Off Topic: The Joy Of Paying Bills

So there I was, standing at the counter of the post office making mouth noises to the clerk. I made disparaging comments about sending out bills. Harmless enough. Everyone hates doing the bills, right?

She pointed out, very kindly, that I was fortunate to have money to send off. Furthermore, I was fortunate to have the things that needed paying for: home, heat, clean water, electricity, and so on.

To this day, I think of her comments every time I pay bills.

LNY_0

Year of the Horse stamp, USPS

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Along the same lines: How to Be Thankful For Your Life by Changing Just One Word. Thanks to ZooLN for posting this link.

OT 12.5.15

Foto Friday: The Daily Object, November 2015

Instagram header August 2015

Photo project from my Instagram feed, @rodneyssaga.

TDO Nov

Fork on stool, knotted strapping on doorstep, M&M on car, tack sponge on … I’m not sure what, CD on hotel room rug, scrunchy on … okay, I swore I would remember these, Nerds candy on denim, bottle opener on SSF bench, snap on mounting block, leaf on muddy path, belt on SSF bench.

TDO October 2015
TDO September 2015
TDO August 2015

Started Instagram as a blog tie-in. Did this instead. A single object each day. Nothing to do with the blog. Occasionally to do with horses.

Perspective … Or Not

Saddle Seat Wednesday

NACHS sweatshirt front II

The title was of this post scheduled to be “Perspective, I Has It.” Only, I don’t. It’s been one month since Nationals. I am still uncalm about coming in Reserve National Grand Champion. [Report]

Oh sure, I can make all of the right noises. I was fortunate to have the chance to show. I rode well, which is the only part I can control. I held my own in a class that was larger and more competitive than last year. I nailed a pattern that people couldn’t believe was being asked of Academy riders. Second is nothing to sneeze at.

But dammit, dammit, dammit, I wanted to be National Champion.

I’m honestly thrilled about taking Reserve Champion in the first class on Sunday, the Pleasure Final. The woman who won had been untouchable all weekend. Coming second to her was like winning without the blue.

The woman who won the Equitation Final climbed from last on Friday to 7th on Saturday to 1st on Sunday (She was 3rd in the Pleasure Final). That’s what I did in 2014, except that I only made the leap from last to second. Three years, two levels, six finals, four gaudy Reserve Championship ribbons. It’s like they can’t bring themselves to give me first.

Yeah, I’m handling this well.

NACHS sweatshirt back II

Positives 12/1/15

Dr. Margaret [Meet] has asked that I keep a list of positive interactions.

Rodney
One
Dr. Margaret: “Everything you feel is … good information.” [Show Tweets]
Me, before riding Rodney: I’m nervous.
Me, being level-headed: Okay, so what does that mean?
Me, BRR: I hate that I am nervous about riding my own horse.

So, it’s not just nerves. It’s the fact that being nervous pisses me off.

Two
When Rodney backs off the the noseband [New] by the slightest amount, he doesn’t stop there. He scoots immediately & deeply behind my leg, thus explaining my unpleasant feeling of pitching forward. Identifying the problem is a small step toward taking control of my universe.

For non-riders, going behind the leg does not mean going backwards. (Although that can happen and is seriously unfun.) It has to do with how the horse is using his (or her) weight and energy. A horse behind the leg is not forward, not listening, not gathered into an athletic package ready for whatever comes next. I think. Corrections from riding theorists out there?

Milton
Nothing yet.

Lessons. Work. Packing for show. Traveling to show. Recuperating from show. Weather. Holiday weekend. Too may excuses for letting time slide away from me.

I have gotten to the point where I can pet on him without breaking into hysterics. Not a positive as much as lack of a negative.
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Gratuitous Cat Pic

Rhyme
Rhyme