I dream of Audrey and stop the Z

Express entry (5:35 a.m.): Here’s one for the Dream diary…just woke up from the craziest dream. I’ll describe my dream first, then interpret later for the full crazy affect. So I had joined the Air Force and come in to my dream as I’m walking around a campus (I think it was UW) practicing my march. I’m not sure if I can enter the student union building or not with my wooden display/practice weapon so I head back to my dorm which is actually more like one of those portable classroom/trailers. Luckily some fellow recruits are there including Audrey Hepburn and Liz O’Malley a girl I used to work at the Nordstrom espresso bar with (she was the quintessential Irish girl with short red hair and a lot of personal style). I put on my Air Force cap and looked in the mirror and it reminded us of something Audrey wore in Breakfast in Tiffany’s because it was so big. So I asked Audrey to put it on which she did and it was very funny. Cut to the next part that I remember…Audrey kept all of her wedding dresses on the wall near the door of our dorm room. I came in to her trying on one of the dresses. So I snapped a few souvenir shots and then asked Liz to come over and play a few songs on her guitar. I was wearing the big Air Force had this time. The sun came into the room through a skylight and I couldn’t believe what awesome pictures I was getting; Audrey sitting down among her wedding dresses in that way only a super model could, Liz in front of her and the both of them singing Moon River. I finish the role of film, rewind it, but of course open it before the film is done rewinding so I’m not sure if I have the pictures or not. The was a fellow guy recruit sitting next to me, but I’m not sure who he was. He was pretty amazed by the incredible photo opp. as well. So now, interpretation. I’ve been seriously considering joining the Air Force reserves for a while. Serving the military is one of those things that I regret not ever doing. I was scared stiff of doing such a thing when I was younger. Didn’t think I could measure up if I remember correctly. But I think I could do it now and actually look forward to the self discipline and physical challenge that would be involved. In addition, I recently read a book called Audrey Style by …It of course talks about how she developed her personal style, which was a huge deal to the world but was never much thought for her as a person. The book was very inspiring, and she has certainly been on of my role models for a while. I remember watching an interview with Isabelle Rossolini where she spoke about Audrey as her role mode. They were at a fundraiser together and Audrey was at the podium speaking. There she was in her evening gown, looking amazing and giving an inspirational lecture, but Isabelle noticed that she had dirt under her fingernails as she leaned on the podium and put one of her hands over the side. It turns out Audrey had just flew in from Africa where she had been planing with some local villagers. Now that’s my kind of woman! Liz was one of the coolest people I ever worked with at the espresso bar. She was young, but super intelligent and spunky. The kind of person I always wanted to be. I think the dream spoke to the fact that I’m starting to feel a little more self-actualized; getting to where I want to be. Then again, it could have just been the cashmere cap.

Now back to training...started the day with weights, my first leg workout in quite some time. Did the same as my upper body…started out with the weights that I left of with last time I was lifting. No major feats, but it felt good to get back into it. Once again, I’m not wanting to get huge but could use some additional strength and wouldn’t mind some more definition.

My work stress and new training showed up in riding tonight. Laura said I really looked rigid and I could certainly feel it. She said my ankle was stuck in a Z and wasn’t moving. I almost felt like I was trying to relax too much. Part of the problem could have been Pet again. He still seems to have the upper hand in a lot of situations. He is tending to veer towards the inside shoulder. I couldn’t figure out if I was sending the signal or if was him being his usual pill self. Laura first though it was my rigidness but we figured out that Pet was doing what he often did with children riders…turning to the inside which results in the rider spending their time trying to get him back in line rather than forcing him into the trot. I ended up just letting veer where he wanted, but forcing him into the trot. Worked pretty well and I was able to get some shoulder in done before going up to the canter. Cantering proved a challenge given my rigidness, but I eventually pulled out some good laps and was able to work on getting my hand positioning correct.