Once home from Cuba, life got busy again. On the Friday I was the guest speaker at the Kins Club Celebration Dinner celebrating the amount of money they have raised for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I was a nervous wreck and considering it was only my 2nd time ever speaking in front of people (and there were almost 200 that night) I did a fairly decent job. Except I ran out of breath half way through my speech. Guess it just added to the impact of what I was talking about. Had a great night doing that.
The following week was the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis. I was given the honour of holding one end of the ribbon at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony where the Mayor of Waterloo cut the ribbon to start the walk. This year Kitchener/Waterloo District Chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raised over &70,000.00.
Then on Wednesday June 4th at 7am, I got the phone call that my girlfriend had been induced the night before and it was time for me to come. I had been asked at the beginning of their pregnancy if I would like to be part of the birth of their child. After 34 hours (and 10 minutes) of labour, Matthew finally came into the world at 6:10am Thursday June 5th. What an awesome experience Robyn and Brian allowed me to share with them. Words can't even describe what it meant.
I spent a weekend at home and Jay and I did the Cayuga Poker Run for Cystic Fibrosis. We were met by Dick from Oshawa and enjoyed a lovely day of riding. I won a great prize of a spa day. Can't wait to cash that one in. The ride was a great success and the total sponsor money collected that day was over &20,000.00. This total does not include the raffle tickets, the 50/50 tickets and dinner.
Back to Whitby where I spent a few days with the new family. Little Matthew at 1 week old is full of personality (and poop). I have been pee'd on, covered in poop, burped up on..all those fun things associated with cute little babies. Even at 1 week he was trying to hold his head.
This week started with a great day for Father's Day in Woodstock for a family BBQ, where there is another sweet little guy. Here are a couple pics of Eizik's first haircut that I did back in February. I've cut it again since then and everything Eizik sees me, he thinks he needs a haircut.
Then yesterday was a Brandy day. He had his teeth filed and one pulled. A very interesting thing. The horse is sedated,(see pics of very sedated horse) then the vet uses huge rasps to file the long edges of the teeth down. Then they have this huge contraption to keep the mouth open while they file farther back. Brandy still had a "wolf" tooth that should have been taken out when he was gelded, so the vet took that as well. Brandy was a trooper during it all. He was all sedated and snuggly. Then, the other vet came and he had all his vaccines done while he was sedated. Then one more thing to be done to male horses.....sheath cleaning....yep...use your imagination. Gloves, water, sheath cleaner and a very strong stomach and the ability to go way way way beyond your comfort zone.
So, my boy is good for a year. Today, I had my first riding lesson with Peter, the new trainer and coach at Second Chance Farms. I so don't know what I'm doing. Brandy did a great job, I was all over the place. Feel like my legs are rubber extensions of my hips. Need lots of practicing. This weekend is the Open House at the farm. So that is my craziness of the last few weeks. The next few are just as busy, so update you all when I can.
Start with Tango, my mustang....I had the car totally detailed and washed and waxed, then a glass coating put on it...what a difference. The car is 8 years old, and other that the hits on all 4 corners, looks brand new
I met this little Arabian Filly at a Business Network thing I went to with Jay on Friday. The cutest little thing. It was a good night. Lots of networking then the icing on the cake....Kenny Rogers and Neil Diamond performed. (just impersonators, but they were really really good...)
Over the weekend was the Open House for Second Chance Farms where I have my guy, Brandy. This is Peter on Wonder. They did an awesome dressage show. Wonder might have the opportunity to be part of the Royal Winter Fair demonstrating Bitless Bridle riding.
Then the hilite of the weekend. I got to ride Wonder. He is a big, beautiful boy. I just did the cool down walk after the show, but he made me feel like I knew what I was doing...heeheeheee.... Also during the weekend, I did a demo of natural horsemanship with Brandy. We have been working on dancing together. He is so good about respecting my space that he won't allow his feet to go in front of mine, so whatever I do, he does just behind me. I'm working on putting it to Salsa music..just have to get his feet moving faster. The next Open House will be in the next month or so, so hopefully we'll get it together for then. I'm also going to start working with another horse on the farm, Tuscany. Her owner asked if I would be willing to ride her and work with her. I'll get some pics of her to show her off as well. My summer is shaping up to be a busy one with all the activities I've planned.
