Recent adventures

Good Lord, there's so much to cover!

I needed to take a break from writing, as I do once in a while, to let things simmer a bit. Sometimes I don't feel like writing about everything, and sometimes, I just can't put into words what I really want to say. Rather than flounder, I wait.

Last month, I went 'home' to my alma mater -- SUNY-Geneseo -- for a dance department alumni reunion. It was terrific to see my professors and some friends, and wander around the campus and town I love so much. I really wish the weather had been better -- it was in the 70's the first day, and dropped to 40's within a 20 minute period. And then it snowed. yeah. As much as I love upstate NY, I don't think I could hack the winters anymore.

Sturges Hall, home of the Speech Pathology Department, and where I spent a lot of time.

 The view down to the College Union, from the gazebo that overlooks the Genesee Valley. The sunsets are incredible from this vantage point. You have no idea. I also spent a lot of time in this spot.

This is the hallway for the Speech Path Department. Clinics, offices, resource room, computer lab, lecture hall. LOTS of time here. Unfortunately, the college president has eliminated this program, so there will be no more degrees granted in Speech Pathology here any longer. A shame, really, since this was one of the highest rated undergrad programs in NY state.

And Emmeline, the Geneseo Bronze Bear. An icon, really. Legend says if a virgin ever graduates from Geneseo, the bear will jump down and run away. There she sits. ;)

My mom and I traveled together, a trip we have made in the past, and it was fun, and hilarious, and just a great experience. I know my mom and I didn't always get along when I was growing up, so it's especially nice to be able to do things like this with her now. Plus, we stayed at her best-friend-from-high-school's house. Sue is a total riot, and we managed to consume WAY more wine than I thought three women could do over the course of three nights. I loved hearing them tell stories about Catholic high school, and growing up in the 60's. Totally cool. Mom and I also did a little touristy sightseeing. We made a pilgrimage to the Rochester Public Library branch downtown. It was a place my mom used to take me when I was a kid, and it's still there, although now the library building is a new building across the street from the old building, which is now the Rochester City Archives. I think that excursion deserves a post of its own sometime soon.

The beautiful front of the old library building. I loved this place. Still do. It embodies everything I think a library should be, and should look like.

I got to see my best friend from college, too, which is always fantastic. We still manage to pick up right where we left off, no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other. And being on the campus, well, it's like we could be twenty again, just like that. I really do miss college. Of course, now I see it with the wisdom gained of twenty years, and so if I were to go back, I know exactly how I would do things. I'd do quite a bit the same, but I would change many, many things.

The end of Main Street in Geneseo, where it goes down toward the campus as Court Street. 

30 North Street, where I lived when I was a sophomore.

I celebrated my 43rd birthday when I got home from New York. My wonderful husband arranged for a cannoli cake from Fresh Market, which was incredible. And I got a new camera! A Fuji Finepix S, which I am loving.

Let's see....there was also some riding (badly), and we planted our vegetable garden, and then Wren had her first off-the-farm fancy horse show! She did great, and although it was a LONG day, we had a good time.
But first, there was a LOT of prep work. Wild Wings Gabby is almost completely white and she needed to be spiffy for the show. So there was a bath, and lots of scrubbing on Saturday night.

Noah was the assistant photographer for the day. He did a great job with my old camera.

Getting Gabby ready.

And Wren gets dressed, too. So fabulous!

Walking to the show ring

Kathy and Wren in the show ring!

Noah took this picture.

Hooray! A blue ribbon and a prize!

All the girls at our barn who rode in the show did well, and we brought home a number of ribbons. We were all so SO exhausted by the end of the day, though, and it took me at least til Tuesday to recover.

And that brings me to today. I had a lesson on Champ. It was a gorgeous day, and I had high hopes for a better ride than last time. I rode with the lightest hands possible, and kept my hands together with the reins on his neck. It helped. The steering wasn't working all that well, but when we got to the canter, my trainer told me to canter and let go of the reins. I told her no. I really thought I couldn't do it. I thought there was no way, NONE, that I would stay in the saddle. And I felt like a total loser for not even trying. So I cantered around the ring, and down each long side, I let go. Dropped my reins right on him, and held my arms out to the sides. I was flying! It was the best, the most wonderful smooth canter there ever was. I think maybe I could have ridden that forever. I wish I had.

I was flying.