19 November 2009

Training blog

http://paxfilly.blogspot.com/

New blog, for the sole purpose of recording my work with the new filly.
Should still be here, too, when deeper thoughts possess me. :)

13 November 2009

Life's not about what's better than.

As I write this, Richard is solemnly glued to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the cat is sitting outside our front door window, on the gate, staring into my soul with a look of thorough resentment and— oop, he just turned his back on us, whapped his tail around, and is now standing sentinel against the People He Hates Most: The People Who Won't Allow Me To Sleep On The Couch.

My mind has more or less been thoroughly consumed with thoughts of the new filly. I bought Bandit at the age of thirteen and the things he's taught me make up a generous portion of my skills today; I hope I can put that amount of knowledge and all the rest I've caught from various friends and employers and professionals into bringing along a horse with a much more level mind and a wider range of ability. That seems to be cutting into my faith in the good horse I have— not so! The stuff we have conquered and the fact that he makes a workable camp horse (for a confident rider) speaks volumes for his ability to learn (slowly) and then re-learn as time progresses.. But at the end of the day, someone who really goddamn sucked at starting colts started him, hit him, repeatedly, and there are elements of his flight instinct that are too far reinforced to be unwritten.

But $1500 to bring a horse out of the slaughter pens of Canada to Texas? Worth it, I hope.

Having a tough time blogging recently, in so much of the fact that life is good, I love being married, and politically I'm bordering on apathy, which isn't a feature I like to exacerbate. Money has been tight on a single salary, but thanks to the failings of the Texas Tomorrow Fund, my refund check is paying for the horse and some of the fairly minor remainder of my student loans. (Our wedding present from Grandma was not flashy, but did involve a major debt relief off of Sallie Mae's fannie.) Plus, when your house and basic utilities are already covered, it's really hard to starve, even if saving is a bit difficult.

09 November 2009

Waiting

I would really prefer to be sleeping at the minute, but I was up at six this morning without sore muscles to speak of —surprisingly; see below— and now with a horse down in the pasture, I may be up for a few more. I know it is her time, but she's kept comfortable for now and well attended to.

This Saturday was the Adventure Race at Camp Eagle. I'll spare you the sweaty detail, but in seven and a half hours, our team mountain biked, kayaked, mountain scootered, rappelled, portaged, caved, ate meal worms, held hands, trekked, orienteered, ran, climbed, Sherpa walked, bushwacked, and got slightly lost. It was thoroughly worth it and I hope I get a chance to do another one.

And in about a month.. Should be driving up to Dallas to get the rescue filly. More detail again later, but it'll be a big day.