September Already?!

What happened to my summer? My grand plans? My vacation? Wait... I didn't even HAVE a vacation!!

Despite some ups and downs over the summer (some seriously down downs, I might add), I am embracing September and the coming autumn. I had the opportunity to interview for two positions in the development office of my alma mater, but, alas, I was not The Chosen One for either position. Darn close, but not close enough. However, I am taking that as a sign that there is a bigger and better plan for me, and I have decided to embrace my current position like never before. I'm powering on through a busy and cramped (because of all the holidays we're closed for) campaign season in September and October and taking on some projects that are new to me, but have so far struck the right balance of interesting and challenging. I'm not giving up my search, per se, because I know that something perfect is out there for me... but for now I am going to get the most from my current job as I can, and expand my knowledge and experience.

I also moved Alfie to a wonderful, amazing new barn at the beginning of the month. Its closer to home, and has the right amenities: huge, lush pastures, in which the horses are turned out for about 18 hrs a day (!!); a small cross country schooling field; a galloping track to practice pace; and miles and miles of trails. Oh, and a fabulous staff and group of boarders! Its been about three weeks since we moved and Alfie is a completely different horse. He has taken everything about the move in stride. He's calm and focused whether he's in the cross ties or working in the ring. I should have made this move sooner, but the timing and the cash-flow weren't quite right before. But I think its just perfect! My younger sister, who is a hunter rider, has ridden Alfie a couple times since the move and she was suprised how calm he is. Even when schooling in the ring one night, with the lights casting shadows everywhere, Alfie was perfect. I don't know what it is about the facility, but its having an amazing, positive affect on my boy!

Now I'm hoping we can keep shoes on him long enough to get going and maybe, you know, do some eventing or something. I have my first lesson since June scheduled for Friday (those really down downs? that was the shoes and not getting to ride. For more than TWO MONTHS) and I am hoping Alfie is as good as he has been.

In other horsey news, I volunteered for two days (September 9 & 10) at the American Eventing Championships at Bouckaert Farm. It was amazing. The facility. The volunteers. The organizers. The riders and their horses! I had the chance to meet a couple of "on line friends" for the first time, and they're even more cool than I expected. I scribed for a dressage judge one day and learned a ton (thank you, Elizabeth Kane, for making my first time as a scribe a positive one! I was terrified!). The second day I learned all about bit-checking and stuck my finger in the mouths of about 25 horses. And had to ask Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton to very kindly, please, sir, I know you'll be on the US team at WEG's, leave my warm-up ring thank you. The coolest thing was seeing Jimmy Wofford though. I wizzed by on a golf cart as he came out of the show office and i just GAWKED! But of course he's there! He's Jimmy! I wish I had run into him again later... I was told that he's very approachable and will talk to you for hours if he isnt busy.

On the "healthy eating" side of things, my husband is down... like eleventy-million pounds. I'm really proud of him. He's going to the gym at least 4 days a week, and sometimes gets up at 4:30am to go before we leave for work. Sometimes. On my personal front, I weighed in at 164.4 lbs On Monday! Only a pound shy of my low from two summers ago, so that will be an easy benchmark to hit. Then I will have to really bust my butt to hit my goal weight (145-ish, but I won't cry if I am within 3 pounds of that). My REAL goal is to get my behind in those a-freaking-mazing FITS breeches I bought two summers ago when I was around 160. I really needed to be a little smaller than I was at the time to truly fit in them, but the Large size was about 4 inches too long in the inseam, so I bought a Medium and squeeeeeeazed into them. Once. I plan on making them my show breeches, so I'd better drop some poundage!

I've been alternating between the elliptical machine and running on the treadmill at the gym, depending on my mood. The last time I ran, I did two 15-minute sets with a two minute walking break between. That felt really good. I also do some leg and abs exercises after cardio, though I should probably do more with weights. I did find two 10-minute workouts On Demand this week that I really like, so I may add those to the routine regularly.