Procrastination and Motivation

I should probably say lack of motivation!

I can't seem to make myself get anything done recently. I read books for fun, I cook when I have to, and school is getting done on a regular basis but that's about it. We have just reached a milestone, 3 years in one place. This the longest we have lived anywhere since we got married. I wonder if that has anything to do with my detachedness. I don't have a move to plan for or anything to really look forward to right now, so I've fallen into a rut.

One thing I'm hoping will help is redecorating each room. Nothing really fancy but maybe new paint and curtains. I want to start with our bedroom which is the only room we haven't done anything to since we moved in. Of course before I do that we really should get a new bed, the springs along the edge of the mattress have broken and are poking out the sides. Since it's obvious we aren't going to sell the house I really want to make it a home and not some place we detest so much. I really think our dislike for where we live affects our attitudes about everything. I'm hoping to change that!

Paul's new job is going spectacularly. His new company has been so helpful and actually called to ask if he was doing okay and needed anything! This wasn't his boss but corporate! The pay has been better than originally promised and the support has been wonderful. I'm really happy that things are going so well but I can't seem to get excited about anything.

I guess that's not completely true. I'm excited about the new puppy I got last week.



I rescued him from the shelter and I couldn't be happier with Jasper. He listens well, he's almost completely house trained, he's quiet, and he loves everyone.
All he really wants to do is lay next to me wherever I am. This has gone a long way toward improving my outlook, now I just need to get motivated!

October Gymkhana

The kids had another good gymkhana show this past Saturday.

Malachi and Amigo continue to do well. They are running solid A times and Malachi has informed me he is happy with where he is at. He's not very competitive which totally baffles his sister. Amigo is capable of running consistent AA times and maybe even AAA times but Malachi just isn't very interested. I'm happy as long as they are running clean patterns and Malachi continues to enjoy himself.



Lorna's new horse, Studmuffin, did exceptionally well. He's running straighter and is still enjoying the work. Lorna enjoys riding him because he doesn't fight and tries to do everything she asks. I wouldn't be surprised if they speed up and start running consistent A times by the end of this season. It will take a bit more work to get him running the patterns a little more cleanly but he did really well considering this was only his second show.



Sierra is doing better. She threw a 3 year old tantrum during barrels, deciding halfway through the pattern that she was done. Other than that she bumped up into A times in 2 of the events which was a first. Lorna is pleases with her progress so she will continue taking her to shows this year.



Once the upcoming endurance ride is over we are going to be making a few decisions where Lorna's training is concerned. The gymkhana trainer she's been working with has made it very clear that she doesn't like Sierra, or any mustang for that matter. It makes for an impossible situation where lessons are concerned. We are looking at other instructors in the area in the hopes that they can help Lorna and Sierra get past their issues. Maybe a change of venue will help them both get past this road block they seem to have hit. Since Lorna is so competitive it has been difficult to watch all the other kids pass her by. Everyone seems to be getting better and faster while she seems to be standing still and even though she doesn't complain I've noticed she isn't happy. We looked at a number of horses before Lorna bought Studmuffin but it's difficult to choose a horse for 2 very different types of riding. She had the opportunity to purchase a patterned solid AA gymkhana horse but she passed it up to purchase Studmuffin. Although she doesn't regret the decision I wonder if we made a mistake, she would be enjoying gymkhana so much more if she wasn't stuck with two horses that are running FC times. I know that in a few years things will be better but when you are 13 a few years seems like forever.

Real Estate Buyer Etiquette

I have no idea if there is such a thing but if not there should be a rule that you don't skip places that you make appointments at.

We got a call from a Century 21 agent in our valley who wanted to come show our place today. I'll be quite honest, I've really let the place go since putting it on the market. We haven't even had one showing so I just got to the point where I don't care. We told the agent that she could come anytime after 4 pm. Since I don't have a working vehicle at this time I took a camp chair and sat at the far end of the property with the horses. It was out of the way enough that unless someone came looking for me they wouldn't see that I was even home. I watched as the agent pulled up, stopped her car, and then proceeded to drive away.

3 hours of intensive cleaning and they didn't even get out of the car! It's quite a drive up here so it's not like it was just on their way to another listing. Why drive all the way up here and not even peek in the house? Then the agent had the nerve to call Paul and lie to him. She said they ran out of time and didn't make it up to our area. When Paul said that was strange because I had seen them drive by, she stammered a bit and said they just ran out of time. Why lie? If the people were put off by the drive or the house itself I would much rather hear that than be lied to!

I'm ready to just pull the house off the market. Our agent isn't even attempting to sell the house and I doubt anyone would be willing to even come close to the price that we owe on it.

On a happy note: Paul's first few days at his new job have gone well. He's very positive and upbeat. He got his first sale today and met a few people who are very interested in ordering stuff in a few weeks. Now if we could just get his car running life would be wonderful!