I’m theoretically on a two-week break from school right now, although it’s been anything but a break. My computer once again crashed on Tuesday night, for reason still unbeknownst, other than the vague, “bad hard drive.” So much for warranty work.

Fortunately, I was able to get it fixed with overnight service Wednesday, and one new hard drive later, I got my computer back this morning. But by yesterday evening, I was drained from all the stress and trauma associated with yet another computer crash (at least I managed to keep about 85% of my data this time). Dinner was an interesting affair, with me chattering on and on (I babble when I’m tired), and this time, the topic was the impending crewing at Tevis this summer. My long-suffering parents humor me with listening ears and bemused grins. My father, too, wants to ride Tevis, but he doesn’t have the same depth of obsession that I possess.

All of those elements combined to produce, in good humor, the following list:

Things Ashley is Not Allowed to do at Tevis This Summer Whilst Crewing:

– Max out credit cards on tack and gear.
– Bring back more suitcases than I left with.
– Buy a horse.
– Enter the ride last minute. (Like this would happen, since I don’t have my qualifying mileage.)
– Move to Auburn.
– Buy anything too large to fit in my suitcase and thus have to ship it home.
– Buy a new saddle.

In my mother’s words, “Are you there to crew or shop?”

All of this was in good humor, but it is true. I’m somewhat prone to impulse buys as it is, and tend to get caught up in the excitement of Tevis fever. To give myself credit, the largest impulse purchase during the two times I’ve been up there was an aluminum S-hack. Besides, that what shopping lists are for, right? Just stick to the list…

Not a whole lot of new happenings to report around here…I’m down to the last week and half of school before a three-week break between spring and summer session, so that’s kept me busy. Short rides last weekend, as the ponies were a bit sore from trimming. *growl* I rasp Mimi for six weeks and she’s perfect, my farrier comes and trims her, and she’s sore. Wonder what it would take for me to get good enough at rasping to not have to bring the farrier out.

Vet was out today for spring shots, and to get Beamer’s teeth done. For once in my life, I escaped with the lowest vet bill of the whole barn. *happy dance* Mimi, miraculously, only needed 4-Way and West Nile shots. So they’ll probably get another weekend of taking it easy coming up, since I want to give their bodies time to get the shot toxins out of their systems before working too hard in the heat.

Shoring up details for the summer…looks like I’ll be going out to help crew for friend Lucy at Tevis…I’m to be Roo’s Official Boot Person, since apparently I’ve got the most experience using Renegades. Time to make the list of things I need to stock up on from Tevis vendors. Need: new Zilco halter, collapsible water bucket, and riding tights. Want: Lots of frivolous things that I can’t afford. Just keep telling myself that I have to be able to pack all this stuff in my suitcase to take home. I did tell Dad I’d find him one of the nice scrubby sponges and bring that home for him.

Aside from that, the non-horsey part of summer includes at least one San Diego trip (my journey in escapism and regaining my sanity after weeks of schooling) in which I accomplish little, save for a lot of beach time, come back red as a lobster, fade to a suntan for about three days, then go back to ghost-white. Of course, that last part can also apply to crewing at Tevis when I inevitably forget my sunscreen.