Goals

Everyone should have goals in life right?
Well I have been thinking about mine lately with the approach of major life decision making nearing. I have to decide if I'm going to do grad school right after senior year, if I'm going to work my ass off for a while then do grad school, or if I even want to do it at all. I know I want to stick around Toledo for a bit and wean some more years of fun. Christopher will be here next year (playing football if I get my way) and all my friends will be here for at least one more year if not two. I'm considering either law school or a grad program for communications and I hate having to imagine myself whiling away my precious life hours doing either for the rest of my life... but I want to make the big $$$ :)
Here is a list of what I know I want:

1. I want to love
life
God
Family
Friends
And that special someone who will be my forever <3

2. I want to make a million.
Or two.
No joke.

3. I want a big, gorgeous, expensive, performance horse.
With expensive tack and clothes
I have to know what it's like to win in the major leagues.
And I do enjoy pleasure classes.
[:

But of course Chester always stays with me.

4. I want to move away from winter and snow.
California.
Tennessee.
Kentucky.
Alabama.
Arkansas.
The Carolinas.
It really does not matter.



5. I want to write a bestseller.
Fiction or Non.
Poems.
Stories.
Whatever...


6. I want nice things.
Cars.

Clothes.

House.

Jewelry.

Furniture.

Horses.

Rig (truck&trailer).

Vacation Time.



7. I want beautiful, happy children.
Eventually...
No rush.

8. I want to live close to family.
No un-drive-able distances please.

9. I do not want to have to work 80 hours for my living.
9-5 please and thank you.

More to come...

Saturday's IBHA Open

Woooooooo! First speed show of the season! We didn't do the best... I was nervous and didn't set him up right but it was fun! Got a slower time than usual because of the mess up on the first barrel and also because he isn't quite back in shape but I had a good time and that's all I care about. This was an IBHA show at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Sandusky, Ohio on Saturday, May 31st. Mom got video of the 3D open. It was the only class I could enter because they did not have very many. I did exhibition at the beginning too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeL9XosZCl8

The Earth is Smiling!

It is gorgeous outside!
It makes me so unbelievably happy to feel the sunshine and enjoy a sweet breeze.
Oh, summer can't be too far now!
This weather makes the final weeks of school and the stress and exams and papers bearable.
I love coming out of winter into the sunshine and warmth.


Earth is a lovely place to be in the springtime. Especially when skies are clear and blue.
Tomorrow is my brother's 17th! I feel old...
It's okay though because it's not like I can go back in time so I'm going to enjoy life!!

SUNSHINE-HURRAH!

One of my bestest guy friends, , took me to the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS game yesterday!!! It was amazing!!!!!!!! He paid for everything except he let me pay the toll one way. How awesome does life get?!? I got to wear my Andy Varejao jersey and see my team kick some ass! I love Cavs games so very much! Wednesday is our last regular season game. We're playing against the much despised Pistons so I'm hoping for a big win...we'll see!
Peace out!

[Some of my favs]

April Didn't Fool Me

Today (well technically yesterday!) is April Fools...didn't get fooled and wasn't very good at my April Fools attempt but oh well! Looking forward to a bunch of RSA in my life because this weekend is Lil' Sibs weekend on campus...
Hmmmmm what is new?
-Roommate is driving me nuts
-Skipped both my classes today
-Worked the polls for Student Government Elections
-Met with the girls yesterday for some coffee
I think life is looking up right now...I'm enjoying it at least! I just wish the summertime would come more quickly!!!!! I got a message from a friend at the barn and she said Chester is missing attention....I neeeeed sunshine and beaches and warmth and horses and boating and Cedar Point!!

XOXOXO

P.S. Mary Ann made a sincere apology and she has been really nice. I believe her and everything is happy!

CrushMyHeart

It seem a bit ironic that my first post here was on the fact that one little bitty act of random kindness can totally change the course of someone's day.
Well, I am here to tell you that this street goes both ways.<------>
Today, the day was going just peachy. I overslept, found out the class I slept through was canceled anyway, got some delicious Starbucks, had some nice comments left for me on Facebook and then

All of a sudden I'm blindsided by a heart breaker. Now I am no stranger to heart break, however I usually see it coming (albeit the fact that I ignore it). This time it was a complete shocker to my little ticker.

Background Info: I am passionate about, as in completely lovingly obsessed with, horses and the equine world. After being in 4-H for three years I decided to become an adviser.

Back to my story: I received an e-mail from my head 4-H adviser telling me her and the two other advisers discussed me becoming a junior adviser and decided that despite my "lack of knowledge about horses", my great personality will make up for it and they are going to let me advise.

Definition of LACK: deficiency or absence of something needed, desirable, or customary

Lack? Really? I suppose the fact that since I learned the word horse I haven't gone a single day without saying it or at least thinking about it means NOTHING.

If you know me,you know about my horse, Chester ---->

I read extensively about horses.
The horse forum I post on is like a holy place to me.
I have shown horses.
Taken riding lessons.
Worked at top boarding facilities just to be near horses.
Worked for lessons.
Packed up carrots and walked to random fields to feed horses.
In other words, I'm passionate about horses.

Definition of PASSION: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, strong amorous feeling or desire, ardor, an abandoned display of emotion

Granted, I would never dare claim expertise in the equine field. I am not an expert, not even close. At the same time, however, I'm no newbie. Especially since coming to college and being forced to be away from the physical presence of my horse , I have immersed myself in horse culture online and thirst for as much knowledge and as many perspectives as I can get. Since kindergarten I will read anything with the word horse on it and I have.
I suppose you could liken my situation to that of NBA star LeBron James. {{Note I said liken, not compare.}} I'm no superstar but just like LBJ, I think I am getting the short end of the stick here for not having the years that other people have. So I was only in 4-H for 3 years...lets see what I have to show for it:
Year One: Unable to ride due to broken leg for majority of summer, receive A grades on all books taken, achieved teaching an unloadable Thoroughbred to walk onto a horse trailer

Year Two: Brought my Thoroughbred to fair, high average on grade day, sacrificed easy competition of 1st year status to compete against my age group which is the most competitive and experienced, placed in 3 championship classes and many fun classes

Year Three: Showed 4 times before fair and placed at every show, brought two horses to fair (something most people never can handle), placed in 10 Championship classes, Received Outstanding Horse Member Award, placed in fun shows

The second horse I brought was one whose owner claimed she would never imagine letting anyone else ride but myself and her.

<------- Dumplin (Show Horse #2)

Hmmmm...seems like my progress went pretty well to me. That, I suppose, is all that matter in the end.
Those who mind, don't matter.
Those who matter, don't mind.
-Dr. Suess

So, to conclude...which I need to do because I am ranting, my adviser hurt me. Badly. To be able to tell someone who truly loves something and is dedicated to it, that they "lack knowledge" just because you want to compare them to yourself or to people with 50 years more experience, is cruel.

The pen is mightier than the sword
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I agree. I felt those words pierce my heart in a way a sword never could. It will take me a while but I'll definitely get over what she said because I have a strong foundation where I can be confident in myself and my abilities. Still, that scar will always be there.

Words can hurt people, so please think before you speak. And I think next time I see Chester, I'm going to have to give him an extra special hug for never judging my skill or knowledge, but for loving me and knowing my heart.

Smile

Maybe the best way to start this thing is on a positive note. I want to tell everyone that today, a young lady at Starbucks made a difference. The day wasn't going the best...a Monday morning and I had already struggled through an exam and was facing down two more classes, a presentation, and two meetings. She was happily making my drink and took the two seconds to look up at me and smile. She smiled and said "Hi!" I said hi in return and then she asked how I was doing and seemed to be genuinely interested in hearing the answer. I admit I faked a "I'm great, thanks!" answer but I'm sure it was transparent. She handed my my drink and enthusiastically wished me an awesome day, a big departure from the usual slam-the-coffee-down and make-no-eye-contact routine that is our campus Starbucks.
I just wanted to give a shout out to some one who is making a difference in the world in the most important way- one little bit at a time!

In conclusion- never underestimate the power your smile could have on someone's day.