The second job sucked, I'm so glad the season is over with now. As a ticket scanner all I did was stand before the lift and make sure everyone's pass is legit. There were plenty of annoying people that I dealt with, but most of them were nice. Some complimented my coat and the different hats I wore. One guy said my coat goes well with my skin tone...yeah, a guy. Strange, but I'll take it. I was also told that I was the best ticket scanner as the one with a personality because I actually smiled and talked to people, and the best looking one. This job was great for my ego! But when it was cold I was kinda miserable. And when it was nice out I rather would've been snowboarding. Oh yeah, I GOT A SNOWBOARD!!!
It's frickin sweet and I wish I had more free time to use it. I've been getting better, I only know this because I haven't been falling as much, which my tailbone is thankful for. I've also made a few friends who work at the resort. I went boarding with them once (they've all been doing it for years upon years) and naturally I was the straggler. I followed them down the steepest hill, no joke. I think it's at least 45° at one point which may not seem like a lot but holy shit it totally is. I snowplowed my way down that one. That's some snowboarder lingo for sliding down a hill facing forward instead of sideways like you're supposed to. Never again.
But after that nearly peeing my pants experience we all went to their house on the mountain and drank so that I forgot all about it. It's not really my thing, but staying up late and throwing back alcohol are what people do, and it really is fun once in a while. We played card games, Telestrations (if you can play this you definitely should, it's hilarious!) and limboed with the only thing we could find...a snowboard.
My butt and legs hurt too much from falling earlier that I didn't win, which really sucks because with my gymnastics background limbo I usually win. And by usually I mean always. Next time, guys, next time.
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Oh, and one more small thing that's actually pretty big; I drove to Kentucky this week! I went because of an equine career fair at the University of KY. Yes, a career fair specifically for horse people, aka ME! I couldn't not go because A) I really really want to move and work there someday. Like, soon. B) my work schedule changed so I'm back on weekends and had time to go (I think that was a sign), and C) they had free pizza. It. Was. Awesome! It opened my eyes to all of the different facets of the horse industry, ones that even I had no idea about. There was a booth for an internship that I have my heart set on doing next year, called the Kentucky Equine Management Internship. It's incredibly rigorous and competitive, but will give you a leg up on finding a job doing almost anything you want in the horse industry there. I guess this semester over 200 people applied and only 30 get in. Holy crapoly. But talking with them made it seem like I have a chance since my vet tech experience is not something everyone has. I also spoke with someone at the Rood & Riddle booth which is basically the best equine hospital in the country. It's huge, fancy, internationally renowned and they have the capability to do everything you can possibly do for a horse. It's pretty awesome and that's putting it gently. Both of the doctors I work for did their residency at Rood & Riddle and the woman I was talking to knows both of them. When she said that if I have good letters of recommendation from both of them then I could definitely get in there, I had to contain myself so hard. That's the epitome of "making it" in my world! I imagined myself living there like an actress does in L.A. I'd work part time at the Horse Park or waitress at the Keeneland race track waiting to be accepted for this or that, living on ramen noodles and beans. You get it. So when I found out that it's entirely possible and that it could happen as soon as next year I had to pinch myself! I think this is the longest paragraph I've written so far, can you tell I'm pumped??
I could go on and on, but basically it was completely worth it. This trip helped with some of my homesickness since it confirmed that this move to PA was a good choice. It re-sparked my motivation to learn everything I possibly can and I'm just so excited for life right now!
Enough babbling, here's some proof of my trip.
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| An awesome place. I saw a few things, but it was closed. |
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| Statue of the famous Rolex jump. |
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| Secretariat's statue. |
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| There he is, the Man 'O War! |
Demonstrating the strides of John Henry (24 ft), Secretariat (25.5 ft), and Man 'O War (28 ft).
That's insane.
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| A description of a horse stride for those who don't know. |
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| Look, KY Horse Park trash cans! |
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| Look, KY Horse Park geese! |
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| At the races! But they were closed too. |
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| Tacky purses I found at the gift shop. Thanks to mom for that pun. |
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| Some of the stables. I'm not entirely sure I was allowed to be here, though. |
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| The walking ring before the horses go to the track. |
Afterwards I called my parents and told them the bad news that I'm likely not moving back home anytime soon. And I'm sure "Bluegrass" will be included in the title of this blog in the future!
