Day by Day

Here I am counting down the days.

30 days until I load the horse in the trailer and go to Shanghai.

Each day it gets more and more real.

Each day I tick things off my to do list.

Sunday March 1st; weather permitting, go trail riding at Nails Creek at Lake Somerville with the Central TX Lady Trail Riders.  Very excited as I'm going to take Socks so I can just sit back and relax.

Monday, March 2nd; pay my membership fees for AERC and PFHA.

Wait until I get both my AERC number and Strider's AERC number, and as soon as I have those in hand, I mail off my check for Shanghai.

March 7th; Trailer loading clinic.  Taking Strider.  Going to be up VERY early (I'll probably have to set the alarm for about 4:30 or 5am) so I can go to the barn and wrestle my horse in to the trailer.  Little worried about this.  Super long lunge line, hay and grain inside the trailer and a whip to coax him in I guess.  Honestly, if this clinic can help me get him to just self-load I'll weep with happiness.  Or at least make it NOT a struggle.

March 8th; Open Schooling event at County Line Equestrian Center in Hutto.  It's their St. Patrick's Day open schooling, so I'll doll up which ever horse I feel like taking.  Probably will be Strider.  In which case, as long as his registration goes through with PFHA, the day in the saddle qualifies us for "Pasos for Pleasure" hours.  Looks good on his registry number and we earn points and prizes as well as promote the breed.  He needs the exposure and trailer loading practice.  Not going to overnight him this time I don't think.  The drive isn't that bad to Hutto, and maybe some of the ladies at the barn will want to go.

Somehow try to squeeze in one good ride prior to Shanghai.  Might even get brave and load and go ride solo some where.  I need to find a place with decent footing where I can really open Strider up and get him moving and see what he's got for a day, but still allow him time to recover prior to Shanghai.

I honestly am still up in the air about how I want to do Shanghai. 

Do I want to try and do 25's both days?  Do the 25 on Saturday and the intro on Sunday?  Just do the 25 on Saturday and then volunteer at the vet check station?  Just do the 25 on Saturday, pack up and go home?

Joe gave me the pass to stay gone all weekend.  And part of me says I need to volunteer and contribute, but part of me says I want to challenge myself and Strider and try to do both days.  These decisions are getting to me.  I might contact the ride manager and ask her if I can register for Sunday and decide on that day what I want to do.  I kind of want to try and ride both days.  If I'm going to be sore, might as well go for broke! 

We'll see.

Equine Annual Goal

In the past few weeks, I've openly accepted my goal for this year in regards to my horses.

And as such, I'm diving head-long in to learning more.  This learning process involves joining various Facebook groups, buying a few books, investing some money for training into my horses, joining actual organizations and planning to join other organizations.  Putting dates and times on my calendar while I figure out how far and long I'll have to drive.  Wondering if my horse can do it.  Wondering if I can do it.  Making lists of things I already own that I can use and of things I'll need to go out and buy in order to make this work.  Looking at retro-fitting my trailer in order to make it work, but looking at it in the condition it currently is in and planning how to make that work in the here and now.

What is it I'm looking at doing?

Endurance riding.  If you don't know what it is, go to AERC.org (American Endurance Ride Conference).  Right now they're running a special, but it's usually $75/annually and your first horse is free (each additional horse is $15 for a lifetime membership).  I will be joining AERC on March 1st and registering Strider as my mount.

This is the perfect sport for me as well as for Strider (and Socks to a minimal degree). 

So with all that in mind, my first step was publicly announcing "I'm going to ride at LEAST one ride this year."

My second step was getting Joe's blessing.

My third step?  READ ALL THE THINGS!!!!!

No, seriously.  There are so many ways to be involved and so many organizations that I'm overwhelming myself, so I'm trying to pace things out.

Currently, I paid in $15 for a "Green Bean Membership".  I did this first as it gave me access to their forums where I was able to dabble a bit more and read a few more things.  Also, for so little, it allows me to feel like I'm an offical "Green Bean", though it's more a state of mind than anything else.

What's a "Green Bean" you ask?

Glad you asked!!!

(Taken directly from the Green Bean Endurance web page at: http://greenbeanendurance.weebly.com/ )

"Who are the Green Beans?

Green Beans are riders (and horses) new to the wonderful sport of endurance riding as well as the amazing mentors willing to give us a hand. Click below to learn more about who we are and what we do!  (PS - we have t-shirts!)"

So, I now am official.  I'm getting active in the AERC Facebook groups as well as on the Green Bean page.  I'm also considered in the Heavyweight division (between my tack and myself it's over 211 lbs), so I've joined a Facebook group for riders in that division.

But!  There are other organizations I'd like to join in order to help both my horse and I potentially gain the most that we can out of our rides together.

As I've said, AERC is my next organization to join.  Strider will earn points and miles as will I.  Assuming we complete our ride in time and he's not pulled by the ride vet. 

Some of the other organizations I'm looking to join?

TERA.  Texas Endurance Riders Association (Web Page at: http://texasenduranceriders.org/ )  This gives me a discount at some rides and is only $25/annually.

Now, here's where things get interesting and a wee bit sticky, and I'm still weighing if it's worth it to me.

Strider is a Paso Fino.  PFHA (Paso Fino Horse Association) offers a few different programs for those of us who don't show our horses.  However, you need to be a member of PFHA.  Once you're a PFHA member, that opens up some programs.

Right now I'm enjoying networking, and getting very excited about my ride which is now just a little over a month away.   

I'm also just soaking up books and reading what people are willing to share with me on Facebook.

Some of the things which I suspect are keeping people from this sport:
Lack of a horse.  Actually, this shouldn't stop you!  I see MANY people who haul horses to rides so their horses can get mileage for AERC, but they don't have enough riders for their horses!  Want to try out the sport, reach out and ASK!!

Lack of 'proper' tack.  Look, all of the photos I see online are of riders in lightweight saddles with matching biothane tack in their flashy colors, and the rider is all rigged out with all sorts of acoutrements.  NOT NECESSARY!!!  Want to know what I'll be doing my first ride in?  My leather gaited saddle with my mismatched headstall.  Why?  Because it fits my horse and is comfortable for me.  You can ride in tack you ALREADY OWN!!  Own an English saddle?  RIDE IT!!  50lb cutting saddle?  RIDE IT!!  If it fits your horse and it fits you, then you're good to ride!

Fear of rejection.  This was one of my biggest fears.  This sport seemed overwhelming to me, but so far, everyone is welcoming and willing to share their information.  There are mentoring programs, and I've seen so much support poured out my way, and people encouraging me that it's incredible. 
"Oh, I've seen this neat piece of tack I'm looking at buying!" 
"I own that, feel free to try mine out before you buy to see if you REALLy like it!" 
"I'm doing this ride this weekend.  Anyone else?  I've never done a ride before and I'm nervous!"
"Oh, I'm doing that ride.  Would you like me to ride with you?"

The reality is that I figured that I'd be "only" a trail rider.  Except I know Strider can do so much more.  He has the ability to be more, but it's a matter of me finding and figuring out what he can do.  I've had SO many people tell me he'd be an endurance mount, but for years I've made excuses and talked myself out of it and hidden my desire to try it in earnest.

This is our year.  My husband supports me.  My friends support me. 

I'm hoping by the end of May Strider and I will have racked up at LEAST 100 AERC miles.  There are currently a total of 5 AERC sanctioned rides in Texas that I can drive to in less than 5 hours (there's on near Amarillo, but I'm NOT driving close to 8 hours to do it) between today's date and the end of May.  There's 1 that has iffy footing, so I may or may not ride that ride (got to buy some boots!).  But, if I make my goal, then we'll hit 100 miles EASY before the end of May. 

Who knows, if the footing is REALLY that good and I'm feeling VERY confident in him...maybe we'll try a 50.  ;)

And, while I'm 99% sure I won't ever do it...even I can't deny that the pull of Tevis is there. 

First things first though; Shanghai Trails!!

Charity...

I've been moved to tears recently over those in need. 

I'm not sure if that's the post-partum pregnancy hormones talking, the nostalgia of my son getting older and my itty-bitty baby, or what it is, but I find myself shedding tears over people who need aid.

Joe and I were recently at our local grocery store, and as we walked in, I noticed brown paper bags to help "Tackle Hunger".  They were only $5. 

When I read what was inside, I got a huge lump in my throat as I realized that for so little, there was a nutritious meal for a family that otherwise might go hungry.

I asked Joe to please donate, which he did without a second thought. 

That moment made me realize how fortunate we truly are.  That, while we complain about the grocery bill, we can afford groceries.  We've never had to go to bed hungry.

It also made me realize that we could have been in that position.  Joe was laid off when the new Constable took over, after having worked there for almost 10 years, he wasn't brought back.  If Joe hadn't found a job, we very well could have been the family in need of a $5 meal.

As we exited the store, I looked around and realized that within 1 mile of where I stood there was, without a doubt, a child going to bed hungry that very night.

And it made my heart ache.  A parent going without food so their child could have food as they looked forward to Monday and the school day so they could eat again. 

And I clutched Kaylee a little tighter.

As I drove to work this morning, my radio morning show played some audio from when they dropped off 4 bikes to a disabled mother and her children for Christmas.  And I wiped away the tears yet again as I realized that I helped make that happen for her and her family.  Sure, I "only" gave $20, but that money, along with everyone else's "only" $20 added up and helped make Christmas happen for those children.  It helped buy them brand new bikes.

I've recommitted myself to save enough money to "buy" a llama through Heifer this year.  A full llama is $150.  I only need to put $20 aside each month.

I want to donate $20 each month on top of that to a charity of my choice.  I usually do Heifer as it's simple, but I think I should branch out and donate to other organizations as well.

But who should I donate $20 to?  There are many shady organizations out there who don't give much to those in need, while the people on the upper end of the ladder take home large paychecks (yes, I'm looking right at you HSUS).

So, who are some of your favorite charities or organizations?

Susan B. Komen comes to mind (my grandmother died of breast/ovarian cancer).  Who else?

Back to it...

A week off work does wonders to your motivation.

Like utter and complete decimation of any semblance of motivation.

We had a wonderful Christmas despite some hiccups the day of, and I even squeezed in a ride over the break.

Monday was spent running errands with A-man; doctor's appointment, Strait Music to drop off his horn, then last minute Christmas shopping and lunch.

Tuesday, Joe came home early since he wasn't feeling well, and I bolted off in the late afternoon to have Austin's car repaired (he's got my parent's old Honda Accord, which fell under the airbag recall).  That whole thing was a fiasco in and of itself.

I called Friday the 19th on my way home, because I realized I'd called about this back in November after Thanksgiving, was told they'd call me when the part came in...and I never received a phone call.

After getting run around on the phone, I was told the original part had been shipped back since it'd been so long, but they'd re-order it and could I bring the car in on Monday?  Uhm, late in the day I could.  Made the appointment, and not 2 minutes later I get a call that the part won't be here Monday, could I just bring it in on Tuesday, anytime I wanted?  Ugh.  Fine.  FINE.  Way to underwhelm me, but fine.  Let's just get this over with.

Suffice to say, walking in on Tuesday, I was already a wee bit annoyed with this whole affair.  But, I happened to mention in passing that the driver's side seatbelt buckle didn't always catch....what would that cost, ball park, to have fixed?

Was told they'd look at it and get back to me.

As they finish the airbag repair, I'm told the seat belt buckle is a lifetime warranty by Honda.  They'll get the part ordered, and it should be in within 48 hours.  I give them extra time due to Christmas, so I call when I get to work today.  Part's not in.  It's on back order.  They'll call when it comes in.

I'm not holding my breath. I'll call back on Friday.

Wednesday was nothing but being lazy around the house. 


We did rent "The Interview" once Austin got home.  It was awful, as was expected.  But, whatever.  Movie not even out in the theater and I was able to watch it from home?  Got to admit, I like that.

As par tradition, I watched "Scrooge", the old black and white version with Alistair Sims.  It's a remnant of my childhood.  I dozed off during it, but it always takes me "home" and old traditions.  I could practically quote the movie along with the characters, and I love that.  I hope to share that with Kaylee as I've shared it with Austin.

Thursday was Christmas.  Kaylee slept in until about 11 as did Austin.  Josh was with his mom, so Joe went and got Nanny (his grandmother) and brought her to our house where we opened our family gifts.  It was nice and quiet and I enjoyed it. 

Austin got computer parts, which he was excited about.  I didn't get Kaylee much (a little Disney train and a little stocking stuffer), but wrapped the gifts from her Aunt Meagan (my best friend) for her to "open". 

After that, over to my sister's house to open more gifts, eat tasty food and just relax, then home again around 8 or 9.

Friday was a lazy day as it was raining.

Saturday, I did go to the barn with the plans of hauling to McKinney Roughs to ride with some new people.  Rain shut down McKinney.  Instead, one of the ladies hauled to the barn and we rode around the property, which was nice.  I did get hooked on to the trailer by myself, but, between the wind and the rain and the cold, Socks refused to load.  Poop.   I'll post more about that later.

Sunday was spent tidying up and being lazy again.  Missing the sun.

And, now it's Monday...back to work until Wednesday, where I leave work at noon for the year. 

I hope everyone had a great holiday and got to spend it in whatever form or fashion makes your heart happiest. 

It's not a matter of "if"...

...but "when".  Especially if you live in Texas.

Allergies. 

If you live in another state, you just THINK you know what allergies are.  You don't.  I promise you don't. 

I love my home state, but, let's be real, it kind of wants to kill us all.

We have scorpions, rattle snakes, water moccasins, black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders and all other sorts of creepy crawlies that want you dead.

Then, add in all of the allergens, and BAM!  You have a state that's painted a bulls eye on your head and is trying to hit the target.

I'm a native Texan.  I was born here and have lived here for pretty much my entire life (excluding a few years in exile in Kansas, which sucked for SO many reasons). 

I have never really experienced bad allergies.  Some mild sniffling and sneezing in the spring and summer from freshly cut grass, but never have I ever had to deal with cedar allergies.

Hah.  I am this year.  And it's awful. 

Let me show you how the cedar count has been this week:

Can you see that?  That explains my misery which started Monday afternoon with a slightly sore throat, and escalated last night in to a throat that's so sore that it felt like needles were being stabbed in to it, which caused me to cough so much I was choking and close to vomiting.  My eyes were watering so badly it was like I was crying.  My nose is so congested that I only have 1 working nostril.  And my headache...oh lords, my headache.

I'm not going to lie, my ability to breathe (or rather, lack of at this moment) is impacting my drive to get work done at work. 

It's also impacting my drive to shop for Christmas. 

So far, I've only gotten the boys their stocking stuffers.  I resisted the urge to buy some for myself, because this stuff looks so freaking awesome!

I hadn't heard about this stuff until late last week, googled it, saw a video and said "That's so freaking cool!  I've got to get some!  It'll make the neatest stocking stuffer for the boys!"

Magnetic Thinking Putty Video

I can't wait until they get it so I can play with it. 

However, much beyond buying the Thinking Putty, I haven't gotten anything else done.  Well, I bought my Secret Santa gifts, and gifts for some of my coworkers (just not all of them, which I need to do tonight since I'm out of the office all week next week).

Then it's time to shop for my family.  I'll get it done, it's just kind of stressful.  Especially since I've put it off for so long.

Thank goodness for Amazon Prime!  2 day free shipping, YES PLEASE!!

And so, with that, it's time to get to work (or at least try to work), intersperse it with some shopping for family on Amazon, and try to get everything done I need to get done before tomorrow.

Now, here's hoping I can get motivated enough to make it happen!

'Tis the season

Every year at this time, it's customary to think of those who are less fortunate.

While we don't exactly live in the lap of luxury, neither do we have it as badly as others in our community, never mind how the 3rd world countries are.

Hands down, we are fortunate as a family.  Not as fortunate as others, but still pretty blessed.

So, at this time of year, I always try to send money to at least one, sometimes more, organizations that help those in need.

One of my favorite charitable organizations is Heifer International.

I've given to them a few times, usually buying a flock of ducks, or honeybees.  My goal is to someday purchase a llama, but that's down the road a little bit. 

If you're unfamiliar with Heifer here's who they are and what they do:
Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.

How it Works

We empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity – but our approach is more than just giving them a handout. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.

When many families gain this new sustainable income, it brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses.

Passing on the Gift

The core of our model is Passing on the Gift. This means families share the training they receive, and pass on the first female offspring of their livestock to another family. This extends the impact of the original gift, allowing a once impoverished family to become donors and full participants in improving their communities.

Heifer does more than just animals; they reach out through a variety of ways.  Women's empowerment, clean water, veterinary care and more.  It's an organization that, whenever I donate, I spend a few days imagining the positive change I've helped start for a family, and for their community.  All for the cost of a meal here in the US. 

Closer to home, and only around the holidays, I give to a local radio station's fund raiser:
JB and Sandy's Bikes for Kids

What I love is that this is a long-time Austin area fund raiser.  It gives children who otherwise might get nothing for Christmas a brand new bike, helmet and a lock.  Not a used bike, but a brand, spanking new one that isn't a hand-me-down.  And the cost of the bike/helmet/lock all together?  Only $190.  Granted, I can't afford the whole kit, but I always give some and know that on Christmas Day, I've made a difference to a child in my own community.  I've given them, not just a gift for one day, but a gift that will give for the rest of their lives.  A gift that leads to independence and freedom and a sense of normalcy, like other children.  A bike is such a huge milestone in a child's life, and I love being able to say I've helped, even if it's in some small way.

Every year I wish I had more money so I could give it to the organizations that have mission statements I can get behind.  Be they local or international, making a difference to someone who needs the help makes me feel so good.

What are some of your favorite charities?  I'm always looking for organizations to donate too, as I love to share and help, not just my fellow man, but animals as well.  So, animal charities are worth telling me about too!

And, if you'll take just a moment during this holiday season, dig through your wallet, see if you don't have just $20 to share.  Drop it in to a Salvation Army bucket.  Snag a tag off an Angel Tree.  Buy a gift and leave it in gift barrel.  Find a local family and sponsor them.  But please, pay your good fortune forward to someone else who may be in a situation that is unfortunate.  Your gift could make a difference and truly lift them up.

And for my Jewish friends as today is the first day of Hanukkah:

As you celebrate the Festival of Lights, may your home be bright with happiness and love. Best Wishes at Hanukkah!

Weekends are too short

No, really.  I mean that.  2 days just never seems long enough to get everything done or see everyone I want to see.

Saturday we slept in some, or at least until Kaylee started stirring, which was around 9 or so.  I needed to get to the post office to mail out my Secret Santa gifts, and Joe needed to get his textbooks returned through a UPS drop-site (just as an FYI, if you're in college, Amazon's textbook rental is AWESOME!  This is the second semester we've done it for Joe, and we've decided this is how we'll continue to do it if the books are available to rent).

So, we quickly got ourselves ready, got Kaylee ready and headed out.  1 stop by the post office to find out their hours (and be horrified by the length of the line), 1 stop by the UPS drop-site (privately owned shipping store), 1 stop by Walgreen's (I wanted to send some candy with 1 of my Secret Santa gifts), back to the post office where I just bolted in, grabbed some priority boxes and then back out again, then BACK to the shipping store to send my last Secret Santa gift out.

Off to grab lunch; Schlotzsky's.  Seriously, this is my favorite restaurant. 

I've loved Schlotzsky's since I was young.  Been a fan for 20+ years.  And in those 20+ years, I've only ever had 1 sandwich.  The Original.  No onion.  Want to make me happy?  Bring me an Original.  Not sure where I might like to eat?  Scholotzsky's is ALWAYS a safe choice.  Steak?  Yeah, that's awesome, but it's not an Original. 

Anyway, after lunch, off to buy groceries (ugh, I hate grocery shopping).  Grab the boys some lunch, then unwind before heading off to a holiday party/game night at my BFF's in Leander.  Josh wasn't feeling well, so he stayed at home while the rest of us went.

Took Kaylee who didn't do well.  Too late in the evening, too many people, and the poor thing had a meltdown unless Daddy was holding her. 

We didn't stay super late, though I know Austin was have a good time playing "Cards Against Humanity" and feeling like he was an adult.  Always nice to see his goofy and playful and fun side shine through.  I get angry teenager more often, so I cherish those times when angry teenager goes away and I get my fun-loving son back.

Sunday we slept in.  I piddled around because at noon I was meeting some women in Luling. 

I'll be honest; I'm painfully, horribly shy in person.  So much so that meeting new people causes some serious anxiety for me.  It's uncomfortable and I'll spend time coming up with reasons not to go, or things that just HAVE to be done right this very second.  But, I'm trying to push myself outside of my comfort zone, and I need more people and friends that I can go trail riding with.  And that's what this was; fellow lady trail riders.  More specifically the "Central Texas Lady Trail Riders".

It was a nice meeting and getting to know some people.  There were only 4 of us on Sunday, but I hope we'll grow slowly and have a few more additions.  I want to trail ride off property more often, but Strider's not ready to go it solo, and sometimes not everyone at the barn can go when I'm free.  And, while Socks is pretty steady, it's not necessarily a "fun" ride.  Strider's a fun ride.  Socks is a safe ride. 



The rest of the day was spent just hanging around the house. 

So, here I am, feeling unmotivated yet again.  I've got to get over this end of the year blahs.  Some money coming in will help alleviate some of my stress.  Getting things cleared off my desk at work will help some as well.  I'm hoping I'll be able to squeeze in some time out at the barn over the holiday break (assuming the weather plays nicely with me!).

I know I can't be the only person battling the holiday blues.  Any ideas, tricks or tips to kick them to the curb?  Especially with the sun setting so early, even going out for a walk with the dogs in the evenings after work doesn't work (I don't get home until between 5:30 and 6 most days).  Looking for SOMETHING to help with these blahs!

Life happens

Feeling a little unmotivated today.

Let's call it the Holiday Blues.  I always seem to get them; I suspect it's the stress of finding that perfect gift for everyone, and making sure you've covered all of your bases and gotten something for EVERYONE who potentially MIGHT get you something.  And then, when someone you didn't anticipate getting you something, you have to scramble to get them something, adding to the stress.

I know I do this to myself.  I need to find a way to somehow "Let it go!  Let it Goooooo!!!!"

I blame some of my severe lack of motivation on not having to work yesterday.  Our friend who watches Kaylee called on Wednesday evening to let us know her daughter was sick; potentially with the flu.

Okay then.  Called mom who had a mid-afternoon commitment, but (surprise, surprise!) was available today to watch Kaylee.

So, I called out of work yesterday.  It was so nice to sleep in again with my little girl.  We got up at 10 so we could meet Daddy at the state capital for lunch, and then head over to my office so people could see her (again).

Networking through Facebook the past two days.  Happened to stumble in to a group of local trail riders.  And, since I'm notoriously shy, I made myself reach out.  I figure, they're horsewomen.  At least we've got that in common?  Sounds like we're meeting for lunch on Sunday.  This works since the weather's probably going to be bad on Sunday, so it's not like I'll miss riding time.

I was also upfront and honest that Strider's still a little green.  My goal for 2015 is to send him to Holly or her son Douglas for at least another 30 days.  He's good, but I know he can be better.  I just lack the knowledge to get him there.

I mean, come on, he's really smart and he lacks fear (for the most part).

And then to decide what I really want to do with him.  He's a great trail horse, and LOVES going new places and seeing new things.  Competitive trail perhaps.  I know he'd make a great endurance prospect or LD prospect; I just don't have the time to condition him (or myself). 

As for Socks, I'm not quite sure his fate yet.  I suspect ultimately he'll be Kaylee's mount.  I'd like to look in to doing 4H for her.  Then let her decide what direction she wants to go.  We've got a few more years to go.  And perhaps a REAL pony before we step up to the (super short) horse.

How can you not love that face? 

Honestly, people have asked me how he ended up being such a good horse.  Honestly, he still has some issues (tarps, for example, are death to horses...water is also to be avoided if at all possible), but really, he's so honest and really steady.  I got SO very lucky with him. 

Some day I'll go in to his 'back story' about how I ended up with him.

Truth be told, Socks and Strider are the only GOOD things that came out of my time with my ex-boyfriend.  Well, that and some honesty with myself.

What about you?  Break-ups, good or bad or amicable, what are some POSITIVE things you've left a relationship with? 

Introductions are always a challenge...

It's been a LONG time since I last blogged.  I was a regular blogger back when Livejournal was popular, if that tells you anything.  You know, back before Facebook was the place to be. 
Which is dating myself.  Oh well.

Anyway, since I've been blog stalking the past few weeks, let me do an introduction.

Why?

Simply because I dislike reading new blogs myself and not knowing who all the "players" are and trying to puzzle it out as I read.  I also dislike not knowing the "backstory", but, being realistic, I can't provide the backstory for EVERYTHING important in my life. 

Over the next few days, I'll provide the "backstory" for those important people and animals and "things" in my life.  That'll probably be interspersed with current events. 

Emphasis on "probably".  Heavy emphasis on "probably".

Me?

I'm Erin.  As of today, I'm 37 years old.

Here's my cast of characters: 

Joe (my husband; we've been married for 1 year)

Austin (my 16 year old son, and I usually refer to him as "A")

Josh (my 12 year old step-son)

Kaylee (my newborn daughter, and I currently refer to her as Kaylee-bear)

 The animals:

Dogs

Shadow (my husband's dog who is a black-lab mix)
Pancho Villa (my dog who is a Dachshund)

Cats

Shane (my cat)

Snickerdoodles (my cat who I have a multitude of names for; Doods, Poods, Poodler primarily)

Lizards

Lazarro (Austin's Leopard Gecko)

Chili (Austin's Bearded Dragon)

Horses

Socks (my Arabian, registered name "El Sidar")

Strider (my Paso Fino, registered name "MGA's Fuerte del Energia")

Those are all the main players.

I work for the State of Texas as an administrative assistant.  I've been with my agency for 2 years. 

For fun, outside of spending time with the family, I trail ride my horses, or ride with my husband on his Harley.

I'm an avid reader and I love movies (don't most people say those things though?).

My favorite books:
The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah - Richard Bach
The Last Unicorn - Peter S. Beagle

That might give you some insight as to what I like to read, so there's some insight in to who I am.

So, what about you?  What are some of your favorite books or movies?  Your "Go To" faves?  I'm always on the hunt for new things to love!