Thankful

I know I'm a few days late, and this is a lame addition for just how much I have to be thankful for lately...but I can't celebrate Thanksgiving without adding!

#318 - 337 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~wide open spaces 

~ escaping the city

~ fresh air

~ harvest

~ smoked beef loin

~ G'nite's and Good MORNINGS!!! lol

~ a boy toy for the daughter

~ HELMETS

~ motorsports

~ No-No and Auntie NEN

~ boys that never grow up

~ confidence

~ Crazy Eyes 

~ Saturday mornings, a good book and breakfast in bed

~ third author!

~ cowboys & rain & early mornings

~ that Neena gets shotgun

~ dinosaurs and piano keys

~ lunch dates & baby snuggles 

~ CAKE

Introducing...

Loco the kitty...he belongs to my roomie Jacinda, man I forgot how much darn fun kittens are:)!  I was a little worried how Neena would handle small, random and fast...but she's done great.  And Loco has no fear at all...he's a pretty cool lil dude.  Hopefully I can catch some photo's of the two hooligans up to mischief soon!

#301 -  317 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts
~ being the big sister
~ forgiveness
~ after market exhausts and underpasses
~ dancing with the flower girls...
~ lil tuxes & black eyes
~ a little quiet time with Jaxon
~ nipple nibbles...Neena style lol
~ a fun steeplechase debut
~ an unfortunate shredding death for one said cow toy
~ a mauling...Brit style
~ Go! Dog! Go!
~ a savior circle
~ making it to the closing in Snooker without being tweeted off lol
~ a row of Ariats
~ Bonnie
~ spontaneous birthday celebrations
~ cat-calling my favorite hockey player

Wasting my time?

What's on my mind? A month from today I'll be back at the U of L...

Was I surprised that U of C didn't think of me as their #1 pick for the class of 2015? Nope. Did that make it any easier? Not really.

I'm happy to say I don't remember crying, well maybe my eyes watered a little when Dustin left me a voice message telling me he was proud of me anyways. But come on...I'm not a freakin ice cube.

Wasn't anything I could do about it...so I decided to enjoy my summer and worry later. And man have I ever done a good job of that:).

But the truth is it feels like my life is on hold. I'm frustrated. I'm dejected. And worst of all I struggle with self-doubt. Life Truth #813...doesn't matter how many other people believe in you if you don't believe in yourself. I'm working at it.

FYI...I'm not all Debbie Downer...I'm just being honest. I'm getting good at putting on my big girl panties and reminding myself this is not a waste of my time...this chapter of my life does have a purpose. Logically...this is at least part of why I didn't get into vet school...after all the U of C wants to know how bad I want to become Jenilee Peters DVM. What exactly am I willing to do...go through...sacrifice...to get there?

AAAAAND...I'm done talking about it for now.

I'm behind...but here's a few that stick out from the past month.

#266 - 300 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ 35 MPG

~ financial wiggle room

~ pizza on a stick

~ fireworks

~ animal behavior...and that I have a few pals who love to analyze it with me!

~ rodeo's

~ an introduction to working horse competitions!!!

~ real time text messages...

~ party rock anthems

~ being there for Michelle & Sherry's birthdays

~ road trip and old CD's

~ a Facebook wall chat about drugs and hoooookers lololol

~ freshly cut hair

~ seeing hard work pay off...and a demonstration for Windy City Canine Rescue

~ a JD birthday present for my 4 year old...make fun of me all you want!

~ two of my favorite boys

~ being included in family day

~ F18's and Snowbirds

~ dirt on my face at the chuckwagons

~ pride...she's the boss!

~ free choice

~ grace

~ being a rebel...you more so than me;)

~ a sibling road trip...and a little revenge both ways lol

~ 'buttercup' & butter ripple schnapps

~ friends & a modified race

~ Tab's banana bread

~ Sunday's with the family

~ learning something new

~ busy at Alberta Agriculture

~ kittens

~ lily's

~ Katie & Dustin & Wranglers lol

~ a good nights sleep

~ bedtime stories

#244 - 265

#244 - 265  of a Thousand, Endless Gifts
~ meeting a sweetheart, who was abandoned and starved...
~ knowing she will never suffer like that again
~ puttering around my yard...on my land...itty bitty piece that it is!
~ Neena outsmarting the sprinkler
~ a physically (if not always emotionally, she IS mine ya know...) healthy Crazy Pants
~ having fun at agility...even if it was with the distractions lol
~ learning to recover...hmpf....
~ light bulb moments
~ "I love you Auntie Jen"
~ planning for my future
~ quiet time
~ unplanned visits with the Aunties
~ confidence
~ being part of a team
~ watersports
~ childhood friends
~ volleyball
~ giggling and shrieking with Jo Jo
~ friends and family who spoil Crazy Pants
~ a much happier Neena at the race track
~ cruisin' in Mom's new wheels
~ giggling 40 & 50 year olds lol

Training Update

Well...Wednesday was a rough day for Neena and I. I still haven't learned that I can't train or work with her unless I'm 110%...and I sure wasn't. It showed.

Yesterday and today we were back at it...and we had a great time. We've been spending a lot of time working on improving our focus and relationship...one of the greatest feelings in the world is having her look at ME with her silly little smile as we walk by a gophur hole:). I am super excited to start the next set of classes...Sarah's calling it the LMFAO (Learning+Motivation+Fun+Agility Obstacles) class:). I've been assured it will be hard, but its exactly what we need right now!!!

Haven't posted this photograph yet, Wendy (Paws on the Run Photography) took this at the Medicine Hat trial just seconds before she got mauled by Neena...its a great shot, you can see the recognition dawning on her face:).

#224 - 236 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ Neena's snores

~ TWO!!!

~ cupcakes!!!

~ "come get me Auntie"

~ that I worked with her long enough to become friends...the real kind...

~ clay on my ropers

~ a chat on my front bumper

~ laughing at the three E's...exhausted, emotional & Eminem

~ "I win!"

~ new jobs

~ a tipsy Barbie

~ Father's Day brunch

~  Neena and the magpie's

The Penguins

Neena and I were very happy to have Brit for a few days while Amanda was at regionals with Wicca & Pixel.  She is such a pretty gal, I love her face...and she's so very soft...

This was Brit's second visit, and she was definitely  more comfortable this time...the girls had a great time playing together, even if 5:30am was a tad early for WWF;).

Thankfully that was only one morning...in addition to wrestle mania, they played "we run fast"...

...and "hide & seek".

And when we were finally tuckered...we played a little "Top Models".

Saturday we also played "agility dogs"...Neena's 'Up' trick has turned out to be one of her favorites, we do it a lot when she's nervous, it seems like the movement helps her release her stress.  It's a gooder.

We had such a GREAT training session on Saturday, we still struggle with focus...those darn gophurs are pretty sexy...but I'm seeing improvements already.  I was thrilled with Neena...taking turns with Brit might have had a small part in that:).  Nothing like a little jealousy to make working for me a little more exciting lol!

#209 - 223 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ peanut butter and chocolate cake

~ spoiling a friend

~ progress

~ watching "I run fast"

~ hands stained from playing in the dirt

~ patience

~ the knowledge to do some of the right things

~ age spots

~ a laughing Brady

~ its the ugly truth...that it wasn't my brother

~ a Mom who can handle all my secrets

~ happily tired penguins

~ the giggle of my best friend's child

~ "night night sweet dreams"

~ trust

Track Bible's

Race season at Bridge County Raceway kicked off last night! 

Kathy and I had chatted as we prepared for the season, I knew that my position was changing a little this year...but I wasn't expecting to get my very own track bible...it was a moment for me:).

Let me tell you it got well used last night!  All did not go quite how I wanted, but even with the bloody wind and my lame-o driver's meeting, I thought the night was an overall success:).  I'm excited about this summer...its shaping up to be a fun one!

And I'm pretty sure Katie agree's...

#169 - 187 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ ice cream

~ mutual back scratching

~ quality time

~ road trips

~ silky stuff

~ dirt tracks

~ the smell of freshly mowed grass

~ a pouty Neena-ba-Neena

~ a friend who understood when I said I needed my Crazy Pants:)

~ my racing family

~ qt text messages

~ an Oma who talks about her 'racer' great granddaughter

~ a bear-hug...Uncle Frank style

~ a late night chat...Aunt Velma style

~ teasing...the fun kind

~ the ocean

~ my sunflower

~ duct tape and Big Wayne

~ NO HOMEWORK!!!

Another week of gifts

#140 - 156 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ creative photography

~ that he rests his hand on my knee

~ an empty nest

~ the quiet

~ countdowns

~ choosing to work in peace

~ focus

~ a suprise attack hug Colton style

~ words that speak to my heart

~ Neena's smiles

~ lightbulb moments

~ 90's dance music

~ spring

~ playing chicken

~ the smell of fresh flowers

~ a blushing Warren

~ chocolate

Farm Auction

 8AM - bright and early

 Almost always time to goof around at Peters farms...

The three of us fed the cows...spoiled border collie!!!

9AM - Breakfast

11AM - Sale starts

The Peters gals toast the sale with Sheridan's :)

There was food...lots and lots of food. And a cake.

Then we shot some shit. 

 

The boys decided Dad wasn't going to need this anymore...

Everyone gets a turn!

 

 And I just realized I didn't get a single photograph of the boys smoking...hmpf.  Wierd.  Lol. 

 #117 - 129 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ my boys

~ their girls

~ being 'the daughter'

~ my brothers tears of laughter

~ hugs when I needed them most

~ the Meier family...and the foundation they laid for my path

~ John Deere

~ a movie date

~ the warmth of the sun

~ the past that's mine

~ honesty

~ moving forward

~ a pair of muddy cowgirl boots

Weekend Fun

Oh ya...it was thrilling.  I've been one Cranky gal.  Luckily I had my little study buddies...

I was dogsitting Brit while Amanda was away at a trial...she is a real sweetheart.  Wish I had better photos but my weekend photoshoot plans were kiboshed by mother nature.  Hopefully I'll have another chance in the future!



#110 - 116 of a Thousand, Endless gifts

~ eyebrows that say more than words ever could

~ watching Colton grow up

~ a great steak supper, the hands that prepared it, and the family who shared it

~ tears for someone I loved and lost

~ a good snuggle

~ ridin' solo

~ cue cards and Sharpies

"The Interview"

I would really like a day…just a day…to catch my breath. Unfortunately, I don’t see that opportunity in my foreseeable future. Sigh. Especially after I got my biology mark for the midterm I wrote Friday...it was unacceptable.  I mixed up meiosis and mitosis…yeesh, that’s baby stuff. I’m annoyed and I need to put on my big girl panties and get serious about this last month of school.

April 30th will be here before I know it and THEN maybe I can catch my breath! Maureen and I are planning a road trip to Chilliwack/the Island in May; I am very excited…I’ll have a chance to visit with my Oma, and for some R&R. And the ocean! I love the ocean!

Anyways…I’m rambling…sure indicator of exhaustion ;)…

So…the UCVM interview.  Nancy took a 'headed off to my interview' pic for me...I think I look goofy, but that's totally me and not the photographer's fault lol.

Got this when I registered, I thought it was pretty cool...

Although being Ms still makes me feel funny...need to hurry the heck up so I can be Dr. Peters instead!

Anyways, what an experience. There were 8 mini-interview stations where you were given 2 minutes to read a scenario and brainstorm your answer. Then you were given 8 minutes to ‘answer’ the scenario to two interviewers. The interviewers were not allowed to speak to you, nor could you ask them questions...I felt like I had a few ‘cringe-worthy’ moments, but I’m also happy with a few of my answers. Overall, I find it incredibly hard to say how that part went. Part two was a 750 word essay on a current issues topic we were given one hour to write. I’m not happy with mine, I felt like my arguments were poorly developed and worse I feel like my ‘solutions’ were weak. Blah. On a positive note, I definitely felt like the English course I took has improved my writing.

It was draining but I gave it my best. Now my focus need to change…I still want to be positive (not only because I’ll hear about it if I’m not...)…but I also need to be realistic. And I’m still not quite sure how to meld the two…even though I’ve had lots of advice on the matter:). The truth is I should be thrilled…I met my goal for this year…but I’m struggling with impatience. I don’t WANT to wait another year. I want to get ON with my life. And it annoys the heck out of me that my future feels like it’s in some strangers’ hands. BAH!!!! Just last week my roommate was denied entrance into both the master’s programs she had applied for…she had plans, and goals, and dreams…and she works her butt off…it really sucks.  But she's also showing me how to turn it into something positive...she's going to get that puppy she's been putting off lol.

But…no sense getting myself all worked up about it…I need to focus on finishing school strong, and then I am just going to try and forget about the whole thing until June. We’ll see how that goes lol.

# 96 - 109 of A thousand, Endless Gifts
~ watching Neena destroy the pristine snow covered backyard in about 30 seconds
~ bananas & nibs

~ daily editions…and that you took the chance to send them

~ a support network like I've never had before

~ track changes

~ hugs

~ family...both kinds!

~ coming home to a happy dog

~ playlists that make me giggle

~ chance meetings at the High River Subway

~ my iPhone

~ a joke about a helmet and crayons...wow...lol

~ a future full of possibility and promise...and a today that's pretty great too...

Booties & Cookies

This week I wanted to give Neena's pad time to heal so we worked a lot on tricks.  I chose 'up' for this month's trick, essentially I'm asking her to rest her paws on me or a chair.  Its kind of cheating, we'd already been learning it, but March is already half over and it still needs some work (my fault, not hers!).

Preparing for walk has become quite the production, Neena's been wearing a booty until her pad is healed, and my pockets are overflowing with baggies, cookies, toys and my iPod.  We've had some good training opportunities with buses, trucks, and other city noises.  Friday she actually had a full-on shaking in her booty meltdown.  I'm not sure if I just never noticed them before, or if she was having a bad day, or if she's just a little more sensitive lately.  We were only 3 blocks from home, and by then I'd ran out of cookies (insert curse word here)...I tried to help her recover the best I could before we moved on.  Was it perfect, nope...did she fully recover, nope.  Lesson learned...bring more cookies.

So that's another week in the life of one Crazy Pants.  And just because it seems like I've seen and talked about unhappy Neena a lot lately...a random happy photo.  I wish I knew what she was laughing at...

As for me...on top of midterms, I've been trying to prepare for The Interview.  I've talked to a few people, came up with lists of questions they could potentially ask, and Maureen and I went shopping:). For the next week...my attitude is I am already the #1 pick for the UCVM class of 2015, Saturday is my opportunity to prove them right (insert tummy butterflies here).

I've also been trying to come up with a Interview Day playlist...I hope it will help with the nerves and keep me from overthinking:). Although I know I have to be careful or I'll end up in tears lol.  I've been listening to Paul Brandt before exams, for years I've played "Small Town, Big Dreams" on the way to the race track. Each time I think about the racers I cheer for, who I believe in. Its my way of wishing them luck, and supporting their dream...even if they don't know it:). Now I'm playing it for ME. For me.

Anyways, Michelle informed me this week we need to celebrate so Saturday night she's taking me 'dancing' (quotations because we all know what a 'great' dancer I'm not lol)...look out Cowtown;)!

#82 - 95 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ study dates

~ coffee

~ being the third wheel

~ rubber boots and coveralls

~ Neena's bouncy ear tips

~ learning how to say NO without feeling bad

~ pajama's

~ a returning roommate

~ fevers that break

~ summer road trip plans

~ friends who will always tell the truth
~ bath beers

~ Google
~ morning snuggles...Neena style