Summer is drawing to a close...or is closed

So here I am, just another day at work. My vacation was last week and I think I need a vacation from my vacation. How cliche. But what is bugging me today is the fact that all the grammar and high schoolers are returning to their brick buildings of higher learning and for the first year ever, I am without the smell and feel of new school supplies or new clothes.I mean, I bought a bra on sale from Aerie last night and some new Nike running shorts, but those don't really count. Gone are the days of searching for those just barely allowed khaki pants for Holy Cross that didn't look hideous. Or finding a sweater that allowed you to wear a polo instead of a button down every day of the school year. Or skirts that were short, but just to your fingertips so when you were pulled into the principal's office you could yank them down and get away with it. No more jiggling locks on the yellow and green lockers or the smell of somewhat new text books that gave me a strong impression of Lysol and mold. No more after school rush to change into running clothes or get down to practice. And then sit and complain about running.

This is the big girl world. You go to work. Try not to be too exhausted or get too awful of a headache and then go for a run, go to sleep, sometimes to laundry. Lather, rinse, repeat.

So, instead of continuing to reminisce, I feel like I should talk about my vacation.
Spent it in Otis.
But I went to Agawam to horseback ride. Then to Greenfield to finally see Bandit. He was as cantankerous as ever. He gave me a moment of ears forward, "hey, I think I remember you!" Then I touched his ear and he was angry/goofball Bandit again. Paul actually came with me and took pictures. He really liked this GIANT mare across from Bandit and then made friends with a gargantuan paint. The paint tried to bite his ankle under the fence. He was a feisty one. But seeing Bandit was fantastic. He had his own little paddock and he looked healthy.m They had him barefoot too, which was interesting. Gave him a hug and e-mailed the instructor again. I might try to get up there for a lesson at some point.

And the horseback ride in Agawam that Paul's mom bought was I think two Fridays ago. I rode this children's show pony named Spike. He was so tiny, but he definitely had spunk. I cantered him around the sides of the cornfields and Holly, the owner, let me jump him over some cross-rails when we got back to the stable. The first one, he did exactly what Bandit used to do. Ran up to it easily enough, then spooked and tried to stop in front, popped it, and then tried to run away. I stayed on, but was definitely rusty. Lost a stirrup. Grr. So I turned him around and went over a little cross rail line. No problems this time. We cantered to the second one actually. He was a little pistol though. Holly was like, "He would love you for a summer!" Yeahhh...not sure about that. He was ADORABLE. But I went through the whole "Who's the Boss" thing with Bandit and him spooking to get out of work. Not sure I want to do that again right away. Although who am I kidding?!? I loved every second of it. And I wasn't scared. The barn was absolutely beautiful. It was called Equine Boulevard and the owner knows Sarah from Frazier. Small world. If anything, the whole Friday horse experience cemented that I need to get back into it ASAP. I wish I had more money saved up or more time to work at a stable and pay for a few lessons.

Oh well...

In lake news, I got to do a little skiing and wakesurfing. The Mark Twain is in instead of the Malibu because it can fit in the low water. I just can't believe it's Labor Day this weekend. Next weekend is going to seem so quiet and dull. BUT...I'm considering doing the Rochester half marathon. I just wish I had someone to run it with me!! Any takers?!?!

I went for a 9 mile twilight run in Otis Sunday night and the weather was perfect for it. Made me think that I could still handle the half. We'll see. I need to do some thinking. The entry fee is 65.00. I'd hate to spend that if I'm really not ready for it.

PICTURES!!!!!!!

 Still argues with me hahaha

 Reunited!!!

 Paul's favorite mare

 Barefooting!

 Wakeboarding casualty

 Jack learned to barefoot

The day has arrived! Sort of

I'm posting a very brief blurb today because I'm just really, really excited.

I'M GOING TO SEE BANDIT NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!

I contacted Stoneleigh Burnham and Bandit is still there :) The girl that replied, Stacy, said she had actually JUST used him in a lesson yesterday and I was welcome to visit during any daytime hours. I was just so relieved to hear he was behaving and in a good home. I'll maybe ask them, if they ever want to get rid of him, to contact me first because I would buy him back. He's about 16 now. Old man. And he had a lot of white so I can't wait to see him now. I'm just really excited.

And, I'm going riding on Friday at a place in Agawam. I"m praying they have English saddles and I'll maybe get to tool around a little. I already brought my boots, chaps, and riding pants up to the lake.  So yeah. Maybe seeing Bandit Sunday?

:) :) :)

The riding itch...and Bandit

So recently, I've had a major horseback riding itch/fever/whatever you would like to call it. I was looking through some old pictures and came to the conclusion that it's something I really cannot live without anymore. Sure, the running thing was great for a while. I'll still run. It's something that's become embedded in me. But I really miss the horses.

I miss getting up on summer mornings and driving out to the barn and seeing all the hay and dust particles floating in the early morning light. I miss the sounds of the horses snuffling in their hay and banging their feed buckets against the wall.


Most of all, I miss Bandit.

Bandit was unique, to say the least. My Dad loved to pat him really hard right in the center flat area of his head. That was their bonding, I guess. But Bandit was more to me than Dad's giant dog. He had his quirks. We always laughed about how he ate. You dumped his oats in and he would swing the bucket around on the wall eventually flipping it upside down and spilling his grain all over the dirt floor. He would then have to spend time nibbling around to get them up, probably ingesting more sand than anything. Dummy. He also picked fights that he couldn't finish. I'll never forget my just over 15hh horse starting a fight in the geldings' paddock. He picked on the bigger guys, of course. And after they got sick of his nipping and butt sniffing, they would chase him around the paddock as fast as his short little legs would go. This winter day, he actually jumped the over 5 foot fence that kept them in the paddock. In a thick winter blanket. He escaped unscathed and did NOT learn his lesson. He was perpetually covered in scrapes and "ouchies". Bandit loved Fritos. Hence his nickname - Frito Bandito. He also liked Turkey Sandwiches and Starburst. I learned this when my lunch was mysteriously missing from my tack box and he was munching away.

My mom always called the horses our Barbie dolls for the girls that never actually played with dolls. We would dye Tinkerbelle's mane and tail with food coloring. Sometimes blue or pink or purple...or all the colors we had. We spent afternoons just braiding tails or grooming until each coat shone. I told my friends on the high school track team that I learned how to french braid on my horse's ass. My mom was mortified. I don't remember how to braid anymore as I haven't had to in nearly 6 years. Another thing I miss.

I even miss the days of cleaning sheaths and being utterly embarrassed when your relatives surprise you with a visit at the barn. Rachael and I decided to be responsible riders and clean our horses'...man-parts. I had found a print out online that was helpful, although managing to be more humorous than anything. It was titled Mr. Hand. I actually found it again to post here:

Mr. Hand

So, we got our buckets of warm water and our slimy green Excalibur gel. I won't describe the process. You can click the link if you're really THAT curious. I will say that Bandit was NOT impressed nor pleased. So I'm pretty much mid way up my arm reaching under the brat when Aunt Pinky and Aunt Ginny roll up, all excited to see me and my beloved chestnut pony. Yeah. Pretty sure the first words were, "ADDIE! What are you doing?!" And they got back in the car to wait as I cleaned up the supplies and I'm pretty sure Rachael laughed off to the side. Never attempted THAT again.

All kidding aside, Bandit and I have great memories together. Our first event and show. Jumping over 3 feet and feeling like we were flying. Trail rides with our friends, sometimes to Poppey's to get ice-cream.
I miss everything about that booger. He would throw me into fences and drag me over telephone poles, but in the end, we got through all that. We got through his head shy issues and taught each other to be brave. Most of the time, I had to be fake brave and yell so he would just do it. Silly. But I learned to be real brave after a while. I miss how strong he made me feel.

I watch the Olympics now and I find it foolish for people to say "The horse should get the medal. The horse does all the work". It's a partnership. I'd like to see a horse get through those courses alone. The riders need to know what to do both mentally and physically. They are reading these 1,200 pounds animals and sending them flying through the air at the flick of a rein.

That's what I miss.

A Running post...what do ya know?

So this summer has been a little hairy with running. I'll be the first to admit how much I DESPISE the heat and humidity. So, unless I'm in Otis, I've been on the treadmill 3-4 days a week and then outside on dirt roads the rest. So half and half. But I've been running pretty much every day.

Paul went with me for a few runs in June. I really thought he was getting into the sport again. He pulled his Vibrams on and met me at the corner of the dirt roads, right above the beach. We took off at a casual jaunt. Then we hit the hill on Curtiss Hall. Oh my God. I always forget about this hill. I tried to keep talking and felt like I had a thick wad of cotton in my mouth. We stretched at the corner of Westerly, our turn to head home. Paul did not seem as thrilled about this run as he had when we first started out. I think he made it to the end of Brookman with me before telling me to just go as Moreau Hill loomed ahead of us. That was the last run he went on with me. Now he rides the Solo Wheel, occasionally. I guess that's what all the cool kids do now. Guess I'm not cool for resorting to my own two feet and dirty running shoes. But whatever. My runs are alone now. And I have to say, there's something that goes on during those runs that I wouldn't trade in or change. I see these houses and roads every summer, nearly every day, and they never get boring. I look at them and wonder what their families are like. How do they spend their summer days on the lake? How long have they been there? I know it's weird, but it makes the time pass. Then there are the days when I go way too fast because I see or hear something moving in the woods and my brain immediately reverts to - MOUNTAIN LION! BEAR! GO HOME! Yeah. Not cool. I know I could never out run either. And honestly, I have no tactic if I come across one.

Recently, Land's End has installed (I think that's the proper word here) plastic, yellow speed bumps. These things must be only about 4 inches high and they're two separate little strips that barely reach across the entire road. The first morning I saw them I was like, WHAT?!?!?! And proceeded to jump over them and make a big deal about it. Hey, I run this road every day. Gotta spice it up a little bit. I'm pretty sure these speed bumps are useless other than to be a great tripping device when I'm extremely tired. So, to you Land's End, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. I can just imagine the homeowners sitting, eating their lovely muffins and drinking their strong coffee, and laughing at the dirty, sweaty runner girl that's trying to "hurdle" these mini speed bumps. Oh well. I guess everyone could use a laugh now or then. I say all this now, but lately, I've been so tired that no hurdling has occurred. I've either stepped over or around them while secretly hoping a huge truck comes blasting through and crushes them to bits or twists and warps them onto the side of the road. They. Are. Pointless.
I'm waiting to see them in my neighborhood next.

In other news, I went for a jetski ride once the weather cleared last weekend. (Can we just discuss how MISERABLE sitting in the house for three days straight trying to watch the Olympics on a poor satellite signal was? Stupid Rain. And our phone got struck by lightning). I drove around the whole lake pretty relaxed and just looked around. I stopped by Overflow and it just made me think of how times and places seem changed. I miss where I was last summer, what I was doing. There are certain things I don't want back. (Marist, thanks for the four years, I DO NOT want to re-live you. Hands are clean. Champagna preseasons were probably the bane of my existence).  But last year had this quality to it. The people I saw every day and what I did...it all just felt so much more lively. Now I drive around and see all these For Sale signs and the Marina's garage doors were closed tight. Everything seemed shrunken and tiny. And then when I run, everything seems too big. I can't find a medium.

So, before I'm done, I also want to complain about the Olympics. They didn't show ANY of the Equestrian. And the Cross-Country jumping is pretty exciting. At least 8 horses went down over these jumps and the queen's GRANDDAUGHTER was one of the riders. The ENTIRE royal family was in attendance and NBC felt the need to show fencing and Men's INDOOR VOLLEYBALL. What is this world coming to?! If they cut the Track coverage, I will seriously feel the need to write a scathing letter. Maybe J.K. Rowling can lend me a Howler that will explode and hiss at them if they don't open it. So much for more equal coverage NBC. I'm sick of seeing just swimming, gymnastics, volleyball. Either spread it out better between your channels, or cut down on some of the time on certain events. I did not need to see an entire volleyball game. Whatever. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one upset about this. Most people don't think horseback riding is a sport. (But ping pong and Badminton are?!) I'm sorry but you have to be pretty strong to get a 1,200 pounds or more animal to listen to you and jump over 4+ foot high obstacles.

Rant done.

Got a weekend of speed bump hopping ahead of me.