Froze my butt off

[Howard4567@aol.com]

OK, I'll try it again............


Damn, Osceola was cold.  I had no idea that northern Florida could be so 
nasty.  I'm talking 20's at night.  Haven't felt that kind of cold since I 
lived with my ex-wife.  

If you were there and didn't see me, that's cause I was in my tent.  Before I 
left my warm abode in central Florida I had stopped by Wal-Mart and purchased 
two of those propane heater attachments ($18.95) you screw on to the propane 
bottles, bought six bottles of the gas ($3.95 for 2), and man was I glad I 
did.  Anyway, I took off those warning tags attached to the heaters saying 
"DO NOT USE INDOORS, INCLUDING IN YOUR TENT.  IF YOU DO YOU WILL DIE CAUSE 
THIS DEVICE SUCKS OUT ALL THE OXYGEN IN YOUR TENT.  YOU WILL DIE"

I thought that was rather a stern warning, but it was sooooooo darn cold I 
just did not care.  So, I opened the flaps exposing my window type tent 
openings and lit the heaters.  Both of them, wishing I had bought a couple 
more.  After awhile I was able to take off my parka, my ear muffs, and one of 
the three sweaters I was wearing.  Problem was, I was afraid to leave my 
heaters unattended, sooooooooo I sent the kid out to attend all the meetings 
and do the leg work.  I wasn't leaving this tent for nothing but the ride.

And drinking cold beer is not a great idea when it's so darn cold outside.  
But atleast I didn't have to make an ice run.  I was able to boil water in my 
tent by putting a kettle over the heaters.  Add some wine, rum, and a little 
sugar and you have a hot toddy.  

Anyhow, my daughter and I survived the ride.  The kid and her Arab gelding 
are ready for a 50; unfortunately her Dad has yet to find a horse that can do 
that kind of mileage.  Poor kid will be stuck in the LD mode until I find an 
Arab or Arab cross that I can stand to ride.  She's considering starting her 
own web site begging for sponsors in her quest to be the next Valerie Kanavy 
by the year 2020.  

BTW, she did win the junior 25 LD, inspite of the fact her old man's horse 
got pulled and we had to find another sponsor.  I think I followed the rules 
properly and notified management of the change, but it was sooooo cold I'm 
not sure anyone wrote it down (they didn't want to take their hands out of 
their gloves to grab the pen).

I did see Steph Teeter at the ride and even got a chance to say hello.  I 
noticed the infamous gatekeeper of RideCamp because her horse had Idaho 
plates attached to the rear.  Steph, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk 
with you, but I'm sure you understand cause of HOW DAMN COLD IT WAS.

cya,
Howard