Music: None
Brr, it's cold today. I'm sitting here at the gym with my feet next to a space heater, and I'm still cold. Time to hunt out some thicker socks, methinks.
I took Violet for an hour-long ride today--on Saturday Mom and I are going on a trail ride (squee!) and we're taking Colletta and Violet. I am excited, but also a little cautious. Violet has been doing really well lately, but she's never met any other horses and hasn't been trailered since she was six weeks old. So this ride ought to be interesting. Supposedly the trails are easy (as opposed to the ride I went on earlier this year that was nearly 5 hours long and went up and down muddy ravines, into rocky creeks, and was incredibly hard-core), and our farrier and horse trainer will be there so if I have any trouble with Violet he'll be there to give me a hand. So this week I'll be taking Violet out as much as possible, by herself or with Colletta.
Anyway, back to today's ride...we made it to the road and just worked on going places that Violet didn't want to go. She gets upset, but never to the point that she has a breakdown--it's just enough to get her nervous, which is perfect. The idea is, the more often we go places that make her nervous but she doesn't get hurt and nothing bad happens, the more inclined she'll be to trust me. I've been working with her with that mindset ever since I started training her, and it does work. I can't wait until she's as well-trained (and quiet) as Colletta...
Been working on the Inkheart trilogy for the last couple of weeks...I'm on the third book in the series, and I can't seem to read it fast enough. I'm on page 289 out of 683, and things are getting darker and more hopeless by the chapter, but it's like Lord of the Rings: the story runs pell-mell on its path and doesn't get resolved until the last few chapters. Although, granted, Lord of the Rings kind of winds down with the 'Scouring of the Shire', and the Inkheart books don't tend to wind down until the last chapter... *rambles*
Anyway. On to college...my classes have me completely and thoroughly frustrated. The subjects are easy in themselves, and I rather like them, but my teacher insists on piling on ridiculous amounts of busywork. Each project is required to have 20-30 thumbnails (this is Graphic Design), at least 10 roughs, and then every project has to be mounted on a special board and mailed in and it's all just a hassle! I DO have other things to do other than busy-work in college! Between work, class (and the studying involved), horses, and the racing hither thither and yon that those activities entail I hardly have enough time to draw, much less do nonsensical projects...grrr. I wish that I could do school and start all the things in life that I'm anxious to do too--I'm starting to contact people about my art, local and otherwise, but if I don't have any time to work on my art that's going to fizzle out pretty darned soon.
Arrgh...*inhales* I'm calming down, I'm calming down...maybe.
Let's go on to a different subject, shall we? Today is the 12th, yes? Well, on the 20th is my birthday. I'm turning 18, woo. And I just remembered that I have a truck payment and insurance due on the 15th..or is it the 17th? I can't remember. I have a payment due this week, that's enough knowledge. I don't want to do anything or go anywhere on my birthday--I just want to take the whole day off and do whatever I want, without the pressure of a schedule. That would be wonderful.
Man, am I in a dour mood or what? This isn't like me, really. Let's see if I can end this on a happy note.
I found 'The Matchmaker' on iTunes--it's a movie with Anthony Perkins, made in 1958. I saw some clips on Youtube and read the synopsis this weekend. It sounds really cute (the storyline, that is). As such I'm plotting to buy an iTunes card...hmm...*looks around shifty-eyed* Hurrah for obscure movies that have dead actors in them! :D Now I just have to get my grubby paws on a Tony Perkins album with him singing 'Abracadabra'--I have fallen in love with that song and it's going through my head right now, as a matter of fact. I'll check a BitTorrent website. *plots*
My hands are getting cold, and 'Inkdeath' is begging to be read again, so I shall sign off.