Earning his keep

A few months ago I visited the Humane Society looking for a "tough looking" dog to make would-be theives consider other homes. The dog I went to look it refused to even look at me when I said his name. I started walking the aisles. This goofy Coon dog mix begged me to let him out. I really considered that insane, but did it anyway. He was silly, hard to focus and such a puppy. He was skinny as a rail, had tattered ears and did I mention SILLY? I liked him, but wasn't sure. While I was thinking my son, Duncan, grabbed the dogs cheek. It wasn't the kindest of grabs, Duncan was stressed and overwhelmed. The dog wagged his tail and kept "smiling" away. I looked the dog in the eyes and said "welcome to the family".
We picked him up a few days later from the neuter surgery. We renamed him "Moves Like Jagger" He is goofy, annoying and needy, but he LOVES his boy. He kisses Duncan goodnight each night, he let's Duncan walk him in the woods and he is patient when Duncan is overwhelmed. If Duncan says "Jagger" or "Wags" he comes running. His only job is to be Duncan's dog so he earns his keep. He was meant to belong to my boy! He also is a heck of a snuggle buddy and I kind of like him!

Just a couple of reasons

I won't use the word excuse, because I don't ever feel sorry when I am trucking along. I did miss my blogosphere and the people in it.

So on of the reasons I was absent for so long are horse-related. The mare above, Chai (October 2010 this photo) ended up very lame this summer and I considered euthanizing her, found her a good farrier and kept her going.

Another reason I have been absent is I am spending more time in the gym. By more time, I mean I was basically NOT fit or active as of November 2010, I had already lost 30 or so pounds by then, but not adding nearly enough activity. I joined the gym and even hired a trainer. The work has been hard, gruelling and honestly I Love it now. It is weird to be THAT person, the one who LIKES the gym, but I am! I am now 70lbs down in total and forty or so of that since last November.

So here is part of what I have gained by missing my blog:

My fit and happy 20 year old mare as sound as she ever has been and a new fitter body to fit into the saddle. It's a weird world when a friend can snap a photo and I not immediately say "if you put that on facebook I will hurt you". I have a few more pounds to go (20 or so), but I weigh what I did in college and feel amazing.

Funny thing is I would have NEVER posted that before picture until now. Now it isn't who I am, it's who I was and that seems less awful!

I'm glad to be back, but the gym is calling so I am out of here!

Is this thing on?

Okay, I am sure you have assumed I died, was maimed, moved to an island with no internet or worse! However, I am alive and well. Alot has happened in the months since I was a routine or semi-routine blogger.

It's feeling like SPring in Indiana so I am cleaning out the garage, sprucing things up and generally getting back into fixing up the house, so I might have some things to share.

For today I share that I found a lovely peice of Junk: An old Door!

I had a few ideas of what to do with it, which color to paint it and dragged it home. Then I just liked it's old patina so much I have left it for now. It isn't a door, or part of a project. For now, it is a peice of art, history in and of itself. I like it. The problem is that all the "ideas" still want a door, so now i have to find MORE of them! :D

Back to School

It was a long hot summer and I think Duncan was happy to go back. He has a new teacher and they are remodeling his school. Alot of change for a group of kids who don't handle change so well. He seems to be on it though!

Missing in Action?

Part of me feels the need to apologize for my LOOONG absence and part just wants to shrugh it off!

So where the heck have I been?

Short story: Not painting furniture or redecorating! LONG VERSION

Taking care of horses: In this case a foster horse who was literally on the verge of starvation when I got him in February!

Then, New York City, Rolex in Kentucky, The Grand Canyon all with my dear friend from Australia who was here for three weeks.

Spoiling Duncan AND my six neices and nephews who moved next door to my work!
Finding a new show horse since my old girl is ready to retire! Also I have been at the gym 4 to 6 days a week since November! I have made huge changes to my strength and endurance and have learned to ignore that stupid number on the scale! (mostly)

And.... way more! I'm not sure exactly why I haven't been blogging. It isn't just busy, but I got out of the habit of carrying my camera and got out of the habit of doing it. I am not promising anything grand, but I do have some stories to tell, so Duncan starts school Wednesday and I might have a few more minutes in my day!

Forgetfulness

Things, in my life, trickle down. In this case, my never remembering to take my camera to Walgreen's (or elsewhere) to put the pictures on disk or print them. (yes after last years stolen computer I insist on doing so) means my camera is basically full and I can't take pictures. When I don't take pictures I don't blog. So today, on my way to the gym, I am making the trip to the store to do so. I hope this will bring me back to blogging.

In the meantime, I found a photo I didn't post last year, that I should have.This little guy knocked himself out on my door and had to have a think about it for a moment. I babysat him until he got up and went, because my cat doesn't appreciate his beauty as much as his flavor.

I hope to see his family back soon....I need some spring in my world!

Resolving without Perfection

This whole "New Year's Resolution" thing has failed me year after year, until LAST year. I decided I would stop saying things like "I will NEVER..." and other such perfection-requiring, things. So, last year I made my ONE resolution that I would show my horse...that single thing required I do lots of little things to get there. I didn't say I will ride my horse four days a week, because then the first week I rode three I would have already failed...I didn't say I will lose 35lbs, because then when I only lost 33 I had failed.
Many of you have made and broken your perfection driven resolutions. I have a few "resolutions" this year, but they don't require never eating a single donut again...or I would have already failed that one too! :D
So I will lose at least one more jeans size, run/jog/walk a 5K, knock a few more big projects out at the house and show in at least one more show this year.
Now don't think I just wait for those to happen, but right now I am working out at the gym 3 days a week, hired a fitness trainer, am attending Weight Watchers meetings and keeping my horse happy, healthy and riding when the weather permits.... Had I said something like "I will go to the gym five days a week I would have failed last week when Duncan was home trashing my schedule!

So, let go of the perfection and just give yourself a reasonable goal and stop setting yourself up to Fail!

Happy New Year Dear friends!