It happened like this...

Tuesday before Christmas I took a little spill. I was on a horse standing still and reaching over to get a riding crop. The horse started to walk off before I was ready and got caught in a hose thawing on the ground. I tried to sit up and pull myself to the center, but it was too late. I just fell splat on my head. I don't believe I was unconscious, but I don't remember a lot that happened before or after that. I knew I was in trouble when Megan and Amy brought horses in I had asked them to ride and I looked at Megan and said, "Why does Amy have that horse out? Who said she could ride her?" Megan also knew I was in trouble and had phoned her parents to come deal with me. I guess I had her phone some of my sisters too.

Megan's parents took me to Lakeview hospital where I guess I had a cat scan that I don't remember. I was puking and my head was about to explode. They determined my brain was bleeding and I had a small fracture above my right eye. They treated me as a trauma patient and sent me to the University Hospital by ambulance. That night I had two more cat scans that I slept thru mostly in a drug induced coma. I spent the night in Intensive Care. I do remember having wonderful nurses. One was named Brad and he checked on my every hour or so. He was so nice to me. He would say, "How are you doing sweetheart?" I think I always replied wanting more pain medicine and he always brought it for me! He also brought me warm blankets and petted my head. I slept thru a lot of people asking questions every few hours to see if I knew who and where I was. I slept thru my blood being drawn over and over too. In the morning I slept thru another cat scan. They determined my brain had stopped bleeding and I could go to a regular room.

I slept thru the whole day. My mom and Rick and Jen were there I guess entertaining themselves. And my mom was wonderful enough to spend the night with me. That was a more painful night. They were trying to take me off morphine and put me on oral pain meds. I threw up and my head was pounding. But by the next morning I was feeling much better. They said if I could walk around and take a shower I could go home.

I spent a night a Jen's house and have since been in my own bed. I am feeling better each day, but my memory is not up to par. It is a bit frustrating. I walk around feeling really dumb and like I can't create sentences. I am hoping that does not last forever! I forget how to do simple daily tasks. I have made Shepherds pie a million times, but I had to ask my mom what went in it while I was at the store.

I feel like a lucky girl tho. It could be a lot worse! I am recovering and looking forward to a new year. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Enjoy Las Vegas With Black Mamba and Copperhead

It is finally time to blog Las Vegas! I would have liked to have done it sooner, but before we left Jolyn passed the flu to me which only lasted 24 hours. It lasted her 4 days. So when I got back I got it again and have not left my bed for 3 days.



JoLyn and I go into the vacation as Black Mamba (me) and Copperhead (Jo). We watched Kill Bill so we took those names on.





JoLyn and I leave for the airport.



Enjoy your shuttle ride JoLyn. Hope you are not too cramped.

Get your gamble on! Too bad we were only playing the pennies, but Jo wins big.

JoLyn enjoying a meal.

Enjoying the Rodeo on the big screen at the Brew Pub with our new friends.

We are headed to the Mirage to lose some money.

Mother gets to join us.

You can't take pictures at the Roulette table by the way.

JoLyn and I get to have a picture with American Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook.

Who's shoes are whos??

This is only a picture, we won nothing.

We are at the rodeo.

This picture is out of place. During our 5 hour delay going TO Las Vegas we see Alec Baldwin. Well you never know!!

JoLyn has a big balloon coming out of her head.

Self portrait of JoLyn and I.

Please no comments from Rick on this picture.

Lloyd and Harry going home from Las Vegas. Yep, we look just like the Dumb and Dumber characters.

Please enjoy our videos.

John Pearce Clinic

I had the opportunity this week to ride with John Pearce. He is a two time World Champion in Show Jumping and member of the 2000 Olympic team. It was a little nerve racking! He was very no nonsense. He didn't really want you to tell him anything he just wanted to tell you. But I guess when you have the status he has you get to be like that!

Tori came out with me the first day and we forgot to video. My horse was very hyper on day one. I think John thought I would ask her to go faster at times and he wasn't really listening to me telling him that she just grabs the bit and runs off with me. I definitely don't encourage speed on this horse, she has plenty! So I was a little frustrated that day and didn't feel like it helped me.

Tori and Megan came with me on day two. We got video and pictures. John still thought at a few points that I was making her gallop, but whatever LOL. Day two was much more educational. My horse tends to slow down and speed up and everything in between on her own. So I was always trying to make her slower all the time. Instead we just made her speed up when she wanted to slow down, which is much easier! That helped even her pace out. I also galloped her around the arena for ten minutes when she tried to take off with me. That helped wear her out. So basically after two hours my horse became quite nice and rideable. This is how much energy she has so I definitely have to keep her worked down. I also realized that I am quite strong, but not strong enough. I need to lift some serious weights and strengthen my back and abs for this horse. I was exhausted the day after the clinic and very sore.

The good news is I will be relaxing in Vegas with JoLyn for the weekend! Maybe not relaxing, but doing some heavy gambling ha ha!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I have so much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful job doing what I love. I have the best clients in the world. I get to work at a wonderful facility and be a part of the Kingsbury family. I have an awesome place to live. I have an amazing family where each person continues to inspire me each day. I have the best little friend ever.....Butch. I am currently blessed with a great boyfriend. And the list goes on!!!

I will miss my Pennsylvania family terribly this holiday season. I hope you guys are cooking a feast and enjoying Thanksgiving on the East Coast! You lucky ducks!

Awards night

The horse show season officially ends with our awards night. We all get to dress up and head to the Raddisson Hotel in downtown. It is a big night for everyone and it is fun to dress up! Last year everyone said I was the best dressed so I had a lot to live up to. I managed it though! I chose an above the knee length cocktail dress from Bebe. You can't see the full effect in these pictures, but Pro Photo took pics that I will post later.

Almost my whole crew received awards. I was showered with gifts from my students and gift certificates for being on the board this year. Lauren received the Championship for the Children's Jumper Division. Amy took home two Reserve Champions for her Medium Stirrup Hunter and Equitation divisions. However, they are doing a re-count because they messed up and I think she is Champion of both. Tori received awards for her Long Stirrup Divisions and my horse and Megan's horse got awards in the Baby Green Division. Megan was also nominated for the Sportsmanship Award. A very prestigious award that I was so proud of her for being nominated. She got beat out, but that's ok. It is always an honor to be nominated. And in the end only members can vote so it comes down to the barn with the most members if you know what I mean. She is a winner in my eyes!!!

The kids left to right: Andrew, Jessica, Amy, Megan, Tori, Lauren, Ian.

The parents who I love and pay the bills! Left to right: Bob, Mary, Kathy, Greg, Julie.

Me and my cute boyfriend! This is Henry. He has been around for about a month. This is me introducing you ha ha!

Me and my beautiful bunch of talented pupils.

Change

My apologies for the blurr, but my dog is hilarious trying to keep warm. He would not leave my coats side all day. Marge is in the background. She laid a blanket down for him on the right, but he just wanted my coat.





He needs a heavier coat. He was still shivering in this one.


Well there are a lot of changes going on around here! Winter is here for one. Butch was freezing cold yesterday. He wore his coat all day and tried to lay on my coat and blankets around the barn to stay warm. I will be investing in a heavier coat for him.




I spoke with the gal that owns Chili, the horse I just got, and I have secured a year with her and then I will try to buy her or sell her. I will need close to $50k so please start funds at your local bank for me ha ha!




I met a nice guy..... I think ;). Friend of a friend. We have been spending a lot of time together so hopefully he is not sick of me.




Oh and.......America has voted and Barack Obama is our next President! I was half tempted not to even go to the polls as I knew my vote would not count in Utah. And then I snapped out of it and realized what a great opportunity it was to go have a voice. And you can't complain if you don't vote! I am thrilled with the outcome of the election. I have heard people around here say that Obama will turn us to socialism or communism. I heard them say he will be assassinated before he ever gets to the white house. I heard them say he will ban ALL guns. But I believe those are ignorant comments. He wants to 'share' the wealth. He is not going to take the rich peoples money, he is just not going to give them all the tax breaks. Which they don't need!!! He wants us all to have health care! YES! That is so exciting for me, because I do not have benefits as I am self employed. It was very expensive and hard for me to find coverage. I hope he changes that. I think we hear comments about assassination with every new President. "If he wins I hope someone kills him" that sort of thing. It is a possibility for sure, but it is with every President. That is why they are protected the way they are. And I believe he will make a competent decision on guns. I don't think you are not going to be able to go hunting anymore...lol. I just think that he will make an effort to not make them so readily available. But you have to be ignorant to not want some kind of change from President Bush. He has the whole country in the 'shitter'. It is always a bit scary when we elect a new President. We never know what will happen, but we survive. So let us not be afraid. Embrace change!! And what an amazing time for Americans. We had an African American and a woman on the ballot this year!!

Legacy Parkway

Let me just start with the rats that were swimming in the canal at my barn. I was teaching a lesson and we went on an 'adventure' out back by the canal. Suddenly the horses were frightened by a noise in the canal. There happened to be two fairly large wakes in the water. We could not see what it was, but I decided the canal was really 500 feet deep and Nessy was living in there. Well we got back to the arena and Tori said she saw two rats swimming in the canal! So I figure that must have been what we saw, but how disgusting?

So the girls and I have been utilizing the Legacy Parkway trail. The trail itself is not too scenic, but we are able to ride to Bountiful Pond which is kind of fun. I also want to make note that I drove the Legacy today and counted 10 roadkill from 5th South in Bountiful to Farmington. Yes, we built a road thru the wetlands.

Megan, Tori and Butch in the field by Bountiful Pond.

The girls on the 'trail'.

Nice view of the Bountiful Pond.

I figure the canal runs into Bountiful Pond and this was a large area by the Pond where something had bedded down......Nessy.

Happy Birthday to Craig!

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." ~ Thomas Campbell

I wanted to give a shout out to my Dad on his birthday. Lets see he is 56 today? Is that all? Wow life really is short. However, I have to say in the 52 years he survived he really did it well. He definitely lived life to its fullest.

I was lucky enough to receive a visit from the old man Sunday night. It had been a very long and stressful week. They say that you will get visits from the other side only when you truly need them. This was one of those times. I came out of a house...not sure who's house...and there he was sitting on the porch in a chair. He had a lot of facial hair....must be on an adventure where he can't shave. I of course ran over and hugged him and told him how much I miss him and how glad I was to see him.

Dad I hope wherever you are you are really enjoying the resort! Take a load off for your birthday. Spend it with good friends and family. And as long as you are doing some traveling stop by and see your daughter Angela. She is requesting a visit ;)

The Show

Being on the Horse Show Committee does not build character....it only REVEALS it. I loved sitting on the board this year and I think it did good things for my business, but alas I have resigned. This show reminded me what I knew years ago. Our club does not want to promote growth, it's very clickish, you get used to get an idea out there and then no one backs you up, and everyone acts like children. So I made a decision that it was no longer for me. It pretty much ruined the last two days of my horse show.

But at any rate, Lauren won the Bill Adam's Memorial the first day. She got a giant trophy statue thing and some money. I rode my horse and had the second fastest time going into the jump off and then my horse stopped at a jump!!! I ended up seventh out of like 25. It was my fault. The horse is amazing and I am so lucky to have her. Megan had a rough start Saturday, but managed a fifth out of 15 in her first show doing a higher height. She rode awesome and I was so proud of her. I rode Lauren's horse in the Derby Saturday night, which Grandma Joann came to watch. There were 23 horses in it and I got called back in the top eight. I had a great second round and ended up sixth. Tori ended up second in her Classic which I sponsored and she got an embroidered saddle pad. I rode Megan's horse in the trainer cup and had a little trouble in our flat phase, but was still called back in third place. The jumping round was a nightmare! The horse was spooking at EVERYTHING! I barely made it around and came in seventh or something. The judge told Luann that she was mad my horse acted that way and she wanted me in the top, but the horse spooked and trotted in the middle of the course and she had no choice but to give me a low score for that.

So it was a mediocre weekend, but I am really proud of all my kids and it was a great year. I will post pictures when I can.

Medal Finals

Ok everyone our final show is this weekend Oct. 10-12. I will be riding all three days. Friday I am riding Chili and Saturday and Sunday I will be riding Megan's horse Jazzy. It is at the South Jordan Equestrian Center on about 114 S and just west of Redwood Rd. Feel free to join me! I won't get to chat much since I am running the show, but you are welcome to be an exhibitor!!!

The Eighth World Wonder

I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder!!! This is my new mare. She is the bomb. All I want to do is ride her and brush her. I took her to our show on Saturday and did some little jumping classes to see how she would go. She was great. She absolutely knows her job. She is hot like a chili pepper just like her name! Next weekend I will show her in some bigger jumping classes. And if I continue to get along with her I would like to go to Tucson in November.

Background on Chili....she is 16.2hh. For horses each 'hand' is 4 inches, so she is 66 inches tall at her back. She is a Selle Francais which in a French Warmblood. This is the breed of the horse. Warmbloods were bred in Europe for jumping and dressage. She was born and trained in France and imported here a few years ago. I hope that her owner forgets that I have her and lets me keep her forever ha ha.

Another one down

I was at a horse show all weekend. We only have two more! I can't believe how summer has flown by. It was a really busy week for me. Our stall cleaner quit so I was pitching in so that poor Marge didn't have to do it all by herself. Plus I was doing all my regular lessons and training and we had the show. It was very successful. I think all the kids took blue ribbons home. My horses were awesome. And my new mare is coming Wednesday!!!! I can't believe it. She should get to me in the evening sometime.

Of course Sunday Jolyn and I had projects to do. This week it was about 30 stalls. We did get a new guy that started today thank God. But JoLyn, Colton, Jacob and I busted all of those out in about 2 hours. After the stalls they helped me feed and bring horses in. It was so cute and I really appreciated the help.

He is angry, but he is super dirty and needs a bath!

These guys are definately hired.

Jacob is struggling a little bit. He is being led not leading.

Good luck Chu....Denise?

So does everyone remember the movie "Good Luck Chuck?" Well apparently they should have titled it "Good Luck Denise" and put me in as the star. Because what I can do for people is date them and have them tell me that they really don't want a relationship and make up all these excuses not to be my boyfriend and then as soon as we part ways they find their true love. So I am putting this out there for all you single men looking for a good woman. Come date me! Not because I am the good woman, but because you will find the good one when you are done torturing me!

I don't think I need to list any examples. It applies to EVERYONE I have been with. Including the most recent idiot...Morgan (JoLyn lol). I mean the idiot FROM Morgan. He declared to me today that he is seeing someone and she is the most amazing person he ever met. Funny....I thought I was the most amazing person anyone ever met! Ha ha. I mean if you saw this kid you would shit down both legs thinking I stooped to that level. Lets face it I am hot (not), smart, you can take me camping or dress me up and I will bend over backwards for you if you treat me half decent. This kid is square headed, open mouthed breathing, messed up teeth, no personality and a 'B' list rodeo star. Do you hear me people!!! I can't even tie an ugly dude down! Oh and the chick is like nineteen and she works at the feed store. That is how they met. Way to go big idiot. Lets see hot chick has her own business doesn't live with the parents fun and smart ORRRR chick that graduated last year is hot because she is a child and hasn't got hips yet lives with her parents and makes six dollars an hour. However, the kid is a total backwoods hick and they probably are perfect for each other. He couldn't handle me if he tried lol.

Now if you all know me as well as I think you do you will know that I am just teasing. I don't really think that highly of myself. And after all the swearing and tantrum throwing I did today let God forgive me for I am only human. I did manage to tell the moron how insignificant he was and I realize that was juvenile but I had a purpose for it. My purpose was to be so mean to the kid that he would not call me ever again when this whole deal goes south. He is not a positive energy in my life and I needed to make sure he would not be back. So I think I was mean enough that he will never speak to me again. Yes people this is my justification.

Ok that is my rant for the week. Now I promise to spend the rest of the week being an angel and being nice. Love you all thanks for listening.

We get things done

JoLyn and I are 'doers'. We get things done. Yes, we took a shopping trip first and I used the laser, but then we installed the gate.

When you get done looking at how ugly my face is look at what JoLyn is using as a 'spacer' while the post sets in the cement.

Just say no to crack....and my goal was to put the ugliest pictures of me I could find on here.

This is the beautiful work we have done.

And this is just my beautiful sister setting the post.

Everyone pay attention to JoLyn's eyes. I did her make up with my Mac collection. It looks awesome!!!

WTF is this guy doing? He is getting crazy up in here. Any minute Ashton Kutcher is going to come out and tell him he has been punked and he is not really at 'da club' he is on main street in Layton.

Good things happen to good people

What goes around comes around right? Well I have spent the last several years of my life trying to better myself and be a good person and change my perspective and all that good stuff. Well it is finally paying off I think! My clientele is getting huge and the lady in California called and is sending the lovely French mare to me for free!!!! I am surrounded with lovely people and I feel so blessed. I think things are really falling into place for me.

JoLyn, Colton, Jacob and I spent Sunday afternoon doing some service for the poor old lady that owns my barn. Her name is Marge and she is 82 years old. She is the hardest working lady I know! She put in a new stall barn for her daughters horses and the stalls needed dirt to level them and mats put in. No one would do it and Marge was near tears and under a lot of stress thinking she would have to do it all so I gathered the troops and off to work we went! It was hell I won't lie, but it was worth it. JoLyn and I worked our guts out and the boys took lots of breaks ha ha.

Another cool thing was when I got to the barn and there was a giant living quarters trailer parked in the driveway and a group of people I hadn't seen before. Well it happened to be Jill Moody and her traveling crew. Jill is ranked third in the world in barrel racing and has this awesome horse named Dolly that she has been to the National Finals Rodeo with. Apparently her aunt knows Marge and they needed a place to rest the horses on their way to New Mexico. I got to meet her and her horses and got a signed picture of her at last years finals.

Godfrey this is the final stall and JoLyn is going to pass out!

We lost the 100lb mats out of the wheel barrow and I might kill myself.

It took Colton about thirty minutes to bring this one mat ha ha! Notice JoLyn is sweating to death and Colton still looks fresh and clean!

The weekend

The show was pretty successful. The judging was not quite how I would have done it, but that's the joy of doing a judged event! The girls were awesome. They rode better than I have seen any of them ride. They have worked so hard and I am so proud of them! I was too lazy to take my horse, but I rode Megan and Jessica's horses.

Saturday I went to my friend's cabin. It was just the two of us and we cooked steaks and hung out. Well I should say HE cooked steaks ha ha. I did nothing I just got to sit back and relax. It was so pretty! It is up Farmington Canyon and although I absolutely HATE the drive up there, once you are there it is beautiful. We just stayed the night and came home in the morning.

Hanging out at JoLyn's has become a Sunday ritual for me. I go over use her laser watch Lifetime and eat her food. I wanted to cry using the laser, I am a total wuss with it! But one day I hope for only hair on my head....and eyebrows.


Jessica and Andrew waiting for the class to start.

Tori and Megan also waiting for the class to start.

The mess at the trailer where we all get ready.

And don't forget the Dingo! He is hiding under the table.