Happy (Rainy) Leap Day!

 I hope everyone is having a good "Leap Day," as it only comes around once every four years.  Apparently if you were born on February 29th, you are called a "Leapling."  Learn something new every day :)


According to Wikipedia.com:
"In the British Isles, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. While it has been claimed that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, this is dubious, as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. In some places the tradition was tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap year day, February 29."

I might have to wait another four years for that tradition!  OR I might be able to get something good out of a refusal.... ;)

So now that we are fully briefed on the history of this quadrennial day, it is time to start renewing memberships to the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association (CDCTA) and others in order to get the new guy (Waldo) "out-on-the-town" to see what his scores are looking like.  He has been doing fantastic, and has finally figured out where to put those feet in order to not trip and fall on his face over a jump!  He has definitely made this quite a rewarding project for me, so I'm thankful for that.

"Whoooaaaa Britt, that jump is HUGE!!"

Also, it is now a week and a half until my first ever 8k race of the Capital Running Company's St. Patrick's Day 8k! Team "Noob-A-Roo" will be making its first ever appearance running for time in a pretty short race.  It's all in preparation for our half marathon on April 7th.  I'm already starting to get really ridiculously nervous!!



AND, a certain someone starts his return back to Hawaii from Afghanistan in a little less than three weeks, after being deployed there for almost a year.  Keep the prayers running for all those guys to make a safe trip home- they definitely deserve it!!  Not to mention my excitement about them getting home so they can start preparing for the ridiculousness that will be the arrival of yours truly on April 12th!!  Can. Not. Wait.


Go on and enjoy that "Leapling, Pre-St. Patrick's Day" Guiness, in preparation for all that is to come with the very green month of March!

Love,

Brittanie
  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hoping everyone has a great day filled with copious amounts of love and lots and lots of pink and red and glitter and ridiculously unflattering sugary snacks (which is what I will be enjoying today)!!

Lots of love,
  Brittanie, Keana, Wanda & Waldo

What can I say? Best. Gift. Ever.
Sent from my Valentine, who is 7000 miles away :)

Lessons on Waldo and 8 Weeks until the Half

We're getting down to the final 8 weeks before my first ever half marathon.  I'm already starting to get nervous!! My teammate and I decided to sign up for the St Patrick's 8K for March 11th today, so hopefully that will get all the nervousness over with before the half, which will be exactly 4 weeks following.

In other news, I took "Waldo" to a lesson with Karen Nutt (Kingsley) at Angelica Run Farm, and he was an absolute super star!  My friend's dad took a few good videos, and tons of pictures, so I have evidence!  I'm really looking forward to working with him and hopefully finding a good home for him in the next 3 months, which will be when Wanda is ready to start back up again.  Unfortunately I won't have enough time to keep them both going, but I'm having such a good time with him so far!

"Waldo" and I, Karen Nutt (Kingsley), "Bansha" and Chelsea

It's a Good Day for Women

I have to share my two cents, because I am ultimately (if not 100%) proud of what was accomplished today, but not for the reasons I would normally jump on the bandwagon for.

What was accomplished, was an influential movement of men and women who stood their ground and donated millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood over the last 72 hours in order to back their opinions on something so ultimately controversial.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been instrumental in bringing women together to join forces on what is the second leading death-causing form of cancer.  And although breast cancer doesn't only affect women, it has shown to be a strong pull in terms of providing an outlet for women's rights in society.  Bringing together so many women who are hopeless and providing them with medical help and an emotional support system has been the goal of this group for more than 10 years.

This week, Komen made the decision to end any and all funding previously given to Planned Parenthood, on grounds of "attempting to avoid funding any organization under investigation by the government".  And yet, they said it was not based on anything political.  Are you kidding me?

Here's the problem: Komen has been providing these funds to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening examinations; funding the prevention of breast cancer for hundreds, if not thousands of women.  Giving directly to Planned Parenthood for these exams was THE point.  Yet Komen is trying to skirt out of this by saying Planned Parenthood is using that money for abortions.  Komen, for being one of the world's most known entities in cancer prevention groups, you are really dumb. 

Since the start of Komen's "whoops" moment, supporters have donated over $3 million to Planned Parenthood.  OVER $3 MILLION.  Can you imagine what that would do for breast cancer research? Or medical treatment supplies?

Overall, I am more than happy with the amount of people whipping out their wallets to prove that the need for these breast cancer screenings is essential. Planned Parenthood has provided a statement saying they will use this money 100% for breast cancer screenings, which I think is great and a well thought-out plan on their part.  Sorry Komen, I've picked my side and you aren't going to like it.

Maybe Komen could redeem itself and come back swinging.  Maybe they could match all that was donated to Planned Parenthood to be given to the research.  Or to the medical supplies for treatment.  Or for the counseling for family members.

This should be a time when the necessity of breast cancer awareness is shown at full force, not some political garble Americans are forced to "deal" with.

Anyway, I'm happy Komen will be continuing to fund breast cancer screenings for Planned Parenthood, but more happy that people were so up in arms about the situation.  If only we could get people to do this for the debt crisis...