2003-10-14 - 11:32 p.m.

Augh! I totally keep forgetting you all don't live in my head.

You don't see what I see every day ( which I really ought to stop and appreciate more.)

OkToday bryan did not go to work ( ood pony!) and we made yummy spinach pancakies for my for food. I went to work after some protests ( was tired from cleaning stalls yesterday AM and going to NYC till 12:30 not for fun)

I drove to work on 31.

Work: work is the most aodrable little shop in the wolrd. Not usally the cleanest- thjere's normally a fine layer of grey dog hair over everything when I arrive at 11am.

I get to meet about 15 new dogs and cats in variues stages of washedness, mnattedness or just general dirty dog scent. Someone is barking. Check for messages, write them all down with any notes about scheduling I can do as I go along. Make up the whole days invoices. This involves seeing what they paid last time, making sure every pets chart has the right price on it and then figuring out how juch it will be with tax.

Next look for URGENT messages, see what Kim needs, whether Jaime has any clean dry towels and whether Gail is still working there. Assuming all of the above is managed go downstairs and a. feed cats. b. water cats. c. clean their 3 litterboxes in a row and d. move along laundry.

Isn't it lucky how the only thing I EVER fold is towels and thats ALL the laundery I ever do at work?

Go upstairs, answer all the messages which on any given day involve a cancellation for the next week, a request for an appont ment that day ( fat chance we have a 2 week wait minimum) and other info seekers.

Look at the appointments for the next day. Print out their phones numbers and call all their answering machines and leave bright cheery messages on same.

Time to sweep while Kim and Gail eat lunch and look on Petfinder.

See which dogs need to go out to pee etc. Service such.

Move every single piece of merchanidse and remove dust under and around it., Mop up pee from lame cocker spaniels. Pay some bills. check the mail Check Kim;s email and answer some of it for her.

Place orders with vendors for :shampoo, collars, leads, frontline, bows, tags, brushes, toys, treats and diners.

Check and see what orders I;v placed havent come to me yet.

Answer phone 2x the number of pets in per day as each owner refuses to understand that WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN YOUR PET IS DONE!

People start to come pick up their pets. I take thier money, make them their next appointment ( and the one after that for christmas) while on the phone placing some order or other. Put bow on pets collar. Put collar on pert ( harder then it sounds when they are on speed) bring pet to owner.

Teach new peolple how to use the self-service dog wash. Take THEIR money, make sure thye have someone to clip the nails. Clean the tubs when they leave. Ew.

Eat lunch, check hard mail outside. Look at sky. Think of riding.

Check our website for errors.

Check out last pet at 4:49:49

Get in car. Drive to rural land. Sign at colors, smells of fires, deer being suicidial and eating next to the road. Killa squirrel by mistake looking at wild turkeys off the side of the road. Drive past the three brown horses in the field. Wonder.

Enter boonies. Realize that the sheer number of trees here could heat the white house for HOURS. Or something.

Arrive at barn. Greet big name trainer giivng a clinic. Greet riders attending the clinic and oh and ah over theiur horses no matter how small or untalented looking the thing is.

Find own horse. Inspecrt horse for wounds., Clean surface dust off horse. get fed up and vow to bathe horse more often! Tack up horse. Remove expensive leather from horses mouth. Equip self with helmet boots etc. Remove expensive leather from horses mouth. Mount horse. Remove expensive leather from horses mouth.

Walk outside. Fading light revelas horse eating monsters in every corner but persist.

After quicksand has eaten away at your toes decide perhaps tonight you will ride indoors.

Wlak inside ( aviod pot holes of doom)

Go go gadget arms to turn on lights indoors. Dodge cpnes and whips left by incodsiderare clinic attnedants.

Have a good damn ride. Horse is stretchy and smart and moving. Not 100% but progress is made. Ger exericise. Be tired. Get off., Remove expensive leather form horses mouth. Remove underwear from intestines. Untack horse. Prevent horse form eating insiginificant item only to find it has laready slobbered and masticated most expensive leather item. Sigh.

Return horse to stall. Feed horse. Blow it kisses. Kiss the horses nose. Wipe horsey boogers off lips.

Go home happy.

Have fiance' at home with diet friendly goodies baked for you on his day off.

Eat some dinner and goodies. Watch TV.

Sleep,

Repeat.

Also- its really pretty here. Dont have to DRIVE places for scenerey - its here. :)

-bsg-

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