A quick, rambling post this morning as I have a lot swirling around in my foggy lil’ head…
Irritation with hubby and with life in general as rain continues off n’ on - I’m holding out for next weekend to be a decent ride! He was tightening up his shoelaces to go out and dodge the mud puddles as he asked wasn’t I going to let Juan in (at the clinic) - I said no, Juan got the back floors painted yesterday and they are now drying, so I get to laze around with my coffee cup a bit this morning.
I would really like for there not to be a stopwatch on my every move, but I can’t help eyeing the clock as I think, OK I can have half an hour with coffee and social media, then I need to go try again to coax my mom into a shower! I failed yesterday, just escorted her to the dining hall since she didn’t want to go out in the rain. They really do have good food at this facility - there is an extensive menu from which the residence order restaurant-style. We had a minor laugh as mom ordered the daily special, which was sausage, peppers and onions - I had ordered the spinach salad which sounded good to me. Mom’s plate was brought out first; I waited for a bit and then the girl brought me my own plate of sausage, peppers and onions. I gently mentioned the fact that I had ordered a salad - the girl offered to go back and get me one, but I said no, I was fine with this.
But it reminded me of that old SNL skit about the “All You Can Eat” restaurant - when they put the plate of food in front of you, they’d say “That’s all you can eat!” Maybe ya had to be there…
I know I have a terrible, no-good, very bad, horrible habit of befriending my employees - Misti and her family took a mini-camping trip/staycation to Cedar Hill State Park. I was very concerned about tent camping when severe thunderstorms were forecasted to roll through our area; fortunately it looks like most of them passed to the north of us. I was very tempted to text her and be sure all was well - when steady rains were drenching us yesterday afternoon, I thought about driving over to the state park to take them some Chick-fil-A or something but I held off… they are grown-ups and they can manage; besides, I told myself sternly that she took these few days off to get AWAY from the boss and worries about the clinic! I wish I could do the same.
Meanwhile, in other news, these anal retentive NATRC people are going to drive me clear out from under their tent! I had three riders question my scoring system (one of which was a math error so it was NOT ME!) as I was packing up to leave horse camp, two weeks ago. I don’t mind that - some endurance riders freak out when I give their horse a B or a C. I carefully explain that these are fine (subjective) distinctions because I have to find a way to separate these candidates when prizes are awarded. What is getting on my last nerve is, last week I got an email asking me to explain scoring on five cards and today I got another question from one of the other regional judges about two other cards. Ya know, folks - I’m an equine vet with 35 yrs’ experience; I don’t NEED to sacrifice time & resources for an amateur endeavor which doesn’t appreciate my expertise. Mea culpa, I know - I’m kicking myself for telling Gayle I was good with a $250 reimbursement for fuel - and I thought endurance vetting was a labor of love! At least when we pull in 50-60 riders, I can be paid “almost” a relief vet wage (typically about half what we’d get if we stayed home to mind our stores). Of course I realize none of us are doing it for the money - it’s also being part of the clique; no one questions my judgment at an endurance event! Guess this snowflake needs to get over herself - but it’ll also be a cold day in Hades before I put myself out like this again. I’ve already committed to standing by as emergency treatment vet at Alice’s ride next month, and Julie asked me about vetting her OK ride in November, but that’s that! The rest of my ride weekends are going to be endurance or trail rides with my friends.
I didn't realize P was still doing the running thing. I was a sprinter when young and could never get into long distance running. Too many people make it into a silly-looking, walk-hybrid type thing. Can't imagine wanting to do it on slick pavement while avoiding mud puddles. It is exercise though and we each have our own preferences. Better than couch surfing while guzzling beer.
ReplyDeleteAt least your mom likes the food there at that facility. There is a lot to be said for that. I'm hoping this is a shower day for your mother. PLEASE!! Thank goodness I was spared this with my parents because I would have invented a new sport due to it - parent shower wrestling wrangling.
At least you actually care about your employees!! Most places I worked had no empathy for their employees at all. I seldom ever got to eat while working sometimes 12 hour shifts and nobody brought me so much as a soda cracker.
Ah, yes, the insanely competitive, less than stellar, moronic weekend athlete. Every sport you or your child competes in encounters this. We saw it in Pinewood Derby even. Good grief. Everyone can't win but now some places feel that have to give everyone a trophy. "Best Next To Last Place Finish!" If people want to win they need to compete in what they are good at. Snare that accolade in the Guinness Book of Records for best continuous couch surfing while guzzling beer. Don't attack the coach because Little Jimmy sucks at basketball and the mean coach won't give him floor time.
I'm giving you a trophy for Best Fur-Baby Sleeping Buddy!" LOL.
Nah, even at his thinnest, Peran was never a jogger - one foot on the ground at all times! My running career was not much better - I was so slow that my average pace in half-marathons was just slightly over 4 MPH (which most brisk walkers can manage easily) But P still diligently hikes the full length of our country road (about 3.5 mi) almost every single day.
DeleteI just ordered a new bunion splint for my L foot with the hopes that I can slowly hike a few places too...
That's an excellent walk. I still get in my 10,000 steps every day. It was 15,000 steps for many years but I'm almost 72 now so this is more manageable.
DeleteHorses are so much work, but as I hear from everyone who is a horse person, well worth it! My niece has bought a second horse for her daughter... oy! They have to board them, not living on a horse-friendly property themselves. But the family is clearly in love with the equines, so it's all good. It's a lifestyle, right?
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