Happy Friday

Cody and I seemed to have worked our tails off this week and well, we have a completely finished, moved in, currently in use closet! It's painted, has fantastic shelves, a big tub for dirty clothes, LOTS of hangers, and well, it's just pretty darn cool! I can't believe it took so long, but it's soooo nice to have a closet again! I am so grateful to have a boyfriend who can fix things!

We're also making more progress on the fence. Yes, that same fence we started on a year ago. We should be able to finish it this weekend. The only problem is that it's going to be HOT and HUMID this weekend. I hate hot weather. www.wunderground.com is my main source of weather information, and today says hot and humid. It's supposed to be 92 today, 92 tomorrow, and 92 on Sunday. Yuck!

Mom, Dad, and Andy are coming to KC today to celebrate Andy's birthday. He's 21, as of tomorrow, I can't believe it. That means my house needs to be clean for visitors! I picked up last night, and Cody, god bless him!, is going to do the rest of it today. He's pretty particular about not half-assing the cleaning, which I love, but also hate. Oh well... thank goodness for men who don't mind vacuuming! Oh, and sweeping the floor. That's my #1 most hated chore.

I dropped off Mazda at Banfield this morning. She's getting spayed today. Here's a picture of her first visit to the vet.

She's such a good little girl!

A lot of people seem to frown upon Banfield, but we got a really good deal set up for her...she's in the puppy care program where we pay a set $$ amount each month and everything is included. Well, most everything...I'll have to buy some pain meds and a cone collar for her later tonight. I also love Banfield for the fact that they always call to remind me of her appointments and also call the day after she's had any work done to see how she's doing. It's so great.

Mazda was really confused as to why she didn't get to eat breakfast this morning, but she is such a lover to ANYONE that she completely forgot all of that when the vet tech at Banfield petted her this morning.

I don't think my parents have met Mazda yet! Isn't that crazy?

The city

Plainly put...I'm not a big fan of Kansas City, or any city for that matter. I grew up on a 1/2 section with no neighbors for a mile. Our driveway at the ranch is a mile long! Granted, I've got it pretty good where I live in Edwardsville, right now, but I don't plan on living here forever.

That being said, I DO need to capitalize on the things that I CAN do while I live in the city. Here's a quick list:
1) Visit the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
2) See a concert at the Sprint Center
3) Go to the Bodies exhibit at Union Station.
4) Go shopping more often!
5) See the Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
6) Visit the WWI memorial
7) Go to the Kansas City Zoo
8) Take some more riding lessons: western AND English
9) Go ice skating at Crown Center in the winter
10) Visit my friends who live in KC
11) Take Mulkie Fraggle and Mazda to the dog park

I think Cody and I are going to Shawnee Lake on Saturday to go kayaking/canoeing with Duttin. The horse show starts at 6 p.m. in Odessa, so we'll have to leave the lake at 3-ish. I think I'm going to make some flyers of Shiloh with MAKE AN OFFER listed. I just need somebody to buy him!

Life

I've been realizing lately that I love my life. Truly. There are so many things I could list, but I'll name a few...

I love God, my boyfriend, my family, my friends, my house, my house's location, my two acres, my horse, my dogs, my truck, my square-toed boots, the smell of alfalfa, sunrises, sunsets, sleeping, payday, my job, horse shows, sappy movies, white vinyl fence, etc. and so on.......

There's a lot to be thankful for in my life, and things are really great.

The horse shows went pretty good this weekend. I just need to FINISH Shiloh. Consistency and brokeness are KEY! I will be spending a lot more time in the saddle in the near future, my friends!

I had a great trip down to Belle Plaine, KS. It was good to get out of the office and see a bit of Kansas! The meetings weren't even that boring! ;) I did get to see my new second cousin, Ethan, in Wichita. He is soooo cute! His pic is here...

Cody and I had dinner on Sunday night with my Grandma. We both ordered chicken fried steak. I don't know why, but I always feel bad about ordering the same thing as somebody else that I'm dining with...I won't get to try anything different! My Grandma had great stories to tell about her trip with her two friends and my mom to Antiques Roadshow when it was in Wichita.

Cody and I aren't doing much this week. I'm giving a riding lesson tomorrow night and will show Shiloh on Saturday. Maybe we'll get adventorous and take a trip to the dog park with Mulkie Fraggle and Mazda some evening this week.

My family is going to visit me in KC for my brother's birthday in two weeks...I can't wait to see them!

Gas Prices

I filled up my truck last night and the tank stopped pumping at $75.00. I think the gas tank regulators need to start capping it at $100.00, not $75.00. I remember the summer of 2005, though, when I lived in Dodge City...I filled up the old green Suburban for about $90.00 and it stopped pumping at $50.00. I'm glad I don't drive that tank around any more!

I'm traveling to Belle Plaine, KS for work tomorrow night. I'll be gone until Friday afternoon. I need to spend all Friday night getting Shiloh ready for the show on Saturday. I'm showing in Lee's Summit on Saturday night and then Jenny is going to pick up me and Shiloh on Sunday morning to go show at the Buckskin show in Lawrence. No, I don't have a buckskin, but they have all-breed classes that Shiloh and I can show in.

Cody and I have had really good luck with Craigslist. Last night, we bought an underground electric dog fence with TWO collars...one for Mulk and one for Maz. They also had a kennel for sale, so we bought it, too! Along with the kennel, they threw in two really nice leashes, a gentle leader, a dog bed, a kong frisbie, some other toys, and a treat jar! We made out like bandits! We also went to Lowe's and spend WAY too much money, but such is life...

Today Cody and I celebrate our 11 month anniversary of officially dating. He moved in as my "roommate" just over a year ago. Oh how time flies! I love him to death and can't wait to see where we're headed! I've posted my favorite picture of Cody and I.

More later...

Happy Independence Day!

Happy day of our nation's birth! (Well, tomorrow, that is!) I am proud to be an American! I'm proud of our troops and am so thankful for the job they're doing protecting our great country!

My cousin, Kris, is in Iraq for his 3rd tour. He is based out of Ft. Carson, Colorado. Last time he came home from Iraq, my family went to welcome him home. I have never felt more patriotic in my life. Those men and women are heroes. I hope and pray every day that Kris will come home safe. I know he's doing his job...the best he can!

Here are a few pics from welcoming him home in Ft. Carson in 2006. He was reintroduced to Kyle, his son!

Cody and I are headed to New Strawn tonight. We've got to get some fireworks somewhere on our way!

Have a great Independence Day, everyone!

Ab