All Good Things

I've been terrible at blogging, I know.  But I have a lot of new updates!  All good ones!

I sold my car (good ol' Eugine) and bought a 2012 luxury edition Nissan Versa hatchback.  It has 42,500 miles on it (mostly because of highway driving from the prior owners), but is in excellent condition and came with brand new tires!  With how little I drive, I'll be able to make up the mileage difference in a few years.  It is my new baby (named it Pearl).  I'm still getting used to cruse control, power windows, and keyless entry.  It rocks! I put $6,000 down on it, and I have a loan of $7,700.  I decided to have a 5 year payment plan at $130 a month.  I think it's a pretty good deal :) Now how am I going to pay for this vehicle?  That leads me into my next piece of good news...

Petco was finally able to hire me.  My application was lost in the system and it was quite the process to find it.  I'll be a part time sales associate, and I can decide to specialize in specific areas in the store.  If I choose, Petco will even pay for me to get my dog training certification.  I'll be making crap for pay, but it's a job that I know I'll enjoy and be good at.  I love sharing my passion and knowledge about animals to other people.  I know I'll have this job for at least the summer, but when school starts it's gonna have to be decided if I want to keep it or take the position as a professor's assistant at the university that pays more.

Many people have been asking about Buck.  I tried to keep it pretty quite until a final decision was made.  It was looking like we were going to have to put him down for multiple reasons.  The poor guy was falling apart and couldn't even be used in my riding lessons without being in tremendous pain.  He didn't even want to go on a walk with me.  I felt like I had to try a few things before making the final decision of euthanizing him.  Last Friday I had a horse chiropractor come out.  She determined both of Buck's SI joints in his spine were dislocated, as well as three places in his back, two in his neck, one in his right shoulder, and two joints in his left hind leg.  No wonder why he didn't want to move and he was losing muscle mass extremely rapidly!  His hips are now sitting even again and he is moving quite well.  The muscles in his hind end is also recovering quickly, too.  He is now on Previcox and a monthly muscle relaxer.  He also has a rehabilitation exercise routine.  First week is circling at a walk and trot of 15 minutes, second week is walk and trot for 15 minutes over ground poles for 15 minutes, third week I can ride him at a walk and trot for 15 minutes, and the forth and fifth week we will go over ground poles at a walk and trot for 15 minutes.  The chiropractor will come out on the sixth week and adjust him again if necessary.  If he checks out okay, I will begin teaching Buck how to jump again.  He needs to learn to use his hindquarters and jumping will make him engage them.  So there's that!  We are hoping that this treatment will continue to be successful, as it is proving to be already.  My concern is winter, however.  Last winter the cold really got to him.  I guess I will see what to do when that time comes.

I have been working with Tango regularly.  He's only been a shit a few times, but his attitude both on line and off line have been improving.  He isn't nearly as destructive or fussy.  I've mainly been focusing on ground work, but as of recent I've been riding him bareback (I tried riding with an English saddle first and I about died. I HATED IT).  Right now we are working on finding Tango's gaits.  This means consistent work on a certain gait and trot polls! He is responding well.  Last Monday, without knowing he's never done it before, I cantered on Tango bareback.  He didn't quite know what to think about it, and as a result he attempted to buck me off three times.  It wasn't out of aggression, but more so because of the sensation.  I stayed on and picked him right back up into a canter each time, and by the end he was loping around very nicely with his head down.  He's such a smart horse! I am glad I decided to start working with him finally.  I think it will help my mom be more successful with him as well.

I got a new tattoo! It's on the back of my neck and goes down my spine slightly.  It's so pretty.  I am really happy I got it.  Everyone seems to like it (even the parents).

The topic many people are wondering about is my love life. Ohhhhh, dear.  I decided to stop talking to Adam.  I couldn't get over my feelings for him and he certainly wasn't helping by coming onto me like he was.  It was all too confusing for me.  I think I made the best decision for myself.  I don't need to be confused like that.  I've been going on numerous dates with numerous people.  Some have gone very well, while others have made me want to curl up with my cats and stay alone forever, haha.  I'm not going to make a decision to be in a relationship quite yet.  My goal is to stay single at least until the end of May so I can enjoy being single and 21.  I don't want to get involved with anyone right now.  I want to make good decisions about who I choose to be with next.  That means if I am interested in someone I'll get to know them quite well before deciding to pursue a relationship with them or not.  I'm not in a hurry, and I think I'm doing pretty well on my own.  It's a change of pace, but I'm getting used to it and I feel good most of the time.  Some nights are lonely, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  Feeling lonely reminds me that companionship is a natural human desire, but it can only be fulfilled when it's shared with someone special.  At least that's how it is for me.

Have a great week everyone!