Do Ride - Welcome

To all those who Do Ride - Welcome to my Blog! Many of my students asked me to design a blog so that they could follow me on my travels and adventures. Enjoy!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Back in the USA!

Ok, so orginally, I thought this blog was only for when I was in Australia, but my thoughts have changed!  I'm back in the USA a few weeks early.  Why?  Long story short - I wasn't getting to play a high enough level polocrosse.  So, I picked up my toys and went home.  Am I being selfish?  Maybe a little because now is a time I have to think about me and how I can best prepare for the World Cup.  Honestly, playing D grade in Australia wasn't it.  Now, I'm back and working my butt off. Although, there have been a few bumps in the road...

1.  I returned just in time to practice with my entire World Cup Team - YAY!!  (that isn't a bump, but the next part is...)  The day after I get home, and the day before our practice, my brand new, beautiful, lovely, fabulous, and very cranky horse, Dancer, kicked me in the shin.  No I didn't punish her because she put me to the ground!!  Holy crap - you don't know pain until a horse let's their hind hoof meet your shin bone.  I might have shed a tear (or two) along with a few unpleasant words, that I shall not repeat here.  Any way, Paul (my father-in-law) took a peek at it and there was blood soaking through my knee high sock from a pretty good size hole in my leg. Since the kick was directly on the shin bone and I had a World Cup practice the next  day, Paul thought it might be smart to get it examined by a doctor.   So, off to the ER we went.  On the way, Paul and I were trying to figure our how many hospitals we had been to together.  We are going to try to cut back on the numbers a bit this year... 

Any way, all is fine, a couple stitches and no broken bone (although it hurt a lot and pain killers were necessary).  Tumpie - if you're reading this - I now understand why all those years ago you were so nervous about your stitches on your shin.  It is kind of nerve wrecking.  The stitches themsleves really didn't hurt at all.  What didn't help was how Paul and the nurse were discussing how the needle was very blunt and how it required quite a bit of force to push through the skin.  Needless to say, I felt nauseous.  Pretty sure Paul also has minute by minute photos or video of the whole thing...  Might not let him publicly post it because I can't remember if I shaved my legs before the injury...

2.  On to bump numero dos, which actually turned out to be pretty cool in the end.  Dancer (or as Aubrey likes to call her - Cranky Peaches) was lame!  Absess in her front left foot.  So, I couldn't play her at the team practice or at the tournament the next weekend.  (Quick interjection - team practice went really well.  Maybe more details on that later, but I'm trying to stay more focused in my writing - like that is going to happen!)  Was I bummed?  YES!!!!  I'm so in love with this horse it is crazy.  She is my favorite horse to ride out of all the horses I'm riding right now.  The coolest part about that is, she is mine.  Uncoolest part, she has a stinkin' absess, literally - stinkin'.  So, Dancer is out for the weekend and Zeta went to Florida with Susan.  My hot bottom is not a calming thing for Zeta's buzzed mind - so Susan is going to work her magic to bring Zeta back down to earth (mentally and physically).  Next in line - POPCORN!!  Man, I love that little pony.  I body clipped her and roached her mane and now she is not only cute, but aerodynamic.  She may be only 13.2ish, but man she is freaking awesome.  She pushes big horses all over the field and is quick quick quick!!  Had a blast playing her :) 

3.  Bump three...  So, Dancer is sound and yesterday was a Polocrosse practice at Camp Waldemar with the New Mexicans (is that what you call people from New Mexico??).  I was really looking forward to going and practicing Dancer and Zig Zag (yes, Ziggy got to go, too!!) and coaching some of the players at practice.  Well, here comes the bump, on Wednesday evening I was brushing my teeth and what happened - part of my tooth cracked and fell out!  And people said Polocrosse is dangerous - I lost a tooth brushing my teeth.  Maybe I'm brushing a little agressively... Anyway - AHHHH!!  It is the third from the back on the right side.  Oh yes, when I smile you can see the chip.  And you all know, I can't smile without showing ALL of my teeth!  I felt like a toothless hill billy - even though I was only missing a piece of one tooth. 

So, I had to get this fixed ASAP.  Well it was almost 6pm on a Wednesday, not happening imediately.  Thursday morning, I am up before the sun body clipping Dancer (because she will go to Polocrosse this weekend and at this point, I'm still determined to make it to practice).  She HATED the body clippers.  I know, I know - hate is a strong word and that is why I'm using it.  She hated them.  So, I pulled out the little tiny clippers that I normally use to do manes, ears, muzzles, all the little things and began to clip her with those.  Since she accepted them, I body clipped her with the baby clippers.  I wouldn't say she was happy about it, but she didn't kick me (BONUS!).  Just a note for those who might see her this weekend before I arrive at the tournament - I clipped her with baby clippers in the barn with one light.  I haven't gotten to take a look at her in the sunlight.  Don't judge my clip until I get a chance to clean it up a bit.  I have a feeling it needs it...

Back to the tooth... I get cleaned up and head into town to drop by the dentist's office hoping that me looking pitiful, my tooth chip, and an explanation of the pain I'm in will score me an immediate appointment.  Well, apparently the dentists of Elgin, Texas are extremely busy and could fit me in on Monday - WHAT!?  So, I call my mother in law Jatana - She finds me a super dentist who fits me in at 10:30.  I go, he checks out my tooth, does some numbing, some drilling, and some removing of my nerve because I need a root canal.  There's some good news (hint of sarcasm there).  This guy was the best dentist ever, or at least the best I have ever encountered.  He said my root canal was going to be a bit tricky so he recommended me to another guy, who turned out to be a bit harsh with the needles for numbing.  Root canal was done yesterday afternoon.  The doctor warned me that I might feel pain today and the next couple days because my tooth was really angry...  Not a lot of pain at the time (once I survived the violent numbing process where the roof of my mouth was under attack and stabbed) and really not a lot of pain now (thanks to the vicodin).  Now, I have a temporary cap, which is oober white and I believe it could be a ploy to make me me realize how far from white my teeth are and that whitening is something I might want to consider.  In a week or two I will get the permanent cap put on. 

Just a quick thank you to the teeth helpers: Mams, Mom, Jatana, and Susan.  Love you ladies and wouldn't have been able to get through that without you all.  Thanks for your help. 

That is three bumps we just went over.  No more, please.  I'm ready to leave this bumpy road and find a nice smooth ride all the way to the World Cup.  Yes, I will be playing this weekend.  Nothing is going to stop me from playing Polocrosse :)  It will be very fun to play Dancer and I'm excited for our team that we have a really cool cooler (thebuddybag.com) that Pat Hensley donated to our team to raffle off.  I hope it will make us a few dollars to ease the financial burden of our trip to the UK.  Plus, it is a pretty sweet bag that has some wine from Chateau St. Croix (thanks, Laura!).  I'm going to make sure Daniel buys a few tickets - maybe he'll win it :) 

Also, since I'm on the subject of World Cup and fundraising... I know a few people have asked me what they can do to support me in my journey to the WC.  Now the team has a "Friend of the World Cup" sponsorship packet.  That means anyone who donates $100 to a specific player (or to the team) will recieve recognition on the APA website and in the Nationals program.  Plus, they will recieve a special hat (it is the red hat with the blue brim that I'm wearing in my facebook profile picture) that only Friends of the WC and team members wear.  If anyone would like to support me, I would really appreciate it :)  You can check out:  http://www.americanpolocrosse.org/worldcup_main.php, then click Make a Donation at the top right side of the page (above the team picture).  Make sure to clarify whether you want the donation to go to a secific player or the team. 

Also, our team needs duffle bags (a set of 12) and polo shirts (again, set of 12) to wear around while in England.  If you, or someone you know has a company who would like to get their logo some international exposure and be a supporter of team USA - email me and I'll get you more details.   Thanks.

Ok, so I guess that is all for now.  Time for me to get packing for the weekend and then head to Prissy's for a couple lessons.  From there, I'll hop in the Shuttles truck and head to Hunt, Texas.  :)  Waldemar, I'll see you this afternoon!

Dori