Highlights from Canada

When we crossed the border, I was pretty sure that we crossed over to the Arctic Circle.  The temperature dropped around 30 degrees, and the wind kicked up to hurricane force.  I had on three jackets and the border control officers were in short sleeves and cargo pants- and obviously bothered by the heat.

As I approached the booth with Jack Russell in lap, towing a huge camper and 2 year old strapped to the back seat- I saw the officer THINK, “Why did she drive through my lane?”

He then proceeded to go through his standard line of questioning.  I proceeded to try to give him all of my documents that he was not necessarily interested in.

After the third time,  I told him I had a Labor Market Report and needed a Visa, he managed to tear himself away from the booth, scribble something on a post note, and sent me to the Visa Lane.

The camper was too BIG for the Visa Lane.

Now I posed a huge problem- where to park me- I was blocking all of the buses.  Obviously, people needing visas did not drive campers. They asked me to parallel park it in something that was set up for a compact mini.  I explained I had a work visa for horsemanship, NOT parallel parkmanship, and if they wanted me to do that- here were the keys.

They told me to just hop out and get my visa.

They put me through the express lane- actually let me pay first, then grab my visa and I head out with my screaming 2 ½ year old that was insisting on petting the drug sniffing dog and pull his tail.  My Jack Russell- who is 13 years old- was growling at the drug sniffing dog. I am sure, in addition she was telling him in dog language, that he was a brown noser and there were easier ways to make a living.

As I was being hurried along in English with a French translator (everything has to be in both languages here) I proceeded to my truck, plopped in with the heater blowing and went along my way.  Scout was scratching the window of my new truck to get to the drug sniffing cocker spaniel.

When we arrived in London, we found out that Colleen had not been so lucky.   Obviously, she needs a camper.  She had been pulled aside, grilled, and given a visa for only 11 days- not long enough for all of the clinics that we had set out to do.

I had been given a visa for 10 days after all of my work- that was probably when the boarder patrol officer started vacation- he wanted to insure that he avoided me.  Understandable.

After an amazing tour stop, and two clinics with Colleen, she set off to the states with Nick, her puppy Amber, my horse, and Saint in tow.

I was left on my own.  Jim was in Dubai for work, and I was on my own with Reed.

Few things scare me.  I can teach a clinic with 20 crazy horses and people.  I can shoot a gun.  I can drive a 32 foot trailer through New York City over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Being alone with my son and our Jack Russell, Scout, puts the fear of God into me.

First of all, Reed is now 2 ½ years old.  He has Jim’s looks and my opinions.  His new phrase to me when he does not want to do something that I want him to do is “no dice momma.”  Where he got that, I have no idea. I am starting to wonder if some language is genetic and he got that from my Dad or something.

Boy at clinic on pedestal with necessary equipment- Paci and sippy cup.

So off we go through the haylands of Canada to spread the Biomechanics word- Me, Reed, and Scout.

Thankfully, even without a baby sitter on one day, we survived.  I found a box of toys and tied up my son with a light line.  Didn’t tie up the dog.

I thought I was in the clear and then at the moment that I saw my husband’s taxi pull up into the drive, Scout came limping up to me.  She had a deep cut in her right hind leg and two puncture wounds in her abdomen- hay bailer.

Even before this, my neck had gone into spasm with the stress.  I had already booked an appointment with a chiropractor here in London, Canada.

Interesting person-  Pants up to his chest, looked like he just stepped off of a sailboat in the Carribbean.  He was wearing a gold chain to complete the image.

Minutes later, after he distracted me by telling me to tickle my toes, he cracked my neck, and I felt a ton better.

So here we are.  This weekend is the last clinic that we have in Canada for now- 17 riders.  Cannot wait.  Some normality!