A "TBT" of Sorts

So I was going through old horse show pictures because, for some reason, I'm shooting to knock this show season out of the park. I can't afford to go to many shows so the ones I want to go to are big ones for me.

Anyways...

While I was going through all these pictures, I had a moment where I was hit with such gratitude to my family, especially my Dad, Mom, Griffin, and my Grandma. They're been supporting me in this sport for the past 11 years and have never ever questioned why I do it. We're not a family that's had horses in the past, I'm the first one to get into showing and riding. My Mom was kinda freaked out by horses when I first started. My Dad gets frustrated when he can't figure out what the judges are looking for (don't worry Dad, I still can't figure it out half the time) and he's allergic to hay. My poor brother is allergic to hay and gets very bored with sitting around and waiting so every time he comes to a show he's absolutely miserable.

They don't really understand why I do it other than because I love horses and it makes me happy (and sometimes miserable). That's all they need to know.

We've never been a family that had the money to financially support my love of horses. I've never owned a horse or leased a horse. I've been blessed to show school horses and some of the wonderful clients' horses when the opportunity is offered. I've always worked very hard to be able to take lessons and split the show costs with my parents. The fact that they were willing to spend any money on this sport is just one of the many ways my parents are great. My Mom loves being the "show Mom" and doing my hair and helping me with my make-up. My Dad likes to harass me so I forget to be stressed out (granted, I get really irritable when he does this) and shoves cameras in my face. My brother is my foodie buddy at shows, and he likes to give horses treats and pet them.

They're at every show as long as it's in Minnesota. The times that I've gone out of state, they've always sent my numerous messages wishing me good luck and to call when I finish. Their never ending support means the world to me, as cliche as that sounds. My Mom filmed the screen of her laptop when I went to St. Louis since no one was there to film it in person. My Dad and Griffin like to film me at shows and do a commentary on the happenings. Everyone takes pictures at the shows so I have more than just the mental memories (sometimes I'd prefer it to stay as a mental memory). My Grandma is the supplier of treats and likes to look at horses (especially Buzz) and ask "What was that? What were you doing? Why did you do that?".

This is a very long winded way of me saying: my family is great and I love them lots.

Here, have some video and picture evidence:

Nice.

 

Because who WOULDN'T want to remember this train wreck? Thanks Dad!

My Bro took this picture. Dang, he's good. 

My Mom wins best 'Show Mom'.

Griff's favorite part of the show.

Where else are you going to get the true nitty gritty behind the scenes of a horse show? Donuts? It's pandemonium.

My family wins.

GET IT.

Tomorrow is my last fist day of the semester.

One. More. Semester.

For some reason, when I started college, I never thought I'd finish. In the back of my mind, I always thought that we'd run out of money or something would happen to deter me from finishing school. That, and some of the classes were hard.

I wish I was one of those success stories that finished in the allotted four years that former president Bob Bruininks gave us; I wanted to be someone who knew what they were doing and finished with a good GPA.

Alas.

It's taken me five years due to a total lack of skill in the language of Latin. Shooting for an archeology degree did horrors to my poor GPA which is really unfortunate. There were also so many requirements. So. Many. I'm just happy that some of the classes I took killed two birds with one stone. Honestly, I was the worst the liberal arts requirements and really good at my major. Classes like Anthropology and Political Science just didn't hold my interest.

I've been so beyond words lucky to have a family who's been willing to stand behind me in all my college decisions and let me figure all this stuff out. I have a  father who works so hard for me to be able to go to school and not have to worry about my student loans with the same pressure that some others do, a mom that I can call when I'm feeling stressed or low and need someone to comfort me, and a grandma who has let me make a mess in her condo for the past five years (and only threatened to kick me out a few times!).

I never did the "typical" college experience. I never lived in a dorm, never lived on campus, never had to worry about making money while going to class, didn't join any groups, never went to a party (literally, I don't think I went to one), and I'm perfectly happy with this. I've never been the child that my parents had to worry about and this has continued throughout college.

 I've loved my college experience- minus it taking five years.

All this being said, I'm totally terrified of graduating. What the heck am I going to do? I won't have college as an excuse anymore. I'll be a certified adult and have to make adult decisions. I've liked being in my bubble of college safety so the prospect of starting on the rest of my life is terrifying. What if I can't make enough money to feed myself? Where am I going to live? I still have breakouts for God's sake, when did I turn into an adult? What am I doing?!

All in all, I'm stressed yet relieved that it's almost over.

I just want to be a success story with a $40,000+ piece of paper.

Look at all those green fulfilled requirements!

I'll accept a 3.1 for a graduating GPA.

So yeah. GET IT, SELF. YOU'RE SMASHING IT.







Song of the Moment: Through the Dark- One Direction

(Look at my little blondie rock out. Let me love you, Niall)

Ready...Set...Playlist

 Though all my many years of listening to music (all 23 of them), I've developed some extremely diverse tastes. 

So what, right?

Many peoples' tastes diversify as they age but I've just taken a look at my iPod and realized that it is eclectic and because music says so much about a person, I thought I'd share some of my ~phases* with you.Mind you, the songs posted are the ones I first listened to when I got into the music and then I delved deeper and, for most of the genres, became obsessed. I have a very obsessed personality.

Soundtracks- I have numerous soundtracks all over the place.

Il Divo- they were my first big obsession. I LOVE them and their music and have seen them in concert a few times now.

Il Divo, Barbra Streisand- I think their concert together was my first concert ever. GO BIG OR GO HOME. Bonus is them singing Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. 

I am a fan of the whole musical thing. I got to see Wicked when it was in town a few years ago and DIED.

My Chemical Romance- I was years behind the curve when it came to listening to music like this because...I have no idea. But I love them and got to see them 3 times before they broke up.

Panic! At the Disco- I was very late to this party but I really liked their stuff. Their new album is kinda meh to me but whatever. I've seen them once live.

Adam Lambert- I LOVED his debut album (second not so much) but I was obsessed with him. I saw him 3 times in a short period of time as well.

The Beatles- No explanation needed. No I have never seen them live.

Fall Out Boy- Of course I got into these guys when they were on break. I went and saw Patrick Stump when he was a solo artist but it wasn't as good at the whole group together. I'm still shooting to see these guys live.

One Direction- Don't even look at me, don't even judge me. The obsession and feelings are so real. Working out the plans to see these lads in August! I want to smother them in cuddles. 

Jason Derulo- Talk Dirty to Me. I don't even know why I like this song (yes I do but a only a few of you know why)

Olly Murs- Heart Skips a Beat. I like to dance like a short ape every now and then when I'm cleaning.

Because who doesn't need dubstep violin in their lives?

So that's that. I guess it's nothing too weird or out there but it makes me smile.

*I say phase but they aren't really phases. I still listen to all the music I have depending on my moods which is why I love having a wide range of music.

"It's 2014"

So it's been another year and this blog, regrettably, totally sucks.

I'm not quite sure what I want to do with it so I'm a bit put out with it. I was going to use it to write stuff but that's taken a backseat to school and work for the time being.

I'm also nowhere near as interesting as I like to think I am. How awful.

That said, I've made a few resolutions for the year.

1. The most common one- get fit. Everyone is always saying this one, I know, but I don't even want it so that I can get skinny or anything (although I'll consider that a bonus). I just want to get healthier and kick my metabolism into high gear. If anyone reading this sees me going for something absolutely dastardly for my diet, knock it from my hands and hand me an apple.

2. Do something actually interesting. I am such a boring person and I have no stories to tell- I need to actually attempt to put myself out there and do something with myself to stop living under my fort of blankets.

3. Write more and expand my vocabulary. I've always been told that I'm a fairly adept writer but I don't really feel like I am therefore this blog will be used to write about stupid things that have happened, venting, or other such nonsense just to keep writing and keep the brain muscles pumped up.

4. FREAKING GRADUATE. Good God. Five years is quite enough.

5. Be more myself. No more of this acting the way I feel people want me to act. I, amazingly, seem to make more friends when I'm being myself than acting like whatever I feel is normal for others. Added to that- dressing how I like and not going off the fashion of others. Other people dress weird as hell.

So there's five well thought out resolutions that I'm shooting for this year. I accept any and all help with accomplishing these goals.

Cheers!