Tuesday, December 30, 2014

My favorite time of day is coffee

This morning I was up with the puppies at 6:30, and had planned to stay downstairs to make the spinach dip for tomorrow night. "I'll just make a cup of coffee before I get started," I thought. Next thing I knew I was snuggled on the couch with Odie and my big mug of deliciousness. "I could start my 2014 blog post," I told myself. But Odie needed pets and I only have so many hands...

It is now 7:30, I have set a time limit for myself to write about whatever my little synapses are firing at this hour, and then I have resolved to at least clean the bathroom before work (at 10). I am also going to get a VIN check this morning; in a perfect world I would get right in at 9 when they open, then get to work early, which would hopefully allow me to leave a half hour early tomorrow so I can make it to the DMV. Thank God I'm not actually moving, just changing my address. I couldn't imagine going through that madness this time of year.

I had another great ride on Mr Comic last night, albeit short because it seemed like he had just finished his dinner before I got there. No swimming cramps on my watch. He was stiff and rather grumpy when I first asked him to trot, so we went back to a walk, but stretching and marching rather than plodding along. After a few minutes I asked him to canter, which was first met with resistance - this horse thinks the cure for stiffness is not moving at all. I asked again and got a very choppy, awful four-beated mess, but I threw my reins away and kept pushing him forward. Halfway around the arena I felt him relax and start loosening up. I threw him his usual canter party (LOTS of praise), and brought him back to a trot. Changed rein and asked for the sticky lead (he's an ottb, you do the math). With minimal hesitation he picked up a big, open canter and with just enough guidance from yours truly, we stayed out on the rail (he loves to fall in and cut corners). After that his whole attitude changed and he was like, "Yes, human. Whatever you say, human. Clearly they gave you the thumbs for a reason." Haha.

I am nearing the end of my allotted blog time, so I will leave you with this thought: I know I never post pictures here, but my computer had a bad hard drive and I lost everything on it when it was repaired. I now post mostly from my phone because I get bummed out every time I look at my empty laptop. One of my goals for the new year is to go through my memory cards and re-upload them. Perhaps then you will not actually have to read my posts, but instead skim them while you look at pictures. But don't hold your breath. ;)


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Gumby and Pokey

It's getting to be that time when I think about the year gone by. It seems like this one passed in the blink of an eye, and yet my whole life has changed (thankfully for the better). I will endeavor to write a full "Year in Review" post later, but for now I am snuggled on the couch with Lucy asleep between my legs and Josh across my lap. The Patriots are giving the last regular season game away on a silver platter to the Bills, so what else to do but blog?

I rode Comic this morning, and Maddy was able to come visit and take pictures. I'm happy to see he looks as good as he feels, and since he has the best brain for a Thoroughbred, we had a bit of fun with some of the shots. It's so nice to once again have a horse to work with on a regular basis, and this one is smart and eager to please. I'm trying to keep things as fun for him as they are for me; no need to drill him into the ground. Yesterday the weather cooperated beautifully and we were able to do some work in the outdoor and on the little trail loop. We even found a bridge to cross, although I did eventually have to hop off and hand walk him over. I am looking forward to some snow rides, and I think we may mix it up and play some games soon to keep him from getting sour.

We are having our annual New Year's Eve pajama party, which seems to have grown exponentially this year. There are usually 6-8 of us; this year we're planning for 18. The next few days will be a blur of cleaning and party prep, but I have New Year's Day off, so who cares? I can relax later. Haha.

I guess that's all for now. I should probably go shower because I am still in my breeches from hours ago. Hey, if tailored sportsmans weren't so comfortable, maybe I wouldn't want to live in them. Just sayin'.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Fruitcake is not as bad as the reputation that precedes it

We have officially entered the final week before Christmas. The decorations are complete; the stockings are hung by the radiator with care; and the inside of our refrigerator looks like a game of tetris gone horribly wrong, chock full of ingredients for baking and cooking. On Saturday I wrapped every gift, save for one package that was still in transit. I am Ready. It feels good. 

Josh and I had yesterday off, so we went to 5 Wits to finally use our groupon. We had done the Espionage mission with Miss Abigail back in May, which left us to conquer 20,000 Leagues. We were the first group of the day, and it was just the two of us. Our guide was awesome, and we had a blast! I highly recommend going there and trying both experiences.

The rest of our day was spent running errands and commencing the week-long project that is Christmas Cleaning. Think Spring Cleaning, but in winter, and with more (cleverly code-named) garland. "Can you hang this Judy from the window, and wrap that Judy around the bannister?" We also ate ice cream last night for the first time in a long time. It was delicious. 

I suppose I should segue back into the real world, where I have things to do before work and an increasingly smaller window in which to do them. Adieu. 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Pancakes, Eggs, and Alan Alda

Last night I had grand plans for this morning. This morning I traded grand for spectacular. Rather than getting up early to go ride, I slept late (until 7:21!) and then moved directly to the couch where my book was waiting for me. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda kept me company for an hour or so, until my stomach told me it was time for breakfast. Not in the mood for my usual yogurt and cereal routine, I decided to make pancakes and eggs. Josh woke up to a yummy feast amidst the hopeful stares of three starving puppies. There are certainly worse ways to start a day.

I have been pretty productive in the Christmas department; I think all my shopping is done after Tuesday's stocking stuffer expedition. Today I am hoping to organize the mess of bags and start wrapping, but that is contingent upon Josh being otherwise occupied so that I can separate his gifts from the mix. Hopefully we will finish decorating the house today, too. I am feeling rather in the spirit this year, which is a refreshing change of pace from the last few years of stress and scrooginess. :)

It wouldn't be a day off if I didn't have to do laundry, and our hamper will not dissapoint me today. I am still going to ride, of course; just at a more reasonable hour. We may finally be buying our treadmill this afternoon, which is exciting. I feel motivated to work out, just not outside of the house. Haha.

It is currently snowing, which I am surprisingly okay with. It doesn't seem to be enough to stick, just enough to look pretty through the window. Once it starts to accumulate I will resume grumbling about winter, especially considering we had to postpone buying a snowblower because of Odie's hospital stay last month. Please, mother nature, be gentle this year.

That is all for now. Please enjoy my day off as much as I hope to.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Today was a bad whistling day

Three weeks into my new job and I am still trying to find a better balance of everything in my life; puppies, ponies, Josh, Mom, housework.

I am not unhappy to say at least housework was the first to fall by the wayside. I know my priorities. Aside from doing enough laundry to prevent either of us from going to work naked, and maybe vacuuming once (fortunately Josh has stepped up his cleaning game), I have been tragically undomestic.

Josh and I have had a good amount of time together, and it looks like we're going to be able to keep our Thursdays off, which is great. Sundays (for which I get time and a half, for the first time in over a decade) are short shifts, so we'll get most of those, too. :)

I've been seeing my mom about once a week, with phone calls and texts in between. Granted, the last two times we hung out was for Christmas shopping, but 'tis the season, right? She is one of the only people I can go shopping with, probably because she knows even before I do when I am done (I have a rather short shopping fuse). Of course this means I still need to get her gifts, although we are only exchanging stockings this year. Her and Ron's main gift was a trip to NYC to see the Rockettes, which has come and gone. Oh, and an ergonomic snow shovel, which they also got early. Ooh, exciting. ;)

The part time barn job disintigrated, and I can't honestly say I'm upset. It was fine while it lasted, but I can only handle so many fucktards in my life, and when one is also a two-faced bitch...well, hasta la never. I finally got the money she owed me and I'm not looking back.
I have been riding a few days a week, helping my friend Natalie with her horse Comic. It's been going well, and it may even turn into other riding opportunities. Realistically, if I could sit on a horse 4 days a week I'd be thrilled. I am almost there.

This brings me to puppies. Sure, I make time for daily snuggles, and I try to keep up with Odie's demands for Ball Time. It's freezing? Let's play ball. It's raining? Let's play ball. It's 11pm? 5am? Let's play ball. But it's been tough for both of us to go from lots of time together all summer to me being gone all. the. time. Hopefully the rain predicted for Tuesday holds off and we can go on a long overdue trip to the park. I need my fuzzy adventure time.

Lastly, Christmas. I'm feeling more festive, and so much less stressed than last year. I am just about done shopping, soon to start wrapping. We got our tree this week and plan to decorate tomorrow. I will bake my traditional cranberry oatmeal cookies, plus one or two other concoctions. Those reindeer are not taking me down this year. I've got this.