I am usually a stickler for routine. I know what I have to do, and I do it. Little gets in the way. This is why my taking on the Bright Lights Book Project was so unusual. My regular routine fell by the wayside. I think it had something to do with my being obsessive compulsive and being able to rationalize my behavior.

But now, I’m back to my old routine, and now I’m looking at certain aspects of it in a new light. I’m still adhering to what I previously determined needed to get done. I’m exercising, writing, and tending to animals. However, I’m now changing my routine somewhat.

Alys and Tyra in the agility arena

Exercise – this is the big one. I previously exercised with the horses near exclusively. I ran with them and I bicycled with them. Now I’m exercising independently of them. This takes more time but I’m getting a more sustained and fuller workout. And so are they.

Today, for instance, first thing, I did some body-awareness work, and then I again took off in the direction of the White Highway. It was a bit of a slog in places, and the going was slow. Then the trail became hardpacked and I just flew along at a fairly fast clip. I attempted to ride Pete’s Trail, which is off the corridor trail, and had to turn back. It was pedaling in cake frosting.

Pete, who has a skinny tired bicycle, did an alternate route. He went up and back on Buffalo Mine Road. I may join him tomorrow.

I got home and worked for an hour on Forks. It’s nearly done. I’m going to have to come up with another project here soon because Pete won’t be reading this until May.

I had planned on doing horse-specific body work but got lazy. So I instead I went directly out, and cleaned the enclosure and surrounding area. Then I got the horses out. It had been cloudy all morning. As I put the bareback pad on Hrimmi it started raining. Pete walked Tinni and I rode Hrimmi, who is again getting used to the idea of being ridden, had brief moments of brilliance.

I next ran with Raudi down to the creek and then rode her to the Murphy Road turn and back home. She also had her brief moments of brilliance. Tyra was next – in the interest of time I took her for a walk. She was very attentive because she wanted badly to do something. So I worked with her on staying on the far side of the road, using hand signals, and on my walking behind her, me pretending to have long lines in my hands. Though I didn’t ride Tyra, I felt like I accomplished more with her than the other two.

So really, my routine is a bit different in terms of when I do what I do. I do feel like it’s a healthy routine, one that is going to be good adhere to for the present time.

I don’t foresee things being the way they were in the pre-virus days. This is a die off, and with die offs come unpredictable changes. Bottom line, glad to be here, and doing what I’m now doing.

Next: 103. 4/13/20: Pretending its Spring