Clean Sweep

This is my new vacuum cleaner. See how ergonomically-designed, how streamlined, how HEPA filtered, how bagless, how cyclonic, and how purpley it is?? I heart it. And, I'm going to be doing some serious vacuuming over the weekend. Cat-and-dog-and-horse hair dust bunnies begone!!!

Get the fruit!!!

For those of you who love Pac-Man, it looks like Xbox has come out with a new "championship" version of the game that contains new mazes (the first new mazes in over 26 years). How fun! Now, if only I had an Xbox...

I am an eventer

Since my first USEA recognized event last spring of 2006, I've been an "eventer," but reluctant to get all "I'm an EVENTER!" I had puttered around in pony club eventing, and I've always been an avid eventing trainee (just never had the chance before now to actually get out and compete at a recognized event), but I was never really AN EVENTER. Now, I know I am only competing at Beginner Novice, after all, and for my friends who are riding at Training level, Prelim, and even Intermediate...well, Beginner Novice is just embarassing. But, everybody has to start somewhere, right? And, neither I nor my trusty steed had ever done a USEA recognized horse trial before last year.

So, imagine my surprise when not only did we bust it all out this year at May Daze and finish 4th in our rather large division, but I also have been informed that Eddie and I are qualified for the Area III Championships (this weekend at Poplar Place, so that's a "no go"), the Area VIII Championships (in Ohio the first weekend of September), and we are also qualified to compete at the 2007 American Eventing Championships at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois. We placed 5th at MTPC last October and we just placed 4th at May Daze (two 1-5 placings at recognized events is all you need to qualify for the AEC's). Unfortunately, AEC's this year are about a 10 hour drive, so I won't be going. Plus, I'm hoping to move up to Novice this year, so I think I need to focus on that, rather than how many championships I am qualified to attend, etc. But, I sure will feel special when I see the "qualified horses/riders" list for the AEC's this year. Imagine that!

McDreamy

I have been ALL ABOUT some Ioan Gruffudd for years and years now. He is the shining epitome of all that is good, glorious, handsome, and intelligent. And, his posh British accent is to die for. Nobody can correctly clip and ennunciate words like "irrefutable" and "indefatigable" quite like Ioan, and he has the best nose and the prettiest eyes of anybody on the planet. I do fancy him clad in his various "British period-piece" costumes (Horatio Hornblower, Another Life, The Forsyte Saga, Amazing Grace), but he looks just as divine walking down the street. Or, wearing glasses. Is he not just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

"She noticed how warm his eyes were, how they crinkled at the corners when he smiled. She decided brown eyes were much nicer than blue ones." -- Jennifer Donnelly, The Tea Rose

Shake and Bake

There is really no reason for this particular post today, except that I just needed some Will Ferrell in my life. If you ain't first, you're last! :)

I'll sing it one last time for you...

Ok, so my boyz (that would be Snow Patrol) have announced that they will be playing a show at Red Rocks in Colorado at the end of July. I am grief stricken!! Red Rocks is just about the coolest place to see a live show in the entire country, and I no longer live just down the pass there in Vail. I would love to see the Patrol play there, but...alas. Anyway, I've had to console myself by getting caught up on GL's blog. I am convinced that Gary Lightbody and I are long lost soul mates, and when you read his copious rhetorical rantings, you will know precisely why I believe that. Destiny, I tell ya...it's destiny.

I am thrilled they are taking the world by storm, and I promise myself I will see them live this year before they head back to the UK for a good, long while. But, then again, if I don't see them around here, it would be a good excuse to hop a plane to Glasgow in the near future, now wouldn't it?

Back to the old grind...

I'm back in Knoxville (there were no chocolate chip scones waiting for me in my office this morning) and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things here again. But, it is Monday, and WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

Goodbye, Kentucky!

Well, it was a busy week, but a good one. And, now, I'm ready to cross the mountain and get back to Tennessee. I miss my mess there in Knoxville, so I'm heading home this morning, and taking the afternoon to catch up on my housework, yardwork, and pony-tending. Luzaz needs a bath!

I enjoyed my time in Lexington and look forward to coming back. Let's just hope they don't go crazy and try to talk me into moving up here (I'd need a seriously sweet re-lo package, which I know Wilbur is so adverse to, in order for it to even be remotely feasible). I'd have a very hard time saying, "no." I'd have a bit of an easier time saying "no," though, as I am fully aware that if I were to leave the Knoxville office for another Wilbur haven, in another state, there would be a hit out on me faster than I could say, "Erika, won't you miss me when I'm gone?" :)