Friday, March 21, 2008

Brings tears to my eyes this is so good!


This video is of Andreas Helgstrand and his 9 year-old mare, Matinee,
at the World Equestrian Games. It is the Musical Freestyle Dressage
competition, and they wiped out the competition. Turn up the sound and
watch this mare dance... she is amazing... and she knows where the beat
is. If you are a horse lover it will truly brings tears to your eyes it
is so amazing. I am in awe.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Oh fork, I'm in a Pickle


Well, as the game goes - I've been tagged. Now the rules are thus:

1. Post these rules at the beginning of the blog entry (ok - I can do this)
2. Answer the questions about yourself (also attainable)
3. Tag 5 People, let them know in a comment on their blogs that they have been tagged.

Okay - here is my dilemna. Margaret tagged me. And either Margaret tagged Kim or Kim tagged Margaret. That elimates 66% of the people I know with blogs. That leaves Mona Helen. However, being the team player that I am. I am going to VICARIOUSLY tag a few people who SHOULD have blogs but just like reading mine. So consider yourself tagged Jenny, Liisa, Nancy and Mom. And true, I am a rule follower so Mona Helen can read about being tagged in her next blog entry.

So...here we go:

What were yo doing 10 years ago?

Okay. Let's start with the basics. It's 2008 now so that puts us at 1998. I think I am off to a strong start here. I was in San Francisco, had been here for about 5 or 6 years. I was moaning and groaning about not meeting the right guy - that much is for sure. Working at MBT Architecture doing alot of the moves at Union Bank of California. All the while pleading with a bull headed manager (that my co-workers all hated as much as I did) to let me do more design work. To no avail by the way.
Also about that time had just finished a triathlon (Margaret - you were there too that 2nd year - hope that fills in part of the memory). 1st year was with Kim and 2nd year was with Margaret. Was still horseback riding in Moss Beach on Kimby.

Snacks I enjoy

1. Mushy gushy cake
2. Thin greasy/salty tortilla chips dipped in either spicy salsa or fresh guac that has a good hit of lime
3. Sushi - partial to the 49'er roll and the spicy (and I mean spicy!) tuna

Five things on my to-do list today

1. Edit to-do list so it is ONLY 5 things
2. Pick up my daughter's riding britches
3. Pick up my mother from the airport
4. Find something to auction to raise money for Kiira's pre-school
5. Make cookies for the easter party

Things I would do if I became a billionaire

1. Invest wisely
2. Set up "take care of you" accounts for everyone I love
3. Establish a refuge for abused/neglected/unwanted animals
4. Read more (presumably I'd have more time without having to worry about making any money)
5. Travel, travel, travel
6. Find out more about Africa and those (many) areas that need help
7. Craft my little heart out
8. Ride more

3 bad habits

1. Eating too many sweets and not excercising enough
2. Playing the "whose had less sleep" game with Alan
3. Procrastinating by organizing

5 places I have lived

1. San Francisco, CA
2. London, England
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Ithaca, NY
5. Does Lansing, NY even count if I've already said Ithaca?

Jobs I have had

1. Interior Designer
2. CAD operator
3. Secretary
4. Dental assistant
5. Bookeeper
6. Waitress
7. Bagel schmearer
8. Horseback riding instructor
9. Milkweed puller-outer (ok so I was 9 yrs old - had to earn money for those ponies!)

Things people don't know about me

1. My first "design" job had me mingling with the Folsom prison inmates
2. Growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian
3. I've done 4 triathlons and 1/2 trained for a marathon (I got a stress fracture and had to quit - got up to 13 miles though)
4. I've fractured my back twice falling off various horses
5. I never got less than an A in my "NYSMA" flute competitions and consequently made All State
6. My one and only fan letter was to Shawn Cassidy

Consider yourself tagged Mona Helen. The rest of you - you can just answer in my comments section! Ready, set, go!

Nanny is here! Nanny is here!


And indeed she is. With her, of course, is the magic suitcase. Once Nanny arrives, there is a gathering around this little carry on suitcase that holds untold adventure, bewitching items and tantalizing treats. One is never disappointed with what comes out. And perhaps the hardest thing is the suspense in what seems an eternity to unzip this little treat of a bag. The zipper of course going ALL the way around, undoubtably catching on something along the way to delay it. This particular suitcase always seem to get searched so of course the surprise is never where she left it. Hence some FURTHER rummaging around until, VOILA! it is found. The squeals, laughter, jumping up and down for joy that follow are only what one expects from a 38 year old. Yeah, yeah - you thought this one was about the kids didn't you. GOTCHA! No really, the kids like it too! HA!

Our own little Willy Wonka


I can't take the credit for the title or the picture - thanks to Jenny for that! She had us over for a wonderful dinner and braved 2 kids, a dog and a husband all in her apartment. Turns out Evan is a big fan of the chocolate covered strawberry. The napkin didn't fair so well though....

Friday, March 14, 2008

Lavrador the Portugese stallion


Well I don't know who is more excited - Kiira or I. We have a real life Breyer horse in the barn where we ride. For those of you who don't know what a Breyer horse it, it is only the very thing that reminds me of my childhood! Little plastic horses that my friends and I (hello out there Ruth and Catherine!) would make little blankets for, make bridles, halters, leg wraps and even lead ropes for. Then we would name them all, make a program and have a pretend show. Surprisingly, everyone seemed to get a blue ribbon at some point or another. Well, not only had my Breyer horses been saved (and some are actually worth a bit!) but we have since added on to form quite a collection for Kiira. Our latest - Lavrador. He is truly amazing. Just look at his color! You NEVER see this color. It's beautiful. If you ever saw the Lippazanor stallions - well, he does some similar "tricks". So anyway, he is who they have modeled the Breyer horse "Lavrador" after. Lavrador being his real name and all. I couldn't resist having Kiira hold her Breyer horse next to the real Lavrador. Geez, I get all excited even thinking about it. It seems a once in a lifetime opportunity here! Ok, ok, I know most of you are rolling your eyes at me here, I can't help it though! I'm still horse crazy!

Good morning!


Just in case anyone wondered, there is no personal space in our house. Every spot is open for the taking. First come, first serve. Sometimes, biggest one, best serve. And then again, sometimes littest one, loudest one, best serve. You just never know. Usually Calvin is on the bed too. Oh yeah, and me.

Takin' some heat

All righty there, I'm glad that my blog gets read! I've been taken some heat lately for not updating it so be sure to read several posts as it is going to come in a flurry....

Back in the game


Well, for awhile here, the happy go lucky, dance when he saw you/especially to his food, main greeter (and main keeper away at the same time) was a bit under the weather. Poor Rennie boy had to have surgery. It seems the 'ole tummy is not what it used to be and he just kept bloating up. The docs recommended surgery (to tack the tummy to his sides to prevent any torsion), and while we took it under consideration the first bloat, by the second bloat, we really took notice. They got him in in record time and he came out like a champ. He had the surgery around 1 pm and around 9 pm was quite vocal about wanting to come home. They had said originally he should stay the night but 'ole Rennie boy had other ideas. They called for a pick up and I went on up. He was still quite uncomfortable so I pulled an all nighter with the pup on the floor trying to get him to lay still and rest. Felt like college again but without a hangover the next day. I'm happy to say it's been about 3 weeks now and barring a bit of a scar, he is back to normal. He's even eaten a whole loaf of bread with no bloat. That's our Rennie boy!