I'm not the first

...and I won't be the last to post on this theme today. But I don't care about being unique or original.
Today I care about showing my respect and paying tribute to those who lost their lives on this day 8 years ago.
September 11, 2001 is THE defining moment for my generation. It is the one event that everyone in the western world will remember. It is my generations JFK murder.
I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing.
Heck I remember exactly what I thought and felt as the morning unfolded.

I walked into work, a rare for me morning shift. At the time I was a front desk clerk at a motel. We had a small TV at the desk, ostensibly so we could check out movie functions for guests. But it also had the cable package that all the rooms had so the regular front desk clerk always had it tuned to the morning news.
It was 10 to 9 so the first plane had hit. My thoughts were "How the heck does THAT happen?! That is a horrible accident! Pretty strange too."
My co-worker told me that they (the news anchors) were saying it was an accident, as I thought, but other reporters were saying the plane was hi-jacked.

I went into the kitchen to get my coffee. Of course the news was all over the radio. I listened for a few minutes more and walked back out to the desk. Still thinking what an odd accident that was and feeling horrible for all the people involved. Then, shortly after 9, the TV showed the world that it was indeed no accident when that second plane hit.
I felt sick. I knew that the world as we know it had changed. About a half hour later we heard of the third plane at the Pentagon. Then another half hour later we heard about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, thought to be heading for the White House or the Capitol.
I started that morning in disbelief over an odd accident. That feeling remained but was joined by shock, by horror, by fear and by anger.
Yes anger. I was (and still am) angry that we live in a world where something like this could happen.
I myself do not directly know anyone that died that day. Or even close family to them. However this event has touched the life of everyone in North America, if not the western world.
I do not agree with everything that has come about because of this. Some things I don't think should have changed have changed. Some things that I think should change have not.
One thing that I do believe is that whether or not you agree with the military events that have followed you should damn well support those men and women that put their lives on the line to protect your rights, freedoms and lives!
That we need to show respect for those who lost their lives that day, and the ones that were left behind to pick up the pieces. Show your respect and support to those who have lost their lives in the days, months and years that followed. Soldiers, rescue and recovery workers, people who lived or worked in the area, reporters, photographers, everyone.
I feel grief whenever I think of that day, not just on the anniversary. But I try to remember to hope.
Hope that there is a better future and that this will never happen again. But for that to be true we have to remember that it did happen.

*photos found using Google Images*

Wordless Wednesday - who's that?!

Sunday Stills

This is my first time posting to "Sunday Stills". I am not a photographer so please keep that in mind :)
The theme for this week was the Rule of Thirds which in a nutshell states that if you were to place a grid and divide the picture in thirds from top to bottom and left to right you would find the most pleasing spot for the main object is NOT the centre but rather in one of the thirds. The following is my attempt to capture the essence of the Rule of Thirds:

The first three pics were taken at Peggy's Cove (Nova Scotia, Canada) with my Nikon S210.

This last picture was taken in Halifax, also with the Nikon S210

Looooong Weekend

...and not in the "holiday" style (although it is officially that too). But long in that I have so much going on!
This weekend was our district's finals (aka "Mini Finals") and while it was a blast it was a ton of work. And I didn't win a darn thing :(
BUT my horses did work pretty good, especially for being so out of shape.

Friday I ran back and forth getting the last minute stuff (ie picking up the plaque for Volunteer of the Year) and getting together floats for entries and the concession, getting the added money for payout. Oh yeah, 2 am I was baking cookies (part of my donation to the concession). Dropped the Ford off at the acreage and Pie picked me up and brought me home.
Had lunch and got my own stuff together. Drove my little Chevy back out to the acreage, hooked the Ford up to Kimfer's trailer, loaded tack and horses. Kimfer drove the Ford and I took my Chevy.
Mini finals is a 2 day event. Friday is held indoors in the evening, starts at 7pm normally I'm at work at 5pm.
Helped set up the concession, handed over floats, got both horses ready and warmed up and changed my clothes (it was dress code so western shirt, hat the whole 9 yards).
First run on Applejack we hit first (hard) but had REALLY nice 2nd and 3rd. Voodoo's first run he was slowly approaching the barrel while looking around, and I'm sure he was thinking "what the heck? where are we?" We got to the barrel and he kinda jumped and then was like "oh yeah, turn!" So first was bleh, 2nd was ok and 3rd rocked. Literally, rubbed all around it but at least it stayed up!
Applejack's second run was MUCH better, Voodoo's was better in that he didn't get goofy over running indoors.
I was done and on the run. Untack both horses, help Kimfer load, wash up and change, jump in my Chevy and zip into town and go to work.
Yup, I had to go close the restaurant.
Get up Saturday morning after about 3 1/2 hours sleep. Drive out to the acreage, catch and load horses and off again! This time Kimfer drove the Ford and I rode with her.
Day 2 started at 10 am. Reverse order of the night before and outdoors, in quite a large arena. So we got there and tacked and warmed up horses, changed and it was on.
Voodoo ran into the arena SO darn good :) A little too good actually, by the time we were getting close to the pocket on first he was really cruising. I wasn't sure he'd turn it, I was thinking we'd blow by.
Actually my exact thoughts were "crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap!!!"
However what happened was I grabbed the horn, lifted my inside rein and said "easy" and around we went! Second was ok (that is really our trouble barrel right now) and 3rd felt pretty darn good. He zipped home and it was time to change horses.
Applejack ran nice and hard to first too. Wasn't worried about him blowing by though, I knew he'd turn. We rocked all three barrels but came home a bit crooked so that slowed us down some. Poor little fat guy was sure breathing hard. Hopefully next year they'll both be in better shape! Its kinda funny because he seems SO gosh darn proud of himself when he runs really hard! lol
Second run for both was pretty much the same as the first.
Then while we were setting up for the meeting I bolted down half a burger and it was meeting time.
The district AGM was brief, thank goodness, and then we did door prizes and regular prizes. After that Kimfer & I loaded up and headed home.
At the acreage we unloaded the horses, I jumped in my Chev and zipped home. Had the world's fastest shower - no time to wash hair though so I spritzed some perfume in it to kill some of the smell, changed clothes, a dash of makeup and off to work.
Now that I'm home I've had a proper shower (including extra conditioner to apologize to my hair) and am getting ready for bed. Or at least a nap until I pick Pie up from work and come home for a bit more sleep. Because bright and early tomorrow I'm up to go back to the acreage so we can go for a day of sorting! Thank goodness we just left everything (except the horses) in the trailer these last two nights, the only thing we have to load in the morning is the horses.

Now if this all seems a bit rambly and confusing you'll all have to forgive me, I'm a wee bit tired! lol

Cowgirl Camping

Do you all remember waaaay back to the end of July when Kimfer & I went to our barrel racing club's Provincial Finals?
Now do you all remember when I said I'd take pics?
Well I did! Sadly most of them were crap. However the series below DID turn out and I humbly present you with a photo tour of our "camp" in the horse trailer.

Bright and early (5:30ish am) my truck showed up outside of my house pulling Kimfer's dad's trailer with our lovely horses inside! Kimfer's mare, Isis, is loaded in the last stall. Applejack is in the middle stall and the front stall is reserved for "stuff" (ie farm cart, large plastic tubs, etc). The "stuff" is kept from sliding into the horses by the divider which we jerry rig with a plywood extension to the floor. Nothing is getting out of that first stall!
(by the way the basketball hoop is NOT mine. Instead the neighbours prefer to risk bouncing their basketball of our vehicles instead of their own)

Once the horses are settled we set up our own camp. Getting the horses into their homes for the week was easier than normal. We shared an outdoor pen so once the ground crew put in divider panels all we had to do was set up water buckets and hay nets. Easy peasy, just like being in a corral at home!
We've done this enough times that setting up our camp is pretty easy too. After we unload the horses we take apart that divider, unload the "stuff", scrape the poo out of the horse area and spray it down. Then we lay a canvas tarp on the floor and unpack. Here's a view from our bunk through the walk thru door and into the horse area (as you can see there is a small cooler on the right hand side by the bunks):
Hmmm, you want a closer look? Well of course! C'mon in...
Standing midway in the horse area we'll look toward the front, or kitchen if you will. To your left is a plastic shelf with a bar fridge on top. Its stocked with nummy pre-cooked food. Grilled chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers. Also assorted condiments, some salads, cheese and strawberries, carrots, drinks. This was all split between the bar fridge and the cooler in the bunk area.
Oh, and a chocolate bar.
Under the fridge is the microwave (remember all that pre cooked stuff?) and under that are some of the beverages.
To your right you will find the pantry (ahem, plastic shelves) which hold our cereal, plastic cutlery, paper bowls and plates, snacks, etc. There are more beverages stacked beside it, which didn't quite make their way into the pic.

Now we turn around and look at the back half of the horse area, otherwise known as the walk-in closet. We place a wood board across the top to hang our clothes, Kimfer's on the left mine on the right (c'mon that purple shirt & suitcase were clues right! lol) We also put our suitcases with non-hanging clothes (ie socks, undies, etc) and pop up hampers back here. After showers we hang towels over the windows and dividers to dry out.

There is enough room to dress back here, and if you have to eat inside because of rain and the neighbours aren't around (Julie or her parents with their niiiice new camper) then we can sit here too.

In the evening if there is socializing its usually done in the castle, I mean camper, that belongs to Julie's family or outside at our trailer or someone else's (Holly & Brenda were parked across the lane from us and Julie was right next door)

When it was time to sleep, or during the day take a nap, or if we felt like hooking up the portable DVD player we crawled up into our bunks, again Kimfer is on the left and I'm on the right (look Mom, I made my bed every day just like at home! lol) The weather wasn't as hot as it usually is and after the first night I also pulled out my sleeping bag which I unzipped and used as a top layer to my blanket.
So there you go... how to live pretty comfy in a non-LQ horse trailer!

Wordless Wednesday

Things Heard

This last week I've either overheard or been told some things that I thought were worth passing on...

Last week at sorting Ace told me that he thought I've become a better rider. More willing to get aggressive without getting rough. (something that some people have trouble doing)
At the jackpot this weekend Brenda told me she thought I couldn't have found a better match than I did with Voodoo. She thought he pushes me but isn't too much for me and that I look good on him too.
Sunday my step dad went riding with me, I rode Voodoo and he rode Applejack. Afterward I heard him telling Pie that he has a real nice horse :)

Now for some funny stuff...
My friend Lanette describing her chihuahua 'guarding' their horse trailer at a rodeo. "Twiggy lunged from under the trailer and grabbed his leg and bit and shook. After he was telling people not to go near that trailer because there was a vicious rat underneath!"
"My butt doesn't have as much padding as it used to" (by someone I rode with that hasn't ridden in a few years)
"Chase DO NOT rope your brother again!!" (said by KQ over the mic as she was announcing the barrel racing)

And I don't know where the heck she got this from but my little niece, Zoe (not quite 10 months) will crawl over to the picture of the snow leopard in the front hall at her house and while sitting looking at it will make a noise like a hissing cat and use her hands like cat claws scratching the air. Too darn cute!! Also if you ask her if she's a puppy she will stick out her tongue and make panting noises. lol