Motivation

Between the computer problems and the upcoming three-day-weekend, I am having serious motivational issues. Ugh...

I'm having one of those weeks where I would just much rather be outside riding than working. This is particularly bad, because I only have about 11 more business days to get the July issue together...and I haven't even started...

Anyways, here is a picture of Camri with some cute puppies...

--Cori

Not A Good Way To Start The Day...

So, when I walked into the office today, I was greeted by not one, but two broken Macs. The Mac we check email on would not turn on. It made some noise, but that's about it. And the Mac we put the magazine together on had a disc drive that wouldn't shut. I guess I bumped it and jammed it up, or something.

To make matters worse, this is the month that we lose ten days to work on the magazine. It is May 20, and I have to have a new magazine ready to go by June 10. So, I guess I'll start the countdown at 14 business days to get July's issue together...and I'll start minus two computers. Lovely!

On a brighter side, we are headed down to Oklahoma for a mule showdeo on Saturday, and the forecast is beautiful, sunny weather. I haven't been able to ride that much because of all this ridiculous rain, but I think I'll manage.

Camri's pre-school graduation is tomorrow night. It is hard to believe that I just dropped her off at her very last day of pre-school, ever. It made me a little sad.

--Cori

Thank you, Starbucks

Dear Starbucks,

As someone who is on a low-cal diet, I just wanted to thank you for your Caramel Frappuccino Light. Here is the description you have on your website (http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/frappuccino-blended-beverages/caramel-frappuccino-light-blended-coffee):

"Sensible indulgence – chilled. This handcrafted coffee seems to break all the rules. A decadent blend of coffee, sweet caramel and ice, topped with a drizzle of caramel that shouts “Indulge yourself!” Yet, at just 130 calories and 1 gram of fat for a Tall (12 fl oz) serving, it’s a treat you can enjoy regularly."

Seriously. I had one of these last night, and it was the best thing ever. Now my only problem will be restraining myself from driving to you to buy one of these glasses of amazing-ness every day, as the closest one of you is a 45 minute drive and my budget is currently on a "diet" as well.

In closing, from the bottom of my frappe-deprived heart, thank you. You made my life thismuch better by existing.

A loyal Starbucks drinker,

Cori

Zoo Trip

I took last Friday off (for a fabulous three-day weekend) and went with Camri, my Grandma Alice, and my cousin Rylie to the St. Louis Zoo. It rained a couple of times (Grandma thought to bring two umbrellas, so we were good) but all of the animals were out running around. The female lion had climbed up a tree, the hippos were swimming laps, and the zebra's were bucking around their pen.

An interesting slug fact.

We also took a short trip to the art museum to check out the mummies.
Rylie (who is from Belleville, Ill.) stayed the rest of the weekend in Belle and even had a sleep-over at our house on Saturday night. Despite it raining the entire weekend, Camri and I had a fantastic weekend.
--Cori

Updates

We finally got the May issue done (one day past deadline). Ugh, it was one after another thing with this one. But it is gone now, and there is nothing more I can do, so good riddance, May Mules and More.

We celebrated Cam's fifth birthday this past week. She choose an "Alice in Wonderland" theme for her party. My mom and I baked "eat me" goodies (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, chocolate covered strawberries). My friend Amie painted faces and they played flamingo croquet. We had tiny "drink me" glasses. And there was A LOT of trampoline jumping. In attendance were two little girls from pre-school (Sami and Allie), Kacie, Cam's riding buddy, and her cousins Rylie, Myckena, and Callen. The rest of the friends/family were there, too. Rylie and Camri both donned costumes, which were extra-cute. It was a really nice way to spend a Sunday.

Now that I've got a little extra time, I'm hoping I can spend the next few days riding and working on web design. I've been slacking big-time in both of those fields. I got a little from both categories done today: Cam and I rode Hoos and Ellie Mae for a short trip around the farm, and I updated the classifieds, calendar of events, and picture page ads.

We love getting the new arrival photos of all those cute foals! Keep them coming! Same goes for photos of everyone out there enjoying this beautiful spring weather with their mules...

--Cori

Guest Blogger's Bob and Brenda Ammons

I would like to welcome guest bloggers Bob and Brenda Ammons! More "famously" known as Molly Shakespear's humans, Bob and Brenda are attending Columbia Mule Days, and were nice enough to keep us updated on what's going on over there: 

LARRY THE CABLE GUY AND AMAZING GRACE

On Wednesday morning, Brenda and I met our good friends, Bill and Helen Eyre from Shelburn, Ind., at a truck stop on Interstate 24 in West Kentucky. We than traveled to Columbia, Tenn. for Columbia Mule Days. After our experience there last year, we knew we were in for another fantastic time. After an  outstanding meal at Stan's Restaurant, we drove to the check-in cabin where we were warmly greeted by Harvey Spann and shown to our camp site.

 

It's 10 a.m., on Thursday morning at Columbia Mule Days. And the log loading contest is underway. Larry the Cable Guy is assisting the first team and of course the crowd is being very encouraging by yelling GIT-ER-DONE. Larry did a surprisingly good job of assisting with only one mistake.  While holding the reins to the mule used to roll the logs onto the wagon, he turned to the crowd and said that he had the most important job, holding the HORSE!

It's now noon and time to decide on which of the many concession stand to stop at for lunch, they all looked very appetizing.

With lunch under our belts Brenda and Helen inform us its time to check out the flea market. Bill and I knew this would be very time consuming as there were so many.

At 2 p.m., we are back in the bleachers to watch Amazing Grace preform her tricks. This little molly mule does everything from pushing a baby buggy to dunking a basket ball. She even has a staring role in the soon to be released movie "Get Low" with Robert Duvall.

The mule race started around 5 p.m. and it was interesting to me that the shortest mule in the race was the fastest. 

Several other timed events followed.

Once again Columbia Mule Days is an event you just don't want to miss. Thursday's events have been

 great we can hardly wait for Friday to get here.

--Bob and Brenda Ammons

 

Easter Egg Hunt at NASMA Congress

This past Sunday, while we were at the NASMA Congress, the show staff hosted an Easter egg hunt for the little ones before the trail class. I had just walked in to the arena (I was in the next class) and got it on my iphone. These kids were super cute.

I guess I should have been practicing for trail instead of watching this, though... Or more specifically, talking to my mule about how it is not OK to eat the fake plants on the course. Oh, well.

--Cori