Mine and Joewell’s 7 month anniversary marked the best ride of my life! It was an accident really that on the day of our anniversary we simply “clicked” but it was the best feeling ever and unfortunately I don’t have any witty or creative way to put it so simply stated it was fabulous. I dare even venture to state he quite possible gave me his most solid, elevated and through passage of his career! Yes, that was bold but that’s simply how it felt and appeared in the mirrors.

After talking with the gals at Lara’s farm this past month and learning more about horses, dressage and even a few profound life lessons from them all, I’ve started trying to listen to Jo rather then my previous attempts at telling him what to do. It’s starting to become more of a conversation than ultimatums and it’s working. He seems happier. I enjoy my rides more. I don’t need much spur and rarely ride with a whip and he’s forward, mostly engaged and so soft in my hands. Our training sessions are slowly becoming more consistent, quiet and effective. I’m still looking forward to my departure for Europe and my plans are ever (and I do mean E-V-E-R) changing. Leaving Ashland will now be bittersweet for several reasons but my opportunities abound at this in my life and I’m taking them. In regards to the ever changing part, I’m not sure what this will mean but there is a chance I’ll be training at a facility in Holland for a period of time and I’m thinking of skipping the Sunshine Tour in the south of Spain simply because I want to be 1000% ready for international competition before I enter at “A” for my next Grand Prix. I’ll know more at the end of this week as to my potential new directions but I’m thinking my first big show will be Samur, France in May.

Other than having my best ride ever it’s the same old, same old in Ashland. Circus class last night and dinner at the sheep followed. I had a not-so-memorable yet generally fun evening out with Lara and Abbey last Friday night and it was certainly a blast hanging with the girls. Picollo is as spoiled as ever. Ashland is hella cold right now. HorseGirlTV is starting to come together now and I’m hoping to have a rough cut of one episode before I leave the country! And yes… I know I use exclamation marks far too much lately but that’s how life feels and I’m rolling with it AND I’ve started saying “sorry” far too much lately when it’s not appropriate so I’ll take note of that and change it.

So another year comes to a halt and I’m wondering where it all went? This time last year was horrible. I’d returned to the states from Spain for the wrong reasons, Picollo had become paralyzed and we were both trapped in Texas for the duration. Then there was my whole returning to “live” in LA which was for certain a learning experience, Sage and Elise’s incredible wedding and up to Seattle for the summer to train with Gwen on Joewell, San Francisco for Dallas and Vida’s wedding and then my “stop-over” in Ashland to see Nicole. Let’s hope 2007 finds me a bit more wise and stable in my life. There will be moves here and there but I’m hoping I’m better prepared to make the smart and thoughtful choices this time around!

I’ve really enjoyed hanging in Ashland with my friends and have made a few new ones that are now near and dear to my heart. The gals at Lara’s farm, the new Sheep friends have enhanced my Ashland experience all the more! I wish I didn’t have to leave but know I MUST go as I’ll probably never have this opportunity again. Life isn’t always about the easy way and I’m well versed in this. Having Joewell, at this time, with these connections that I need to foster are too aligned not to follow through. What state I come back to at this point is anyone’s guess, including my own? All I know is this preparation of paperwork, I’m gonna be holding the veterinarian’s little hand as he processes the paperwork to make sure everything is done in a timely fashion and we get out of the country as planned with no more additional expenses.

So I guess I ventured off the beaten path of talking about THIS New Year’s Eve. The long and short?.. it was a great night, playing hostess with Susan, hanging with Kari and , a short night’s sleep at the Ashland Springs Hotel and New Year’s Day brunch shared with , Charley and Nate. What more could a girl ask for on the first day of the year but to spend it with three incredibly good-looking, talented and kind people!

Happy New Year!

“Merry Christmas you ole building and loan!” I’ve long since desired the whole Bill Bailey Christmas. That experience of a rather large extended family bundled together inside by the fire with everyone drinking, eating and making merry. And… I’ve actually had it on several levels. This year was at Susan’s making stuffing, pies, cranberry sauce and the like. It was a small but fun group. The day made me reflect on what should be important to me. Right now my focus is somewhat self-centered in getting to Europe, training and learning as much as I can in my time abroad but my family of friends (old and new) is and has been so crucial to my happiness. I should definitely revisit this issue as the new year approaches and incorporate it into my plan over the next year.

Apart from Christmas day reflects, it was a fundamentally eclectic day filled with the usual cooking and drinking as well as the unusual fire bikes, feeding of the goats and general randomness of the group I shared it with. Definitely a sweet day!

Another holiday season is rolling around and I’m very thankful to be in Ashland and getting to attend yet another Black Sheep employee party. Honestly, I should work there someday since I have the menu and seating chart memorized!

This year Susan hired a pro photographer to snap some random shots and after a couple of lemon drops we were all acting crazy. Thanks to Kari for lending me such a hot dress for the evening!

The party ended much too soon and was followed by a staggered trek to the Beau club, a sweet – albeit – drunkened kiss, a few games of Ms. Pacman and then back downtown to Sage’s apartment. What a memorable night!

So Susan has been enhancing my daily life here in Ashland by informing me of Tango and Circus classes. It’s been a nice cross training to simply riding and fun meeting new people. The Circus (aka Fabric or Silk) class is GREAT for upper body strength and is really starting to help me with that whole fear of heights thing! Who woulda guessed that I can gallop ’round on a 2000 pound beast yet be a bit shy on climbing a mere 15 feet off the ground! Hehe.

The tango has been fabulous to help my “feel” with my riding and that’s not to discount the helpful eyes of Lara, Tiffany and Becky out at the farm. Slowly but (and I think) surely my riding is shifting from an unconscious desire for control to a more thoughtful conversation with my horse. Who would have thought it could be this simple?!

Where to start in such a full and emotional day? Yesterday was Nicole’s Life Celebration service. It started early with a ladies brunch at the Mark (sorry but I just can’t bring myself to call it Lithia Whatever-It-Is-Now). It was reassuring to see other fabulous women who’s lives Nicole has touched and hear their stories sharing laughter and tears. Next we moved on to the services at the temple. I got to be a greeter. Thanks for asking me to help Shelley! I think my Audrey outfit was a hit. I did it for Nicole but feared folks would judge and of course I said, “fuck their opinions” and did it anyway but surprisingly enough it was very well received. I guess everyone knew Nicole would appreciate the over-the-top-ness of the whole thing.

“Sister” as sung by Deidrie has been in my head since. Sister, you’ve been on my mind. Oh sister, we’re two of a kind. So sister, I’m keeping my eye on you. I bet you think I don’t know nothin’ of singing the blues. My sister, have I got news for you. I’m something and hope you know that you’re something too. You taught so many of us that we’re something too! Tanya, Ed, Shelley and Eric put together a beautiful service!

Afterwards, Debra and I absconded with some frilly paper napkins labeled in elegant curvy gold font saying simply Nicole and forged forward and on to the Black Sheep where, napkins in hand, we drank martini’s and toasted the classy broad! Eric joined with us to carry over to Tabu for Margi-tini’s and by this time I was lit and it was a mere 5:30 in the afternoon! Nicole woulda loved it! I spoke with an old acquaintance but new friend, who’d had an equally yet different emotional day, who joined up with me for yet another libation. Mine this time was a Shirley Temple as I needed to slow down or go down! About nine in the evening, he’d finished his beverage and I was almost sober so we moved on down to the Beau Club for cheap beer and Ms. Pacman and closed the place out!

All said, it was a splendid day, the best services I’d attended and such a release to be able to be here in Ashland and share the moment and the day with such twists and turns! I’ll miss you my darling but there will not be a moment of my future when I process important decisions and think “What would Nicole tell me to do?” and (wink, wink) not that I’ll follow your advice as I haven’t always in the past but I’ll definitely wrestle with your words of wisdom and try to do the correct thing!