When it rains, it pours...literally

I'm just ready for the year to be over...a lot happened today and not very much of it good:

This morning (both within 45 minutes):
1.) A painter at a Baldwin & Shell (where my dad works) construction site got electrocuted and died. He was in his late 20's and has a child that is barely one year old...
2.) My grandmother was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. They thought she had possibly had a stroke because she was so weak; luckily (?) it turned out to be pneumonia - she will be in the hospital for several days, but will be okay.

This afternoon:
1.) Went with my mom to take flowers to my sister's grave. It isn't the going to the cemetery that bothers me, I just always feel so guilty when I leave...like I'm walking away from my baby sister - it just sucks. Some things never get easier and seeing her name on a grave marker is one of them.
2.) Grizabella (came home from vet this morning after getting a back de-claw at age 4) managed to open her wounds and started bleeding. Called the vet and she has to stay in dog kennel until at least Christmas...I just feel so bad for her. She is literally just sitting here looking at me through the bars - her eyes are dialated because of the drugs...

This evening:
1.) Found out that a girl I know at school was driving home from Colorado with her brother last night, they hit a patch of ice and hit a semitruck. Neither one of them made it. I can't imagine losing both children at the same time, especially right before Christmas...

Today was obviously a tough one. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones in their lives this close to Christmas. I wish there was a time out for tragidy during the holidays, it just doesn't seem fair.

"Good night sweet prince and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest" - Hamlet

2009: A Year in Review

Wow, I look back on the past year with tired eyes. A lot has happened this year, some good, some bad, some heartbreaking. Goals were accomplished and goals were forgotten. Below I just made a quick highlight of what happened this past year...

• Found out that some people are just down right big fat liars
• Found out that some people have your back no matter what
• Played around at the beach to mend a broken heart
• Played around on the cross country course to mend a broken ego
• Lost a grandmother to cancer
  
• Gained some new confidence
  
• Kicked ass at some horse shows (both myself and students)
• Got my ass kicked by a disease named after a pig

...and finally what seemed to be the theme for the year: I threw my heart in soul into something just to have it thrown back in my face and fail, but I picked myself up and moved on to the next big project a little smarter...

Goodbye 2009, God I hope 2010 is so much better!!!

RIP Cooper

While I was chipping away on my final exams this past weekend another battle roared on hundreds of miles away. Jennie Brannigan and Cooper were putting up their last fight against the injuries sustained in the freak show jumping accident at this past Fair Hill. After many ups and downs since the accident, including colic and acute founder, Jennie made the humane decision to let Cooper go.

I have followed Jennie and Cooper for the past couple years through blogs, magazines and the internet. The first thing that I found so addicting was not all their blue ribbons, but all of the pictures with Cooper's knees perfect and his ears forward. I can honestly say I have not seen a picture where Cooper didn't look happy to be doing his job - he just seemed like such a honest, happy horse; one of those that are a complete joy to ride.

My thoughts and prayers to out to Jennie and Brannigan Eventing as I know they didn't just lose a partner but a friend. Losing a horse has to be one of the hardest aspects of this industry - we all know it is inevidible but we still pursue our dreams because even if we only have a short amount of time (it is always too short) with our special horses, it is better than no time at all.

Good Luck Jennie - I know we will see more of you and thank you for sharing that big grey horse with the world!

Jennie's Blog
Brannigan Eventing