South Jordan yesterday!

So I must admit I am totally insane (I have an extreme barrel racing addiction) and went to South Jordan yesterday for a $500 added barrel race. It was a fun day and both of the horses worked nice. I did a time only on Blades and he worked a 3-D time against some tough open horses. I can't wait until December 1st so I can start entering him.

Junior worked good as always. If I would learn to totally trust him and just let him go do his job he would be such a super star. I haven't ran him in about 3 weeks and he was off for 7 days while I was in Denver so I was a wussy and rated him too much and too early. He always trys for me and I just love him to pieces!!!! Thanks J!!!

I also have to brag a little on Noelle and Diva from the Little Britches rodeo held at The Blackhawk Arena this weekend in Salina. The first go in barrels they ran a 15.9 and then yesterday they blew everyone else out of the water with a 15.6. They are currently sitting in the top ten in the National Little Britches standing (and will definately move up after this weekend) and are 11th in the State of Utah High School Rodeo standings. Yeah!!!! What a team those two are making!

Sorry.......

Ok, so I have been severely lacking in the blogging department for the past month. SORRY!!! (especially to my dear darling little sister Krissy who is such a faithful blogger)

So I finally got a promotion at work! I am the supervisor over 6 seasonal employees and 2 permanents. It also came with a very nice raise!!! Yeah. I am very excited after busting my butt at Bryce Canyon National Park for 17 long years to get some recognition for all I do there.

So Greg and I went to Denver, CO for I week so I could go to Fee Supervisor training. The training was good but the best thing was being able to spend some time with my husband away from home. We ate a ton of great food at some very nice restaurants and got to see some beautiful scenery. The fall colors on the way home were spectacular!!!

We were taking some photos at a rest stop called "Grizzly Creek" when it started to pour rain and as we turned around to head back to the truck this train came screaming by and scared the poop out of both of us!!!

Here are some random pics from the Utah State Fair a few weeks ago!

I know I am a slacker....

Just wanted to say Happy Fall to everyone!!! I promise to get caught up this week with my blogging. I have been super busy with work and horses but things are finally starting to slow down. I am heading out for Denver, CO on Sunday for a week long training for my job so I will have a lot of spare time in the evenings to play on my computer.

My boy Junior is stepping it up!!

I know I have said this before but.......I LOVE THIS HORSE!!!!! He really stepped it up for me this weekend. His fastest time in the Triple C Arena up until this weekend has been a 17.101 and on Sunday he ran a 16.642 and won some 2-D money!!! I was so proud of him!!!! Sunday afternoon was a hard one for Greg and I as it made the first week for us without our beloved Cash and Junior must have known we needed that little extra something to brighten our day. Thanks J-man, you rock big boy!!!!!!

Here is a photo I took of my "little" yearling Hollywood today. Isn't he just handsome????

Bryce Canyon Trail Ride

Yesterday my co-worker Juanita and I went on the 4 hour trail ride at Bryce Canyon to do an evaluation of the trail ride operations. We had an absolute ball! It was so good to get out of my office for a change and see the park. I forget what a beautiful, amazing place I work at!

We were told this hoodoo is known as"Viagra Rock"!!!!(hehehe...I just don't know about those wranglers)

My friend Juanita and Fester! I was thinking about offering to buy him for a barrel racing prospect. What do ya think???

Lucky me!!!! I got to ride this cute little mare named Daphne and we were right behind the wrangler so I didn't get a face full of dust the whole ride. I did get "hit on" by our wrangler. Yuck......he was even a team roper!!!

This formation is known as the "Organ Player". Kind of cool huh????

40th Birthday!!!

Ok, as much as I hate to admit it I celebrated my big 40 on September 3. My family came down this past weekend and the party started Saturday night and kind of carried through until Wednesday. I have the most fabulous family that will never miss a chance to celebrate a special occasion and I want to thank them all for making my day such a special one. They tried to take it easy on me and use a lot of pink along with the black. Thanks guys! Also for those of my friends that are wondering about "Dude".........I have always been Taylon's Aunt Dude and 7 years later the little nickname has stuck!!!!

Saturday night my Dad set up a the projector in the back yard and we watched Transformers on the "big screen". My Grams hadn't seen it before and such a trooper to sit through the whole movie.....that is until the very end when my Dad's copy of the movie quit working and we didn't get to see the end!!! Oh well!

Thanks to my wonderful family and friends for making my b-day such a special one!!!!!

Oops I almost forgot to mention one of the big highlights of my actual birthday. I was on my way to do a pick up for the Bryce Canyon Shuttle with one of our Law Enforcement Rangers and got to go on a high speed chase. Some Czech was doing 35 mph over the speed limit in the park. Needless to say he got a very hefty speeding ticket and I now know the real meaning of an "Oh Shit Bar" in a truck!

JUST A HORSE.

I thought this poem was very fitting for me and my lifestyle........

JUST A HORSE!
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a horse," or,
"that's a lot of money for "just a horse".

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or
the costs involved for "just a horse." Some of my proudest moments
have come about with "just a horse."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a horse," but I did
not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about
by "just a horse,' and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just
a horse" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a horse," then you will probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."
"Just a horse" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and
pure unbridled joy.

"Just a horse" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a horse" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a horse" but an embodiment of all
the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the
pure joy of the moment.

"Just a horse" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a horse"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a horse" just smile, because they
"just" don't understand.

I hope everyone that was involved with getting my horse loaded and finding a place to lay him to rest knows how much I love and appreciate them for everything. He has a nice little spot in the cottonwoods close to the river and we plan on planting some wildflowers where he is buried. The barn seems so empty and quiet without Cash.......I used to always cuss him for banging his knee on the stall door when he wanted something (he loved crumb donuts!!!) but I really miss that now. My 3 yr old Blades picked up the habit and has been doing it constantly for the past 2 days and I don't mind it at all!!! Bang away Blades!!!!