Stella, my misunderstood Pit bull, I love you and miss you

How one animal can make you see life through their eyes is amazing. Stella my seven month Pit bull pup, misunderstood, but so loved. I had to give Stella up yesterday for many reasons, we have to go back to Hong Kong, our life style does not lend us to have a pet, having a pet and sending them to doggy day care when one travels is not fair, gives the dog anxiety and is not what  pups deserve. Stella came in to my life by chance, but she has brought back many feelings of how I felt in my youth. The black sheep,  had a bad wrap, misunderstood and misrepresented. Unfortunately Pit bull's have been bought by thugs, drug dealers and punks, that have butchered the dogs ears and tails to make them look mean and given these dogs a bad name. Counties banning them, insurance companies not issuing policies to pit bull owners. They have bread them to fight them to fight them and have been abused for years. My stella, full of energy and full of love! Walking Stella everyday I could see how people reacted to her, they would see her coming and they would cross the street, when all Stella wanted was to be caressed and played with.  I realized that this is how black people must feel when many white people cross the street when they see a black person coming.
How people and dogs fall in to stereotypes is beyond me, why cant people give each other the benefit
of the doubt?  Stella showed me that no matter how good people are, once you have been labeled you have to work you ass off proving that this label does not apply to you, or you can simply not give a darn if you are human, but if you are a dog or any other animal you need an advocate, and I hope I was that for Stella the short time she was with me, even though my friends and family gave me constant hell for this dog. I will not waiver, Pitt bulls are just like any other dog, show them love and they will give you love, be unkind and you will get unkind.  Yesterday my prayers were answered, a young woman came and she was a great fit for Stella and I gave her up. I cried and cried to see this little pup that will struggle for the rest of her life because of the label HUMANS have put on this puppy. I pray that Laura love Stella like I do and that she now will take the role of being her advocate. God's speed Stella, I love you.

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So much to say and so little time!

Somehow it seems as if there is never enough time to sit down in front of the computer and write my thoughts.
I am going to have to make a point of setting some time once a week to try and summarize my week.
So I will start with the Olympics, I can say that the opening and closing ceremony was painful to watch, but this will be one of the most memorable summer olympics in history for me.
Seeing the first man run with carbon fiber legs, a beautiful poised young black girl make history in gymnastics, to witness Michael Phelps become a nice, humble young man. The U.S.women's 4x4 oh my God, how amazing was that! And so many more moments that I can recall.
What was so vivid in my mind is a piece that ABC did (I think it was ABC)  did on the Chinese, how the focus is to zero in on the sport that gives out most medals and then  focus their athletes and develop them in that specific venue to make sure they win the medal count. These kids are taken away from their families at such a young age, swatted with rulers, sitting on the floor with men standing on legs of  little girls five and six years old girls crying out in pain! Someone at my home this weekend said "well at least the have a life, and most of them come from poor homes, my answer to that is that because they are poor does not mean they are unhappy! How many people do I know that are rich and unhappy! Being poor is not the equivalent to being unhappy, that is upserd. I am thrilled that the U.S. was on top with 102 metals! Just goes to show that even though these kids are dedicated beyond belief, they can still have somewhat of a "normal life" go to high school and experience what being a kid is all about!

Good to be home! Maybe?

Well I have been home for almost a week now and have gotten through most of my doctor appointments with almost flying colors, seen some of my family and friends,  gone through months of mail, paid bills and try to get my home back in order. Coming home to pool problems, broken refrigerators,  white fly infestation, puppy issues, amongst other things is a quick reality check, everything thrown at me all at once, why hold back? Trying to teach a nineteen year old responsibility and how to respect property, even if it is her parents home. In reality, I care about these things, but not really, after my rebirth on July 14th I really don't care much about anything, not the material at least, not that I had much importance on it before, but now there is a sense of appreciating what is really important and that is the gift of life and what we do with it! No I have not had a spiritual awakening, I think I was already on pretty solid ground where that is concerned, but lets say a reaffirmation of life, and the important things in my life that I want to continue or discard. My wish, is that my husband find peace in his life, his story to tell not mine, my daughter continue on her path, and I want be true and real with myself and my wants and needs. And then the simple task of remembering how blessed I am and LIVE my life. Too many of us get caught up in the routine and the rat race and forget to live and cherish where we are and what we have or don't have.. I am going to make sure  to remind myself and those around me to slow down and enjoy these moments that are so fleeting! I am also so behind on my photos, sorry! :-( I promise this week at some point I will post, maybe when I am recovering from my sinus surgery! Have a wonderful weekend and see you soon! love and light,

E

Going Home! Florida here we come!

Tonight I leave my home in Colorado, to finally go home to Florida,  even though I was home in May, this past month seems like a life time. My father in laws 85 birthday was Friday, it is so nice to see someone enjoy his family so much! I am feeling better and better each day, even though I have been limited to walking only ten minutes a day! This past weekend was the llama and burro race here in Fairplay, this is a tradition that has been around for many years. Basically people pack their burros and run with them for twenty four and a half miles. This town, is usually a sleepy little town, but when they decide to do some type of festivity, they do it right! Lauren says that Fairplay is not normal, it is a Western Disney type place. Of course when she found out that South Park the cartoon show got its name from here, her mouth dropped wide open. People for the most part are in a time warp in the part of the world. They do not care what kind of car you drive, how big your house is, or if you wear designer clothes. They care about hunting, hiking, enjoying the outdoors, and in general just appreciate life. How nice is it to not get caught up in the rat race of it all! The first photo is Lauren, me, my sis in law Nat, mother in law Lavena, Ashley (Ted's girlfriend) Ted (Ken's son) Ron my brother in law, and Chuck my father in law. The second photo, my first dinner out with my girlfriends Cheryl and Nery and my daughter Lauren. The third photo is of the Llama race in town, which was this past Saturday, this race is much easier than the burro race,  the course is a mile and a half up and around town. Easy for me to say because I am not the one running with these stubborn Llamas. The fourth photo is Bob, my plumber that dresses up and plays cowboy on the weekend with his friends to have fun during the festivities. I told him I want to take part next year and play dress up! The photo of Ken and Lauren is after they finished transferring the 6070 pounds of tile from the truck to the porch! Yes that is correct 6070 pounds! My heroes. I was so happy to see this group of male Prong Horn Antelopes hanging around the fire station two days in a row! And the final photos are of a glorious sunset after I dropped my friend Nery at the airport, I had to pull over from the highway to watch this amazing sunset. My final word of advice for now, take time to enjoy the small insignificant moments in life. Those moments when relished will be the ones that at the end of the day mean the most! I have been blessed to have an amazing husband and wonderful daughter that fill my day with those cherished moments.
Here is some information on the Burro Days of Fairplay. :-)
An annual event in Fairplay, Colorado since 1948, Burro Days celebrates the role of the burro in mining days of old.

Always held during the last weekend in July, the 65th Annual Burro Days will take place on Saturday, July 27and Sunday, July 28, 2013.

Over 10,000 people participate in festivities such as: burro races, llama races, kiddies pack dog races, parades, contests, over 140 arts & crafts booths, over 30 food vendor booths, local musical entertainment, Mountain Man Rendezvous, dance & BBQ, pancake breakfast, Cowboy Church services and more! 

Slow motion is not for me, trying to adjust to turtle's pace

Well, I am so very thankful that so far all my tests are checking out well. I have been recovering at home with my friend Nery and my daughter Lauren, while Ken was traveling to New York. The doctor told me that it would be at least three months till I feel normal and not feel like I have been hit by a Mac truck!  I find it very difficult to slow down, since none of me (thankfully) is in a cast, it is hard to take things a notch down. I walked the other day for an hour and a half, the doctor scolded me and told me to walk only ten minutes! Really?!
Ken and I went to the Park County Fair the other day, and I found this to be a very interesting event. I remember I loved going to the fair when I was little and seeing all the animals. What I do not remember is the worked and dedication it takes to show your cow, sheep, pig, off to the public for auction. These kids, from ages 8-18 spend a year teaching their cattle how to posture, walk and show themselves off, almost like the Dog shows. These young boys and girls dedicate a year and then the morning of the event they spend the time bathing, shaving, grooming, polishing the hooves and blow drying the cattle to make them top of their class, and at the end of the day after collecting their ribbons, winning first, second and third prize, their precious cattle is auctioned off to the highest bidder and slaughtered the next morning!
My question to you all is, does this make for a better, more well rounded young adult, understanding work dedication and knowing how hard and long one has to work to make a dollar and make ends meet. Or does this
create a person that is harder, colder, more realistic and able to deal with the harsh realities of life?  Are these young people that have nurtured, cared for, and loved their animals for a year's time better adjusted to the realities of life?
I don't know, I would love to ask them how they feel, I know one young girl broke down and cried after receiving her ribbon and I did too. Life is very different out West, the next morning we went to watch the mutton racing, where parents would willingly put their three and four year olds on a sheep and let them ride the sheep while it raced out of the stall. Of course the children had helmets on, but three and four I think it is a bit too young, but then again I think I may be wrong after watching the movie Babies, I realize what a disservice we do when we coddle our children too much.
I will try to post photos tomorrow.
love and light,
E

Gathering details on my throw from Shadow

Today I went to Platte Ranch to see my angel Bill and to give him a small gift as a token of my appreciation.
I saw Bill in the distance and I started to get choked up as I walked to him. We embraced and I kissed my Bill.
I introduced Ken to Bill and we had great conversation, and then he started giving Ken details about my accident.
I was thrown from Shadow landed on my back side and then rolled and rolled. Bill started to tell Ken that I even mounted another horse and tried to ride. I told Bill that I did not think I could ride, got off the horse and walked
for a bit, I then told Bill I could no longer walk and the rest of the story you know. Yesterday I went back to the hospital because even though I complained about my head aching they never scanned my neck or brain. The good news is that my neck is clear, but my brain has some "changes" in the white matter in the back of my brain. I have an appointment next week with a trauma neurologist to see what is going on with my brain. I am amazed at how strong my body is, I walk and walk around the ranch and even though I am in constant pain, I have decided not to take the pain killers, I am only taking the muscle relaxants to help with the swelling in my back and neck. I loved seeing Bill today, meeting his wife, and being able to give him another hug before I left. Bill asked me if I would ride again and I told him yes, and he said he looked forward to riding with me again. I am so very thankful for being alive, able to walk, and on my way to recovery.  I am thankful for all the prayers and well wishers.
Ken has to travel for a few days, so my friend Nery and my daughter are flying out on Sunday.

Thrown from a horse named Shadow, twice!

I am the luckiest girl alive! I am in Colorado and my girlfriend Cheryl asked me to go horseback riding with her on Saturday morning. There was a large group of us riding and my horse's name is Shadow. We were riding along when Shadow got spooked from a horse next to him, he jumped back lost his footing and threw me. Ouch! I caught my breath and mounted Shadow again. We walked along the trail some more for about an hour, later one of the people from the ranch said to me "you see how nicely Shadow is behaving, because you got on him again and showed him who was boss". Well, I said okay, even though I was still leery about riding him, I continued. A few moments after some photo ops Shadow was spooked once again and set off for the ride of my life! I was pulling on my reigns with all my might trying to get him to stop, but to no avail, Shadow kept on barreling forward and when he could not go anymore he decided to turn and make a beeline to the group, all the time bucking! I finally lost my grip and went flying off Shadow, and took a really hard fall.  The group gathered around to make sure I had feelings in my legs and arms, asked me if I could sit, and I did. After about five minutes they gave me another horse, I mounted him and decided I could not continue to ride. I got off the horse and started to walk while in excruciating pain. The rest of the group went on and Bill stayed with me. I told him I could not longer walk and was feeling terrible pain all over. Bill laid me down and that is when I felt as if I were going to die. I told Bill that I did not think I was going to make it, but that I had to fight because I wanted to stay for my 19 year daughter. Bill told me that the good Lord was listening to my prayers and that I was not leaving. Bill continued to hold my hand and pray with me. For what seemed like an eternity, I laid on the ground and saw the last moments of my life pass by. My breathing was shallow and Bill kept on telling me to hold on, that it would only be a few more minutes and finally the ambulance came. The medics started working on me cutting my shirt and bra off, giving me shots and oxygen. Minutes later I was on a helicopter called "flight for life". The storm had come in and I was lying down on a stretcher in the helicopter fighting to stay alive.  I arrived to St. Anthony's Hospital, the best in the area for spinal injury and trauma. There I had CT scans, MRI's, X-rays, you name it, I had it done to me. I remember the doctor coming in and telling me that no damage had been done to my spinal cord and that no surgery was needed. I had broken four of my vertebra's, three of them on each side! Thank God, he listened to my prayers. I then asked that they call my husband to let him know what happened to me and that I was okay. Luckily, Ken had just arrived to New York from Hong Kong. I spent the next three days in the hospital thanking God for saving me and allowing me to have full mobility. 

I also need to thank my angel Bill, that stayed by my side and told me that I was not going anywhere, that he had never lost anyone and that the Lord was with me and he was listening! Amen, I do believe Bill was right.

                                                         sunrise Saturday morning

                                                              Joey, ready to ride

                                                       Cheryl on her horse peeing

                                                   Bill my angel

me on Shadow

in my hospital

news that I get to go home!

                                               

                                                yesterday afternoon, the view from the ranch