Thumb Update

i'm not sure if people are still checking this- but i figured i would give an update as to how i'm doing. circus flew me home last friday. i have been enjoying my time sleeping late, walking my dogs, watching tv, and doing whatever i please. i have been justifying eating ice cream for breakfast and watching tv for hours on end with the fact that my thumb was amputated :) i go to the doctor tomorrow to get stitches removed and hopefully get some idea as to how they next several weeks will go. i can't do a whole lot with my hand still. some things i can manage doing with just my fingers but i try to just leave it alone for the most part. my left hand muscles are still pretty weak and i'm hoping that in time i will build the strength up to what my right hand is...or i guess once used to be. the real challenge is going to start when i can "use" my hand/thumb (nub) but physically can't. i have no doubt that i will eventually get used to it but i know it won't happen without frustration, tears, many cuss words and an endless amount of patience. well- i will keep everyone posted.

check out my website- i accepted the challenge to raise $1000 for the MN animal humane society 2008 walk for animals on may 3rd. make a donation if you can! i am at $270/$1000. not bad after only 1 day!

http://events.animalhumanesociety.org/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1179745&pg=personal&fr_id=1060&s_tafId=5172

Goodbye Right Thumb

Yes....i am an amputee. there was an accident on loadin on monday, a forklift smashed my right thumb and there was nothing the dr. could do to save it so he had to cut it off below the knuckle. crazy. i fly home tomorrow and will take my time healing and learning how to be a lefty. gotta pack up and say bye to the circus world for now.

DC w/ Mom

Hard to believe that my mom has already come and gone. She came to the show on Sunday and by pure coincidence won the Asia elephant painting. Sunday night we went out to eat with Kathy Crawford and I enjoyed a big bed, a bubble bath and TV at the wonderful hotel. I had to work for a few hours Monday morning but we spent the rest of the day wandering around Old Town Alexandria. I think that this is the most beautiful part of the country I have been so far. I love the houses, the buildings, the cobble stone sidewalks, everything. We had drinks with my friend Tricia and met up with my mom's work friends for dinner. Tuesday was explored DC. We went to the National Zoo where I finally got to see a panda bear for the first time ever. We went to the Jefferson memorial, FDR memorial, and the National Cathedral. We ordered food to go from the Cheesecake Factory and rented a movie at the hotel. The next morning was back to the circus. Ugh. She left yesterday evening and I have been doing my best to stay positive and remember all the good things I like about this place. We have a few more days here then off to WV.

Ten Months

Wow. I have been here for ten months. That is two months short of a year! The past two days at work have been tiring. Since we are outside it of course has been raining. There is nothing I hate more then mucking out wet stalls. I must have burned 5000 calories today. We had a split show today- I worked for 15 hours. I just got home now at 10pm and have to return to work in 9 hours. What a crappy feeling. But... my mom flies in tomorrow! She will be here until Wednesday night :) Today 2 of our horses left us for retirement. :( We were all crying and hugging them and they had no idea what was going on as we were shoving treats in their mouths and giving them handfuls of fruit. So Acoma and Domino will follow all the other retired horses from Ringling and go to a nice big pasture out in Florida. 3 shows tomorrow and 2 on Sunday. Ugh. I need a day off.

Saint Louis

It's hard to believe my trip to saint louis is already over. I am currently sitting at my gate waiting to fly back to DC. I had a fantastic time here- it was good to get away. Casey and I went to the arch yesterday- took the egg elevator to the top- all 630 feet. What a view. For those of you who don't know baseball season started and some of you know what a rare breed the cardinal fans are. We were downtown already from visiting the arch, so we stopped in at TGIF and had a few beers and happy hour priced food. While everyone was decked out in red and white, Casey and I strolled in with his NY Yankees hat and my Colorado shirt (apparently they played Colorado yesterday) Whoops :) I had my interview this morning- Same gig as last time- started with close to 100 people, now down to 6. They finish interviews tomorrow and I imagine I will hear within 2 weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I have no doubt in my mind that these other people have a lot more experience. One of the things I would be doing with this keeper position would be to 1-2 times a week gear up in my scuba stuff and dive in the hippo pool and vaccum all the crap out. When Casey and I wandered over to see the hippos, 2 girls were getting ready to do that! It was funny to listen to all the people comment oh, "oh my gosh, can you imagine if that was your job.... oh my gosh, who on earth would ever want to do that.... oh my, they must smell so bad after doing that.... do you think that is in the job description?...." we were both giggling to the side. So now here I am, ready to go back to the circus. This Friday will be 10 months since I first joined up in Omaha. Hard to believe I have almost made it a year. I'm ready to be done! And no matter where I go, I somehow always end up being pulled back to this state- So in the mean time, I will just keep my fingers crossed......