Dust... it's everywhere!

Riding Watson's Gift (aka Watson)

The last four days (Thursday-Sunday) I spent down in Sherwood, OR, at DevonWood Equestrian Center. Lauren was having a show and competed with both her horses, Watson's Gift and Descartes. This was my fourth equestrian event this summer, and by far the largest. DevonWood is a huge facility and there were lots of horses. The competition started out a little rough with both horses deciding not to cooperate. But Descartes ended on a good note, riding to third place on his second and last performance of the weekend.

Descartes (above and below)

DevonWood is known as one of the largest equestrian facilities in the Northwest. The competition is fierce as riders come from all over to show against some of the best in the area. On Friday I watched the best horse I've seen in person so far, competing at the Grand Prix level, which is the highest in dressage. Saturday's freestyle event, which entails background music choreographed to the horse and rider's movements, attracted a crowd of approximately 400. Even though it was exhausting, especially in the upper 90's heat (not too mention starting off after another all-nighter), I had a lot of fun experiencing a well known show.

Face shot of Descartes

If there was one adjective to describe the last four days, it would be "dusty". With trucks passing by, hundreds of people walking, and hundreds of horses riding around the dirt paths, dust was being stirred up everywhere. There was no way to avoid it. Even after two Clariton a day, I was sneezing constantly. It's never a good sign when you blow your nose and enough dirt comes out to blacken a kleenex. Even the horses were sneezing! Whoever can invent some system to create a dustless barn will be a bazillionair.

Bowing to judges after riding Watson

For now it's back to work again. Just two days, then two straight days of training before one day off. On Saturday, I'll be taking Lauren down to Vancouver, WA for my co-workers wedding and head back up on Sunday before working that evening. Until then...

Las Vegas

This post will be super short. I went to Las Vegas on my three days off. The end. Well, maybe not that short; but as they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I was there for a bachelor party of another police officer I work with. There was a group of ten of us who all flew there from Washington for the three day weekend. I had to work the night before, so after work early Friday morning, I took a quick shower, finished packing, and headed out the door. I slept some on the flight down, but as we all know, sleeping on plane flights is about relaxing as Chinese water torture.

Arriving in Las Vegas, I drove down to Lake Mead to spend the afternoon swimming and jet skiing right by Hoover Dam. Then it was time to head "home", at a house being rented only a few miles from the strip. The rest of the weekend was spent at various clubs, casinos, and restaurants, including a quick stop at Pawn Stars, the pawn shop featured on A&E. We also hung out with Gavin Smith (famous poker player) and was about three feet from Doyle Brunson, who is known as the greatest legen in poker history. He would be the equivilent to poker as Babe Ruth is to baseball.

It was a fun weekend and ended much too quickly. I got back into town about 1 am on Monday, and started working a few hours later.

Wacky Nut Farm

Two weekends ago Lauren and I made our way over to Bainbridge Island for a lovely weekend. Lauren had been invited to demo for a dressage clinic at Wacky Nut Farm. It was an amazing 20 acre farm with an on-site bed & breakfast, barn, indoor and outdoor arena, and many walking trails to take your horses on. The camp was instructed by Henrik Johansen, a well known Swedish instructor who has been training dressage for over 35 years. I sat in on some of the instruction, and watched Lauren ride Decartes as she gave examples of Henrik's teaching.

Grooming Descartes for his demo ride

(Below) Kayaking in Eagle Harbor

It was perfect weather and we took advantage, kayaking Eagle Harbor with views of the Seattle skyline, eating great food, walking around charming downtown Winslow, and enjoying the ocean breezes from the deck of our rental home. The ferry rides were enjoyable, other than having to entertain the horse during the multiple hours waiting in line. I was made very aware that horses don't mind being in a moving horse trailer, but things get much more complicated when you stop. We made it back succesfully and back to work I went. This summer has been quite exhausting. I've spent almost every day off doing some sort of activiy. Summer is only half over and so much has already been done. At this rate I'll be more than ready for school to start! Next week: Las Vegas.

Some really good pizza!

It's official!

I'm calling it now. It's way overdue. It is officially summer. Unfortunately in Western Washington, summer rarely begins before the 4th of July, as was the case this year. But the afternoon of the 5th was pretty nice, and beginning to get warm. Then a heat wave overcame us and people are lining up at stores for window air conditioners. The last two days have been in the upper 80's and today may even reach into the 90's. I've been waiting for this and am very excited for the warm weather.

In other news... my house in Eatonville finally sold. That was a very long 3+ year journey. It may be another three years before I am free and clear of it. But getting the house sold was a huge first step and I'm very happy to see it go.

Lauren and I drove to Seattle this past weekend to go Kayaking on Lake Union. We arrived too late and ended up walking around the marina on the south end. A classic wooden boat show was taking place and we were able to take tours of the inside of some very antique ships. Lauren also spotted an ice cream stand, which of course we had to try. They had some of the most delicious ice cream I have ever tasted. It was hand made and from a dairy on one of the San Juan Islands. It's a good thing I don't live there or I would be gorging on it every day.

Last week I went to the doctor because he wanted to remove two pieces of sun damaged skin from my back. I've been pretty bad about getting sun burned. When you spend most of your life in really hot places, like Indonesia and Florida, it's hard not to. This doc must have dug pretty deep, because in the end I had eleven stitches. Ouch! It's only the second time in my life that I've had stitches, and hopefully the last. I really don't like them and am really happy to have them taken out in less than an hour. So I'm off... back to the doctor to get them taken out. Then it's time to take the motorcycle out. Have to take advantage of the great riding weather!