Several of my neighbors have horses. My next-door neighbor moved in this past summer and her family just acquired their first horse. Frequently, I see her and my neighbor down the street riding, washing horses, or trailering the horses somewhere for a lesson or some other fun equine event. I’m feeling left out. But why would they bother to invite me? They have in the past, and I’m always buried. Right now, I even have a sidekick in tow. Before Dora joined us, I was at the computer doing ATN work or off on a trip somewhere, exhibiting or presenting at a conference. Usually one of those two women was taking care of MY animals! Every time I see them I ask myself … do I have the time right now to drop what I am doing and go wash a horse? And the resounding answer is “NO”. So why am I complaining? I’m not sure … not enough hours in the day, I guess.

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Overheard in a conversation with Kyle and Beth in the car last weekend in Colorado:

Beth: “Check my muscles, Kyle!”

Kyle: “Yes, you have BIG muscles, Beth!”

Beth: “Yes, I have BIG BUNS!”

Kyle, cracking up in the back seat … “Don’t you mean big GUNS?”


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Yesterday Dora and I were walking the dogs. Dora was watching the two Border collies run free. Ben still sports an electric collar, although he has not ignored my calls for quite some time. Reilly is very dependable and hasn’t needed any restraint of any kind for about two years. Dora commented that Reilly was lucky because she was free and had no restraints. I pointed out how life worked just like that … you do what you are supposed to do and you get all kinds of perks. You ignore the rules and you get consequences. I couldn’t have set up a better teaching opportunity. She was quiet as she processed that thought.