no dead babies...yet..

so last 2 days have been very eventful. I've decided that i've earned the right to consume an ENTIRE cake to myself (thats right i've been driven to cake, and i HATE cake), however, I do not have any cake. nor am i anywhere in the vicinity of a place that SELLS cake, thus...no cake :(

So yesterday was probably the craziest day yet. Arrive in the morning to treat my sickies and one baby, Priolane wasn't totally 100% (he's always slept alot though...so it was hard to tell) but he hadn't drunk from his mom overnight (he was "off suck") which i could tell because she had dried milk on her legs because he bag got so full it started to drip on its own. Anyways so me and Catherine were taking its temp and I was holding its head going this is weird but his nose and ears seem cold....(just thinking it) and then Catherine pulled out the thermometre and it was below normal. So we grabbed another thermomater and same thing (so at least I wasn't crazy). So we put it down on the list to see the vet that day (it was already in for bad blood work and on meds). It was a Thursday which is farrier day, and normally the vet is on Mon, Wed and Fri so that we don't have overlap, but since the # of mares is decreasing almost daily now, Simon cut the number of vet visits to just Monday and Thursday. As usual everything has to happen at once. We also can't tell the farriers that the babies are sick or they will tell other people that the farm has sickies...and thats bad publicity. Thus, we were trying to coordinate everything so that they did the feet on the one sick foal (who actually was totally better, but his blood was taking some time going back..and that was Hunka Monka foal, my favourite but is a TOTAL idiot). So anyways, we sent them off to Cuckoo Pen to get all the mares done there while the vet showed up and we started looking at Priolane and she's like, ok cold means dying. She took the temp again and it was still low. So we had to start on IV fluids right away. At this point the baby wasn't even fighting while we started jabbing it...bad sign. So we are sitting there running fluids and giving meds then the farrier shows up so we got the vet to sedate Hunka Monka because there is no way he would have let the farrier near otherwise. It was histerical because I had to hold him to get his sedative and everyone was watching while I tried to restrain him...basically I had a hold of an ear and his upper lip/nose and then catherine had a tail and THEN the vet could inject him. Everyone looked at me and were like "and you do this every DAY" how do you not DIE!! I said, not sure yet...9 lives???

Anyways, his feet got done uneventfully, and by this point it was half way through lunch and I hadn't gotten ANYTHING started for the afternoon yet (like mucking out stalls) which with 5 horses in takes at LEAST 2.5 hours. and lunch is 1-2. and we are done at 4.
So i took a 10 minute lunch and got started mucking, i left the stalls mucked out and didn't bother putting in more straw and left that for today. THEN we got the exciting news that Hunka Munka's blood came back ok so he could go outside!!! So i got to lead my little monster (and that he was) out to a little paddock. even WITH some left over sedative he was a nutbar. We walked sideways and in circles on our back legs the entire way to the paddock. I wish someone had videotaped it :p He was SOOOOOOOOO happy to be outside! And so was, I. It was bittersweet because i LOVED him...but I also was sick of risking my life and limbs trying to inject him everyday....

So then me and Catherine ran more fluids into Priolane...it's crazy because I'm so used to fluids from workingi at Oakpark...but Catherine had never run them before, so for once i was totally in my element!! I got to teach her about how they work...not that i've run them on horses..but same concept :p It was nice to feel confident about something!!!

Anyways, then she had to go get her hair done for her brother's wedding this weekend...and I went home and crashed on the couch for an hour before me and Tom had to go back and run more fluids...then home, shower and out to the pub!! (they don't say bar). Got some dinner...mmm steak and mushrooms and veggies and new potatos. FANTASTIC :D Cider beer (basically Strongbow, but locally made...LOVE IT...and ON TAP too!) Got a group shot because this is the last time we are all together before I go!!! Tom and Catherine have her brother's wedding this weekend and then they leave on holiday to Greece for 2 weeks!!


Sidenote: A HUGE MASSIVE FRIGGEN SPIDER JUST RAN INTO MY ROOM AND TRIED TO CRAWL ONTO MY MATTRESS UNTIL I DROPPED MY WATER BOTTLE ON IT. no joke it was 2 inches in diameter. I think i just puked in my mouth a little. i don't do spiders. I definately almost cried. I killed it. and SQUASHED it to make sure it was dead. and then vacuumed it up. Because I hear that spiders can crawl back up vacuums. I took a picture. I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight...*shudder* and *vomit* That is one thing i won't miss about England...ALL THE SPIDERS

So anyways, on to today....today was the single most relaxing day in the history of...well a long time?

Basically because yesterday was so hectic and since Tom and Catherine are disappearing I will be in charge of the "sick ward" until I go home...and they won't be here...so it's all on me. So i spent the entire day doing what i love to do best...GETTING ORGANIZED!!!

it was fantastic let me tell you.. Basically I fed and watered all the horses, gave morning meds, checking and breathed a sigh of relief that my baby was still alive this morning and removed it's cathater from it's neck. Then I finished mucking out and bedding down all the stalls that I didn't have time for last night....the straw is all yellow and fluffy and you just want to curl up in it! Barrett: arm band for ipod is the greatest invention ever. I have no radio and I am the only one allowed in the barn now to work on the sickies. Thus, I am alone to talk to myself/the ponies. SO today I brought my ipod and shoved the wire up my shirt so that I wouldn't get it caught in the pitchfork or something, and i was totally able to do EVERYTHING today and listen to music at the same time!! It was fab!!!! Anyways, after mucking and bedding down I just started to clean up and get things all ready for over the weekend so I can be done on time and not hold anyone up...then it was close to lunch time and so I wanted to get a head start on things for this evening but I still had time...so I decided that the mares had been inside for so long that their coats were looking scummy and needed some TLC. So i groomed all the mares. It was so amazing. You could totally just see them all stretch there heads down and RELAXXXXXXXX..They loved it and so did I! I forgot how much I missed that part of playing with horses all day... Rest of the day was uneventful, evening meds...then my boss Simon came over to talk to me and Catherine about her going away and the sickies. I KNOW that I know the meds and the babies and what to do and everything, but I was still nervous going over it infront of Simon. I told Catherine that in the caddy on the way back to Cuckoo Pen and she said "Don't worry, if I told him that I trust you, he will to". I was like WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA GREATEST COMPLETEMENT EVERRRRRRRRRR. So i was happy. tired. but so happy.

p.s. Catherine got offered the position as HEAD STUD GROOM (aka the "manager" of the ENTIRE stud!!! since Nigel got "let go" - man who's house I stole...) and she decided to take it and i was there as she went...YES :D Congrats, and she will do fabulous.

Ok...but i'm tired. and I just read over 300 questionable content comics all afternoon since getting home from work (yes Barrett, I got so addicted and involved that I even postponed showering for a couple hours...i'm on 601.

But I should go to bed since i work all this weekend.

NIGHT :D and cross your fingers everything survives through the weekend

p.p.s. this post took me 3 hours to write because I kept getting distracted and reading QC instead.

sick foals will be the death of me! (or catherine :p)

so we got the call on the radio today that 2 more sick foals have to come in.

GAHHHHHHHHHHH *ripping out hair*

so me and catherine got to inject 6 babies this afternoon. i am waiting for one of us to die. because they are catching on and TOTALLY hate us now. catherine is in her brothers wedding this weekend and then leaves for holiday next weekend...so she is like NOOOOOOOOOO i cant die (aka get bruised or hurt) because she has to be able to walk in heels, wear her uber tight dress and then be able to enjoy a greek beach holiday (*cough jealous! *cough).

So we will have many grand adventures for the next 2 weeks :p im doing my best not to die. I'm the one holding them so its all up to me. My favourite baby of all time is the absolute worst. We have to hold an ear, lip AND tail on him and pin him in a corner and stand as far away as possible and entice him over with a syringe full of yoghurt as a treat...

but i LOVE HIM!!!!!! His name is Hunka Munka. I will take pics soon. He is adorable. and i kiss him and hes so cute. but SUCH a little shit. He turns his butt and tries to kick you as soon as you look at him the wrong way...he just KNOWS! but he has also been in for almost 5 weeks now and im pretty sure hes definately stir crazy and ready to take down the walls :p i just want their bloods to get better so they can all go out!!! GAH.

So the rain has returned. It was constant drizzle all day. So since it's a Tuesday and thus no vet or farrier we were wandering around trying to find stuff to do. Me and Leanne were painting a stall and blitzing through it when catherine poked her head in and was like is this going to take you until lunch..(we were almost done) so she said...just relax...and if you feel like painting slowly thats TOTALLY fine :p 4 of us then proceeded to stand with brooms and watch one other person use the blower to clean up the yard. to kill 15 minutes before lunch. :p It was entertaining.

I've discovered that House is on right over lunch time and I now have Steph addicted (we come back to my house over lunch now) and watch it :p She's like he's so AWESOME (heart).

And ive officially decided I'm going to start swimming again. And i want to learn to dance. Like wicked breakdancing like in Step up. Maybe they offer classes at guelph....that will let me and my 2 left feet join....

chocolate and ice cream

SO i found out on Friday that they switched me to next weekend so i ended up with this weekend off. I wish i had known earlier so that I could have maybe travelled a bit or gone to see Liz in London...we were trying to arrange to see each other but I thought i had to work this weekend. too bad :( now she is off to South Korea to teach english for the next year. This means I'll be running on almost 2 years without seeing her! :(

Me and Steph watched movies all weekend. Robin Hood again, Step Up 2, Harry Potter, P.s. I love you, the incredibles...i'm getting to where I can quote some of the lines...its sad :p

After an upsetting argument with mom I polished off the rest of the chocolate in the house, and ate a tub of ice cream with chocolate chips and strawberries while i cried.

then watched ever after (favourite movie EVER) and hit the hay.

work again today since horses are a 24/7 job and holidays don't exist.

but the yearlings come in from the paddock tomorrow so we can start getting them ready for the sales in a few weeks, so we will be grooming them and walking them to build muscle and just getting them used to being handled. i'm excited since that will be another great experience since yearlings are INSANE. and big. so you can't exactly throw them around like foals....

its kinda cold today..i guess summer is coming to an end but i was lucky i got as much warm weather as i did! it was fabulous. and im still fairly tanned!

POWER TOOLS!

so today i got to play with the pressure washer ALL DAY!! It was fantastic! The arms and shoulders hurt a little bit, but it was so much fun!! Eating lunch my hands were totally numb and still tingling/vibrating :p It was histerical!

We are slowly gutting out the stalls in the barn and getting them all cleaned out (aka why we need the power washer :p back and forth back and forth on the floor...then up and down on the walls...) so we can paint everything..You wouldn't believe how skank the stalls get, the only way to get all the dirt off is with the power washer, there is no other way! It just sticks to everything! I smell disgusting and I'm covered in grime. It's fantastic! I think I want to learn how to use MORE power tools when i get home. My next goal is a drill. If i can use a drill I will be satisfied. Dad, you mission should you chose to accept it...help give your daughter the handy-man skills to survive on her own! aka, plumbing...electric...how to use tools (aka a wrench?) OH and I REALLY want to learn to change a tire... and check my oil...

Don't you love my new found independance ;)

Anyways, we had a WICKED thunder and lightening storm last night! It went on all evening and over night. But the ground was so partched that everything was almost dry by this morning where it should have been flooded!

I spent all last night calling clinics and applying for externships. My own fault that many of the places are full...This summer went by so quickly that I'm applying too late. grrr...Ill find something I hope :( Some potential at a clinic in Kingston?? Maybe?? I'm going to keep trying all this week. So far I'm trying to stay in Southern Ontario, but I really want an equine/small animal clinic so I might have to look farther north or out of province. Sigh...i'm angry at myself, but trying not to stress. It will work out.

Ok, off to shower off this awesome smell.

xoxo

barrett you are my concert liason, keep LOOKING!

Sooo it's my weekend off, and it's fabulous because we actually got the ENTIRE weekend off, including Saturday morning! As always, I suck at sleeping in and both mornings still woke up at 6:30am panicing that I was late for work! Then basically I just lay in bed until I felt like rolling out.

Yesterday I had just gotten up and was beginning to make breakfast when Leanne and Dan showed up to take me to Cheltenham to check out some stores. I discovered this wicked skater/surfer brand that I love called ANIMAL (obviously) because I had seen Catherine wearing a sweater and I wanted to take a look. A bought a really nice grey hoodie from there and when I get back to London I might pick up something else because its really good quality stuff.
I also went back to Primark and got a few more 1.50 pound tshirts, because they are the style and fit I really like (a bit longer) than I've been paying up to $20 for back home! And yes mom I got different colours :p

Then we headed back here since Leanne and Dan had to go to work. I watched a couple movies and talked to some people online and went to bed at like midnight.
Today will probably be a repeat, except that I'm doing laundry :p It was supposed to rain all weekend and instead its been REALLY hot and sunny...I might move outside to work on my tan!

eww, but I just checked and it's supposed to thunderstorm tomorrow and rain all week...greatttt

I can't believe only a couple more weeks left! This summer is just flying by, and Im sure that the next few weeks are going to go the fastest!

I guess I should really start doing some studying and try to find myself an externship placement for next summer :p

Anyways, watching Robin Hood (the one with Kevin Costner from the early 90's) So that's about it for now I guess!

p.s. Barrett keep looking for more concerts for me! (especially not ones that are sold out!)

i think i need to start hiding my money under my mattress...

so i called CIBC today. after 30 minutes and 9 call attempts i finally got in touch with someone named Sarah in collections (which obviously not only doesn't have a collect number, they don't even have a DIRECT line..URG)

Anyways, there is nothing they can do about my line of credit, but thankfully it doesnt affect my credit history so that's all that matters :p i was stern without yelling, maybe a TOUCH rude..not on purpose but i was definately not very happy after all the effort and $$ it took me to get a hold of someone, and really they don't even seem to know whats going on..

Steph brought me some Harry Potter movies and so i'm having a marathon :p However, she doesn't have the first one so I'm really watching them out of order :p

One of my sick babies went home last night! (YAH!!) but then another one came in today...urg and we have a lame one. Not cool! Our barn was slowly getting empty!! BUT There are still so few horses in that I don't have to work on Saturday morning so I get a REAL weekend! I think me and Steph MIGHT try and go out. Or at least go to Cheltenham to do some shopping :p Lucas is back in 3 weeks and she is getting really excited :p So am I just to see him again!! I miss our talks :)

Lots of painting of the barns left to do but we are working our way through it a little bit at a time.

I guess thats about it for now :p

Only 5 more weeks! I can't even believe it!

you married elasti-girl! AND GOT BUSY!! - the incredibles

watching the incredibles with Steph and remembering just how FUNNY it is! I love it :p

Work was good today, vet day..slowly dying down. Took photos of my favourite baby by Firecracker Lady last night because she went home today. Farrier day tomorrow, they are histerical so it should be good.

I'm feeling fat today so i've eaten about a pound of chocolate. love how that works...:p

okies, exhasuted. bed time.

night!