Just Say No!

I am pretty sure they started telling all school children this at the ripe old age of 8, but really what is it about the simple 2 letter word that makes it so darn difficult to say when you really need to?

Your parents and teachers all tell you it is the best thing, the safest choice, or even the most adult/responsible choice, but what is it about "yes" that is so tempting that is almost impossible to say "no" forever.

Think about it, how long did you say "no" to a drink of alcohol, a beer, a shot, a margarita? I am pretty sure I was hostinhg all night drinking parties at 17 years old at least.

When did you finally take a puff of that cigarette or joint? Yep, I did that too.

When did you finally cave in and have pre-marital sex that would most likely not lead to marriage? Oh boy...

Really, we are all told to say "no." Abstinece is best, Cigarettes and Drugs will kill you (we have all seen those lung pics...), alcohol will ruin your liver, etc... And at first it is really easy. "I am sorry I want to be the good, responsible, grown up and mature kid that my mom will love forever," we say it so easily, bravely, and probably without hesitation. Until something somewhere happens and the little devil on your shoulder trumps the angelic one and we cave in. At first it is just one thing a puff, just one night of passion, just one sip....then it is like the potato chip commercial "can't have just one." Oh, it is so true. Somewhere in that caving action I think we found that we enjoyed the "bad" thing we were doing and in that moment we lose all abilty to say "NO" and it is eagerly replaced with "YES." Now it is more of a challenge to try all the bad things mom warned you about and see if they are all really that bad. Really?

My time home has been challenging and I have been good. I promised myself to drink responsibly, and I have. I gave up the smoking of miscellaneous items long ago, and I have continued to do so. But everything else this weekend -- I was doing so good at saying "no" and avoiding temptation. I kept myself out of awkward situations and strange "alone" times, and this weekend that damned little devil angel trumped the angelic one, and sadly I don't regret any single hour of it.

Dear God,

Please forgive me for my indiscretions. I have no idea why my body trumps my mind. I will try to say "no" from now on, I promise! Please don't send me to hell for my lack of self control.

Thanks,

Me.

Reunion With The Ex

Beer....
Bowling....
Lots of People....
Good Friends....

I guess it really could have been worse. We were polite, pleasant, and chatty with the occasional "low" blow, but overall not to shabby. I spent more time and attention on the girls and he didn't like that. The old "I demand all your attention" man was back. Then he just had to show off "her" picture. As I am thinking, "um, thanks, but I already know what see looks like remember?" Dumb ass, what are you trying to prove? So as he bowled, I insisted on drinkning his beer -- he never did notice. My one bottle lasted all night.

Therefore, great night. Not sure I am going to do that again though. I can think of LOTS of better ways to spend my time.

A NO stress life please?

My mini vacation is well over and I am back to work. I LOVE my job, I make great money doing office/lab work and I LOVE it! However, lately I have come to several conclusions sitting here at my make shift desk.

1. I get to use their broadband conection! No more dial up!
2. My cell phone is hgoing to be OURTRAGEOUS! No company phone means my phone is our means of communication
3. The postal offics is no longer my friend
4. Staples and I are going to be "really" close after this summer.

My boss hired me to come in and clean house! Make an office out of a basement and run the labwork. Sounds like fun huh? By the time I leave for Cinci this place might run like a well oiled machine. Maybe.....

Today though, if I were to pop through a drive through i waould definitely say "I'll take a day with no stress please!" The post office LOST 30 some odd serum samples that I needed like yesterday! Not only are owners mad at my boss, but he keeps me on the telephone with them all day trying to find one little box! I swear, when I get home I am NOT answering the phone! PROMISE! Can you see my phone bill rising yet? I sure can. I have used the cell phone more in the last 24 hours that I do in a month!

However, I am liking the way my office is turning out and really the point is this -- Only 4 more weeks til Cincinnati and the HOT HR guy!

She's a ROCKSTAR y'all -- REALLY!

Major break through this weekend -- MAJOR!

Arriving to horse shows is always a grand parade. My mother, me, and my brothers girlfriend have formed a yellow brigade. We all pilot yellow horses in the showring and SHINE! There is nothing prettier that 3 blonde heads staring at you when you pull in to your venue. BEAUTIFUL!

This year, we have all worked really hard and have formed our own little blonde brigade. We even have t-shirts (pic to soon follow..) They are brown and have a truck with a jackagg outline in the bed if the truck. In black lettering it says "haulin.." We outlined the bucktoothed jackass in yellow paint and not is is a yellow horsey, just like ours. We also decided that this year is our fun and fabulous tour hereby called.. "Shits and Giggles Tour 2007!" This soon will be in print in the back of out fun and fabulous shirts. And now, back to my ROCKSTAR...

That super hot yellow pony on your screen to the left is a ROCKSTAR! Her little mind is almost all grown up and she kicked some major ASS this weekend. I, of course, am taking a little bit of credit for my piloting and execution skills, but my little blonde bitch is all grown up and we are ass-kickin' all summer!

We walked away this weekend with cash (lots of it' - Yay, I can finally pay some bills...), dignity, and we were taking names! Especially from all those hoity toighty bitches that have "professinal trainers!" Maybe it's the blonde highlights .. My red horse horse and I matched so well, maybe I just needed to connect with my horse on another level.

Furthermore, I must tell you all how amazing it felt to sit up, throw my chest out there, and look up with confidence and a shit-eating grin! My horse, the rockstar!

I guess I should also extend my apologies ... "Mom, I am so sorry I beat you and my ponies big sister this weekend. I will try not to be so happy about it next weekend when we do it again!"

Dog, Dog, and Me -- That Makes Three

It would have been easy to feel bad that I have this wonderfully comfortable bed all to myself and all alone the other night. A large comfy bed in bright cheery colors with TONS of pillows just the way I like it. I can stretch, roll, and snuggle all the while getting an amazing nights sleep.

Last night however, there was this feeling of emptyness. So much unused space and almost lonely. There used to be a boy there like every night when I was home, but there isn't one any longer. Well, until that night anyway. That night my bed and I were no longer lonely, I had 2 men that night. Well, two "nearly" men .... cumulatively together I am sure they maybe made one whole testicle-less man, but plenty enough man to snuggle and fill my bed. They didn't snore, steal my covers, kick, or bother me in the slightest.

....and that my friends, is what makes for an amazing night of sleep and sweet dreams. Dog, Dog, and Me.

Dear...

Dear Dial-Up Internet Connections,

I ABSOLUTELY hate you! Your inability to function as efficiently as your siblings (Broadband, Wireless, and Fiber) is severely depressing and is impeding on my blogging and social activities.

Please tell the cable companies that they need to hurry up and get us some cable out this way so I can replace your ancient ass and upgrade.

Mucho Gracias!

Reprieve ... Pretty, Pretty, Please?

I have discovered in my past 10 days of moving back into my old bedroom why I love my family and why I really miss my own independance of living on my own in the big bright world.

Until recently, I seriously believed that I could graduate college being accomplished and educated and live very happily with mommy and daddy in the back woods in their large and comfy house that I call home -- FOREVER. (Really it is the smart way to go -- Cheap, Unbroken, Safe, Conversations....yeah, well until you wanna have sex, that is just wierd!)

It would be so easy. They love me, I adore them, no problems right? GOTCHA! Dad has always been easy and I so take after him. He has things to do and he's going to do them ... with or without you! When play time comes, he'd love to have your company, but if not screw ya, he's going anyway! Such an independant man -- I love it! Now if only I could talk to men the way he talks to everyone ... I could easily make my rounds, damn my own self confidence. Mom on the other hand, needs some encouragement. Always has, always will -- but I still love her. They are my family and I am proud to call them such, but living here at home has left a bit to be desired.

I am pretty sure that when parents send their kids away to college they expect them to learn a multitude of life skills along with getting an education at the cost of DEBT for life. What they do not bank on is how much we will venture from the sweet kid we were when we stepped out of their nest and the independance we will gain. We went, we learned, we partied, and now we are no longer dependant. I am pretty sure that the minute you step back into that door, no matter how long it may be, you immediately become the needy child again. The child who cannot do their own laundry, figure out what to eat for dinner, and needs to chaperoned or "guided" through all their evening plans. Someone needs to write a book -- "Mom, I love you but please unshackle your chains and allow me to breathe the fresh air."

A girl couldn't have asked for a better set of parents, this is not a "I hate my folks" kinda report, it is just a thought. And since I plan not on reproducing I can have these thoughts as I will not ever be in this situation. Upon my independance I learned to appreciate "my" style of living and it is not quite how the folks did things. Maybe I am OCD, but I just like things done my way and this adjusting back to living at home is for the birds.

Now, I am not the one to complain either. I was lucky enough to come home to my bedroom, exactly the way I left it. My bed is still super comfortable, the view is amazing, and I can go anywhere I want to whenever I want to. Who am I to complain, shut up Teal and go to bed, you still have the cushy life!

Driving, Driving, and More Driving...

You ever wonder why everyone uses airplanes and trains to get to their destination? I discovered why this week. The interstate is no longer efficient! I spent my entire day on Tuesday driving, and sitting in traffic, and driving more, and sitting in more traffic! It was probably the worst trip I have ever made home.

It was quiet, which was fine. I am very proficient at creating "karaoke ala Teal" all the way home. When this gets tiresome, or the music get depressing we venture into "conversations with myself" mode where I manage to hold brilliant conversations with myself and other characters I think up. It really can make time go by fast, you should all try it sometime before you go on thinking I am a crazy talking to herself loonie!

I knew the trip would be longer and more stressful. My precious cargo of personal belongings and the pony were incredibly valuable to me and that required my utmost attention while driving. It was like I was hauling around a child, a 1000 pound child, but still precious! My trip always takes longer when I am pulling my truck and trailer. The 1000 pound child is to blame for that, my gas mileage goes kaput and I have to stop 2 more times than usual for gasoline.

Pursuing our 9 hour trip home should have been cake! Great weather, good music, a tuesday ... meaning no holiday traffic, just me and the semis right? Yeah, of course. I am pretty sure it was mostly the damned construction workers, but I got stuck in traffic 3 times on my way home ... THREE! I never get stuck in traffic, 95% of my drive home is interstate in the middle of nowhere! There needs to be some government issued rule that states when I hit the road the construction workers pack it home. I am pretty sure I dedicated at least an hour to being stuck in traffic.

Secondly, my dear friends! I love that you all want to call and chit chat, and find out when I will be home or tell me how we cannot live without each other all summer, but my truck is a "work" truck, and no matter how much dough I feed into it my air conditioning refuses to work. So when you call my cell, I need to 1. Turn off the blasting music I am singing to, and 2. roll up my windows because I would like to hear what you are saying. So for every minute I dedicated talking to you, please note I was sweating my non-existent balls off. It is like a boiler in there. I promise as soon as I was able to cut you off the windows went down the music went back up, in that order. Driving down the interstate, singing to the radio, hanging my arm out the door soaking up the rays (its a big truck thing...)all was glorious. PS: you should all see the beautimus sun burned ONE arm I am sporting ... it is pretty sexy!

What really busted my goose.....

2 hours from home, heading into the big city and preparing for the toll booth (can we please get rid of those?), and I hear the sound of glass shattering. I look over to my passengers side mirror to see the entire thing just up and broke, the ENTIRE thing! I am not sure how many of you have ever hauled a horse trailer before, but we LIVE by the damned things! It is the god of trailer driving communication -- telling me when to change lanes. Lacking my mirror--I was stuck in the SLOW lane, behind semis doing 50, heading into the city and toll booths! I was freaking out!! I was sure I was gonna die, or get hit, or the pony would get injured....we all know city drivers -- I WAS DEAD! I even thought about being really redneck and buying some cheap mirror that I could duct-tape to the mirrorless mirror. Alas, no time! This little problem made me take a detour I hate, headed the wrong direction for 20 minutes, and all without a MIRROR!! mI was not a happy camper and people were still calling...so I was a HOT, MAD, IRRIATATED driver!

Needless to say, I am blogging so I did make it home...... But not without still being angry with construction workers and the vehicle mirror god! What were you all thinking!! Now I must unpack...ICK!!

Hell Week No More.....

So, all last week I have been dreading this incredibly awful molecular genetics exam -- well, not really I procrastinated a bit and started studying on Saturday. Isn't that what most college students do? We kinda work hard but really we just get really good at time management. Well lets see, I have time to get drunk tonight becuase I don't really have to go to class tomorrow. Yeah, thats about right.

Anyway, even if I didn't start studying until Saturday...night...late, I have been dreading this awful exam all week, maybe even before that. It has been sucking the life out of me ... literally. But today, the clouds dissipated, the sun shone bright, and a HUGE smile graced my face as somehow I managed to pull of a B in this dreaded class. Which luckily for me means -- NO FINAL EXAM! Thank the heavens there is still a GOD!

I know what your all thinkning out there in blogger land, why settle for a B when you can have an A... This I know too, but come on! This class was misery! I know it is really bad when I can sit through an entire lecture 2 days a week, every week, for 15 weeks and not have a single freaking clue what the hell anyone is talking about. Even the book must have been written in some foreign language! I depended upon Wikipedia to make this scientific jargin into understandable terms for me. Oh, and God forbid I ask a question, I think they would all laugh at me. I don't like feeling like the dumb one. EVER! On that note, I will graciously take my B and run! Far away to no more exam land for the rest of the summer!

I will run away to equine surgery and emergency medicine. Anesthesia!!! Then on to lovely mice, rats, and other laboratory animal research! And no more exams, not that I had all that many anyway, but still. I am ready for some well needed R&R, but not expecting a whole lotta that.

Tomorrow the pony and I pack up and start our long drive home......
Home, Rest, Work...I am so ready for you!

And So I Ran....

Let's get something straight -- I HATE Running!

Well, I thought I did. When I was younger and under the fine tutilage of elementary and high school educators, physical education class was the class I most disliked -- even hated. My anxiety would build-up all day long knowing that they would "make" me run! I so hated running, or so I thought.

Upon my weightloss journey this time around, I have been frequenting the gym more often, but not to run! I go to work, sweat, breathe heavier, swim -- you know, all the things one should do while at the gym. I watch all thy "skinny" girls run, run, and run some more all the while thinkning, they are awfully pretty to be running inside this stuffy gym, they should go outside. Never have I felt inclined to run.

Today however, there must have been something in the air. I arrived at the gym thinking, "hmm, I wonder how long it would take me to run a mile.." I am still not sure what I was thinking, but before I knew it I was the one running on the treadmill pounding out miles! I even actually think I enjoyed it.

I never did understand the enjoyment that people achieved from running. I have family members that love to run! My new uncle is running marathons all over the country this year. My friends just finished a half-marathon in Nashville, and more and more friends are running and doing marathons. Running must be the new shopping or something.

So, as I ran today and felt amazing and sweat drenched afterwards, I felt rather fulfilled. I set out to run a mile and exceeded my goal by way more than that. I can almost bet you I have not run that far in over 5 years -- I can still do it! Yay Me! When I was done I even got to thinking how fun even a half marathon could possibly be. (On a day when I let myself out of the house in shorts, because I have yet to see a marathon runner in pants...) Maybe someday....one can dream.

And then I congratulated myself that evening with Dairy Queen -- won't the scale love that...

Grey's Anatomy -- Oh George!

This weeks Grey's Anatomy was not the highlight of my day. Actually, I was kind of disappointed. I understand we are trying to work out a spin-off show for Addison's character -- understood. But nowhere is the spin-off should Taye Diggs be allowed to walk a chihuahua! Oh My God People -- there is nothing attractive about 2 very fine men walking a puny ugly dog! That is so Paris Hilton, not attractive for these superfine hotties! Hot single men don't walk chihuahuas, they walk labradors and mastiffs, and bull dogs. Gay men walk chihuahuas -- stay away from those!

Oh, and could Addison have a hotter car, please!

Oh, but that AMAZING lip-locking-with-tongue-make-me-melt kiss you just had to tempt us with -- I'll take a lifetime of those! I'll lock that hottie up in my basement for eternity! So really, while I was dissapointed at this whole spin-off thing, I was totally hookd by the steamy lip-locking action. I'm comitted to the new spin off already.

Back at Grey's -- Dear George! You married a fine hispanic woman with fire and ice. What the hell are you thinking doing naughty things with Izzy? I like Izzy, I really do, but your wife is way better! Hot, sexy, rich, talented, can keep up with the game....hell, I'd do her! Izzy will find her own hottie, please move on! You used to be my favorite, now I cannot help but be mad at you!

Meredith, I am so sorry you dad hit you. He didn't mean it! Promise! It made me wanna cry. I cannot believe however that your step-mom is dead! That brought me back to the real Greys!

I can spout all the anger and agrivation I want to, but my dedication will never waiver and I will forever love all of you! Your drama makes my life seem so perfect!

The Rolex Kentucky .... Breathtaking!

The Rolex Kentucky was in town and PACKED! I think they said there were some 90,000 spectators that filled the stands, the fields, the shopping tents, and every other possible place they could fit into.

To fill in eeryone else, here is what rolex is....

"The Only Four Star Event in The Americas -
Because horse and rider combinations compete in World Championships and Olympic Games at the Four Star level, the ability to train and test themselves at this level on an annual basis is critical to developing strong individuals and teams for those contests.

While not every combination that competes at the Four Star level will be chosen to represent the U.S. or, in the case of foreign riders, their own country, the Rolex Four Star Championship, $200,000 in prize money and a Rolex Watch make the competition important in its own right. Additionally for U.S. riders, the USET Foundation CCI**** Championship for the Pinnacle Cup marks the high point of any U.S. rider's career.

To win Rolex Kentucky sets a horse and rider apart and they become members of that upper echelon who are winners of a CCI****. Simply to finish also puts them in select company."

Basically, this is the ONLY 4 star event in America and it is phenomenal! Those that compete on horseback go to see, learn, and build their eagerness to reach such a high level of competition. I, myself, thinking these people all have a deathwish to even attempt scary fences like this, go to watch in awe and maybe see a fall here and there. It keeps it interesting.

There are 3 days to the event. On Friday, each horse and rider competes in Dressage. It's kinda like dancing in horseback. The movements that the riders can communicate to their horses is breathtaking.



The picture above just happens to be KAREN O'CONNOR, one of the most respected women in the sport, a multiple medalist in the olympics, and an amazing woman. Her horse, Theodore O'Connor is now even really a horse (He looks kinda short right?) Yeah, he is a PONY! The first PONY ever to complete the ROLEX and get this -- HE GETS 3rd!! Freaking Amazing -- they call him the BIONIC PONY!

On Saturday, all tackup and compete in the Cross Country. The horses legs get greased up so they can slide over fences they touch easier. (These jumps are not moving for anything -- solid as a rock!) The fences, meant to look like obstacles you would find out in the field have developed into decorated solid objects including, Ducks, a Squirrel with a goatee and earrings, lighthouses, easter baskets, etc. Riders have a set time to get through the obstacles (11 minutes) in this multi-mile steeplechase. Ultimately, this is where the wreck happen and horses get hurt. We were lucky, only 1 horse was injured and several riders came off. I only got to see one really bad fall, but the horse was ok -- rider? Still questionable. The bionic pony -- No Problem at all!! I want you to get a visual picture -- you just jumped 25 of these fences, huge fences, through water, hills, ditches, etc, and thern you come up to jump number 26 and WIDE oxer (6 feet wide) and tall too (6 some odd feet tall!) With water underneath it, and if you touch it -- IT AINT MOVIN! AMAZING!






The last day, Sunday, the horse and rider combinations tack up for one more day. Stadium jumping. It detects whose tired--Who is still communicating well--Who ultimately should win. Come stadium time, only 10 horse and rider combinations had been eliminated, retired from competition, of failed to pass the veterinary inspection check in order to compete. That's only 10 of some 70 horses that were scheduled to compete. And the bionic pony -- won the award for being the most fit -- scaled every one of those big stadium fences without a single rub or fallen fence. Only one of 3 to do so! Sadness came however as the last competitor, a young woman to have never won a ROLEX was able to come in and jump this course, have a fallen fence and few time penalties and still be able to win it -- mistakenly went off course jumping fences in the wrong order and was elimiated. (That meant the loss of a BIG paycheck, the loss of a win at ROLEX, a big, BIG Loss! I felt so bad for her.




In the end, a Brit by the name of Clayton Fredericks won the Rolex Kentucky -- but the notable was not he brit, it was the BIONIC pony who finished 3rd! Probably now the most famous pony EVER! And us spectators ... just glad to be home. I have a jumping final today -- I am so glad I don't have to jump any of those fences. I don't have to worry about thrills and spills -- Just me and Jackson -- soaring over our bunny hop fences probably never to jump again. Whew....

Children, Children....PLEASE!

It always happens, the school year winds down and college students everywhere become the screaming, whining, and childish teenagers we all used to be. This semester is no different.

The semester had every opportunity to be sane and adultlike, but the fearless leader is everything but mature and adult. (I am pretty sure his idea of a great day is to sit at the desk and take in the sight of short shorts and large asses...this is my boss people -- the one who is supposed to run this god forsaken building, we didn't get a leader, we got a manwhore.) Typically, and in nature when your fearless leader cannot "lead" the inevitable happens -- the staff takes over. Our "dedicated" team of 8, whom were run off the management podium by the might-have-well-been-married-for-60 years-already-your-pathetic-team of twenty year olds. The same ones whom had to give a valentines day present to each other every hour on the hour, the same team where the man is obviously the woman and lacking every sense of testosterone speakable, and the same team that is dedicated to ensuring the buildings safety.....

This particular team is so set on building security that they had a new phone system put in that was cordless. We "needed" a cordless phone becuase if there were a gun or a bomb in the building they wouldn't want to make the fateful call to security at the front desk where the concerned residents could hear them, they want to be able to escape to the back office. (Hmmm, so there is a gun in the building and no-one should about it huh? -- welcome to my life here people....)

The same team, concerned about the events at Virgina Tech and untrusting of our nightly security guards also decided to implement a locked door during the evening -- DURING THE LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL! Hello, most of the residents have ID cards that wont open the doors, lets just lock them out for the rest of the semester. I would so love to put a put a big sign on the door that says

"I am sorry you cannot get in, please call Stupid 1 or Stupid 2 at this number and wake their asses up to let you in because they obviously were on crack (nope--they are too good for that, ok, they were on a sugar high) when they implemented this idea. Thank you for you cooperation."

Not to mention that our "leaders" felt that they all needed some recognition at awards time. So, instead of implementing one male and one female RA of the year from the 8, we had to award two male RA's because one was upset he didn't get the honor. Hello, when did teenage attitude come back in style. We couldn't really think "Hey, I am going to do an amazing job next year and win that award" we creaked all the way back down the promotion ladder to "I am so upset, I totally deserved that award!" followed by whining, complaining, and griping, and utter nonsense! This continued until the only way to shut his ass up was to allow him to share his award with the real winner -- Geesh!

Oh, I so cannot wait until next year when a new leader emerges, gives every one of these RA's a swift kick in the ass and I get to tell every single one of them just how life really is! Maybe, I will even step up and get it done this semester -- It will go something like this....

Hello #1 -- You are not my mother! Please don't decide for me how I should handle my staff. They do their jobs well and are trained efficiently. If you have a problem with them, please come find me so I can address the situation. PS: If you decide to take matters into your own hands again, I will remove all your pretty little blonde hair and put it in your pasta! Oh, and aprons are so out!

Hello #2: -- The next time you decide to purchase a chair for our front desk, how about purchasing one that people can work in. The ghetto chair is good for one thing -- sitting on your ghetto ass! Oh, and if you start digging through my records again, I will have to have you escorted out on your ass! Thanks for acting like and adult and not your wifeys hound dog.

Hello #3: If you want to be RA of the year, start acting like one -- You big whiney baby!

Hello #4: I am glad you have attached yourself to the fellow "leaders" ass, but when he is gone and a new leader steps in, I cannot wait for him to set you back on yours!

The rest of you, I love you. I am so sorry you have been overrun by the masquerading wanna-be adults that act like children. I promise, new world order is coming fast and I will happy to see you rewarded!