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.