2012 Adventure List

I despise resolutions, but I love the idea of regeneration. Who doesn’t want a clean slate and the opportunity to start the new year as a better person? I’m going to change the rhetoric of New Year’s goals: “resolution” connotes obligation, and for me, obligation usually begets failure. This year, I’m going to have adventures. I want to do things that will enrich and excite my life; things that I can actively control.  And if the Mayans are right, and the world ends this December, I don’t want my last year on earth to be spent organizing my files or losing weight; I want to go out having climbed mountains and ridden racehorses.

So in the honor of 2012 and new adventures…

1) Climb a 14er

2) Can my own tomato sauce, jam, and pickles. Preferably with backyard-grown produce. And make home-made ice cream.
* Made Philadelphia style ice cream with my hand crank ice cream maker – 4/24/12

3) Go to National Western Stock Show  (accomplished 1/11/12), Cheyenne Frontier Days, Greeley Stampede, Extreme Mustang Makeover  and Country Jam.

4) Go on two “Tank Adventures”. Drive in a random direction until half my gas tank is empty. Wherever I end up is where I’ll spend the day. It’s like a mini, non-committal roadtrip.

5)  Go on an overnight pack trip.

6) Backpack a three day stretch of the Colorado Trail.

7) Ride in five shows.

8) Which means I should probably start taking lessons. Find a trainer and take at least 12 lessons.
1/27- Lesson with Amy. Worked on picking up our right lead, counter bending, and leg yielding.

3/31-4/01- Took a two day clinic with Amy. Worked on ground manners, round penning, transitions within the gait, seat aids, and. lateral movement.We got our right lead! I’m going to count this as three lessons.

9) Skin a rabbit. And eat it.

10) Read 40 books. For fun. Academic books don’t count.

1) Kings of Colorado by David E. Hiltom (1/13/12)
2) The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold (2/8/12)
3) Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100 mile Diet by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon (2/20/12)
4) Horseplay by Judy Singer (3/12/12)
5)Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz (4/9/12)
6) Dragonfly Caught In Amber by Diana Gabaldon (4/16/12)
7) A Very Small Farm by William Paul Winchester (4/24/12)

11) Go to a horse race.

12) Learn to knit a hat. Or socks. Or both.