I'll have a more detailed post later - complete with pictures - but I just wanted to mention real quick...
I'M LEASING MY DREAM HORSE!
I''ve been riding at Triple Rise for three months now and I've done most of my jumping on Bijou and some of my flat work on Juliet. Last week, Sarah told me she'd probably keep me on Juliet, since the poor mare was the only school horse not being leased. I asked if Juliet was even available for lease and I will never forget the look on Sarah's face. Long story short, I signed a lease agreement yesterday and Juliet is my girl for the show season!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Life Lessons
I learned a lot today. Important things I'd never known before. Among them:
- There's a reason most hunters are bay - no frantic scrubbing with water and bluing, last ditch shaving of stained socks or wrapping lower legs in cornstarched polos.
- No matter how convenient debit cards are, concessions stands at out-of-season fairgrounds only take cash.
- On a related note, know where the closest ATM is.
- Don't even THINK about wearing white around horses when you're part of the help - even squeaky clean show hunters will slime you if they can get away with it.
- Chuck Taylors are never appropriate horsey footwear.
- Aspiring hunter riders repeat after me: LEARN. HOW. TO. BRAID. You will save money for things like rent.
- Burgers, fries and hot dogs are not diet violations at a horse show - they do not count.
- Additionally, it is a-okay to eat the aforementioned at any point in the day, even if it's 9:00 in the morning.
- As an aside, when you're awake and running before Starbucks employees, you are one dedicated individual.
- Just because YOU know that tractor is not a monster doesn't mean your horse does.
- Jack Russel Terriers don't know they're small and they believe they are invincible.
- And finally, don't say "Do you guys need help with anything?" if you don't really mean it - your trainer's face will light up like a Christmas tree and you will find yourself grooming Phoenix (and holding him at arm's length outside the ring as he tries to use you as a scratching post), holding Patches to be hosed off and running a chair around the entry gate so that everyone in the class can get on their enormous hunter jumpers. FORTUNATELY, I meant it.
Horse shows can teach you all kinds of things.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
awesome day!
Yeah, the title says it all! Awesome WEEK really - lesson yesterday, Blake visit and another lesson today. It's all been golden! We didn't have a lesson last week because Sarah and the Triple Rise crew were down in Sacramento for a show so I was really afraid I would be super out of it come this week. But as it turns out, the little rest did me good! I guess I needed a little refresher or something because this week I have felt great. I've also been staying after to clean my tack next to the arena so I can watch the lesson after mine. Those girls ride jumpers and have been riding and competing for years, I figured watching them could only help me. Sarah and I joke that riding well is all about copying others and faking it when you ride - and eventually, you won't be faking it anymore. It's silly, but this week, I've really felt like it's true. Watching some of the amazing people I ride with has really inspired me and strengthened me as a rider. And I'm actually reconnecting with Bijou. I really like riding Paris but I'm not sure I'm strong ENOUGH for him yet. Today she was so supple and quiet - she did everything just right! Well...maybe I had a little to do with it :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Season of Love
So Valentine's Day was Saturday, I know, but the way I see it, it's never the wrong time to talk about how much you love someone.
Everyone knows how much I love my husband - I say it often enough! - but I want everyone to know how much I love my in-laws. Yes that's right, IN-LAWS. I realized tonight, not for the first time, mind you, how blessed I am to have married into such a wonderful family. Doug and Sue are so patient and with such a tremendous sense of devotion to their children (not to mention a sense of humor). Tyler and Amanda are a fantastic couple - Tyler is hilarious and so much fun to joke with and Amanda is the perfect older sister-in-law (we compare notes on what it's like to be married to Shaw men). Mandy is so kind and strong, so reliant on her testimony...I find myself striving to be more like her. Jeremy is so funny and surprisingly profound for a 17 year-old...I feel like we clicked right away. Jenell is the sweetest thing, so tender and fiery at the same time...she reminds me of me at 14. Levi is the Animal Whisperer and the one who can never sit still...but he has these quiet moments when he wows you with how sweet he is. And of course Zachary, who can already beat me at chess and loves to read...he wants to be a farmer when he grows up and never wants to move away from mom and dad's house.
What an amazing family! I am so blessed!
Everyone knows how much I love my husband - I say it often enough! - but I want everyone to know how much I love my in-laws. Yes that's right, IN-LAWS. I realized tonight, not for the first time, mind you, how blessed I am to have married into such a wonderful family. Doug and Sue are so patient and with such a tremendous sense of devotion to their children (not to mention a sense of humor). Tyler and Amanda are a fantastic couple - Tyler is hilarious and so much fun to joke with and Amanda is the perfect older sister-in-law (we compare notes on what it's like to be married to Shaw men). Mandy is so kind and strong, so reliant on her testimony...I find myself striving to be more like her. Jeremy is so funny and surprisingly profound for a 17 year-old...I feel like we clicked right away. Jenell is the sweetest thing, so tender and fiery at the same time...she reminds me of me at 14. Levi is the Animal Whisperer and the one who can never sit still...but he has these quiet moments when he wows you with how sweet he is. And of course Zachary, who can already beat me at chess and loves to read...he wants to be a farmer when he grows up and never wants to move away from mom and dad's house.
What an amazing family! I am so blessed!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
making it happen
Well, I had my riding lesson this afternoon as usual and it was AWESOME! My instructor, Sarah, had had me riding a Thoroughbred mare named Bijou for the past three weeks and I had gotten used to her quirks and little "isms" - she's slow to warm up, needs a lot of leg to get her to move forward and loves to jump.
I got to the stable today and Sarah told me she wanted me on Paris, this huge dark bay Seattle Slew lookalike. I was excited, because I figured that meant Sarah thinks I'm improving because I've heard only good things about Paris around the barn. I had a good feeling walking into his stall. When I called Paris' name, he swung his head around with these bright and cheerful eyes that just melted my heart. Come to find out, he loves candy, attention and to zip and unzip things - he took my zipper pull between his teeth and just blissed himself out zipping and unzipping my fleece jacket. He's a much more forward-going horse and I felt more confident on him than on Bijou.
Long story short, our lesson was great; I jumped a greater series of jumps (4) and apparently I did it really well - in fact, Sarah wants me to go to a schooling show in April! She gave me a schedule of shows for the whole year and told me that I could probably do well at any of them. Yay me! The dream is coming true!
I got to the stable today and Sarah told me she wanted me on Paris, this huge dark bay Seattle Slew lookalike. I was excited, because I figured that meant Sarah thinks I'm improving because I've heard only good things about Paris around the barn. I had a good feeling walking into his stall. When I called Paris' name, he swung his head around with these bright and cheerful eyes that just melted my heart. Come to find out, he loves candy, attention and to zip and unzip things - he took my zipper pull between his teeth and just blissed himself out zipping and unzipping my fleece jacket. He's a much more forward-going horse and I felt more confident on him than on Bijou.
Long story short, our lesson was great; I jumped a greater series of jumps (4) and apparently I did it really well - in fact, Sarah wants me to go to a schooling show in April! She gave me a schedule of shows for the whole year and told me that I could probably do well at any of them. Yay me! The dream is coming true!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
gratitude
I realized tonight just how much I have to be grateful for. This past week has been a tough one, and I have found myself pretty frustrated at times with work and my progress in life...but sitting here tonight in my wonderful home with my kittens beside me, aching from an hour in the saddle and making plans with friends, I realize that I am very blessed to have what I have at this time in my life. There's nothing wrong with having goals for the future and looking forward to things to come, but there is no reason for me not to be satisfied and happy with what I have right now.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Top 20
In 2006 I started this thing of coming up with a list of my favorite songs of the year and I've decided I really like doing that - I get some good tunes that way! Here's my list for 2008!
20. The Parting Glass - Shaun Davey...I liked this song a lot last year, too - it's from the movie Waking Ned Devine and if you haven't seen it, it's well-worth the trip to the video store!
19. Jessica's Theme - Bruce Rowland...this one's from a movie, too - The Man from Snowy River. Yes, it's a "horse movie" but that's not why I like the song - this is the tune I walked down the aisle to on August 23rd!
18. Paper Planes - MIA...haha Nathan hates this song, but it's pretty beloved by the store 733 crew - nothing better than watching Spencer mime out the sound effects and, inexplicably, understanding the lyrics.
17. You Promised Me - In-Grid...another one from the Abercrombie den, but this one I actually heard for the first time on a snorkeling trip in Cabo, so it brings back good memories - that, and the visual of Jon Nelson dancing around the salesfloor every 2 hours when it would come on
16. If You're Gonna Play in Texas - Alabama...not really a new song to me, but it just popped into my head one day and set up shop!
15. Boston - Augustana...again, not new to me, but it took on a whole new meaning when Joely left us for the east coast...I still cry and miss him when I hear it..."I think I'll go to Boston..."
14. Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric...from Stranger Than Fiction - I can't explain it, I just love it!
13. Fast Car - Tracey Chapman...again, reminds me of my friend Joel - he hated the bastardized techno version at work, but I think that makes me appreciate the original even more.
12. When I Say Go - The 1900's...I will never EVER admit from whom I first heard this song, but I will say, I'm glad I gave it a listen - it sounds retro but relevant at the same time (listen to me, talking like I think I know what I'm talking about...)
11. Teardrops on My Guitar - Taylor Swift...go on, laugh all you want, but I like the song! I also like Nick Larkin imitating any Taylor Swift song, so...there it is.
10. Free Fallin' (live) - John Mayer...my favorite song + my favorite artist = listening heaven...I think I cried when I discovered this! I like the Heart-of-Life-isms he throws in.
9. Society - Eddie Veder...okay, the whole Into the Wild soundtrack could probably take up most of this list, but I managed to whittle it down to my favorite three...this one makes me feel guilty for working where I do...it makes me dream of the future
8. Hard Sun - Eddie Veder...this is the BEST driving song I've heard in a good long while - it even makes going to work a little more pleasant - and it lends itself well to my "music video moments!"
7. Guaranteed - Eddie Veder...one phrase sums it up: "they think of me and my wandering but I'm never what they thought..." I think everyone my age has felt this song before...
6. Summer of '69 (live acoustic) - Bryan Adams...the little piano ditty right between "standing on your mama's porch" and "you told me that you'd wait forever" is such a moving little moment...Bubba, you were right! This version is better!
5. Little Wonders - Rob Thomas...Brittany got me into this song, and it definitely deserves to be on this year's soundtrack! I've had so many of these small hours this year and it's true, they are what make life worth living. Something has to support the big hours!
4. Stolen - Dashboard...again, a repeat from last year, but it has to be one of my favorites of all time! I really came to like the fast version this year, but Nathan and I had our first dance to the slower one. What a great night that was!
3. Everything - Michael Buble...easily the title track for the Wedding Weekend - and the song Nathan and I made our first entrace to as husband and wife! It will always take me back to that moment and all the photos and laughs surrounding it.
2. Angel from Montgomery - Susan Tedeschi...Kristen Stewart sang this song in Into the Wild but I found this wonderful, soulful version and haven't stopped trying to belt it since...come to find out Nikos has like 20 versions of it - and we will forever debate which is the best.
..............drumroll.....................
1. Viva la Vida - Coldplay...this song is undeniable. Its beat, its theme, the way it swells with emotion and touches on a turbulant and bloody time in history...it's just the best song I've heard in a long time and I don't think my car's speakers will ever be the same...it just...fills you somehow, it overwhelms you...I still can't get enough of it!
20. The Parting Glass - Shaun Davey...I liked this song a lot last year, too - it's from the movie Waking Ned Devine and if you haven't seen it, it's well-worth the trip to the video store!
19. Jessica's Theme - Bruce Rowland...this one's from a movie, too - The Man from Snowy River. Yes, it's a "horse movie" but that's not why I like the song - this is the tune I walked down the aisle to on August 23rd!
18. Paper Planes - MIA...haha Nathan hates this song, but it's pretty beloved by the store 733 crew - nothing better than watching Spencer mime out the sound effects and, inexplicably, understanding the lyrics.
17. You Promised Me - In-Grid...another one from the Abercrombie den, but this one I actually heard for the first time on a snorkeling trip in Cabo, so it brings back good memories - that, and the visual of Jon Nelson dancing around the salesfloor every 2 hours when it would come on
16. If You're Gonna Play in Texas - Alabama...not really a new song to me, but it just popped into my head one day and set up shop!
15. Boston - Augustana...again, not new to me, but it took on a whole new meaning when Joely left us for the east coast...I still cry and miss him when I hear it..."I think I'll go to Boston..."
14. Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric...from Stranger Than Fiction - I can't explain it, I just love it!
13. Fast Car - Tracey Chapman...again, reminds me of my friend Joel - he hated the bastardized techno version at work, but I think that makes me appreciate the original even more.
12. When I Say Go - The 1900's...I will never EVER admit from whom I first heard this song, but I will say, I'm glad I gave it a listen - it sounds retro but relevant at the same time (listen to me, talking like I think I know what I'm talking about...)
11. Teardrops on My Guitar - Taylor Swift...go on, laugh all you want, but I like the song! I also like Nick Larkin imitating any Taylor Swift song, so...there it is.
10. Free Fallin' (live) - John Mayer...my favorite song + my favorite artist = listening heaven...I think I cried when I discovered this! I like the Heart-of-Life-isms he throws in.
9. Society - Eddie Veder...okay, the whole Into the Wild soundtrack could probably take up most of this list, but I managed to whittle it down to my favorite three...this one makes me feel guilty for working where I do...it makes me dream of the future
8. Hard Sun - Eddie Veder...this is the BEST driving song I've heard in a good long while - it even makes going to work a little more pleasant - and it lends itself well to my "music video moments!"
7. Guaranteed - Eddie Veder...one phrase sums it up: "they think of me and my wandering but I'm never what they thought..." I think everyone my age has felt this song before...
6. Summer of '69 (live acoustic) - Bryan Adams...the little piano ditty right between "standing on your mama's porch" and "you told me that you'd wait forever" is such a moving little moment...Bubba, you were right! This version is better!
5. Little Wonders - Rob Thomas...Brittany got me into this song, and it definitely deserves to be on this year's soundtrack! I've had so many of these small hours this year and it's true, they are what make life worth living. Something has to support the big hours!
4. Stolen - Dashboard...again, a repeat from last year, but it has to be one of my favorites of all time! I really came to like the fast version this year, but Nathan and I had our first dance to the slower one. What a great night that was!
3. Everything - Michael Buble...easily the title track for the Wedding Weekend - and the song Nathan and I made our first entrace to as husband and wife! It will always take me back to that moment and all the photos and laughs surrounding it.
2. Angel from Montgomery - Susan Tedeschi...Kristen Stewart sang this song in Into the Wild but I found this wonderful, soulful version and haven't stopped trying to belt it since...come to find out Nikos has like 20 versions of it - and we will forever debate which is the best.
..............drumroll.....................
1. Viva la Vida - Coldplay...this song is undeniable. Its beat, its theme, the way it swells with emotion and touches on a turbulant and bloody time in history...it's just the best song I've heard in a long time and I don't think my car's speakers will ever be the same...it just...fills you somehow, it overwhelms you...I still can't get enough of it!
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