I believe in second chances!!!

Photo by Tricia Booker

I have marvelled over this photo all week long. Under other circumstances, I would never be so enthralled with a picture of a dramatic crash at a cross-country fence, but that was then and this is now. I think these frangible jumps are, in any number of instances, the answer to many, many eventers' prayers. I find it heartening and joyful to know that -- what would very likely have been either a life-threatening or fatal accident for either or both this horse and rider -- turned into a mishap that necessitated nothing more than a regroup, a short walk about, a 2-minute repair of the obstacle, and then horse and rider reattempted (successfully!) the jump and happily went on their way to finish the course with no other incident. 

I would like to believe that this might mean the beginning of the end of horses and riders "paying the ultimate price" for errors or mistakes while riding cross-country in upper-level eventing. It certainly ended well for Geoff Curran and The Jump Jet at Rolex last weekend. I'm looking forward to meeting Safer Building Materials co-founder, Kyle Carter, this weekend in Alabama and I can't wait to hear more about what he might have in store for smarter, safer eventing!

Bright Star

I finally got around to watching this today. Very lovely and, yes, sad (as history would have it). I'm a huge fan of Ben Whishaw after seeing his recent portrayal of Sebastian Flyte. Fanny's wardrobe (as she was known to be a talented seamstress) is beautiful and just adds to the layers of "pretty" in this film. If you're a fan of literary biopics or British period pieces, then you must watch it!

Living in a Virtual World

I'm teaching a research and writing class for the next 6 weeks, starting tonight, and we are discussing this video this evening. My students have already posted some thoughts and comments in the forums on our class web site, so I'm really anxious to get started and take this topic further in the actual classroom. Lots of great stuff here!

Dear Santa...

My friend, Lauren, sent this out. Hilarious (if you're a rider...particularly if you're an eventer). The concept of using fancy tack to distract from my "awkwardness" is so familiar. Eddie would love it if I embraced the mantra "don't jump up the neck/don't jump up the neck/don't jump up the neck." To all my fellow eventers....Enjoy!

Dear Santa,
I've been really good this year. I've been doing all the things my trainer tells me to do, even if I do feel like a pretzel sometimes. I read the 2009 USEA Rulebook, or at least the good parts (those diagrams in the Appendix are works of art!). I tell my horse I love him every day, even though I really don't love him when he dumps me in the water, or drops a shoulder at monsters in the bushes, or bolts like a giraffe as soon as we enter at A. I've been practicing really hard driving the truck and trailer, and I only got stuck twice and haven't even jack-knifed this season! I know I'm on the Nice list this year, because if I was on the Naughty list I would have killed the cat for peeing on my white fullseats. The vet said he will live for sure, though perhaps with a slight limp.

I know the economic times are tough this year, and the EPA is all over you for your reindeer's methane expulsion, but I just thought I'd mail you this letter in case you could send a couple things my way. I didn't know your email, or twitter, and I couldn't find your facebook page to stalk you, so I hope this old-fashioned postal method still works.

A Charles Owen GR8 Helmet. Everybody who's anybody is wearing them nowadays, and they just scream "I'M WINNING ROLEX." I hear they fit well, too, but I hope it doesn't mess up my hair. I do need a new helmet this year, since my old one isn't quite round anymore, after that incident with the wild turkeys. Who knew they could fly? My horse sure didn't. Maybe I should add saddle-tite to this list, just in case

New Studs. I know I asked for these last year, and I thank you for them. But, you see, I lost more of them again this summer. They're always disappearing, you know, like socks. Never a matching pair to be found.


A Mattes Sheepskin Pad. My horse says his back would feel sooo much better and he'd never buck me off again if he could wear a yummy, fuzzy, soft dead sheep under his saddle. And it looks cool.

A New Stock Tie. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the bloodstain out of my old one, and it's a bit unsightly. I tried Oxyclean and everything, it just doesn't work anymore without Billy Mays. Note to self: don't jump up the neck, don't jump up the neck, don't jump up the neck...perhaps I should have this phrase embroidered on the new tie?

A 5-point Breastplate. My perfectly custom-made, expensive French saddle just doesn't quite look "finished" enough with a hunting breastplate. This new-fangled strap design will allow my horse complete freedom of his limbs, hopefully compensating for my awkwardness. And it would be nice to securely anchor my seat to the horse's chest, in case we end up lost in the Himalayas. Can't be too prepared. It's all about safety, you know.

Thanks again Santa, I hope these things aren't too much to ask. Please enjoy your milk and apple slices--I left ten pieces, so you can also share with the deer. I had made some tasty chocolate chip cookies, but the dog got on the table and cleaned your plate. He's on the naughty list....don't leave him anything.

Merry Christmas!

Do You Believe?

For anyone who can watch a college football game and think that it's just a bunch of nameless faces, wearing numbers, like little mechanical dots on a field...then I challenge you to look at these photos and tell me that coach doesn't care about those kids. I particularly appreciate the picture with Jonathan Crompton, which - to me - epitomizes the "miraculous change" that he showed in his playing earlier this season. It was no miracle...he just needed someone to believe in him. Thanks, Coach Kiffen, for coming to Tennessee, for believing in all those players, and for making football a "game" again. Go Vols!!!

Buh-bye

I don't care who it is, when they can't play by the rules off the field, then they don't need to be allowed back on the field. That's the only way some people will learn. Thanks, Coach K, for standing by your word that these kids will be held accountable for their actions on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. Tough love, but somebody's gotta do it.

Oh, no....

This article makes me rather embarassed to be from Knoxville. Doesn't Huckabee look somewhat like Quagmire from Family Guy in that picture? Hahaha! "Giggity."

http://4stargazing.blogspot.com/

He Ain't Done Yet!!!!

I have la-la-la-loved Brett Favre for ages and ages. I have stayed rather distant from comment regarding his departure from GB, his stint with the Jets, and now his place in Minnesota (I love Purple and Yellow!!!). I know people have said "not nice" things about his recent career decisions, but -- quite frankly -- sometimes, 40-year-old men DON'T always make good decisions. Am I right?

I think Brett should play as long as he wants to, for whomever he wants, and I'll always be here to turn on the tv and watch him play...All. Day. Long. :-) Go Vikings!!! (Wow...I haven't said THAT since I was, oh, 16 or 17 years old!).

http://4stargazing.blogspot.com