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In Loving Memory...
~ Gogo Fatale ~


6/2/01 - 10/11/11
~ Forever the Marest of Them All ~
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I.... am awesome

I am, for the most part, a modest person. I don't give myself credit where credit is due, because I hate cocky a-holes and I always feel like it makes me sound like one whenever I admit that I did something well, or that I have a particular talent for anything. For the most part, I think I am pretty average in all ways - a fairly talentless, mediocre individual with medium-average intelligence, and not a lot more. But today, I am going to brag about myself for a minute. Today, I am AWESOME.

I am awesome because I am outrageously clever when it comes to work under serious pressure. I am awesome because I am friendly, social and selfless, and in my travels I have made a lot of contacts and friends who are all willing to help me out when I am in a tight spot, simply because they know I would do the same for them. I am awesome because I am well-adjusted and adaptable, and under pressure I am calm as the proverbial cucumber. I am awesome because in the face of major uncertainty, I am still just as happy as ever.

When the job down south fell through, I suddenly found myself facing a major crisis. I got back to Connecticut on Saturday, and had exactly three and a half days until doggie, kitty, pony and myself were completely homeless. *I* can be homeless without a problem, but I can't have all my critters out in the November cold without a warm place to go, so I had to act really, really fast. I had all my stuff to get out of the apartment, I had Gogo to move. I had no idea WHERE we were going but I knew we had to go NOW. When faced with a crisis pertaining to most basic levels of survival - not freezing to death in November - I moved forward with single-minded determination. At blinding speeds, I packed everything I own, set my little critters up at Honey's apartment, made some quick phone calls, packed up everything at the old barn, cleaned up Gogo and tossed her on the trailer, and spent my Sunday evening settling her up at Hillden, where I once lessoned with Kerry Milliken. (Yikes look at that equitation... that was soooo long ago!) Jen was kind enough to let me come last second, and gave me a day rate in case I found another job somewhere else mid-month and needed to leave. The best part about this situation is that Gogo is now getting 10 to 12 hours of turnout a day, coming in only at night to escape the bitter winds. It's exactly what she needs right now to transition over to 24/7... I don't think she's had that much turnout since she was a foal at foot. I spent the rest of past two days packing and loading all my stuff into my horse trailer. I think I should mention that pretty much EVERYTHING I own fits into my trailer's TACK ROOM. Wow.... that's kind of sad, but also a little bit liberating.

As for Gogo, she survived her first day of long turnout without an issue. I thought she might decide at some point that she wanted in NOW, and would run, but she went out at around 6am, and when I arrived at 4pm, she was just standing quietly by the gate. The paddock she is in has a shed and a holding area, which opens up to the bigger paddock through a gate. When she saw me, she screamed, and started pacing the fence like she was definitely ready to come in. 10 hours is pretty good for a horse that normally starts to run the fence after the first two or three! There was another girl there, and she said that she was grazing out in the field when she arrived an hour or so before I got there.

The farm is known for its absolutely gorgeous sunsets, which you get a perfect view of when looking out at her pasture....






I also made her an oatmeal snack out of the box of old plain oatmeal packets I found in my cubbard while cleaning, and spiced it up with some cinnamon sugar. She thought this was absolutely excellent:





I think she might get used to this retirement thing pretty quickly if all I ever do when she sees me is groom her and shove food in her face!


As for the rest of everything, today is the final day of packing, loading and cleaning. Jen's farm is about an hour away, so realistically I don't think I can go every day, but I will do my best to see her as much as possible while in this little bit of limbo. I have a job interview I am flying out for on Thursday, which is great. The rest of everything is all set up at Honey's apartment, and we are all fed and warm. Honestly, if you can believe it, this whole not knowing what tomorrow might bring is pretty exhilarating. I mentioned to Daun yesterday that it was starting to get old, this whole living out of a suitcase and being constantly on the move (versus friends my age who own houses, are starting to make babies, and are getting fat and rich in their little bubble worlds), but I think I am only interested in having a home base because I am always intrigued by what I don't have. If I was tied down to one spot, I don't think I'd really like it... I'm not old enough to really crave that yet, and the adventurer in me still yearns for movement and excitement. I am young and mobile, and I can go anywhere and do anything that I like. In the wintertime, I do get pretty homey, so the timing of this movement is a bit unfortunate. Secretly, I am seriously excited, because I have NO idea where I am going to end up, and NO idea what comes next. For the moment, I am awesome because I assessed the situation, addressed every issue with streamlined efficiency, kept my cool about the whole ordeal, and have still come out smiling. Given the whole situation, I think THAT is something to be very proud of.


And in her huge grassy turnout, and her big airy stall filled with fresh food and clean bedding, Gogo was as happy and fresh as I've ever seen yesterday, despite how ugly her leg is. She's sound at the walk, so I'll take it for what it is. She ate her oatmeal snack with gusto, and stood with the happiest, perkiest look on her face the whole time I was grooming her in the barn. If she's happy, I'm happy.






I am awesome. Gogo is awesome. And YOU are awesome for reading this.

More packing and cleaning.... and then I am freeeeeeeeeeee!

14 comments:

Muddy K said...

I've been reading about you and your amazing mare for a while now, and just wanted to say yep, you are awesome. Tough as nails with a heart of gold, as they say.

Anonymous said...

Good deal - that does sound like an excellent transitional arrangement for mare - and good luck with the job interview!

eventer79 said...

Whew, you have more energy than I, but congrats on getting things moving! I did the moving around thing for a while and now I firmly like the security of my place! I guess this means I am getting old, LOL!

SprinklerBandit said...

Good luck! (Although it hardly sounds as if you need it). Gogo looks like a happy girl.

DockStart said...

You are definitely awesome. That was one heck of a feat to pull off with a day to spare! It's fun to live vicariously through your adventures, for those of us who are settled in one spot. I look forward to hearing all about where you an Gogo go next!
-DS
Adventures In Colt Starting

Melissa said...

Yes, yes you are awesome! Well handled. I'm kinda jealous that you can fit everything into one horse trailer tack room.

"Secretly, I am seriously excited, because I have NO idea where I am going to end up, and NO idea what comes next."

Yeah. It's stressful but so exciting! It's a bit like skydiving - you throw yourself out the door (or get pushed if you're with an instructor like I was), and fall and fall and fall and enjoy the trip knowing that the parachute will open and life will go back to normal soon enough. And even if the main chute fails to open, there's a reserve chute. And there are multiple ways of opening both. So there's some unknowns, but you've got options, and a heck of a ride getting there. Have fun!

SmartAlex said...

Of course you're awesome!

Ahhh... the days when all my belongings fit in a horse trailer (they really did too). I miss it. My adversion to packing and dealing with the burdens of material possessions has certainly shaped my life in not so subtle ways.

Kristen Eleni Shellenbarger said...

U guys are awesome and love the attitude you have...only good things will come! :)
LOVE Gogo's gobbling slurps...such satisfaction!

Val said...

You are.

Unknown said...

Great job! Good luck with the interview and Gogo's new barn.

Checkmark115 said...

yes you so are! I would have broke down and had a tizzy fit for minimum of 2 days. Stress really gets me, esp something like that. way to keep going :)

Anonymous said...

You are brilliant, beautiful and awesome!

Barbara said...

I just started reading your blog a little while ago and I have to say I admire you and Gogo. Couple of tough ladies. Good luck on the job interview, I hope it works out. I am in Colorado, the eventing scene in the west is quite different from horsey country back east, but we have fun anyway.
I had a horse with a digital flexor injury that I spent nearly a year trying to get sound on stall rest, hand walking etc etc. I finally gave up, threw him out on a pasture and a year later, when I was really getting attached to having him hang around the back yard like a gigantic dog, we were jumping again and never looked back. The constant movement of pasture grazing is the best healing medicine there is for a horse, if anything can help your horse heal and be sound again, turnout is it. Good luck. I will be reading.

Dressager said...

Vous sont IMPRESSIONNANTES!!!!! That sums up everything you just said, but in French.