There is a LOT going on between now and then too, beyond trying to get ready for WEG. Like that wasn’t enough to angst over. cheap wedding dresses
bridal gowns,
wedding gowns,
I am ordering Western Sidesaddle outfit & accessories this coming week. Doma Clasica jacket & vest need to be found SOON.
Dieting. Walking & riding.
InnisFailte Pinto Sporthorses & Coloured Cobs
Holy Freaking Crap Batman.
I leave TWO WEEKS FROM THIS MORING. :eek:
Things that are giving me heartburn, include:
Only one more paycheck before leaving. Pitiful at that. ALL of it will go to hay for while I’m gone. Which leaves pitifully LESS from this week’s to accomplish anything still needed. :eek:
Top Hat was lost by UPS. MY FIRST UPS FAIL EVER. At least on this end. They KNOW me. They know my farm. They even used to bring cookies for my special dog, and they knew him. :sadsmile: I’ve no idea what happened. The tracking said “Delivered” at 1614 on Tuesday. And “left in garage.”
SNORT. If I had a garage, you can be sure it would be a barn. :lol: :uhoh:
The 1890’s blouse and Doma Clasica Split Skirt were backordered. They were due to arrive at SacCity today, and Dale is shipping them 3rd day at no extra charge. Have I mentioned GOD BLESS DALE!!! He (she?) even humoured me with an update this morning, and will send a UPS tracking # for me to angst about tomorrow when the order is shipped from SacCity to here.
Meanwhile, I have to qualify for my new post sometime next week. Not enough stress in my life to begin with… now I have to shoot a target I can’t even SEE at 30 yards… :sigh: :lol: :uhoh:
Things that have gone RIGHT:
The Top Hat folks have already shipped a second one, at no cost, even while we deal with the UPS claim on the first one. Wow. Above and beyond.
Dale, from [URL=“http://www.saccitydrygoods.com/”]
Sacramento City Dry Goods What a GEM of a find. I am a brand new customer, buying two SALE items, and Dale is going above and beyond anything expected as far as customer service. Wow. I am a customer for life. (oh, and I saved $40 over the original place I ordered–which is a LOT in the grand scheme of things!!)
My hair arrived. 
One of the mot fun little acoutrements of this whole adventure was the decision to keep my hair shortish, and use a hair extension for the turn of the century outfit. I have THE CUTEST clip of banana curls. They look so real it’s scary. They are the perfect compliment to the rest of the outfit. 
WAY FUN.
I go some really good deals on closeout and GoodWill clothes for the duration. I have very little in the way of casual clothes, since all my jobs are now uniformed. I scored a $3 light denim short sleeved shirt at Wally*World and a $2.50 skirt at Goodies. I will be bringing several casual skirts, as I have more of those than slacks. I SCORED two GOOD pair of walking shoes at a salvage/surplus place. KILLED me to spend $30 between the two, but somehow two year old fake crocs weren’t going to make it for three weeks of hiking around KHP. 
But the biggest thing so far about this Entire Adventure, is that I have learned to ask for, and (hopefully gracefully) accept help. When I enter the ring, it won’t be just me. It will be Marie who tailored the Doma Clasica jacket and is making the top hat for the Western Sidesaddle. It will be Michelle, who is making the Medieval tunic and taking care of Eamon for three weeks. It is Laurie who is pre-buying a lesson package that will let me buy hay and have a wee bit of breathing room. It’s my Mum who bought the plane tickets. Its’ Vicky who is putting me up and giving me the ride. It is my nephew in the Navy in Japan who sent his camera for me to use. It is my brother who gave me his truck two years ago, that means I don’t have a payment and only have liability insurance–which makes it doable.
There are a LOT of people going into that ring with me.
Last week I had a little meltdown. I thought that I had made the wrong decision when I said I could do this. I’m scrimping HARD. Harder than I ever have. And it feels like it’s too late to back out… lots of non-refundable things already paid for. :dead: But my wonderful Mum slapped me around a little. She reminded me just how many people had a stake in this. How many people I am BRINGING there with me. :sadsmile:
I am humbled and honored. I only hope I can do them proud.
Two weeks. 14 days. And I saw yet another HUGE rainbow today on the way home.
WE can do this!!!
((HUGS))
You can do this! It’s going to be great! Now take a deep breath… it’s all gonna work out.
You can do it!!
Sounds like you are pretty well organized.
P.
Your mom has it right… and what a great post you made about it!! Best of luck, and yes, it will all turn out just great!!
Just checking in to see how things are coming along… Everything is coming together I hope???
Lots of well wishes!
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Oh, Rhy… keep 'em up.
If anything could go wrong, it has. Tonight it has come down to the Kill.Me.Now. stage.
UPS failed me for the first time ever with the top hat. OK, so supplier not only does a dispute/tracking thing, but sends out a new one. Tracking looks good, due to arrive tonight… and somehow I missed the Big Brown Truck when I was out watering. Eamon didn’t even bark. Note left on the door that it requires a signature. :sigh: I can leave the thingy with the signature for tomorrow, but that puts off the decorating of said top hat until Saturday at the earliest, and I am depending in the kindness of a friend for that… we’re cutting it VERY close.
There have been other details like that, just really annoying, ulcer inducing stuff…
But tonight takes the cake. I got to work and logged on to check my pay stub because it does not appear that I got my holiday pay from Labor day. THANK GOD I logged on, because there is a $$$+ charge on my card (our pay goes directly on a debit/credit card) and the only annotation is - , . Yes, that’s it. A DASH AND A COMMA. :eek: :dead:
I am trying to dispute it, of course, Citibank says I can’t even dispute it until it is not ‘pending’ (money’s not pending, it’s GONE) which can take UP TO SEVEN DAYS. I DON’T HAVE SEVEN DAYS.
At this point I don’t know what to do. If I cancel, I lose the plane fare and the money–and time–put into costumes. I’m just sick. Plus my friend is disabled, and is counting on me to be her ‘gopher’ for all the IALHA stuff she is coordinating. I feel like I can’t cancel… but if I can’t fix this…
Even the Ebay gods are hating me. If they would just smile I might be able to make it…
I just don’t know. I really am sick.
The Spanish jacket is done, and I even found the PERFECT pleated front ‘Spanish’ blouse for $9.99 at the overstock/clearance/firesale place. The Western Sidesaddle blouse arrived safely yesterday, and it fits. The dark purple velvet tunic is TO DIE FOR.
And if I can’t get this straightened out in time to buy hay…
Yikes! Jingles and prayers that it will all work out - and it will all work out, somehow. :yes:
If I could be of any assistance “gophering” on the days I’m there, let me know.
((HUGS))
That sucks. Really does. And of course dealing with banks there is no way to get anything done any faster than the speed of sludge. Ugh…
It has to get better. Has to!!
Thanks Rhy & DT.
I am freaking out tonight for many reasons, not the least of which is I’m either having the worst allergies I’ve had in recent memory… or I’m coming down with a cough & sore throat. :eek: :dead:
I cannot even dispute the stupid CC issue until it clears. I can barely even get to a human to talk to about it. Hoping t’mow being a weekday helps things. :sigh: I’m trying VERY hard not to panic.
I pick up the turn-of-the-century Western Sidesaddle tophat in the morning, and ship all my clothes, riding gear, helmets etc., UPS t’mow afternoon. Just bringing a carry on with paddies, half chaps and breeks on the plane.
In an extremely touching gesture, Linda Hamid has sent down her late husband’s full costume for us to wear at least once. :sadsmile: I am truly honored. I think it’s very cool.
If a tough dress rehearsal leads to a good performance… then the hassles and glitches of the past couple of weeks should mean a GREAT time in KY. At least that’s what I’m hoping. And praying.
I really, really can’t be sick… :uhoh: :no:
I cannot believe I am HERE!
So, despite the tailgate breaking with 800# of hay in the bed… cancelled lessons (had to get said hay OUT of said truck… mostly because they have to EAT it while I’m here… ) and almost falling asleep at the wheel driving home after dropping off Eamon… I AM HERE!!!
Flights were semi-uneventful. My wonderful friend Cathy, the leader of our music group at St. Mary’s was right on time at Veazie PD where I left the truck. She delivered me to BIA where I had a little heart attack because there was no check in ‘kiosk’ as described in all my online purchasing of tickets… luckily, that was ok. Just go to the counter and checkin. The flights were PACKED. Delayed at La Guardia (normal) and I’m told pretty bad turbulence NY to KY. I actually napped for a wee bit, so you coulda fooled me. Vicky found me, or I her, right at the exit from the secure part of the terminal.
Lunch at CRACKER BARREL!!! Yay! MAN I miss Cracker Barrel. I restrained myself and only bought three candy sticks on the way out.
We had to run quite a few errands both in Loisville, then in Lexington. They have a place here called the “Liquor Barn.” That in itself is entertaining & delightful enough, but they have the most AMAZING delis inside. REAL DELI PICKLES like at a Kosher deli. AMAZING deli meats with no sugar added, an olive bar with all sorts of amazing goodies… (I got stuffed grape leaves, almond-stuffed black olives and citrus-stuffed green olives–can’t remember what specific kind of olives-they were both YUM!) we actually stopped there for that stuff, but I did manage to get a nip of Cherry Pucker for my cold. Tastes better than Nyquil. lol!
Then we stopped in at the Park. I seriously got goosebumps and teary driving in.
Security is through the roof, Nat’l Guard, SP and local. Of course that fascinates me. Before I was asked to ride I had been really hoping to get on as security somehow.
We only went as far as the “Big Barn,” the “Breeds Barn” and the offices to get our credentials. Things were pretty well locked down already and we were lacking our vehicle manifest, but sweet talked our way in. :-p We figured not getting kicked OUT was more important than seeing more.
I got to ‘see’ Tori, but not meet her or school, because of security, credentials etc. It was just too crazy. I am not entirely sure I’ll get to ride her before the day we move in. I will get to school her before our performance (School ME–she knows her stuff!) but not sure of anything before that. The KHP horses have all moved out of their digs into pasture for the duration.
The farms and land around the Park are amazing… the Endurance is two 50 mile loops that adjacent farms opened up land for in UNPRECEDENTED cooperation. The Endurance has never before been able to be held at the same venue. It’s ALL HERE baby. It’s just so amazing.
There were some horses there we saw, but they are demo & clinic horses. We can’t get into the competition barns with our credentials, only the rest of it. On the major plus side, we get onto the gorunds daily, which is huge. There is simply SO MUCH to see and do, I am not entirely sure where to begin.
I am riding EIGHT times, not six. I miscounted somehow. Costumes are amazing.
Linda Hamid sent down her late Husband’s costume too. What an honor <sniffle> it is beautiful, and give us great ideas for the future.
Tomorrow is the Opening Ceremonies. We go to the park around noon to poke around and hopefully find out where our stabling is. That was still up in the air, since Tori is a KHP “resident” to begin with. We’ll either be in the “Big Barn” or the “Breeds” barn, which are right next to each other. We don’t move Tori in until Tuesday morning, the day of our first ride.
Sunday will be another great adventure, I will be ‘side-walking’ with the Sidesaddle group in the “Spirit Parade” in downtown Lex. This is an amazing group of ladies. I haven’t even met the one who sent her ‘chap’ apron for me to wear in the Western SS outfit! There’s a potluck lunch too, and I’m promised much fun and laughter, as well as EDUCATION for me. I am so hooked on the fun and fashion of sidesaddle–and yes, it is ALL ABOUT fashion… WAIT until you see The Hat.
I’m really only looking that far ahead right now. I’m chipping in where I can on the farm where I’m staying to help out. I am trying not to anticipate TOO far ahead or it gets a little overwhelming. We have tickets to all of the Dressage. ALL OF IT. I am pinching myself. Other stuff we have to play by ear against our riding schedule .
I got a message from my student that Eamon is fine, and has settled right in on HER bed with her. <oops> :uhoh: He’s availing himself of the couch on the sunroom at other times. I only cried a little tiny bit when I left him off. I’ve been completely conned by a fat little Jack Russell Terrorist here. I’ve never been a fan, but this one… she’s a love. There’s also a fawn coloured Greyhound named Willie who is my boyfriend for the duration.
I think I did pretty good, only forgot a few things so far… (a hairbrush. How do you forget a hairbrush? DOH!) I did manage to get horrible blisters on my feet, the likes of which I have not for years and years… I thought I broke in my walking shoes enough prior to flying, but that would be a big fat NOT. I feel stupid, I try to be really careful about that. It sucks if your feet hurt when you are on vaca–most especially one where you’ll be walking. A LOT. Got some Gold Bond healing cream t’night, so hoping it clears up. I just feel stupid.
My cold, is thankfully still getting better! I can’t smelll anything, and am sneezing like crazy… but I seem to be on the mend. I sound awful in the evenings.
NOW, if I can just get some sleep t’night, I will be absolutely tickled. I’ll probably get used to sleeping here round about the last day or two… 
Thank you, thank you to everyone who helped get me here, and who is holding down the fort at home. Keep praying folks… we need it!
Opening ceremonies–here we come!!!
:eek:
:winkgrin:
Just one more observation… I’ve met quite a few locals the past two days, from Mr. Hall of Hallway Feeds, to my friend’s hay guy, to the waiter at the restaurant today.
EVERY BLESSED ONE OF THEM has been quite sad that the area residents are priced right out of going to the games. 
It really is a shame there couldn’t have been some kind of residency discount or… just… SOMETHING. They are pretty excited about it, and think it’s special an an honor to host… and every one of them has been sad they can’t go, even get on the grounds, without a minimum of $25.
I don’t think that WEG or Alltech or anyone really cares about that, but I do. I know I coulnd’t be here if I had to pay.
Relampago is here! YAY!! I get to see Luar’s son in person!
I wish we could see them in the barns, but I completely understand why not.
I count seven or eight Iberians in dressage.
Sounds like you are having fun! Can’t wait to see pics… you are taking lots of pics right??
P.
We’ll call this the PollyAnna report, I guess, because I LOVED the Opening Ceremonies and was SO privileged to go! The folks I was with were growling about everything from the parking to our seats… well… everything. I was enchanted and just found everything amazing.
From the very start, with the Nokota(s) and Native American Chiefs and Warriors… I was SO touched and found that very moving. And I was SO PROUD of the little horses! I am not sure who was which for horrses, I know the blue roan was a Nokota. And he stood on a slack rein like a champ. They looked like all either Mustang or QH/Paint to me, except the one white/grey which looked to have a lot of Arab. They were all fabulously behaved and the prayer gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. Of course I was smitten with the medicine hat, who has at least one blue eye. 
I just thought ALL of the ceremony was amazing. Was it all entirely to my taste? No… but that’s what ART is. I am not an Opera fan, but know from my years of voice training that it was EXCELLENT.
The symphony was absolutely fabulous-and I’m spoilt rotten by having been spoonfed the Boston Symphony Orchestra, so it’s not so easy to blow my socks off–they certainly did.
The choirs were AMAZING and I just wish we heard more from them. “Shenandoah” brought goosebumps and tears.
The folks I was with were grumbling about a lot of stuff. They hated the West Side Story piece. It was a combination of ballet dancers and one Lusitano stallion, basically the “rumble” between the jets & the sharks–the fight scene… I don’t ‘get’ ballet most of the time-- I appreciate the dance moves, and the difficulty factor–BUT I am not usually able to interpret the story… I DID love parts of that and completely got it. I wondered if you did not know West Side Story if you’d be completely lost. But I still found it an amazing artistic endeavor and really went WOW at some of it.
The Friesian “Train” was STUNNING. Not fair to any other drill teams who went, because I’m not sure HOW you top them. Just WOW.
All the people who got up and left during the Opera music missed Tommy Turvey. I LOVED him. He rode one horse bareback with no bridle, then in comes a second horse at liberty, and he works both. Just stunning when you think of how some of the competition horses react in a venue like that!
I LOVED Stacy Westfall. Sara Lee Guthrie was lovely–I didn’t expect to love her, but wow. And Stacy just brought tears to my eyes as she walked the horse in, just rubbing his neck, reassuring him. And he performed, licking and chewing and trusting her… it just reminded me of what it is all about really…
There just was so much that was neat and fun and cool. The Saddlebreds, the mock race, the carriages that the Mayor, Governor & Princess were brought in on…
Princess Haya’s speech was lovely. She seems very gracious, and certainly genuine in her love of horses.
It was absolutely electric when the American team came in. I’ve worked NFL and MLB and even College Hockey–and none of it compares to the feeling of being there when everyone went nuts for our team. It was very cool.
I did feel badly for the volunteers. Most were helpless to help. The stadium is not marked at all (and I’ve worked a lot of stadiums, I’m used to finding my way around) and the poor volunteers really didn’t have any answers. There was a bit of a fiasco trying to get the disabled person I was with back to the vehicle… again, no one’s fault really, except maybe MINE for not speaking up sooner and finding someone who could help sooner. I think we’ll do fine ongoing as she’ll have her mobility scooter.
It seriously was just amazing. As a former reporter/producer, I’m appalled at my lack of vocabulary in finding another adjective. But Amazing is the only thing that comes to mind.
Today is Sidesaddle day at the Spirit Parade… T’mow starts dressage, and Tuesday morning at 00:dark:30 we bring Tori in and life as a spectator ends. :eek:
Ride times?
Do you have all your ride times? I’ll be there Thurdsay through Saturday and would love to see you ride. What do I look for on the schedule?
And be sure to have fun. At least you got to see the OC. Those of us at home got to see the orchestra.
This is the first chance I’ve had to really sit down and journal the experience.
We’ve been going from early, early morning until quite late at night, managing about 4-6 hrs sleep…
But it’s completely worth it. This is the most amazing experience.
Today I got to meet Mao and her Nokota and Colonial Spanish. I actually spotted them while walking my mare back from the washrack first… her hubby was handgrazing and I spotted the CSM from a mile away… then the blue roan on the other side. I stopped and said ‘hi.’ Had not had a chance to FIND them in the Equine Village, nor see them go yet… but had a very happy coincidence when I ran into them down in the small demo ring on my way back from a Bit of Britan run. They both look FABULOUS, are eating up the crowds and attention… I’m so proud of them. And Mao is lovely.
We had tickets to Individual Dressage, and I sat through rainy Monday, and it was entirely worth it. Luckily I packed and dressed for it–and cold for me isn’t the same as cold for local folks. :lol: There were some really wonderful rides. I only got really wet and cold fairly late in the afternoon, and the walk back to the shuttles was plenty to warm me back up. :lol:
Tuesday’s individual dressage was lovely weather… and some amazing horses. I was heartbroken that Relempago was rung out. Still not entirely clear why as he jogged sound afterward. Loved all the Lusos & Andies. Was thrilled to see the Italian rider in Police uniform. LOVED the two little Polish horses. Have to eat some crow with some humble pie for dessert as Toto IS all that in person. His back end doesn’t match in extended trot (whose could?) but his other work was amazing. BUT–I also thought it was electrifying when little Fuego came out next and strutted right into the big ring saying “Oh, yeah, I can do that too.” I thought he was completely robbed by Isabel. Oh well. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the big chetty British horse. What a gorgeous rider and horse. I had not heard of them and got quite teary at their lovely, lovely ride.
We had tickets for the Special, but only made a couple rides in the morning, we had to be here with truck/trailer/stuff at 06:30. I had to unload 6 of the full size regular black mats alone, and set them up as my person hadn’t asked for any help. I figure that entitled me to the pulled pork sandwich (with fries ) that I had for lunch. :lol: I finished putting the stall together, and set up the tack stall, and bathed the Kentucky Red Clay covered formerly white mare while owner returned truck & trailer to farm and came back…
My horse (Spanish Norman “Victoria of Fox Run”) has been… interesting. She is in residence here at the park. I did not get a chance to school at all before our first day of performance/exhibition. I wasn’t entirely happy about that, but absolutely refused to stress about it either–as it wasn’t going to change anything.
Tori was an absolute PIG on the ground the first day. Today is day three and she is almost behaving. <evil grin> Luckily, she is a blast to ride, and loves doing demos. We had to play around with equipment when I finally got to rider her for the first time about 3 hours before our first demo. Had to try three different bits, the Spanish bit was just so slightly too small… the snaffle had absolutely, positively no brakes :eek: and thank goodness, the rubber mullen pelham was the Three Bear’s Porridge.
We exhibited the first day in Spanish style festival dress. A fancy spanish cut jacket, split skirt etc. Tori was lovely once we made it to the ring.
Yesterday we got out the Medieval costume that Linda Hamid sent up. Hamid Hill Farm has been a premier breeder of Andies for years. They had Embajador IX, (Henry Van Shaik’s mount) who is Tori’s dam. Her paternal half-brother is Romantico, whom Allan Hamid rode in full armour. Allan passed away a couple of years ago after a battle with cancer. Linda asked if she sent down his medieval outfit, “would we mind” wearing it for a demo?
It is spectacular. It also fits like it’s made for me. It is all black and silver and very embellished. When dressed for the ride, it took me a half hour to make it the length of the barn down the road next to it for people stopping us for pictures and info. Very, very cool.
Here are a few photos, unfortunately the owner decided the emcee wasn’t good enough and that she had to announce herself, so I’ve no one to take photos. I begged her to just give the camera to anyone ringside… yesterday she did. I’m told when the next group arrives, they have extra hands with them and someone should be able to take some photos.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/pintopiaffe/WEG/
Tori looked better today, after a second “Pintopiaffe Seven Step Pinto Process Shampoo System…” OK, so she’s grey, but it works just as well on them. The white today was glistening, and her mane and tail were much, much better. I think another round t’mow on the tail and we should be good.
There also are some from dressage–the individual/team (GP.) I have to upload (many) more and label and organize them when I can get on WiFi. My dialup at ‘home’ here is atrociously slow and dumps out every couple of minutes, and there’s no WiFi here at the park. Maybe t’mow night we can hit MickeyD’s, I got some pretty good ones of the Iberians in dressage… our seats are absolutely to die for.
We still have the purple & gold medieval costume, the Western Sidesaddle outfit, and the Spanish style outfit again… Today is the last day we have tickets AND demo, so I’m hoping to get around to more of the demos and clinicians etc., as things calm down a little for us.
We go whenever it says “IALHA” in the Equine Village. Tomorrow we are at 17:30 in the Village Arena–the bigger ring. Sunday morning we are at 1100 and have a full hour it appears… (we’re not the whole demo, there are other riders, the past two days and tomorrow are a Gaucho on two lovely PRE stallions then us.) Monday we are crack o’dawn (for me, anyway) at 1000 in the “Clinician’s Corral,” which is the Breeds Barn ring for those of you familiar with the park.
PLEASE come say “hi” if you see us. I’m the big fat middle aged rider on the big, fat white mare… I am having more fun than should be legal. :winkgrin:
so glad you are having a wonderful time
I am watching from afar, and have been concerned from some of your posts. Glad it is working out. The pix were great! I also LOVED the Iberian horses, and Horjas. I hope you get to see the xc tomorrow.:yes:
I really only took pics of the Iberians and any others (like the Police Officer) that interested me, because I know there will be plenty of top photos everywhere…
I’m off now to the Freestyle… Seriously, I cannot, not, not BELIEVE I am here and get to watch this. I am so very blessed.
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