This week was absolutely positively beautiful weather. Perfect weather in fact, minus the 4.2 earthquake that was felt by most of Michigan(I definitely felt it). 

The sun was out, the sky was blue and a gentle breeze blew through the trees. Green grass like emerald jewels greeted you wherever you went. Grills were brought out and hotdogs were cooked as children played in their yards. Siblings took their younger siblings and dogs for walks through the park and returned with golden dandelions for their mother. This was a pituresque day to be remembered. At home families watched as American Pharaoh took first place(as I predicted) and Victor Espinoza won the Derby twice in a row. Perfect, right? Sure. 

I had hoped to go riding today, as two weeks ago I was told today would be fine to ride, just don't go out back alone since no one would be at the house with me. Toda was going to be the day i had time to ride and clean the pasture without being rushed. Today also is the only Saturday this month my dad had off work as he works six days a week, twelve hours a day, from 6am-6pm. I'm not sure he'll have any Saturdays off in June but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't due to the shift he is on. My mom could drop off at work here and there if she wanted to, she'd just be tired. This will also be the first summer I will have pratically no school for the summer, so I'd like to negotiate time to volunteer at a local stable and maybe ride after working. Today unfortunately didn't go as planned, I feel mostly to blame as I probably should've asked a reminder instead of assuming we could just go over. The grey clouds of disappointment and frustration clouded my blue sky throughout today. 

Last week I forgot to ask to make sure it was still agreed to come over as I went to the eye doctor. My eye pressure was perfectly fine and my eyes are fine too. The doctor dialated them which caused my vision to blur for a few hours but I got over it fairly quickly. What with my allergies and asthma my eye pressure is actually going to be higher and have spikes, which is why yearly exams will have to be done to monitor them. Falling off a horse and hitting my head or anyother way of hitting my head hard would potentially maybe possibly cause blindness but I'm not too worried. Helmets will be my best friend. Nothing is weirder than having your eyes numbed so you can't feel anything. I could touch my finger to my eye but there was no feeling or involuntary blinking. It was odd but very cool. 

The Kentucky Derby was just as exciting as always. The top three ran neck in neck with American Pharaoh coming out on top. Behind him was Firing Line and I believe Carpe Diem. I picked American Pharaoh, Firing Line and Ocho Ocho Ocho to win but Ocho didn't make the cut. Firing Line's jockey,52 year old Gary Stevens was hoping to set the record as the oldest jockey to ever race but failed to do so. As Victor Espinoza said, he is the luckiest Mexican in the world. The Preakness and Belmont Stakes are to follow and I imagine American Pharaoh will be present and won't fail to impress. I don't get as into horse racing as I do Western riding and Jumping competitions. I don't care for Thoroughbreds with their hit temperaments or Thoroughbred race horses with their very hot temperament and especially not retired race horses, still full of energy and vigor. They are too highstrung and too much stress to deal with, not for me. I'm not too fond of the Quarter Horse with their somewhat stubborn nature either, but I don't hate them. They make good school horses and work horses. I like the Friesian horse, Gypsy Vanner, Akhal-teke, Azteca, Lusitano and Arabian but the Appaloosa and Azteca and Paint horses are what I want to own and breed. 

The Derby didn't go as hoped for Gary Stevens. Today didn't cooperate as I had hoped. But, as a quote I read stated,  'Fall down seven times stand up once'. I may get this interpretation wrong, but I felt that meant no matter how many times you fall, get. Back. Up. We cannot let one hill get us down or we'll be in for a world of hurt in the future. The unpredictable nature of life goes hand in hand with horse racing and riding and horses. This used to upset me since I don't like sudden changes but I'm growing used to it. Perhaps good perhaps bad. I dunno. 

G'night. My sister gets confirmed in church tomorrow and we're going to a lake with my grandparents to celebrate this happy occasion. 

Have a happy ride ~~~~