I am an American Girl

I read today that there is a new American Girl doll. Her name is Julie and she is 9 years old in 1974 (so just barely older than I was). Ok, so there aren't a lot of other similarities - she lives in San Francisco, her parents are divorced, and she's into sports (apparently she tries to get on the boys basketball team due to Title IX. And she's blond. But still... I know, I'm such a kid - but I might have to read the books.

I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I called in sick. I spent the morning watching (and napping through small sections of) the second DVD of Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version, of course). I felt better late in the afternoon, so I picked up the debris in the yard from the branches we had stacked there for over 2 weeks - the city finally got to our neighborhood to pick up the branches yesterday.

After that, I decided to go visit Lark. The drive took me less than 40 minutes. No one was around. Most of the mares were in, but all the geldings were out. Which was good, since I wanted to see how Lark was doing in the pasture. He was being his typical nerd self, just grazing by himself out in the pasture while the more aggressive horses came up towards the gate to see who would come in first. He likes to stay out of that stuff. Once the other horses figured out I wasn't there to bring them in, they went out for grass, too - so Lark went farther out (he's the one on the right, of course). But the pinto horse in the photo followed him, and then some of the others came over and hung out nearby. You can see the progression in my other pictures. So generally, I think he is doing fine. He's not in the same pasture as MC and Winston, though. I think he's out with Tuffy. I decided not to disturb the horses by going into the pasture, but I left an apple in a bag on his stall door.

Full Moon

It's dark when I wake up at 6 am these days. It makes me miss the summer a bit, but then I get mornings like this one. As I started out on my walk with Bravo, I saw the huge moon over the house across the street, so I went back in for my camera. I should have just taken that picture since it was just a bit darker then and thus the moon was more spectacular, but I still think the beach pics would have been better. This is only one of those I took at the beach - I may post more later. Technically, yesterday was the full moon, but it certainly was glorious to see this morning.

I didn't make it out to the barn tonight. I'd forgotten we had a visitor at work from our Chicago office, so Ejie and I took her to the MOA. We shopped at Nordstrom Rack and a little at DSW (didn't recognize any of the workers, though, Karis). Then she treated us to dinner at Johnny Rockets. I couldn't resist a chocolate malt.

I saw an article in the Washington Post online today about parents and their first-year college students called Orientation 101 for Parents and Freshmen: Letting Go. Here is just a bit of the article:

School officials are no longer surprised by parents who try to register their children for classes, argue about a grade or look up a future roommate on Facebook and demand a switch.

"I've heard four or five times this summer: 'I'm not a helicopter parent!' " said Tiffany Sanchez, director of new student programs at American University. She laughed. "Sure you're not."
....

At the admissions office at Hopkins, it's not unusual for parents to tell staff members, "We are taking the SAT next week," or "We are here for our 3 p.m. interview."

"It's the era of we," Conley said.

I know I was a lot more involved in Karis' college hunt, choice, and orientation than my parents were in mine. As I recall it, I sifted through all the college information on my own, and chose 3 schools to which I applied. My mom (or both parents? I no longer remember) took me to look at Duke, then quietly campaigned for me to go there instead of UVA. It was not a successful campaign as I disliked Duke on sight. On move-in day at UVA, it took about 15 minutes to unload the car, and then they were gone.

As the article points out, colleges have more activities for parents these days. But frankly, I think I've done pretty well. Of course, if I'm comparing myself to the parents described in the article, it's easy to look good. But really, I've tried to back off. I haven't been totally successful, but I've tried.

Jump, Bravo, Jump

Tonight was another agility weaves class. I was really impressed at Bravo's progress. He was able to enter the weaves correctly on his own, much of the time, and I was able to get farther away from the poles than I would have thought possible. Oh, he still missed some poles, but all in all, better than I expected. However, you can't do weaves for an hour. It's too boring for both the dog and the handler. Even waiting for turns and mixing in some of the other equipment, we were pretty much done after 30 minutes.

So then we started working on jumps. Bravo doesn't have a problem jumping, he just doesn't really care if he knocks down the pole. I've actually never taught him to jump correctly - just pointed him at the jump and asked him to go over it. So we learned some techniques for making him a better jumper. Basically, he needs to round his back more - just as a horse does when going over a jump. He tends to jump flat, which makes it much more likely he'll hit the pole. What we learned to do is just make him jump back and forth, with treats every time, so he really loves it. Anything for food. And the best thing about is that the dog gets tired out while I mostly stand in one place.

So now in addition to making weave poles, I need a jump. My obedience ones won't work, because the crosspieces attach by velcro, and the jump only goes one way. If you hit the bar going the wrong way, the whole jump falls over. I'll have to figure out if I can make the jump, or if I need to buy them.

Lark's new home

Lark moved to his new home today. We went out a little early to clip the horses and empty the tack lockers. When Ruth got there with her slant-load trailer, we tried to load Lark first. We should have remembered - not the best idea. After a couple of tries, Rae went to get MC. He went in just fine, and then Lark had no problems getting in. I guess he was worried that he was leaving his friends. Diana went in Rae's trailer.

Lark's new stall is across the aisle from his old buddy Winston. It's nice and big, and right by the door to the pasture. And he doesn't have to wear his halter all the time! Yea! I think he will be very happy. There is a little window - see below. I think it is really access for feeding, and won't be open the rest of the time, but at least I got a picture of him looking out.

The pastures all have grass and electric fences, so Lark will have no excuse to rub out his mane anymore.

The tack room is nice and big - also dry and heated. I think any tack we want to leave there will be safe. It's kept locked, with the key in a combination safe on the wall by the door.

A really nice place!

It's not easy becoming green

Jason is a green sash now. I'm amazed at how much material they have to know at this level. And the differences between some of the techniques seem so small. Keeping track of it all looks like a very difficult task. Anyway, it was fun watching, especially the free sparring.

Not much else to report today. Russ and I took a couple of walks with Bravo. I finished another Cara Black mystery (Murder in Belleville) and played on the computer. We had a nice dinner at home and watched a Monk and a Psych from a couple of weeks ago. That's it - quiet day.

HOW MUCH for that bag?????

So I read today that earlier this summer, thieves got into Kirsten Dunst's hotel room. They stole some credit cards, id's, an iPod, $2,500 -- and a bag worth $13,000. What??? I didn't know they even made bags worth $13,000. Another instance of "the rich are very different from you and me. " "Yes, they have more money." (Fitzgerald/Hemingway)

Speaking of money, I read today that those "debit cards" everyone uses these days (since so few places take checks) can open you up to a big loss. They look like credit cards, but they do not have the same legal status. You can lose much more if your debit card is used fraudulently than the legal limit of $50 for a credit card. And besides, if someone uses your credit card, you argue with the credit card company that you shouldn't have to pay the bill. If it's your debit card, you have to fight the bank to get the money back, since it is already gone from your checking account. Full article, including the safest ways to use your debit card, here.

End of Summer

It was foggy this morning when I left for my walk, so I remembered my own advice and took the camera (turns out my camera bag has a waist strap which makes me look dorky, but is effective for going on a walk). I took several pictures in the beach area (here), but this one just felt like the end of summer. In a perfect world, they'd keep the beach open until after Labor Day, but I suppose most of their lifeguards go back to college in the next week or so. Anyway, it made me a little sad...

Yesterday, I exchanged emails with my roommate from my first year at UVA. She is now an executive with IBM. She lived in Vermont for many years, where she married her partner. However, now she has to live in New York, which doesn't recognize same-sex marriage. I cannot imagine what that must be like, to go from a place where you had the same rights as everyone else, to a place where you don't. As we've said before, the country should really be in the business of authorizing civil unions, which should apply to any two people who are over the age of consent, and let religion handle "marriages" if they so choose. I do believe that in another generation or two, same-sex marriage will be more widely available, but that is much longer than anyone should have to wait. I guess in a way she has the last laugh - she says their taxes are much lower now that they are not filing as "married".

Fortune cookie of the day:
All progress occurs because people dare to be different.

Lark says hi!

I went to the barn this evening to visit Lark. I groomed him - he's really shedding - and then took him out for a walk. I thought that a little ground work could only be a good thing before I try to ride him. He tried to push me around a little at first, but soon learned I wasn't going to let him get away with just going for the grass. So then he waited until I told him he could. I let him graze a little and then we walked around the barn and back in the front. Not much, but a start. I brought an apple, but I learned from you, Karis - I broke it into 3 pieces first, then fed one to each horse.

I had taken Bravo along, just so he wasn't home alone. So after the Lark stuff, we walked around a little. Then Rae came, and Bravo and I walked around the track with Rae and Diana. Very pleasant, quiet evening.

But when will I learn to always bring my camera??? We went through Chaska on the way home, and the river area was all misty and picturesque. I really wanted that camera.

Fortune cookie of the day:
The rubber bands are heading in the right direction.

Bush blues

I don't have a photo for today's post, but you can just picture it: a black limo, flags flying, surrounded by other black vehicles, driving down an empty freeway with miles of cars backed up on either side and along all the nearby streets. Yep, our dear president (I don't think I'll give him the capital P today) was in town. And to cause maximum disruption, he was here during evening rush hour. And he went to a fund-raiser in Eden Prairie. Russ was fortunate enough to cross 494 while the police cars were just waiting at either side of the bridge. 45 minutes later, at 5:30, I left the office. I believe I timed it at the worst possible time - just about when they opened the highway again, so the maximum number of cars had been pushed off 494 onto the side streets. And of course, the first street north runs right by my office. As I left, I noticed that the traffic was backed up past my office in both directions. It was pretty slow, but not horrible, until I reached the light just before the 494 bridge. It's been really bad there during the intersection construction, so I chose to turn right onto 78th. Big mistake! West Bush Lake Road was backed up not only across the bridge, but past Gleason (so about 3-4 blocks on 78th). It took me 40 minutes to get home, instead of 7 on a good day.

Jason said Bush was supposed to leave about 7:30, when I usually get on 494 to go to dog class. I'm going to assume he was on time, and thank Karis for delaying my departure - I left at 7:45 and the traffic was fine, bar the usual backup around Penn. And class had not yet started when I got there.

Dog class was on weaves. Bravo was pretty good, but there were 2 teachers and they had 2 different approaches. Bravo's problem is that he looks up - see photo - when he should look down. Teacher B wanted me to throw food for him to get him looking down. In a previous class, Teacher A had decided I should be very careful with the food-on-the-floor approach because he remembers very well, and would tend to always look for it. So I guess I might try that a time or two, but back off quickly.

Now I'm really tired, hot and sweaty, so I'm heading for bed.

Karis, sorry you had problems, but I'm glad I was here to help. Hope your new phone arrives on Friday.

Fortune cookie of the day:
In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.

Photos

This is a picture I took at Lake of the Isles about a week ago. I liked the flowers reaching into the sky right along the shore line.

We talked to Wendy about family portraits today. She showed us the photo paper she usually uses. It's kind of metallic - very interesting effect. There are a lot of really nice options including canvas, and a box containing several mounted photos along with an easel - so you can display one of them, but change them frequently. We also talked about some of the pictures. We really liked the walking ones, but couldn't find one where everyone had a good expression. So I think she will probably photoshop one of the faces onto another picture. It should work pretty well.

Fortune cookie of the day:
Your ability to find the silly in the serious will take you far.

Off to college!

Just returned from dropping off K at Beloit. What a journey! There was much debate beforehand as to whether we would drive down on Saturday, or go at least partway on Friday. We ended up driving to Madison Friday evening, and then leaving around 9 am for the last hour to Beloit. Thank goodness! We were constantly busy until about 8 in the evening.

We did get her room basically set up. She needs to customize it - the walls are all white - but she is in and, I think, relatively comfortable.

We met her advisor, who will be in charge of her FYI seminar for this week, and the first semester, and then will serve as her academic advisor until she chooses a major. She seems very nice - a North Carolina country girl who grew up to be a hippie. At least, that's how she struck me. Apparently, she's going to teach K how to protest.

The drive back to Madison Saturday evening was horrendous - very hard rain. We had intended to visit Baraboo, stay another day, just dawdle around. But the rain continued today, so we came on home. The house seems empty with no daughter and no dog. Luckily, though, no water in the basement either....

K, I know you will love Beloit.... eventually! But all change takes some getting used to. Open your door and invite people in, go out and find new friends -- just spread your wings and fly.

Fortune cookie of the Day:
A ship in the harbour is safe, but that's not why ships are built.