OK. It's 8:30 PM, and I'm going to bed after downing a couple of Ibuprofens and taking a steaming hot bath. (Hey, are my heating pads ready yet?!) Lights out early after a couple of hours of equestrian vaulting practice for me today. (We did a good hour of pilates and dance conditioning exercises on the mat before this.)

It's sobering to realize that I've lost most of my conditioning from when I was vaulting regularly.

So, I'll begin again.

Today I remembered how much I love the thoughtful tranquility of this sport. It's mind and body. We learned a couple of very cool stretches this morning that I hope to share later this week. Also we had a new vaulter who joined us today who is about my age. I think she's a dancer and a woman who has had limited experience with horses. You should have seen her. She did awesome!

I know you can't really get the full effect of his full splendiferousness (is that word?) here, but our coach's Irish Draft Shakespeare is simply to die for.