1. Why is this blog called Crystal and Cookie? Who is Cook?

Cook is a mare I owned for several years that WAS, IS and always WILL be the absolute love of my life. She died in November. My heart will never be the same.

2. Why aren’t you working?

Short answer: I don’t want to.

Long Answer: I had a hard November. I had several personal problems, health problems, my job closed and then my horse died. It was more than I could mentally take, so I begged J and B for something to do… and they accepted. I hung around long enough that they just started expecting me to come in. In the beginning, they would ask every day “Coming in tomorrow?”… Now they just say “See you tomorrow”.

Now I have decided to stay out of work as long as possible to enjoy, what has become the best time of my life.

3. What does your family think of this decision (not to work right now)?

Short answer: They think I’m nuts.

Long answer: They think I’m nuts. My mother has been MORE supportive than most - she wants me to be happy - but she worries that I will end up sleeping in my car or on the sidewalk. She doesn’t understand that at this point, I don’t even care if that happens.

No one in my family really knows (or cares) what I am doing or what I am learning. They have never seen me ride (or very rarely - Richard has once or twice), and of course, they know nothing about dressage. They haven’t met or don’t interact with my horses, Cook or Ami.

The most supportive one from the beginning has been my cousin, Anitra. She has told me to go for this - and life is too short to be unhappy.

4. What is your horse experience?

I showed in hunters with Cook and another horse Miss. When Cook died, and I started with J and B, I started in dressage. When I was in hunters, I was not interested in dressage at all. I have been converted. LOVE IT.

5. So what do you want to do with your life?

I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that. So until I figure it out, I’m gonna just hang out with J.

(Bonus points if you know what movie that comes from… one of my favorites)

6. What is your plan with Ami?

I plan to show Ami in lower level dressage and lower level hunters / combined training.  One of my friends once told me that J would not “be caught dead” at a hunter show.  So my main goal is to show at a hunter show with J, breathing.  He may wear a hat and sunglasses as a disguise.  We’ll see.

7. Do you get alot of lessons with J and B?

People ask me this alot… and I’m not sure why. Of course, I do. The answer is “yes”. I often get more feedback on my riding than I want.

J and B are awesome human beings … (although it wouldn’t kill them to learn how to run the washing machine for saddle pads). I have lucked out in my entire working career. My first and only job at Lucent, I ended up with 2 best friends in my boss Maureen and my sidekick Theresa. Here, my time with the boys, I end up with not only great trainers, but we are all good friends as well.