Time does fly....

Well.
Not sure anyone is still reading, but what the hey.  I'm getting a backlog of pictures to post, but one of these days, I swear!!

So other than dealing with stink-bug infestations (invasive species, really gross: http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug) life has been movin' along.  Update on this year's big changes:

1.  School:  I've found a lab to join to do my PhD.  Met with the professor on one trip to B-burg, then the rest of the lab on another.  Basically they're doing work I find interesting (and high quality), are really nice people and seem to like me (apparently a bit nuts too).  Next step: figure out credit transferring, what classes I've got to take in the fall, and then nail down a specific start date.   The transition is scheduled for the end of June/beginning of July.  However that really depends on....

2. HOUSING!!  ugh.  Hubby and I have discovered that the rental market is slim-pickin's in Blacksburg.  We'd rather not end up in a funky appt in undergrad-land.  Been there, done that.  So we're back to the "to buy or not to by" question.  That's a topic for a post all of it's own, honestly.  There are so many financial and career factors that play into it, it's hard to know where to start.  However, we are looking into the possibility of buying a house rather than renting.  Shoot, with the economy and screwed up, housing in shambles, we have no idea what loan (if anything) we'd qualify for.  Don't worry, hubby is super-cautious/conservative when it comes to finances, and I whole-heartedly support him (until I want to buy a new saddle for Dax and then he's just a tight-wad!!).

3. Hubby job - he had an interview that went very well, and we'll probably hear by the beginning of next week.  It's with a biotech firm, so still doing bench-work but his impression is that the different atmosphere of industry might suit him.  Cross your fingers and toes and eyes and.....

4. Found a home for Dax :-)  Great barn, nice, professional manager, reasonable rates and...get this....it's 5mins off of Main Street.  I. Love. Blacksburg.  More on the barn later...

Sorry to make this so short after such a long absence.  Probably won't get back on til after my third physics midterm this Thursday.  Have I mentioned THIS CLASS IS KILLING ME??!?
Two weeks of classes left.
One midterm, one final.

All that stands between me and sanity.

BACK IN BUSINESS!!

I RODE DAX ON SUNDAY AND SHE WAS GREAT!!!!

She's been trotting around so much on her own and looking completely sound that I decided it was time.  Sunday was warm, sunny and calm ( = calm pony) so she got brushed down and saddled up.  As a precaution I decided to lunge her first, just in case there were any bucks that needed to be worked out (again for the non-horsey, lunging = very long leash, horse goes in circles around person).

(Side note: it's spring and Dax is still young enough to get freakin' HYPER when the weather warms up.  She's had many a spazz out moment lately, running, rearing and bucking around her field.  And on the end of her lead rope.  With the farrier on the other end. *sigh*)

Lunging went something like this:

Dax: Uh, why are we going back in the field?  You strapped that saddle to me, don't you want to ride??
Me: I just want to see how you move and make sure you remember you're supposed to listen to me, how a saddle feels, etc.
Dax: Seriously?  How stupid do you think I am?!?  Oh, um, that's a whip.  Right...I remember that...okeee. Circling left.
Me: Thank you.  That's very nice.
Dax: Tossing head - THIS IS STUPID!  Let's do something fun - I can hear people over at Mint Springs...I bet someone would scratch my ears!  See, I know what I'm doing.  Circles are boooooring.....
Me: Yeah, circles are boring.
Dax: See!!  C'mon, let's go!!  (walks up and give me a little nudge)

So I caved and jumped on.  She made a bee-line for the park, ears perked and legs swinging (we even trotted a few steps).  She was happy just to people watch and walk along, and get a few pets from interested kids.  Up the road, through the field, along the dam and a brief trail loop (where she crossed two bridges and was careful with her feet around tree roots).  Her reward was once again to stop and eat seaweed at the spillway, where we were hissed at by some nervous-but-hilariously-brave canadian geese.  Back home she got brushed off, two cookies and her grazing muzzle back on.  She hung her head over the gate as I put everything away with a look that clearly said "That's all?!??"


For now, that's all - all I needed to make my entire weekend beautiful.