A Racing Heart

Jill loved watching the exercize rides at Woodbine, early early in the fog of morning. After riding Stoney, she could really, finally feel how some horses are just B R E D to run. And, she came to think that maybe racing is not as totally horrible to the horse in ALL aspects as she'd previously thought...


*
Albert and Victoria? She didn't know what his facebook status meant... but she wished he was closer by.  She couldn't stop hoping for some kind of date for New Years!

Resignation

Jill loved train travel and would rather spend time that way than waiting for a plane!  

His facebook updates kept making her swoon - she found many of them, posted in France, soooo romantic.  But then other babes would click the "like" button and Jill would chastise herself for the weird, distant obsession that actually seemed to be preventing her from some kind of REAL romantic attachment, argh.

*

Jill was one for always trying to find the upside.  She enjoyed the fact that holiday celebration dates in her family were flexible, due to her father's Alzhiemers.  If business plans or boyfriend family conflicts made complications, they just celebrated in her family on another day.  Often Mondays a week or two later!  Convenient?

*

Have I ever thanked you for being such a great coach and mentor me me?

*

"Dear Boss,

Due to conflicting priorities at the moment and the ongoing tension I find the other instructor creating around my horse activities, I have decided to find alternative outlets.  I am certain this will alleviate any concerns about how your business is represented in the market for you as well…

It is my hope that I will still be welcome as a guest, especially your daughter's.

Thanks for letting me participate here for as long as I did,

Respectfully,

Jill.

"Do YOU have horses?" the lady in the tack shop booth at the Royal Winter Fair show asked Jill back.

"Not right now" she sighed. "I'm kinda here looking for someone else's horse to ride. and you know how THAT goes."

The vendor stared back at Jill with a completely blank look on her face, so she moved on...
*

After being without an income for a long time, Jill had got at job at minimum wage and to $14/hr and then to $16hr in six short months.  But she never should have happily mentioned to the mechanic about getting her third raise in short order, because he went ahead and did $700 work on the car without checking with her first.  What about the plan to put it up on the hoist and TELL HER WHAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH? She had said she needed his advice in order to make important decisions.  In the past he had always provided an estimate and info to consider first.  This was a big bill at a time when she was considering pulling the $100 month insurance off the gas buzzer of a luxury car she couldn't afford to drive, in order to reduce her debt load and cash flow.  And here the mechanic threw in an oil change she didn't need without ever finding out about a few of the other car trouble issues she'd wanted him to look at fixing.

And while she on the phone with the mechanic getting this news, her boss walked off in front of her with her lunch, as well as his to eat.

But none of that was any excuse for forgetting to call her dad on his actual birthday.  Jill felt bad.

*

"Are you riding?"" he asked, honouring her with his sort of foolish assumption about her role at the big exhibition.  She wrote in her journal later that she was back to having a crush on him...

She loved her friend's profile pic of the high top sneakers strewn on the sandy beach.  And felt asleep wondering, does driver position matter in the marking?

Tis The Season

She would come dressed to ride.
*
Jill loved the boxing day jam tradition she had stumbled into, and someday she hoped to host such an animal.  With a real tree in the house... why not anyway.
*
Jill was glad to be horse-story swapping at the Gymkana. "So anyway, about this perfect place in Caledon to go get a tree: the very first time Stoney ever took off on me, was the very first day I invited a whole bunch of  barn kids out on a hack with me." Jill went on, as usual, with barely a breath. "I had been hacking on him on the roads myself at that point, and he was going well or i wouldn't have been in that situation... I guess it must have been one of the younger riders that knew we were allowed to ride in that big open field? Because we were out on my hack turf, with the brave, sensible Stoney leading the way and we decided to make the turn.  And as soon as I turned him into it, he bolted. He just took off, full speed, with no warning he started running."
Jill had been riding all her life, so to hear her first ever total take off story took place as an adult, was a shock.  But not compared to the horror that showed on her face as she described it.    "I have to say. that was the fastest I have ever travelled on horseback in all my life!   And so, there we went,  whipping past trees and who knows what stumps and holes at full tilt and the kids are whooping and hollering like this is fun as their herd of horses do their best to keep up somehow with the racehorse.,   Jill described shouting back to them STOP!!! I AM OUT OF CONTROL!!! STOP!!! which, incidentally, does not sound like whoa. to a racehorse.ha


Jess, who had a lazy horse it was hard to make gallop caught on first, and since she had been second in the ride she was quick in cutting things off and bringing the others to order. Jill said "I do not know how far away Stoney was when I could finally stop him. but I shook and shook and maybe even cried  on the long, long walk to return to the herd.  She did  not begin to try and count the stumps walk way back to the kids, who were standing there in a group worrying. 


What a horrible surprise yet ultimately lucky run, ha. At first Jill had said  "I never want to gallop ever again in my whole life. especially on THIS horse."

***
But there's a more fun thing about that Christmas tree farm:

The family tradion when as Jill was growing up was always an artificial tree, because of the pets. But, one time, when  parents surprised her.  


It would turn out that as they were driving home with their first ever real tree, from that very farm, they passed a very flashy horse and rider on the roads. They discussed the beauty and visible talent of the horse and the wonderful connection he seemed to have with the rider.  Jill's dad reported that he had always wished to get Jill a horse just like that... 


Meanwhile, Jill would remember that the very considerate driver passing safely had a car that looked like her parents' , (but obviously, it wasn't them since there was an actual real tree tied to the roof) that indeed that her mount  was sort of spooking at, so Jill rode on and they drove off and it was only chatting on the phone later they figgered out we had in fact seen each other day!

Out in the Field

Jill needed to earn more money.  But instead of looking to trade in one office job for another, she was giviing serious thought about ways to earn out in the field, ha.
"Experienced Rider/Trainer with 3rd level dressage capabilities, to exercise several horses in Flamborough area. Must be mature, reliable and knowledgeable. Salary will start at level of commitment and expertise. Duties will also include lunging, grooming, feeding/water, scooping up after horse in arena. Serious inquiries only as this will be a full time job."
 
*
Much of her management training had come in-house, ha, from her father.


She knew that a powerful manager could have subordiantes who accomplish all sorts of things that said manager didn't quite understand and didn't quite NEED to understand, let alone micromanage.


She had always brought a similar attitude to her teaching practice.  She had students that she had coached to riding levels she would never reach.  But she had the eye to analyze performance and the ability to motivate that helped improve even the most talented horse and rider teams...


the head instructor with the attitude of withholding secrets, so as to protect their "superior" status was one she was wondering just how to disagree with ha.

A Derby Magic Hat?

Jill was sweaty and grubby and without a stitch of makeup.  She enjoyed weather so hot that she would forget about appearance entirely, and just relax in the heat... On a total whim walking past the fancy hat shoppe, she had tried one on and the clerk snapped her picture, in her non glamourous but dress up condition, ha...

but its true the hat turned out to be magical as many friends on facebook had sent messages about how lovely she looked in it, ha.

The Lessons Continue...

Jill had all her life wanted to go, but had yet never been to Europe.  She also wanted to put the 5th annual Aimee Mann Christmas concert for the first time on her list of annual traditions, ha.  So what its in LA? Some shows are worth it.

Jill always just tried to think about calmly proceeding until her true colours showed.  Her intentions were always good!  She would always work hard for a win-win solution to every difficult situation.  It worked with people and horses, ha.

*

Her boss had written back to the irate client that Jill "did have her days,"  and, that she did tend to bring her personal issues to work with her.  Yikes.  She thought that was great payback for representing him 24/7, ha.  Meanwhile, they both knew she was about to ask for more unpaid personal days out of the office, for the upcoming annual horse show, ha.

Her coworker got paid days off to go someplace in her stead, when she would have been volunteering, unpaid on all counts. And here wan an upset customer who probably the wanted the volunteer job she'd just been offered elsewhere to boot!

*

"I learned something."  Jill felt stoopid for her own compliment… after the meeting.  Mostly because of the socially awkward delivery no doubt.  But, it was true.   And it was truly meant well. And at least she'd said so.  There was after all, no evaluation form.  She did wonder though, why did she always have to burst in, blurt and bolt?

Instead of pondering too long, she always chose to calmly concentrate on just doing her best, over and over, in everything…  eventually that comes around right? 

On another session's evaluation form, too truthfully no doubt, she written that she'd resented paying $60 and taking an unpaid day off work for a session that didn't deliver an iota of info she didn't already know. Especially when other people paid $75 and got two meals, more networking and double the chance of learning something! Hmmmmm, was she hungry when she wrote that? 

*

Jill could tell from the way her kids rode that women spoke the truth when she rolled her eyes at the question, "I know you've never seen me Jill, but I can ride."

*

Meanwile, in the tackroom, when she announced that the dismal lesson program they had just actually experienced for the the off season, was at least, about double the revenue of last year. As she said this, she saw the Head Instructor's face fall.  Jill had taken over the administration of the program with the instruction To Grow It and had done so.  But here was a downside.  

So, she did not mention how she had decreased teacher payout expenses with improved cancellation handling and other ingenious day-time/double duty initiatives.  They all knew she had improved brand with internal marketing only, no outside advertising at all.

And yet, the Head Instructor looked hurt instead of pleased for them.  She'd seen it and wanted to cheer him up about it.  There had to be a way!

*

Jill sat down on her couch after work and cried.  What a rotten day.  The stress of her personal life was heavy for her.  It felt good to release so much sorrow that she didn't want to ever burden anybody else with, that she never talked about.  She was embarrassed by it.  Shamed by the sad facts.  And then she snoozed on the couch watching a cheesy movie really relaxing and feel safe.  She was glad for friday nights with the whole place to herself and the fact that the weekend was about to begin and she could make improvements towards all the difficult aspects in her life one tiny step at a time…  and around midnight she realized it was actually SATURDAY and she'd just missed her best friend's surprise birthday party.  She wasn't used to her new Tuesday-Saturday work week and made the dumb mistake.

How do you explain such a thing?  Jill's friend was so hurt that she could never even begin...

*

Her shy hideaway cat had escaped for a run in the rain!  That's what the mysterious thumping turned out to be?  Maybe she should turn into an indoor/outdoor pet too? She was only brave about dogs, a total hideaway about everything else.  She really could use more exercise!

*

Goals Go Bye Bye

Its true that once Jill had finally got him consistently past the huge fluffy sheep up the street that had so freaked him, she got her aspirations about riding the rider level 8 on him at the next testing.  Even though that would be followed by re-doing all the lunging rigamarole that she had already passed for the instructor certificate -- a facade of process that had nothing to do with anything she ever did in real life, ug.

And, it was also true, that therefore, she would sometimes practice jumping unsupervised in the show ring before she went to work in the morning, ha.  The pink plank had provided quite a wake up call one time, she remembered and that's when she'd also learned her little buddy's if in doubt go faster philosophy, ha.

"I guess I gave up those dreams when the owner of the horse took him back," Jill had forgot she even intended once.  It saddened her to recollect how the owner was was so bent out of shape that Jill had pulled his shoes and turned him out overnite with another horse that she lost the ride.  Jill didn't try and splain how overgrown barefoot might be better than overgrown and shod given the unpaid farrier bills.  And she didn't argue that he'd been turned out with the other big bay overnight many many times when the board payment was late, and that all the horsies survived just fine.  Jill was silent as she let her heart break for not just the loss of her current mount, but also their shared retired show buddy, the big bay that was so happy and relaxed an old man.  A horse she knew trusted her more than any other person he knew already or would ever meet.  A horse she loved to groom and visit and play with, before and after riding the younger thoroughbred.  Boo hoo.

At least she had met a media buddy out the deal. ug, ha etc.

*

Please please please make a video series!" Jill would beseech her mentor.  The people with your depth of expertise are disappearing.  Maybe based on pony club? Pony club is an internationally known system!!  Nevermind the EC Rider levels (which by the way, you continue to accidentally call CEF an out of date nomenclature).

*

"My issue with a horse to ride in my life now is usually the car ride to get there."  Jill would ride the horse no one else wanted to, but lately no one was willing to come and pick her up so she would do so, ha.

Wishful Reminiscing?

While attending the World Equestrian Games, as a volunteer-blogger for the National Sport Office, Jill was surprised that about half her informal, verbal survey results indicated that 50% of attendees were local, but NOT horse people.

No wonder it seemed so different from when they were held on European soil...
*
It was amazing to see what was happening around the world.  When 20% of a population have a cell phone a dictatorship can no longer exist! Jill was thinking of getting on board.
*
Jill did not want the group lesson exception the woman was willing to try and arrange for her.  She graciously declined.

Obviously long gone were the days when Jill would get PAID to ride.  Two different winters in the last few had been spent with Olympians, hours and hours of exciting, challenging and valuable training rides.  One season in sunny warm Florida and one season in snowy, hilly, amazing Ontario.  Jill missed that kind of opportunity more than she could begin to express.  Priceless access and pay.

The Last Hurrah

Jill loved the album Hell Among The Yearlings.

She still felt stoopid for the way she'd piped up at the horse id meeting at the conference, with the ear tag question.  "Why can't we just do what they do for cattle?" DUH! Every horse person in the room was aghast, looking at her as she finally actually pictured in her mind the tags sold for id of ugly non-ptet livestock cattle in a herd…  A friend of hers, who's consistent simple kindness that always did impress her, spoke up defending her out of the box thinking, while explaining the invisible ear tattoo used on his cats… Many options could be considered viable by many!  

kentucky.com/wegphotos

He probably aspires to that speech-y job," Jill sighed to herself, listening to the president of the FEI go on and on. She was anxious for the set of music she'd estimated to her ticket buddy would go from 5-6, after all this "tradition" was overwith, ha.  The Princess was teary-eyed, commending everyone - the volunteers and event's organizers could bask in the glow of this phenomenal success blah blah blah.

Jill remembered when she'd left work in a huff because the boss's unfair tirade, and how she didn't go home because her evil-to-her-landlord needed access to her attic again that day… So, Jill had run to the library with her computer to vent and calm down.  She could use if for phone calls and email for there but was too teary to even go inside, she just sat on a bench in the lobby to collect herself, and lo and behold a woman she'd like to impress not distress walked by, with her young daughter.  Jill was both hurt and fortunate that they didn't recognize her or stop to offer any kindness.

On the stadium stage, there was even congratulatory hoopla about the footing, while Jill wondered what the groom's are doing out there on foot,  when they dismount after obstacles…  the newspaper had even showed a picture and the caption that the competitor was tightening "a loose tack."  A piece of tack or an actual tack? Jill would like to interview team manager/chef d'equipe about specifics. And, also the president of the equestrian games federation in the host country - how dangerous/safe are some of these FEI disciplines anyway?

"16 days…" the speaker's amplification had an echo voice "762 horses. 6,000 volunteers and 600,000 spectators" ? Jill wasn't quite sure she was hearing everything correctly.  Obviously this would be including a stadium crowd of 60,000 she was sitting in at that very moment…

She'd noticed nine countries competing in the Driving, and only 7 of them with teams entered.  One country was eliminated when the driver with the broken left foot went off course during the cones, just two pairs from the end of the course of 2 obstacles.  The Aussie who won did so on a world-record setting dressage test mark.  The Dutchman contending a tie for second spot had his carriage messed with and was subject to FEI drug testing as well as competing with a broken right hand.

The timing system broke down repeatedly, with clearly no contingency plan.  But it was worth the wait for the first double clear that would ensure the retiring chum a team medal.

She was into honouring promises, and was glad in way, when she could honour a previous pinkie swear about future concerts.  But first, she'd texted an allusion to an invitation to closing ceremony in a wish to hang out with a nerdy handsome, that hadn't worked…  she'd hoped for a reciprocal rain check kind of suggestion at least!

Were FEI officials considered "Games Officials?" Were the paid security guards really gone from their duties from 3am-5am? An Olympian blogger Jill was reading, published that the accusation in one of his early entries, but how credible was his info?  There was subsequent sabotage to one of the carriages out of camera view, right?

She listened intently to one of the field reporters, or so Jill thought of the randomly located driving expert she found at each obstacle, who said how nice it was as a sport to do "together." His wife was a driver, they did do four-in-hand, and she relied on him as brave and solid navigator. They were in it togethers, ha, and spent a lot of enjoyable time together in this way. And then again he made a few so-called-romantic jokes about the DRIVING tension that could be shared on, and off the course, ha.

She pictured how her handsome had bent over the h'ors deouvrs, over interested in the food, as they shyly passed each other at the gala where they'd last encountered one another, in person.

*

Jill thought it was cool how the city had created free mulch compost, available at the former landfill site, (not recycling centre), and was hosting a fire prevention parade!  If only someone would invite her to be his date.

*

What he loved about watching the team and individual vaulters freestyles, was how clearly it was about connecting to the music, to each other and, to the audience. They were not horse and human athletes, or acrobats, they were theatrical performers!

What could ever happen if the horse were allowed off the lunge?

The competitors that really excelled were clearly so in their bodies, in the moment.  It was amazing to see it all come together.

Clearly, it took flair and focus to excel.  Jill had loved watching the practice and drills with the announcer explaining the moves and methods and other insightful details.

*

Once again, she unbridled her spirit in the Kentucky Horse Park, ha.  Third time lucky? ha  

She texted some young friends about the local Pony clubbers that not only got front row seats for certain events, but had delivered bouquets, double 9 lb trophies and medals, with clear rounds all round!  Wearing medical armbands, lol.  Should they all plan now to render-vous in Normandy?

*

The Equine Extravaganza

The show was well underway by the time Jill arrived there, sitting down to eat, having shook the whole time she delivered a good deed.  What a gift to also cash in a free meal voucher on the way there!  

What she saw from a place she took in the bleachers started with the 1994 Mustang Troupers with Inner City Youth mounted on a formerly wild herd rounded up across the state.  One kid's pony wasn't do what he wanted and he cropped it several times in a blend of misguided show nerves and good determinism and bravery, eventually the pony bucked, and the kid stayed aboard but ended up out of order, frustrated his musical ride buddies and then he gave up when the pony went back to the gate.  He hunched over there until the routine was over and was first out, poor guy.  It was heartbreaking, but the crowd hadn't actually noticed.

This was followed by a spotted saddlehorse musical ride and then the amazing gus mclain from Australia, who had one horse lie down on command while the three others side stepped over him, including the one he was mounted on.  What Jill liked most about the herd of entertainers, is that they all seemed to find it fun, there was nothing resentful or fearful about their execution, as there were in other acts.

Watching the connermera pony refuse to walk in the gate twice til rider decided to jump him over the fence beside it instead of as entrance was fun.  The same youngster popped the pony, no hands, over a picnic table (set for a meal with table cloth et al) reminded her of her old pony friend stormy at windy haugh farm. When she was about 12, she had whipped him over the picnic table between the trees on the cross country course, in her weekly lesson with the farm owner -- and she loved doing it.  The boys on the rugby team at school had thought she was kinda cool when she talked about doing that…

*

She wondered if he was feeling pain in the litter box and thus spraying elsewhere?  For sure he sprayed every time he unrinated, all his life he had done this.  Now she heard him dig dig, digging in the litter, which he had also done All His Life, ha. Better of course… And, then she saw him scooting along the bathroom floor in the middle of the night.  She had no idea what was going on.  Otherwise, lol, he seemed fine.  Purring all the time, just sitting around.  He didn't want to go out, and was eating and drinking and snuggling and meowing like his contented self.  And, she sure had enough friends to choose from when she thought about calling the vet!

*

Jill LOVED reading the headline CANADIAN HORSE #1 ~ with the story of Hickstead as the lead story in the entire publication.

Jill didn't get a copy of the commerative book, "of course… because you didn't check in."

Uh, yes indeed, she had checked in, and in fact, provided a credit card for incidentals.  How she loved the sound of THAT word, ha.  The specific phrasing comforted right up until the very moment when she checked out.  Said check-in had also came with an invitation to the reception… what she really wanted to imagine though, was a wedding on horseback, ha.

She noticed the wedding ring on the woman's hand, and her starchy new team colours wardrobe.  She also noticed how her eyes welled up with tears when Jill had provided her hotel room number in answer to the waitress-inquiry.  But she wasn't sure exactly how she could cause them.

"Whatever snit you're in, you better get out of it right now," Jill actually kind of admired the co-worker's blunt and hard-hitting observation.  "We have FOUR more days to go."

*

In the meantime, she read into the penguins in the official booth and kept a saddle in her apartment.   She thought maybe she could find a carpool to the stinky town for the Ian Tyson book launch.  She'd kind of like to know more about his life, because she knew through his music that even if whiskey was his mistress, his heroes were his horses!

Pop Test(s)

"So, why wouldn't you want to work for them anyway?" Jill's new pal for the conference asked, in a voice that may have carried to the passers-by. Jill didn't want to be caught gossiping, but she did want to vent, ha. While submitting her resume about 1,000 times, she had tried very hard with volunteer effort, in different capacities to make a difference to the organization... But the people responsible for influencing the management didn't really seem to care about actual improvements. Or so Jill decided because they never hired her, and seeing who they did select (and how they all interacted) was frivolous and frustrated her beyond measure. It was an old boys club that she had decided to give up on changing, or exposing, ha.
*
Her new roomy said the attic was now off limits.  Apparently the last tenant had borrowed a scarf from the landlord's storage up there. The frustrated blond learned this when the landlord came through, unannounced in her absence and the rotten tenant put said dirty, stained, ruined pink pashmina on her coat hook, ha. It was a first impression with the landlord she never could shake.

On a more positive note, said that she had a box of rosettes somewhere. She wanted to bond over a shared love of horses! Her collection would be "in serious need of ironing" but she still had it… Jill didn't say that in a way she lamented the year she threw out the entire stuffed filing cabinet drawer's worth of ribbons, or that in another way she thought ironing? I don't even iron clothes! To put such effort in to something so simply sentimental! All her awards were sooo old… her winnings as a junior? Its true that even as she matured she was disappointed to learn that ribbons won nowadays, technically belonged to the horses' owner, not the competitor, ha. She hadn't received a new one since she was about 18 years old! She'd only earned one medal and never, never, never (despite all her hopes) had she ever taken home a trophy!
*
Sitting near an official's vehicle, as the competition neared its end, Jill heard the call over the radio for the vet to take a look at the distressed mare, that had just come off course and returned to the stable. A draft cross, who had found the marathon phase in the southern heat a bit much it sounded like...


The requesting voice just wanted to be sure she would okay. Was it the owner requesting the vet care? The competitor? Jill heard much difficult back and forth question and answer about whether this was a courteous suggestion for general horse-health welfare or an actual order from the ground jury? "You realize the implications of asking for a vet check, right?" the walkie talkie changed its tune and asked instead for a casual walk by in one hour.
*
As they came back from their hack around the hayfield, with all the freshly baled squares strewn in rows every couple of feet, making it impossible to find one to jump with even a stride or two on landing, Jill shocked her riding buddy. "I see a line," she announced, gathering up her reins, urging the pony into a few steps of trot, and popping length-wise over a hay bale, with the short side testing their accuracy and sending them leaping a nice, long spread of a jump. Whoo hoo!

Jill had never jumped the pony before, but she knew her history as an eventer and she knew from the feel of their rides that she was an honest, go-ey kind of girl that might enjoy the pop test. What fun!

Q&A

"So, you foxhunt? With which club?" Jill sat down at a stranger's breakfast table. "I went out a few times with the other local hunt club last season Jill said and I been trying to figure out ever since then if all hunt clubs are that crazy or if they might be even worse than most, ha."

The woman's face actually softened at the joke.

Near the end of the first ride she'd been given a leg up in motion from a man surprisingly sprightly and up onto his 4 yr old madly enthused clydesdale mare.  the stirrups were long enough for a 7ft giant and not right for her, but the mare was already cantering to keep up with the herd. Her owner shouted at them, waving, "Good Luck!" ha 

He'd said earlier the mare had a soft mouth and she knew he'd be watching for kindness, so she did not even touch the reins and rode the rhythm.

Later, she walked up beside a former riding student near the front and surprised her, after being surprised herself to recognize the brave, solid able rider in such a daunting environment and on such a challenging mount! "i would have NEVER predicted to run into YOU riding here, like THAT in a group like THIS.  Amazing! The girl and her mother, riding alongside laughed and introduced her 3 yr old newest horse family member, up and coming underneath her.  Jill had been instrumental in helping the back then 8 year old back into b r a v e, after she'd fallen and broken an arm and would rather talk horsemanship all day instead of trying some tough riding.  her mom was, after all a fine horse woman and vet, with horses right on their home property.

*

"Where did you find her?"

"I think my daughter would get a kick out of her!" 

Beginner's Luck

Jill had jotted down a higher number than the one she saw elsewhere as the male Canadian driver's dressage score, but she couldn't understand what the judges didn't like about the performance.  Was it the dramatic slowing of pace for the circles?   There was nothing else so different than the prior rider that she could recollect…

Jill carried on as the German women behind her left, between horses.  After all this, you're not even going to stay for the last ride, the woman???!!! And they laughed and swooned, sweaty in the heat as their excuse, as they did indeed depart. 

During the woman's drive there had been much head bobbing in the audience, especially from Jill's new American more-than-she-driver-expert friends about the head bobbing in the ring.  Eventually the worst of the leaders steadied out, and the other one just faded away.  Jill commented, "There's no sparkle, but at least they seem solid."  Her pals thought that was a good way to put it and loaned their camera for her to snap pics they promised to email if she reminded them.  After that, people in the bleachers behind her had comments for the first time the entire competition, "there's no flash." etc. 

He wondered why she would shy away from a stable pass, and it was true that Jill did not approach any of the competitors for comment or discussion of their sport whatsoever.  Not because she didn't want to, or see the access or because she doubted her ability to engage them in meaningful dialogue, and not so much because she believed the hoopla about the need for media passes and the media blackout even for those with credentials, but more because if she actually managed to obtain quotes and write about them, she would make herself so resented sooooo much more, by soooooo many…

And besides/after all, she didn't even have an outlet nowadays.

*

Once she realized that she didn't even KNOW the guy, her crush stopped running away with her and she was able to send a text like she would to any potential friend she was hoping to get to know a little better, making her 3 for 3 that day with many overdue hello's and hi's here and there, ha.

"I've been seeing your hair around the last few days.  Its fantastic!"

*

Beginner's Luck meant she missed the Canadians in the cones phase, not realizing their order of go would be based on scores (Duh!).  She was lucky to get in without a ticket, quoting someone who had said she could get in with her Closing Ceremony ticket and hoping for charm and goodwill to open the gates.  Therefore watched most of the event from beside the announcer in the car parked in the corner, although she did also claim a patch of shade by the entrance for a time too...  His commentary to whatever media he was speaking for was quite educational, although it was not a good spot for photos.

*

Trying to find the bridge to Canada in Detroit was a nightmare.  The exit the signs said to take, at the last minute, was marked closed.  She took the next one and she was glad to be doing in the light of a bright sunny day.  Why hadn't she gone all the way to the Port where she had come across in the first place?  There were construction/detour signs, but they had been graffitied over and it lead Jill to think how easy it would be to just post some of those of one's own.  The GPS was going crazy telling her to turn around and every time she reached the left turn of the detour route the road would again be closed.  It was nerve wracking, but eventually she caught up with some other confused traffic and took a spot in line for the $4.00 toll, in order to cross the bridge that was so majorly under construction.  Only on the other side, in the huge line for the customs officials could she relax, ha.

Watch and Learn

OXI/Multi Moron (?)(!)

1) She was also soooooooooo frustrated with herself! She couldn't master her reverse shyness - an affliction whereby she couldn't even go and say hi to the folk(s) she most wanted to chat to, while she could boldly intrude or make conversation or introduce herself to any other random strangers!

How could someone with such a fearless reputation and soooooooo theoretically brave (i.e. confrontational) be also such a chicken? She was sick of herself. "Oh i'm a walker," she heard herself say, afraid of a ride?

2) She hadn't realized that the "around the world" exercise she used in teaching beginners hailed from a cavalry move called "the mill" where you would quickly spin to see (or shoot) an enemy coming up on you from behind.  "Scissors" too.  The boys in her practice were bound to like learning this new tidbit, ha.  What an amazing demo the US vaulting team did in the Clinician's area of the event!

* 

She had studied books and looked at pictures but never had actually watched any driving competition.  When she moved on to the Combined Driving arena for the Dressage phase, she was actually walking past the ring with a test in progress ~ towards her assigned seating.  She suddenly realized it would be more appropriate to stand still and so, did so.  As the show unfolded, and volunteers developed in their roles, they p r e v e n t e d   folks from walking past during a test, and Jill was glad to note this.

Jill hadn't known before that were 5 judges in the Dressage phase of combine driving ~ one at B, E, H, C and M.  Was it like that in Grand Prix ridden dressage too?  She couldn't remember, but could see how it was useful as it was often one horse of the four deserving demerits, and how could that be seen from the other side of the team?

One competitor had a blended team of cross breeds that had an amazingly consistent action and manner of movement - did the hackney/clyde cross naturally move like the percheron/saddlebred cross, or was it a result of training?  She shuddered to wonder, remembering the hackney ponies she'd worked around in her youth with the posts chained to each foot forcing them to lift so high for every single step.

Sometimes the grooms faced forwards, sometimes backwards, sometimes each other.  And what they wore was never the same team to team, brown bowlers  black top hats or black or brown hunt caps, on ladies and/or men, and always different than the driver… Fedora vs. Cowboy hat.  How were all these decisions made? And-oh-to-be a lady driver!  Her longstanding hat obsession would really fit right in, ha.  Overall, she was a tiny bit ashamed to be so enthused and curious about the fashion of a sport.  Certainly not something she actually brought to real life, despite her designer label conscious family influence, ha. 

Jill thought squeaky or rattly carts and the driver's tone of voice surely influenced the judging too, like in the olden days when it was optional to type an essay but when doing so would ensure extra accidental good impression and better marks.  Speaking of marks, she found it cute, even though she knew better, to see any horse nuzzle its neighbour at any halt.  She also wondered what effect the damp, crisp morning vs. the hot, sweltering afternoon had on the actual scores and results.

Jill resolved that if she was ever involved in the sport, she were perfect a dramatic farewell salute!

Hotel Hopeful

For once Jill had actually remembered to toss some sort of swim suit into her luggage, and lo and behold at this facility there was sign up "no swimming alone."  Their buddy system made good sense in one way, but in an other way, wasn't it discriminating against singles?  She was tempted to call the management office and ask if they provided the buddies.

She hated sending a text and not hearing back.  What exactly did NOTHING mean? ha. She actually dreamt about it, and in the dream it turned out she'd been offended by a non-reply from an invalid number.

Jill did not know how, even after remembering her sunscreen facial moisturizer AND hat that morning, she ended up with such a sunglasses-racoon-face sunburn.  "You're pretty fair-skinned." her new friend splained her, spectating at the horseshoe with a shrug passing a drink of water instead of having sunscreen to offer, ha.  But she related to Jill's story and said she was tired of people looking sorry for her because she travelled alone.  "What am I supposed to do, wait until I'm married again to have a life?"

Finally she remembered that the man she'd seen in the restaurant and hoped to see competing that day was in fact, the father of the delightful gal whose hoofprints she'd followed in the snow.  For one whole wintery season, she'd never managed to ride with her, but was somehow always tacking up as the admired daughter-fun-lover was coming back into the barn with her amazing black pony.  Jill had wished to synch up her random ridings time better with such a good time spirited rider. Alas.  She had at least appreciated the updates about the footing and the option follow the trail already blazed tho, ha.

At the horse show, she was happy to catch a 10 min snooze on the lowest metal bench momentarily between events, vaguely watching the vaulters warm up in the background.  She was then thrilled, despite sun-walk-exhaustion, to find herself standing at the back of bleachers screaming and cheering during the exciting example match.

After the demo game, she asked where exactly one BUYS the equipment.  She wanted to promote the purchase to lots of people and then just borrow theirs, ha.

More News

The librarian had told her about emergency shelters and asked if Jill thought the politicians might soon go seeking a long term solution for homelessness, making the point that dressage and stadium are not the same as thoroughbred racing -- "due to the associated costs and training times, your equestrian sports are available to a select few."  Jill knew that the opening ceremony cost $1,000,000, and maybe even strategic sweeps the week of to arrest the homeless.  And, she was also haunted by the risk of homelessness increasing, with rising utility costs on the way…  she sometimes felt guilty for such frivolous interest in sports.

Jill had recently come home to find her landlord had propped the front door wide open for the open house.  She asked if her indoor kitties were locked up safe someplace and the woman stared blankly at her, eventually stating  "You didn't give me any specific instructions about the cats." Jill hadn't realized the open house would be such a LITERAL affair, ha.  She went looking for the precious pets and was unsettled that they didn't come when she called. She was shocked that the woman would forget a brand new mac computer behind and act so ungrateful when Jill returned it to her, finding it while searching for the missing animals.  What did it mean when she said "I've dealt with crazy people before."?  Was she referring to her new prospective tenants, the current lot, or her past representative in bringing in new renters?  Whichever, Jill thought maybe it meant she MADE people crazy, ha, and tried not to be crazy mad.

It turned out her cuddly pals were both hiding in the rotten walls of the attic, which was normally kept locked off limits.  Quite a relief, after all.  Quite a relief too to be making a nice new home for them all across town.

*

It was true that to see how small the event is in the national perspective one only had to look for coverage in the national newspapers…

Jill thought it was a little bit anti-marketing to criticize a competitor in public, at the arena cafeteria, about not wearing team colours, but what would she know -- she wasn't part of the team. "EVERYone got a jacket."  Were they for sale?  Could she buy one?  The competitor said he didn't get one, could he? 

Jill had travelled with her occasional student and occasional equine journalst buddy from the Cayman Islands, carrying their Public Relations job hunting aspirations along too.  She foolishly delegated the route-researching, car-renting, and driving to the foreigner, because she was so busy wrapping up things on deadline at work and because the young, clever woman asked to help!  

As Jill began (finally) to predict, their rental car GPS map took them right into the heart of a brand new subdivision in a nearby development instead of the giant horse facility they were supposedly headed to and indicated they'd reached their destination… making them very, very lost and very, very late, and in fact, very torn about continuing on and making an appearance at all.  Clearly the volunteer roles they'd committed to would be overwith by the time they actually arrived on site.  Jill was mortified to be so mortified…

Becky was the one with the epiphany that they should just figure out their way there and show up and offer a good attitude, and make the best of whatever the situation was.  What a good call!  Good lesson too, ha.  

Other Bits and Pieces...

Was it in a dream where she saw the woman-she-had-just-met's name in a driving caption photo? Jill flipped and flipped and flipped through her Driving Program over and over but couldn't find what she thought she'd seen.  She remembered she even saw the place of Perth mentioned, but couldn't spot it now.  Perhaps she was crazy!  Obviously, she had to get the tickets back to them because of the confusion over what day the access was for.  Why hadn't she noticed when they'd stood in the hotel lobby and she was given them?

*

"Well, why don't you go for a gallop then and come back and tell me the rest,"  she said, after the guy asked her not to try and touch the hyper horse that kept backing away from her, making it difficult to carry on a conversation.  Just who did she think she was??? First trying to comfort a wild chestnut with a pat on the shoulder and when prevented, telling the rider/official what action might be useful? ha! Sometimes her instincts could really run away with her.

*

Jill was tired of trying so hard, and alienating folks with her suggestions and pro-active approach to both paid and volunteer duties.  Her perpetual accidental leadership was not always valued! For the second time running she was consciously waiting til instructed to accomplish tasks, and then delivering only what was requested instead of making any efforts to go above and beyond.  It was turning out to be an easier way to be unpopular at least.

*

She texted her pony club media friends not to come.  The authorities had made it very clear she was mistaken about her value in being in there and it was obvious she was about to be sent away. Her friend didn't seem to mind, and took it all in stride, calling for details and mutual cheer up chatter.  Jill thought, obviously, she doesn't just sell steel, she's made of it!

She amused Jill describing a recent work-related trip to the slaughterhouse. What a saga! Disgusting that they could actually laugh about how on one rack a cow was being gutted, while on another one was being ripped in half by two men, and how when she turned her head away, it was only to see another get it's head chopped off at the same time.  Her friend could really work magic in story telling and this scenery was all in a day's work for her, as she examined the chain that needed re-ordering and did her best to avoid looking at exactly what was hanging off the chain... UG.

Jill was mostly vegetarian, and hearing all that made her feel even worse for the two mornings in a row where she'd enjoyed two breakfast meats. 

Her old pal suggested heading to her place with the few unpaid days off her normal work Jill had left.  "Just when was the last time you stood on a porch and whistled for a horse anyway?"  Jill would certainly be glad for any stolen moments on horseback no matter which way they came...

Mind's Eye

Jill had a crush like nobody's business.  She could not get the guy out of her mind, and even though she was cynical about her ability to be in a relationship anymore, having grown sooooo independent and having developed such high ideals and expectations as she matured.  She was scared to even want the adventure of love, but here she was thinking about his lips, or imagining how his skin might feel...  When she confessed to her best friend, who also lived like a total hermit on the other side of the country, she thought it all made perfect sense.  "So, you just want to find someone to be alone WITH, ha"
*
Its true Jill had missed the free autograph session at the horse park at noon that day, but it didn't mean she was any less a fan.
*
Once she had met a stranger in a feed shop. It surprised the store owner that introduced them that not only did Jill know the sport that the woman participated in, Jill had chatted with a world champion about it!  "I got to interview Chester Weber once for a horse talk radio show I was doing." she enthused, and the store owner beamed.

"He's my teacher!" the woman enthused right back.  "He is sending me a horse on Tuesday."

Then it was Jill who just about fell over from surprise. Of course she would follow up with the woman for a chance to meet the new pony!

*
"He looks so smooth"  Jill said, standing on the back ledge holding tight to the rail with her soggy mitts and with her in the trunk at all times for just such an emergency rain coat done up tight against the spritzing weather.  Her mouth was right at the woman's ear but she still had to speak up.  She was surprised by the sound of the driving!  You could see how the horse's back hardly moved while he took them up hills and down hills and around the dressage ring and around the whole property... you could hear his breathing and hear the gravel under his hooves but it seemed like he floated every where he took them.

Jill could tell the woman was pleased at the observation.  He was indeed one of the most comfortable riding horses she had ever known!  Jill's helmet was also in the trunk despite it being her lunch break from the day job.  The driver was pleased at this too and stated "I knew you would have it."

There was an aviary and herd of old-fashioned heritage shetland sheep on the tour around their property that day.  And, not a single picture or audio snippet of the whole amazing episode.  Egads!
*
In the bookstore she browsed all the picture books about driving, for reminders of how to hold the reins. You never knew when you might get a chance to learn a little more  f i r s t   hand.

Truth and Lies

"Well, if you could get yourself there, you could make use of my colleague's hotel room for a week…"  Jill wondered if she was dreaming to hear such a statement about such a big, huge horse show.

But then again, it was not the first time Jill had landed an invitation to head south just by showing up somewhere. "Remember the first clinic I went to go audit?" Thanks to an OHTA blast where it was clear there was no charge, she went out once to a David O'Connor clinic to spectate. "I was desperate for some kind of equestrian development!" Jill was telling her students after their class about losing yet another horse - this time her mount had been sold out from under her to cover the owner's medical bills. Said owner also being her teacher meant she was really, suddenly, fully out of the game (albeit selfish to see it that way). 


Jill said she'd never done anything like that before, attended a clinic for such serious competitors, but she was so glad she had!  It was an amazing facility and it was surprisingly easy to be there, and, so totally worth the drive! She stuck it out all day in the cold and damp and moved in closer and closer, eventually sitting on a cross fence beside the clinician and making conversation with the riders as they all watched each fellow participant and waited their turn for various exercises. 


Eventually Jill had even taken over as jump crew, as other helper/auditors left, but still she had been to shy to chat with the team coach at all.

In the barn, the chief maintenance guy had obviously taken a shine to her. He must have liked she walked through the stable making conversation with each animal through its stall door, because before she left they asked her to join them in Florida for the season. She hadn't really had much of a conversation with any of the people, but yet she agreed.   On the condition that she go down AFTER the Royal Winter Fair. 
*
And then, she was almost made famous for the fact that she made them wait an extra few days after that, so she could spend some time in the Kentucky Horse park. Afterwards, she learned it was her worker-buddy-to-be that convinced everyone else, saying "there's just something about her." How could it be her fault that he fell in love when she didn't?
*

Concrete 'n Steel...

Jill was desperate to see the sky and some grass, nevermind desperate for horse time.



Jill read the ad for the ONE stable in all of Manhattan, CLAREMONT Riding Academy at 175 West 89th St, just across Central Park.

"Its not an impossible resolution if you join the right gym. Ride, or learn how... You and your children can discover the unique experience of riding on the bridle baths of skyscraper-rimmed Central Park. Group and Private instruction is available 7 days a week at all skill levels."

The receptionist said she could tell on the phone that Jill was a more advanced rider than any of their teachers but Jill made the appt for $65 half hour private anyway.

The so-called private lesson took place in a tiny arena (the lowest floor of the 3 story barn), around a huge support pole and WHILE another group lesson was going on. What a mess!

Jill thought next time, since money was apparently no object, she should try booking an equine for commercial use at $250 hr as if he was to appear in a tv or photo shoot instead. Otherwise she could not tolerate the minimum number of lessons required to rent a horse to take out to the park...

Chiraz was the name of the fancy dressage horse Jill rode in Manhattan. After finding the ONE stable in the entire area.  She would always remember him, since he starred in Carmen, and in War and Peace, at the Met. Imagine!

* *

That tiny room they considered an arena was also the first time she volunteered with a therapuetic riding association. She spoke afterwards of hurting a rider - Lisa's feelings as a sidewalker when she instructed  "look up" instead of "lift your chin." She hadn't realized it, at first, until she realized the rider was coming out of her sulk by being fixated on how Jill had also said the horse looked like he was in a good mood that day...

l a n g u a g e eh? Lisa was a blind rider.

* *

"As a sidewalker, in THAT town, my knack was to GET the horse to move on, so that 35 medical professionals and 10 volunteers didn't have to stand around watching a horse refuse to walk, because there were too many officials and volunteers and not enough horsemen!"

* 

She's done the volunteering to work off a lesson.  In the very, very small arena, while another lesson was going on as well.  Two teachers teaching at the same time in a space not big enough for even one class, in Jill's opinion.  She talked to her horse friends in Canada about it afterwards:

"My fundamental problem with them was the backwards way they were too much about creating an overcontrolled bubble environment where nothing dramatic ever happened instead of working to develop talented riders and horsepersons who can deal with horses in the real world, because they know how to position themselves correctly and they know how to communicate effectively with the beast etc."

Jill also ranted how she found it "stoopid that the novice rider, who has less control, is the one expected to keep out of the way of the more advanced rider. Why not offer BEGINNERS right of way???"  

She would never forget when she was trying to pass all these rookie riders who were careening right into me and she finally formally asked the instructor what the passing protocol was she said "at your level of riding, you can pass any where you want."  But Jill was not honoured, just frustrated.

Thank goodness she didn't stay there long, and was soon able to cover ground on horseback as she felt she was meant to do...

Non-HouseCall

"So, what are you doing now," he wanted to know, after treating the cats and marking the date on the calendar that she could bring some of her young horsier-wanna-be friends for a visit. It would be too dark to ride but they could have a young horse grooming session... Jill thought it was best to get her hands on those young 'uns sooner rather than later so they didn't travel in the hoofprints of their older troubling siblings, ha. She liked all aspects of horsemanship and loved working with young and challenging horses most of all. And her young lovely friends would brighten the day on the farm too no doubt!

She was also planning to bring a couple big tubs of horse stuff she'd hoped she could stash in the barn!!! But she thought she'd just surprise them, instead of asking in advance.

She did tell him about the stupendous invitation she'd received. And, for a thoroughly enjoyable moment, the gent was actually speechless. And while Jill was a having humorous flashback to the day he'd prattled on about the aforesaid invitee's tendency to "go on a bit, doesn't he..." the older man smirked.

"Well, you'll have to watch out he doesn't make a pass then. You know that type of University boy, right?" Jill actually had no familiarity at all with the school or its world-class reputation for academic excellence. Was the vet a grad then?

"Watch OUT!?" , Jill enjoyed shocking him in truth and fun "what do you think i'm headed there watching FOR!?"

Back To School News...

Jill was comforted by the woman's big hug and enthusiasm.  She'd been a tiny bit embarrassed in passing hello's with the socialite's husband, because he wouldn't tolerate a coward and she was afraid he would think she was one.  Jill hadn't been up there since two quite incredbily EXCITING horse times back to back, ha. 

It was a timing, convenience, expense thing more than anything else, but assuredly, it was also an unsuitability of horse to project thing as well, ha.

"He's scared me a few times too," the vet surprised Jill announcing, "and he is going Back To School."

To who?

Jill was pleased to hear the name of a person people she respected respected.

Pitching to the Horse Media

The woman Jill thought had hired her once, was someone she thought she should warm up to.  But she was wishing the other woman would break the ice, lol.


Initially, Jill had approached the woman with a job-funding application for a government program she thought the start-up company might be able to use, use in fact, to hire her, ha.  Since then she had used the program to fund the full time 2nd year university student that helped for her first four summer months around her new fulltime office.

Back then, they'd had a quick chat and wham, Jill was on retainer for $50 week for marketing and networking/promo girl type services.  It was something she did for musician clients all the time although her minimum was usually $250 a month.   She really thought they'd connected and communicated well and had lots in common!  The woman had once promoted a kids band, Funky Mama, while, in the days to follow thier chat, Jill would be at the presenters table in Ottawa while the band got a lifetime achievement award from the Council of Folk Festivals.

She was very disappointed, when after her first week, promoting the website in some high profile places and special access/expense free-to-her-new-client conferences, the woman shrieked at her  "but, I haven't trained you yet! I didn't give you my list of contacts. I'm not paying you for starting before I instructed you!"

Jill regretted now how hard she had tried then to express her disappointment and the energy she'd expended trying to get the woman to UNDERSTAND things from her point of view.

*

Meanwhile she was thrilled to find proposed assignment in her email.  Not only would it pay well, it would be hilarious good fun to research.  They'd asked for an Equestrian Singles Feature, Canada's Most Eligible Bachelor

But, was it supposed to be written or audio documentary style or both or what?

Another No-Show?

In her younger days, Jill's parents had come to every single horse show.  From the very beginning until the very end.  She'd always thought it added to her stress of the day rather than reducing it, and wished they wouldn't try so hard.

Now, she wanted to spend time with them on weekends and was constantly inviting them to come to shows with her, but they weren't interested.  Too bad!  She was only spectating it was true, but she still thought it would be a good way to spend quality time together, in the fresh air, for free, while having fun and cheering on her friends or students etc. etc. etc.

She had her friend's Caledon Horse Park appearance on her agenda for weeks ahead of time, and now that the time was drawing near, she'd have to cancel.  She couldn't get there in the morning and back in time to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. Dang Dang Dang.

It was nice to be offerred the chance to trade vehicles for her journey of course and she was incredibly grateful for all the effort and expense they had put in to supporting her travels to the Kentucky Horse Park, but dang it, she kept trying to find a way to have her cake and eat it too.

*
the mature young woman in the music shop asked her "Are you still doing pony club?" and Jill said "not enough. Never enough. But, I have a date on Monday morning to hack a young appoloosa around its property while its owner rides Sugar alongside."  Saddle time was her absolute FAVE kind of horse time!

The Latest...

She was NOT a one nite stand kind of girl, THAT much she could assure him, although she didn't do so, when he'd joked about it, awkwardly.

His effort/comment offended her, in fact, because she was truly wishing to find a way to become a little less hard to get, lol.  She wanted to open her mind!  Jill longed for  a HUMAN PARTNER that would swim a river and/or climb a mountain to be with her, because she always gave SOOOO much and tried SOOOO hard in every thing she did, especially for love...

but then again...  (!)
*

Too bad about the hunter pace at the Hunt Club AND the extra horse available at the Pony Club Mounted Games on the very same day.  Nevermind the other not-so-grass-roots events she hadn't even heard of!  Worse yet was the fact that she would indeed manage to stay up and out until 6 am on Nuit Blanche the night before/day of said occaisions, in her enthusiasm for music ~ which would even negate the option of spectating and arranging future horseness adventures...

Jill was seriously in need of a way to blend her two passions so as to ensure both.

Remember when her best date prospect was the millionaire from Manhattan insisting on other models? ha. Maybe she could be the rockstar and someone ELSE could be the horsey person in the new imaginary scenario...

Short Course Short Cut

Unless she could find a way to share the expense and work of maintaining the car, Jill was leaning towards giving up the vehicle.  Which also meant, essentially, giving up horse-back riding.  Again.  Sigh.

But the fact was that she really wasn't riding much anyway.  Or teaching much.  She had two students that she schooled a couple times a month and sometimes she'd borrow the extra pony and hack out them and moms after class...

But, aside from that, she really had nothing on the go.

The good news was, the kitty's needed flea drops, so she may as well call a vet...  Might get a hunt or two out of it, ha.
*
I recognize you from Pony Club" he said, standing in line at the secretary's booth at the horse show.  Jill knew him then too, they'd ridden the C-rally together on a team.  She'd always liked his quiet, determined way with that big tall roan-y apoloosa, back in the day.

"I danced with you at your grad!" he surprised her. High school? That'd be worlds colliding.  Her highschool life and her horse life had never intertwined... "Who were you there with?" she was trying to recall it.  And, was kind of pleased when he had no idea anymore who his date was back then, ha.

She told him about the ordeal she had to go through because of the lost pony club records, when she decided to get certified as an instructor.  "But why didn't you just come back here?" Now that was a different story...  Jill hoped they'd find a chance to hang out and really catch up, ha.  Had he been at all the work parties she'd missed?

Wasn't it funny how silence fell over the crowd in the sponsor/announcers booth and they'd all watched him walk past. Such a handsome, athletic, pleasant passer-by, one of the few male competitors of the day, ha.