Power to the Pow-Pow!!!

   I've already packed my lucky Snow Patrol T-shirt, to ensure we get dumped on. And the forecast is looking good so far… Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed!!!

   Update: 10" of fresh pow waiting for us at Park on Thursday, and it snowed all day long. Friday promises to be epic.

Longboarding Longshot

   Longboarding was a huge success--much easier than I anticipated. #howisthatpossible #didntbreakanything

   I swear, learning something new, especially something that previously scared you, is the greatest feeling in the world. My parents bought me a skateboard for my birthday when I was a kid. I wanted one because a friend who I looked up to had one. Did I ever learn the ride? No. Was I scared? Yes. I don't remember having the right protective gear to help quell the fear, nor the proper instruction. Amazing how those two critical pieces can help make these seemingly-impossible, possible. It was so nice of my parents to buy the board for me, I just didn't have the confidence to figure it out by myself. I was too afraid of falling and hurting myself. Every time I got on the board, it shot out from under my feet, like I was on ice. I didn't know how to change that.

   Today the four of us just spent an hour and a half and the school parking lot riding around. (No falling--though I was prepared with wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, and my Terminator shorts.) What fun! And what good exercise for my legs which were still a little jelly-like since snowboarding yesterday.

   I hope this will become the sport I can practice in the off-season to keep my snowboarding skills up. Thanks for teaching me, Brett! Yay!!!!!!   :)

Hitting the Road

   This week has felt like I'm working two shifts: I get up at 6 am, feed the animals and let the dogs out, get ready for work, say goodbye to everyone, arrive by 8:15, work until 5:15, then head home. As soon as I'm home, I let the dogs out, feed them, then  gather Gyp in her crate and we all pile into the car to go to the vet. Gypsy gets her fluids while the dogs wait patiently in the car, and then we go home so I can make dinner. By the time I've eaten, have fed Gyp again, and sit on the couch to wind down with a glass of wine, it's 9 or 9:30. Then I crash on the couch, get up at 6, and do it all over. Each day has felt like a marathon. I am, however, more than happy to sacrifice a little of my time and energy to do what's right for my kitty, to make her more comfortable, and hopefully to add a few more great days to her life.

   Seeing Gypsy declining has been really tough...almost more than I can take. Sometimes the emotion catches me by surprise & I burst into tears. I was sitting outside on the deck with the dogs when it happened, and good ol' Taylor muscled his way under my arm, leaned in, and gave me a big kiss. He is such a sweetie and always knows just what to do to make me feel better!!!

   This week I took a few photos en route to the vet, as the dogs excitedly stood on the console between the driver & passenger seats. They don't even care where we're going, they just enjoy the ride!

"I smell squirrels. Go that way!"

"Can we pull through Taco Bell on the way home?"

POWDER DAY!!!

   The sign on the bus says it all!!! Last day at Breck looks to be a great one!

Hold Your Horses

   Tonight I met Jamie, Mike, Ash, Olivia, Austin, Anand, Mike, and a few others at Lone Wolf Ranch Arena in Cleveland, MO (next door to The Berry Patch) for an evening trail ride followed by a happy hour with 14 Hands wine and appetizers.

   The horses were all seasoned at trail riding, and my assigned horse, Tasha, ignored my commands, requests and gentle kicks when I attempted to get her to gallop. Bummer!

   Today was 65 and very windy, but it had started to cool by the time we began our ride. By the end of it, it had dropped over 20 degrees and was downright cold! Nontheless, we had a fun ride for an hour and a half, and it was fun hanging out in the barn and chatting afterwards...

 This was pretty much my view the whole ride:

 Jamie, Ash, Jolene and Lidia:

 Gorgeous sunset:

 Lidia & baby Rowdy:

 Tasha & me: