything, and her hands were way too busy for how well the horse was going. <br /><br />Now I am questioning everything. I really don't want to ride a horse that is in pain, either from an injury or a conformational issue. Is there a way that a vet could actually diagnose a back problem, with x-ray or MRI or some other test? I'm never going to convince these people that Missy should be retired, but if I can get another opinion from an unimpeachable source maybe they will do the right thing. <br /><br />The next morning I sobbed and sobbed as I thought about both losing this mare and keeping her, knowing that I may be causing her pain. I drove myself down to the barn and tearfully spoke to my trainer, telling her I could no longer afford to pay for all of Miss's expenses, and that I wanted to do the best thing for both me and her but I didn't know how to do that. Willow said she would talk to the property owner and see what we could work out, that maybe we could find someone who could do a half-lease, so she could get ridden during the week and I would still have the weekends, and the expenses would be less. OK, that's a great idea, except...the contract says I can't lease, sell or give her away to anyone else. I guess if it's their idea it's OK. I know, I know, that contract isn't worth the ink on the paper, I agree with you. This is just the first step in getting out of this, but based on my extreme emotional distress, I'm just not ready to completely walk away. <br /><br />My aunt also recommended that I take some beginner dressage lessons, just for the technique and the grounding it offers, get my confidence back and get away from the hunter/jumper routine for a while. I checked out a barn on the way home from work today but it was way too far from everything and wasn't that great, it looked way better than it really was on their website (typical). At my group lesson tomorrow I will ask my other trainer if they have dressage lessons there. I can't afford to add another lesson until I figure something out with Missy, but I want to at least have an idea where I'm going when I can do it.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-71272990216794666092010-09-07T19:48:00.001-07:002010-09-07T20:00:30.242-07:00Menlo Horse Show Part III - Equines<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7Wnj4qLI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/YbOyzVUmCFA/s1600/_8141323.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7Wnj4qLI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/YbOyzVUmCFA/s320/_8141323.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514371159756941490" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7WGHyf-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/v64a4W752oM/s1600/_8141338.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7WGHyf-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/v64a4W752oM/s320/_8141338.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514371150780727266" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7VjAnQLI/AAAAAAAAA1I/XPr74wcbCBY/s1600/_8141222.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7VjAnQLI/AAAAAAAAA1I/XPr74wcbCBY/s320/_8141222.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514371141355389106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7VDptf1I/AAAAAAAAA1A/e0LNAxfzdyc/s1600/_8141299.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb7VDptf1I/AAAAAAAAA1A/e0LNAxfzdyc/s320/_8141299.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514371132937830226" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6BdrrUjI/AAAAAAAAA0w/NUACfRaSDHs/s1600/_8141241.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6BdrrUjI/AAAAAAAAA0w/NUACfRaSDHs/s320/_8141241.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514369696816386610" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6ByFqYXI/AAAAAAAAA04/f0e0s9_NijI/s1600/_8141243.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6ByFqYXI/AAAAAAAAA04/f0e0s9_NijI/s320/_8141243.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514369702294086002" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6AzmwyQI/AAAAAAAAA0o/JDYPdnllzgE/s1600/_8141218.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6AzmwyQI/AAAAAAAAA0o/JDYPdnllzgE/s320/_8141218.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514369685521484034" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6ASNMxGI/AAAAAAAAA0g/KdmmOyMZo-s/s1600/_8141213.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TIb6ASNMxGI/AAAAAAAAA0g/KdmmOyMZo-s/s320/_8141213.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514369676555895906" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-87280536461711026792010-08-29T10:42:00.000-07:002010-08-29T10:59:54.208-07:00The QuiltAs I pulled into the parking lot at the vet's office I passed a woman standing alone behind a pickup truck with the gate down. Her hair was wet and disheveled and she had on dark sunglasses that weren't necessary. I knew instantly that she was there to have her dog put down...the grief was radiating off of her. We carefully avoided eye contact as I got Aubrey out of the car and took her inside to get her nails clipped. While Aubrey was in the back the woman came into the waiting area and just stood there, unsure of what to do, whether to sit or stand. She kept her dark glasses on. Suddenly the exam room door opens and a large man with a gaunt face asks her to open the outer door. The man and the doctor struggle to lift and carry the body of what is obviously a very large dog, who is wrapped carefully in a lovely old quilt. My breath caught in my throat and instantly my eyes filled with tears. The woman came back into the office and handed her credit card to the doctor, a silent transaction. I wanted to tell her how sorry I was for her loss but I didn't want to intrude.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THqfi0jWuyI/AAAAAAAAA0U/KrCI-3tcHqA/s1600/carmelbailey.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THqfi0jWuyI/AAAAAAAAA0U/KrCI-3tcHqA/s320/carmelbailey.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510892514612525858" /></a>I wasn't prepared for the juggernaut of sadness those few seconds created, and I can't get the image out of my head. When they brought Aubrey back to me she jumped into my lap and kissed my cheek and I hugged her close to me, my tears dropping onto her head. I miss Bailey so much.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-40805536170469258192010-08-22T10:50:00.001-07:002010-08-22T11:26:30.356-07:00Art Deco<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFn6_GIBRI/AAAAAAAAA0E/WcukPO1G3LM/s1600/horse2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFn6_GIBRI/AAAAAAAAA0E/WcukPO1G3LM/s320/horse2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508298082318026002" /></a>I found these two paintings in an antique shop and just had to have them for my cottage. They are original oils from the 1950s. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFn6RAVY5I/AAAAAAAAAz8/VtGOrcTw_eQ/s1600/horse1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFn6RAVY5I/AAAAAAAAAz8/VtGOrcTw_eQ/s320/horse1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508298069945705362" /></a>Living at the cottage during the week and living at the house in the mountains on the weekends is a bit crazy-making. When I come back to the cottage on Sunday nights for a while it seems so small, so empty, so impersonal. The house is full of memories, pictures and trinkets and familiar things and feels lived-in and comfortable. After a day or so the cottage feels more like home but then it happens again the following weekend. <br /><br />I replaced the screen door with a storm door and put a doggy door in it for Aubrey, so now she can go in and out during the day. My next project is the little patio. I'll take before and after pictures, right now it's really a mess and that's after I cut down the 6-foot weeds.<br /><br />I'm working hard on finding a new job and have a couple of good prospects. Starting a new job is very stressful but I know I will be happier once the initial breaking in period is over. <br /><br />I can feel myself slowly disengaging emotionally from my original barn and from Missy. I need to figure out my job situation before I make a decision on what to do about the horse situation, but I honestly can't imagine leaving things the way they are now. I can't afford to keep two trainers working with Missy while taking lessons at a different barn, and I can't make any progress just riding her on the weekends. The most important thing is to ensure that both Missy and I are happy and well taken care of, and the hard truth is that probably means we won't be together.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-30617004811786881882010-08-22T10:45:00.000-07:002010-08-22T10:49:44.407-07:00Menlo Horse Show Part II - Canines<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFjIsk0DcI/AAAAAAAAAzs/bpSCDllMz7w/s1600/_8141231.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFjIsk0DcI/AAAAAAAAAzs/bpSCDllMz7w/s320/_8141231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292820306496962" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFjIHgTUfI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Hq0Mw5qYfMU/s1600/_8141236.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFjIHgTUfI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Hq0Mw5qYfMU/s320/_8141236.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292810355462642" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFirI2U0iI/AAAAAAAAAzc/LSHUr94Wnws/s1600/_8141228.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFirI2U0iI/AAAAAAAAAzc/LSHUr94Wnws/s320/_8141228.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292312500064802" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFiqSrrU4I/AAAAAAAAAzU/0VWDfcT1Y8w/s1600/_8141221.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFiqSrrU4I/AAAAAAAAAzU/0VWDfcT1Y8w/s320/_8141221.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292297959887746" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFiqFRcZeI/AAAAAAAAAzM/YweX6gAWRPA/s1600/_8141201.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFiqFRcZeI/AAAAAAAAAzM/YweX6gAWRPA/s320/_8141201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292294360196578" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFipiE45EI/AAAAAAAAAzE/uWT63BwFwSE/s1600/_8141200.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/THFipiE45EI/AAAAAAAAAzE/uWT63BwFwSE/s320/_8141200.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508292284912297026" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-32263435745450035702010-08-15T23:24:00.000-07:002010-08-15T23:36:41.311-07:00Menlo Horse Show Part I - Merchandise<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGja6Rl7ODI/AAAAAAAAAy0/YzBpUa6iuHQ/s1600/_8141207.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGja6Rl7ODI/AAAAAAAAAy0/YzBpUa6iuHQ/s320/_8141207.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505891239150172210" /></a> (Click to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGja678fvrI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Bza4Lp2Kcgo/s1600/_8141203.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGja678fvrI/AAAAAAAAAy8/Bza4Lp2Kcgo/s320/_8141203.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505891250519129778" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaOLsdxZI/AAAAAAAAAys/6ljlIHJqN38/s1600/_8141206.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaOLsdxZI/AAAAAAAAAys/6ljlIHJqN38/s320/_8141206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505890481652745618" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaNgsHTwI/AAAAAAAAAyk/fl4Gp3U19w8/s1600/_8141205.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaNgsHTwI/AAAAAAAAAyk/fl4Gp3U19w8/s320/_8141205.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505890470108548866" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaNWwhnpI/AAAAAAAAAyc/TnTxHeqaUe8/s1600/_8141204.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaNWwhnpI/AAAAAAAAAyc/TnTxHeqaUe8/s320/_8141204.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505890467442695826" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaM-4rWnI/AAAAAAAAAyU/jXHW6QMnkjQ/s1600/_8141197.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaM-4rWnI/AAAAAAAAAyU/jXHW6QMnkjQ/s320/_8141197.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505890461034437234" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaMvkqmAI/AAAAAAAAAyM/LOLvziMqc0o/s1600/_8141194.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TGjaMvkqmAI/AAAAAAAAAyM/LOLvziMqc0o/s320/_8141194.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505890456923969538" /></a>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-86503327696880202092010-08-08T12:32:00.000-07:002010-08-08T12:54:57.601-07:00Bookends<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8JJZX4uII/AAAAAAAAAx8/SSUj9W9BRv8/s1600/P1030570.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8JJZX4uII/AAAAAAAAAx8/SSUj9W9BRv8/s320/P1030570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503127326704580738" /></a>I've been holding out on you, trying to get a decent picture of this little guy, but so far this is the best I could do. Meet Independencion, Indy for short, born on the 4th of July. He's a Thoroughbred Andalusion cross and is the friendlist colt I've ever met. This is part of the problem, he won't get far enough away from the camera to get a good perspective. Also, I keep forgetting to bring my good camera to the barn; my point and shoot digital just doesn't satisfy me anymore. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8IwoKxT7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/CgxnS8qG_gM/s1600/indy"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8IwoKxT7I/AAAAAAAAAx0/CgxnS8qG_gM/s320/indy" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503126901179371442" /></a>The picture above was taken last weekend, this one was taken yesterday, he is growing like a weed! You can see how high his butt is here, and how sweet his tiny little feet are. His owners have big plans for him to be the next world champion hunter/jumper, but today he thwarted their every attempt to get a halter on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8GtpFyt8I/AAAAAAAAAxk/PRI8IEdNDWQ/s1600/P1030592.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8GtpFyt8I/AAAAAAAAAxk/PRI8IEdNDWQ/s320/P1030592.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503124650864064450" /></a>This is Aura on his 27th birthday, also taken yesterday. A fullbred Arabian, he was quite the dressage competitor in his day, and now enjoys his retirement immensely. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8KB2c-eGI/AAAAAAAAAyE/KEQe5ygeESw/s1600/P1030593.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TF8KB2c-eGI/AAAAAAAAAyE/KEQe5ygeESw/s320/P1030593.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503128296583231586" /></a>There's a lot of wisdom and kindness in these eyes, don't you think? I love that this barn specializes in both babies and retired horses, it gives me a real way to see the full life cycle of these amazing creatures.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332509688578123011.post-12380610938847532522010-07-31T22:26:00.000-07:002010-07-31T23:27:16.248-07:00The World Spins Madly On<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L4sa2HoXpsE&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L4sa2HoXpsE&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I love The Weepies, and I feel a little bit like I'm hanging on for dear life on this wildly spinning world at the moment. But hanging on, I am.<br /><br />To clarify my training situation, I'm now riding and taking lessons at my original barn (where Missy was born and lives) and at a new barn which is a 5 minute drive from my office. The only way I could ensure that I would be able to ride every week was to take this step, they have a pool of over 60 lesson horses and many different venues in which to ride, including covered arenas for when the weather is bad. It's a group lesson with 4 other women in my age range and skill level and we do different things every week. I needed to do this to maintain both my sanity and any kind of skill level I might have, since I cannot count on being able to ride on the weekends, the only time that I can make it to Missy's barn.<br /><br />I understand no trainer has all the answers, and I have found that I am learning a lot from having another trainer, the problem is, my original trainer has literally known Missy her entire life (she's 11) and started her (twice). If anyone should know how to manage this mare, it's her, but for the life of me I can't figure out why she is so conservative and so cautious, as if Missy, given the chance, would stomp me to death. I know she has both of our welfare in mind but I am bored and Missy just keeps getting abcesses, hurting herself, and having mystery problems that prevent me from being able to ride her for long stretches of time. I love her dearly but owning her is like owning a Ferrari with a couple spark plugs missing.<br /><br />I took a HUGE step this month to improve my situation and changed the one thing that I had complete control over: where I live. I've lived in a very rural area at the top of a mountain in the redwoods for the last 10 years. While it's beautiful and peaceful, it's also a 75-minute, 50-mile commute each way to my office, and half of that is on mountain roads. The isolation was also becoming an issue for me, and I needed to change something in my life in order to drag myself out of the ditch of unhappiness I found myself in. Serendipity played a part in me finding a lovely 1-bedroom cottage nestled behind a gorgeous main house in exactly the place I wanted to be, with manicured landscaping, a private enclosed patio, a dog run for Aubrey, hardwood floors, a huge bedroom and a wood-burning fireplace. At 750 square feet it feels just about right, my only complaint is the kitchen is really tiny, but I don't cook much so I decided I could learn to live with that. <br /><br />I haven't had a 20-minute commute in 15 years and I am loving it. Other than a very short stint right after I left my ex, I've never lived alone and I'm having a lot of fun decorating and setting things up exactly the way that I want them. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TFUP2z7lXVI/AAAAAAAAAxc/mP9tnOasxiI/s1600/aubreyball.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3vm7916bMuc/TFUP2z7lXVI/AAAAAAAAAxc/mP9tnOasxiI/s320/aubreyball.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500319954230402386" /></a>I was very concerned that I would be excruciatingly lonely, but so far that hasn't been the case, probably because I have my little spitfire pup with me. She is so funny and energetic and loving! She also LOVES my new bed, as you can see. I'm not sure what's going to happen with the house in the mountains or how or when my husband and I will live together full-time again, but for now I make the trek up the mountain on Friday nights and head back to my Petit Trianon on Sunday night for the work week.<br /><br />I'm not sure who this Donna is that has done these things this year...gone to Jordan on my own to spend a week with women I'd never met, found a new barn and a new trainer, and now, getting my own place, but I think I like her.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12641783472479894858noreply@blogger.com7