For the 12 days of Christmas, my Nerd Horse gave to me… 12 Christmas Pug Vines, 11 prose revisions, 10 Tinder creepers, 9 festive light shows, 8 Snapchat filters, 7 MFA apps, 6 cocktail parties, 5 GLASSES OF WINE! 4 work dramas, 3 wild dogs, 2 Thoroughbreds, and a festive Quail Manor house! Though we are not quite up on Christmas yet, I am in my last sprint of productivity for the year. I leave on Thursday afternoon to visit…
In a week I’ll turn 32. This time last year, I just wanted my 30th year to be over. I figured no matter what, 31 would be better than 30… and it has been better. Now I apprehensively approach my birthday, and I can’t help thinking that I feel old these days. There is so much behind me at this point, and even more hiding in the blurry future beyond my peripheral. When Tim first died, I thought time would bring…
My love of equestrian Christmas ornaments is well documented on this blog. Just as it has globally in the second half of this year, horses have taken more of a back seat in my life. I’m more than just an equestrian, and my Christmas tree is more than just horse ornaments (although… it’s mostly horse ornaments). Last year I didn’t even put up a Christmas tree or take a single ornament out of the box. It was an activity I used…
Last year I did my best to skip Christmas. While I attended holiday gatherings with my family, my heart wasn’t in it. As a lifelong lover of all things holly jolly, I can’t tell you how weird this was for me. Weird, but understandable. The goal of Christmas 2015 was survival. This year, the stakes are higher. Grief has stolen so much from me that I’m not going to let it take my holiday spirit. I’m not back to my…
For the past several months, horses have taken a huge backseat in my life. This was due to a variety of factors including traveling, weather, and working hard on my grad school applications. If I’m being honest, it’s also due to me needing a break. Buying Roman, although a huge learning experience, wasn’t what I thought it would be. Horses began to be a stress instead of a relief, so I got my trainer and my great barn friends to…
When I last left you, my doctor had an inkling that I had sleep apnea after months of issues with my tonsils and sleeping. Today I conclude that tale! The night of my actual sleep study, I came home with a small computer around my neck and wires everywhere. There was one around a belt on my chest, one around a belt on my waist, one attached to my index finger and a tube coming from my nostrils. Normally I…
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I actually learned sleep apnea was a real condition. Tim and I, both heavy snorers, were lying in bed discussing it. “Wait, so you stop breathing in your sleep?” I asked. “Yeah,” he replied. “But like… you start again right?” “Of course. Your body wakes itself up again without being fully awake. You breathe fine, go back to sleep and then it can happen again in a cycle.” “Huh,” I said. “Do…
I haven’t written one of these posts since 2014. I guess last year after everything happened, and my grandmother passed away right before Thanksgiving I could have only written, “NO I WILL NOT BE THANKFUL THANK YOU VERY MUCH 2015.” But really, I was thankful last year even in the thick of things because I knew how much love and support I had coming from all directions. This year, that support has continued. If you take away my struggles moving on…