And to think I trained as a pharmacologist......

The next blog will have pics of the condo and surroundings. It is a very nice 2-bedroom unit in a development just 15 min away from Laura’s.  Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom, so guests can have their privacy and “alone time” when needed.  The kitchen is well stocked with good quality cookware and the beds are super-comfy. It is located on the second floor with a little patio so I will be able to have morning coffee outside. There is a Publix right behind me and as soon as I can find the key to the gate, I will be able to walk over for any groceries I need.

The trip was uneventful. Once again, Bill helped me drive down. Good conversation was had, although we skirted any deep political discussions as past experience has shown they can get pretty animated. Eyes on the road (and the gas gauge). Day 1 of the trip featured really high cross-winds that consumed more gas than usual. Gas prices were all over the place, but I was usually able to pump premium for under $4/gallon and one station in Georgia was $3.50. Thank goodness. Outside Orlando on day 3, we stumbled on great little breakfast café called “First Watch”.  By this time, Bill was waaay behind on his chocolate and iced coffee intake.  Hard to find Starbucks iced coffee in the small gas stations in the mountains of Tennessee. He ordered an iced mint mocha that definitely hit the spot. 

I ordered lemon curd ricotta pancakes that were superb.  So, imagine my delight to spot a First Watch just 10 min from the condo.  However, the best meal was breakfast on Sunday at Johnny G’s in Lake Worth.  I have heard about this place from Bill’s in-laws on every trip down but we never managed to get there. This trip Bill made it happen. I had the renowned cinnamon-nut French toast, which is brioche dipped in custard and then coated with sliced almonds, etc.  It stood up to the hype.  And the coffee was so rich and smooth that I didn’t need to doctor it with half-and-half. 

I will definitely be taking guests to both First Watch and Johnny G's. We then walked across the street to the Eau Palm Beach Hotel and Spa, which sits on the beach.  It used to be a Ritz Carlton hotel. The back of the hotel had a small pool, open restaurant, lots of lounge chairs on which to relax and multiple staff members waiting to fulfill any request you might have.  The view from the very back of the hotel was a beautiful expanse of blue ocean with waves breaking on the shore.  It looked like an idyllic place to get away and recharge midway through this trip.  However, checking on the room cost burst that balloon!  $1K/day for a standard room and that was before high season.   I didn't even look at the spa prices.

On to the cats. I used a different combination of drugs for this trip and the cats traveled well in the tack room of the trailer.  Otto immediately settled right into his normal routine. Bob was fine the first 24 hrs after we arrived. He even cuddled up to Bill!

So, I stopped the drugs . That was a big mistake.  A BIG mistake. He is very stressed at the moment, hiding under the bed or under the covers, and yowling miserably at 3 a.m. yet totally uninterested in eating for the past 36 hrs.  That means I am also very stressed. I have restarted the drug and he finally came out and would eat a soft pate only if held and petted. Of course, my sister Ellen did not miss the opportunity to school me about not stopping medications abruptly. So much for my training as a pharmacologist. I should have known better.

Galatea has not yet shipped down.  The hurricanes messed up the transporter’s schedule and I am awaiting a new date.  In the meantime, I have left her in Bill’s good hands.  He was more than happy to say yes to keeping her in work, but then slyly warned he might not send her down.  I pointed out that if the mare did not come to Florida, he would have no reason/excuse to fly down to Florida when it gets bitterly cold in Iowa City.  Case closed. 

Barry should arrive this week, so I will not be horseless for very long.  I expect that he will be a bit out of shape after most of the summer off.  So, we will need to start a conditioning program on his arrival.  However, good progress can be made in the six weeks until the first show.  I also need to be in a conditioning program myself. Laura has a personal trainer who comes to her barn twice a week and I plan to work with her to improve my own fitness.  When I came back from last winter my seat had improved so much that Eric Dierks exclaimed I had the legs of a 19-year old. Sweet words to hear! The problem with riding in the heat is that they waive coats and if you are wearing the classic white shirt and white breeches, are short-waisted, and have any belly fat you look like the Pillsbury Doughboy. Only the truly desperate wear Spanx under their show clothes on a day so hot and humid that show coats are waived. Sooooo....... another season of riding two horses with Laura + a personal trainer - what else could look like that of a 19-year old? Stay tuned.

I ended the weekend binge watching The Perfect Couple.  What a great movie about a dysfunctional family full of surprises, humor, and terrific acting by Nicole Kidman among others. If you liked Knives Out or The Onion you will definitely like this.