BurgerFi Lives!!!!!

When visiting Wellington, a trip to BurgerFi is always on the agenda. They have fantastic burgers, fries and REAL onion rings – meaning you can identify the onion as opposed to extruded onion paste.  Last summer, there was an alarming report that the company was going bankrupt.  I was worried. Wellington just wouldn’t be the same without BurgerFi. 

Barry arrived on time and in fabulous shape. He has put on some additional weight and, after being clipped of his winter coat, shows no evidence of having been mauled by the resident pony at Prairie Fire Farms Foundation over the summer. Last year he clearly had been on the receiving end of small teeth and hooves in pasture turn-out.  I have had several lessons on him already and am excited that the partnership is (re)developing so quickly.  Barry’s owner told me last year that he adores TastyKakes.  So, I purchased a box.  Unfortunately, for Barry and possibly me, I was starving the other day and opened one package.  Then another and then another.  There is still a half box left for him, which I will start dispensing at the end of each ride. The update on Galatea is that she will possibly ship down on Sunday, which will mean a late Monday or early Tuesday arrival.

            Bob is doing much better and last night was the first night in two weeks that I was not awoken at 4 a.m. by horrific howls of hunger/anxiety which would go on for 90 minutes.  He has largely regained the weight he lost and is eating his normal diet.  He is getting very good at taking his pill in the a.m. and p.m., so I am hopeful of future uninterrupted sleep.  However, in the course of trying to pique Bob’s appetite with all sorts of fancy wet food (at which he turned his nose up), Otto grabbed every opportunity to sneak in and help himself when my attention wandered. Which meant the plump cat became somewhat more plump – as in 23 lbs.  And so, this morning was our first walk.  Walk is a euphemism because he was having none of it. The first 15 minutes were spent rolling on the asphalt or grass or being dead weight.  The last 15 minutes he become more agreeable and we actually walked 0.1 miles per the GPS device on his collar. He either cooperates with the walks or I will be looking for one of those places that have pools to help cats lose weight by swimming. He can be dry and annoyed OR he can be soaking wet and annoyed.  I’ve told him it’s his choice.

  There was a dressage show scheduled this past weekend at Jim Brandon Equestrian facility, so I emailed the show secretary and offered to scribe or ring steward.  Volunteers are always needed, and they immediately accepted my offer to scribe. I spent all day Saturday and Sunday with a very accomplished judge. This was my view. 

Except when the judge was judging – then I had my head down writing whatever she said in the correct box on the score sheet.  I had the opportunity to see so many people riding the highest levels of dressage - more than at White Fences or any of the shows I have attended in the Midwest.  There can be as many as 30+ movements within 6 minutes in these tests and each gets a score from 1 to 10 and usually a short phrase about what needs to improve for a higher score.  I was writing fast. Now I was a total unknown to the people in the show office and strangers usually don’t drop in from nowhere to volunteer.  I sensed a whiff of “just who are you???” and conversation was polite but reserved.  However, within 30 minutes of leaving the show grounds I received a request to scribe for the December show.  The judge apparently said I was very capable. Woot woot! I am excited because one of the judges for the December show is Bill Warren who is a phenomenal judge and a big name in the sport. If I am assigned to him, it will be an exceptional learning experience. 

            On a final note, the number of women I have encountered down here who are clearly in my age range yet have faces as smooth and dewy as a baby’s butt is more than a bit unnerving. It is also fascinating.  Sort of like a car wreck on the side of the freeway.  You really, really, really want to slow down and have a good look, but circumstances don't permit it.

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