Hey Darlin',
Woke up to another cloudy day. I considered going riding but the forecast was predicting rain by noon, and it wasn't really a very nice day (and you know I'm a fair weather rider for the most part!), so I ended up not going. I did move the horses over to the barn before the rain came in around 1:00, and otherwise had a pretty uneventful day. I did my Egoscue exercises, which do seem to be making a difference. It took several hours of trying before I was actually able to get an internet connection good enough to watch a little TV, I don't know what's going on with that. I didn't have any trouble last week, suddenly it's nearly impossible. It finally popped in about the time I needed to go feed the horses, and stayed in for the most part through the evening. A quiet, rainy day the rest of the time. Once again heading to shower and bed. Good night, babe! Love you!

Hiya Babe,
Was up a bit earlier today, finally had a night without earplugs so nature woke me up this morning for a change. It was a cool and cloudy day, and I considered going riding but decided I had enough to do with two loads of laundry and a bunch of housekeeping. Even though I left the laundry on the line all day, some of it didn't get dry so I had to run the dryer off the generator for half an hour to finish it off. I also forgot to open the gray water drain, so I ended up with a flood in the living room before I notice it, had that to clean up. Just the universe telling me I was overdue mopping my floors! I dragged out the carpets and did some spot cleaning on them anyway, so it was all good. Then spent most of the day reading, with a few computer games to fill the time. Suddenly couldn't get a good enough signal to get TV reception for some reason, so read through the evening as well. Now it's tea time before shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hey Darlin',
Spent another day in camp, not doing too much. It was cloudy and a bit cooler, and I had already decided not to ride today, and didn't feel like doing much else, so I spent the day reading, playing computer games and watching a couple of movies. The only distraction was that someone came in with a trailer and parked right next to me, then went off riding and left their little yapper dog locked in the back of the trailer, and it never stopped yapping the whole time they were gone, for hours and hours! Turned out they were day riders anyway, not sure why they parked right next to me in a camping site, though I can't say I'm sorry when they left, I wasn't looking forward to listening to THAT every day! Folks, if you're going to leave a yapping dog behind, and there are plenty of other places to park, please don't park next to an existing camper! Grrrr! Anyway, other than that, it was a very quiet a relaxing, albeit gloomy day. The campground finally emptied out, so I'm looking forward to a quiet night, perhaps even without earplugs for a change! No one to run a generator all night, which has happened every night since I've been here! Good night, honey! Love you!

Hi Sweetie!
Couldn't believe how late I slept this morning, maybe because of the earplugs, since yet ANOTHER generator was on all night last night! Had a quiet, lazy day today, did my exercises, read a bit, watched a couple of movies, and generally had a relaxing day. I woke up a little achy this morning, so I figured a day off would be worthwhile. Pretty busy in camp, so I didn't want to ride today anyway. Beautiful weather, lovely day to rest! Not much else going on today. Good night, babe! Love you!

Hiya Sweetie,
Up bright and early, quick breakfast, packed up a few things, then headed 3 miles up the road to the hay place and picked up eight bales, got back and got them loaded, hooked up, loaded the horses, and were away from McCulleys by about 9:00. Headed to Walmart in Live Oak, met with Dave and Deb who dropped off my leveling board, did some quick shopping, and was out of there by 11:00. Arrived at River Rise Equestrian Camp around noon (put the wrong entrance into my GPS so had to fix that), and walked around the campground with host Gerry to find the perfect available spot, which turned out to be site 1. Even though it was close to the barn I decided to highline, so got that set up and the horses out with hay. Filled the truck with water and got their buckets full and topped off my trailer tank. Discovered the local Tractor Supply had two bags of Topline Balance, so I drove over there to pick them up, and stopped to fill up with fuel along the way. Finished setting up, and completely settled in by 3:30! Had a relaxing afternoon and evening after that, watched a fascinating and bizarre satire with an all-star British cast called Wild Target, soon time to be off to bed! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Had a fairly quiet day today, which I needed after all that activity last week. I spent a few hours changing the ribbon markers to how I like them, then left them up in the office. Packed a few things, but didn't hook up the truck yet because I want to get some hay at the hay place right down the street before I go. I'm down to one bale, and I don't want to have to go scurrying around looking for some tomorrow afternoon. It's only 70 miles to the next place, so I have plenty of time (famous last words!) I did discover that I need a reservation, though they used to be first come, first served, and they don't have a campground map specifying lengths, so it will be a mystery until I get there. Apparently the site by the barn I usually stay at isn't open, and I have no idea if there's anything else big enough for me, so it's going to be an interesting arrival. I've arranged to meet Dave and Deb at the Walmart in the morning as well to pick up the leveling board I forgot, plus I figured I'd do my shopping up here, again, to save me a trip out this week. I'm hoping that once I get there, I can just chill for a couple of days. You remember they have a barn there, so the horses will be safe and warm during these cooler nights we're getting. Watched a great movie about the marathon swimmer Diana Nyad starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, as she attempts to swim 100 miles from Cuba to Key West. Annette is the same age as me, and I have to say, I think I look a lot younger than she does at this age! Jodie Foster is a little younger than me, and I hold my own against her, too, I think. Of course, that could all be a figment of my imagination, we all look younger in the mirror than the way others see us! I remember you saying that you'd look in the mirror and see an old man you didn't recognize as being you, I get that! Anyway, a nice evening, heading to shower and bed as soon as I finish my tea. Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Another day up around dawn, pretty much a repeat of yesterday, floating around all day, mostly with the timer, then off to the field for the 50 mile finishers. No dinner tonight, so I just had a small sack after the big sandwich at lunch. There was a short crisis when Kaleigh couldn't find her truck keys and ended up having to call a locksmith when we couldn't find any trace of them. Watched a Wonder Woman movie just for fun, heading to bed shortly. Good night, babe! Love you!

Hey Babe!
A typical, super busy day of running around and helping out wherever they needed it. Started out working with Vickie as a timer, did that a good part of the day, had to fix one problem on the trail when a couple of people missed markers on a tricky corner, then ended up at the finish line clocking folks as they came in, the last of which was at 6:35, just before the sun set. Ran back and threw some hay at the horses and dropped Lola off (she spent the day with me), went to dinner and the ride meeting, got back to the trailer about 8:00, fed the horses their grain, walked Lola over to my friend Jo's trailer to pick up a couple of groceries she brought to me (she's riding tomorrow), already did my Spanish lesson at the Finish line, so just my blog, my cup of Sleepytime tea, and my shower, and it's to bed! Daylight "savings" ends tonight, so all the rides start an hour earlier tomorrow, so technically, I'll get the same amount of sleep anyway, since I'll have to get up an hour earlier! So I'll say good night, and love you, darlin'!

Hiya Darlin'!
Kept pretty busy today, putting out water tanks and filling them up, helping with ride registration, keeping the dinner spaghetti pots stirred, speaking at the riders meeting, helping a few more folks understand the map, and finally calling it a night after 8:30. Need to get up early tomorrow, so it's tea, Spanish lesson, shower and bed for me! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Hey Sweetheart,
The last 20 hours has been an absolute nightmare! It started when Lola didn't come home last night. You know as well as I do that the only time she doesn't come back after 20 or 30 minutes is when she's being physically restrained. The only other time she didn't come home all night was when those two idiot boys took Lola to Chicago and by the time I found out, I ended up having to meet them in Louisville. That was a nightmare, too. When she didn't come home at her usual time, I expected a phone call, which is what usually happens, from someone who thinks she's lost and holds on to her. Well, last night, there was no phone call. I had already hooked up the truck to the trailer, so I called Deb and she graciously came out and we drove up and down the road, and even into the field where it was filled with campers from the Hulaween festival. I was terrified she made her way all the way up there and someone might have taken her, but no one we talked to had seen her. I really didn't think she's go that far, but she didn't seem to be closer to home. Deb brought me back and I stewed for awhile, but I just couldn't sit around, so I called the sheriff's office, then walked back up to the campground and proceeded to walk into the festival. I finally reached some paramedics and explained, they said they'd spread the word. I finally turned around and walked home, it was after 1:30 by the time I got back. I took my shower and went to bed, but couldn't sleep for the longest time. I was posting on various Facebook groups and doing what I could, all the while praying that she would come back in the morning. I must have finally dozed off a bit, but woke up at 7:00 and got up. Sunrise wasn't until 7:45, but I fed the horses, and right after I had a bowl of cereal, I saddled up Flash and started around the neighborhood calling for her. I ended up back at the festival, though this time I cut right through, found some staff, reported her at Lost and Found, and was told to go to the park office, which I did. The place was jam-packed, of course, and everyone was thrilled to see a horse in the park, and were all very kind about Lola, though eventually a woman in authority made a point to tell me I shouldn't be in the park, but I was already headed out by that time anyway (easier to apologize than get permission, right?) By now it was after 10:00, so I made up a flyer, did a bunch more Facebook posts, and tried to solve the problem of how I was going to get over to McCulleys to mark the trails while still leaving my trailer behind. I sure didn't want to move it out and not have it be there when Lola came back, I didn't know what she would do if it were gone. I had a lot of positive responses about borrowing a trailer of my group and the Florida trails group, and one negative experience with a guy that was selling a trailer but said I could borrow or rent it, then when it came time to give me his address, disappeared. I drove into town and got flyers printed, and stapled them onto posts all up and down the road. I was very close to solving the transportation problem when suddenly a guy drove up with Lola in the passenger seat. OMG, I couldn't believe it (though the universe's little voice was showing me a happy ending.) Just as I suspected, she was only a short distance away. Apparently Mike first thought she was part of a pack of dogs near her mother's house, which was right across the street from the end of the road, but then realized she had a collar on (unlike the other dogs), so he took her out, bathed her, brought her into his house, had her in his recliner watching TV. Apparently she was with him all day! Someone finally told him that I had been hollering for Lola along the road when I was putting up flyers, and he drove her over. I was so grateful!! I couldn't understand why he didn't call the phone number on her tag, but all he said was that it was an 800 number, and that didn't make sense to him. I explained that it was my own personal number (I've had it over 30 years, after all!), but he didn't expect it, so he didn't call it. Still not sure why he didn't try it, but, whatever! She was back! it was just about 3:00 by this time, so I figured I still had time to move, so I finished packing, hooked the truck back up, loaded up the horses and got moving. I was thrilled that I made it around the back driveway, it's always been a close turn for a big rig, but they've taken a tree down and I went around fine. Close on one tree, but fine. I was so excited that I forgot to stop and pick up my leveling board, so I'll have to pick that up again later. Arrived at McCulleys at 4:30, got myself settled in a lovely spot under a big tree, though I pulled in for a change, which it fits better this way. I've got a full hookup again, and the horses are in that big paddock right at the front. Love getting here first! Was thoroughly exhausted by the time I finished my setup, barely had the energy to make dinner and watch a one hour show. I don't think I'll need any Sleepytime tea tonight! Just have enough energy to wash the dishes, do my Spanish lesson, take my shower and go to bed. I'll have a busy day tomorrow, but it's the kind of worry-free busy I love! Whew! What a day! Good night, babe! Love you!