Category Archives: Healthy… or not?

Gee wiz! Got up this morning and February is home from vacation. MAN!! 24 degrees this morning. Frozen water for dogs and the whole 9 yards. I had all but turned the house heat off. I was enjoying the spring temps and now… deep freeze!

As I suspected, these average February temps are hurting pretty bad after the April temps we’ve been having the past couple weeks. Now I need to decide if I’m brave enough to continue walking in the cold or if I need to figure a different solution. If I quit completely now, I’m afraid that will be the end of it. I’m up to walking a total of about 5 miles a day, and I don’t want to start all over in a few weeks.

I can tell such a big difference in my ability to move and my attitude. This morning I was planning to sleep in, but the mutts both decided that was a bad idea. Got me up at six. I let them out and came back in to be surprised I am not tired and don’t want to go back to bed. So I started my day early which pleases me. Attitude again. Yesterday when I took the dogs for a ride, I was able to pull myself up on the back bumper MUCH easier than before. Just one week and a HUGE difference.

So… thinking I get a better workout on the road because of the hills, but a few good laps through Walmart or Lowes beats sitting still all day long.

Either way, sitting here typing is only giving my fingers a workout. Will report later –

Well, I hurt my own feelings yesterday and I’m just getting around to talking about it. I’ve been whining “I want to ride… I want to ride” for months. Or years. Anyway, I took the step and was SO excited. I found a stable that will train you on their horses. The other local places that offer training want to train you with your own horse. Kinda got a problem there. If I had a horse, I wouldn’t be looking for a place to ride.

I went to Lowgap to visit a Riding Academy. When I first arrived, there was an older woman mucking out a stall. I told her I was looking for the riding instructor and she went off about him. In 10 minutes I heard most of her life story (did she even take a breath?) and what a bad person this instructor is. Her story only stopped when he arrived and she left. Drama? In all her chatter she never did say what the trainer did that was so offensive – her story was scattered with her mother and moving and her sister and late brother-in-law…? Yes, definitely odd, but she was very welcoming. And didn’t need encouragement to share her thoughts.

He’s probably a little younger than me – say mid 40’s. Driving a pickup loaded with hay bales, two teenage girls and a border collie. Well, it IS a horse barn and it IS Saturday. Only TWO girls? 🙂

He teaches hunt/jump seat and has some NICE horses. He specializes in show horses and I think that was the first thing that sorta scared me. I’ve been to all of maybe three horse shows in my life and never as a rider. And I think one of those three “shows” was actually a rodeo.

I watched as he and the girls brought the horses in and fed/watered them. They were all “old hands” and knew what they were doing. It was fun to watch – and a bit intimidating at the same time. He asked if I wanted to ride or watch the girls – by now I am feeling my age and wondering how this old fat woman is going to scramble on top of such a HUGE horse. Hmm.

So, I deferred to watching these children work the horses around for a few minutes. I decided by the time I left yesterday that I was giving up on riding. This is at least partly because I watched him vault those girls into the saddle jockey-style.

Nope. Not happening. This old woman: Number 1 – is WAY too heavy to mount that way. (Cripple the trainer first day?) Number 2 – between my pains and ailments (back and shoulder mainly) I can see being up there until they can get a crane to lift me off. Or I fall off. And that’s a freakin’ long way to the ground. The only other horse I’ve seen that tall up close was at the Dixie Classic Fair in 1976 or 77. Supposedly the largest horse in the world at the time. Big, BIG Clydesdale. And he wasn’t jumping fences.

As I left I had decided I wasn’t going back. I told myself I didn’t need MORE drama (the woman I met first.) I convinced myself I need to move on to the next project – working on my house.

This morning I’m re-thinking that decision. Not that I want to abandon the house project – I’ve been trying to figure that one out (again.) I have a dear friend who suggests I am lonely by choice. Maybe she is right. The few people I hang with are my dearest, truest friends, but we don’t always share the same interests.

I was very, very sad thinking I would just drop the idea of riding. I don’t have to show a horse just to ride. I can learn and enjoy the riding and… Just. Have. Fun.

I will ache tomorrow whether or not I brush a horse – saddle a horse – ride a horse. I think I will head back again next weekend (unless I have to work) and this time I will ride. Between now and then I need to “practice” getting my butt into a saddle. That means I’m going to try to straddle the bed of my truck using the wheel as the stirrup. This could be interesting. And dangerous. What if the truck bucks? Sidesteps?

Oh, my. I’m a nut.

Well it was a good thought. So now why do I feel like I need to be self destructive? Doing all these bad things because I can’t handle a little disappointment?

Started out with good thoughts and good intents. Spent most of the day just out and looking at houses. The one which seemed the best fit was … not it. Affordable, but not what I want. We looked at half a dozen (or so it seemed) and the 2 I like the most are just out of reach.

So I come back home and show Vickie my house – she hasn’t been here in YEARS. She thinks the house is not in as bad condition as I think. We went outside to see my “office” and “studio”. I DO love that studio. So now I’m swinging back to staying here? If I could have that room in another house somewhere else……………………..

I’m just so tired of being here.

Been a little “unusual” around here for the last couple months. I am now the ‘new owner’ of anxiety. Spent a night in the hospital and now learning to chill. Thought I was having a heart attack. At least it was not a physical ailment – but which is worse?

I’m so scattered – who knows what is next? Anyway, I’ve made a decision, and now all that’s left is the follow through.

Robbie got a Post Office job! He works at the Hillsville office – my old stomping grounds. He goes Monday to sign all the paperwork and find out when he has training. I think this will be right up his alley. Is that why I’m feeling so much better? Is that why I was able to finally make a decision? It feels good to have a direction. Now that I have direction, I’ve got to work on a plan.

Got to get busy. Lots to do. More later.