Our "No Good, Very Bad, Day"

I loaded Remi & Duece on Thursday night and hauled them to Lipan for the first time. Duece was mainly there for moral support and to get ridden if I had a chance. I am watching Duece for Justin while he is out of town working. I was rushed to get there anyway because I was on the 7 o'clock page and I left Granbury at 5. I pulled into the facility at about 6:45. I went out and exercised Remi a little bit before we walked up to the arena. There were only 7 girls there, so I decided to take a couple extra exhibitons. Her first exhibition she went in on the wrong lead and threw the whole exhibition off. Poor thing, she didn't know what lead she was in and I didnt help her any. It was our first time there so I should have trotted her in the first time to get used to the scenery (Mistake 1). She was listening really well though and responded. The second exhibition she listened okay, but I was riding like a pansy. I was proud of how she handled her first barrel seeing how it was the first time I actually asked her to run in a little bit. She didn't finish her turns on her second and third though. It was a good practice though because allowed me to see what areas I need to work on. I was frustrated for a while after I left there. I think it was because when I watched one video I realized the people that were filming, laughed. I know I shouldn't let things like that bother me, and hell, at least she filmed. It just gives me more reason to try harder. I had shaken it off by the next day and realized she didn't do as horrible as I thought. I can't expect her to be perfect. Afterall, I am not close to perfect and I know that I am to blame for at least 75% of her actions. I was riding her in a Goosetree Simplicity bit in the videos. I bought a short shank Cervi 3 piece with a dogbone on Friday. I am going to ride her at the house with it this weekend and she how she does. Its really windy here. I am trying to get the house and barn picked up this weekend. My x-roomy left it a mess. Have a great weekend.

News from the homefront.

Hello.... All is well with Andi! Basically I've been working, riding, working on house, and hanging out with Justin. Work is the same. It has been really slow lately. Today we ran out of orders to ship around lunch time. It was pretty boring. Everyone was looking for work to do. The horses are doing well. I have been riding Remi a lot away from the barrels. I've hauled her around to some team ropings with Justin & have been working on her basics again. She is doing great, as always. Sunday afternoon I seen that Miss Maddi & Digger girl were out in the arena with the barrels. I rode over to make sure things were going okay with them. I suggested that I help her so that she would know how to "train" her correctly. She responded with "what is hard about kicking and pulling?" WOW here we go! She did actually listen though and worked Digger the correct way. I need to encourage the CORRECT method so that it won't be TOO hard to fix Digger. Digger is very well broke though and very flexable. I will try to get a video of them soon. I loped Remi through a couple times. She listens to me so well that I really need to pay attention to what I do with her on the pattern. I felt horrible because on one run I checked her a little early on the third and she ran over the barrel. I plan on hauling her to the barrel race in Lipan tomorrow. Hopefully we can get there in time to exhibiton. I need to actually make a run on her during exhibitions one day to see how she works/clocks. I know that she is ready.. but for some reason I'm not. I talk about doing it then I lope in there. Sloan is doing great and starting to look better. He is going to be a pretty boy when I get him where I want him. Justin and I brushed a lot of hair out of him the other day. He is smart and takes to new things really well. I have just been tying him up a lot, leading him, & swinging the leadrope over him. Pistol has been getting on my nerves lately. He won't stop chasing the cows and steers. I am working on borrowing a shock collar for him. Paco is great, but it would be AMAZING if I could get him potty trained. He has really calmed down a lot and is starting to mature finally. Justin left today for New Mexico. He will not be back until next Tuesday. They are working at the PBR. I plan on cleaning some things up around the house this week. My roommate moved out and there is a lot to clean up around there. Justin helps out so much. Last week he mowed the yard for me and raked the leaves.

Remodeling Update

Well the bathroom is looking great!! We finally finished it last week. Well I say "we," but my Mom did most of the work. She is really handy and has more patience than I do. I will add a picture from my phone but will try to get some better ones from my camera soon. Last night we started painting my room. Mom and I moved all my furniture out and started painting around 8. I was pooped at about 11 and passed out on my bed. I woke up surrounded by Paco (of course), belts, cords, and other miscellaneous items that are not normally in my bed with me. Today we ran to Ft. Worth to the Apple store because my brothers phone quit working. We stopped by Sams and did some shopping. I got a new shelf for my bathroom. I am so excited that the remodeling is finally taking place. The carpet crew should lay the carpet early this week in my room. Excuse the mess, remodeling creates clutter!

Everyone else is great. I will also add a picture of where Justin is working this weekend. He works for US Smokeless Tobacco. They are in Sweetwater at the Texas Rattlesnake Roundup. Pretty crazy stuff I tell you.

New Projects

Filly

Dillon brought me the Streak of Fling gelding on Wednesday afternoon. I am going to try to register his name as Streakin Gravey, (Dam is Our Red Gravey) and I am going to call him Sloan. He is behind, but it shouldn't take much to get him on track. On top of his grain I am feeding him rice bran, Silver Lining Herbs Worm Foe, & Silver Lining Herbs Infection Fighter. Dillon had a halter on him when he got to the house, but it hadn't been on long. He acted really well for only being handled a couple times. I have been hanging around him in the afternoons while he eats so that he will get used to me. Today while I was holding his feed pan for him he let me start rubbing on him. I think he is going to be a sweetheart. Remi doesn't quite know what to think of the little guy other than he needs to stay out of her way! I am also going to post a picture of the yearling filly I hope to get. She is owned by Becky Sheridan, the lady I work for sometimes. The filly is cowbred and beautiful. I took some random pictures today at Beckys house also. I have been feeding for her while she is gone to Athens to work the USTRC roping. Bella is the little brown goat that I bottle fed. At first when I put her back with the goats they were mean to her and did not accept her. She has been out there a couple of months now and they are starting to get along better. Mom and I are going to remodel my bathroom this weekend. I willl post some pictures when we are done.

SloanFilly

Conroe, Justin, & Colt

Wow, what a long weekend. I took off from my normal job at Equibrand on Thursday & Friday of last week to go help Becky w/ Steer Crazy. We left early on Thursday morning to head to Conroe to the WBR. We set most of our booth up on Thursday and finished on Friday morning. It was very cold and windy inside of the coliseum but we sold quite a bit. I remember now why I don't miss SE Texas or the people. We finished packing the trailer last night at about 6:30 and headed out. I didn't get in bed until around 1am. I really missed my Pistol, Paco, Remi, and Justin!

Speaking of Justin... he is a great boyfriend. The truth is he is one of the best I've ever had. He is so sweet & helpful. Last week he stayed in between events in San Angelo. He was around on Monday and Tuesday then he had to leave again on Wednesday morning. We had a great time. He drove to Granbury to take me to lunch both days. Monday and Tuesday night he roped with Kehl at the house and that made him really happy. Monday he vaccumed & picked up the house while I was at work. I was so happy. I had mentioned it to him as a joke but he really did it. I was in shock. Tuesday I had 3 exhibitions on the 6:30 page at Lone Star Arena in Stephenville. When I got home from work I noticed that he had taken my trailer to be washed and cleaned out the back! Remi was standing tied to the rack saddled with her mane and tail braided! He's amazing. We had a great time. He filmed & babysat Pistol. I have never had someone that would actually do this without bi+ching about it. Adorable I must say. Last night he was here when I got home from Conroe but he had to leave today to go back home. He did make time to stop by and have lunch with me though.

Dillon is bringing my Streak of Fling colt by this week. Hopefully today or tomorrow. You never know with Dillon though. It could be next week. I'm really not that worried about it because he is hauling him around with him & that's great for the colt. Dillon said he is almost halter broke & is going to be a nice one. I just hope that I love him close to how much I love Remi girl.

I am so sleepy from all of this work... I am glad that I finally have a job though!! My own money is nice to have.