It's just a few days away. Merry Christmas everyone! It's cooold up here, with some lingering snow on the ground. The horses are blanketed and Jaeger is cozy on his bed beside me.
2012 has been a phenomenal year. Looking back at things I've blogged about, and some things I didn't share, it's been a good year. Where applicable, I will link to corresponding blog entries.
Travis recovered from his ACL replacement and went back to golf as quickly as possible, dropping his handicap to the single digits. He has played some of the best golf courses, including PGA West and Shadow Creek, and has played in three states this year (CA, NV, UT). While recovering from knee surgery he built a wrought iron front fence and gates that turned out amazing! Now if we can only get the last of the horseshoes we are using to adorn the fence, we will be done. When he wasn't golfing, he course marshaled a century ride in Big Bear this year, did a couple of short speed training runs with me, and rode mountain bikes with Jason on our anniversary trip to Colorado, and took his 52 split window bug to a couple of VW shows. He has not been on a dirt bike in over a year, and has spent 2012 injury free.
 |
| VW Jamboree, Irvine August 2012 |
As for me, I've been riding, running, reading, and writing. This year, my horsemanship ventures took me to Phoenix in March for a Buck Brannaman clinic, to Reno with Alisa in May, and brought Paul Dietz to Big Bear in July. Drifter is every bit the horse I had dreamed he would be, while Jake is still my go-to horse for when I am feeling competitive. He's put me in the money in a few cow sorting jackpots. As for running, I just barely completed the Phoenix marathon in January (on a hilarious trip with Nell and Peggy), ran the Pasadena half marathon in February and, this fall — after finally putting in some decent training runs — I finished the St. George marathon in what was by far the most exhilarating marathon experience.
 |
| Suz and Drifter learning to rope (not great form here, loop way too small - haha!), Paul Dietz clinic Norco, CA |
We took a few trips this year, including a visit to Lompoc in March to golf and relax, a visit to Colorado for our 15th wedding anniversary in June (shamefully not blogged...what an awesome trip hiking and hanging out with Jason and Lou!), St. George Utah in October, and Vegas in October (following the marathon) and November (for a golf tournament).
 |
| To get to this old Crystal, CO mine, you have to take a terrifying, vertigo-inducing dirt road. |
 |
| Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, CO |
We also got a boat this summer, used it a few times and sold it this fall. We took Pat and Rusty out on the lake in August, but we had to get towed in when the engine failed. In September, Hans and Samantha came up and Samantha stayed on the swimdeck until sundown, then tried her hand at driving the boat. She liked full throttle circles the best.
 |
| Watch out for that boat! Look out, ducks! Don't hit the buoy! |
Construction: We have been stuck with major repairs due to a suspicious water leak upon our last tenants' departure from the rental house. Floors and cabinets needed to be replaced. After this last bout of inconsiderate tenants, we are looking to sell. In addition to repairing the rental house, I came home this fall to find Travis dismantling the hall closet and tearing out drywall. He has always disliked the jack-and-jill guest bathroom and decided it was time to convert it, close off access from the guest bedrooms and move entry to the bathroom from the living room, and remodel with slate tile and knotty alder cabinets. It's going to be the nicest room in the house!
 |
| New floors and cabinets at rental house |
 |
| Remodeling guest bathroom at home |
As for Christmas and the New Year: we are looking forward to seeing our nephew Trevor and niece Samantha this Christmas. For 2013, we look forward to what is to come and I wish to express my thanks to everyone and everything that has gotten me here. And we hope that all of our friends and family, near and far, have a safe and happy holiday season.
Merry Christmas everyone!
I will finish this entry with my hope for a kinder future for animals.
As you are certainly aware: legislation takes a long time. Starting this Christmas season and into 2013, will you please vote (with your wallet)? My request is as simple as deciding where you shop for groceries. It's far overdue that this supposedly civilized country get its meat handling practices under control. What you eat is your decision, but there is absolutely no reason that the meat on your plate should be mistreated when it is still alive. Labels like organic, cage free, or grass fed is not enough. There is a voluntary standard that some meat-packing plants have implemented that go above and beyond the bare-minimum practices set forth by the USDA. These voluntary practices, pioneered by Dr. Temple Grandin, have produced measurable objective criteria to evaluate the well being of the animals, and the best part is there are enough grocers in the country who sell meat from these plants that you can make a difference without inconveniencing your normal routines. If more people begin to demand (via what they purchase) that their food comes from certified humane sources—that means no growth hormones, no deliberate abuse, and less stress for the animals at slaughter—then the rest of the industry will have to change. If you agree to become more cognizant of where your food/meat is coming from, I've done some research for you.
Where to shop: Certified humane meat can be found in Southern California only at Trader Joes, Vons, and Whole Foods grocery stores (with the exception of a few small market operations). If you don't have a Vons or Traders Joes in your area, stores in other parts of the country that sell certified humane meat include: Safeway, Bi-Lo, Piggly Wiggly, Publix. Or you can find where to shop in your area at certifiedhumane.org.
Thank you for reading...and for your consideration :) ~Suzanne
