Tough Week

I'm out of sorts today, with all kinds of things on my mind - its been a very tough week.

1) One of my first bosses, and someone who was really like a father figure/mentor/friend to me is in quite a bad way, and not expected to live much longer. Its funny how, at the time, you are living in such a silo, and don't realize how someone is influencing your life. Over the years since I worked for him, I have frequently found myself quoting him "people worry about the mice while the lions eat the cheese", and in many cases emulating him. He had faith that an 18 y.o. would make it to NoCA and be able to focus enough to actually work for him. While I wasn't always out of trouble, I can (in hindsight) see his firm hand keeping me, certainly not on the straight and narrow, but most definitely on track. I learned a lot of what I know about people, what to tolerate from them, horses, and so much more from he, and his wife. More about all of those years in a later blog.

2) The Mighty Puck Star is out of the Pacific Northwest Hunter Jumper show next week. He just isn't 100%, and call me crazy, but I'd rather scratch, get him right, and look forward to Thunderbird in Canada in June. Sucks to lose the money though.

3) I read an article the other day positing that children are ruder than every now-days. And that it is the parents who have created the situation by over-empowering their little darlings, and teaching them that nothing they do could possibly be wrong. Way to give your kids false self-esteem - instead of legitimately building it through accomplishment. Anyway, I am now, and shall thankfully remain, childless. Particularly avoiding the above kind of little monsters.

What I do know, is there is a whole generation of adults (and it shames me that I am *in* that generation, though thankfully not of their mindset) that take very little responsibility for their lives. They spend years and who knows how much money to tell their therapists how it's everyone else's fault but their own that their lives didn't turn out as planned, or they have mommy issues, or ...the list goes on. Come on you whiny piss-ants...at a certain point in your life you look at people around you, pick, choose and emulate the traits you most admire. YOU decide the person you will be. And if you have problems, suck it up and deal with them.

4) Here's another thing - why are people so afraid of failure? Its a great learning tool. Admit you effed up - move on. If people are going to judge you based on that - ditch them. Do you REALLY have time and space in your life to put up with those kind of people? I have sadly, seen too many people close to me let what other people think virtually run their life.

Derby and Horseshow next week

Well what a race! Mine That Bird got the perfect textbook ride from BooBoo Borail - Cajun homeboy showed 'em what riding is! I'm happy for all the connections. What class the trainer and owner showed Sunday morning after the Derby. They stood outside the Derby museum, where people were coming to see the newly dedicated Barbaro sculpture, and gave away each and every rose from the Derby wreath. They answered questions, posed for photos, signed autographs, and reminded fans that it really is all about the horse. There are a whole lot of folks who could learn a lesson there.

As for me and The Mighty - we are off to the Pacific NW Hunter/Jumper show next week. Cross your fingers for better weather than we are having in our area right now.

The NW (Seattle area specifically) sucks. Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't. If the weather doesn't get you, the politics, Green-Nazis, or the PC-Police will!