Friday, July 17, 2015

The Halfway Point

The year is half past. It's prime time for seeing what became of those goals I'd set in January.

Happiness 

 

I love my Pittsburgh friends and our shenanigans
 
I wanted to be happier, more relaxed, and much less hard on myself this year. As things have gone so far, I have 110% met this goal. I am happier than I have been in years. I am more relaxed than I have been ever. I am confident. I am minimally stressed.

There are certainly bumps from time to time, but I'm bounce right through them as they present themselves and learn what I can from them without stressing myself as I once would have.

I have a great, albeit chaotic, balance between horse things, climbing, mountain biking, and me-time. I'm so incredibly thrilled with the people in my life, my job, and the place I live.

Health of myself and the critters

 

Kenai looking super cool during his cold laser session at physical therapy

I'm fitter than I have been in years. While my trips to the gym and yoga ceased once the weather warmed, my fitness pursuits plowed ever onward. I ran for awhile and *kind of* enjoyed it, but it was a still a struggle. Mountain biking has taken a big role in my life now though. I adore it.

I've carved out a good bit more time for climbing...before the deluge of 2015 began in WV and it rained for 30 or 40 days straight. There is a lot of year left though, so I'm certain I'll carve out more time for climbing.

My fitness pursuits have lent themselves very well to my riding. Rider fitness is real, y'all.

Kenai's health had quite an obvious bobble. I had a good laugh reading what I wrote about his knees no longer being the issue. HA. That right hind flared its ugly head again. Hopefully we're finally on the right track though. We've begun PT/rehab with a specialist and things seem promising on that front. These things just take time. *crosses fingers*

The horses have been par for the course. Q is at a great weight and Griffin could stand to lose a little - something I'll work at these next few months.

The cats have become cat - and Atticus is great. Hodor was rehomed to a situation that was much better for him as my frequent absence over weekends due to all of my adventure pursuits never sat well with him and stressed him out greatly. He is now living a life of luxury with his very own 12 year old girl, 3 balanced meals a day, treats in between, toys, naps aplenty, and three other fur-siblings - including a big shepherd mix that ADORES him, a 25 lb. Chartreux cat who is thrilled to have another cat in his life, and a chihuahua who is ambivalent about it all.

Budget

 

Wine in a to-go tumbler and rainy walks with the pooch in the evenings


Kenai's surgery shot this deader than dead. I'm being stricter than ever with where I spend my money as a result. I'm doing well, but not terrific (saving money is a thing of the past right now). Time will tell. Pre-surgery saga though, I was staying right on budget and doing really well. And honestly, despite the hardships with this surgery debt, I'm really impressed with my ability to limit my spending.

If not work-related or on a date of some kind, I have completely cut eating out out of my life. Same with going out to bars/for evening entertainment. If it isn't work-related or a guy isn't treating me, I simply don't do it anymore. It's impressive how much one can save by cutting that simple thing out of their life. (Though I really hope to be able to reintroduce in a few months...)

While I am loath for summer and warm weather to go away right now (please be warm forever and ever, amen -- until it's winter, then I want hella snow er'rywhere), I am excited for my winter season of 3 paychecks from my three jobs (2 seasonal as ski patrol at two resorts). All in due time...

Slow down

 

I mountain biked to this overlook of the Blackwater Canyon and took this photo

More knitting, reading, crafting, cooking, and photography.

  • I haven't had the knitting bug, just haven't. Maybe it'll hit when the cold weather returns? 
  • I finally dove in and bought a kindle this year. I ADORE IT. I read SO much more than I have in years. I'm a fourth of the way to meeting my goal of reading 20 books this year. I fully intend on meeting my goal by year's end. I've only had the kindle a short time. 
  • The crafting has been hit or miss dependent upon what I need. When it hits, it hits hard and I fulfill it. 
  • I'm definitely cooking more due to the whole "I can't afford to eat out" bit. So I'll count that one as fulfilled.
  • I'm definitely using my camera a bit more thanks to friends with children. One of my really good lifelong friends had her first child this spring and we've done several small photoshoots already. I love getting to practice the photography and they love having a multitude of free photos. Win-win.

The Horses

 

Griffin and Q


-Q- She is at a better place mentally, we have a better partnership, and she's loving her job more than ever before. Goals met. Now the trick is to continue to maintain, foster, and build upon each of those things.
-Griffin- He has a new job to pursue, and he adores the work. He's so happy and game every time we ride which makes it a total joy for me, as well. There is a lot of potential in this little grey horse, and I'm having an absolute blast unlocking it!
-My Riding- While I haven't been able to afford monthly lessons as I'd hoped, I feel like my riding is in a better place than it has been in awhile due to my level of fitness from cross-training. I'm really enjoying the diverse activities I'm pursuing between both of my horses' disciplines. With any luck, 1x monthly dressage lessons will begin in September. These will only be 1x a month because I will be traveling 2.5 hours one-way to take them. *cringe* It should be worth it though!

30 before 30 goals for the year

-Do a split- I'm no closer to this than I was.
-Practice yoga consistently- I was very consistent for a long time there. Then warm weather came and other activities entered and became more prevalent in my life. It's seeming that, for me, yoga is a "winter" sport. It pairs well with skiing. In truth, it pairs well with all things, but in so far as me practicing daily, it's much more of a winter thing right now. And that's okay - at least it is more prevalent in my life than it once was!
-Skydive- Pending. I wish I could say more, by my mother reads this blog (HI MOM.) and has forbade me from telling her ahead of time that I'm going to skydive since I was a small child. She always says, "Tell me AFTER." So, in light of that, I'll just be telling everyone *after*.
-Learn to play mandolin- I sold my alto saxophone (*sob* but I just didn't play it like I used to) and bought a mandolin. I currently know 4 chords that I can blast back and forth between easily, can play major scales on each string, and I can almost play OCMS' Wagon Wheel. This 30 before 30 goal is well on its way to being crossed off!

So...

Par for the course - at a minimum! I'd even venture to say I'm subpar and have managed a birdie and maybe an eagle. (Guys, I played golf for the first time a couple months ago, so I obvi get to use golf terms now, right?) I'm pretty pleased with how things have gone, are going, and will hopefully continue to go. The year is not without bumps, bruises, and hiccups along the way, but by and large, it's good. I'm good. I'm happy.

No comments:

Post a Comment