Thanksgiving Weekend and Other Updates

I know I'm like a week late on my Thanksgiving post, but oh well.  It was wonderful to be off from Pitt for a couple of days.  Wednesday we got out early (at 3:00) and I didn't have to be at Wal-Mart till 6:00 so I got to do a bit of shopping in Cranberry.  Wal-Mart was busy, but that's good, makes the night go quickly.  Thursday I really lucked out and I had the day off from Wal-Mart!  Woohoo!  Headed out to the barn in the morning.  Katie was there but no Bonnie, which I knew about.  She had to go in to work early so she wasn't planning on being in the barn.  Katie and I cleaned some stalls and then she tacked up Mystic and I got Miss ready.  Katie just did some walk/trot flat work with the poopalossa.  And I was planning to only do some walking with Miss.  Well Miss had some other ideas, and she just popped into this nice forward trot.  So I let her go and we trotted a couple of circles.  I only let her do a couple as she's really not fit at all, and even then I had to fight her to get her back to the walk.  She has certainly been feeling good. 

Thursday evening it was down to Aunt Sandy's for dinner (of course!)  As usual the meal was fantastic.  Aunt Sandy always outdoes herself with these family dinners.  It was great to be able to spend the evening with my family.  Friday morning I slept in a bit and then Mom and I headed out for a little shopping.  We didn't go out until about 10:00 so we missed most of the craziness, although it was still hard to find a parking spot at the mall.  We did manage to get a good start on our shopping though, so I'd say the day was a success.  Then I had to head into Wal-Mart at 6:00.  And actually, it was really pretty dead.  I guess it was super busy in the morning until about 8:00 or so.  And then it was pretty much a normal day, only it seemed really slow because there were so many of us working.  At one point there was like 7 cashiers in a row standing out at the end of our aisles. 

Saturday I headed back out to the barn for lesson day.  Got some stalls done first thing.  And I had a great ride on Miss.  She was just feeling so good.  A couple of times she broke into a canter, which I quickly stopped, she doesn't need to be doing that yet.  But she was feeling good.  And she's looking good too.  She's really filling out and thanks to the riding, she's starting to build up her muscle again.  Her hindquarters are filling out and she's really picked up along her back, for the longest time you could really see her spine and she had no muscle or anything there.  She was putting on weight, but it was all in the belly and she wasn't able to carry it right.  Not anymore.  She's really is looking like a healthy horse again.  Yay!  My baby girl's doing better!

Unfortunately I had to go back to work at Pitt on Monday, but I did have Friday off.  Even if it was to go for more testing, at least I didn't have to go to work.  First thing Friday morning I headed over to Dr. Connelly's office to swallow a small camera pill. 

And then I had to wear this lovely belt and recorder all day.

So that pretty much meant I couldn't go out to the barn at all.  And to make it even worse I couldn't drink anything for 2 hours and no food for 4 hours.  Which at this point I hadn't eaten anything since Wednesday night.  So I was starving.  I headed home and snoozed on the couch for a couple of hours.  Then I headed out to Monaca for a bit.  Did some shopping and got a really cute pair of shoes, among other things. 

After that I stopped down to visit with Aunt Sandy and Uncle Ralph.  they were taking down all the Thanksgiving decorations so I helped with that.  Then we headed out to the back porch and just procrastinated.  Uncle Ralph really didn't want to start bring the Christmas decorations down from the third floor.  I had to go back over to Dr. Connelly's office at the end of the day to turn in the belt and recorder.  And then I went back to Aunt Sandy's for some of Uncle Ralph's yummy cheesy ham casserole.  Yum!  And then we did the usual, watch NCIS on USA then the Hallmark Channel.  Good evening.

Saturday I headed out to the barn for some pony time.  I got X's stall cleaned and then I tacked up Miss Moose for another walking ride.  And she was trying to canter again.  Silly mare!  I think it's time to start doing some trot work with her and maybe add some cavellettis.  But she really needs her feet trimmed before I start increasing her work too much.  So I'll discuss with Bonnie next week and see what she thinks. 

In other news, the Northeast Ohio Mini Trials Series has posted their 2011 schedule.  So now it's time to start thinking about where to take my little painted dressage pony this summer.  Titus will be doing some walk/trot dressage this summer at the very least, maybe even some crossrail mini trials.  Yay, I can't wait!  I think I heard that Tammy will be sending him back to us over Christmas sometime.  So hopefully I will get some more riding time on him.

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Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving day winds to a close, I can't help but be remind that 2010 will soon be coming to an end as well.  Although there have been lots of highs and lows over the past year, I do realize how truly blessed I am.  I know that I spend too much time complaining about what I don't have, or wishing that I had someone else's life.  Thinking that everyone else has it better than I do.  But because today is a day for giving thanks for the things we have, I have thought about things a little differently.  There are so many people out there who have things worse than I do.  The people who, because of circumstances beyond their control, cannot support themselves or their families, the people serving this country so selflessly and their families, sitting home this Thanksgiving, praying their loved one comes home safe, or the people who have to make the hardest decision and say good-bye to a dear friend.  All in all I'm pretty lucky, and it shouldn't take all year for me to realize that. 

I have an amazingly supportive family.  They stand by me and my choices, no matter what their personal feelings on them might be.  They put up with my horsey obsession, something I know drives my mother bonkers.  And they have always been there for me no matter what.  Mom, Dad, Aunt Sandy and Uncle Ralph, thank you for always supporting me.  I love you guys more than you can know.

I have a best friend who knows me better than I know myself.  And even though she lives 750 miles away right now, she is till the person I call when I need someone to talk to, need to vent or just need to know someone is there.  Someday I know that we will get to reside in the same area (or at least the same state again) but until then, I am still so grateful that I get to see her the couple times a year that she is home.

I have a BO/trainer who takes the best care of my pony, I know that there are no better hands for him to be in when I can't be there to take care of him myself.  She has taught me so much about horses, riding and general life lessons.  She also let me ride her horses, giving up the rides herself so that I can have the opportunity to learn. 

I have the best ponies that I could ever hope to ride.  X-Tra loves me unconditionally (as long as I keep the food coming!)  He is always there to soak up my tears, and listen to all my ups and downs.  And although he challenges me under saddle more often than not, he also knows when I just need to sit on the back of my pony, and he gives me that quite ride.  Kaye is my other half, my partner, my baby girl and one of my best friends.  She challenges me when she knows I can handle it and she takes care of me when I need it.  She has taught me how to ride, and she has taught me how to get over my fears and build up my confidence.  I am so thankful that I have had one more year with Miss.  We almost lost her last year and I know that at 22 she doesn't have a lot of years ahead of her.  And because of that I cherish everyday I have with her. 

I have friends who are kind enough to share their horses with me.  I have so much fun in the summers playing around with the little western pony.  It's a relaxing change for me, the shows are so much more laid back and I have met some really great people through them.

I have met wonderful people through the blogging community.  Although I have never met any other people, or their horses, I feel as though I have known them for years.  I have lived through their ups and downs, celebrated the wins, and cried over the heartaches. 

I have a roof over my head.  I have food in my belly.  And I have a job that (mostly) pays the bills.  Although it is not a place I am happy at right now, I am grateful that I have a job.  In this economy not everyone can say that. 

Although I still don't have an answer to my stomach problems, for the most part I have my health. 

For these reasons and so many others I am forgetting today, I feel truly blessed.  I am so thankful for everyone and everything that I have in my life. 

While most of you will be out finding that great deal on Black Friday, one of those blog friends will be going through one of the worst days of her life.  A couple of days ago I posted about Denali's Mom, and her mare, Denali.  Tomorrow is the day she will be saying good-bye to that very special horse.  I know this is a decision that she has agonized over, and shed many, many tears.  But it is the right one for Denali and her Mom is giving her the ultimate gift, freedom from the pain and her failing hind legs.  While in her head, Denali's Mom knows it's the right thing to do, her heart just can't come to terms.  I can't even imagine what she must be going through.  Take a moment before you head out shopping and visit her blog, let her know that you are thinking of her and Denali, and keep them both in your prayers.  While nothing will make this better or keep Denali here with her, I know that she will find comfort in the support and kind words everyone has shared with her.  It is amazing how the blogging community has brought so many people together through the love of those amazing horses.

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