I'm totally pissed off. Because I moved to Texas, BCBS cut off my insurance (I have individual insurance). No big deal, I'll just get BCBS insurance through BCBS of TX. I applied, and in the application, it asked questions about heart conditions, including heart attacks, heart disease, palpitations, etc. I've had heart palpitations since middle school, and it's never been an issue. I did have it checked out in 2000, and they found nothing. My application was put on hold, and they called me, and asked questions about the palpitations, such as if they found any cause (er, no, a lot of times, a cause can't be found for palpitations), how often they occur, etc. I wasn't really too worried about it. Then I log in yesterday to check the status, and apparently it's been DECLINED. What. The. Hell. I'm a very healthy person, all things considered. I've had BCBS insurance for three years or so, and I've never had a problem. And now they decline me, for a problem that was checked out, and found to be not a problem?! Bastards. I can appeal it, and I intend to, but I don't think it'll be easy, because my physician referred me to someone, and I can't remember where it was. UGH. I called my physician's office and left a message about it... hopefully they'll find something.
I rode on the trainer last night for another 30 minutes. The weather's been warm, but I'm feeling too out of shape to join the guys on a group ride. Maybe Sunday... I need to continue riding on the trainer tonight and tomorrow if I'm doing the Sunday group ride.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Ponies!
Eric and I were talking last night about horses. We went on a trail ride last weekend, and we had a blast. So, we were talking about the different breeds, where horses originated from (I know all this stuff because I was obsessed as a kid and had to know EVERYTHING, haha), how much it costs to own one, etc. Eric said he'd like me to teach him to ride, and even went so far as to suggest that maybe we can buy a horse sometime in the future. (!!!) How cool a guy is he? :) I would absolutely love to own a horse again. And they are so cheap right now--you can easily get a really nice horse for under $1k because so many people have lost their jobs, etc., and can't keep them anymore. While I don't regret giving Baloo up, I've always regretted that I didn't have the means to keep him, send him to training, etc. So if I (we?) get another horse, I want to make damn sure I can keep him/her for the horse's entire life. But anyway, we're just dreaming... ;)
I've been trying to get on the trainer more often lately. I've ridden for at least 30 minutes Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I'm riding Riley tonight, so I'll probably stay off the trainer for today.
I've been trying to get on the trainer more often lately. I've ridden for at least 30 minutes Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I'm riding Riley tonight, so I'll probably stay off the trainer for today.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Saturday night, I woke up at around 3:30 in the morning, and couldn't go back to sleep. Around 4:30, still laying in bed, I suddenly heard a weird racket on the roof of the apartment building. It creeped me out... Jaiden heard it, and got up to investigate out the front window (his default investigation point, lol). He didn't bark or anything, and I was too tired/creeped out to get up, so I didn't do anything, but I did stay alert for a while.
So, I was on the phone last night with Eric, my sliding door to the balcony open, and suddenly, Jaiden got up and started growling, sniffing the air at the sliding door. He darted back and forth between smelling the air at the door and looking out the window to see if he could see what the smell was coming from. The hair on his back raised to an extent that I'd never seen it. Even with new people, new dogs, etc., his hair has never been raised like that before. (I swear, this dog has no end to the myriad of ways he can creep me out.) So I opened the door, and we both went out there. I was telling Eric about what was going on, and he said maybe he had smelled a raccoon or something. No sooner did Eric say that when something out of my peripheral vision caught my eye, and I looked up. There it was--a raccoon! On the roof of my apartment! The funny thing is, it didn't care about me; it kept looking over the edge of the roof at Jaiden as if Jaiden were the real threat. Jaiden had no clue that it was up there, but I wonder what his reaction would have been if he'd seen it. I'm thinking that's the sound I heard Saturday night...
Anyway, we're getting excited for our trip to Omaha!! :)
So, I was on the phone last night with Eric, my sliding door to the balcony open, and suddenly, Jaiden got up and started growling, sniffing the air at the sliding door. He darted back and forth between smelling the air at the door and looking out the window to see if he could see what the smell was coming from. The hair on his back raised to an extent that I'd never seen it. Even with new people, new dogs, etc., his hair has never been raised like that before. (I swear, this dog has no end to the myriad of ways he can creep me out.) So I opened the door, and we both went out there. I was telling Eric about what was going on, and he said maybe he had smelled a raccoon or something. No sooner did Eric say that when something out of my peripheral vision caught my eye, and I looked up. There it was--a raccoon! On the roof of my apartment! The funny thing is, it didn't care about me; it kept looking over the edge of the roof at Jaiden as if Jaiden were the real threat. Jaiden had no clue that it was up there, but I wonder what his reaction would have been if he'd seen it. I'm thinking that's the sound I heard Saturday night...
Anyway, we're getting excited for our trip to Omaha!! :)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Coming to Omaha again...
Sorry, haven't been keeping up with the blog... I've been busy. I'm thinking about getting a different part-time job. I love working at the tack shop, but there's no need for me to continue working there for peanuts when I can easily make twice as much elsewhere. I've been saying this for a while, though, hehe.
Anyway, I'm coming back March 6th and will be there until the 9th. And I'm bringing the new man! :) His name is Eric, by the way (did I mention that already?). Yeah, that makes it particularly confusing, given that my sister's husband's name is Eric, lol. On Saturday night, Eric, Becky, Eric and I (see what I mean?) are going out to Johnny's Italian Steakhouse I think... yummm. Other than that, I don't think we really have any set plans!
I haven't been on the bike in a while. :( I rode the trainer Monday night, and was supposed to go horseback riding on Tuesday, but we had a big cold front move through, so I skipped it. We actually had a small ice storm last night. Eric and I went horseback riding on Sunday. I booked a trail ride for us, and it was so much fun! It wasn't the typical nose-to-tail trail ride. They actually let us trot and canter, hehe. Eric's horse, William, was missing an eye... they called him One Eyed Willie, lol. I have a soft spot for one-eyed horses, as the first horse I ever rode with Pat was named April and she was missing an eye. ;)
Anyway, I'm coming back March 6th and will be there until the 9th. And I'm bringing the new man! :) His name is Eric, by the way (did I mention that already?). Yeah, that makes it particularly confusing, given that my sister's husband's name is Eric, lol. On Saturday night, Eric, Becky, Eric and I (see what I mean?) are going out to Johnny's Italian Steakhouse I think... yummm. Other than that, I don't think we really have any set plans!
I haven't been on the bike in a while. :( I rode the trainer Monday night, and was supposed to go horseback riding on Tuesday, but we had a big cold front move through, so I skipped it. We actually had a small ice storm last night. Eric and I went horseback riding on Sunday. I booked a trail ride for us, and it was so much fun! It wasn't the typical nose-to-tail trail ride. They actually let us trot and canter, hehe. Eric's horse, William, was missing an eye... they called him One Eyed Willie, lol. I have a soft spot for one-eyed horses, as the first horse I ever rode with Pat was named April and she was missing an eye. ;)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Been a while!
Wow, sorry, it's been a while since I've written a post! I just don't have a whole lot to say... life is good! The jobs are going well, etc. Things are going well with the new man, too. :) I rode Riley tonight, and he was pretty good... he keeps getting excited whenever we canter, though, lol. He was getting a little pissy tonight, too, heh. I really wish I could take lessons... I don't really have a lot of direction when I ride alone, so I just kind of do whatever. Eh, oh well. It's fun.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Gah... bad ride.
I had a relatively bad ride last night, but I pretty much expected that. I hadn't eaten much yesterday or the day before, so my energy level was already low. Plus, I overextended my right hamstring, and it was sore. It was chilly, so I wore a jersey, arm warmers and a wind breaker. A couple people made fun of me for wearing long-fingered gloves, but I knew as soon as the sun started going down, I'd be freezing without them, and I was right. I never understand why people chide others for their clothing preferences. We all get cold/warm at different rates. Oh well.
So, anyway, I got dropped on the very first hill because they all decided to attack. I don't think even if I had the energy that I would have been able to keep up. I mean, this hill is only 1/4 mile after the start of the ride, and it takes me a good 30 minutes to get really warmed up. Geez. So, I stayed back, and went at my own pace into the headwind. About 5-7 miles into the ride, I became really tired, my back was killing me (I really need to see a chiropractor), my neck was becoming sore, my hamstring hurt, and my knees were already hurting--if it's been a while since I've ridden outside, my knees will start complaining. So, I continued on, even though a part of me really just wanted to turn around. However, I knew the group would worry about me if they didn't see me, so I kept going. At about 13.5 miles, exhausted and in more pain, I turned around. I thought I had seen the rest of the group coming at me, so I figured it was safe. Turns out it wasn't them.
There was a slight tailwind, which was helpful, but the big hills are uphill going back home. It was then that my knees reeeeally started hurting, way more than they ever have before. I did everything I could think of (other than resting, haha) to ease the pain--changing my position, stretching out my legs while in the saddle, massaging my knees, slowing down--but nothing really worked. This went on for pretty much the rest of the ride home. I was miserable. BUT, I'm still really glad I went.
So, anyway, I got dropped on the very first hill because they all decided to attack. I don't think even if I had the energy that I would have been able to keep up. I mean, this hill is only 1/4 mile after the start of the ride, and it takes me a good 30 minutes to get really warmed up. Geez. So, I stayed back, and went at my own pace into the headwind. About 5-7 miles into the ride, I became really tired, my back was killing me (I really need to see a chiropractor), my neck was becoming sore, my hamstring hurt, and my knees were already hurting--if it's been a while since I've ridden outside, my knees will start complaining. So, I continued on, even though a part of me really just wanted to turn around. However, I knew the group would worry about me if they didn't see me, so I kept going. At about 13.5 miles, exhausted and in more pain, I turned around. I thought I had seen the rest of the group coming at me, so I figured it was safe. Turns out it wasn't them.
There was a slight tailwind, which was helpful, but the big hills are uphill going back home. It was then that my knees reeeeally started hurting, way more than they ever have before. I did everything I could think of (other than resting, haha) to ease the pain--changing my position, stretching out my legs while in the saddle, massaging my knees, slowing down--but nothing really worked. This went on for pretty much the rest of the ride home. I was miserable. BUT, I'm still really glad I went.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Updates...
Geez, I just can't keep a secret about my dating life! People just pick up on stuff. During my trip to Omaha, I was sending text messages while I was out with Tennille, and she immediately wanted to know who it was... I must have had a particular smile on my face or something. Becky sent me an e-mail asking me what I did for New Year's Eve, and I didn't answer right away... she picked up on that and thought I was avoiding her, lol.
Anyway, I'm not giving any details to anybody, but yes, I'm dating someone. I don't want to get into too many details because it's still new--and I'm sick and tired of having to explain about my failed relationships, which is why I try to keep this kind of thing quiet for as long as possible. All I'm going to say is this guy is amazing, and he treats me like a queen. Just trying to keep my feet on the ground, mmkay? ;)
So, now that the holidays are finally over, back to riding the bike and the horse! I did ride the trainer at my parents' house during my visit, but have slacked off the last week or so. I got on the trainer last night for 45 minutes--and damn, it's pretty evident that just the last couple of weeks have really caught up with me. I normally try to do intervals, and get my heart rate up to 180, then rest for a few minutes. It took FOREVER (at least compared to a couple weeks ago) to get my heart rate to that point. Yikes. I'm going to have to climb on the trainer again tomorrow... there's also talk of a night ride this Thursday (it's going to be in the 70s! WOOT!), and I'm really considering going.
I worked at the tack shop tonight, and went horseback riding afterwards. :) Riley is most definitely opinionated, but that actually makes it somewhat easier to ride him--he lets me know what works and what doesn't. If I'm doing something he doesn't like, he'll raise his head and tense his back. He's a very smart, sensitive horse, and I really like him. I had a good ride on him tonight... just did a few shoulder-ins, some figure 8s, and a bit of stretching. He's a cool horse, but he does need some work. I need a trainer, though, if I really want to improve him. Sigh.
Anyway, I'm not giving any details to anybody, but yes, I'm dating someone. I don't want to get into too many details because it's still new--and I'm sick and tired of having to explain about my failed relationships, which is why I try to keep this kind of thing quiet for as long as possible. All I'm going to say is this guy is amazing, and he treats me like a queen. Just trying to keep my feet on the ground, mmkay? ;)
So, now that the holidays are finally over, back to riding the bike and the horse! I did ride the trainer at my parents' house during my visit, but have slacked off the last week or so. I got on the trainer last night for 45 minutes--and damn, it's pretty evident that just the last couple of weeks have really caught up with me. I normally try to do intervals, and get my heart rate up to 180, then rest for a few minutes. It took FOREVER (at least compared to a couple weeks ago) to get my heart rate to that point. Yikes. I'm going to have to climb on the trainer again tomorrow... there's also talk of a night ride this Thursday (it's going to be in the 70s! WOOT!), and I'm really considering going.
I worked at the tack shop tonight, and went horseback riding afterwards. :) Riley is most definitely opinionated, but that actually makes it somewhat easier to ride him--he lets me know what works and what doesn't. If I'm doing something he doesn't like, he'll raise his head and tense his back. He's a very smart, sensitive horse, and I really like him. I had a good ride on him tonight... just did a few shoulder-ins, some figure 8s, and a bit of stretching. He's a cool horse, but he does need some work. I need a trainer, though, if I really want to improve him. Sigh.
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