What Your Pets Wont Tell You

And Life Goes On and On and On………

Jan 19

Faithful Servantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized No Comments

Well, as I expected I never heard from the client of the Saddlebred mare again. It was really too bad.  She was a nice woman and a good pet sitting client of mine. I would like to think things ended well, but who knows what people are thinking. I suppose I could pickup a phone and say, “Hi” but that’s just not my style. At this point the holidays were coming and I knew I would be busy with the pet sitting stuff, so I left well enough alone. To be honest, I don’t think I want to know what happened to that mare.

Now, I don’t think I’ve mentioned at all that I am putting on my first horse show in February, and let me tell you, it has been more than interesting. It started out as a Pinto-only show.  I was a bit pushed into it by several people, dare I say, maybe even tricked into it, or maybe it’s just that I look at it as a challenge that I have to conquer. Well anyhow, by about November I was knee deep into this thing.  Venue booked, judges contracted, awards ordered, ring staff partially hired, secretary hired, class schedule in the works, etc., etc, etc……….. and I realized if I didn’t get help I was going to be in big trouble. There was no way I was going to be able to do all of this planning myself. It’s like putting on a wedding for 300 people by yourself. Impossible! On the flip side I also realized that there just aren’t any Pintos in Arizona anymore, so I better add some Paint classes to draw exhibitors. For those of you reading that are not “horsey” people, Pintos and Paints are horse breeds, like a Poodle or Labrador for a dog. That being said, I approached the local Paint club to see if they would be interested in coming aboard. At this time I also thought I needed them to put this on. Turns out I didn’t.

This is a Paint and/or Pinto horse

If  you have been paying attention in any of my blogs you have probably noticed that I’m a bit sarcastic, and today is no exception. Here is the thing, you know the saying “Too many cooks spoil the pot”?, well, I’m now hear to tell you I know what that really means. It’s not that the end result turns out to suck, but more so that the whole processes is a pain in the F@*&^ A&^$. Now don’t get me wrong, for the most part they have been exceptionally helpful with connections, supplies, and man power but what was once your baby and vision keeps getting revised to suit everyone else’s ideas and pocket book.  Everything you do is picked apart when all you want is for everyone to go, “OK no problem”. It sucks because it leaves you wondering what could have or would have been if it was 100% your vision. If only I was independently wealthy.

Well, at this point I am only 3 1/2 weeks away from the event and I’m pretty excited, but also nervous. Once again, it’s like throwing a wedding for 300 people and wondering how many guests will show up, or worse, if you will get left at the alter. At least with a wedding your offering free drinks and food, so there is a pretty good chance the guests will show. The groom however is another story. About all you can do is keep a very close eye on him and cross your fingers for a good outcome. That’s about what I’m doing here.

You too can become a “Dog Walker”

Nov 07

Faithful Servantanimals, dogs, pet sitter, Pets No Comments

Jen & Andy 1999

So, I have had a lot of people ask me lately how I got into the pet sitting Biz. Well, it all started back in 1998 when I was working for a vet hospital in Scottsdale. At the time I was living in Mesa and drove up to Scottsdale every day. At 23 years old the drive didn’t seem to faze me at all. I was just glad to have the work. You see at that time I was planning to go to vet school. I had dreams of going to UC Davis and becoming an equine vet. Somehow I wound up a pet sitter and to some a mere Dog Walker. I hate that term Dog Walker. It sounds so subordinate. Can’t we have a great PC term like pet care technician? Maybe then we would garner a small amount of respect. It’s funny to me because you see most people think I am a poor and a meager pet sitter, walking dogs for a living down the Phoenix streets because I am too stupid to do anything else. I have had clients feel the need to show me how to open the mail box and one that had to show me how to throw out a bag of poop in the dumpster. I had to ask “is there a trick to this or something?” Funny thing is this client still uses our service 12 years later.  I’ve also had several clients over the years act as if I should be honored that I can stay in their large and luxurious homes. One even willed me their home so that I could move in and live with their cat if they passed away. Now I don’t mean to seem ungrateful. I mean that’s a lot of trust, and it was a cute condo, but it is a bit presumptuous to think I’d be so willing to move out of my home in the event of their death. You see, I live in a 3000 sq ft home on 1.5 acre in Rio Verde with a pool and 6 stall barn in the backyard. All of which I acquired with my great deal of stupidity, so I ask you where would you rather live?

Back on subject, the start of my pet sitting or dog walking career (depending on which term you prefer) began with two separate occurrences, and I can’t remember which came first the chicken or the egg. One occurrence was with a lady by the name of Kate, who bred Oriental Short Hair cats that came into the vet clinic where I worked. She had dropped off one of her cats for surgery and need someone to take it home to her house because she wasn’t able to make it to the clinic before we closed. Being the enthusiastic money earner I am, I volunteered. Well, not volunteered I did make $20.00. The second occurrence was one faithful trip to the mail boxes. Doesn’t that just sound cliché? A guy by the name of Mike had posted a sign at the apartment mailboxes were I lived requesting someone to come and care for his dog every Monday thru Friday while he was out of town for business, so I pulled the little tab and I called the number and set up a time to meet with Mike to discuss the job. When Andy and I arrived at the house we were greeted by a man about 6’1” wearing Hawaiian boxers, and a cute little Schnauzer mix, “Buster”. It was quite a sight let me tell you and unfortunately wasn’t the last time I would have to see Mike in boxers. After some very short negotiations we found ourselves agreeing to come be Busters pet sitter for $5.00 a visit. Yes, you heard correctly $5.00 a visit. Learning to stand firm on prices came much later in my career. The following Monday my first dog walking job started and The Animal’s Kingdom Pet Sitting Service was born.

Damn that Hurt!

Nov 05

Faithful Servantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized No Comments

Ok, to continue on I have this Saddlebred filly in my barn who is what I call the “sacrifice your body” horse. About three weeks before Deuce’s first Paint show this filly manages to be the first horse to dump me in I can’t remember how long. Now, I must interject that this filly is typically very calm and low key, that’s what makes this even worse, but every once and awhile she looses a grip on reality. Just as I throw my leg over her she blows up and starts bucking like we are in the PBR finals. About 5 seconds into this, about the time she tries to scale the rail, that I’m not going to stop her and that my ass is inevitably going to meet the dirt. At that point she lets out one last grand leap and sends my flying. Don’t hit you head is all that goes threw my brain as I hurdle earth bound. Wham!!!!

As I pull myself to my hands and knees I realize my pelvic/hip area is pretty messed up. I can down right on my right butt cheek. Hey, but my head is OK! About now I catch my breath and look up to see that damn horse standing across the arena looking at my like she wants a new home. I will be obliged. Now, here’s a piece of info for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of taking a soil sample more than once or twice, and I just realized this myself, but after enough falls you don’t panic when you can’t breath when you hit the ground. It was as if I knew it was part of the deal and just waited to breath. Crazy Huh! The pain in my ass was so bad I couldn’t walk back to the chair for quite awhile. I just laid their in the arena with that damn Saddlebred staring at my. She just stood there for the longest time and never moved. Poetic. In some time I made it to my phone and called my husband to come rescue me from myself.

Now, approximately a week after this incident I am able to walk pretty well on my own without a prominent limp. I have to say the accident set me back a bit. I have been a little apprehensive to ride. Especially, on Deuce even though he has never give me a reason to doubt him. My first ride back was on my kid horse “Robin” trust her more than anything. I never would think that you could shake me at this point in my career, but I guess we are all human. Luckily it didn’t last too long. It took about the month for the anxiety to subside. The suck thing is that I was still a little kitschy at the APHA show and it didn’t really allow me to do my best. No excuses! We still did well. More on that latter.

So now, I have to ask myself what do I do with this horse and how do I tell her owner. Not only is she not the finest specimen and not a wonderful mover but she is in my book dangerous. I decide after much toil and some advise from older colleges to tell her owner to send her down the road. This is going to mean a big money loss for me each month on training and board. I know this client despite what is said isn’t going to replace her with something else for me to train so I’m slitting my own throat financially. After a long one on one talk with the owner the consensus is to sell her. I tell her I think she is not that talented and is inherently and/or potentially dangerous. Morally, what do you do with a horse like her. You don’t want anyone else hurt, but most people don’t have a horse as well trained as her either. In fact, most people probably would think I was being a wimp. Your a trainer suck it up and train her. To watch her you’d put a kid on her. Yet, my gut says she’s a time bomb. As predicted in my previous post no sale on the last minute lookey losers, so  the owner decides to give her away to a friend. A young lady, probably in her early 30′s. She appears to be a pretty experienced and capable rider. about as good a prospective new owner as you could hope for in this situation. Personally, I’d like to see her be a broad mare, but I can tell the owner doesn’t exactly believe my assessment of her horses ability to hurt someone. I think the only reason she agreed to get rid of her was because she wasn’t Futurity quality.

After, a ride and the realization the mare is free. The friend decides to take her home. Well, all I can say is she is no longer my problem. The moral of this story is beware no good horse is Free or Cheap! Now time to concentrate on Deuce……….

A Crazy Life is Living

Sep 14

Faithful Servantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized 1 Comment

9:44pm

Well, I’m sorry I haven’t blogged in a long while, but I made it to Simi Valley, Ca to judge this weekend and I revisited Red’s and thought it was worth a mention You remember the pulled pork sandwich with mashed potatoes, corn, biscuits, salad with blue cheese dressing, and the mug of ice tea. Holy Yum! I even got to share it with my hubby this time. I must admit though that it wasn’t as impressive the second time around or maybe it was just the complete exhaustion of my post crazed week.

So much has happened since we last talked. I finally sold my Black and White mare “Lola” and I must say it turned out to be one of the best things I ever did.  I’ve learned that like in any relationship just because you love something doesn’t mean you are meant to be together. In fact, may times you are better off apart. She now has a home where she is spoiled and let to be a backyard riding horse, and I’m sure she is happy. That horse hated to show and/or work. The lady who bought her is super sweet and loves her to death. In fact, she sends me updates on how she is doing regularly. I know I’m happier not dealing with her B.S. I took the money I got for her and to my husbands dismay, plus a couple thousand bought a new horse.

He’s a 2 year old HUS prospect just started under saddle and if you knew the toil I went through choosing this horse. Ugh!. I must have watched hours upon hours of videos of horses for sale. It was to the point where I didn’t trust my own judgement anymore. This one doesn’t lope well, this one is a pretty trotter, this ones too young, this ones too much money. Isn’t this a Nursery Rhyme? Finally and of course, I choose the most expensive one and he was just right!

Now, “no pressure” I have six weeks to get this horse to a point where he won’t ruin what little reputation I have acquired but help make it, and don’t think for one moment that fate is going to make this anything but difficult. For starters six weeks of straight triple digit weather and 35% plus humidity proceed my go date of the APHA Flagstaff show. What the *&^#&^&#@^! I will prefiss this by saying I certainly am not a morning person, but I pried my butt out of bed every morning at 5′o clockish to ride this horse. Morning rides and lessons and then long days at the office or pet sitting. After 17 hour days one after the other I think I’m going to die.   A month and a half of dedication to sweating like a stuck pig even before the sun comes up the 1st show finally rolls around. Deuce as we now call his is coming along pretty well, so I am cautiously optimistic he will make a good showing. Of course, the day before the show I need to show a horse for sale. Now I get the added benefit of getting this horse prepped and shown to these people in two hours. Can we pile anymore on? How is it no one calls on this horse for three weeks and then the day before Deuce’s first show they have to come today. You know they’ll never buy this horse!

I have some additional information and a break off story to tell first so this is a to be continued issue…………..

Ok Ok, I’m back already!

Jul 09

Faithful Servantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Well, what a whirl wind the last few weeks have been! I’m sorry I disappeared, but I do appreciate the nice comments and people prodding me to continue the blog. Now, where do I even start? I guess the main things are that business has picked up, we moved to a new office (Thank God!) and I sold Lola to a loving home. I told you it has been hectic!

Our move was really a blessing in disguise. You see, for once in my life the fact that I alienated someone actually worked in my favor, so let me explain. Our old office was at Alaris in City North (PS. Don’t ever get an office there. You will regret it) and the front desk girl they had was a joke at best. She was never at the front desk, never answered the phone, greeted clients off the elevator with “Can I help you with something?” that is if she greeted you at all, and pretty much left early or called in sick on a weekly basis. Now the property manger, who lives in California, thought she was the cat’s meow. Needless to say, she and I didn’t get along because I expect a lot more out of people that work for me and she knew it. Did I mention the bathrooms were nasty on a regular basis? I never knew women could be so gross! Getting back to the subject, to my chagrin I agreed to resign a lease for another year because I didn’t want to go through the effort of moving. Now two days later we get an email saying they are not renewing our lease. Well, thoroughly aggravated, the phone calls ensued and three people and five phone calls later I get, “You make an uncomfortable working environment for our front desk girl”. What? Are you kidding me? Wait, I need to laugh my ass off! Andy, of course was less than pleased with me, but what can I say? I’m a perfectionist and I expect everyone to give 110%.

OK, the hunt begins and in two days we find the coolest and most professional place I’ve ever seen. Glass water wall in the lobby and board room, four board rooms, 210 sq. ft. office, deli onsite, receptionist at the front desk at all times, tvs in the lobby, onsite gym, management onsite, and we actually have a mailbox of our very own for only $100 a month more. Oh ya, and did I mention the rock climbing wall and basketball court? I am here to say it is true one can actually be much more productive if surrounded by a comfortable working environment. If I learned anything from this it’s never settle for mediocrity; it is always worth the effort to better your life.

On the more productive note, business is picking up and our website has been revamped a bit so that is some good news too! My husband thinks the only thing that makes me happy is productivity, but it is really just making my bills and food for my family. What I really want is a week in HAWAII to lay on the beach and do absolutely nothing. Things do seem to be on an upswing, but it’s kind of a bit scary because good stuff doesn’t really happen to me.  Luck doesn’t smile my way too often. However, I have been working my butt off  trying to get the company mainstream and high profile on the web, so maybe it’s not really luck after all. We also have a pretty motivated staff now and a great team camaraderie between everyone, so it has been so easy to work with the sitters. They all really have rolled with all the changes and made my job a lot easier. They’re even doing some advertising which is unprecedented in this company.

On the Horsey front, I was accepted to test for my APHA judges card. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous about it, but I think a certain amount of trepidation is a good thing. It means you give a &^#@ and you’ll work harder to do well at it. It is, I believe, a prestigious card and a real affirmation I am good at what I do, but why is it that we always seek approval from others to believe in our own abilities. My personal goal in life is to find that balance between being confident in myself without the approval of others, but still caring what others think of me and my skills. I’m not sure this is cosmically ascertainable but what the hell, I love a challenge!

Lola, apparently didn’t miss a beat at her new home and by the sound of her new Mom’s email she is doing well. I refuse to believe she doesn’t miss me, but past experience with horses has proven to me they could really care less. As long as they are chewing and being pet they are happy animals. Mostly, as long as they are chewing! Depressing, I know. Alas, it is true I’m sure of it. I am no more a member of her herd that was most likely been removed by the local predator. I do appreciate the six years she gave me admiring the beauty of her black and white coat and baby doll face and I hope that I have repaid her many loyal rides by giving her a home where she can be a pet. She definitely does not want to be a show horse, so she has won our six year battle of wills and I have conceded with giving her a non-show home. My Mother’s gonna freak when she hears I’m planning on replacing her with a new prospect. I can already hear the sigh. That’s OK, only a horse person would understand.

Oh’ dinners ready! Steak and corn on the cob! I love that Andy cooks. I hate to cook, but love to eat. Gotta Go!

Toto, were not in Arizona anymore.

May 25

faithfulservantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized 16 Comments

Day 11-18  6:49pm, from the office

Monday morning I woke up on my air mattress and  thought I had been transported to New Hampshire. Holy !@?!&@ it is freezing in here! I was so cold I refused to get off my floatation devise and go pee. It is official I am definitely a desert rat. It was only 7:30am and even though I didn’t have to get up I was awake. All right fine, I’ll get up. Ever so unwillingly I squeezed out from under the covers and staggered to the bathroom. Once cleaned up and presentable I said my goodbyes and headed for home.
The drive home was fairly uneventful except for my stop at Starbucks (in Beaumont) and the thing that happened in Palm Springs. Andy doesn’t know about it yet so shoosh! Oh get your minds out of the gutter. I got a ticket. Damn cops! Don’t they have a real job to do? Maybe I should be on Americas Most Wanted for doing 84mph in a 70mph. Ooohh! What a rebel I am! It friggin figures so between gas, food, hotel and now the ticket I pretty much drove to California and back and judge the show for free. Ugh! No wonder I’m broke!

I arrived home from Cali just in time to give two riding lessons and then Pretty much passed out. I am seriously getting to old for this crazy life The next time the person at the grocery store whines about how they’ve worked six days in a row I may jump over the counter and commit murder.

Remember earlier I was telling you about the foreshadowing? Well, here we are. Now Tuesday morning started out fine and at about 10am the worst stomach ache in history set in. It pretty much put me down for the whole day. I’ve always had a sensitive stomach and it isn’t unheard of for it to set me back a few hours but this was a bit extensive. I will save you the details but they weren’t pretty. Wednesday I was functional again but my stomach was on high alert. You know the feeling that one wrong kibble and you will be whirling down the hallway faster that you can say, “Oh S%#@*!”. I minded the warnings and stuck to bland food but Thursday morning about 9am right in the middle of my house of seven dogs my tummy struck again. It was all I could do between bathroom breaks and cramps to finish the visit. You see I can’t leave the dogs outside unattended as we have all kinds of wildlife out here that will turn a small dog like Mercedes here  into a meal on wheels, so when the cramps hit I had to flush them all inside and into there kennels and make a run for it. Ugh! Turns out my additional symptoms got pretty ugly, so off to the Dr. I went on Thursday afternoon. I must say I really felt like a hypochondriac at this point and even made excuses to the Dr for my reason for being there. Boy was I surprised when he actually looked concerned and sent me to a gastric specialist. Really? So, Friday I moseyed over to see the specialists PA, were she tells me it’s probably just irritable bowl, but that my symptoms have bought me a ticket to a colonoscopy. Ya, I don’t think so. The idea of someone looking around in my be-hind with a camera seems wrong in so many ways. That is definitely a no fly zone. I think I’m feeling better already! Isn’t my life enough of a reason?

The early part of the week I heard about the EHV-1 issue. Now you have to realize that I live in cutter row, Rio Verde AZ. We are surrounded by people like Al Dunning and Mike Woods. Nothing like being right at ground zero. So, I decided to attended a meeting at a local vet hospital about EHV-1 on Wednesday night. It was the craziest thing. We, as in all 200 or so attendees, were crammed into two tents as the rain pored down and the speakers kept screeching. About 10 minutes into the meeting the speaker, ie the vet, realized you have to stand behind the speakers not in front of them. Standing in front causes interference and the screeching. The only thing that made it tolerable was the two three tier trays of cookies and pastries in the front lobby . Damn the tummy issues! You only live once and the bathrooms were close. We received some valuable info and were sent along our way. Basically, no one in or out and wash your hands. Oh ya, and cross your fingers.

The rest of my week was fairly par for the course. A few riding lessons with my horsy students, but most of it was spent at the house of seven dogs cleaning kennels and feeding. How can you deny that face? All he wants to do is sunbathe.As the new week starts we are gearing up for the holiday weekend. It won’t be hotdogs and beer for us here at The Animal’s Kingdom, but Weiner dogs and peepee. However, we have to smile because summer is right around the corner and Memorial Day kicks off our season of not being broke. Here’s to a busy and profitable summer full of lots of sitting for the little critters of the Phoenix metro area. Come one come all to The Animal’s Kingdom!

Why is driving and eating so tiring?

May 21

faithfulservantanimals, cats, dogs, horse shows, Horse training, horses, pet sitter, Pets, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Day 10     9:57 pm
Sorry faithful blog readers for my five day abcence, but you know what they say “abcence makes the heart grow fonder”. We have lots to catch up on so I’ll give you the weekend to start and we’ll move on from there. Oh ya, one thing that I did learn this week is that I am now old enough and tired enough to fall asleep at Ihop! That story coming soon.
Today (Saturday, that is) started with a kiss from my husband. That’s always nice, except that is was at 6:25am. Up early and off and runing. A need for speed today as I want to be on the road by 11am or at least that is the plan. My animals feed and medicated I head to Dawson and Skippy’s house. Breakfast and fresh water for both the kids. Ich! Litter box is chalked full and looks like it hasn’t been scooped in a week. Poor kitty, no one likes a dirty toilet. Isn’t he cute?

Still time to get gas and a few nibblets from the grocery store before I need to be home for Riley’s lesson. Home just in time to get a upset tummy from my AJ’s breakfast burrito. This is a forshadowing as you’ll find out later. A quick load of laundry in and out to teach Riley her riding lesson. Do you remember her? The cute little 3 year old with blond curls and all. Today she was brave enough to lead Robin out of her stall and steer with the reins. That meant letting go of the horn with one hand. What a cute little tyke.
A quick shower cause Lord knows I can’t stand smelling myself for Seven and a half hour drive. Toss my luggage in the car and off I go to Simi Valley. A quick meeting on the side of the road with Mom to get my wonderfully hemmed pants and I’m officially in route.

About four hours into my drive and I come up over the hill to Palm Springs. Home again!

It is a cool site to see when you come over the creast and there it is, the whole valley laid out in front of you at the base of this huge mountain. As I’m driving through I get a definate home sick feeling. It is so wierd that no family lives here anymore, and there is just no reason to come visit. I guess it is true that you can never really go home again. Time keeps ticking and you can’t stop things for changing. It’s a depressing reality. Through the infamous windmills and

next stop Beaumont. This town is lost in the 70′s it’s kind of creepy. I guess it is only fitting that it is know for the monster dinasours that were in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. I also had to stop at Hadley’s, of course they have the best dates in the world. A package of dates rolled in almonds for me, and maybe Andy if I don’t eat them all, and one filled with walnuts for Mom. YUM!

I look so happy in the picture because I know eating my dates is next Surprisingly, the rest of the drive goes by pretty quick and I finally arrive in Simi Valley. The hotel is cute and the room has a whole kitchen. Too cool and too bad I’m only going to be there for 11 hours. I settle in and decide to try  the BBQ restaurant recommended by the lady at the front desk. Bar-B-Q who can pass that up? Certainly not me!

OMG! this is like a resturant after my heart! If you are ever in Simi Valley I highly recommend trying Red’s. They had me at Mason Jar of iced tea, then came out the salad with carrots, crutons, cucumber , grated parmesean cheese and blue cheese dressing. Oh ya, and lets not forget the two, not one but two, rolls brushed ever so lovingly with garlic butter. Then the Pièce de résistance. No words can describe the yumminess of this sandwich. Pulled pork that is just so tender and flavorful that it melts in your mouth. Only a picture can do it justice and not shown in the picture is the glob of mash potates behind the sandwhich.

Fully bloated and feeling like a pig myself. You are what you eat. I waddle back to my hotel room roll into bed and off to sleep I go. Now you know why I didn’t blog that night.

Sunday moring I wake bright eyed and bushy tailed and looking very forward to getting in the ring again. I take a quick shower and put on my suit and belt buckel. A tidy new scarf around my neck, earings and my cowboy hat and off I go to the show. Now, I know the judge always has a air of confidence but I will tell you that in my experience it is always a bit wierd when you first show up a the show grounds and meet everyone for the first time. It is just like that first day at a new job. The show starts about 30 minutes late but the management seems very organized and calm. We start with Halter and move on to Western. Looks like a great group of riders and horses. I have everything from Minis to Utility horses to Dressage horses to judge. I will say I was impressed by the quailty of exhibitors at an open show. We broke for lunch at about 1:30 about two classes before Western wrapped, and for the record I recommended finishing Western first That wasn’t me I was highly recommended to try the smoked sausage. Now you have to understand that hot dogs and hamburgers are all that are ever served at a horse show, so what the hell smoked sausage it is! (and a little kraut) About halfway through the English classes a little girl fell off her horse when another horse in the class kicked at its face. She was a tough nut and climbed right back on and I don’t think she could have been more than 10 years old. What a champ! My heart went out to her. She really gave it her all, but her horse was giving her grief and she just couldn’t win a ribbon. Then she gets dumped. She just kept coming back class after class. I really wanted to be able to use her but she just wasn’t strong enough. I will think of this little girl I’m sure as my life goes on and remember her tancity and unwielding will. If she doesn’t give up neither can I. An example set by a 10 year old. Now that is remarkable. The show wraps up at about 6pm and I got a kudos from the management. I guess the exhibitors really liked me and thought I was fair. It was so awsome to hear. After spending three years working toward becoming a well educated judge it is a relief to know it is paying off.

After the show I head off to meet Dr. Walter de la Brosse for dinner at Viva. He was my trainer for a time when I was a teenager and is now a mentor for me as a judge. He has definatley been a large reason I have gotten as far as I have in the judging circle. Shrimp Enchiladas, some fried ice cream, and some good company is all you can ask for after 9 hours in the ring. Well. maybe a drink. Oh ya, I don’t drink.

After dinner I head off to my brothers house in Brea about 40 minutes away and I’m getting pretty wiped out at this point. I decide to stop for a quick potty break when I finally get to an area where I’m not worried about getting shot or raped. Oh ya, I’m almost 40 and getting fat I don’t think rape is a concern. See Walter even said I’m still cute. That’s a serious demotion. The ladies man thinks I’m cute. Too funny! As I come up the off ramp what to my wonder eyes does appear but a Frigin Kripy Kreme Doughnuts. Need I say more! The rest is boring. Hello to the family and an air matress. As soon as my head hit the pillow and it was Jennifer out!  I slept on an air matress and didn’t wake up all night. Now that explains why I didn’t blog that night. Fried ice cream and Kripy Kreme dougnuts dancing in my head!!!

Time to pack

May 14

faithfulservantUncategorized No Comments

Day 10   10:10pm

My Mom and Andy

  What does it mean if you have dreams about saving your cats from a fire?  In my dream last night we were at a hotel somewhere and there was a fire alarm. We were all instructed to leave so Andy and I were trying to pack all seven cats in four carriers and get out in time. I didn’t say it made much sense, but these are the times you wake up and feel like you just ran a marathon. Again, not a great night’s sleep. Maybe it is the stress of my upcoming trip to California. Then again, maybe I’m just a whack-a-doodle.

I set about my morning routine with the added task of picking out an outfit to wear for judging on Sunday. I was going to go with the white jacket but it’s supposed to be cloudy. Thankfully, I can go with a bit darker colors. Olive jacket and yellow scarf it is.You see, I am a bit of a clutz and tend to spill on myself quite frequently so white is not really my friend.

 Of course, in true Jen fashion I decided that the pants I want to wear are a pair that aren’t hemmed yet so I call my Mom to see if she can pull off a quick hem job. Surprisingly, without much reluctance she agrees. Adorned today with my straight hair, DKNY skinny jeans (which I got at Foothills Animal Rescue Boutique for $8) and my black platform stiletto heels (feeling all sassy) I set out for my day. On my way to Mom’s I stop at AJ’s for my ice tea and cookie aka “breakfast” and then on to Mom’s for my fitting. I was shockingly out of there in record time. You see my Mom usually finds all kinds of ways to keep me at her house longer, from food to gifts. I think she preconceives these tactics. At least I always know she loves me

Finally, at my mind cave I finish some final tweeks to all the graphic art files I need to send to the various printers we use (magnets, business cards for Making Strides and Handyman, Stickers of the TAK logo, and little coupon flyers) I’m so glad that is done! Paid a few bills before I left. Now that’s cable, a truck, a house and garbage pickup for one more month. Isn’t that the most depressing thing ever? That all that money only gets you a month of use. Thousands of dollars and I get 30 days. Ugh! and Ugh! again for good measure. Andy is visiting Raz and Gizmo today so no kitty visit for me.

Did you know that Carl’s Jr. now has turkey burgers? Hot Damn! Guacamole turkey burger here I come. Oh ya, and something for Andy. Home to feed my ponies and turn out the babies. My sand eating terrors. I have to babysit them when they are out. It’s a good thing they are so cute. 

Off to Dawson and Skippies for a night pee pee break. A very sweet and well-behaved Lab (that’s an oxymoron) and the coolest cat.  Home to pack and hopefully early to bed. Ya, right. It’s 9pm and finally the day is wrapping up. Where did Andy go? I have a 7 hour drive to California tomorrow. I’m judging the corral 118 show in Simi Valley and I still need to pack and book a hotel room. Huh? I smell brownies! OOOOOOH GOTTA GO!

Completely Depressing

May 13

faithfulservantUncategorized 1 Comment

Day 9 9:50pm (Hey, it’s early)

Ok now I’m only 39, I mean 29 and now the charlie horse in my back left shoulder wakes me up in the middle of the night. I think I’m in danger of sounding like my Grandmother did always talking about her ailments. The knot started yesterday evening when I was riding Daisey. Silly me, I tried to get my husband to rub it out but it was more like knuckle torture than a back rub. I swear he dose that purposley so I don’t ask him to rub my back. Now, if you knew me you would know that I only take asprin if I’m in great pain, so you can appreciate the magnitude of pain it took to drive me out of bed in the middle of the night to retrieve an Ibuprofin. Well, another night of crummy sleep what else is new. This getting old thing really sucks! However, I did get to sleep until 7:38 this morning

Up draging tail and onward ho to complete my morning duties. You haven’t forgotten what that entails have you? List is available on day 1 if you need a refresher. First, stop is a clients home to pick up mail. I know loosing a friend is hard but going into a empty home where a kitty has always greated you for the last 10 years is not only creepy but completely depressing. Sasha was a silver Persian with a total attitude, but that was what made her special. You had to earn her love and boy let me tell you she made you work for it. It took me years to ascertain her affections. I was caring for her on the day she died. Sasha had a major stroke and at age 19 and I found her one night circling and barely able to walk. I had the misfortune of taking her to the vet and staying with her as they put her to sleep. It is bad enough I have to do it with my own kitties but no fair I have to do this for someone else. I’ll tell you it is no easier when they’re technically not your pet. After 10 years she was as much mine as Michelle’s and it was just as heart wrenching. Especially packing up all her bowls, toys, etc so her Mom didn’t have to. Something I don’t wish any pet lover to experience.

Sasha

Moving on my next stop is back to Raz and Gizmo’s. Thankfully, Raz meets me at the door. No empty house here and lots of cat love to go around. Here he is sporting the new Doo.

Raz

Off to Baja Fresh were I order a shrimp and steak rice bowl for Andy and I. I decided to meet him for lunch on my way to the office. Big mistake. All I hear is how gross the guy in the bathroom was and how he didn’t wash his hands or flush the toilet. Great lunch conversation, and the whining didn’t stop there. Ugh! Ok, total buzz kill now I can’t wait to get to the office where I can hide behind my monitor. It is my little cave. Where I can work and hide out from pretty much everyone but the occasional sitter stopping by to drop off checks. Five hours of reconstructing our business cards that were structured incorrectly by our last Admin. and finally I think all is ready for the printer. You see, every time I’d save the file as a PDF it would stretch the images so I had to reduce the whole thing from scratch. At least now it is done right. If I hurry I can make it to the bank by 6pm. I pack up all my stuff grab my keys and off I fly. For some reason I’m feeling quite happy. Maybe it is the sense of getting something accomplished or the fact that I had five hours in my mind cave. Maybe it’s both. No, I think it’s the feeling that work is done and I have nothing left to do for the day but feed my horses, kiss my cats, and eat. Oh ya and my Mom has dinner waiting for me. Just take it home and reheat. That’s the best. I hate to cook.

Skipping ahead to dinner, as of course it is more interesting. Mom send home a bowl of pasta with chicken, spinach and Parmesan cheese. Oh yum! Waiting on Andy to shower I lay out some threats to get him to move along so we can eat and watch Idol. Finally, super! Oh and we have cranberry orange bread with a bit of butter on the side, still left from my trip to AZ Bread Company. Was that yesterday? On the couch eating my pasta and bread with Dottie by my side feeling happy again and then suddenly “What, James is kicked off are you kidding”? What a joke! I swear if Scotty wins I’m never watching another episode of Idol again! That’s it I’m going to bed!

15 minutes on a lounge chair

May 12

faithfulservantUncategorized 3 Comments

Today was a bit more what I would call normal and slightly unevetful except for the stabing pain in my stomach that woke me up. I really taught I was having an appendicitis. It woke me up a few times during the night and lasted for about an hour after I got up. Then Poof it was gone, and no it wasn’t gas. I swear I’m not a hypocondriac but I am always getting these weird pains. It’s like god or whatever is in charge of all the poop that happens in this universe thinks it’s funny to freak me out on a regular basis. Once I was feeling better I fed all the critters and gave Keebler, Monkey and Dot an extra kiss and headed out for my day.

KeeblerMonkeyDot

 

Dot

 

Monkey

After my time with Marley I head home and can’t wait to pass out on the floor with Monkey. I’m so wiped out from my lack of sleep last night. Somehow all seems right with the world when I’m hugging my Monkey. I hang out for about 30 minutes and watch my guilty pleasure America’s Next Top Model. You can admit it. I know you watch it too. Time to peal myself off the floor and head out back to the barn. Time to ride Sadie and continue on making this little Saddlebred filly a western pleasure horse. Need to ride Daisey but back to Marley’s first to feed her dinner and finally back home again at 7pm. Even though my husband is freaking out that he is starving and I have Rosati’s ribs special on the brain I squeeze in a quick ride on Daisey and an added bonus of Dora gas colicing. Finally, every one but us humans feed and exercised Andy and I run out the door smelling to high heven to Rosati’s for ribs. Andy actually throws on cologne and I just hope it’s strong enough to cover my smell of horse poop, sun tan lotion and dirt too. The only saving grace is that chances are more that half the people in there have horses and smell too.  The waitress comes out with a full rack (of ribs for clarification) when I only ordered a half rack. When she realizes her mistake you can see the panic on her face. Is this really a problem I ask. Too many ribs?