Cloud 9

Last Thursday I went to the local swim team’s first meet.  Oooh thememories.  I swam competitively for ten years, six on the Otters.  I miss it, I really do.  But theres not much I can do about that now.  I’m too old.  Sigh.  C’est la vie.  It was great to go back and watch the first few events though.  Watching the kids (ages 5 – 17) get out there and give it their best.  Writing in Sharpie all over themselves.  I miss that.  Five events was the max (I think?) that you could do.  Event numbers from 1 – 80 or something.  Girls were odd numbers guys were even.  So to remember we always would take a Sharpie and write the #s big on our forearms.  9, 19, 39, 59, 69 etc.  I don’t remember what my events were, but there were always five of them.  I was an over-acheiver like that.  “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.”  I needed to staybusy and get in the water.  I also miss writing in Sharpie all over my back.  Drawing otters, emblazoning the message “eat my bubbles” for all to see.  Sillyness.  And,oh, how I miss it.  And I’m so glad to see that all of the sillyness continues.

My first week of work ended smoothly.  Nothing much to report there.  My fingerprints passed – oh  boy!  Still waiting on the background check…  I haven’t had a speeding ticket (yet – knock on wood) so I don’t anticipate it being an issue.

Saturday I headed to Canaan Valley bright and early for the first Nat’l Ski Patrol meeting for candidates – and I was the only one to show up.  Glorious.  All we did was set dates for the class to begin and I wrote the check for the course.  I’m super excited.  It’s a dream for me – and an item on my 30 before 30.  We start the last weekend in July and have classes every other weekend from then on out.  December 1^st is our test out for the medical stuff and then on-the-hill training will begin.  The resort has just been taken back over by the state which means more $$ and getting things done – hopefully.  The goals are to move the tube park, put in a few new slopes, open old slopes back up, and increase snow making.  All awesome, and all going to contribute to it no longer being the quietest resort around  (Timberline and Snowshoe tend to get the traffic).  I enjoyed Canaan growing up because of its lack of lines and crowds.  But this will be great for the resort, even if I have to deal with lift-lines.  Wait – HA – no I won’t.  Patrollers get to skip.  Booya.

After a visit to the valley to get stuff in line for later in the summer/fall I headed to the 4-H horse club’s meeting to help judge the girl’s presentations.  They were very impressive and Iwas excited to see the direction they’re going with things.  Great little horse-women in the making!  While there I was gifted with and also borrowed numerous books on natural horse care and other equine pursuits.  Super excited for this new reading list!  Already delved into some of it.  I’m so excited I really don’t know where to start so I’m kind of bee-boppin’ around between them all.

From My Hands to Yours I've already read, actually.

I’ve also recently been addicted to watching Heartland since it has become available on instant-play on Netflix.  GLORIOUS!  I read most the books as a kid and loved them.  It was filmed and aired in Canada and I hadn’t been able to watch – now I’m nearly through all the episodes.  So horse-crazy as of late.  Its bad.  But I’m loving it.

New addition to my life: running.  If I didn't have Kenai, I wouldn't do it.  But I do have him, and so I'm running.  Just a mile every night, not to lose lbs or burn calories so much as to get him out and just get some light conditioning for myself.  I'm enjoying myself so far.

Orion is – wait for it – SOUND again.  Hoorah!  I was beginning to forget what riding a trained horse was like!  Pegasus is doing phenomenally, but its kind of annoying having to constantly urge him and reassure him that its all okay.  That and I haven’t been above a walk in two weeks!  So thrilling to break into a brief gallop on Orion yesterday.  We’re getting a lesson this weekend in centered riding.  I’m not familiar with it.  I haven’t had a lesson in 12 or so years though, so it’s bound to be good for me – and Orion!  And beginning this weekend Orion will be staying at my friend’s place north of where he is now for a few weeks.  A rail trail is there to afford me with lots of milage.  I am PSYCHED.  Bring on the trotting.  As long as he remains sound, we’re going to catch right back up to where he was and begin to accelerate our endurance training.  Have I mentioned how excited I am?!

Mr Pegasus and his momma, Gracie.

His feet are slowly changing for the better.  I’m trying to be a better caretaker.  We’re getting there.  Suzanne was thrilled tonight with his progress.  And I was thrilled to hear that - not to mention we'd just had a phenomenal ride!  Only forty-five minutes long, but goodness!  That time off must have done him good.  He was energetic, forward moving, so ready to run.  He was anticipating places to gallop.  So awesome.  Today was the first day I finally felt connected to him the way I used to feel towards Stan.  I'm on Cloud 9.  The weather was perfect - low 70s - partly sunny, and just plain gorgeous.  Aaaaah happy!!