Big Decisions
I've been such a horrible LJ-er lately. Work has been keeping me pretty busy. I've easily put in overtime the past two weeks (55 last week, 45 this week, and that's with taking half of this Tuesday off), and that's not counting barn chores. I've also continued to just not feel like myself lately. I'm sure it's probably just due to the crazy schedule, but I've been constantly exhausted, unable to focus, super moody, and like I'm a 50-year old trapped in a 27-year old's body. I'm going to call the doctor's office tomorrow and try and set up an appointment, though my doc is notoriously difficult to get in with (and when you do it's always a 2-hour wait), so fingers crossed I won't have to wait 2 weeks to see him. I know the most reasonable explanation is my work-life balance (or lack thereof), but I just feel like there could be something more, and, well, if one of my animals was feeling like I am I'd be sure to rule out any physical causes before blaming behavioral ones.
Other than that things are going OK. The house hunting has been a little stressful and so far fruitless. We found one that we really liked, but it had an offer put in on it right before we went to look at it! We toured a few yesterday, and found one that I really liked, but that Noah was unsure about, and the asking price was definitely over our budget, so they'd have to take a low offer for us to get it anyway. There's one more on the list that seems promising that we'll go see either today or in the next week.
I applied for a job last week that I'd really like to have, but likely won't get. It's an entry-level communications job for a Great American Insurance (they do equine insurance!). I've decided that I really need to start making some big changes in life in order to help find some happiness. While my current job is rewarding and I definitely like it, it's simply just a dead-end position (unless I went back to school), and I likely won't even get a raise any time soon. The economy around here seems to be picking back up, so I'm keeping tabs on things and will apply to anything interesting. I'm not desperate to leave this job, though, so I have the blessing of patience and can wait until the right thing comes along. Plus I do have that degree in Journalism and everything.
The other Big News/Life Change: I have officially put Ringo up for sale. This may come as a shock to some, since I haven't really discussed it much here, but it's something I've been thinking about for about 6 months or so, and finally bit the bullet today and put up ads on Dreamhorse and Craigslist. It just seems like the timing is right: he's going well now, we're trying to buy a house, he's in his prime, and I'm not feeling super upset about the idea. A big part of my decision is for financial reasons -- with the cost of board/maintenance/lessons/etc. we barely make ends meet, and that's with both of us working 2 jobs and basically doing nothing other than work. If I can sell Mr. Ringo, pay off my debt, and sock away some savings we'll be in a much better place financially in the long run when I decide to buy another horse. But it's also that the timing just feels right. I bought Ringo as a project horse, and never really intended to have him around even this long. While I've certainly bonded with him and will absolutely be sad if/when he goes, I just don't feel like he's my Forever Horse, if that makes any sense. And this hobby takes up too much of my time, money, and blood/sweat/tears for me to not spend it with a horse I am head-over-heels with.
So, I'm ready to let him move on and find a new partner. Of course, given that he's a pretty complicated horse to ride and I might currently have him a little overpriced, it's going to take a while to sell him. And that's OK, too. I'd be content with hanging on to him, eventually getting him to Training level, and giving him a good home while I can.
His ad on Craigslist is here if anyone's interested in taking a look-see: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3994666566.html
He's got one on Dreamhorse, too, but it's the same.
Other than that things are going OK. The house hunting has been a little stressful and so far fruitless. We found one that we really liked, but it had an offer put in on it right before we went to look at it! We toured a few yesterday, and found one that I really liked, but that Noah was unsure about, and the asking price was definitely over our budget, so they'd have to take a low offer for us to get it anyway. There's one more on the list that seems promising that we'll go see either today or in the next week.
I applied for a job last week that I'd really like to have, but likely won't get. It's an entry-level communications job for a Great American Insurance (they do equine insurance!). I've decided that I really need to start making some big changes in life in order to help find some happiness. While my current job is rewarding and I definitely like it, it's simply just a dead-end position (unless I went back to school), and I likely won't even get a raise any time soon. The economy around here seems to be picking back up, so I'm keeping tabs on things and will apply to anything interesting. I'm not desperate to leave this job, though, so I have the blessing of patience and can wait until the right thing comes along. Plus I do have that degree in Journalism and everything.
The other Big News/Life Change: I have officially put Ringo up for sale. This may come as a shock to some, since I haven't really discussed it much here, but it's something I've been thinking about for about 6 months or so, and finally bit the bullet today and put up ads on Dreamhorse and Craigslist. It just seems like the timing is right: he's going well now, we're trying to buy a house, he's in his prime, and I'm not feeling super upset about the idea. A big part of my decision is for financial reasons -- with the cost of board/maintenance/lessons/etc. we barely make ends meet, and that's with both of us working 2 jobs and basically doing nothing other than work. If I can sell Mr. Ringo, pay off my debt, and sock away some savings we'll be in a much better place financially in the long run when I decide to buy another horse. But it's also that the timing just feels right. I bought Ringo as a project horse, and never really intended to have him around even this long. While I've certainly bonded with him and will absolutely be sad if/when he goes, I just don't feel like he's my Forever Horse, if that makes any sense. And this hobby takes up too much of my time, money, and blood/sweat/tears for me to not spend it with a horse I am head-over-heels with.
So, I'm ready to let him move on and find a new partner. Of course, given that he's a pretty complicated horse to ride and I might currently have him a little overpriced, it's going to take a while to sell him. And that's OK, too. I'd be content with hanging on to him, eventually getting him to Training level, and giving him a good home while I can.
His ad on Craigslist is here if anyone's interested in taking a look-see: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/grd/3994666566.html
He's got one on Dreamhorse, too, but it's the same.