Show jumping

I grew up on a hog farm. I loved hearing the oinks, watching their tails wag and petting their floppy ears. My sister and I would frequently try to name all of the hogs in the barn. As much as I loved pigs, I loved horses too.

I thought horses were so pretty and I wanted one. I was mad when I found out that long before I was born there was a horse on our farm. My older brother and sisters remember the horse. His name was Gray and they said he was mean. I would always get mad that they got to have a horse and I didn't. The closest I ever got to a horse was at the county fair, my huge collection of horse toys and watching show jumping on TV.

There wouldn't be too much to watch on TV on Saturday afternoons. We didn't have cable or satellite and our TV only had about 8-10 channels. My brothers, sisters and I would end up watching equestrian show jumping on CBC. I loved watching the horses jumping over the barriers. I thought it would be fun to do. When playing with my toy horses, I would have them jumping over something.

My toy horse collection over the years has gotten smaller, but my love of horses hasn't. I have four toys horses on my desk at home. My husband and I have decorative horse figurines and horse wall art adoring our home. And lastly as a 33 year old, I have stuffed toy horse named Clip Clop. Clip Clop travels with me on long road trips.

When I was watching the Olympics last week, I was so excited to see that show jumping was being broadcasted. I forgot that equestrian was even an Olympic sport. I was so happy to see it again on TV. It made me remember how much I loved watching it when I was younger.

I did a search of local stables while poking around on the Internet. I found two close locations that host show jumping events. I will be driving about 30 minutes up the road to watch a show jumping event this weekend. I'm so thrilled that I will be watching in person and taking photographs. It should be a fun time.

Photo Credit: Richard Fellers, of the United States, rides his horse Flexible during the equestrian individual show jumping competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, August 8, in London. (Associated Press/David Goldman)

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz
Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Breaking Pointe, Miriam Wenger-Landis
The Cranes Dance, Meg Howrey

Currently Reading: The Eighty-Dollar Champion, Elizabeth Letts
Up Next: Library trip or Kindle purchase

Fourteen years

John Wayne Clark
April 15, 1942 - August 15, 1998

Fourteen years have gone by since your passing. You are loved and missed Dad.

"Death leaves a heartache difficult to heal; Love leaves sweet memories no one can steal." - Epitaph on tombstone in Ireland, 1889

I will wait for you...

I will wait for you...
Though we never had a chance to say goodbye,
Remember me...
When winter snows are falling through a quiet sky
I'll remember you
When, in our darkest hour,
You held my hand and prayed I wouldn't go,
But a silent voice called out to me;
My time had come, and I had to travel Home...

Since then, I know your life has never been the same,
For I visit you each day:
So many times I've felt your pain:
I've watched you cry:
And I've heard you call my name...

But now, further along life's road I stand
In a timeless world, just beyond your sight,
Waiting for the day when I can take your hand and bring you across
to this land of Golden Light...

Till then, remember me, you understand-and try not to cry.
But if you do:
Let your tears fall
For the happiness and joy we knew,
And for the special love we shared,
For love can never die.

Stephen O'Brien

Eleven

These questions come from Ultimate Stamina blog. I wasn't tagged to answer them, but I always enjoy filling out a blog questionnaire.

1. What is your dream job? Traveling the country photographing my favorite things: graffiti, ballet, cemeteries and show jumping. Or an professional ultra runner.

2. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Not sure. There are so many places that I enjoy visiting, but can't image living there. As for now, I like living in Michigan.

3. What is your favorite board game? Clue. Miss Scarlett committed the murder with a lead pipe in the ballroom.

4. Favorite pair of shoes? My running shoes: Mizuno Wave Riders. I have been wearing that brand since 2003.

5. Do you salt your food before tasting it? Yes, I salt corn and green beans. Nothing else.

6. What is your favorite wine/beer/ or juice if you don’t imbibe in adult beverages? My favorite non-alcoholic drinks are chocolate milk/2% milk, Fierce Strawberry Gatorade and water.

7. What is your biggest fear? Family members dying before their time.

8. The name of the last book you read? Breaking Pointe by Miriam Wenger-Landis

9. What is the best thing that you can cook? My mom's meatloaf with scallop potatoes.

10. What is your main motivation in following your dreams? Finding out if I can accomplish what I set out to do.

11. What is one food you detest? Most seafood. The only seafood I'll eat is canned tuna.

Graffiti Alley - Ann Arbor, MI

Mackinac Island

Mackinaw City II

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz
Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Breaking Pointe, Miriam Wenger-Landis

Currently Reading: The Cranes Dance, Meg Howrey
Up Next: Library trip or Kindle purchase

Mackinaw City I

Up North

It is back to reality today.

My husband and I took a short, but much needed break over the weekend. We traveled up to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, Michigan over the weekend. The last two times we vacationed up there, we actually stayed on the island. Not this year. We stayed in a hotel right on the shore of Lake Michigan. Before leaving on the trip, we checked for rooms online. No rooms were available in the hotels on Mackinac Island. While we were walking around on the island, we did see some vacancies at some a couple of bed & breakfast.

While in Mackinaw City we visited a couple of the lighthouses: Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and McGulpin Point Lighthouse Museum. Besides the lighthouses, we mainly took it easy and relaxed by the pool or sat on the beach behind our hotel on Lake Huron. Usually on our trips we are constantly going and doing something. It was nice for once to really not have any plans.

We visited the island on Saturday and it was crowded with so many people. While in the visitor's center, I overheard a worker say to another person that this past week is always the busiest on the island. They don't know why. There are no special events planned on the island. The first week of August is always attracts the most visitors.

While on the island we visited Arch Rock, walked to the Grand Hotel, walked on the Lake Huron shore and visited shops. We were on the island for six hours and probably walked a total of 3 miles.

Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island are always fun to go back to. If you want to visit somewhere that offers historical sites, lighthouses, boat rides, food and shops then this is your place. It is a beautiful location for summer travel.

Mackinaw City & Mackinac Island

Woodlawn Cemetery II - Toledo, Ohio

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz
Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis

Currently Reading: Breaking Pointe, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Up Next: Library trip or Kindle purchase

Woodlawn Cemetery I - Toledo, Ohio

Hudson Cross Country Booster 5K

I ran the Hudson Cross Country Booster 5K this past Saturday. I have been running this race since 2004. I always run it as a birthday present to myself. My birthday always falls somewhere right around this race. It fell three days before the race this year.

Everyone seems to pass me when the horn sounded for the start of the race. I wasn't trying to keep up with anyone. I just wanted to run at my own pace. Not even 1/4th mile into the course, I was already passing a bunch of people that started out too fast.

The course took us into the woods right in the beginning. In the woods are a couple of large hills. I was following a group up the first big hill and took it easy. Coming back out of the woods, I was happy to have passed a couple of more people.

The first mile went well. I ran an 8 something. The start of the second mile took us back into the woods with a couple of more hills. There is where I developed painful stomach cramps. The cramps forced me to slow down. Even when I wasn't running as fast as the first mile, I was still passing people. When I crossed the second mile marker, I had to look down at my watch. My watch read 18:59. The stomach cramps really slowed me down. When the stomach cramps started to go away with just under a mile to go, I knew I had to pick up the pace.

My goal for the last mile was to catch a woman ahead of me. I was starting to run her down. Heading back into the woods for the final stretch of the race, I kept getting closer to her. I knew if I kept my current pace that I might have a chance to catch the woman ahead of me. But with the large hills coming up, I wasn't sure. The course took us back down a large sandy hill. I wanted to make sure of my footing and not fall on my face. I took the hill a bit slower. When I got to the bottom of the hill, the lady in front of me was gone. I picked up my pace to try and catch her. Coming up to another hill, I powered my way up it. When I was at the top of the hill, I saw her just up ahead of me. The trail lead us out of the woods and towards the finish line. I looked up at the clock and read 27 minutes. I picked up my pace and sprinted towards the finish line.

I finished in 28:09 and placed second in my age group. Probably about 10-15 seconds behind the woman I was chasing. That time was just 14 seconds slower then my time in 2011. I was thinking that if I didn't get those stomach cramps and slow down, I could have challenged last year's time. I talked to the woman who finished just in front of me. She thanked me for pacing her during the race. I told her I was closing in on her just before the hills in the woods. I said that is where she gained ground on me. She told me that she loves to run down hills. She ran down that hill at full speed.

I always love running this race. I have photographed many cross country meets and regionals on this course. I only stop at a couple of places on the course when I'm working. When running it myself, I know how difficult and the challenges they face on the tough and hilly course.

Birthday

My 33rd birthday was yesterday.

I was trying to decide what I wanted to do on my birthday for almost a week. I ran 32 miles on my birthday last year. I knew that was something that I wouldn't do this year. I wanted to spend time with my husband instead of running most of my birthday away.

I was looking up things to do in Toledo, Ohio in Google earlier this week. I found a list from tripadvisor.com. The first item on the list was the Toledo Art Museum. I looked at the exhibition schedule for the Toledo Museum of Art. They will have an exhibition called Made in Hollywood in October. It will feature photographs from American film industry. The photos include movie stars, sets and scenes from 1920-1960. Even though the museum has an exhibition I would like to see now, I will wait until October to visit.

Down on the list of things to do in Toledo was Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery made comments about mausoleums and monuments that are in the cemetery. Some also said how beautiful that the cemetery is. Since I never seen this cemetery, I decided that is what I wanted to go on my birthday.

My husband and I arrived at Woodlawn Cemetery in the afternoon. It is a very large cemetery. I could have easily spend half of the day there. But I didn't. I didn't want to bore my husband too much. I photographed mausoleums, monuments, statues and headstones. I was saying how beautiful everything was during our visit there. I know I will try to visit this cemetery again.

We headed out to the bookstore after the cemetery. I do own a Kindle, but I was looking for art books. I would rather have the physical book, especially an art book, then buy it on my Kindle. I was looking for a graffiti book, Wall and Piece by Banksy. I have admired his work for a while, but have never known who was behind it until this week. I finally found the book after scouring the art section for 10 minutes. I couldn't find it right away because nothing was in order.

After the bookstore, we went to the mall. I was in the buying mood. If anything caught my eye, I would buy it. Nothing did unfortunately. I looked at a bunch of cute shirts, but they weren't what I really wanted. I decided to keep my money for another day.

The last stop was to dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ. I had my usual chopped pork sandwich with broccoli, corn and a cornbread muffin. No dessert because dinner filled me up. I didn't go the entire day without dessert. I had a piece of red velvet cake after lunch.

Another birthday has passed by. I was very happy to spend my day with my wonderful husband.

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz

Currently Reading: Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Up Next: Library trip or Kindle purchase

Favorite photos from July 22, 2012