I am closing down this blog

Bye!

So lucky, so impatient

A picture is worth a thousand words:



We bought a truck. A giant truck. A Ford F-350 Turbo Powerstroke Diesel, 7.3, V8, Crew cab, long bed, 4X4, 6-speed manual, with an in-factory tow package. And I can drive it. My lovely friend Jill has said she'd give me lessons on how to pull a trailer, but the electrical input on my truck is not compatible with the output on her trailer. So I am trying to borrow a trailer from someone at the barn. Before I had a truck people were all" Sure you can borrow my trailer anytime!" and now that I have one, no one is returning my emails. Hrumph.

Which leads to the "impatient" part of our program. I want my own trailer. Now.

If this whole trailer-borrowing thing pans out, we are going to our first one-day horse trial at Lincoln Creek on July 31. Entries close on the 23, and it is now the 14th so we will see. We will be going Senior Hopeful. Is there a more pathetic division name than that? If there is I don't want to know. But upon the advice of my trainer, for our first ever one-day, we just need to show up and make it through. One days are rough. So that is what we are doing.

Kip and I continue to improve, Kip just keeps getting smarter and smarter about how to navigate around a course and use his body, and my big lesson is to let him get into a good, rhythmic gallop and stay the hell out of his face. Yesterday's lesson was bending lines, with lead changes -- and then the hard part -- staying on the left lead down a long line. Staying on that lead over the last fence in a line and into a left turn for some reason is a thing for us. I am sure it is somehow my fault.

I made Lifetime today

In addition to learning how to ride, I have also been going to Weight Watchers, and today I made Lifetime. I have lost 26 pounds.

I am going to loose five more pounds, to get to what my leader calls my "Heart weight". We will see if I can maintain it. I have been pleasantly surprised at how relatively easy it has been for me to maintain these last few weeks to get Lifetime. I still need to watch it, but I don't feel deprived in the least.

So. Onward.

In just a year

"They" say that it takes a year to build a relationship with your horse. It took Kip and I about a year and a month.

Our horsey anniversary was spent schooling at Aspen Farms. That was April 24th. He was really a rock star, jumping everything and really loving every moment. But sometimes (often) he'd blast through my hand and the brakes went away. He just wanted to charge on in a straight line and jump everything that was in that line, but turning was sort of not in the program. Since then, we have been working on keeping the canter up and bouncy, so he can rock back on his haunches and turn when asked. Just last week our Wednesday lesson was jump, land, turn and jump. It was really hard. It took us probably eight or even ten times to get it. But seriously, once he figured it out, he nailed it. Over and over.

We spent the last three rides practicing turning -- over fences and poles, and on the flat. A lot of flat work with him listening to the leg. Then today was Jump group. There were four other horses in the group with us, and I swear Kip really examines other horses jumping and figures out what to do by looking. Except Corina's little pony mare, who he is just in love with and wants to race after her. So we couldn't follow her. But besides that, I think Kip has really learned the jump, turn jump thing. Today was bending lines at a nice gallop -- Gallop up then jump, look and opening rein over the fence, three turning strides to the next fence, leg on, (leg ON!!) and turn to the third fence. It was really exhilarating. And Kip just was great all of this. Not that he did it perfectly -- not at all. The first time through one combination, he was swimming; paddling his legs not knowing where to put them. But that is exactly the right instinct in that situation, keep your options open, no propping or just bursting through the jump, but try lots of things out and go with what seems to keep you clear. But who am I kidding. He was mostly just really brave and scopey to every fence. He had the correct striding most of the time...sometimes he'd add a stride, but that certainly beats leaving long. And some of these fences are easily the biggest we've ever done. In the three foot range. Maybe more?

Can you imagine where we will be in another year?

Anyway. Kerry took photos of Jump Group today and I can't wait to see them. There should be some good ones.

Misanthrope

As the great philosopher Linus once said: "I love mankind...it's people I can't stand."

I looked around for a suitable link for that charming Peanuts quote, but everything I found annoyed me. There is this Fan page which is just too twee, and ignores the more thought-provoking Linus quotes - like this one. Then I found a photo of the panel that I quote at the top of this blog entry -- but the caption of the person who posted the photo annoyed the snot right out of me. And then the idiot commenter below -- AUGH!

I did find this interesting analysis by an Unitarian pastor, though. This alternately annoys and interests me. Unitarians, you know.

Anyway what got me started on this whole thing was an incredibly annoying woman in line at the coffee shop, who could not be bothered to halt her indescribably inane conversation long enough to tell the barista her order -- then it annoyed me that I was more annoyed by this than the barista.
I need this.

Bikram

Keeping with yesterday's theme of examining things I react to, I decided to go to the Bikram Yoga Studio in Renton. (Bikram has struck me as gimmicky and an attempt at a shortcut.) But I have been freezing lately, and the idea of a 105 degree room was attractive.

It is 90 minutes and 26 postures, and a whole lot of ass-kicking. (click on drawings for a photo of the asana.) Right out of the box, I found the breathing exercise challenging. Yogic breathing is hard, but I always enjoyed including it in my practice, and wish it were part of Anusara (the kind I practice currently).

I enjoyed the sweating part, and only got light-headed near the end, and sat out the second Fixed-firm pose. Not good on my knees. If I go again, I will heavily modify this -- only go down to my elbows, or not even that far.

The instructor did say to do some things that my current instructor say never to do, like clench your buttocks muscles and push your hips forward in Half-moon pose, to get more of a back bend. But all that does is crunch up the small of your back -- back bends need to move up the back to support the core and have the bend happen in the upper back. So practiced the way I practice and modified heavily.

All in all it was an intriguing experience, and they have quite an incentive program to get newbies to come back -- for $10 your first two weeks are unlimited. I do still find it a little gimmicky, but am willing to have my mind changed. I enjoyed the sweating, they are not kidding about that. My clothing and towel were totally completely wet at the end. You know that sound when you throw a wet rag on the tub floor? That "plop"? THAT wet. Also, I weighed myself on my fancy schmancy scale before leaving, and then after the class, and I lost a full pound of water weight.

Anyhow, I guess the upshot is I plan on going back on Thursday. We will see.

Lessons

You know, I have strong reactions to things. I have opinions and if asked will share them far and wide. I try not to do too much sharing when I am not asked, and am not always successful at that, but I am way better than I used to be.

See? Learning.

That said, one thing that has occurred to me lately, is when I have a strong reaction to something, especially a negative reaction, I need to examine that thing closely. There is a lesson in there that I may be resisting. I guess I am far enough along to recognize there's a lesson, but don't want to look at it.

Just recognizing this is learning a lesson. Small steps.

An old meme, but so am I. Old, that is -- not a meme.

Stole this photo off of a friend's facebook page and installed my favorite meme from 2008.

This seems like a significant event to blog about

I made my Weight Watchers goal on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. I lost a total of 24.8 pounds.

I am quite proud of myself and feel really good. I look in the mirror like I look in my head, what my brain thinks I "really" look like. It is a relief, but it has made me buy a lot of clothes. Which my WW leader says is necessary, because if you just keep your old clothes, it is harder to realize when you are creeping up again than if you are wearing clothes that fit. So I HAD to go shopping, you see?

It is hard not to think I could loose five pounds more, which I could and still be healthy I think -- but I think staying at that weight is not something I want to do. I like ice cream and bread too much, and honestly I know I can have those treats and happily stay at this weight.

Now the real work begins.

Just assume every Thursday I will have a post titled: "I have the Best Pony Ever!"

I had the best lesson yesterday.

We started by warming up with an excellent, forward trot. Kip has such a great rhythm, and is so willing to work. He really is a joy to ride. Then Anne had us show her our turn on the haunches. In our last ride, Kip got confused and frustrated when we were practicing this so I was a bit leery. I did make my self as clear as I could, and let him know I was not going to ask for a canter -- that is really what throws him, when he knows (or think he knows) a canter transition is coming up he does not want to listen or do whatever little exercise I am having him do to prepare for the canter - he wants to canter Now. Now. Now! Anyway, I asked for a few forward steps, left leg at the girth, right asking for sideways movement, and he gave me some great sideways steps for a turn on the haunches left. Good -- now to the right. He stiffened up and counter-bent a bit, but I was able to get him to wrap around my right leg and relax a bit, and he finally believed me that this was different then asking for canter, and he gave me a very solid turn on the haunches right. I need to practice this with no canter transition until we are solid. Or do it at the walk a bunch, and then ask for a canter on the last one.

We then did some circle work, getting him through the bit, lifting his back and really reaching under himself to the left. He has a lovely bend going left and is really starting to stretch though his topline. This trot is much slower but more connected than the working trot that I have been schooling; now that he is stronger I can ask for him to carry me and he is getting it. So nice. Again, the right is a different story, I am mostly asking for more action from his hind legs, and for some flexing in the jaw, and move the shoulders to the outside -- much stiffer this way and not quite as strong, so going to the right we are working on finding the pieces rather than putting them together, like we are on the left.

We were in the indoor arena because the weather was terrible - this spring has been really wet and lots of hail--no fun in a metal-roofed arena - so we did cavaletti work on a figure eight. I am finally feeling confident enough to let him canter at his working speed, which feels really fast to me, but he is able to carry himself better than at the speed I want him to go. When I get it through my head that he is quick, then I have a much better balanced, more in control ride, even though it is fast (really fast!!) But his canter is developing into this great uphill bouncy thing that is really easy to ride. The main thing I have been working on is to keep my leg on, and to steer and adjust with my legs and seat (step in that outside stirrup!!). I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so now that my legs are doing ok I need to start concentrating on my hands -- my release leaves a bit to be desired. I'm not dragging on his face, but I am also not giving him the freedom he needs to use his neck and shoulders. So this week, I will concentrate on that. Onward!

Re-design & etc

So I have pfutzed around with the template here -- Still not good. But I am thinking about it.

The real thing I am thinking about is how much further along my garden was this time last year.

Keep in mind this is the same plant. 2010 on the left, 2011 on the right.

Both of these photos are titled "early April".

Things can sure turn on a dime. You can be drifting through your little life, concerned about things, preoccupied sure, but content in yourself and the space you have made. Then an outside force can come along and threaten nearly every aspect of that happy little place. It makes you realize one needs to be resourceful in this life, and when I understood the threat, my little brain went into overdrive. I really started questioning where I am right now and why I am here -- and where I want to be. And that is the crux of the biscuit, ladies and gentlemen. Where do I want to be? Why aren't I there?

And So. You gonna do something about it?

People who know me, know I usually get what I want. Not because I am lucky or "blessed" (ick), but because I work hard, dammit. That is the problem with deciding what I want, is realizing all the work that will go in to making that a reality.

And I got some work to do.

For a busy person, I sure don't have much to say.

So somehow another month has passed.

I am constantly busy but feel like I don't have anything to say here.

Yesterday was jump group. Kip is getting to be more solid and I have to up my game to keep up with him. When we were first learning to jump, I was not certain he would go over the jump, and if he did, how big he would jump. this got me in the habit of coming forward very far out of the tack. Well now he is reliably going over, so I need to sit back and drive him to the base of the jump. Believe in the deep spot, as Anne says. Jump group is always exhilarating, and I want to go again the minute I get done. Today I am planning on setting up a teardrop shaped gymnastic, to practice bending lines and turning.

Carolyn's Oscar party was super fun but my tiara kept digging in to my head. I don't think real princesses have that to contend with.

Jay's sisiter Katie is having a baby and the shower is Saturday.

I have the King County Bar Assoc. 5K scheduled for Sunday March 4th

Then on the 13th another 5k, Cove to Clover -- this one "the hardest in Seattle" --Beers withe Jay, Scott and Carolyn afterwards. Doesn't sound too hard to me.

Speaking of which, I need to go run.

Dates and Numbers

It is hard to post after one like that last one, about the passing of our dear King dog. I have come here and tried to compose a post but did not have the heart to push that post down the page.

But time marches on. Dammit.

I have had a couple of significant things happen, the first being new number on the scale. Now mind you this is not my "official" weight, what I weigh at meetings on Tuesdays. That weight is fully clothed and with shoes on. No, this new number occurred during my daily "NW" as I think of it -- my "nekkidweight". I weigh myself first thing in the morning every morning and write it on a calendar. That way I can see at a glance if I am trending upwards or staying the same or losing (!!). I know, started this paragraph talking about a new number and that number is...2. It's real significance is its position sitting snugly in the tens column of the weight I wrote down. Ok, I will just come out and say I have broken the 120's!! Granted the number after the 2 was a 9 but WOW! to see that was extraordinary. That was Friday, and I have gained a pound over the weekend, but still.

The other thing is my trainer and I were talking, and she said that if I did a couple of unrecognized events and horse trials, it is entirely possible I could be ready to ride in the Aspen Farms Horse Trials over Labor Day weekend. Finally, a goal. And a totally attainable one at that. I do still have the problem of being without a truck and trailer. That really makes things much harder to get to. I am at the mercy of others in my barn going to Unrecs, and I am not sure anyone is going to do that. They are all busy going to the recognized shows. I need to figure out a way to get mobile. Humm. Regardless, I am looking forward to tonight's ride.

And tomorrow's weigh in.

Taking Care

Kingdog
Originally uploaded by yvettef.

So, there is nothing like huburis

My last post was all about how great everything was, and now the fickle Fates have slapped me right back in to my place.

Our dear dog, King went sick last Saturday evening. I was thinking of turning in, and Scott came into the room and told me King was acting sick. Sure enough, he was panting heavily, and in obvious distress. Was it Bloat? Heart failure? Pain from his hips? He was 94 in people years, so it could be anything. We spent an anxious night, hoping for a morning miracle. It was not to be.

We took him to the emergency vet on Sunday morning, and nearly four hours, an MRI and many x-rays later, we had a diagnosis of right mid-lobe pneumonia. We were sent home with antibiotics and a directive to take him to our regurlar vet by Wednesday. We ran the humidifyer 24/7, gave him a pill melenge -- but he was not eating or drinking very well, by the time Scott took him in on Wednesday. Our great vet, Dr. Heino, had chosen this time to retire, and pass his practice on to other vets - and Scott was not impressed with them. But they gave us anti-nausea pills, so we could get him to eat, so he could continue with the antibiotics. King had a little rally, and he and Scott were able to go for a walk around the block, something both of them enjoyed very much; King with the added pleasure of sniffing and peeing on things.

By Friday morning, He wasn't eating though, and again very distressed and uncomfortable. He asked Scott to put him on the bed, and we did so -- I was happy to move to the couch, becuase there simply is not enough room for two people and a 110 pound dog on our bed -- and I knew dear King needed some comfort. We took him back to the emergency vet, because they were great when we took him in before, and we needed advice from people we liked and trusted. They were great, and quickly made room in Dr. Cuthbert's schedule, so we could be seen right away.

Again waiting in the exam room, we waited for the x-rays, blood work and what ever else they needed to do to find out what was causing King's distress. When the news was delivered, Dr. Cuthbert told us that the pneumonia was clearing up nicely, but that he found a tumor high up in King's intestine, and he had peritonitis. Our path was clear, King needed us to take care of him one more time, to make sure his suffering did not continue, and to help him on to his next journey.

He passed away quietly and with dignity, with the people he loved there with him.

Good dog. You are missed.

Hello 2011

I have to admit, 2010 was a great year for me. I feel kind of bad, because it was really terrible for so many. But I worked hard, and things turned out well. I know hard work won't fend off cancer, or make mean people suck less, but it can do some things.

I started the year with a very handsome gelding who I was trying to bring along, and if sheer force of will were all it took, he'd be a grand prix jumper by now. But he was not interested in work, and he took a very scary fall giving me a mild concussion. Alas, he had to go back to his owner, and I needed to look for a new horse.

I was determined to get the right partner, come hell or high water. I had had two horses who

were unsuited for eventing, and dammit, I was going to get one who wanted to jump and was not crazy. Other people had found such critters, and I would too. However, I did come into this process with some prejudices. One was no Chestnuts. I know, no good horse is a bad color, but come on. Most Chestnuts out there that are not TB are a failed experiment in Spots. Then there is the red-headed reputation -- that they are dingy and hot. I just wanted a nice bay gelding, chrome totally optional. You can tell the way this story is going, that I found a Chestnut, can't you? I could not have found a more perfect eventing partner, Kip! He is perfect and I just love him and we have such an amazing partnership that grows with every ride. Words cant express his fantasticness.

I also got a handle on my weight this year. I kept hearing ( and telling myself) that women just gain weight as they get older, that at least it was only a couple of pounds a year, and that I ate very healthfully - and I did too. But I also ate what and how ever much I wanted. In August I joined Weight Watchers. I was very skeptical, but I was at a point of desperation, with the scale registering a unacceptable number, and I was terribly depressed and felt horrible in my own body. I have to say with the zealotry of the converted, WW is awesome. It has taught me how to eat, what portions are, what really makes me gain and loose weight. And I have lost weight while not being hungry, I have kept going out and to parties the whole time. So far I have lost 20 pounds, and have four to go to make Lifetime. These last four are the hard ones, which brings me to the next awesome thing that happened in 2010:

Running. With the weight loss, I suddenly found myself able to run

again. Before, my knees and shins just couldn't take it, and I would get terrible shin splints even at the slowest pace. But I am happy to report I have trained for and completed my first 5K, the Resolution Run. I finished in 42:01, with a pace of 13:33. Not bad! I have signed up for the Big Backyard 5K in May. The Resolution Run was so fun, especially because I did it with one of my very best friends. The best part was just hanging out with her.

I also finally stopped biting my nails. Jeeze so disgusting.

I am looking forward to 2011, there are so many exciting things on the horizon: the first showing season with my wonderful horse, new 5Ks to conquer, projects to knit, sew and paint and a few other exciting things that might happen, but I don't want to jinx it.

I hope to complete an Event, get a truck and trailer, to weigh what I did in High School and get some landscaping done on the spare lot. I don't know if those things qualify as resolutions, but there it is.