What I learned this week...

-When teaching a riding lesson involving two filthy little smart mouthed 11 year old boys, keep things moving.  Do not let them get bored.  Stop them if they get goofy.  Ignore all smart mouthed comments.  And praise the heck out of them when they get it right.  In fact, end the lesson with both having made an accomplishment.  

-The big ol grumpy gelding seems to like my boy Bucky.  Apparently Bo was a real nasty grump on his last ride, but Bucky brushed and scratched him into bliss.  They're pals.  This, after Bucky declared that he'll ONLY ride his own horse.  In fact, after Champ's death, he said that Champ was the only horse he'd ride other than his Little Lady.  Bo must be kinda special.  Bucky is the Bo Whisperer!  (He rolled his eyes in disgust when I said that out loud!)

-With my query and sample chapters sitting in a pile of paper at a literary agent's office, I'm free to get back into the next project.   No new writing yet; I've been doing other stuff.  I've read what I've got so far, and I'm relieved.  It's not bad!  It's not excellent, but it's a very good start.  It's right there for me when I'm ready to go, which I am sure will be soon.

-If you don't open the envelopes that the bills come in, you don't pay those bills.  Then you end up getting penalty fees.  Then you have a problem.  Part of my mental mess was an avoidance of the office downstairs.  I used to be the manager.  I was the collection agent, the bookkeeper, the secretary receptionist.  Then I got scrambled and cried a lot and shoved it all off on Jethro.  Then our accountant didn't hear from us much anymore.  Now I open bills.  I don't look at the numbers.  But I open them and have a special spot for what needs to be paid.  And file folders for Jethro to put the paid bills into.  It's a start.  

-the office looks better without piles of unopened envelopes everywhere.

-cleaning up the office is exhausting.  I mean, it's a good tired... but still.

-I think I need new glasses. 

-seriously, the Pug smells salty.  He's a salty dog.  He also steals things.  He's a pirate.  

To my fellow Canadians... Happy Victoria Day!