Observations from the Pool

This morning was the second-to-last, 45 minute, swimming class for my three kids.  For just a day shy of two weeks, we have made the daily trek to the town pool for their lessons.  Each day it has been an untold blessing to have 45 minutes of quiet.  I have enjoyed sitting under the shade tree of the local park reading or watching long awaited Savvy Club DVD's on the portable player.  Bliss!!  Today I was told by my 7 year old son, in no uncertain terms, that I was NOT to watch horse videos and I must watch his entire lesson.  From my vantage point at the top of the bleachers I had the perfect view of my son and all the other swimmers and their parents, grandparents and caregivers. 

In the tot swim group located in the shallow end, one little fellow was having a bit of a rough time.  Throughout his entire 30 minute class he had a long, low wailing, hiccuping type cry.  For whatever the reason, on this day, he just was not enjoying his lesson and playtime with the instructor and other children.  His mother along with the child's grandparents were sitting in front of me and I heard several comments about "how silly he was behaving" and "what is wrong with him - he never behaves like this!".   After the lessons finished and the pool cleared of swimmers, I entered the family dressing room with my son and again heard that long, dry, wailing cry.  The little boy's mother was quickly dressing him in his street clothes while glancing at the other parents with an embarrassed , apologetic look.  Again as we walked through the parking lot and sat in the truck waiting for my older children to surface from the dressing rooms, that long, low cry was close in proximity.  The little boy's mother and grandparents were standing around him starring at him as though he had suddenly turned a different colour, discussing why this normally quiet little fellow was having this meltdown.   Finally, after much rolling of eyes and shrugging of shoulders, the mother got a soft look on her face, bent down and scooped him up.  Immediately, his arms went about her neck, his eyes closed and .... he stopped crying.  She rocked him back and forth and his face brightened and he looked peaceful and calm.   A few minutes later when she set him down, he scampered off after his sister to check out the playground - everything right in his world again. 

This scene hit home with me.  At events with horses, how often do we ourselves witness others or say the words, "he never does this at home" or "why won't he just behave?".   How often do we roll our eyes at each other in sympathy over our horse's behaviour?  How often do we turn our back on a horse who is in distress over the situation or new environment with an attitude of "he'll get over it"?  

Sometimes our horses need a hug.  They need us to slow down and give them some time to gain strength and confidence from us.  They need us to set aside the goal of participating in the event and put our principle of love, language and leadership first.  They need us to not make excuses for them and just "be" in the moment with them to help them through it.  Hugs can be defined in many ways - from simply removing them from the situation to a quieter location to soothing friendly game in all forms.  After a pre-Parelli lifetime of growing up being told that hugs would spoil my horse, it is a relief to have the freedom to give my horse a hug when he needs it.    And I do.  Every so often it is a full out arms around his neck human hug.  But every time, we walk away with my horse's expression just like that of the little boy at the swimming pool - calm and confident and running ahead looking for the next adventure!   So the question remains - have you hugged your horse today??

Step off the Path into Silly

How did I get here?  I don't know the exact moment I arrived ... here.   Three years ago, the thought of just walking into the barn would cause me to vomit.  Yep, I was that scared.   Fast forward three years through starting with Parelli, finding my dream horse and taking-the-time-it-takes.  I am now surprised to find I am riding bridleless, taking the first few tentative tries at Liberty spins and getting Tido measured up for his new cradle bridle as we venture into Finesse !  We are loading up and travelling out, considering clinics and seminars I never dreamed of being able to participate in, meeting the most amazing and wonderful people (and their horsey partners).  But the biggest and most prized accomplishment - we are having fun.  Everyday.  Lots and lots of fun. 




  Living in a time that is fast paced and high-tech, it is so easy to lose the fun - in working life and recreational pursuits.  It is easier to postpone fun to another day when you have more time, and less laundry.  But what if everyone decided to have fun everyday?  Even for just 5 minutes?  Just this morning, as I did my morning ritual of watering the plants, the dogs, the horses ... I suddenly dropped the hose and ran to the kid's trampoline for a 10 minute jump-fest!  You can imagine how surpised my 3 kids were, but they recovered quickly, picked up their jaws, and quickly came running to join in.  So we jumped and laughed and laughed.  And its funny how later (when my post-kids bladder started to stage a revolt to the jumping) picking dirty socks off my son's floor didn't seem quite so mundane. 

It is amazing what we can accomplish when we open the door and invite fun into our lives.  In my younger days - my time spent with horses was always fun.  As I venture further down the natural horsemanship path, it becomes easier and easier to recapture some of that silly fun with horses. 
~ its steamy hot out, fill some barn buckets and launch a full out water gun war.  
~ you are sitting on your horse bareback, relaxed and enjoying the day - lay back and put your head on his hindquarter and appreciate at the beautiful blue sky above you.  
~ practice dismounting off the right side, a clumsy landing will have you giggling for sure. 
~ take your horse swimming.  Or canter through the snow bareback!  
~ spectate a clinic, workshop or competition that you have never heard of before. 
~ maybe you have a secret wish to ride with cows - find a way to do it!! 
Whether a big fun goal or just a little bit of silly, how can you add fun into your horse time? For most of us, horses are a hobby.  Any hobby that you devote time, effort and money to - should be fun.  Sometimes all it takes is to step off  the path and just have some plain, old fashioned silly!

The sister to silly fun is the "fun" of acheiving your goals and realizing your dreams! Having goals is necessary to keeping us focused and progressing, but the journey and the acheivement should still be fun!! The other day, I slipped Tido's bridle off for our third official bridle-less ride.  I have gotten over the "holy crap" novelty of seeing my horse's naked face from a mounted perspective but this is still so new to us - I am constantly amazed!  After a short ride that included a considerable amount of trot segments - we headed to the big ball for Tido's favourite playtime.  For the next few minutes we trotted around playing ball - digging it out of corners, swinging his hindquarters around to line up behind it .... and forgot everything else in the exhuberance and enthusiasm of our game.  Like a lightening bolt, that tingly realization hit me - "he doesn't have a bridle on!!!!"   Wow. wow.   And I started to laugh.  How fun was that?!!!

I wish everyone the joy of finding your "fun" in your life and most especially, with your horses!  With it comes a deep satisfaction and a quiet peace that could only be defined as ... happiness.

Road to Walter Update: I have been making positive steps towards my future ride with Walter Zettl. Since arriving home from Parelli Experience camp on May 15th - I have lost 10 lb and am starting to see improvement in my fitness level. I have been focused on acheiving balance in the 4 savvys by improving our Freestyle riding and have tackled some of the early Finesse tasks taught to me by Don Halladay, with regular consistency.   In early August, I will have the opportunity to sit with Walter for one of his teaching days to become accustomed to his teaching style and learn to "hear" his instructions (mental preparedness).

When An Accident Happens .... are You Ready??

Last week my 2 year old filly suffered an injury in the pasture.  The injury was serious enough to require sedation, stitching, bandage changes and a host of other medical procedures.   I approached this situation with as much savvy as I have and maintained that our relationship was first and had to be balanced with the medical procedures she required.  However, during those first days post-injury, I quickly became frustrated at our lack of prior and proper preparation in the area of emergency preparedness.  While in many regards, Jess was a trouper and handled much of it calmly and confidently, but several times the pain caused a real change in her horsenality and I was left feeling overwhelmed.
So live and learn, this situation caused me to think about all the tasks that are important for responsible horse owners to do with EVERY horse in their care (the pasture potatoes have emergencies too!).   The more prepared you are, the more successful you will be when illness or injury adds that extra element to a situation ... pain. 

Physical Preparedness
Think about all the horses in your care and then honestly consider the following questions ....
Can your horse stand still and calm during needling? What about repeated needling?  Often during illness or injury, horses require more than one needling session! 
Can you hose down your horses legs, chest and belly with cold water? Often necessary for reducing swelling and keeping wounds clean.
Can you calmly and confidently load your horse in the trailer in the dark, wind, rain, snow or other common weather conditions for your area? If you had to evacuate or transport an injured or sick horse to a remote equine clinic - your horses need to be able to load in any weather or time of day, not just when the sun is shining!
Can you put your horse in a stall and have them be relaxed and calm for a length of time? Confinement is often necessary during injury.  Do you have a stall or small area to confine an injured/ill horse? Is there a "buddy" to stay with the patient to help them stay calm and quiet?
Can you spray aerosols on all parts of your horse's body?  Some injuries require antiseptic sprays to keep them clean and help them heal.
Can you operate the clippers over all of your horse's body including legs, head, neck, ears and muzzle? Some surgical procedures require the effected areas to be shaved.
Can you pick up all four of your horse's feet and confidently handle all four legs?
Are you physically fit enough to handle an injured or sick horse? These situations can sometimes require lengths of time without sleep and assisting veterinarians with medical procedures can be physically taxing.

Emotional Preparedness
Be very honest with yourself and think about how you handle emergency situations.  It's normal to find these challenging, but understanding yourself and taking steps to cover your shortcomings will help both you and your horses!
Can you act calmly, think logically and make well informed decisions in an emergency situation?
Can you call in some support to help you through especially trying times?
Can you keep safety as a priority in order to help your horse without putting yourself in danger?

Mental Preparedness
There is no doubt we love our horses. Anyone who has owned horses knows that sometime you will have to deal with the natural situations that arise during a horse's life. While not pleasant, these trying times are a reality and deserve some advanced consideration. Sometimes planning for the unexpected means thinking of potential emergency situations and thinking through how you would handle them.  Kind of like preparing your will and buying insurance for ourselves!
Have you analyzed your finances and have a realistic price you are willing, and able to pay, should illness or injury arise?
Are you able to make the decision to humanely end your horse's life if the situation warrants?
If you were to lose your horse suddenly, have you thought about how you would dispose of his/her body?
If you live in an area where natural forces can require evacuation - do you have a plan in place?

My goal for young Jess was to have her come through this injury without any lasting negative responses that will affect her future.  So even though an injury isn't the best time, I was focused on taking the time it takes and putting our relationship first throughout the whole ordeal.  Today at her follow up 5-day veterinary appointment, Jess let me know that she appreciated my efforts by standing perfectly still for her fourth round of needles.  You couldn't erase the smile from my face!  Jess is on the road to a full recover and hopefully only a minor scar as a reminder. 

 

P.I.T.'s and Rattle Snakes

What a week!! Lots of horse activity going on and lots of positives.  First I wanted to comment on the Humanality/Match report.  Mine arrived on a rare day when I was down and out with the flu and ironically, it was one of the best afternoons I have ever spent!! Having a sick day (rare, I can assure you), gave me some undemanding time with myself to really read and absorb the reports.  I was floored ... no... astonished to find out I am a RBI!  But not just any old RBI - a RBI Axis Point!  What this means is that although RBI is my main quadrant, it is very, very mild and my dot is very close to the centre.  The result is that I can easily shift into LBI and RBE and occasionally LBE (possible but only occasionally).  So, speaking in positive terms, I have the potential to be very adaptable to the horse I am playing with.   The reports are very, very interesting and very reflective of what I have been facing with myself and my horse.  Since reading them, I feel I have a real understanding of the positives and the challenges that Tido and I face as a partnership.  What also hit home, again, was John Baar's discussion regarding labelling.  He advised that we not think of LB and RB as "good" and "bad" and certainly now that I find myself an RBI, this is never more true!!
    
     As things finally started drying up here in south western Ontario in the last week, I got a chance to start playing with my filly. I currently have her identified as a P.I.T. (partner-in-training) because she flip-flops so easily between acting like a partner and behaving very instinctively. Since passing her second birthday on April 9th, I am starting to see more consistent partner-like behaviour as she gains in size and maturity.  But she is still very young, and those prey behaviours surface regularly.

     Throughout the winter I took advantage of every opportunity to play with any of the games that I could - in the confines of the barn.  But as the good weather has moved in, I have begun advancing those games outside!  In one of our first official plays of the year, I was busy placing barrels, flipping cavaletti, setting cones and generally getting things arranged in the outdoor arena.  I was casually dragging the 22' behind me and allowing Jess to trail around after me at Liberty (she's great at that - I call her my pocket horse).  Using my periferal vision to keep a close eye on her whereabouts, her sudden movement caught my eye.  The leather popper on the end of the 22' suddenly came up out of the grass and caught her attention.  After following it with concern for a few moments, she made a small hop into the air with both front feet and came down on the ends - finishing her display with a short tap dance.  Then in a brisk walk with a look of concern on her face she came within 3 feet of me and turned crosswise so her zone 3 was between me and the end of the 22.  She looked back at me over her shoulder with a confident expression that said, "it's okay, I've got this under control."  How can you not laugh??!!   While initially I thought this behaviour was quite instinctual, with some "hhmm .. how interesting" pondering, I have concluded that in many regards, she was actually behaving very much like a partner.   I know in her mind, the leather popper was a rattle snake (which is quite instinctual).  But instead of taking flight, she took as much calm confidence as a two year old can muster, and "killed' the snake to protect her herd of two.  While in the future I will need to watch carefully that she doesn't become dominantly protective of our herd, it was deeply reaffirming that our playtime has some very real meaning for her.   And if we ever ride through the wilderness, I'll be safe from rattle snakes! 


     I leave you with two recent photos of Jess.  The first in her new designer, gold mesh with lynx trim, fly mask. If you can't have fun dressing up your little girl - who can you have fun with??  The second shot was taken at sundown last night.  While I rarely consider her "angelic" - doesn't this photo give her a certain glow??


New designer flywear!




I always knew she was an angel!





A Start to a Better World for Horses

    It was with interest today that I read Parelli's E-news outlining their plans for stepping up on a charitable level to make the world a better place for horses through the Parelli Horsemanship Fund (read the entire white paper found at: www.parellihorsemanshipfund.org).   As a Parelli student and avid horse enthusiast, I read with interest.  The fund is to be aimed in 4 main streams: 
          1.  Youth Programs
          2.  Educational Scholarships
          3.  Horse Rescue Centres
          4.  Therapeutic Riding & ParaEquestrian Riding
There is no doubt, and I am sure that everyone will agree, that these are very worthy choices to focus the funds and time necessary to invoke change.  However, immediately I have several important questions that arise:
    ~Will the Fund be aimed at the above four areas worldwide or just in the countries that contain Parelli  Centres? 
    ~ How will they administer their fund to Youth programs when so little has been directed specifically to youth in the past? It would be fair to say that only the Youth of Parelli parents have access to the program and currently none of the 5 Parelli Professionals I know of make any effort to have youth involved on any level. Will some of the Educational Scholarship funds be directed to people who seek to become a Parelli Professional specifically to teach children?? 
    
     After reading through the aim of the Fund, the second section gives some steps on how I can help.  It seems simple, in order to be more effective, the number of Parelli students needs to increase.  However, this where I think things get a little off track.  Think about it for a minute, "You spread the word. We Donate. Horses and Humans Win."  Seems simple right?? Until we realize that the majority of Parelliers are already spreading the word.  Alot.  To anyone who shows an interest.  
    And this is where I have trouble with the Parelli model.   People seeking information about Parelli are directed to the website and the current free Level 1 program.  All good.  But to really get a feel for Parelli, the best option is to take a Level 1 Clinic.  The snag - we are being told that Parelli Professionals are only able to teach to Savvy Club members.  The reality is that joining the Savvy Club is too much financial commitment when you are just getting started. 
    To get more people trying Parelli and seeing for themselves what a great program it is for horses and humans, I feel more needs to be done at the Professional and Corporate Level.  There should be a reduced rate for all Level 1 clinics.  I am not saying they should be free but more attractive for first time participants.  This would in turn bring more people into Parelli.  Professionals would be busier than ever with a larger number of active students!  And demos.  There should be Parelli representation at all major horse events and festivals in countries where there are active Parelli Professionals and students.  Here in Ontario, Canada, Parelli is almost an underground movement.  There are no advertisements in our horse publications.  There are no Parelli booths or demonstrations at our large horse events and festivals.   To find Parelli - you have to know someone or be really motivated to find out where to start.   Parelli students are already spreading the word but more needs to come from higher up.  

It is a start and certainly more than most other horse organizations are doing.  And while I consider myself generally optimistic - I sincerely hope that what I have read doesn't benefit an elite few and we feel and see the benefits close to our own Parelli homes. 

Keeping it Natural!

More Lightbulbs Than a Hardware Store

This week was a turning point.  Two turning points actually.  And the really amazing part - both of my light bulb moments came from knowledge I already knew - sparked by information that has been in front of my nose for ... well .... ashamed to actually admit ... years!! 

Breakthrough #1
     I watched the January 2011 Savvy Club DVD - Performance Summit Highlights.  And then I watched it again.  And again.   Because the first time I watched it - a light bulb went on.  And then I watched it two more times just to be sure it really was a lightbulb and not some other flash of light pretending to be a lightbulb. 
     So what was this brilliant, flashing, lightbulb moment?  Watching Pat and his students riding during their demo I ... wait for it ...I got IT.  I mean I really GOT IT.  I understood for the first time the importance of all this "stuff" we have been doing on the ground and how it prepares us for riding.  I really understood the importance of the patterns and their design.  I really, really got the message loud and clear how important the human and horse responsibilities are to riding.  I felt like Pat reached out through my TV screen and smacked me upside the head and said, "pay attention - this stuff is important!"   When he saw the surprise in my face, I am sure he shook his head and thought, "what do you think I have been telling you via video for the last 2 years??"   Okay Pat - I get it.   So with the lightbulb illuminated, my poor horse will finally get the leader he needs in the saddle, instead of one that has been floundering around in the dark.  I guess the only question now is, if this information has been presented to me in countless videos and clinics - why did it take me so long to get it??

Breakthrough #2
     I have come to the conclusion that I am really, really good at collecting and learning new materials.  I am great at making plans - on paper.   But I am truly mediocre at putting those plans into action.  There, my secret is out.  Too often I feel that I have "fake it 'til you make it" tattooed across my forehead.  In a few aspects of my life, I know deep down that I haven't done the time - I haven't paid the piper - I haven't given the concentrated, consistent effort required to achieve a particular goal.  And I am not just talking my horsey life ... I don't admit to too many people that I have wanted to lose weight for just over 10 years now. 
      So just as I started feeling slightly blue as I reflected on goals not yet accomplished, an email arrived from Drew Harvey and his blog Diet Tired .  Suddenly, as before, the lightbulb went on ...


"What is the trick? Five proven steps to bridge the gap between good intentions and action:


Record Keeping
Goal Setting
Scheduling
Overcoming Barriers
Evaluation and Feedback"

And there it is.  I am awesome at Goal Setting.  I give myself a C+ in Record Keeping.  Scheduling of my horse time or my diet & exercise requirements doesn't exist.  Overcoming Barriers is low on the list.  And could my lackadaisical attitude regarding submitting an official Parelli audition mean that I actually avoid Evaluation and Feedback???   As a certain Mrs. Parelli would say ... hmm, how interesting.   So applying the above 5 steps to my Parelli goals and my weight loss/fitness goals, I am suddenly feeling much more positive (and illuminated).  Stay tuned!!  2011 is looking bright!

Winter Blahs

Last week I was reminded of several things that I had temporarily forgotten:

1. I hate winter - specifically January.  It is the month after Christmas and appears exceptionally dark and dreary without the glitter and sparkle of the holiday season.  It is smack in the middle of winter - too close to the beginning to say that spring is coming.  It is cold - very cold.  Yesterday's low of -28 degrees Celsius is cold no matter how hard you imagine yourself on a tropical beach somewhere.   Even more than I hate winter - I hate looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida.  Or worse, looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida and then going to play with your horse in the cold arctic -28 wind and snow of Canada.  Darn. I hate winter.

2. I am the first one to tell you that my horse is brilliant.  Tido's super ultra high play drive and LBE horsenality makes me proudly boast how brilliant he is.  But he can't read.  Nor can he watch DVD's.  And he doesn't have a wireless connection between his brain and mine.  So, when the weather outside is frightful, and I curl up to watch, read and generally absorb my vast supply of Parelli materials from a nice warm spot in the house - get this - HE ISN'T LEARNING ANYTHING!!!!   Darn.   I hate winter.

3. No matter how creative and progressive I am - 5 minutes isn't enough playtime for 21 month old girls with - get this - super ultra high play drives and LBE horsenality (see a trend here?).  Heading to the house with frozen fingers, toes and snow frosted eye lashes, so proud of playing with Jess for a full 5 minutes - I hear .. "thunk".  That, my friends, is the sound of the heated float hitting the barn wall as it is removed from the outside water trough.  Yep, she can't talk but that sound very clearly says, "how dare you tease me with five minutes of playtime!! What am I supposed to do for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes left in this day??"  Darn.  I hate winter.

I can't change winter.  Positives?  Let's see, there must be some:

1. My Parelli saddle arrives in less than 28 days!!  Now that might inspire some winter riding!!

2. Laughing keeps you warm.  Simulations with the Parelli playgroup are best done in the winter - the moving around and inevitable laughter (and of course the fresh baked cookies that find their way to the gathering) make you temporarily forget how cold it is.  For a few minutes anyhow ...

3. Time - to watch, listen and read all those materials that you don't have time for during the "good" weather.  And while I try to figure out how to hook up the wireless brain connection between Tido and I, he does benefit, eventually, from my learning.  I have a better plan which makes me more positive and progressive.

4.  If I stand by the kitchen window - there is enough room to "throw" my 45' line down between the fridge and the island,  and coil it up again ... over and over ... and over.  Ron said to get good with it before I use it on my horse.  I don't recall a requirement that I had to get good with it OUTSIDE!  

5.  Marked on the calendar is "May 11 - 15 - Parelli Experience with Don Halladay & John Barr".  Only a mere 105 days (or 15 weeks) away.  Before I know it - it will be here!  While it may not be Florida in January - I can settle for London in May.

So I finish this with the resignation, I may not like it, but January doesn't last forever.  And before we know it, the horses will be shedding and the mosquitoes will be biting and the humidity will make us cranky and we'll be thinking of January ... fondly.

Babies - A Different Breed

   So I am always telling Jesse stories to my Parelli playgroup.  They must secretly laugh at my utter astonishment upon discovering that young horses are soooo different from mature horses.  Having never owned a horse younger than 4 years of age, acquiring my yearling filly last spring opened my eyes to an entirely new world.  Life with Jesse around is never, ever dull and what I have learned from her in just the 8 short months she has been in my life - could already fill a novel!
   I shall start with her latest escapade.  One morning just a few weeks ago, my kids were bustling around getting their outside clothes on, grabbing lunch pails and heaving backpacks onto shoulders.  All of a sudden - they were screaming!!!  "There is a horse on the deck!!!"  Sure enough, there is Ms. Jesse-Lou, looking in the mudroom door with an expression like, "what's for breakfast??"  Of course the kids thought this was the funniest thing ever and, lucky for me, all their friends got a chance to see when the bus came along a few moments later (what the neighbours must think .... but I digress).    Now, it should be said that in my pre-Parelli days, I would have definitely freaked out - thereby making the job of removing a horse from the deck much more difficult.   But savvy changes things ... so I strolled out the door with a happy-to-see-her expression, greeted her with a friendly stroking session.  Then I casually sauntered off the deck towards the barn with a friendly, "well let's find you some breakfast" and walked away.  I didn't look back and sure enough moments later Jesse was trundling along beside me heading for her stall.  Oh - I should mention - Jesse has figured out how to open gates ... hence the deck experience.   She also thinks its great sport to flip the float heater out of the trough ... hence the cronically frozen water.
   What I love most about having her in my life - you ask??  Her play drive.  It is extreme.  This filly will play any time, day or night.  She is a LBE - calm, confident and curious.   Whenever she sees me, she canters to where I am - leaving food and/or friends, just to let me know that if I ever want to play, she is ready.  One night in August of this year, I took the chihuahua out for his last piddle before bed.  There was Ms. Jess in the grass paddock alongside the house, whinnying to get my attention - at 11:30pm.  Such a warm, moonlit night - I thought "why not - there are no rules about playing only during daylight hours".  So we played.  I got the ball out and we played soccer with her at Liberty and had a rousing game of Stick to Me.  Afterwards, I was speechless at the beauty and enthusiasm of that play and was humbled by the realization of what I had just done - played with a yearling in the moonlight!!  A dream come true - a dream I hadn't even dreamt of!
   The drawback of having such a wonderful horse in my life?? She is a source of guilt.  On days when I can't fit in a play session - I feel guilty.  I feel like I have let her down - I see images of her face waiting for me at the gate.  When these feelings set in, I try to put it in perspective.  She could have been purchased by someone who would have just turned her out and not touched her until after her third birthday.  She could have fallen into hands that believe that "breaking" a horse also includes breaking her spirit as well as her body.  She could have found a home that treated her play drive as naughty, something to be disciplined out of her.   So although I can't endulge her by devoting 23.5 hours per day to playing with her - she has a bright future ahead of her and lives a happy life.   And me?  She makes me a better person.  Without a doubt.

So stay tuned for more Jesse-capades!  I am sure she has lots to teach me and me to teach her! 

Wanna play?

Wanna play?