palace of winds

Work has been insane lately. I owe y’all an update, particularly about my first cross-country jumping lesson with Ev, and our first venture down the Luce Line.

For the moment, however, I just have time for a quick one to say that I’m walking in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure this Sunday, as part of a team to honor my riding instructor, who spent a long winter undergoing chemo (while still teaching!). I know the economy’s tight right now, but if you have a couple bucks to spare, consider donating: http://www.active.com/donate/komentc09/rmatey.

Within a week: a real update! Promise!

I thought I’d posted about this before, but apparently not…

On Sunday, I’m taking part in the MS Walk in Minneapolis with my dear friend Julie, who has MS. That’s really her story to tell, so suffice to say I’m walking with and in support of her.

If you’re able, please consider making a donation. As mentioned on my donation site, I’m happy to repay in Ev-hugs and/or baked goods at your request! (Not that I could stop you from having Ev-hugs if you came out to the stable. He is quite a cuddlebug — always up in everyone’s business. I’m afraid I’ve let him get into a bit of a habit of rummaging around people’s faces and hair with his cute squishy nose — it’s so cute! and squishy! And I realize that makes me one of those terrible cuddly-poo horse owners. And I don’t care.)

Thanks in advance!

Sometimes, life aligns.

You get a big, fairytale year. You step off of a plane in Peru. Watch the first sunrays strike Machu Picchu. Speculate on the Milky Way. Eat tamales on a bus so crowded the front door won’t close.

Look up from the sea of Christmas gifts to discover a gentle white whirl of snow just beyond the window.

Pull open the stall door on Christmas Eve and step inside and hug your horse.

Honestly, I can’t even begin to think further about this year. I keep stalling out on the magic of a handful of moments. Overcome with thankfulness. The hope that everyone has their own place like the shoulder of a horse. Home for the heart.

If this new year is a tenth of the old, I’ll count myself blessed indeed.

Early last Saturday morning, in continuance of tradition, Bryce and I headed out for pancakes and an omelet at Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown. I’m notorious for getting lost every time, either coming or going (but somehow usually not both), but this time I’d been smart and remembered to print out directions (it’s only when I print them out that I don’t need them) — only to discover upon arrival that 35W was closed. So we had to figure out some other way to go, and I only made one pointless circle, and the wally blues and Mexican omelet were delicious as always.

And that was the last time I thought about 35W until last night, when my sister told me it had collapsed. My family’s all accounted for. It’s still surreal, thinking about it, trying to reconcile the news images with my mental picture of that area. I’m going to try to go donate blood tomorrow, I think.

For all the contact lens wearers (i.e. those who like to pretend they’re not half-blind without a little help), in case you haven’t heard yet (and many thanks to Bren for actually watching the news): Amo Inc. has recalled its entire Complete Moisture Plus line — that’s the one with the little sun logo, that used to come in the blue bottles with the extra storage compartment in the bottom but now comes in regular sort of bottles, and is priced much more reasonably than Renu and is an all-around lovely solution — except for that whole thing where it increases sevenfold your chance of getting some rare but horrible and potentially blinding corneal infection. You can read their press release pdf here.

They’re doing some kind of return/reimbursement program — there’s a toll-free number to call to leave your contact info, and they’ll send you a kit. If you use this solution you should stop right now, and go to the store (sigh) and find something else to try. (Triple sigh, actually; I just remembered that my Target is under construction and as of Friday I hate it deeply, wrathfully, hate it for being rearranged every time I set foot in there, no matter if I’ve only been outside for five minutes; I hate it for being different and for having over the last year drastically reduced its selection of all the things I want to buy and increased its selection of everything useless; I hate it for its constantly-broken photo machines, and the broken spirits of its employees for that matter; and I hate it most of all for the parking situation right now, which I exaggerate not a whit is far, far worse than any holiday-time parking shortage I’ve ever witnessed. I promised myself that I would express my wrath and frustration by not shopping there until they’re done with construction, but I’m not sure where else to go for contact solution. Woe.)