Friday, September 21, 2012

Juggling Upside Down

     I know, I know. Long time no see. Honestly, there hasn't been much to write about. Weird right? Try having actually lived these past two boring months.
     So, I thought I'd start with an update of how Stoney is doing, seeing as this blog was mainly created to keep up with him and myself. Stoney's rehab is going great, and he is healing faster than Dr. Anderson could have ever expected. He was actually blown away by the progress. The good thing about this horse (and no, it is not his obnoxious personality) is he is quite a fast healer. In the few years I've owned him, anything minor he always recovered from ridiculously fast. I guess you could say we're pretty lucky in that aspect of things. So, after that great news, we have now gotten to move on to walking under saddle. Just walking on a lose rein, even for only thirty minutes a day, has drastically changed this horse mentally. I think just getting back into the routine of things of me sitting on him six days a week is making him mentally sane again...and me as well. I went from riding/working with this horse six days a week to not sitting on his back for two and a half months. Saying that was mentally difficult for me just doesn't quite cover it. Before progressing to being under saddle, Stoney was coping well with the stall rest, but he had his days (just as I) where he literally had the expression of "I hate the world" (to put it nicely) tattooed on his face. I can assure you, he is a much happier pony now. Are plan now is to continue with the walking under saddle for a half hour each day for the next month, and then we'll see where we're at with the recovery.
     As for school, I am now moved in at University of North Texas and quite settled into the place. Just this week, I think I finally am starting to somewhat know my way around when driving...kinda. One thing about starting college is that you rapidly become aware of the direction of every step you take so that you don't get turned around in your head. I became really good at this in only a few days and am now a walking compass. Also, I have thankfully not experienced any face plants going up the many flights of stairs I take or any other humiliating experiences. However, I've already locked myself out of my room and saved myself from nearly face planting up the sidewalk that came up out of no where and tripped me, so I'm sure those even more humiliating moments are yet to come.
     It was very difficult having my world flipped upside down. For the past year, the barn has been my life. Now having school become the number one priority and the barn second is quite a change. Not to mention, I found out exactly why most people that have a year off between high school and college either don't go back or drop out.  Why you ask? Because it's hard. A lot harder then you can imagine. I thought I struggled at math before, but now I struggle with it even more after not doing it for a year, to the point that it's embarrassing. However, it seems to be getting easier day by day, so let's hope it continues in this direction.
     Socially, I haven't had huge buckets of success. Mostly that was because of my work hours, but I'll get to that in a minute. I have become really close to a friend I met at orientation who lives a few doors down from me. Watching movies, going to the rec center, and eating in the cafeteria together are becoming rituals for us two girls. Just this past week alone I've already gotten closer to a few people in my classes, so that's promising. And as always, I still have all the girls at the barn.
     I have to say, although I was hardly even around campus these past few weeks and running all over the place trying to juggle life, I have been lucky enough to enjoy some mean green football. Yes, I am aware that North Texas has not been known in the recent past for their football team, but they have REALLY improved in the past year or so just with the new head coach. I feel these next four years here will be really exciting with the football program, and what better place to enjoy it then at the SUPER nice new stadium that was opened only a year or so ago?
     The people at this campus are better than imaginable. It didn't take long here to get the vibe of how accepting everyone is of one another. With the amount of diversity that there is at this school, that is such a great feeling. Most everyone is great with everyone, and you get the feeling with these people that you can just walk up to a random person and start having a friendly conversation and by the end of it, you've made a new friend. Everyone is super nonjudgmental, and let me say, the school spirit here is CRAZY. So, long story short, I AM LOVING COLLEGE.
     As for work, I guess you could say I was a little crazy thinking I could work thirty plus hours a week, go to school, take care of Stoney, do homework, and still be functioning. After a few weeks of that, my body made it very clear to me the idea I had was not going to be possible. I was mentally and physically drained, and the combination of those two were making me emotionally drained. What a mess. After talking to Mike and him being the great man he is, he is now allowing me to work fifteen hours a week and just deduct those hours from his monthly boarding rate. Because a week has not been enough time for me to play catch up with my mass amount of school work, I am still very stressed mentally. However, seeing as I'm not spending ten hours straight away from my dorm each day and my body doesn't feel like it's barely functioning, I am able to handle the stress a lot easier and with more joy.
     So, back to homework I go. It seems to be my life lately, though it won't be tomorrow. Tomorrow is game day here at North Texas against Troy. It's safe to say it'll be a good day! Go Mean Green!!