Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

"So shines a good deed in a weary world." - Willy Wonka to Charlie

Today was a trying one. After a long week on cloud nine with my judging team, bad news. I found out I did not receive the internship I had been hoping and praying for nights on end. However, everything happens for a reason. I need to realize that I am not meant to do everything I wish or everything I want. Everything happens for a reason. I will try to take some of my fabulous friends, family and roommates advice...get back up on my feet and start to walk again. Trudge; Just put one foot in front of another and see where it takes me.

In ending, my neighbor's tattoo ...

"Not all that wonder are lost." I guess it is my time to wonder, find out where I am supposed to be and take full advantage of that opportunity. Adios Virginia Tech. I will miss you - but I will always remain a Hokie. <3

Dream Team

I have to say I have learned one of my all time favorite lessons with the VT Horse Judging Team. To always be true to yourself. We recently went to Texas for a National Intercollegiate Judging Contest and expected nothing. Our goal was to have our names called at the banquet, meaning we had placed top 10. This would be a huge accomplishment seeing as there were 32 teams competing and 170+ contestants. We goofed off at farms, as we are loud Hokie ladies. We are all very close friends who work hard to place classes correctly and even harder to deliver stellar reasons. And all our hard work paid off as out two teams went 1st and 3rd in the competition, beating out other schools that recruit kids and give them scholarships for judging. We were stunned. 2 trophies, 6 belt buckles 2 plaques, and oodles of ribbons later.... we are humbled by our experiences. It was a rainy week in Texas. We continued to judge. It was late at night, and we kept giving reasons. And out of everything, I have found my 9 teammates to be some of my closest friends. And my coach to be one of the most spectacular horsewoman I have ever met. I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity. I have showed a lot of horses and competed in a lot of different sports: riding, rowing, dressage, eventing, and now judging. And I will never forget my team, our accomplishments, and how hard work really does pay off. Headline will read: Tech takes Texas.

Wranglers

Well, well, well...the weeks have just been flying by. Graduation is soon approaching and so to distract myself from that morbid date, I have joined the VT Horse Judging Team this semester. Since I am not able to ride this semester with the VT Equestrian Teams due to lack of economic resources, I have decided to learn to judge horses and get judged on how well I judge. Few. Yeah, it's a doozy. We have been practicing like 3-5 times a week placing classes and giving reasons and this weekend is our FIRST real contest in Tennessee. So away we go on adventures road-tripping to farms to check out pretty horses. I know. Life is so terrible. Yet, I feel that there are a lot of reasons to be given in my future. Wish us luck -


Oh yeah, I bought my favorite pair of jeans ever yesterday - Wrangler Cash Jeans! Check them out - absolutely amazing quality and fit! Still looking for boots, maybe the ladies Justin L5045 Antique Crepe Soles with green tops? Love me some Justin boots. Need some real square toes, with hot colored tops of course, to wear for judging contest trip in Fort Worth, Texas this April. Yee-haw! =D

Terribly Tropical

Two great pictures from my Caribbean Cruise over spring break - check out the clear water =)

Private Island/Animal Sanctuary Costa Maya, Honduras. Near our port in Isle of Roatan. Absolutely gorgeous clear blue waters - perfect for tanning, snorkeling, exploring and kayaking.

Tropical paradise - Geoff's Caye Belize. Phenomenal snorkeling =) colorful fish, huge pink and green corals and I even saw Dorey! Tiny exotic island with a max of 10+ psalm trees.

Counting Sheep

So I got back from spring break vaca on sunday night very, very late. It literally took me about 3-4 days to just fully recover. Now, Mexico has exploded out of my travel tote bag and is all over my room. AH!

Further, I just finished taking a quiz for this extremely interesting travel and tourism class that is online this semester. We have to make a travel itiniary for our term project and mine is going to be on New Zealand. Yay. I have TRULY always wanted to visit there! My first fun fact that this country's sheep population is double the actual amount of residents. So if I ever visited and could not sleep, I am sure I would have plenty of sheep to count =)

Pictures from the islands later - I highly recommend cruising! It was a fantastic vacation.

Wait just a minute...

I take that back. It totally snowed all day yesterday...again! Ugh.

The only thing keeping me going at this point is the fact that on Friday I will be headed somewhere muchos warmer. Traveling south, further, further, and then cruisin' down towards the equator! Woot!

"I got my toes in the water, booty in the sand, not a worry in the world, cold drink in my hand - life is good today."

Thanks.

Today merits a huge "thank you" to Mother Nature as it was a day of clear skies and sunshine without a snowflake in sight. =) As you can imagine, this made me smile. Then again, the mild warmth of the rays of sunshine remind me how long it has been since I rode last...almost two months to be exact! Miss Julia has settled nicely into her new home in Goochland and I could not be happier; though I do anxiously await her horse show debut this spring with her new owner. I love kids. Most of all, Jules' new kid is an exceptional one. I love horse shows and pony club events and having a horse/rider combination to cheer for! I am sure that they will do positively fabulous their first time out.

The feeling after the last xc fence, galloping to the finish, adrenaline pumping and enjoying every bit of the rush from jumping large, solid obstacles at speed is definitely a feeling an eventer never forgets. A time of celebration that is virtually a different experience for every rider. A time to relish in the accomplishment. I know that Jules' new kiddo will be able to experience this extreme emotional rush, and I smile inside.

In closing, only one exam, 3 more days of class and a 15 hour drive separates me from a warm Spring Break Vacation! Woot! Keep your fingers crossed that we will have sunny, warm and dry weather in the Caribbean this coming week - look out Florida, here I come! I promise tropical pictures to follow B-)