The MGM Car Show

Adri, Eric, Gabe and I went to MGM Sunday mainly so Gabe could see the Car Stunt show. I think looking at Gabe's expressions you will all agree it was a huge success!
When we first got there we had a little time to spare before the show so we did the backlot tour. Boy did we pick the right time! This is the year of a million dreams and our tour was selected to receive Fastpasses for 6 major events at MGM. We could use them anytime throughout the day! Adri and I went on Rock 'n Roller coatser twice and Tower of Terror while Eric took Gabe to some little kid spots. We also walked right into the Little Mermaid. It started pouring around 4 so we took a drenching jog to the trams and came on home.

Life As A Barn Girl

This past week I have been playing barn girl so my friend can get a much needed vacation. I get out of bed at 6:40 and am at the barn by 6:45. Swayze always greets me by leaving a big pee and stomping around waiting for me to put the feed bucket on the fence and let him out of the stall area so he can start his day. While he politely munches I brush him and spray him with fly spray. Afterwards he saunters off to graze on the grass.
I get to go into his barn/stall and clean up. The barn holds 2 horses (there is only Swayze) and also has a dirt area enclosed around it that he gets half of. I rake up the shavings into a cozy layer and then grab the wheelbarrow and the rake. Time to scoop the poop. I have been dumping it in a hole off in the corner of the yard but normally my friend will use a poop spreader that she takes across the street and dumps outside that multi-million dollar (each house fits that multi-million category)developement that is going in. I dump out the remaining water in his water bucket, scrub it, and refill readying it for the evening. He also has a large bucket out in the pasture that is filled in the evening for the next day. Then I sweep the back mat, the edges inside the barn and a corner for a pile of Timothy and Alfalfa to go in, placed in the morn so you don't have to rush around at feeding time. Don't forget to get the feed bucket and close the bottom half of the door so no creatures sneak in.
Off to wash out the feed bucket, the wheelbarrow, and the rake. Get the broom out and make sure the tack room and wash rack area (a concrete pad in front of barn with black mats for the horse to be comfortable while he is washed) is clean. I also get to use a blower to get every last hint of dirt off. I need one of those around here! Check the list and make sure nothing was forgotten and grab a few carrot pieces. Swayze loves carrots! If I start to walk away he says "Hey Lady! You forgot to give me a carrot!!" I love the way he uses his lips to grab it!
That is just the morning duties. Actually it is very easy in the evening because everything is set up. Just have to grab a feed bucket and get the pellets (and electrolyte) add a bit of water and hang it in his stall. Open the gate and he rushes right in and starts munching while once again I brush and spray him. While he is eating that T & A get the bucket and wash it out, fill up the huge water bucket in the pasture and go around to three lovely areas and scoop up the poop.
It is a very effecient system and once you get the hang of it, it isn't too bad. Of course it has been hot and we had some rain. Lets just say Swayze is not a happy camper if you lock him up half the day to keep him out of a thunder storm!
This was my first time babysitting a horse and I think it went rather well.

A Shuttle Launch Story

Rick has called to remind me that the shuttle will be launching in 1/2 an hour and I am watching a movie and think "I have about 20 minutes before I need to get the tripod out and the camera set up" when Michael calls saying he needs ride home. I am not happy about this and ask why Kyle can't bring him home. He just says he can't and I ask him where he is. He says the Tiki Bar so you have to know I was wondering how on earth Kyle had gotten so wasted in the last 45 mins (I mean they just left here) that he can't drive back. I have no idea where it is and ask where and get directions and luckily it is close and i might be able to get there and back before the launch. So I am driving down washington and ahead of me are fire trucks and other emergency vehicles with their lights flashing and Michael is across the street on a bench. He gets in and I ask him where Kyle is. Welllll, when Kyle went to park his car (with Michael still in it) he got a horrible stomach cramp (an issue he has had an MRI for)and he somehow missed the brake pedal and ended up going thru the wall of the Tiki Bar. All this without a single drink! I did not make it home. I scared Michael half to death by whipping around and parking in a construction zone. I jumped out as it was going off and was able to get some before it disappeared. The best news is that both boys are fine. I can't say the same for the Tiki Bar. Sorry no pic, they had quickly moved the car and boarded the wall up!

100 Pink

This is a picture of one of the Thailand plants Rick got on our trip. I can't believe it is already blooming! It is the first to bloom of the acquired plants. This flower has caused a bit of excitement here as it has 7 petals! A normal plumeria has 5 petals with an occassional 6 petalled bloom. This is the first we have ever heard of one having 7. The first bloom had the normal 5 and it appears the remaining blooms will have 5. Even the blooms with the normal 5 are very pretty with a delicate, slightly cupped petal and a very pleasant scent.