Pretty drive This is the driveway through the farm where Justin lives now.	It's fall! I often find Justin grazing or napping on the other side of the stone wall.	First Barn A horse in the mares and foals barn.	Tracey and Clementine Tracey gets Miss Clem all pretty.	Mare's field They call this the Pine Tree Social Club. There's always a little group napping under that tree.
Rokeby These are the pretty stone walls (and the roof of my car) that flank the road on the way to the barn. This farm is Rokeby, the Mellon's place. My girlfriend, Martha used to work there.	It's Halloween! Pippen is not amused with his chicken hat.	Pippenstein He tolerated his Frankenstein costume.	Sassafrasenstein Sassy is the true green-eyed monster here and seemed so proud to wear all of her costumes. She's so vain.	Sassy Longstocking She loved her hair.

October 24

Beautiful night last night.  Got to ride -- had to make it quick.  Daylight is just slipping away so quickly now.  Glad I got my ride in though because that rain we've all been searching for finally got here.  I'd gotten to ride on the weekend as well but had to take it easy having just had surgery.  Will get to all of that in a moment.

Anyway, back to last night --  rode in the ring and just hacked.  Focused more on the trot, working on some exercises for flying changes.  First at the walk, I did a leg yield to the rail followed by a haunches in.  Then I did that at the trot, then brought it up to the canter.  It definitely sets Forrest up better for a cleaner, more balanced change.  Once I got organized, Forrest hit all of his changes and I quit early, not wanting to push it. 

Afterwards, I worked on some scratches or dew poisoning that he'd gotten in his pasterns.  Not quite sure which it was but whatever potion Patricia whipped up for me to slather on him did the trick.  I'd just seen him on Sunday and there on Tues, his pasterns were nearly smooth.  They were pretty crusty and weepy on Sunday.  So, last night, I put him in the bath house (because the farm is all resort-like like that) and scrubbed with a medicated shampoo, then let him air dry, then applied the latest mix of stuff Patricia gave me. 

Forrest is always a good boy and is still like a baby in his mannerisms.  He's quite inquisitive about everything and wants to know everything you are doing and how it applies to him.  He's got a lovely temperament -- he'd been in a few days because Patricia didn't want to exacerbate the scratches problem and you'd never have known.  He was a perfect gentleman for our whole ride.  I plan on riding him again on Thursday. 

The ride out to the farm is wonderful.  This is a road one must be very careful driving down because the deer really rule the roost out there.  Nearly everyday and night I have driven through, I have seen large herds bouncing over one stone wall, tip-toeing across the road, then bouncing over the next stone wall.  If you see one, you can expect several more to pop out of nowhere.  So, needless to say, I apply all my Driver Improvement Course lessons learned when I'm out there.  Because I'm so reformed, you know. 

On the weekend, Tracey and I got to ride together.  We just strolled out on Saturday since Forrest's scratches seemed to bother him most that day.  Then, on Sunday, we were equine/equestrienne models for a group of photographers.  We were encouraged to talk while we rode to ensure 'candid' shots and of course, Tracey and I had lots to gab about.  The horses were great and made lovely subjects.  Tracey was her adorable self and me, I was wearing my favorite shirt which happens to be an old surf shirt with bleach splashes on it.  At one point, a photographer got a fairly close shot of me on Forrest while others were taking shots of Tracey and Nutmeg gliding along the pretty grassy field that runs along the drive to the barn.  I expect the shots of me in my nasty old shirt should prove to be quite authentic looking.  It will be fun to see the pictures.  I admit, I cannot get enough of shots of me on horses since there were so few of them when I was younger. 

While I was driving up to the barn last night, I was looking and looking out in the field to try to determine which gray was Justin.  There are three out there.  Then, suddenly, alongside the stone wall, I spied a flea bitten, somewhat scrawny horse, whose head I could not see because of the stone wall.  I did my usual call to Justin but he didn't lift his head.  Finally, I grabbed two horse cookies and walked towards the wall and said, "Want a treat?"  Well, that got his attention.  That adorable little face popped up and just before the rest of the crew could figure out what was being handed out, Justin was able to get two cookies down before getting chased off by a bay who I'd like to have swooshed at for doing so.  Thankfully, it wasn't a mean chasing off and Justin saw it coming so he kind of moseyed off and a clip quick enough to give the bay the front row spot he was looking for but not so fast that he'd hurt himself too much (I hope).  Note to me, be smarter and more covert when giving treats or other attention and make it snappy!

Justin and I are going to pay a visit to Dr. Meagher at the track soon.  I trust Dr. Meagher to give me a good idea of the level of pain Justin might be in, the risks he has with the injury and what the picture might look like if I leave Justin to live life as long as he can as a pasture pet.  I keep thinking the choice will be easy but the only easy decision would be if the horse were standing there on three legs.  Instead, he is on 3 and 1/4.  I've wanted the horse to make the decision for me and for the vets to make the decision for me and ultimately, I have to gather as much information as I can and make the decision on my own.  This isn't like Dottie where I was was told she had cancer -- and bad.  That was an easier decision, although a heartbreaking process.

For any of my friends who might read this, I cannot thank all of you enough for all of your support.  And quite frankly, the folks who have emailed me who I've never met have really touched my heart.  Everyone is making me feel a little stronger in my thought process.  I'm so grateful for good people in the wake of something actually quite bad.

More happy things -- I got to go to dinner with Maggie and Liz -- former horse show mom clients of mine.  Good heavens, the catching up we did.  We really covered some ground.  It was great to hear about Codi and Kerry and where they are in their lives and where they are going -- such a neat process to watch, having known the girls since they were 13 and 15 respectively.  I can't even imagine the road their mothers feel they have traveled.  We had a great time with good food and good laughs.

I know there is more to yak about but Bob is kicking me off the computer since he doesn't have access to email all day at his job (secure facility).  So, off I go to make dinner!!

October 14

Another fabulous fall day today.  Hit McDonald's this a.m. for my new favorite, the McSkillet burrito (steak) and a big sweet tea.  Yummy.  Ended up at the barn around 10:30.  Tracey was having Miss Clementine clipped.  She was such a good girl and looked wonderful once she was done.  I gave Justin a good grooming -- I think I've gotten most of the icky peppery stuff out of his coat and I don't think there are anymore rainrot scabs left.  I do feel bad when I pick his feet out.  He has a very hard time standing on his bad leg.  Patty thinks someone who can pull his shoes off will be there tomorrow.  I really want those things off. 

Justin was his usual adorable self and always delights me with how happy he is to see me.  I gave him lots of treats and kisses.  After grooming him, Tracey and I got ready to go out on another ride cross country.  Patricia asked me to take her new horse, Miss Kitty.  Now, Miss Kitty is a full-figured gal.  There wasn't a girth in the barn that would fit her and realistically, the only saddle that would fit her best was Patricia's western saddle.  So, western it was.  Tracey took pix below -- hee hee!!!

Patricia helps me get my stirrups right on Miss Kitty

Miss Kitty - a full figured gal.

Giddy-up Miss Kitty

Miss Kitty (soon to be renamed Honey Bun) was quite the good girl out cross country.  Now, mind you, jumping isn't exactly in her repertoire but she was happy to step over the occasional log.  She had a lovely walk and the smoothest of trots.  She was not about to be out done by Miss Nutmeg (Tracey's mare) and held her own and held her head high.  Quite frankly, given the length and thickness of Kitty's neck, it is kind of hard for her to hold her head in any other position.  But she did have a nice time marching around the fields and was using her best manners.

Afterwards, Patricia and I went to Summerplace to school.  I cannot say I was exactly on my game but one very positive thing happened, I got almost all of Forrest's lead changes.  A switcheroo to my 'mean girl' spurs fixed the whole problem.  Yeah, so, my eye was really off today.  Now, as we all know, I don't have the best eye right now as it is but I'd really surprised myself as of late with a fairly 'on' eye.  But today, I was either too long and had to yee-haw or too tight and poor Mr. F had to pull out the ol' athleticism to get us out of some very deep spots.  There were times, however, when once he was a little more tired, I was able to float the reins to him and let him find the distances on a loose rein, which was nice.  The weather was perfect.

I treated myself to a McFlurry on the way home and got my car washed and now it is time to get cleaned up and get some dinner started!

October 13

Happy Birthday to me.  Stick 42 more candles on that cake and that'd be right.  It'd also start a fire.  Anyway, today is my big day and I'm just thrilled to be me.  God has been nice enough to let me keep my 20-something body with my 30-something head on it, even though I still act like a something-teen and eat at McDonald's so, by all counts, I'm doing pretty good.

Bob gave me my present last week -- so cute -- he couldn't wait.  Not like I wanted him to.  It is a beautiful Yurman necklace with a diamond X on it.  Totally dig it.  Cake and flowers from the crew at the office, which I always enjoy.  Since my boss, Brad and I have the same b'day, we get two cakes.  I ended up bringing the rest of his home for Bob since Bob is a chocolate cake connoisseur. 

Started my day off with The Adventures of Jana & Lori Show.  She tells me last night that there was this barn sale going on -- someone lost their lease so we were going to scavenge.  Her plan was to be there first so I rolled into her place at 7:15 a.m. and we showed up at the barn, which happened to be the very barn where Justin and I first met ( :(  ) so I felt a little nostalgic.  We filtered through all the stuff and came out with a set of freshly painted cavaletti, a space heater (the oil kind which rock), Nolvasan, Quick Silver, Vogel boot conditioner (as if the other two bottles I have isn't enough) and a few more odds and ends that quite frankly, escape me now.  But I handed over $25 for my lot and felt satisfied. 

Paul, the wonderful soul that he is, took time away from his studies to drive our crap home while we traipsed off to breakfast at Bob Evans.  I, as usual, got the motherload of food, which was a good thing because I didn't get lunch till after 3.  After breakfast, we headed over to Haymarket Vet to pick up Justin's xrays.  Poor Lori cried when she saw them.  I'm close to being cried out but I know it's gonna come again soon so I'm taking a little break from it.  It was especially awful to see the xrays from just about exactly a year ago to now.  They will be posted below.

Lori and I did have our usual laughs, I brought her home, then headed out to the rest of my day.  Stopped off in Middleburg at The Tack Box in search of my favorite Conroy gloves because Mo ate one of my other ones.  Not to be found.  While there, however, I ran into my girlfriend, Terri (who I adore) from Clairvaux.  So good to see her, especially in my recent frame of mind.  Seeing or hearing from old, treasured friends means a lot to me right now.  So, I gave her a humongo hug.  Had just been thinking about her this very morning so it was cool to see her. 

Moved on to the barn to see my precious Justin and Mr. Forrest.  It was perfect timing because I got to ride out with Tracey.  She took me on a fun ride -- we got to jump some coops and some stone walls and did some nice trot sets where the grass lay in a thick carpet in the field.  The ground is so hard these days so it was nice to have the grassy fields to tootle around in.

I rubbed Forrest down and left him in his stall to dry a bit as I went out to fetch Justin.  What was neat was, Patricia and I were talking as we walked up and who should come popping his adorable head out of the big shed but my beloved.  Dere his kyoot liddo face was -- he heared me and say, "Dat, it be my mommy."  So, he came out and just made my entire day just to see that sweet little face.  So precious.  Liddo ee-yors.  I kissed he.  I brought him back to the barn and loved on him, gave him lots of treats and made him kiss me lots for them and groomed him.  Honestly, every step he took out of the pasture hurt me to watch, now that I know what is really going on in there.  Worse is the angle his shoes have put on his ankle.  These are 'special' shoes Jessica put on him and when you see in the xrays what that has done to his angles, it hurts me to think about it and quite frankly, the vet think it either contributed to his pulled suspensory in that leg or it most definitely is causing more pain and inflammation.  We are arranging to get those shoes off soonest. 

Once done with Justin, I put him back in his nice fluffy stall where he got to munch on yummy hay and get more kisses and treats from me.  Then, I showed Patricia his xrays and she was aghast as well.  I finished up cleaning up Forrest and used my nifty new tool on him to get some icky dead skin off his hocks and I'm all thrilled that it worked. 

Everyone was tucked in and waiting for their dinners when I left.  When I got in my car, I was pleasantly surprised to have awesome b'day messages from Lisa, Alyssa, Vince (my namesake) and Leah.  So cool to hear from everyone. 

OK, on to the grim details.

So, here's the part that gets me.  Here's an excerpt from an email I got from Jessica on 10/2:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jessica Brown [mailto:jessabrown84@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 8:24 PM
> To: DiCarlo, Jana
> Subject: Justin Update
>
> Hi,
>   Just thought I would let you know how the boy is
> doing and a few questions.  First of all, he is
> finially sound (2 adequan shots in the month,
> special
> shoes, and loads of MSM later) yay! Anyways, I have
> been using him for some walking trail rides and he
> seems to enjoy it.

Now, I picked the horse up on 10/6 and his ankle was a big as a softball.  Why the hell would you take a horse on trail rides with an ankle like that? 

And just to drive my point home more about how pissed I am, the day after I called her and asked if I could have the horse back, mentioning nothing about my knowing she was trying to trade him out with another horse at any rescue that would work with her, I got this: 

Hey,
  I was wondering if you guys would want to come maybe
a little earlier or a little later.  I have gotten
pretty attatched to him and I am a mojor wimp about
saying bye to things, so I really dont want to see him
drive off in the trailer.  :(  He is a wonderful man
and I have enjoyed every second that he has been here.
 I know he will be happier with Topper though.  It has
broken my heart to see him go from fat man (you can
tell what a pig he was from the pictures) a month ago
to this skinny nuerotic thing overnight.  Anyways, I
hope you will let me come visit him and keep me
updated on how he is doing and maybe we can go for a
trail or something sometime.  Let me know what you
think.  Thanks!
 

Um, first off, she does not want to know what I think, secondly, I will never let her see him again.  That little cowardly email was her tip off to any fool who can read through the lines that she had no intentions of facing me.  I wasn't about to say two words to her about how poorly she cared for Justin.  I just hate what a liar she is.  Oh, but I forgot, she's 'pretty attatched to him' and a 'mojor wimp'.  Can't spell it, can't even tell the truth. 

So, all this said, the nice thing to do for Justin would be to put him down.  He's doing well with his new field mates but clearly has already gotten himself in a situation where he got pinned and scraped up by the fence.  That's gonna happen but the first picture that comes to my mind his his poor little three legged self trying to maneuver out of trouble and not doing a very good job of it and being in pain while he does do it. 

Thankfully, one of us isn't a 'mojor wimp'.  One of us has the balls to suck it up and do the right thing no matter how hard this is going to absolutely kill my heart and make me cry for days and days and years to come every time I think about him or look at his little face in pictures.  I've got all my girls prepared to rally around me to hold me up the day I have to do this, which sadly, will be as soon as the ground is soft enough to dig into.  So awful.  I'm just trying to enjoy the days I'm having with him now. 

October 8

Now that my brain has quit spinning somewhat, I can fill you in on details from Saturday.  As predicted, Jessica did not meet us when we picked Justin up.  Nor did her husband.  I figured neither had the balls to face me.  I was right.  She left the task to her barn guy.  A really nice man who seemed to 'get' what was going on.  I kept most of my comments to myself because I didn't feel it was right to put him, an unsuspecting party, in the middle.  I did say to Justin when I saw him, "Wow, Boy...you look like sh*t." 

As I put Justin's boots on, he curled his head around to sniff my hair, which I always loved.  I figured as soon as he did that, he had to know it was me.  He stood quietly and seemed a little dull in demeanor and certainly dull in coat.  His eye looked tired, not twinkly like it normally looked.  He's definitely about 100 lbs underweight.  He has rainrot but thankfully, it is in its last stages. 

As we were loading Justin, the barn guy asked, "How long has she had him?"  I said, "Three or four months.  She was supposed to keep him forever and was supposed to call me if she didn't want him anymore but she didn't.  I found out about it on the internet where she was running an ad to try to get rid of him.  So, that's why I'm here.  All she had to do was call."  He looked truly concerned and said, "I'm sorry...."  I thanked him and he gave me a really nice handshake, like, "You go girl."  Nice man.  I knew he had nothing to do with Justin's condition.  Forget Justin's condition -- he had nothing to do with the arrangement.  Even if Justin was fat and beautiful and didn't have an ankle the size of Texas, the fact is, she never called or emailed saying she didn't want him like she promised.

Yesterday, I spent over an hour bathing Justin.  I was truly a long, arduous process of rinse/lather/rinse/repeat.  I did it in small sections because it took so many times to get the filth out of his coat.  I'm sure it isn't the first bath he's had since leaving my and Lori's care but I can tell you this, I'd never let a horse off my property filthy like that.  I did his tail in bluing, Ruth Ann's shampoo and vinegar.  It basically got washed twice and treated with vinegar twice.  His pretty white tail is almost back.

Prior to Justin's bath, I got to ride Forrest.  Patricia and I took him to Foxcroft and had a blast schooling him in the indoor.  He was such a good, brave boy.  He truly enjoys jumping and makes it fun for me as well.  We might head to Summerplace next.

Justin's ankle just weighed and weighed on my mind so I decided to call Haymarket and get them to come out today.  Unfortunately, they didn't have their imaging equipment with them -- another truck had it.   But her evaluation did not look good.  She got to look at the most recent xrays I had for Justin and compare that to what she saw today and agreed that the ankle is, "grossly enlarged" on both sides.  After palpation, she thinks he might have a blown suspensory as well.  While she understood what they were trying to accomplish with the shoes they put on Justin where his heel is significantly lifted to take pressure off the heel, she did not feel it was the best solution given his ankle.  Lori and I don't have to be vets or farriers to see that and agreed the moment we saw them. 

Justin was head bobbing lame -- I have NEVER seen him that lame EVER and even have four other evaluations to prove it.  I have kept a very close eye on his fetlock and it was last xrayed in June right before I gave him to Jessica when Dr. Meagher injected it.  Justin was perfectly sound and I remember how good he felt after he was injected.  Anyway...  clearly, once in Jessica's hands, even if she had good intentions, she clearly does not know how to take care of a horse if he doesn't end up fitting in the 'throw them in the field' plan. 

At Blue Ridge, Justin stands quietly in his stall and when he gets turned out, he walks quietly, not calling to anyone, just grazing quietly.  But if Justin was unhappy and ran around at Jessica's place, she needed to alter something in his program and make accommodations.  With horses, you do not do what is convenient for you.  You do what works for the horse.

So, I wasn't very encouraged by Dr. French's preliminary evaluation.  So much so that I have already come to grips with the possibility that he needs to be put down.  We are giving him a gram and a half of bute until we get results from the xrays and ultrasound.  I am hoping this is simply something that requires some stall rest, some poulticing, some cold-hosing but the back of that fetlock is so blown out, I do not hold out much hope.

To get my mind off of Justin's little plight, I gave Forrest a good bath.  He was a good boy and looked so pretty once he was done.  Patricia and I are making plans to take him somewhere fun to school.

I leave for Colorado on Wednesday.  I'll be keeping my phone close.

October 6

Well, wonders never cease.  And let me start off by saying thank you, thank you, thank you for all of my good friends, new and old.  I've got a little ordeal going on and if it weren't for my girls, I wouldn't have been able to pull this emergency situation under control so quickly.

A few days ago, I got an email from someone from Virginia Beach who was interested in Justin back when I first advertised him.  I had narrowed it down to her and Jessica Brown Raithel -- the person who I eventually gave Justin to.  Unfortunately, I based my decision mostly on locale.  I wanted Justin to be kept close by so I could keep an eye on him.  About a month and a half after Justin settled into his new home at Spring Valley Ranch in Leesburg, VA,  I went to visit him.  I'd dropped him off in June and went to visit some time in August.  At that time, he looked happy, looked like he'd lost a little weight but it certainly wasn't anything major so I felt confident I'd made the right decision.  I got several emails from Jessica telling me how much she loved Justin and how well he was doing.  She'd even send pictures from time to time which I really delighted in seeing. 

At one point, Jessica told me she was spending so much time with Justin that she was going to have to sell her stallion because she no longer had time for him.  On Wednesday or Thursday of last week, I got another email from her saying that Justin was very attached to some of the mares and he would stress himself, running around the field and so forth, if they were taken away from him.  So much so that he mildly colicked.  She also mentioned that he'd lost so much weight that she'd started feeding him three times a day.  Even worse, she said that Justin had been lame for two months and he'd just come sound enough for her to take for a walk on a trail ride.  Now, we all know, from reading my blog here how often I was able to ride Justin -- how sound I kept him. 

Anyway, back to the email from the woman in VA Beach (who I'll leave nameless -- I'll call her Ms. A), Ms. A emails me and in essence told me that Jessica was trying to get rid of Justin.  That she had tried to work a trade with a local horse rescue.  Um...excuse me...what?  Here's the part that kills me....  I stood there in her living room the day I agreed to give him to her and cried my eyes out -- not so much because I was sad to be parting with the horse (for reasons you all know why) but because I sincerely was fearful of what might happen to him.  I worried he might slip away somewhere where I wouldn't know about and I'd never know if he was OK or not.  Her fiance (now husband) and she both saw me crying uncontrollably as I said, "Please, if for any reason you decide you don't want him, please call me."  As Jessica and I walked out of the house, I felt confident I could trust her.  The farm was pretty, spacious, had lots of grass and lots of new friends for Justin.  Jessica even said to me, "If you want me to sign something, I will."  I said, "Oh, Jessica, I trust you."  I trust.  I trusted her.  See, I don't lie so I don't assume others will.  Stupid me.

Ms. A directed me to the website where someone from a rescue posted an ad on Jessica's behalf and here's how the ad read:

Justinthemiddle: Absolutely beautiful 14 year old grey TB gelding. He is an ex show horse, who is now only serviceably sound for trails at the w/t. He could carry a complete beginner and he will go through anything. I would like to find him a permanent home where he will have a cushey life and be spoiled.

Please contact the owner directly. I am just the messenger.

Jessica Brown <springvalleyva@yahoo.com>

Awww, how sweet.  She wanted him to have a cushy life (unlike the one he was living) and wanted to find him a permanent home.  I guess when I said over and over, thru tears, that if for any reason she didn't want him to call me -- I guess that didn't express enough my desire to offer the horse a home.  I told her that my biggest fear was him ending up somewhere where I didn't know and withering away.  I literally had the image in my mind.  If you've followed my news about Justin from the first time I rode him in April of 2005 to today, you know he's been thru enough and been moved enough, before I even owned him. 

I keep horses differently, and thankfully, so does Lori.  Basically, our horses live a pretty charmed life on rubber mats with thick, fluffy beds.  They stay in during the day and go out at night when it is cool.  Given Justin's lameness, and how badly his ankle looks now, I can only imagine that he was left to spin around like a maniac on hard ground for these past three months.  Justin's ankle is huge now.  Before it was only remodeled on the inside.  Now it is swollen even on the outside and he has a windpuff.  I have the vets lined up to check him out on Monday. 

My friend Patty (we've known each other since high school) let me bring him to her place.  I'm riding her horse Forrest right now.  She had a beautiful fluffy bed all ready for Justin today.  I was a little concerned because when he peed, he didn't drop is penis.  He peed straight out of his sheath.  When I give him a bath tomorrow to get rid of all that rainrot and mud, I'll get up in there to see if it might just be a dirty sheath. 

Here's how Justin normally looks	Same day	Justin taking me hunting.
Justin in his new home	Justin's new ribs	Lori to the rescue!!!

October 4

I've been a total slacker.  Haven't updated my page and haven't put all the months under their correct headings.  Oh well...

Have been getting to ride -- have been riding my friend Patty's horse, Forrest.  He's adorable and a really good boy.  Probably the nicest horse I'm getting to ride because he was started right and has continued to have good adult rides.  I credit Tracy, in particular, for putting a really great foundation on him.  So, riding him has been a joy.  Have still been riding out in McLean -- rode David the other day.  He was a good boy and I enjoy riding him, except that he needs a constant reminder to GO!  Grrr...

Court ended up working out just fine.  Thankfully, my attorney is very good.  I watched other people with better records than mine and lesser offenses get slammed -- even the ones that had attorneys.  I only watched three of us get off nearly scott free.  Phew!  So glad that is behind me.

The shower I threw for my girlfriend, Kimberley, was a blast, as was the bachelorette party afterwards.  Yes, we stayed out until 5:30 a.m..  Had to fit a little IHOP in there. 

Am vetting a horse on October 13.  Yes, that would be my birthday.  No, he's not the chestnut that I have been wild about but the lady who owns the chestnut is ridiculously stubborn about her price and this one's has been reduced.  He was the second horse I tried and I had planned on vetting him once before until I got my nasty ticket.  I had to wait to see how that would pan out before I got myself financially committed to something else.  So, I am hoping he'll vet.  He's pretty, sweet, big, quiet and a good mover.  He's also very young so it will be awhile before I can do much jumping with him.  Which is fine -- in the meantime, I can still ride Forrest over fences and ride in McLean.

Lori's search continues as well.  I saw a horse on the www.canterusa.org site that she might be interested in and sent her a link.  She and I hope to go to the track again to look at some stuff, even though I'm not fond of the track.  Just a tough way to look at horses.  You can't do diddly with them -- it's a total crap shoot.

I am headed to CO next week.  Turns out, a close friend of mine from college who is from Lima, Peru, Julia -- is expected to be in that area around the same time.  I am hoping our trips mesh.  I would love to see her. 

Weather has been beautiful, daylight has been short.  Not looking forward to winter...