My Thoughts, Rants & Family Pics
Pops got sick too - except he ate some Costco trail mix that was being shared by many others. Big mistake. He's better now, and doing what he does best... directing others and getting the job done.
They'll be home Thursday. Can't wait to see them!
Cocoa came in 3rd place, but at least it's not last, right? I would have had serious concerns if the little filly beat out Cocoa for 3rd place. I would have had to change his name to "Pansy."
But look... he's learned to share. This is Cocoa's new friend, Annie.
Brielle then asked "What is sex?"
I was speechless. I didn't know what to say, nor was I prepared to have this conversation with a 7-year old.
Very calmly, Chris responded. "It's your gender. My sex is Male and you and mom are Females."
Brielle accepted the explanation and said "ok."
I realize that this explanation with only hold up for so long, but until then, I believe it is sufficient.
*******On a side note, while watching Chris muck the stalls this morning, I noticed something. The female horses stall was much more clean than the males stall. Hmmmm, men aren't that far off from horses it seams. Explains a lot, doesn't it?*******
Since the accident, I've only seen Cocoa once - from the other side of the fence. He came to me, took some oats from me, let me pet him, from the other side of the fence. He seemed like the sweet Cocoa-Ca-Cho that I knew. But after having been kicked, I was not yet convinced.
Yesterday, Chris, Brielle and I went to take care of the chores. Cocoa was filthy and was in bad need of a brush-down. Chris and I entered the pasture, Chris holding his halter and me standing next to him. It had snowed a lot and there was easily 2 ft. of snow that we were stomping through to get to Cocoa. He turned... saw us... and started running...
At first it was very "Man from Snowy River" like. Cocoa looks beautiful when he runs, and with his tail up and the snow flying all around him, I was mesmerized. I think I even heard that soft music from the movie playing in my head as I watched him. You know which part I'm taking about... the part where the horses are racing over the mountainside climbing higher until they reach the snow... then the snow starts flying around them. I love that part, and that's exactly what Cocoa reminded me of. Kind of like this, only a little more dramatic and a lot more snow...
And then that's when it happened. Sudden flashback. I froze. In my mind I saw this same horse turning on me to kick. I don't remember if I screamed or not, and came pretty close to shatting in my pants, but then he stopped. Cocoa stopped, walked over, and nestled his nose into my shoulder like he has always done before. We haltered him, brushed him, Chris wrestled with him and had so much fun. It's my same old Cocoa-Ca-Cho.
I now have a sudden urge to watch "The Man from Snowy River."
This is the closest Brielle will get to having a dog of her own. I know, I'm a terrible mother. But we did the dog thing once and it didn't work out.
Horses get bored. When they get bored, they can do crazy things. I've learned that some can even develop bad habits, which can cause problems with their legs as they get older. You're just dying to know what Cocoa did today, aren't you?
Ring! Ring! (telephone) Chris answers and all I hear is his side of the conversation.
Chris: Hello? (pause) What! Cocoa jumped the fence!?!?!?!
Panic sets in (for me more than Chris). Where is he? Is he gone? Can they find him? So many questions running through my head!
Chris: (Laughing) Are you serious?
What? What the heck are you laughing about? I try to get Chris's attention to find out what could possibly be so funny. He pays ZERO attention to me. Hate that!
Chris ends his conversation and turns to me and says...
"Cocoa jumped the fence into Debbie's yard and was playing around with her dog."
First, Debbie is our dear friend who boards Cocoa for us. The pasture where Cocoa resides is right in front of her house. Cocoa did just as Chris said. He jumped his fence... into her fenced yard... and pranced around with her dog. Apparently, horses get bored and lonely, too.
Now I can't quite blame dear Cocoa-Ca-Cho. Our daily visits stopped the day he broke my arm. Well, temporarily. This week I plan to visit more often.
Lesson Learned? Horses are herd animals and they need the company of other horses, or people to keep themselves entertained. So, this weekend, Cocoa will need to put his best manners forward... he's joining the other horses. It's time for him to be with his own kind and not with Debbie's dog.
This is their mode of transportation to and from the site they work at. I hope you will go to this website...
...and read about what they are doing. They've helped out at an orphanage, and are currently being directed by a local Stake President to help LDS members reconstruct their houses, or make houses suitable to occupy.
I cannot quite express how proud I am of my dad and brother.
A psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome.
My husband teases me about this on a regular basis. The pillows have to be a certain way on the couch. Blankets can't be crooked. Surfaces must be wiped down with Clorox on a regular basis. I organize our tent when camping every morning, as well as sweep it out. Ha, Ha - I'm a big joke around here.
But today, I realized how serious my condition is.
I went downstairs to sort laundry. After sorting, I realized that the basement wasn't quite in order. To some, it may have looked in order, but to me, it didn't. A chair was pulled away from the table, making me realize that someone sat at the table. Now the table and chairs need to be Clorox'd. And I can't seem to find the vacuum lines in the carpet from when I last cleaned (on Saturday). So I vacuum. Now that the vacuum is out, I get this out.....
And now I'm cleaning the whole house. What's the point of cleaning just one room? You might as well clean them all, right? I think I just took OCD to an entirely new level.
And it all started with a little laundry. Stinkin' laundry.
The Physical Therapy will begin in a couple of weeks, but today, we started on the Emotional Therapy. You see, I've been horrible worried about Cocoa sine the "accident." Silly, I know, but it's true. We payed a visit to the pretty pony today, and although I stayed on the opposite side of the fence, Cocoa came running to greet me.
Cocoa has been forgiven. We can start giving him sweet-oats again. Time-out is over.
