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Thursday, January 24th, 2013
12:14 pm
Books of 2012
My goal for 2012 was to read 2 books per month. I read 54, so more than 200% of goal was achieved. Only 9 were non-fiction (It felt like more). Here's the complete list (in reverse chronological order):


The Hobbit
Tolkien, J.R.R.
read Dec 12, 2012

Charon's Claw (Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter, #3; Legend of Drizzt, #22)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Dec 05, 2012

The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #11)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Nov 15, 2012

Passage to Dawn (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, #4; Legend of Drizzt, #10)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Nov 11, 2012

Siege of Darkness (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, #3; Legend of Drizzt, #9)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Nov 05, 2012

Starless Night (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, #2; Legend of Drizzt, #8)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Oct 29, 2012

Neverwinter (Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter, #2; Legend of Drizzt, #21)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Oct 18, 2012

Gauntlgrym (Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #20)
Salvatore, R.A.
read Oct 14, 2012

Ashes of Honor (October Daye, #6)
McGuire, Seanan
read Oct 05, 2012

Princeps (Imager Portfolio, #5)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Oct 02, 2012

Scholar (Imager Portfolio, #4)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Sep 17, 2012

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Allen, David
read Sep 05, 2012

Odd Interlude #3
Koontz, Dean
read Sep 04, 2012

Odd Interlude #2
Koontz, Dean
read Sep 04, 2012

Odd Interlude #1
Koontz, Dean
read Sep 04, 2012

The Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, #1)
Harrison, Harry
read Aug 27, 2012

Imager's Intrigue (Imager Portfolio, #3)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Aug 15, 2012

The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1)
Pratchett, Terry
read Aug 04, 2012

Imager's Challenge (Imager Portfolio, #2)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Jul 30, 2012

Imager (Imager Portfolio, #1)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Jul 17, 2012

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
Collins, Suzanne
read Jul 08, 2012

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
Collins, Suzanne
read Jul 06, 2012

Interface
Stephenson, Neal
read Jul 05, 2012

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
Collins, Suzanne
read Jun 28, 2012

Redeeming The Lost (The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, #3)
Kerner, Elizabeth
read Jun 25, 2012

The Lesser Kindred (The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, #2)
Kerner, Elizabeth
read Jun 17, 2012

The Help
Stockett, Kathryn
read Jun 2012

The Alloy of Law (Mistborn, #4)
Sanderson, Brandon
read May 31, 2012

Blackout (Newsflesh Trilogy, #3)
Grant, Mira
read May 26, 2012

Remnant Population
Moon, Elizabeth
read May 21, 2012

To the Hilt
Francis, Dick
read May 04, 2012

Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life
Becker, Joshua
read May 03, 2012

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
Collins, Jim
read Apr 30, 2012

Airframe
Crichton, Michael
read Apr 26, 2012

Field of Thirteen
Francis, Dick
read Apr 21, 2012

Flying Finish
Francis, Dick
read Apr 15, 2012

Discount Armageddon (InCryptid, #1)
McGuire, Seanan
read Apr 14, 2012

The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2)
Rothfuss, Patrick
read Apr 11, 2012

Intruder
Cherryh, C.J.
read Mar 19, 2012

Posing a Threat: Flappers, Chorus Girls, and Other Brazen Performers of the American 1920s
Latham, Angela J.
read Mar 14, 2012

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Millennium #2)
Larsson, Stieg
read Mar 13, 2012

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
Larsson, Stieg
read Mar 09, 2012

Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Colvin, Geoff
read Mar 01, 2012

Betrayer (Foreigner, #12)
Cherryh, C.J.
read Feb 26, 2012

Song in the Silence (The Tale of Lanen Kaelar, #1)
Kerner, Elizabeth
read Feb 23, 2012

Positive Discipline A-Z: 1001 Solutions to Everyday Parenting Problems
Nelsen, Jane
read Feb 20, 2012

A Clockwork Orange
Burgess, Anthony
read Feb 02, 2012

The Seasonal Cocktail Companion: 100 Recipes and Projects for Four Seasons of Drinking
Savarino, Maggie
read Jan 30, 2012

I, Robot
Asimov, Isaac
read Jan 27, 2012

Princess Recovery: A Parent's Guide To Raising A Daughter Who Can Create Her Own Happily Ever After
Hartstein, Jennifer L.
read Jan 26, 2012

Queen of Dragons (Drakon, #3)
Abé, Shana
read Jan 22, 2012

Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
Okrent, Daniel
read Jan 15, 2012

The Lord-Protector's Daughter (Corean Chronicles, #7)
Jr., L.E. Modesitt
read Jan 08, 2012

Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12)
Pratchett, Terry
read Jan 04, 2012
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
Horse show #2 of 2012
Since we survived a day showing at Woodside, now I'm off to spend 3 days showing at Pebble Beach.
We've bumped my level up 1 notch since the last show (2 weeks ago). It's still a notch below where I probably should be, and 2 notches below where my trainer would like me to be, but at least it's progress.
Saturday, June 30th, 2012
9:59 am
Woodside Summer Festival Horse Show
Today I will be competing in my first horse show since 2005, and the first show ever on my fabulous mare, Bella. I haven't been feeling well the past week, so I'm going to do the super wimpy class instead of showing at level, but at least I'm going! I'm tired of waiting for things to be perfect. I'm just going to do it. Carpe Diem.

Current Mood: excited
Thursday, June 14th, 2012
7:45 pm
I've Created a Blog!
The Ordo ab Chao Blog (http://ordoabchaoblog.com/) has become a reality.
check it out!

There will be more content soon.
Monday, June 4th, 2012
12:45 pm
Monday, May 21st, 2012
9:25 am
Smart, Healthy, and Efficient
I have been contemplating making some life changes recently to improve my quality of life.  I've also been contemplating starting a blog and/or a business. 

Some inspiration blogs/web sites that I have been reading include:
All of these sites include information about decluttering your possessions and your thoughts to reduce stress and become healthier and happier.

Amusingly, this morning I realized that my goals to become smarter, healthier and more efficient, could be reduced to the acronym SHE.

SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MY READERS:
  1. Should I make a blog for this, or has it already been done to death by others?
  2. If I do make a blog out of it, which blogging program/ hosting site do you recommend?
  3. If I do make a blog out of it, what topics would you be interested in hearing about?
  4. Do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share  for making yourself (or other people) smarter, healthier, or more efficient?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
6:24 pm
Rachel Saavedra dressage clinic
I just got back after attending the dressage clinic with Rachel Saavedra. I've been wanting to ride with her for about a year, I finally got a chance.  She was complimentary of my seat and legs and said that the mechanics of my rising trot were excellent.  Mostly we worked on what my arms and hands were doing and how they were affecting Miss Bella.  While none of these points were entirely news to me, she got me thinking about them in new ways.  My trainer watched the whole session and was very impressed. Next time she wants to bring her horse, too!

Here are my take-aways:

1. the walk - if the head isn't bobbing, you are doing it wrong. Go for the "sassy walk," don't let her slack off.  Allow with the arms.
2. gaze - don't look so far ahead on the circle, look where the horse is looking. Watch her ears. At least one, generally the inside, should be focused on you.  If you can't see the ears, you are looking too far ahead.
3.  arms and hands - different parts of the arms control different parts of the horse's head and neck. Hands for the mouth/nose. Wrist for pole flexion. Arm, swinging from shoulder, controls the neck.  To get the flex on a curve, just use the wrist. Do not use "wiper blade arms" where arms swings out or across the body.  Keep forearms parallel.  Hands should be no closer together than the width of the bit, and no farther apart than the width of my torso.  Smaller motions.
4. Canter depart - if the horse fusses, that's her way of telling you that you are overdoing the aids. Lighten up a bit. Timing: action leg (inside) moves as inside foreleg hits ground/outside shoulder starts to move.  Set-up leg (outside leg) needs to move slightly before that. I need to practice this some. I suspect that my action leg is a fraction of a second too late. Flex to the inside to prevent falling in.
5. "keep the change" - once you have been working on something like going on the bit, and you take a break, if the horse is still kinda doing it, maintain contact and don't go passive.
6. don't be passive - when you ask for something and she gives it to you, don't go all passive or you will lose it, slacken a little (the reward) but remain active with the aids. Don't throw it away just because you got what you wanted.  Maintain.

Current Mood: thoughtful
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
6:46 pm
The Books of 2011
In 2011, I read:
  1. The Dragon Keeper (Rain Wild Chronicles, #1) by Hobb, Robin
  2. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Levitt, Steven D.
  3. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Bourdain, Anthony
  4. Her Fearful Symmetry by Niffenegger, Audrey *
  5. Sourcery (Discworld, #5) by Pratchett, Terry
  6. Time and Again, Vol. 1 by Yun, JiUn
  7. Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Bourdain, Anthony
  8. The Law of Nines by Goodkind, Terry
  9. Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) by McGuire, Seanan *
  10. Heresy (Giordano Bruno, #1) by Parris, S.J.
  11. Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time, #13; Memory of Light, #2) by Jordan, Robert
  12. Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Sanderson, Brandon *
  13. The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2) by Sanderson, Brandon *
  14. The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3) by Sanderson, Brandon *
  15. The Horse God Built: The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World's Greatest Racehorse by Scanlan, Lawrence
  16. Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy, #2) by Grant, Mira
  17. Off Armageddon Reef (Safehold, #1) by Weber, David
  18. By Schism Rent Asunder by Weber, David
  19. The Hammer of God by Clarke, Arthur C.
  20. CryoBurn (Vorkosigan Saga, #14) by Bujold, Lois McMaster
  21. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Millennium, #3) by Larsson, Stieg
  22. Good Omens by Pratchett, Terry
  23. One Salt Sea (October Daye #5) by McGuire, Seanan *
  24. Candice Olson on Design by Olson, Candice
  25. The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive, #1) by Sanderson, Brandon *
  26. By Heresies Distressed (Safehold, #3) by Weber, David
  27. Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects (World of WarCraft, #9) by Golden, Christie
  28. The Sleeping Beauty (Five Hundred Kingdoms, #5) by Lackey, Mercedes
  29. The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
  30. Timeline by Crichton, Michael
  31. Eric (Discworld, #9) by Pratchett, Terry
  32. Equal Rites (Discworld, #3) by Pratchett, Terry
  33. Reaper Man (Discworld, #11) by Pratchett, Terry
6:05 pm
New Years Theme
Rather than setting new years resolutions per se, I have been setting new years themes.  Each year I choose a theme toward which I should direct my efforts over the course of the year.  Last year was "Change".  2011 certainly held a lot of changes for me.

2012 will be "Mind Opening".  By that I mean knowledge and experiences that educate and stimulate thought processes.  Each month I plan to choose a topic to study, visit, and/or experience over the course of that month.

January's topic will be physics. Yep, starting right in with the heavy stuff!
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
1:07 pm
quote of the day
"If you stopped tellin' people it's all sorted out after the're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive."

-From the book Good Omens
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
allergies suck
Despite all kinds of fancy prescription-only allergy and asthma medicines, something nasty is blooming right now that is trying to kill me.  Riding horses might not, technically, be an aerobic sport, but I need some modicum of oxygen to keep me functioning enough to remain in the saddle.  A little cooperation on the part of my immune system right now would be great.
Saturday, January 1st, 2011
6:56 pm
The Books of 2010 - what I read this past year

title

The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, #12; A Memory of Light, #1)

author

Jordan, Robert

date read

Dec 23, 2010 

title

The House on Durrow Street

author

Beckett, Galen M.

date read

Nov 30, 2010 

title

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

author

Beckett, Galen M.

date read

Nov 14, 2010 

title

Feed (Newsflesh, #1)

author

Grant, Mira

date read

Nov 06, 2010 

title

An Artificial Night (October Daye, #3)

author

McGuire, Seanan *

date read

Oct 23, 2010 

title

A Local Habitation (October Daye, #2)

author

McGuire, Seanan *

date read

Oct 04, 2010 

title

The United States of Arugula: How We Became a Gourmet Nation

author

Kamp, David

date read

Sep 29, 2010 

title

The Deed of Paksenarrion

author

Moon, Elizabeth

date read

Sep 12, 2010

title

Roasting in Hell's Kitchen: Temper Tantrums, F Words, and the Pursuit of Perfection

author

Ramsay, Gordon

date read

Jul 04, 2010

title

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye, #1)

author

McGuire, Seanan *

date read

Jun 20, 2010 

title

Deceiver (Foreigner, #11)

author

Cherryh, C.J. *

date read

Jun 04, 2010 

title

In Fury Born

author

Weber, David

date read

May 10, 2010 

title

On the Edge (The Edge, #1)

author

Andrews, Ilona

date read

Mar 11, 2010 

title

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

author

Pollan, Michael

date read

Jan 28, 2010 

title

Amber and Blood (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, #3)

author

Weis, Margaret

date read

Jan 24, 2010 

title

Hunter's Run

author

Abraham, Daniel

date read

Jan 10, 2010 

title

Amber and Iron (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, #2)

author

Weis, Margaret

date read

Jan 06, 2010 

 

Thursday, July 1st, 2010
12:09 pm
The new tackroom
We moved to a new tackroom at the front of the barn and Teri, my trainer, has been busy decorating.  We may very well have the fanciest tackroom ever.

Teaser Picture:
From Tackroom 2010



More pix:
picasaweb.google.com/hoppe.michelle/Tackroom2010#
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
9:15 am
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
10:22 am
recipe

French Toast
Serves: 1
Total Time: 15 minutes


Serve this dish with a side of breakfast sausage and a nice hot cup of coffee. Here's how:


Materials:

2 breakfast sausages
1 large egg
1/4 cup milk
1 Tablespoon butter
2 slices of bread, any kind
Maple syrup

Method
  1. Place sausages in a large non-stick skillet over Medium-high heat.
  2. Crack egg into a bowl large enough to fil a slice of bread. Beat the egg with a fork or whisk until yolk and white are blended. Mix in the Milk.
  3. Stir the sausages and place 1/2 of the butter in the skillet.
  4. Place a slice of bread into the egg and milk mixture and press down gently with your fingers. Turn the bread over and repeat on the other side. Place the battered bread into the skillet. Repeat with second slice of bread.
  5. Cook until the bread is lightly browned on the bottom.  While the bread is cooking, start a pot of coffee and put away your supplies.
  6. Stir the sausage, flip the bread over adding in remaining buttter. While it cooks, set the table and feed your cat (or check your email or whatever you need to do).
  7. Serve with Maple Syrup.


There you have it, french toast with sausage and coffee in just 15 minutes! Enjoy!

Monday, February 15th, 2010
3:55 pm
Happy Lunar New Year!
Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Happy Year of the Tiger 4708!

We hope everyone has a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year!
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
12:10 am
The Books of 2009 - a year in review
Title author my rating   year pub   date readDown_arrow
Archform: BeautyJr., L.E. Modesittdidn&apos;t like itit was okliked it (my current rating)really liked itit was amazing  2002  Dec 29, 2009
AdiamanteJr., L.E. Modesittdidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  1996  Dec 24, 2009
The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)Brown, Dandidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2009  Dec 20, 2009
Regenesis (Cyteen Series)Cherryh, C.didn&apos;t like itit was okliked it (my current rating)really liked itit was amazing  2010  Nov 29, 2009
The Eternity ArtifactJr., L.E. Modesittdidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2005  Sep 11, 2009
War of Honor (Honor Harrington, #10)Weber, Daviddidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2002  Jul 30, 2009
Making Money (Discworld, #36)Pratchett, Terrydidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2007  Jul 15, 2009
Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 8)Beaton, M.C.didn&apos;t like itit was okliked it (my current rating)really liked itit was amazing  1999  Jun 28, 2009
NextCrichton, Michaeldidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2006  Jun 25, 2009
Conspirator (Foreigner, #10)Cherryh, C.J.didn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing (my current rating)  2009  Jun 2009
Going Postal (Discworld, #33)Pratchett, Terrydidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2004  Apr 21, 2009
Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19)Pratchett, Terrydidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  1996  Apr 15, 2009
Pyramids (Discworld, #7)Pratchett, Terrydidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  1987  Apr 10, 2009
The Omnivore's DilemmaPollan, Michaeldidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing (my current rating)  2006  Mar 30, 2009
A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate TravellerMayes, Francesdidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing (my current rating)  2006  Mar 2009
Life ExpectancyKoontz, Deandidn&apos;t like itit was okliked itreally liked it (my current rating)it was amazing  2004  Feb 11, 2009
The HostMeyer, Stepheniedidn&apos;t like it (my current rating)it was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing  2008  Feb 10, 2009
When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded AgeKaplan, Justindidn&apos;t like itit was okliked it (my current rating)really liked itit was amazing  2006  Jan 19, 2009
Innocents Aboard: New Fantasy StoriesWolfe, Genedidn&apos;t like itit was ok (my current rating)liked itreally liked itit was amazing  2004  Jan 07, 2009
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
9:25 am
Pimping a friend's website
A friend of mine has made it his mission in life to get us computer nerds back in the kitchen.

He just launched a new website designed to do just that. There are a couple of options such as Twitter feed for it.

http://foodbuffs.net/
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
8:46 am
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
11:25 am
Tranquility
The Autumn sun lights the pages of my book. A puddle of warmth in my lap, Purring.

Current Mood: peaceful
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