2011
Stay on track with the budget.
Live within my means.
Be diligent about paying bills and documenting.
What money will be spent on, in order of priority:
Living expenses
Education
Debt (Laura first)
Use Liz Pullam Weston’s book to repair credit.
Secured credit card
Savings account
Discretionary – I will only spend what I have!
Exercise and eat relatively healthy; stay within the 80/20 rule.
Be pretty! Have my hair done on a regular basis, do my nails, etc.
At work, clean my office from top to bottom. Keep the forward motion. Prioritize and give reasonable time frames for turnaround; underpromise and overproduce.
Get all of my filing and organizing at home in order.
Filing
Boxes in garage
Take at least three classes: ENGRW 300/Spring Semester, Summer Semester, Fall Semester. Learn Algebra!
Make sure there is always a next ride planned. Think about my ultimate horse goals. Go with the flow for now, continue to learn, meet people in the horse community, save money, keep commitments, but don’t over commit.
Treat everyone with respect; don’t talk badly to or about anyone.
Car; clean windows, shampoo carpets and seats, get seat covers, have paint buffed, get new wheels.
Take more pics, keep them organized on discs.
Blog consistently.
Make Lucy a well adjusted, health and happy mutt with exercise, activity and training.
AT THE BEGINNING OF 2012
I will have limited bills, cash reserves, good credit scores.
I will be fit and hot.
I will be a rock star at work.
Home will be clean and organized.
I will have gotten closer to my transfer to UC Davis for school and work.
I will have cultivated my passion for horses.
I will have made deeper connections with people.
My car will be stylin’.
I will have a year’s worth of pictures to memorialize how good life is.
I will have cultivated my curiosity for writing.
Lucy will be healthy and happy.
I will evaluate my retirement plan and start contributing more to it.
I will reevaluate school; what I’ve done and what I still need to do.
I will look into what I should do with my savings; invest, money market account, certificate of deposit, etc.
I will start thinking about the next step in my career at the University of California.
I will think about buying a horse.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Horse Euthanized After Workout Injury at Belmont Park
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17252
Three years old and in his short life, he raced, had ankle surgery, raced, fractured his shoulder, and was euthanized on the track.
Even famous race horses that stick around to breed are mistreated. I listened to a vet of 30 years speak last week about his internship in Kentucky and working with Seattle Slew. He said that the horses were stalled 23 hours a day and sedated to keep them from damaging their stalls and themselves. When it was time to breed, they had to wait for the stallions to wake up from the sedative to be able to breed. Then they guy went on to say that the whole thing was "... so neat to be a part of."
In what flipping world is it NEAT to keep a healthy horse stalled and sedated 23 hours out of every day?!? Only in the racing world. Presidents and princes support it, thousands of people go to see the pretty horses race. Nobody stops to look at the whole damn thing and the horrible practices that are supported by the industry. Not even horse people! I don't understand. I just don't understand.
Three years old and in his short life, he raced, had ankle surgery, raced, fractured his shoulder, and was euthanized on the track.
Even famous race horses that stick around to breed are mistreated. I listened to a vet of 30 years speak last week about his internship in Kentucky and working with Seattle Slew. He said that the horses were stalled 23 hours a day and sedated to keep them from damaging their stalls and themselves. When it was time to breed, they had to wait for the stallions to wake up from the sedative to be able to breed. Then they guy went on to say that the whole thing was "... so neat to be a part of."
In what flipping world is it NEAT to keep a healthy horse stalled and sedated 23 hours out of every day?!? Only in the racing world. Presidents and princes support it, thousands of people go to see the pretty horses race. Nobody stops to look at the whole damn thing and the horrible practices that are supported by the industry. Not even horse people! I don't understand. I just don't understand.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
My Delta Dilemma
I currently live in a city, far, far away from my rural home, country friends, and horses. I moved here a few years ago for work since there isn’t much of that going on where I come from. I cannot live without horses any longer, so I recently ran an ad on craigslist offering to exercise horses for people who didn’t have time to do it themselves. I got several responses and last night went out to a barn to meet an owner and her mare. Loved Delta, the mare; the owner (we’ll call her MM for Mare’s Mama) and the barn, not so much.
MM wanted me to commit to riding Delta three times a week so that she doesn’t have to. She is an inexperienced and timid rider and she needs to have someone who will keep Delta tuned up and in shape.
Before I left last night, I told MM that I could not commit to riding Delta three times a week, but that I would commit to two and shoot for three. On the ride home, however, I decided that I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go back to that place.
First of all, it was very chaotic.
The property has a covered arena, a round pen, and an outdoor arena. General practice is just to go in to whatever arena or round pen you want, regardless of whether or not other riders are there and there are lessons going on. I was trying to ride a large mare in a small arena that was filled with jumps, while the trainer was giving a hunter jumper lesson. Not so easy! Also, the horses were cross tied in the barn and whenever someone needed to walk their horse through the barn, we had to stop what we were doing and move the mare.
Secondly, I was there for two hours and already get a sense that there is major barn drama.
The indoor arena separates the stalls on the right side of the barn from the stalls on the left side of the barn. The barn owner and her trainer occupy one side and MM’s trainer leases the other side. Several times, snide comments were made by MM and her trainer about “The Other Side” (TSO). There is a wash rack where horses can be tied, but it’s on TOS, and MM said she didn’t tie Delta over there because Delta doesn’t like it. I get the feeling that it has more to do with the fact that it’s on TOS.
Thirdly, and most importantly, unsafe practices.
I mentioned that they cross tie their horses in the aisle of the barn and that the other place to tie is on TOS. Because there isn’t room for everyone in the barn, and they don’t like TOS, the other place that they tie is to the panels on the outside of the round pen and outdoor arena. Seriously? There are some things that you just don’t do with horses. Tying them to panels that can very easily be moved if the horse decides to spook or pull back, or God forbid take off, is one of those things. I don’t care if it’s general practice at a barn, I will not do it. And the fact that it is general practice is a major red flag for me.
When I got there, Delta was on the hot walker. MM took me over to get her, and the chain from the walker was wrapped through her halter and over her nose. When I asked why that was, MM told me that it’s what the barn owner required for all horses on the hot walker. When she took the chain off, there were bloody sores where it had been touching her lips and nose.
They don’t close the stall doors. They leave the stall nets up all the time. This may be subject to judgment, but I think it’s much safer to close the door of the stall when the barn is unattended.
Fourthly, the people at the barn don’t seem to have the best interest of the horses in their care at heart, or they just don’t know the difference. If you’re someone who is just learning, not knowing is okay as long as you’re open to and actively learning. If you’re someone who is being paid to train and teach, it’s not okay.
The curb chain on the tom thumb bit MM uses on Delta was very snug. You should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between the horse’s jaw and the chain; I could not. When I asked if they always keep it so snug, MM and the trainer said yes.
The barn is a hunter jumper barn, but MM rides western. I can go either way, but I’m using her tack, so western it is. I actually like that, since I’m far more experienced in western and am trying out a horse I’ve never ridden before. The saddle she uses is a cheapo, ill fitting synthetic. Great. My first thought as I’m saddling Delta is that it can’t be good for her to have a saddle that digs right in to her big ol’ withers. There are several things so far that have made me cringe, but just having met Delta, MM and the trainer, and not knowing whether or not I’m ever coming back to this place, I didn’t say anything. So, I rode in the saddle, with the too-tight curb chain, and didn’t say anything. I feel like crap for having done that, but it didn’t seem appropriate to say anything at the time. How do you tactfully make someone aware that they’re doing something that is harmful to their horse and get them to change their behavior, without offending them? This I need to learn. Anyway, later on she showed me another saddle that I could use if I wanted. It, too, was a cheap, ill fitting piece of crap. Argh. She is in the market for a new saddle, but I’m afraid she’s just going to buy something as crappy as what she’s already using. My thought is that even though MM’s trainer is hunter jumper and not western, she should still know what quality tack is and should be advising her client better than that.
We were cleaning Delta’s stall, and there was a bunch of what I though was straw for bedding on the floor of the stall. Nope. Not bedding. It’s what they feed. No wonder the horse didn’t eat it. It was stemmy and yellow. They feed that crap in the morning and alfalfa at night. MM feeds a combination of supplements and pellets whenever the hell she feels like it; could be morning, middle of the day, or night. I don’t like that. Horses should be fed quality feed and on a consistent schedule.
They train in the arena. They show in the arena. They don’t trail ride or give the horse any other break. That would be like never allowing a person to go anywhere other than work. Pretty crappy.
All of that said, after having ridden Delta, I love her. She’s not perfect. She’s 14 years old, wasn’t ridden for a year and a half, and just had 60 days put on her by MM’s trainer. She won’t do anything you don’t make her do. When you ask her to lope, she gives you attitude and will trot all day long instead if you let her get away with it. But she’ll do it if you make her and she seems to be pretty willing if you know what you’re doing. The trainer didn’t appear to like her very much and said that Delta “didn’t” neck rein. Really? A horse that doesn’t neck rein? Is that the horse’s fault, or is it up to the horse’s people to teach her how? She seems very teachable to me; the trainer insisted that she was a stubborn, bitchy mare.
I would absolutely love to ride this mare and find out what she’s capable of learning, and what I’m capable of teaching her. I just don’t think I can deal with MM, the trainer, and the barn. I’m so bummed! Now, after having told MM yes, I have to call her and tell her no. Ugh.
MM wanted me to commit to riding Delta three times a week so that she doesn’t have to. She is an inexperienced and timid rider and she needs to have someone who will keep Delta tuned up and in shape.
Before I left last night, I told MM that I could not commit to riding Delta three times a week, but that I would commit to two and shoot for three. On the ride home, however, I decided that I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go back to that place.
First of all, it was very chaotic.
The property has a covered arena, a round pen, and an outdoor arena. General practice is just to go in to whatever arena or round pen you want, regardless of whether or not other riders are there and there are lessons going on. I was trying to ride a large mare in a small arena that was filled with jumps, while the trainer was giving a hunter jumper lesson. Not so easy! Also, the horses were cross tied in the barn and whenever someone needed to walk their horse through the barn, we had to stop what we were doing and move the mare.
Secondly, I was there for two hours and already get a sense that there is major barn drama.
The indoor arena separates the stalls on the right side of the barn from the stalls on the left side of the barn. The barn owner and her trainer occupy one side and MM’s trainer leases the other side. Several times, snide comments were made by MM and her trainer about “The Other Side” (TSO). There is a wash rack where horses can be tied, but it’s on TOS, and MM said she didn’t tie Delta over there because Delta doesn’t like it. I get the feeling that it has more to do with the fact that it’s on TOS.
Thirdly, and most importantly, unsafe practices.
I mentioned that they cross tie their horses in the aisle of the barn and that the other place to tie is on TOS. Because there isn’t room for everyone in the barn, and they don’t like TOS, the other place that they tie is to the panels on the outside of the round pen and outdoor arena. Seriously? There are some things that you just don’t do with horses. Tying them to panels that can very easily be moved if the horse decides to spook or pull back, or God forbid take off, is one of those things. I don’t care if it’s general practice at a barn, I will not do it. And the fact that it is general practice is a major red flag for me.
When I got there, Delta was on the hot walker. MM took me over to get her, and the chain from the walker was wrapped through her halter and over her nose. When I asked why that was, MM told me that it’s what the barn owner required for all horses on the hot walker. When she took the chain off, there were bloody sores where it had been touching her lips and nose.
They don’t close the stall doors. They leave the stall nets up all the time. This may be subject to judgment, but I think it’s much safer to close the door of the stall when the barn is unattended.
Fourthly, the people at the barn don’t seem to have the best interest of the horses in their care at heart, or they just don’t know the difference. If you’re someone who is just learning, not knowing is okay as long as you’re open to and actively learning. If you’re someone who is being paid to train and teach, it’s not okay.
The curb chain on the tom thumb bit MM uses on Delta was very snug. You should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between the horse’s jaw and the chain; I could not. When I asked if they always keep it so snug, MM and the trainer said yes.
The barn is a hunter jumper barn, but MM rides western. I can go either way, but I’m using her tack, so western it is. I actually like that, since I’m far more experienced in western and am trying out a horse I’ve never ridden before. The saddle she uses is a cheapo, ill fitting synthetic. Great. My first thought as I’m saddling Delta is that it can’t be good for her to have a saddle that digs right in to her big ol’ withers. There are several things so far that have made me cringe, but just having met Delta, MM and the trainer, and not knowing whether or not I’m ever coming back to this place, I didn’t say anything. So, I rode in the saddle, with the too-tight curb chain, and didn’t say anything. I feel like crap for having done that, but it didn’t seem appropriate to say anything at the time. How do you tactfully make someone aware that they’re doing something that is harmful to their horse and get them to change their behavior, without offending them? This I need to learn. Anyway, later on she showed me another saddle that I could use if I wanted. It, too, was a cheap, ill fitting piece of crap. Argh. She is in the market for a new saddle, but I’m afraid she’s just going to buy something as crappy as what she’s already using. My thought is that even though MM’s trainer is hunter jumper and not western, she should still know what quality tack is and should be advising her client better than that.
We were cleaning Delta’s stall, and there was a bunch of what I though was straw for bedding on the floor of the stall. Nope. Not bedding. It’s what they feed. No wonder the horse didn’t eat it. It was stemmy and yellow. They feed that crap in the morning and alfalfa at night. MM feeds a combination of supplements and pellets whenever the hell she feels like it; could be morning, middle of the day, or night. I don’t like that. Horses should be fed quality feed and on a consistent schedule.
They train in the arena. They show in the arena. They don’t trail ride or give the horse any other break. That would be like never allowing a person to go anywhere other than work. Pretty crappy.
All of that said, after having ridden Delta, I love her. She’s not perfect. She’s 14 years old, wasn’t ridden for a year and a half, and just had 60 days put on her by MM’s trainer. She won’t do anything you don’t make her do. When you ask her to lope, she gives you attitude and will trot all day long instead if you let her get away with it. But she’ll do it if you make her and she seems to be pretty willing if you know what you’re doing. The trainer didn’t appear to like her very much and said that Delta “didn’t” neck rein. Really? A horse that doesn’t neck rein? Is that the horse’s fault, or is it up to the horse’s people to teach her how? She seems very teachable to me; the trainer insisted that she was a stubborn, bitchy mare.
I would absolutely love to ride this mare and find out what she’s capable of learning, and what I’m capable of teaching her. I just don’t think I can deal with MM, the trainer, and the barn. I’m so bummed! Now, after having told MM yes, I have to call her and tell her no. Ugh.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Goals realized...
In 18 days, I will take my first ride on a reining horse. I'm beyond excited. It's a far off, "someday" goal realized. I've made plans for so long and they're finally starting to come to fruition. Life is good.
Friday, October 1, 2010
A Quick Update to My Goal List from Last Year
Finances
Pay off IRS
Pay off Sacramento County
Pay off Tehama County
Pay off Colusa County
Get driver’s license; buy a car
Build good credit history - $200 away from a 700 FICO score!
Build a nest egg
Education
HS Diploma from San Juan/Winterstein
Transfer Degree in Animal Science from Cosumnes River College. College schedules come out in mid-October and I’m hoping to get the Math and English classes that I need to get the ball rolling with school again.
BS Degree in Animal Science from UC Davis
Career
Pursue my career with the University of California; at some point in the future, transfer to the Animal Science Department at the University. After a year and a half on the job, I have an understanding of my responsibilities and a clear vision of what I want to achieve in my current position. I will stay here until I have followed through with that, and then the University of California is my oyster! I still want to end up and the UC Davis Campus, either in the Animal Science Department, or at the School of Vet Medicine.
Passion:
I’ve been dying to start riding horses again, and it’s happening! Reining is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I found out that the West Coast Reining Horse Association is based out of Elk Grove, which is next to Sacramento. I found a great trainer and my first lesson is in three weeks. I’m beyond excited! So many things that I’ve wanted for so long are coming to fruition now. My first goal is to start reining; after that, to win my first buckle; a little bit farther down the road, to be a trainer.
Once I have the car, I’ll spend time taking road trips to the surrounding areas to find out what I like and where I want to live. I will work hard and be true to myself and will meet a man that I love and respect to be my husband and the father of my children. Doing it! I haven’t found the place I’ll call home yet, but I have been exploring and am sure I’ll get there.
Ultimate goal:
House in the country filled with family and a barn on the property filled with horses; a successful horse training business. The ultimate goal is the same and I continue to work toward it!
Build good credit history - $200 away from a 700 FICO score!
Build a nest egg
Education
Transfer Degree in Animal Science from Cosumnes River College. College schedules come out in mid-October and I’m hoping to get the Math and English classes that I need to get the ball rolling with school again.
BS Degree in Animal Science from UC Davis
Career
Pursue my career with the University of California; at some point in the future, transfer to the Animal Science Department at the University. After a year and a half on the job, I have an understanding of my responsibilities and a clear vision of what I want to achieve in my current position. I will stay here until I have followed through with that, and then the University of California is my oyster! I still want to end up and the UC Davis Campus, either in the Animal Science Department, or at the School of Vet Medicine.
Passion:
I’ve been dying to start riding horses again, and it’s happening! Reining is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I found out that the West Coast Reining Horse Association is based out of Elk Grove, which is next to Sacramento. I found a great trainer and my first lesson is in three weeks. I’m beyond excited! So many things that I’ve wanted for so long are coming to fruition now. My first goal is to start reining; after that, to win my first buckle; a little bit farther down the road, to be a trainer.
Ultimate goal:
House in the country filled with family and a barn on the property filled with horses; a successful horse training business. The ultimate goal is the same and I continue to work toward it!
The Totally Weird and Random Dream That I Had Last Night
I woke up on a beach, in a tent, with my ex-boyfriend. The one who I thought was The One who ended up not being The One, who I have since realized wouldn’t have worked out in the long run because I’m a country girl and he’s a city boy. We were camping with some friends of his, a couple. He left early in the morning and they told me it was because he had to be somewhere to help someone, but that I was special to him or something to that effect. We went to where he was, which ended up being his house that he was rebuilding. The thing that he had to do was cut someone’s hair. GBW, a surgeon that I work with in real life and adore, was there pacing and asking how it was going. In the dream he was a friend of the ex’s and was there to show support.
I was trying out for an acting job. I didn’t want it, but I felt it was important to the ex. They – the people I was trying out for – told me that I had to take an acting class. I said I wouldn’t do it, but ended up giving in. My mother was sitting with the people I was trying out for. I was walking away and heard her tell them that I still lived at home. I turned around and asked if she said what I thought she said, and then told them that I don’t live with her.
Because I was at this thing trying out for an acting job, I was late for work. I was working at Chicago Title (where I was laid off from in 2005) as an Escrow Assistant, but I didn’t assist anyone. I did all the work. I had to call in and tell them I was going to be late.
I was trying out for an acting job. I didn’t want it, but I felt it was important to the ex. They – the people I was trying out for – told me that I had to take an acting class. I said I wouldn’t do it, but ended up giving in. My mother was sitting with the people I was trying out for. I was walking away and heard her tell them that I still lived at home. I turned around and asked if she said what I thought she said, and then told them that I don’t live with her.
Because I was at this thing trying out for an acting job, I was late for work. I was working at Chicago Title (where I was laid off from in 2005) as an Escrow Assistant, but I didn’t assist anyone. I did all the work. I had to call in and tell them I was going to be late.
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