Day 25: A Picture of My Day

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

Well this one's just easy. I realize that today is 4/25...but since I'm making up for the days I didn't blog & this blog should have been posted on 4/21 I'm going w/ that.

On Thursday we drove, and drove and drove. 13 hours to NC. We stopped for an hour in Gettysburg (C has never been, we didn't get to see much and will definitely be going back) and then got stuck in traffic around the DC area..so really it took us about 15 hours to get there. Not sure where this picture was taken...either in VA or NC.

Day 24: Something I Wish I Could Change

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

I wish that I could change our money situation.

Day 23: Favorite Book

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
I love to read, always have. I have enjoyed quite a few books. I'd have to say that my favorites (3) have left me in tears. I've read Ruffian probably 5 times...and am a bawl baby each time.

Day 22: I wish I were better at...

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Housekeeping. I hate messes, I hate clutter, I hate dust, I hate when stuff is out of place. However, I am lazy...so that's what my house looks like most the time. Not proud of it.

Day 21: Something I Wish I Could Forget

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

I didn't post last night because the only thing I could think of, I didn't want to post. Well, here I sit roughly 24 hours later, and I haven't come up with anything better.

The thing that I wish I could forget more than anything else would be seeing Ace like I did for the last time...legs suspended in the air, laying on his back, tubes down his throat breathing for him, the blood that covered the floor. I can still hear the ventilator breathing for him as I said "goodbye"/sobbed into the underside of his neck. This photo is much "cleaner" than what I have burned into my memory. This horse was prepped for colic surgery but the surgery had not yet begun. The website I found this photo on states that at the clinic all of the operating rooms have windows/viewing rooms but because colic surgery is so "messy" they close the blinds during it. I can attest to that. I saw a surgeon covered in blood...then I saw the operating room floor that was smeared red with blood like something out of a horror movie.

Day 20: Somewhere I'd like to Travel

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel. I'd love to go to Italy some day...Venice...Rome. I'd also love to go back to Paris.

Day 19: Little Me

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little. My first Christmas. I was almost 9 months old. :)

Day 18: Biggest Insecurity

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

So my muffin top and I have been together for about 6 years now. You'd think we'd be better friends than we are. However, I still hate it & wish it would leave & never come back.

I've had horrible skin since I was about 14 or so. It's not at all due to laziness. I was my face at least twice a day, I use creams/treatments, blah blah blah. It never gets better. No, that's a lie. It'll clear up for a month or 2 randomly just to come back twice as bad after. I'm 26, enough with the teeny bopper skin already! What gives?

Day 17: Huge Impact On My Life Recently

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently. (picture taken 4.3.11...my bday!) So the most recent huge impact would have to be Mr. Achilles. Most of the time he drives me nuts and I second guess the whole 'getting a puppy thing'. I know that sounds horrible, but it's true. Then, very rarely, he will be super sweet and I know it was the right thing. Then he goes back to trying to play with the Mexikids and they attack him.

Day 16: Someone Who Inspires Me

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.


(This picture is from November, 2010 in Niagara Falls where I met Jimmy after one of his concerts)

Jimmy Wayne inspires me. For the whole story check out his Meet Me Halfway Project. Here's my abridged version: Jimmy comes from an abusive childhood which ultimately left him homeless as a teen after being shuffled around from foster home to foster home. Fast forward to 2009 Jimmy has a #1 single (Do You Believe Me Now) on Country charts, he's opening for Brad Paisley's summer tour and all signs point to a growing music career. Well, then in December Jimmy decided to drop everything and walk halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for youth homelessness. He started out on January 1, 2010. Jimmy had expected the walk to take him 3 months, it ended up taking 7 months. When he walked into Phoenix he had a broken foot from his journey and was in a walking boot. His record label dropped him. Since Jimmy finished his walk he has been working on a book with Travis Thrasher and writing/recording music for a new album. This is just a very short version of what Jimmy has done. Please check out the link above to find out more.

I never realized that this problem even existed..and certainly not to the extent that it does. Definitely opened my eyes. I volunteered this winter, while the track was closed, at the Equicenter. The Equicenter works with the disabled, at risk youth, and wounded warriors. I like to think that while I didn't actually work with any people (I rode the horses to keep them in shape for their lessons) that I still was able to help out in some small way. One day I'd like to do more.

Day 15: Before I Die

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die. I've always wanted to go parasailing. :)

Day 14: Someone I Can't Live Without

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without. (To go along with the post before this...this photo was taken at a Kenny Chesney show in June 2010...probably the BEST show I've ever seen of KC) There are so many (I don't know what I'll do without my family and friends). I'll keep this short and sweet though because I'm exhausted. So even though he's been annoying me...on purpose...all night...I've gotta go w/ hubby. After all, I did marry him for a reason, right?

Day 13: Favorite Band/Artist

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist. I have a very hard time chosing just one...of anything. Have you noticed? (this is from the Rascal Flatts show 2.17.11 at Blue Cross Arena) I'll start tonight w/ Mr. Chris Young. Fantastic, newer, country artist. He's probably got the best vocals on the radio right now...and puts on one hell of a live show. In fact, I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday because I left at 8am for Cleveland-ish, Oh to see Chris in concert. In fact I've seen him a lot, especially lately. I've met CY countless times, and he's a really genuine, nice guy on top of being a great artist. He's certainly not difficult to look at either. (I took this pic at NYS Fair Sept. 2009. You can't tell but it was POURING all night...the show was outside, and uncovered. Our seats were 9th row center) Annnnd, then there's Mr. Kenny Chesney. Another man who I believe has a amazing country voice...and a live show that no body else can compare to. I started going to Kenny shows back in 2004. Since then I've been hooked. He's become a summertime staple for me, & I have to see him at least once (2 years I got to make 2 shows). With the exception though of 2010 when he took the year off of having a HUGE tour. I did get to see him at the Houston Rodeo though that March. :)

Day 12: Something I Love

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

The Caribbean. Need I say more? I have huge dreams of some day having a small condo down there and being one of those people that packs up and goes to their condo down south at the drop of a hat. Either that or having a boat that we could live on for a few days/weeks at a time. I'm thinking U.S Virgin Islands. Hey, remember in my 15 facts about me, where I said I was a dreamer? This blog deserves two pictures.

St. John Sunset

Day 11: Something I Hate

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

I hate a lot of things...but this one is waaaaaaaaaaaay up there. Dog fighting. I don't feel as though I need to give any sort of explaination.

Day 10: Who I do the Craziest Things With

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the craziest things with. So she wouldn't be a very good bestie if she wasn't the person I do the craziest things with right? This picture is from New Year's Eve 2005. We were 19 and we went to Toronto with a bunch of friends. OMG good times! That's all I'm saying. ;) (Disclaimer: Yes, I am very red in this picture. There are 2 key factors that go into the redness. First, I was tanning all winter. Second, I turn red when I drink alcohol...even a little. Third, by the time this photo was taken Cara and I had split a pretty large bottle of vodka.)

Personality Test

So I just took a personality test here. This is my "diagnosis". I don't think I agree with it...at all. And now my eyes/head hurt. You reach out to the world and pull in experiences of all forms and kinds. Spontaneous, immediate and active, you have a natural tendency to win, whether this is in the business world or on the freeway. In the right context this can be a positive encouragement to those around you. In the wrong context it can lead to a pathetic display of ego and misplaced pride. You are always on the prowl for clues as to how to win. Usually this behavior is unconscious or playful but the sense of play can rapidly disappear if you are found to be losing in the aforementioned contest. Only those who don’t compete are met with derision. You love to be the center of attention. The moment at hand is always of prime concern. Worries about the future or the past, or abstract discussions of philosophical matters are something for others to concern themselves with. Emotions are fleeting and often used as tactics.

Day 9: My Person

Day 09- The person who has gotten you through the most. My Mom. For as long as I can remember she has been my best friend. It's always been me and her. We are the constants in each other's life. Sure there were a few years there during middle/high school where we could only yell at each other. But don't all girls and their moms go through that? We came out on the other side pretty good though. :) I can talk to my mom about anything. I know that she is always on my side, unless I'm being completely unresonable and then she'll tell me so. Whenever anything good or bad happens she's the first person I want to tell. She is always there for me when I need her. We email every day. We text every day. We typically talk on the phone most days. We live 32 miles apart but see each other quite often. She is my rock.

Day 8: Makes Me Laugh

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
There are so many to choose from! However, I think this one takes the cake. I was trying to get Zeus out of his home and he refused. So I reached in to grab him. This is what happened.

Day 7: Most Treasured Item

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

I'm stumped. I can't pick a person or pet because it says 'item'. There are obviously a lot of things I couldn't live without: my house, my car, TV (I know, I know), ect. So because this is my blog, and my birthday, I'm going with 2 things again...because I can.


The first of my 2 'treasured items' is, my phone. Yes, I am now that person who is on the phone all the time....never talking. Last year for Valentine's Day Hubs got me the new (at the time) Motorola Droid. I absolutely love it. This is despite the fact that half the time it does what it wants. I love that I can be connected on Facebook and Twitter on it, and can look up basically anything on it. I use the GPS navigation a lot too. How did people find places before GPS & Google Maps? Seriously.


I also don't know what I'd do without my Sex & the City box set. Another gift from hubs. :)

Day 6: Person I'd Like to Trabe Places With

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Good question. I can't chose between these 2 so I'll share both. :)
( above is a picture of Georgina on her horse Metropolitan winning Round 1 of $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival)
First would be Ms. Georgina Bloomberg. Yes, the youngest daughter of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Why her you ask? Well, she grew up in NYC. She has beautiful horses and shows all over the place in Grand Prix Jumpers. It doesn't hurt that she is a billionaire heiress either. :)
Next, how about Miranda Lambert. I've always wanted to be a singer and do what she does. She's got an incredible live show and seriously rocks out. She's also beautiful. And has a ranch, and horses, and dogs. :)

Day 5: Favorite Memory

Yeah, I know. I forgot to post this yesterday. Sorry.
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.

(the above collage was made of photos taken when we horse showed in Ocala, FL. February 2004)
My favorite memory? Ace. I know that's pretty broad...after all Ace was a part of my life for roughly 5 years. He was the greatest horse, ever. As far as I'm concerned that is. No, he didn't have the greatest confirmation. No, he wasn't well bred. No, he wasn't the fanciest mover. No, he didn't win every class we entered. Yes, he cribbed. All of this considered, he is still the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
The first time I rode Ace he was 4 (summer 2000) and had just come to Jensens. Having been a racehorse he had been ridden plenty, but knew nothing about life off the track. It amazed me that he didn't know that he had to turn in the corners of the ring...he'd just keep going until he ran into the fence. I kept riding him though, through the nastiness in his stall (he would bite and kick...and of course the cribbing). I started leasing Ace in April 2001. Once I started leasing him it was all over. I went into the lease thankful that it was monthly so I could cancel at any time...I didn't like him very much and liked the comfort of being able to end it if I chose. Well after a few months I was in love. He more I worked with him the better he got. His personality started to change. He no longer was nasty in his stall, he no longer bit, he no longer kicked. Too bad he kept cribbing. :(
I took my high school graduation money and bought Ace, June 2003.
We started showing in the children's (3') at rated shows during the winter of 2003. I February 2004 we went to Ocala, FL for a week for the HITS show there. By this time I had aged out of the Children's and was now doing the Younger Adult's...still 3'. We also did a few Adult Medal classes while in FL. We ended up only come out of the show with 1 ribbon...it was an 8th but considering the competition, I'll take it. :)
By October 2004 things changed. Ace coliced so bad that he required surgery. Following surgery he was in the hospital with infection for 3 weeks. I didn't think that it was possible, to become closer to each other, but we did.
For the next 9 months (before Ace passed) we were closer than I ever thought imaginable. Every time I walked into the barn (I didn't even have to say anything) Ace would nicker to me. I don't know if it was that he saw me get out of my car, or if he heard my footsteps, but he would nicker, without fail.
If he was in the pasture I could call him at the gate and he'd come running, regardless of where he was in the field. He would also followed me without a halter. I could go in circles, stop, walk, run...he'd always follow me and do what I did.
Man, I miss that boy.
(The above picture was taken on day 2 of August at Patterson's. We were showing in the Older Children's. This was definitely our best show over all. We had our best show courses, ever...we ribboned well against good competition. It was great.)

Day 4: My Night

Day 04 - A picture of your night.

Achilles got neutered today. He is supposed to stay quiet and not lick the incision. So far he is FULL of energy and licking like crazy, hence the cone head. He was still able to lick w/ just that one cone though, so we got him a larger, bigger one...he's no wearing both of them so that he can't lick & so it won't come off.
He's not a happy puppy.

Day 3: Cast from Favorite Show

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Well now that's just too easy. My favorite show is Sex & The City. I have the pink box set and both movies. I watch the series almost continuously...once I finish it, I just start it again. I seriously can't get enough. I quote the show often and know most episodes word for word. :)

Day 2: Closest to for the Longest

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for awhile.

(Yes this is an old photo but I love it. It was obviously from my wedding, in which Cara was my MOH...it was also her birthday.)
This is easy. Cara has been my bestie since 6th grade. I don't know what I'd do without her in my life. I first met Cara, 15 years ago, at Heberle Stables where she frequently (EVERY Saturday) would tack up Jasper, go into the ring to get on, then realize she didn't have her helmet on. This would result in her asking me to hold Jasper while she went to get it. And so a wonderful, lifelong, friendship was born. :)
Cara and I have the kind of friendship where we don't have to see/talk to each other every day, in fact we can go MONTHS without speaking (we're both very busy), then get together and it's like no time has passed at all.
She's currently living in San Antonio while her husband (they just got married last week while they were home on leave and I couldn't be happier for them) is stationed there. I miss her every day and cannot wait for them to be home next year.

Happy 15th Birthday

to my sweet sweet boy. Today you should be turning 15. Today you should be outside enjoying the sunshine. Today I should be making you a nice warm bran mash for dinner with apples and carrots. Today I feel as though there is a dark cloud hovering over my head despite the sun shining in the windows. I think about you every day. I miss you every day. Somehow today it manages to hurt just a little bit more.

Day 1: 15 Facts

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I have a pretty serious addiction to coffee...not really the caffeine, but the taste.
2. I tend to like animals more than people.
3. I live for live music...especially country.
4. I have the ability to burp like no other (I asked C to give me a fact about myself, this is the 1st thing he said)
5. I enjoy baking & am learning to bake "outside the box"
6. I prefer to drive...I tell people it's because I get carsick, but really I just get really nervous when others drive me
7. I have been riding horses for longer than I haven't been riding horses.
8. I am a dreamer.
9. I am honest to a fault. I am me, all of the time. I don't fake "it" for anyone.
10. I sing really loud in the car when I'm all alone...because of this I tend to bring a bottle of water with me anytime I'll be in the car for more than 20 minutes.
11. I love the beach...and boats.
12. When eating a Reese's Peanut Butter cup I eat the chocolate around the outside first, then the chocolate on the top & bottom, then the peanut butter.
13. I love food. I will eat to taste something, not just because I'm hungry. This makes dieting VERY difficult.
14. I am a recovering pessimist...most days.
15. I miss my horse every day...and think about him every day...multiple times a day.

A(nother) Comeback

Hello there. Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Luen. I am an awful blogger. I think about blogging quite frequently, yet I never do it.
I am staging a(nother) comeback.
A lot of my friends on Facebook are doing photo challenges. I had thought ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbout doing one on there, but when I saw a friend do one on her blog (here) I thought I'd give that a try. If this works, you can count on a blog post from me, every day for the next 29 days.

So here is the challenge:
Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for awhile.
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 04 - A picture of your night.
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 - A picture of your day.
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.