When It Rains, It Pours

My life motto for the past several years has been "if you're not laughing, you're crying." My life is basically a constant comedy of errors, as I've written about before, and January thus far is really kicking off in fine style. 

I had big hopes for 2017. Have. Still have. There are a lot of things I decided are going to happen this year - 2016 ended pretty much with a crash and I decided that I wasn't going to let that get the best of me. I had increasingly good years following my move to Texas, and last year felt a little bit like a plateau. I want it to keep getting better, so I decided that I'm going to *make* it better myself. 

I decided this is the year Future Hubs are getting married (and then he can just be Hubs). We've been engaged for several years now, but I decided this year we're officially tying the knot. 

I also decided this year I'm getting a new truck. I've been wanting one for awhile, but my truck has officially reached an age now where I feel like it's rather important to get a new one sooner than later. Old Patron has 260,000 miles on it, and I am not sure I am really going to get another year of heavy use out of it. 

So positive stuff right?

Weddings are expensive. Super expensive. So, that's something to keep in mind. But that's easy enough right?

Well. There is more. New trucks are expensive... really expensive. Truthfully what I need to do is buy a low mileage used one, or one that isn't a brand brand new one (like a 2015-16 model instead of a 17). And really, I need to do this sooner than later, as my current truck is losing value with every day that passes. At some point it will be worth nothing and then I'll really be in trouble. 

Okay. That's fine. Two big expenses, that's doable. I think. 

Then I took my trailer in for it's yearly going over. I went to a new dealer, one I had been to for another small trailer repair and really liked at the time. He fixed up a bunch of things for me, put a bunch of improvements on like a new jack and LED lights, and then told me that there is some rust on the underside. The sides are aluminum and the frame is steel, and we already sandplasted and primed and painted it once before some years ago. I'm going to take it back in next month and have some reinforcements welded onto the underside, which will strengthen the frame. But the trailer is 17 years old now, and the fact is that I use it every week, several times a week. It gets a TON of use. Really and truly, it is time for me to get a new one, and sell this to someone who will be a little more gentle on it. Despite its age, it is really in great shape otherwise, and it certainly has served me well over the years. But it's time to move on - and probably get a 3 horse, considering how many animals I have now. My 2 horse is a warmblood size, which I needed at the time (Metro was a BIG BOY), but now all of my horses are 16.0 or under, except for Frank. A 3 horse slant is better suited to my needs - but do I get a gooseneck or a BP? I have to get a new truck first, especially if I consider a gooseneck. I also have to factor in the fact that I have to transport my carriages, which usually go in the bed of my truck - which means I can't have a gooseneck unless I have enough room inside the trailer to transport a carriage. There's a lot to consider. 

And, that's a third big expense. Can I really afford this?

And then today happened. I have a second vehicle, a mini van, that I use for toodling. I was heading to go see B2 and R for brunch this morning, and in the fog and rain I rear ended another small car. My radiator is crunched and the front end is all busted up, but at least I'm okay. B2 and R came to my rescue, checked me out, and helped me get the mini van home safely. As per my parents' advice (both attorneys), this little runaround vehicle only has liability insurance, not full collision coverage. I have to pay for all the repairs myself. 

So, that's a FOURTH big expense. It's worth fixing since it's clearly still driveable and fine (we drove it home post-accident), but.... still. Seriously. My god. Is it ever going to end!?

Sigh. Oh well. At least I'll have shiny new things, even if I'll be in debt for like.... ever. And ever. 

Fix mini van first, then wedding nonsense. New truck next, then new trailer. Or.... something.

Oh yeah.... and I need to still find enough money at the end of the day to SHOW! 

Since the trailer is back, Dylan is back to work as of tomorrow. Thank god too, I've been dying to go riding. It's been rainy and gross here for several days now, and without my trailer and subsequent access to an indoor arena, I have been out of luck. So at least after this, I'll be able to start blogging regularly again, at least about Dylan. Maybe not so much about the others until the rain stops....!

OH YEAH ONE MORE THING. I finally bought some new tall boots after trying on a million different pairs and not finding any that fit me properly. We ordered some through Dover, they arrived this week, and.... they don't fit. At ALL. So now I need to take them back and keep looking. Because I just have so much money and time to throw around! 

Can't you cut me just a LITTLE slack universe? I'm REALLY getting tired of this and it's only the 15th of January. 

Big Momma looking BIIIIIIIIIG

Seriously how is she getting bigger!?