Yay! Also, I have a Twilight magazine to read.

Okay, today was a really great day.  I'm hoping for a twofer - tomorrow could be really great too.

Pluto got his mani-pedi.  Steve says that a lot of horses' feet got pretty bad this trimming cycle.  I'm thinking it's the wet weather.  Whatever the reason, Stinker is now trimmed up, and our next appointment will be a little early just in case.

I talked to Steve some about his back problems, looking for more insight into my own.  He has very similar disk issues.  He went to some cutting edge (hee) guy, and his surgery took half an hour.  That's crazy!  And he walked out of there the same day!  He knows somebody else who went to the same place who got a jointed titanium disk replacement.  Hmmmm.  Maybe things are looking up in the sucky back treatment area.

Horses:  Just as bad as people at keeping their eyes open for the camera

I don't know why I thought a picture of Pluto's tack would be helpful

After farriery, I tacked Pluto up and rode him briefly.  More briefly than I planned, because I decided to ride in two point (i.e., all my weight in the stirrups, not on my butt.)  After not very long, my back cramped up.  It wasn't zingy, which makes me think it was just weak muscles.  Assuming I don't notice any repercussions, I'm going to try to work in (very) short stretches of two point every ride, to try to build that area up.

Typically, on a weekend, I'll ride, then get lunch, then nap.  So I installed the Chipotle app on my phone, ordered lunch from the farm, and picked it up on the way home.  Awesome!  I cut right to the front of the line and was out of there in seconds.  Only problem was, after lunch I couldn't nap.  I tried.  I was warm and cozy and comfy, but I couldn't get to sleep.  How aggravating is that?

The dog couldn't sleep either

I eventually gave up and meandered downstairs.  Somehow I happened upon something that I've been dreaming of:  a backpack made with an ultralight packbag, but framing that looks like it will transfer weight from the shoulders to the hips.

The Zpacks Exo

It seems to be pretty new.  I haven't been able to find reviews of it carrying a full load.  But it's looking like maybe a good option.

The problem with Zpacks is I could pretty much spend all my money there, plus some I don't have.  Their Solo or Solo Plus Hexamid tent is looking attractive as well.  I'm waiting to see how the Canadian Geese like theirs.

This evening I went out to Chanan's for dinner.  JD's in trouble now.  When I got there, alone, they tried to seat me without my having paid first.  They just assumed he was coming in behind me.  "He pays, right?"  I had to repeat that there was just one tonight.  And that I was paying.  "So where's your husband?"  I told them he was at Walt Disney World. "He went without you?!"  Yup.  This isn't a problem for me, but JD going without me?  And not paying for my dinner?  Apparently it's Just Not Right.

Also, my fortune was ominous.

Home, home on the parkway

I saw something that made me laugh out loud as I was driving to work today.  You know those "deer crossing" signs?  Somebody had made a really excellent modification.  They added wings to the deer. I laughed like a loon.

I needed the laugh, as the doc (not a radiologist, so this is not a final sort of diagnosis) who reviewed my x rays this morning didn't have really positive things to say.  I hope to learn more soon, but it is starting to look like I may have to restrict some of my favorite activities if I can't get fixed up.  I guess there are only so many times the doctors can wave their magic wands before they go "Nope, wand wave-age quota exceeded."

It's not like I'll be bed ridden, but as things stand I pretty much can't ride a horse for more than a few minutes.  Possibly a horse with less motion could fix that problem.   But that would, of course, mean I wouldn't be riding Pluto.  I don't see him becoming a smooth ride any time soon, if ever.  I have had friends who bought gaited horses (Tennessee Walkers, Paso Finos, and Saddlebreds, for instance) for just such reasons.  Their backs couldn't hand much motion any more.  So I guess it's an option.  Alternatively, I might be able to modify my riding style to accommodate the needs of my back.  But I can't keep riding the way I have been, all these years.  I am in constant pain anyway, but riding makes it worse.

It's depressing.  I'm going to stop thinking about it for now.

Let's see, cheerful things.. I'm going backpacking!  I know you just gasped in shock.  I have a short trip planned for this weekend.  I'm not sure who my hiking partner will be, but I'm going.  Backpacking actually doesn't bother my back, which is pretty happy when I'm walking.  So I have a pretty route picked out, and I'm starting to pack up the food.  Unfortunately it's going to get hot again this weekend, but I plan to tromp through a stream many times, so it shouldn't be too bad.  :)

JD and I tested a couple of old Thermarests to see if we could find the leaks in them.  If so, we could fix one up for him.  The smaller one had a couple of leaks we identified using the "spray it with soapy water and look for bubbles" method.  The larger one, we gave up looking after finding the sixth hole.  I bought it from REI lo these many years ago, I think.  After it dries, I'll take it back and try to get some store credit for it.  It was one of those huge lux-o-mats, which was used ONCE and I am pretty sure I spent over a hundred bucks on it so I am aggrieved.  (It was pretty nice that one time though.)

The one with only a couple of leaks we have marked with a permanent marker.  When it finally dries back out we'll have a go at patching it.  It should work well.  Ten years ago I patched one that a cat clawed up,  and it's still holding air.

Okay, even though watching five hours of True Blood yesterday made me kind of blah, I'm going to go watch more.  It's an addiction.