PRINCESS BRITTANY ANN

August, 2006. Well, another summer has passed for the princess, and she is getting ready for her Junior year @ Trinity Academy. Hopefully, she will do better than last year, she had to take summer school in the Wichita Schools, History class. Trinity does not offer it in Summer school, and they told me she could take it again next year, she would just lose a credit. I did not accept this, and to teach her a lesson, I made her go to summer school. She had all day school @ Heights High School, and she was not happy there at all. It is a completely different world from the protected environment @ Trinity. She was able to focus enought to test out after 2 weeks, and I told her I would let her do it this time if she learned her lesson, but the next time she slacks off in school she has to go the whole term in summer school. I am pretty sure she learned her lesson, she said she did not like the other kids there, and it reminded her why we yanked her out of the Wichita school's in the first place. She seems to remember that, and now appears to be ready to work hard this year, and not go through that again.

Also, she has decided to go back to volleyball after a one-year hiatus. I believe she remembers how much fun we all had, and also it helps her exercise regiment. But, she needs to stay on top of her knee problems this year, and constantly work her legs to strengthen them, which is what the doctor told her. She has had problems with her knee cap dislocating under the slightest stress, but she is able to pop it back into place herself. However, this makes it obviously sore, and inflexible, which slows her reaction time in volleyball.

Brittany finished probably her last year @ Camp Wood YMCA. She was one of 4 girls to participate in a brand new program called "Wrangler In Training", which was reserved for experienced riders, who had attended Camp Wood for a few years, and a minimal age. They also had to apply, and go through an interview process. Of course, as soon as Britt applied, they wrote her a note and said they were extremely happy she was coming back, they would hold a spot for her. That was her interview. Britt is well known @ Camp Wood with the horses, and has shown her knowledge and experience sets a very high standard. She regularly gets to select the horse she wants, and usually choses the "more difficult" horse since she can obviously handle it, and helps out with the other riders. This was a 2 week camp toward the end of the year, and she just got back last week. She obviously had a great time, and also informed me this may not be her last year after all. She was told by the Camp Wood people that they may decide to open Junior Wrangler positions next year, and would like her to come back. This would be an actual job, she would work with the campers and the horses during their camps, and I assume she would be living there most of the summer. I am sure she would come home a few times, but for the most part she would be there. I told her we would discuss that when it comes time, depending on the duration, the pay, and other circumstances, as in her school work. But, I would obviously encourage it, it is what she is most interested in, has a lot of experience, and wants to do in the future. I also believe this will help give her the expreience she needs to help her fulfill her career dreams in veterinary medicine, or zoo work, or whatever field she choses. Hey, at least she knows what she wants to do, which is more than I can say for myself at that point.

I can't believe she is 17 years old, she will be driving herself to school, going on dates, rebuking my authority (like it ever stopped), telling me to quit embarassing her, and pretending not to know me in public places. Damn, I promised I wouldn't cry......