Fate loves the fearless.

I've been quiet this week because I've had something huge brewing in my everyday life that has finally come to pass and finally can be announced. As it turns out, my plans to return to Michigan aren't going to happen after all. Instead, and quite by chance, I had a managerial position at a totally superb h/j and dressage facility about 45 minutes west of where I am now just fall into my lap, right when I needed it the most. The events leading up to this couldn't have worked out better. A month ago, after the AECs, I was so convinced I'd be moving back to Ohio to be with Alex that I essentially gave my one month notice right then and there to Vicki. As you know, I am broke - so broke! - and there was just no way it was going to be financially feasible for me to maintain this position and not starve any longer, especially with all my unexpected vet bills this summer. I love it here, I really do, but god, I really do need to eat you know. Unfortunately, the whole working student thing is not designed for financial success, and it wasn't what I really wanted to do with my life anyway. I have no desire to teach or train. I don't want to ride for a living. I don't like giving lessons, and I'm not good at it. I came out to New England mostly because I knew I'd fall in love with the east coast, and I wanted to establish Gogo out here against the big northern East Coast dogs. I never expected to stay at my current position for very long - actually I stayed quite longer - but I just love these people to death and it's very sad to be leaving. When it became apparent that moving back to Ohio to be with Alex was just really not going to work, and that I needed to just suck it up and give it up as a lost cause, I realized 'wow, I really don't want to leave Connecticut.' Michigan was all right, of course, since I really do love it there and it is always going to be home for me, but when it came down to it, I was essentially about to be jobless and even poorer than before, if possible, since my original plans completely fell through. I hadn't planned on that part. And I really did not want to be the 24 year-old loser going back to her parents' house because she couldn't make it work where she was. But really, when you get paid like a working student, you are VERY hard pressed to actually take in more than you actually spend and save. I managed to scrape along for most of this year, but it wasn't easy. Last year, I took the first position I could after my summer off, just to get out of where I was and to try and make something of my life. But at some point I had to stop and go, wow, I have a degree in Equine Facility Management, and I have nothing to show for that. It's time to get real.

But of course, my plans were collapsing. I was NOT going to go back to Ohio after all, which was the original plan. So what did that leave me? Michigan, and my parents' house? That's great... except then what? I really was not keen on leaving New England when it came down to it, but I was at a loss as to what else I was going to be able to do. And then, my friend Karen, who I went to college with and who also lives and works out here in CT, texted me last week while I was up at Tufts, saying, "I have a potential job to tell you about!" Interested, I texted her back, not knowing anything about it or what it was for. As it turns out, an amazing private boarding facility about 45 minutes west of here was looking to hire someone to help manage the place, and I jumped on it. She liked what I sent her, called me, and we set up an interview for yesterday evening. It seemed like a great fit, and voila, today I had an offer to take the position. And just like that, I'm onto my first really big job.

I mean, the timing of this could not be better, and neither could the terms. Today was my very last day of work for Vicki, and I was supposed to be packing up and going back to MI this coming week, so I'm free to start whenever needed. I get a stall with my offer - and I mean, a STALL! - and an unbelievably good salary. I mean, I could put almost a thousand bucks a month into my savings after all my expenses are taken care of. I could have real meals. I could go out once in awhile. I could pay off my vetbills. I could get Ti that new coat I've been wanted to buy. I could give people nice Christmas presents. I've never had any sort of real money to my name before. And while housing isn't included, I have the opportunity to live with my friend Karen, who originally networked me to this job. She lives about 20 minutes away from this barn at a gorgeous little private farm in an apartment over the barn, and works off her rent by taking care of the two horses, pony, and mini donkey that live there. Essentially, if we were to split the shifts of taking care of these critters (and it's easy, picking stalls and turnouts and feedings, and that's about it), we'd be living there for nothing at all, or at most like $75 per person. Which is very, very easily doable. The actual position itself is stuff I've great at - organizing schedules, keeping track of stuff, making sure things get done, interfacing with clients and the staff, and keeping everyone smiling. It's not so much about barnwork, as there is a fulltime staff to muck stalls and do turnouts already, but more about keeping the machine well-oiled. It's a big step for me in this world, but it's a big step in the right direction. I'm nervous, but I think I'll do just fine.

And as for Gogo? Well, she'll be in horsey paradise. There are a million custom, gorgeous jumps at this place, a big indoor and a big outdoor with special TravelRight footing, a treadmill (AMAZING for rehabbing tendon injuries!), and those giant stalls complete with the ComfortStall system. I'll be working somewhere gorgeous, somewhere I can really pour my heart into and be proud of, and she'll be in rehabber's dream paradise. I get to live at a gorgeous farm, work at a gorgeous barn, and actually make MONEY doing it. This is a dream come true, really.

Very excited.



On the Gogo rehab front, everyday life continues to be about the same as always. She still has another week of two daily 10 minute handwalks with 10 minutes of handgrazing each time, but she'll end her Surpass on Saturday. Dr. A told me that some Robaxin would probably help her back, but I haven't ordered it yet as I wasn't sure where it was going to be delivered! She is also still getting her ice boots once a day for 30 minutes, and of course a good daily grooming. The rough outline of her schedule goes something like this:

October 8-22: 20 mins handwalking (10 hw + 10 grass 2x), ice boots 1/2 hour 1x, Surpass 2x (ending the 17th), wrapping
October 23-Nov 4: 30 mins handwalking (15 hw + 10 grass 2x, if there is still grass!), wrapping
Nov 5-11: 15 mins handwalking 1x, 15 minutes tackwalking 1x, wrapping
Nov 12-18: 15 mins handwalking 1x, 20 minutes tackwalking 1x, wrapping
Nov 19-25: 15 mins handwalking 1x, 25 minutes tackwalking 1x, wrapping
Nov 26-Dec 3: 15 mins handwalking 1x, 30 minutes tackwalking 1x, wrapping
Vet recheck

If all is going well at that point, we will hopefully be about to start trotting for 5 minutes a day, if she is sound. We will see!



Gogo says, Happy Fall!



And also, it is still only October 15th.... SO WHY IS IT SNOWING LIKE CRAZY.