A reprieve...

I still may be getting sick, but I started feeling better a little while after feeling pretty crappy, there, while I wrote my previous blog entry. Billy got home from work (let me add that he's not on call, but his employee couldn't fix whatever problem there was), and told me I should go ride. It was beautiful outside.... a very comfortable temperature (read: I could take my hat and gloves off without my body becoming numb within a minute or two). I mean, there's still a lot of snow, but it was comfortable enough to wear a fleece shirt, my Rambo(!! love it!!) vest, and my non-insulated breeches. Oh, and my crochet-backed pigskin gloves that I usually wear only in warmer seasons.

I rode Trinity, and she was very good. The snow was deep--though not even--and sort of packy, so I decided I would just walk her around to keep her from overstraining/tripping. Plus, I wasn't feeling that great prior to going to the barn, so I decided I really didn't feel like anything much faster--especially on that horse. She's a powerhouse. All was well at the walk.... I even got her to go over to the spooky part of the yard by the end of the boulevard (she really hates the house across the street from our road, ever since the people there were doing yard work and she couldn't clearly see them) without any reaction. There was even a stray Jell-O box that had taken up residence next to the fallen tree--no reaction, and me so proud! The only time Ms. Thang spooked at all is when the guy who lives at that spooky house drove up. He was driving a truck with a plow, stopped at his mailbox (I'm assuming), then pulled into our road and backed into his driveway. This is all fine and good, except it was sort of loud and unexpected. And he chose just the time that we were coming around the corner nearest to him to do this. Needless to say, Trin & I shot off for a couple seconds. I know people don't know that some horses have issues with some things, but sometimes it ticks me off, nevertheless. That being said, I'm sure the guy didn't try on purpose to spook the horse.... and, really, she does need to GET OVER IT.

We ended the ride on a good note (circling the tree in that area until she calmed down), then waded through the snow to get back to the barn. In the barn, she let me rub on her with the clippers and a piece of garden hose.... I am determined this is the year we get some major despooking done. It's funny, because she doesn't really spook easily unless it's one of those things. I never know what'll set her off. As a 7-year-old, I go to spray her with fly spray and she almost bolts through the crossties. It's like, "You're 7. You've lived in Michigan your whole life. I am SO sure you've been sprayed before." Same deal with getting a bath, though it's feasible she's never been bathed before. We walk by all the construction going on back in the fall, and she's like "Ho-hum!" And didn't even barely flinch when I walked her past the Jell-O box and she kicked snow up onto it. I'm baffled.

The lady who was helping sell this horse for her owner told the owner she thought Trinity was crazy and untrainable.... that's why I got a horse that was 7 and barely knew how to walk under saddle. She's really smart.... I mean REALLY smart... I just have to figure out how to get past the sudden noise/cloaked movement spookiness she's got.

My other goal is to get her on the trailer. When we got her, she would walk right on. I think Billy drove her somewhere bumpy the last time, and she's not wanted to get on the trailer without a fight since. Go figure.

The plague is alive and well.

Poor Hunter is still feeling under the weather. The doctor assures me the diarrhea is okay as long as he's drinking and not vomiting, too. I am currently feeling lousy, so I think my day is coming. I am a bit bummed about this because I think this means I am definitely NOT GOING to the open house at the bike store.... I am so afraid I'll get my grandpa sick. Getting anyone else sick, well, that's okay. Hehehe.

This has been a lazy day, so far, but I did manage to squeeze in my T-tapp. I've been off-kilter for a few days following jury duty, so it was good to get it done. I decided to do both of the Instructionals, plus Stepping Away the Inches (SATI). I'm not sure, but I think that's like an hour and a half of working out? It felt good, but now I'm tired.

We have a bunch of movies to watch this weekend--Saw, Ray, and Friday Night Lights. I even scored a copy of Disney's "Flight of the Navigator." I'm pretty excited about that, as we LOVEd that movie when I was younger.

Okay, the Logan is protesting about something downstairs, so I guess I am done for now. Happy Saturday!

Just a note...

saying hello from my laptop in the living room, now that I've got the wireless card installed. I picked John's brain tonight as to how to get it communicating with the router, but it ended up I just needed to mess with it a little bit anyways. Boring stuff, but I'm happy that I can play with the computer in other parts of the house. Now if only my laptop battery lasted longer than 20 minutes! If it's not one thing, it's another.

Not much to report here, except I have not yet done my workout today, and it is most definitely a long workout day. I am going to put down the laptop, change, and start it.... I have been procrastinating partly because everyone in my family is shooting bodily fluids one way or another. I have been lucky thus far, but I suspect my luck will change sooner rather than later. I am bummed, too, because tomorrow is Open House, and I think we will all be spending the day at home so we don't contaminate others. Believe me when I say this is not an easy decision for me, especially this year. I really don't want anyone getting the flu because I have germies on me, though.

I feel a little better that I haven't vented about my husband on here lately, although yesterday I was very upset--and really through no fault of his own. He couldn't help it that he was hugging the toilet. It was just the realization that I was picking up after everyone, and if I got sick I was still going to be the one picking up after everyone.

Please pray for Hunter. He's having.... erm... okay, I'll just say it... DIARRHEA.... for the past four days. He is drinking like a fiend, and his appetite comes and goes, but we have seriously had to change his clothes and his sheets five or six times today. We have him on Pedialyte, as well as his formula, bananas, and crackers (which he hasn't wanted yet). The doctor said to give him Tylenol to help with stomach cramps. Poor bodders. I hate to see him this way, and we are tired of the sheet-washing. He's not getting good sleep because he'll wake himself up by filling his diaper and soaking his clothes..... so it was a particularly long day today.

Well, I'm off to workout for at least a little bit, and to pray that moving my lymph around will stave off the creepy-crawlies for a while.

I've added more T-tapp pictures

Again, this is mainly for the benefit of my fellow T-tappers... but I did post new pictures (taken today) to update my progress since February 15. Let me know where you think I look different--good and bad--than in the earlier pictures. And, don't think I'm crazy about taking these pictures of myself and letting my family and friends check them out. Ugh!!!

Today I did the Beginner/Rehab workout, which I was supposed to do yesterday but was too tired to do then. It works out better this way, as I've got Emma tomorrow and could certainly use the time off tomorrow!

Anyway, click on the blog entry title to get to the photo album!

It's finally over!

I won't post any details of the trial here (you can e-mail me if you want, or call on the telephone, even), so don't bother asking. I figure it's a private matter with the families involved, and it doesn't need to be broadcast over the Internet if so-and-so was innocent or proven guilty. I will say this, I thought it was a great experience (as far as a criminal trial is concerned), and I am glad that I had the opportunity to do it.

***

Right now, I'm emotionally drained. I walked in the door long enough to see Billy leaving, not planning on returning until early a.m. I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach because I'm tired and will have a lot of household chores that must be done tonight (garbage, horses, etc.).... and all I really want to do is take a nap. I'm not convinced I won't cry before the night is over--I'm just needing to recharge somehow--but this time it's mostly to do with the climax of the last week of my life and 12 taxing hours of deliberation before finally reaching a unanimous decision.

I'm supposed to do my T-tapp tonight, but I think I'm going to wait until tomorrow. My mind is just too spent to do something that involves any degree of thinking. If I must do anything, I'll go hop on the elliptical machine for a few minutes or something.

Stiiiiiiiiiiill deliberating....

I am in jury purgatory.