Postcard from vacation

Well, I'm back from a week (or two?) of blog vacation. It's fall break, so off we went to a little family vacation to Gatlinburg, then a frenzy of work when we got back. Anyway... I'm back! Hope you missed me. I know you're just itching to know... what's the biggest highlight from vacation that should leave you in stitches?

We went horseback riding. Where we went, they chose the horse for you. Needless to say, I got the big arse Clydesdale. One mama-jama hunk of horse that can haul a half-ton. Her name was Ginger, sweet. The sweaty fellow, in charge of the horses, helped me up onto her. The foot holster on the saddle, was literally, at my shoulder! As I put my left foot in, he heaved my butt up in the air to sling me into the saddle and onto the big red beast. Yeah, only slightly embarrassing! Then I looked back down at the ground, way down there, and realized that I was SCARED of this animal. I never saw her face, or her feet. Just a mousy glob of red mane that went on for days. When I pulled the knot in the reigns, she jerked it right back down as if to remind me that I was just kidding myself. Julia, thoroughly loving the experience on her own little horsey (Zack, shown above) shouted over her shoulder... "Maammaaa, Just Relaxxxxxx!!!!" Sure! Spoken by a kid that knows no fear. But it was a four mile ride, through the Smokey Mountain National Park, so I took a deep breath and tried real hard to heed her advice.

And, it turned out to be a very enjoyable experience! A very bonding time with my family. Definitely memorable! We all came home with sore bottoms, and a new roladex full of catch phrases that only we will understand the humor in.... ( 'come on little red!') It confirmed for me, that next fall when we go back there, I'm sure as hell not going to have to ride the biggest horse in the stable. 212, 13 pounds, and counting down.