Video Games Eat My Life

It's a phenomenon that is guaranteed to happen whenever I play a new game. I learned these past two weeks, it also happens when I play I game I haven't played in years.

Ah Final Fantasy, how I have missed you. Though I sadly realized that a week and a half is a little fast to get through 30+hours of game play... Ah yes, how I obsessively play those games.

But I can't help it! The tickle my imagination like only dreams can do for me. They get me thinking, pondering, and poof! New ideas form in my mind and I just want to create! Whether it's drawing, writing, whatever. Which then made me wonder, is that why I've been struggling so much with writing lately? I just haven't had any new energy coming in for quite a while.

Which gave me a crazy idea.

Once upon a time when I had mono and was bored out of my mind, I wrote a fan fiction (basically a story involving other people's characters from games, movies, etc., a great way to waste time lol!) I usually avoid any old stories I've written, because I know they all need serious overhauls in the editing department. But lately, I've been getting a ton of ideas for stories, but the writing aspect is lacking. So I thought, if I edit this story, and basically completely rewrite it (Which it needs), it just might get my juices flowing again.

I'll just laugh/cry as I re-read it. I've already re-read a few chapters and gosh it's awful LOL! But I did write it almost 5 years ago, and never edited it. Besides, I'm still happy that I completely that 50 chapter story. :)

Just Ride

So wednesday I had a really great lesson. It definitely didn't start out that way. I was frustrated, and really I have been frustrated for a while, just wasn't really admitting it to myself. But I finally got to talking about it with my awesome coach, and realized that I just haven't been feeling like jumping cause it was and still is really disappointing that I didn't get a chance to get into the Jumpers with Belle.

I think sometimes I feel like I have to be positive all the time. But I think I fall into the trap of denying how I'm actually feeling, and then it nags at me and decides to pop up in ways like me just not riding like I usually do. So I wasn't doing myself any favours. Sure I am genuinely looking forward to training Belle up some higher levels in Dressage, but I just needed to admit that it really, really, really sucked not being able to do the jumpers with her.

All that hard work and we were so, so close and it all fell through. We definitely would've made an awesome team, and who knows, maybe one day we will make it together!

All that to say though, once I admitted it, talked about it a little, I could finally get back to riding, really riding! And hey, jumping was fun all over again! A course of jumps? Easy peasy! When just a few minutes earlier I couldn't go from jump a to jump b in a line. My coach reminded me that sometimes you just have to let go and ride.

Did I ever mention I much riding helps with everything else in life?

There have been lots of positive from this experience though. I can wrap really, really well now, I feel a lot more confident riding different horses, and have become an even stronger rider! And hey, I get to show off how gorgeous and awesome my horse is in dressage.

Storms and Kitty Cats and Things Since Then

There are times I most definitely miss having internet. Like when I think of things I want to blog about, but can't actually post it. But that's okay, that's what Microsoft word is for. Plus, I've learned that my phone is capable of doing many awesome things! It just makes my thumbs cramp if I type to long. But that's okay, at least I can still keep in touch with friends.

I wanted to post something I'd written ages ago, but it was doing some funky things when I tried to post it, so I may just have to summarize it. I'd moved my cats in the middle of July, and boy were they not happy about that. Thor kept running to the basement and Odin refused to leave the safety of behind my mom's bed. But eventually, with much turmoil, they were loaded up and we ventured off.

Thankfully they didn't meow the whole way, but definitely most of it.

Odin went to hide beside the toilet as soon as we arrived and Thor refused to leave the crate. So, after making sure they had food and water I went off to a fun housewarming/birthday/barbecue party!

Though, that's when the thunderstorm rolled in. And of course it wasn't one of those short lasting, barely noticeable ones. Nope, it was the black sky, torrential downpour and massive lightning strikes kind.

I was sure my cats were thinking: "I so hate you right now mom."

But, they came to cuddle as soon as I was settled into bed, so it wasn't all that bad!

Since then they've settled in quite nicely. They meow at me again in the mornings, telling me to hurry up and feed them. They cuddle with me during movies (but only the last ten minutes and then refuse to leave when I want to get up and change dvds), and spend lots of time either fighting with each other or watching the world go by. Odin loves the horses! He's fascinated by them! He'll stayed glued to the window as he watches them in the fields or being ridden. It's adorable! Thor likes the cows... It now makes sense why I always get along better with Odin.

I love having them around though. I have my boys to come home too, and they both sleep with me on my bed. It's cozy.

There were a few ups and downs last month, but I learned that all my needs are being provided for. Life really is good, and it's been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about myself, and make better decisions because of that.

I've been getting back into painting too, and I'm thinking of starting a mini-business for portraits. Mainly of horses for now, since they're my strong point (big surprise there, huh?) But I'll post a link here when I have the website set up.

Well that's all for now!
~Leah