Personal Fitness program - 2 weeks in

Well, it has been two weeks since I got my final set of exercises for my personal fitness program. Things have been going really well…well almost everything.

Most of the exercises are doing something – I think. I feel better…can move better…and my clothes are fitting a little looser.

I am, however, having some problems with a couple of the lower body exercises. They are really hurting my back. I am really concerned about this because I don’t want to really hurt myself. My back has been really bad for so long that I don’t want to have to stop doing all this.

Today is my nutritional evaluation and the day to “tweak” any problems I am having with the exercises…to get Brenda to check my form…and to see if we should modify anything.

We sat down and went through my food journal. She said I am doing really good…but would like me to substitute eating so much cheese and grains for more “real” fruits and vegetables. The reason I say “real” fruit is I have developed a love for apple sauce. LOL
But other than that she says I am doing really well.

As for the exercises, my form is good on most of them. But the ones that have been hurting my back, I am doing them way way too strongly. If that makes sense. I am positioning myself as if I am fit and in really good shape…when I am SOOOO not. So we modified my positioning and YIPPEE…they don’t hurt.

I head back in 2 weeks for my fitness evaluation (pushups and all that joy) as well as my first weigh in and measurements

Shayne gets better - Feb 15

Shayne was entered into an Adult Bowlspiel on Sunday, Feb 15. He bowled against approximately 60 other people.

When I picked him up afterwards, I asked him how he thought he did and he said “okay…pretty good”. I asked his coach who also bowled and he said “Shayne did really well…was calm and focused all day”. The coach had put him on a team with one of his friends who is really good with young up and coming bowlers so I think that really helped. Kevin, the coach, said his friend kept Shayne going really well…gave him gentle reminders on form etc.

Anyways…last night when we were at league practice for the kids, Shayne was recognized for how well he really did do at the tournament.

Shayne came in TENTH place out of 60 competitors in the POA (pins over average) section of the tournament.

I am soo proud of him!!!

Hard Rock N Haida - 2004 - 2009

On Feb 15, 2009, Hard Rock N Haida crossed over the rainbow bridge.

I first fell in love with this beautiful horse in 2004, when Paige posted pictures of him on her website as a weanling. He was a stunner!!!


In 2005, Doyle and I made the decision to buy Young N High (aka Gunner) from Paige when she was up here for a visit. We then debated on Hyde...and the decision was made to bring him up with Gunner.


After a rough start at home with Hyde...he was very stubborn and shy...he became my best friend. I had decided before we bought Gunner and Hyde that I was not going to get really attached to another horse. My old mare, Lucky was getting up there in age...and I just couldn't see anyone replacing her in my heart. Well, Hyde really started to. He became my shadow...so much so that I couldn't even take pictures of him by myself. I either had to have someone hold him with a halter and lead or have someone else take the pics. He followed me like there was an invisible string between us.


He was only going to be my "at home" breeding stallion while we trained and promoted Gunner. But his pedigree (a son of the great Haidas Little Pep and out of a great daughter of Docs Hickory) kept telling me to give him a shot at the show ring.

So we did. He started off with Dale Dodd of Olds, Alberta. He did really well for her for quite some time.


He was then off to Jason Hanson of Redwater, Alberta. Jason and Hyde hit it off. They were a great team. But there was a problem. Hyde was not working well...got tired really fast.






July brought a visit from Hyde's breeders, Paige and Barry Strawn. They hadn't seen him since I bought him in March of 06. They were very thrilled to see him work - it would turn out being the last time ever. Paige took some extremely good pictures of him (for which I will be forever grateful) - warming up - working the flag - working cows - and finally a couple of themselves riding him. We then took him outside where Paige did some conformation shots.

I love this one of Hyde and Barry. It is almost like Hyde is saying "I remember you".


We took him to the vet who, in turn, sent him to the University where it was found that he had a heart defect.

It devastated all of us. He had such promise in the cutting field but just couldn't do it.

So we brought him home in late July of 2008. Hyde and I had a great summer...we went for small short rides and became friends again.




Hyde had a great winter. He was buddied up with Molson, my 2 year old red dun colt. They became very fast friends.


But everything went seriously wrong on Feb 15. We had gone to town for a little while and when we got home, it was time to do chores. Bailey was out on the deck and was calling the dogs. Maggie came in from the field. Bailey looked and saw a big brown lump. She came running into the kitchen yelling “somethings wrong with Hyde.”.

My heart dropped. I ran out to see and sure enough, he was down. I called for Shayne just in case he was stuck on the fence and we took off for the barn. I called Hyde’s name – just once – and when he didn’t move his head, I just stopped in my tracks…looked at Shayne and said “he’s dead”.

I am just absolutely devastated by this. Hyde was my “handsome man”. My next best love – after Lucky.

It really sucked at first that he could not do his job but I was soo thrilled to have him home. And was sooo thrilled to be standing him at stud this year and to get a couple little ones from him. We had always said “the best from him was yet to come”.

I guess a higher power had other plans.

Hard Rock N Haida – may you rest in peace. We love you.

Stallion flyers

I really want to make some up for the boys. But it is causing a bit of a debate...and here we all thought that was all done right???

I am wondering if I should do one flyer with both boys on it??? Or do I do a full page one for each of the boys??? Or do I do half page ones for both boys??

Or now that Gunner is for sale - do I just do Hyde?

Also what information is an absolute must have...what do people really want to see on them.

Neither boy has produced anything...Hyde didn't really show. So I am pretty limited.

I am also trying to make them myself, which is not going to be easy. I either don't have the knowledge or the program...haven't quite figured that out yet.

Exercise program

is going well...I think.

I am not having many problems with the eating portion...other than forgetting to mark everything down so that I remember. OOPS.

My exercising is going well. My upper body workout is just that - a workout. I am hot and sweaty after it. My lower body working is causing a couple concerns. With my back being as bad as it was for all those years, there are a couple exercises that really really hurt.

I go back in to see Brenda on Tuesday so will be checking with her to see about my positioning in those exercises and maybe try to modify them a bit.

I haven't noticed a change in my weight as per the scale but my clothes are fitting a little looser. YIPPEE.

Stallion advertising

Well, we did it. We got Hyde's stallion ad approved for March in the Western Horse Review magazine.

It is very simple compared to the others there so we are hoping that will catch people's eyes.

I have also listed him on a bunch of websites this week.

This is the picture we have used for him...

Decisions...Decisions

It has been a week/month of debate here.

We are trying to figure out what we are doing "horse" wise and "job" wise.

As to the job...I am just going to keep plugging away at trying to find something. Have also decided to look more seriously at working from home...maybe an "online typing" type of position.

As for the horses, the big debate is on who to breed to who. And then to make sure we have back-up plans in the event that one or more mares sell.

With me not working, that has also raised the debate on whether we are selling anyone, and if we are, who.

So we decided to list Gunner, Ding, Gidget and Dolly. Gidget and Dolly were for sale before but the decision was made to keep them up for sale.

Gunner was a harder decision. He is still at Jason's in training and is showing. With me not working, him being there is going to be a strain on the pocket book that we may not be able to keep going with for much longer.

It sucks but what can you do.

YBC Zones 4 Steps to Stardom POA Tournament - Feb 8

Today was the Zone tournament for both the kids to see which teams would go to Provincials. Bailey played in Bonnyville (2 hrs from home) and Shayne played in our own bowling alley.

Shayne's team did very well considering that Shayne's average is EXTREMELY high compared to anyone else competing yesterday. They finished in 3rd place.


And when I say Shayne's average is high compared to anyone else's - wow - is it ever. His average is 189...the next highest to him at the tournament yesterday was a 108. So right there they have a 81 point advantage over him. He had to bowl extremely well to do anything for his team and he just didn't have it in him yesterday for some reason. The ball just didn't go where he wanted it to. He was pretty upset. His coach finally sat him down after everyone was gone and said "you did just fine...there are other tournaments. The kids on the other teams were flying and with the difference in the averages, there was nothing you could do but bowl how you could bowl today".


Bailey's team WON...and will be completing at Provincials in Calgary on March 8. She is very happy that she "decided" to go back to bowling. Now to get her outfitted in a new shirt and jacket for the team.

Puppy updates

I received some new pictures of Kirby and some of Nora.

Kirby definately looks more like Maggie.



While I think Nora takes after Max.



They are both doing really well for their new owners...and are very loved.

I have added the dogs to my website as I may be having another litter of pups this spring.

Both Jessie and Gwen sent me nice little write-ups on the pups as well for the website.

Breeding and riding horse decisions

. I have also decided to only breed Dolly, Gidget and Rondee this year. Rondee will be bred to Hyde...Dolly to Molson (if that works with his new owner), and Gidget to Dale Dodd's stallion (I have a free breeding to him). If Gidget sells, then Dolly will go to Dale's stud.

We are not going to breed Bailey or Melissa's mares this year. Bailey's mare is 18 and had one foal in 2001 - so thinking she may as well just be a riding horse. And Melissa's mare is Angel - Lucky's last foal - and is a grade - so not going there.

We have our riding horses - Lance (Doyle's gelding), Ace (someone's riding horse...LOL), Skeena (Bailey's mare) - to go with this summer. Angel is also broke but needs some chiropractic I think before she would be safe. And Rondee is booked to go to Jason for March and April before coming home to be bred. I am hoping she will be quiet enough for me to ride in the arena at least for the first part of the summer.

Maybe the recession isn't going to hit too hard??? - Feb 6

I have a lady coming to look at Gidget. She sound very keen on her. Loves the "Lynx" bloodlines and was very happy to see Lynx West on Gidget's papers. We talked for about 1/2 hr about her on the phone and she said she sounds perfect.

The lady came out and a funny thing happened...we recognized each other.

She was out and looked at Sonny 2 years ago. Looked over everyone and did really like Gidget at that time, but likes them older. LOL So now Gidget is older and has caught this lady's eye again.

She kept saying how much she liked her...build...temperament etc. So it was a good visit.

She has taken a business card so she can go to my website with a couple of her friends and will look Gidget over again from there.

Her plans would be to train and show Gidget in reining...told me that Cheryl Mitchell would be helping her. She also told me she took the initiative to call Jason and ask about Gidget.

She said she would let me know in a few days...either way. And I believe her as she did the same with Sonny...I did get a phone call from her saying that she didn't think he would be suitable.

Gunner shows again - Feb 2

Gunner attended his first show of the season yesterday. It was a "ranch cutting". Not NCHA affiliated. It is where the trainers can take their horses to start tuning them up for this year's show season. Jason is going to use these as "training shows" for Gunner as he can discipline while showing. Gunner, last year, had a bit of a problem staying "focused" on the job at hand...wanted to look and talk to the girls instead of focus on the cows all the time.

Jason said Gunner marked a 66 and was extremely focused this time. Much more mature than last fall. He came in 4th out of 12 horses...one out of the money. So YIPPEE!!! His next show is Valentine's Day.

Here's hoping that Gunner has turned a corner and will be a good boy this year...and make me some money!!!

Hyde lives alone

We were going to attempt another horse grouping or friendship with Hyde and Lance and Cuba now that Molson is gone.

I put Hyde out in our new wood pen behind the barn, which borders the pasture that Lance and Cuba are in. Well, the squeals were on, the striking, the kicking, the "everything". It did not look great...but I thought it would calm down in a bit. But after Hyde started to stud up, I figured it was not worth the risk to him. So went and caught him and put him back in his lonely pasture.

He walked over to his round bale...looked around...trotted to the fence and called to the girls...and then slowly, looking very dejected and alone, walked back to the round bale and started eating.

Lance, on the other hand, ran like a mad man for 10 minutes after I took Hyde away. Boy that horse gets attached fast.

Molson arrives at his new home - Feb 1

Rosemarie got here at 11 and we went out and caught both boys. We loaded up Hyde first and tied him in the front of the trailer. Rosemarie then got in the trailer and asked Molson to go in with her. He walked up and went "ummm...don't think so"...and took 3 steps backwards. She asked him quietly to come up again and he did...and then sucked it up and stepped in with one front and then another - almost going to his knees. I gave him a small tap on the hip to keep him moving and then he was inside.

I slowly walked past him...not that he noticed with his head in the grain bucket..untied Hyde and backed him out. I took Hyde to the barn, while Doyle and Rosemarie shut up the trailer.

It was around a 1/2 hr drive to get to the barn Molson will be boarded at. He unloaded like a pro...walked into the barn and into the arena where I took a few pics.



We then took him back outside to his pen...which borders a bunch of other horses. It is wood fencing between. He is still such a baby...clacking his teeth at them all. He then found his hay pile and started eating.


No big deal for this little man.

Rosemarie says she is going to start him under saddle herself right away...and she has a lead on a reining trainer in Saskatchewan who wants to take him on as a "show as a 4 year old" project. So they will decide that in July after he has finished breeding the 3 mares that will be bred to him this year - her own two mares and Dolly.

So here's hoping that she follows through on what she is going to do with him.

She promised to send me pics and said I can go over and see him and her anytime.

Economy is hitting hard in the "finding a job" portion of my life

Well, the job at Shell is very unlikely to happen now with the economy...or so I was told today when talking to the lady at the staffing agency.

She is just continually told to keep sending resumes...but they aren't responding to anyone's resumes.

She does, however, have another position in mind for me. It is working at a small shipping company. They deal with pipe and flanges...so industrial stuff. I have to do some excel training first...so have the weekend to do that. And then she will send my resume off to them. they are located on the north east end of the city so the drive wouldn't be bad...and the salary they are talking about is in the vicinity of what I am looking to get.

It's moving faster than I thought - Jan 28

After my testing portion of my interview on Monday, the lady told me that it would be at least two weeks before they would be calling for interviews...if you made it that far.

Well, I got my interview request THIS MORNING. The job is with the RCMP - in the Major Crimes Department at their headquarters in Edmonton.

the e-mail was pretty specific as to what they are looking for:

The essential qualifications that are being assessed at this time are
as follows:

* Knowledge of good security practices.
* Knowledge of the RCMP's, Mission, Vision and Values.
* Ability to determine priorities and organize work.
* Ability to work under pressure.
* Ability to communicate effectively orally.
* Effective interpersonal relationships.
* Initiative.
* Dependability
* Capacity to work with undesirable material.

Molson sells - Jan 20

I finally sold a horse.

Molson is headed to a new home at the end of the month.

I got an e-mail mid week from a lady asking if she could come and look at both Molson and Gidget. She had also called and talked to Melissa. While I had told her that I was away and she would have to wait, Melissa had told her that she could come look. So arrangements were made for her to come on Saturday...which as we all know was not a good day here.

Anyways...she came out last night and looked him over really good. And FELL IN LOVE. So he is off to be a breeding stallion and hopefully, a reining horse.

She also took a look at Gidget (as well as she could in the dark) and thinks she is a sweetie and will look her over closer tonight when she drops off the money for Molson.

She also tried to talk me out of Ding and Rondee...but I said "not for sale - at least at this time". She said "well, I will have to be more persuasive then". LOL