Ok, maybe (maybe) this is actually about to happen… !
So, I’m beginning to make the To Do list that I seem to have made a few (5 or 6) times before in the last 3 years. That is, the To Do Before I Up and Move AGAIN list. Usually involves a million loads of laundry, pulling everything out of my trailer to organize and re-pack, and the routine of moving out of a rental house… a little mindless, a little tedious, but honestly?? Right now, I’m SO glad to have something like that to distract me from the fact that I’m actually loading up and driving to Kentucky on Monday!!! I have been working so hard and putting a lot of energy into my lessons, and my mental preparation that I have been having trouble sleeping at night. Some (David O’Connor) would say that I really should be laying awake at night, thinking of all the ways I can beat my own personal bests, but…. I’m of the opinion that sleep is good… and necessary. So, I’ve traded in the Rolex and Burghley dvds for some Grey’s Anatomy reruns for a day or two, and I’m taking advantage of all the extra chores in my day to make sure I’m taking a step back from what has been a fairly stressful situation.
That being said, I will be re-focusing and upping the intensity level again this weekend for the Advanced Combined Test at the Florida Horse park here in Ocala. The International CCI 2* and 1* is this weekend, and the Organizers generously put room for us in the timetable to practice the 4* dressage test in front of the judges, and also to jump a big and tough showjumping course right before we have to leave for Kentucky. Ollie and I are both feeling great after 2 lessons with David today and yesterday. Ollie will get a visit from Randy tomorrow to get his Rolex runnin shoes on tomorrow and we will just keep tip toe-ing along for the next week hoping our luck holds out!!
I need to put a huge thank you out to everyone who has been behind me through this spring season. I have an incredible support team, which starts with my amazing family and my friend/other-mother Wendy Reimer at home in Summerland, and the group of friends both old and new throughout Canada and the US who have been kind enough to throw their weight behind Ollie and I to help us continue with our training. In naming names, there is always the danger of leaving someone off the list by accident, so I will just say now that I’m not attempting to name ALL of you generous souls, but I do have to give a special thank you to David Robinson and the McCrady’s for really helping to get things rolling for me on the fundraising front. Everyone who has helped out, or who may help out in the future, you need to know that I absolutely could not continue to do this without you.
:)