GeologyRider Wandering

Max

2012-01-19T07:58:00.001-06:00

Here is my latest obsession. No, its not horse racing. Look closely at the picture. The chestnut horse (sorrel or Oklahoma dirt red, whichever you prefer), winning here by a nose, is my latest obsession. Meet Max, or more formally, Maximus Momentus (his registered name).

I feel a bit sheepish about it, but here is how I met Max.

My company hosted a great Christmas party at Remington Park. After attending, Michael and I were on our way out of the park when we decided to watch the next race track-side.

They were just walking the horses to the track through the alley, so I stopped to watch.

I'm really partial to bay horses (dark brown) with white stockings and was keeping an eye out for one. I saw a couple bays and a grey, then I saw Max, the chestnut. The most common color of horse in this state. :)

I don't know, something just really struck me about him. I haven't been able to forget him since. I stood there and watched the race, completely entranced, and didn't even care that he'd won.

So now I've made it my mission to save Max. I have determined that I will do what I can to make him mine, to the best of my ability.

Many of you who know me know that I've been horse crazy all my life and will probably think this is just some silly fantasy of mine - that I'll get over it after a while. Not gonna happen. (Luckily Michael is on-board with my idea! Thanks Honey!)

Like so many other horses in the racing industry, once Max's owners decide they're done with him, he'll most like go to the kill buyers. I hope to prevent that. It will be slow going over the next year or so as Max completes more races and finishes his career. Hopefully he won't suffer any major injuries and his owners won't run him into the ground. In speaking with a couple people who are familiar with the racing industry it sounds like if I let Max's owners and trainers know that I'm interested in taking him on after his racing career, they may not run him as hard, so that's a plus. It all depends on the owners. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

Recent pics from my iPhone

2012-01-16T10:46:00.000-06:00

Its so great to always have a camera on hand with my iPhone. The vast majority of the pics I take now are done with my iPhone because usually I just want to capture a quick shot of the current action (or cuteness).

Its amazing that this little turd can look so innocent at times. I guess that's why we keep him around... ;)

The view from my office window this morning. For a January day, its quite warm. It was in the 50's on my drive in and we're expecting a high in the 70's this afternoon. Hopefully the strong winds from the south will last until my drive home - they have to help me offset the extra gas I had to use battling them to get to work this morning!

2011 in a nutshell...

2012-01-10T16:05:00.000-06:00

...actually was worse than both 2009 and 2010. Strange to think that. You might wonder about my attitude on the past year. It would seem it should be positive because, for example, I finally got a job and finally got out of Texas. All's good, right? I think the best I could say about 2011 is that it was the year that will set me up for success in the next few years, but it was a hell of a ride getting through it.

2009 was good until September of that year, when I lost my job. I was numb yet hopeful (and secretly happy to be home with Isaac) through the rest of the year. I'd received a severance package, so we were still doing fine financially, Michael got a job, and I was able to start taking unemployment.

In 2010 I was still hopeful about the prospect of finding a job, though that hope was beginning to wane when I finally got a temporary position in Dallas for the summer. Things were getting a bit tight financially, but Michael's work was steady and my unemployment benefits were hanging in there. My job prospects waxed and waned, but I still had hope.

2011 finally started and the job prospects were looking even better. I had some good interviews and some serious disappointments, but finally by the end of May I'd secured a job with my current company. Don't get me wrong, I truly love the position and the company - I'm not complaining at all about that point! In fact, my career is getting better by the month. However, in 2011 we finally ran out of any form of financial cushion period - its very scary. We can't sell the house in Fort Worth (completely underwater there), moving was extremely expensive and we were unable to find a rental closer than 65 miles from where I work. That means I'm spending gobs of $$ just to get to work every day. On top of that I've gone through two tires (one on each vehicle). The expenses involved were not that bad, except when you throw the house expenses in. The property management company we got to handle the FW house has been a money pit - literally. Our wallets have been breathing fumes for a while because of that company and I was really scared that we wouldn't be able to provide even an adequate Christmas for the boys. Luckily that worked itself out. In all, we seemed to be making poor decisions right and left, and having to pay the consequences all year.

I don't mean to complain or sound negative, but except for my job and career, 2011 really sucked. There were other reasons as well, but the financial aspect really put the pinch on it all. 2012 is already looking much rosier. I know it will involve another move, but I believe we're more prepared for it now than we were before. Plus, most of the issues with renting out the house in FW have now been resolved - can't wait until we can sell that place and at least break even on it.

2012 is the year that we'll finally settle into a place and really make it home. No more moving until Gus and Austin have made it through high school. If we do move, it will be within the same school district. The boys will have a chance to make some good, lasting friendships, right when it really matters.

We hope to find a place with some land and start up our dreams of having a bit of a homestead. I can finally get a horse (or three!). The boys and I want to get chickens and Michael and I want to get goats. I'm so ready to put in a garden for tomatoes! Maybe even plant some fruit trees. Definitely start digging our way out of the deep cavern of debt. This may all be a bit too ambitious for one year, but its good to feel hope surging again. It had faded to nothing like the frost on a sun-lit window. I think 2012 will be the year of working toward balance in all aspects of my life.

I hope your 2012 is as good for you as I hope it to be for me. (with raised glass) To balance... (clink!)

Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T09:32:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays to everyone out there. I'll be back after the New Year with a resolution to post a lot more than I have been. Talk to you soon!

-Karen