Obama winning the presidency got me thinking. What do I want to see him do? What would I do? Here is my top 10, in no particular order:
1. Health care for all. Single payer
2. Stop the war on drugs, legalize nearly everything. This will stop the imprisonment of our citizens, and take the money out of drug dealing. Regulate the crap out of the manufacture of pseudoephedrine at the pharmaceutical level, so it can't enter the black market.
3. Use the money saved to educate our children.
4. Seriously reduce our military presence around the world. We do not need 14 military bases on Okinawa, 18 in Germany or most of the other ones out there.
5. Use that money to properly care for our veterans, and outfit a properly sized peace-time military. The military industrial complex would be seriously impacted by this smaller, appropriately sized and outfitted military.
6. Being gay is not a limiting factor in any way. Anyone can marry, serve in the military , be a spy or a kindergarten teacher.
7. Give everyone a solar panel and wind turbine, increase funding for alternative fuels.
8. Instead of welfare, give people housing, food and clothing but give them jobs to work for money.
9. Pay enough so most families only need one wage earner, so one person can stay home and raise their kids.
10. Make it very attractive to live in cities, to stop sprawl, protect our farmland.
4.10.08
Imax in October 2008
I am teaching Imax to collect, after all this time of allowing him to travel "flat". He needs to go on contact -- to be stretching his neck and arching down ot reach for. the bit. It is an incremental process, but he "gets" it and is making progress quickly. He especially "gets" asking for extension, and is starting to move with schwung - a suspended, free swinging trot on contact. Well, kind of anyway. I can see how it can happen now.
Compare with this photo taken at the Dressage show this last June.
He is flat, with his nose pointed out and his neck in a "U" instead of rounded and down.
Then this one taken in October:
Okay, so not a HUGE difference, but it is significant -- he is going on contact, his nose is perpendicular to the ground, and he is learning to reach his back legs under himself, to raise his back and "carry" me. Sometimes I feel his back rise in reaction to my aids. Yes, that is a good thing.
Compare with this photo taken at the Dressage show this last June.
He is flat, with his nose pointed out and his neck in a "U" instead of rounded and down.
Then this one taken in October:
Okay, so not a HUGE difference, but it is significant -- he is going on contact, his nose is perpendicular to the ground, and he is learning to reach his back legs under himself, to raise his back and "carry" me. Sometimes I feel his back rise in reaction to my aids. Yes, that is a good thing.
29.9.08
Lame.
Imax had an appointment with the ferrier today, and I lunged him around a bit before hand like usual. He seemed off on his right hind, so I decided just to put him in crossties till Rich arrived. When he did, I sent Imax around again, and Rich said he though he was limping, too.
We thought it was in his hip at first, because his hoof was striking flat. But then when Rich pulled the shoes, the hoof wall on the lower inside quadrant came with the shoe -- and the abcess in his foot burst. So Imax had had an abcess in his foot for the last however long with no sign of lameness whatsoever. How frustraing. I guess it was not bothering him too much, he's been going just fine the last few days. Friday I had a lesson with Jill, and he was a champ; lenghthening and lowering - moving into the bit and really working from behind. Yesterday we worked with side reins then went on a little trail ride, up and down hills, a little trotting but mostly just walking. But he was perfectly fine.
I guess there was just no way of me knowing this was going on. I can't beat myself up about it, even though I feel terrible he could have been in pain when I was riding.
Regardless, I am grounded for the next few days. I'll check him tomorrow and soak it if he's still sore, then see how he is Wednesday. Rich and Bonnie both seem to think I'll be riding by Wednesday or Thursday. So it should not interfere with the grand plan of shows Nov, Dec, Jan, schooling Feb and Eventing camp in spring!
We thought it was in his hip at first, because his hoof was striking flat. But then when Rich pulled the shoes, the hoof wall on the lower inside quadrant came with the shoe -- and the abcess in his foot burst. So Imax had had an abcess in his foot for the last however long with no sign of lameness whatsoever. How frustraing. I guess it was not bothering him too much, he's been going just fine the last few days. Friday I had a lesson with Jill, and he was a champ; lenghthening and lowering - moving into the bit and really working from behind. Yesterday we worked with side reins then went on a little trail ride, up and down hills, a little trotting but mostly just walking. But he was perfectly fine.
I guess there was just no way of me knowing this was going on. I can't beat myself up about it, even though I feel terrible he could have been in pain when I was riding.
Regardless, I am grounded for the next few days. I'll check him tomorrow and soak it if he's still sore, then see how he is Wednesday. Rich and Bonnie both seem to think I'll be riding by Wednesday or Thursday. So it should not interfere with the grand plan of shows Nov, Dec, Jan, schooling Feb and Eventing camp in spring!
28.9.08
Return from hiatus
Obviously I took a little break over the summer from the blog. Not that I am a posting-machine.
I got nothin still, but I am going to work with it. Things have been going great.
Imax is improving by leaps and bounds. We are in a new barn and he is just thriving -- there is lots of turnout and he has two mares he is turned out with, so he is in hog heaven. He'd much rather be with the girls than with the other geldings.
We are working toward a show on November 15 at Donida, our classes are:
*75. Intro Hunter course Ground rails only.
*77. Hunter cross rail course Fences not to exceed 18’’.
*79. Hunter course verticals Not to exceed 2
I am really excited, I set up a course yesterday, and we jumped it great, the very first time, no runouts or refusals. Imax is a jumping machine. Just point and shoot. Of course we are still taking baby steps, but it is very exciting.
Boring post, but this is all I got.
I got nothin still, but I am going to work with it. Things have been going great.
Imax is improving by leaps and bounds. We are in a new barn and he is just thriving -- there is lots of turnout and he has two mares he is turned out with, so he is in hog heaven. He'd much rather be with the girls than with the other geldings.
We are working toward a show on November 15 at Donida, our classes are:
*75. Intro Hunter course Ground rails only.
*77. Hunter cross rail course Fences not to exceed 18’’.
*79. Hunter course verticals Not to exceed 2
I am really excited, I set up a course yesterday, and we jumped it great, the very first time, no runouts or refusals. Imax is a jumping machine. Just point and shoot. Of course we are still taking baby steps, but it is very exciting.
Boring post, but this is all I got.
24.7.08
chickeny-chicken
Oh yes we did. We've re-entered the chicken dance.
Scott picked this little girl up yesterday. She is super tame and comes when you call. We also to a full-grown Barred Rock hen. She is not so keen on being held. But, has aready given us an egg.
What a good girl. I am so excited.
Scott picked this little girl up yesterday. She is super tame and comes when you call. We also to a full-grown Barred Rock hen. She is not so keen on being held. But, has aready given us an egg.
What a good girl. I am so excited.
11.6.08
Ten Years Later
It was ten years ago that I graduated from the MFA Graduate program at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History in Painting with a minor in Printmaking. If you would have told me at the time that I would be on a long hiatus from painting because I had bought a Thoroughbred gelding, I think I would have been pretty okay about that.
I feel like I have accomplished some stuff in the last ten years: getting married, 22 art shows, six solo shows, a good job making good money, home ownership with extensive remodeling, a lovely gelding, a great dog and a panoply of cats. We are back up to five cats, since the addition of Kittikins, aka, Josephine Baker. She is our second cat named for an African-American Jazz musician, the other of whom is Miles. I don't know how I feel about having black cats named after black people, it smacks a bit of condescension or subtle racism -- but one of the cats was named that by a black woman, so does that make it okay? And of course I had a Cat named Thelonious, but that was because he was a Manx, and his whole name was Thelonious Manx because I am a cheese-ball who delights in terrible puns. Humm, methinks I doth protest too much? What ever, we have another cat, who is called Kittikins, and we don't have to call her Josephine. And I graduated ten years ago. Wouldn't go back in time for nothin'. Life is sweet.
4.6.08
Blah x 3
Possible origin to the phrase "Cat out of the bag": On ships of yore ("yore" ... nice touch! ... setting the tone for old-timey days) Anyhow, on old sailing ships, the cat o' nine tails was stored in an elaborately decorated, often red bag. So if you did something stupid like mouth off to an Officer, you let the cat out of the bag.
Yes, that is the kind of thing that goes on in my head.
Yes, that is the kind of thing that goes on in my head.
22.4.08
I got a lot to say, but...
So my entry on cultural vampirism re: the "cheers" signoff was wildly satisfying. I loved writing it, and posting it was so cathartic; that is until someone I like responded by saying "oh I do that -- maybe I should stop." ((sheepishly) Hi Hillary!)
What I mean to say is you should cut it out if I don't like you.
yeah, I'm weak.
I would like to post even more rants -- for example, my ravings about the normalization of millitarism through fashion. Camo print rompers, anyone? What sort of sick mind thinks it is okay to dress an INFANT in clothes that were designed to help people KILL people? In what alternate universe is that acceptable??? Not to mention Pink cammo print sexy tank tops & etc -- Sex and Death anyone? Well I refuse to participate. They are making it NORMAL for people in uniforms to be on our streets. And don't get me started on the freaking HUMMER!?!? (What kind of profoundly retarded idiots do you think we are, with that double entendre??)... (blink)
Uh, this is supposed to be about why I am not so comfortable posting my crazy rants. So if you are a friend of mine, and have decorated your nursery with a camoflage crib set, you get a pass...Oh who am I kidding? you need to stop that right now.
What I mean to say is you should cut it out if I don't like you.
yeah, I'm weak.
I would like to post even more rants -- for example, my ravings about the normalization of millitarism through fashion. Camo print rompers, anyone? What sort of sick mind thinks it is okay to dress an INFANT in clothes that were designed to help people KILL people? In what alternate universe is that acceptable??? Not to mention Pink cammo print sexy tank tops & etc -- Sex and Death anyone? Well I refuse to participate. They are making it NORMAL for people in uniforms to be on our streets. And don't get me started on the freaking HUMMER!?!? (What kind of profoundly retarded idiots do you think we are, with that double entendre??)... (blink)
Uh, this is supposed to be about why I am not so comfortable posting my crazy rants. So if you are a friend of mine, and have decorated your nursery with a camoflage crib set, you get a pass...Oh who am I kidding? you need to stop that right now.
16.4.08
14.4.08
Cheers! (barf) **Warning** I Have Opinions, and this is my blog.
I hate it when American people of the US persuasion sign their emails with ...
"Cheers!"
(Hork, gag smnarf -- Just typing it makes me heave)
I frequent a Blog that is pretty freewheeling, people say what they really think. The blog is about what stupid things people do in the horse world, but people sometimes go OT, and that is what happened here.
Now this all started with one poster quoting an email she got from an ally of an erstwhile horse rescuer whom the board was actively slamming at this time. This slimeball signed his email with "cheers".
Then:
F said...
What is with the cheers thing with him? Does he have an adult beverage in his hands at all times? That might explain the blind loyalty to PEC.
X said...
I usually end my emails with 'Cheers'. It's British slang, means the same as 'Take care' or 'See you later'. I was raised on British comedies, so I use their words often even though I've only visited sunny (Hah!) England once.
In my defense, I shot off the following rant before X's comment posted.
Y said...
The "cheers" thing? (pet peeve alert!) If you are from the US, it is an embarrassing affectation and you should stop immediately. It is like the American tourists who go "on holiday" to the UK for a week and come home saying "jumper" and "biscuit". No one thinks: "Ooh, that is so sophisticated they said "cheers" like they do on them PBS shows." And I assure you any Brit you encounter will probably be too polite to tell you to STFU, but they are certainly thinking it. Okay that rant was more adamant than it should have been (I was right about the pet peeve thing - I could go on but I am sure that is someone else's peeve!)
I never would have posted this on any other blog comments. But this particular one, as I said, folks can be pretty forthcoming with opinion -- And besides, I mean every single word of it, and more. You should have seen the unedited blog post -- oh wait! you will because that is what this entry is all about!! And if I can stop just one person from bugging the shit outta me I'll call that a good day.
So on we go...
J said...
I lived in the UK for many years. Brits can be prissy pommies for sure. Cheers is an old east coast phrase. If you recall a few of us Yanks decided we didn't want to kowtow to a nutters king who felt he could tax us up one side and down the other. Yeah, it's called the English language because we share quite a few words.Duh. Please, save the pommie prissdom for a UK board. mmmkay?
(Screeching to a halt) Wha..? Geeze, where to begin with this? Suffice it to say, that yeah, we Yanks (oh dear) didn't want to kowtow to a "nutter" (ack!) (You are so making my point for me! God, you sound like an ass!) Why on earth are you using the fact we wrested our sovereignty from them as an excuse to cloak yourself in their colloquialisms? The POINT is we wanted to be SEPARATE from them. You know what is really is? It is a class thing. Many Americans have this well-known hardon for all things UK. They think it makes them sound "better" (than you), that it sets them apart and above the hoi polloi, the riff-raff, the "common"... *sniff*. I think it makes them sound like desperate, 41-year old Dungeon Masters wearing capes and waiting for the next RenFair(e). AND haven't you heard: "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." -GB Shaw
I certainly couldn't say that, so...
Y said...
J, I warned you it was a peeve! Yeah, totally irrational and snarky. Apologies, but it still bugs me! I figured I would be leaning on someone else's buttons....SO, again my apologies and I will take my "...and another thing-- they spell with unnecessary vowels!" comments elsewhere. Cheers!!
...so on...
A said...
I lived in the UK for five years, and now in Austria (come from the US). I mangle my vowels all the time and when I write something formal, I have to go check that the spelling is either American or English, but not both in the the same text. Cheers, just after leaving I said it all the time because it was expected of me to talk like a brit if I was in Britain, rather than an Ami. Habits are hard to break :)
I find it interesting that this person did not seem to get my f-ing funny joke. I know things don't always translate well in email/type, but come on. I console myself with thinking perhaps this person is twelve.
K said...
The "cheers" thing bugs the shit out of me, too.
Y said...
Thanks for the commiseration, K ! I find it interesting the folks defending the "cheers" thing both said "...but I lived in England!" I lived for seven years in Germany. So from now on, I will just sign off:
Lederhosen!!
(All meant in good fun, folks! Holster the flame throwers!)
Then lastly...
B said...
Well, I'm going to turn in, my Lhasa is jumping on the keyboard, (edit).... Later....or should I say,"Cheers"....Nope, it's too lame!
I will close by saying, Of course you are allowed to sign off with the "c" word. This is, after all, AMERICA (but--see above!!) And I am allowed to think you are a pale, shivering, fey poser unable to think for yourself, and so have to don the affectations of people who are cool precisely because they are being true to themselves.
I have one friend who signs their emails "CheeriosTM"!
Awesome.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I enjoy many things British. I am crazy for the Jane Austin-a-thon going on on Masterpiece Theater right now. I love all things by Evelyn Waugh, Roald Dahl, the Buzzcocks, the Beatles, David Mitchell, and on and on. I will actually buy a book simply because it was on the short list for the Man Booker Prize. But I am able to tell where they stop, and I start. Reading about a culture or seeing it on TV does not make it my own.
"Cheers!"
(Hork, gag smnarf -- Just typing it makes me heave)
I frequent a Blog that is pretty freewheeling, people say what they really think. The blog is about what stupid things people do in the horse world, but people sometimes go OT, and that is what happened here.
Now this all started with one poster quoting an email she got from an ally of an erstwhile horse rescuer whom the board was actively slamming at this time. This slimeball signed his email with "cheers".
Then:
F said...
What is with the cheers thing with him? Does he have an adult beverage in his hands at all times? That might explain the blind loyalty to PEC.
X said...
I usually end my emails with 'Cheers'. It's British slang, means the same as 'Take care' or 'See you later'. I was raised on British comedies, so I use their words often even though I've only visited sunny (Hah!) England once.
In my defense, I shot off the following rant before X's comment posted.
Y said...
The "cheers" thing? (pet peeve alert!) If you are from the US, it is an embarrassing affectation and you should stop immediately. It is like the American tourists who go "on holiday" to the UK for a week and come home saying "jumper" and "biscuit". No one thinks: "Ooh, that is so sophisticated they said "cheers" like they do on them PBS shows." And I assure you any Brit you encounter will probably be too polite to tell you to STFU, but they are certainly thinking it. Okay that rant was more adamant than it should have been (I was right about the pet peeve thing - I could go on but I am sure that is someone else's peeve!)
I never would have posted this on any other blog comments. But this particular one, as I said, folks can be pretty forthcoming with opinion -- And besides, I mean every single word of it, and more. You should have seen the unedited blog post -- oh wait! you will because that is what this entry is all about!! And if I can stop just one person from bugging the shit outta me I'll call that a good day.
So on we go...
J said...
I lived in the UK for many years. Brits can be prissy pommies for sure. Cheers is an old east coast phrase. If you recall a few of us Yanks decided we didn't want to kowtow to a nutters king who felt he could tax us up one side and down the other. Yeah, it's called the English language because we share quite a few words.Duh. Please, save the pommie prissdom for a UK board. mmmkay?
(Screeching to a halt) Wha..? Geeze, where to begin with this? Suffice it to say, that yeah, we Yanks (oh dear) didn't want to kowtow to a "nutter" (ack!) (You are so making my point for me! God, you sound like an ass!) Why on earth are you using the fact we wrested our sovereignty from them as an excuse to cloak yourself in their colloquialisms? The POINT is we wanted to be SEPARATE from them. You know what is really is? It is a class thing. Many Americans have this well-known hardon for all things UK. They think it makes them sound "better" (than you), that it sets them apart and above the hoi polloi, the riff-raff, the "common"... *sniff*. I think it makes them sound like desperate, 41-year old Dungeon Masters wearing capes and waiting for the next RenFair(e). AND haven't you heard: "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." -GB Shaw
I certainly couldn't say that, so...
Y said...
J, I warned you it was a peeve! Yeah, totally irrational and snarky. Apologies, but it still bugs me! I figured I would be leaning on someone else's buttons....SO, again my apologies and I will take my "...and another thing-- they spell with unnecessary vowels!" comments elsewhere. Cheers!!
...so on...
A said...
I lived in the UK for five years, and now in Austria (come from the US). I mangle my vowels all the time and when I write something formal, I have to go check that the spelling is either American or English, but not both in the the same text. Cheers, just after leaving I said it all the time because it was expected of me to talk like a brit if I was in Britain, rather than an Ami. Habits are hard to break :)
I find it interesting that this person did not seem to get my f-ing funny joke. I know things don't always translate well in email/type, but come on. I console myself with thinking perhaps this person is twelve.
K said...
The "cheers" thing bugs the shit out of me, too.
Y said...
Thanks for the commiseration, K ! I find it interesting the folks defending the "cheers" thing both said "...but I lived in England!" I lived for seven years in Germany. So from now on, I will just sign off:
Lederhosen!!
(All meant in good fun, folks! Holster the flame throwers!)
Then lastly...
B said...
Well, I'm going to turn in, my Lhasa is jumping on the keyboard, (edit).... Later....or should I say,"Cheers"....Nope, it's too lame!
I will close by saying, Of course you are allowed to sign off with the "c" word. This is, after all, AMERICA (but--see above!!) And I am allowed to think you are a pale, shivering, fey poser unable to think for yourself, and so have to don the affectations of people who are cool precisely because they are being true to themselves.
I have one friend who signs their emails "CheeriosTM"!
Awesome.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I enjoy many things British. I am crazy for the Jane Austin-a-thon going on on Masterpiece Theater right now. I love all things by Evelyn Waugh, Roald Dahl, the Buzzcocks, the Beatles, David Mitchell, and on and on. I will actually buy a book simply because it was on the short list for the Man Booker Prize. But I am able to tell where they stop, and I start. Reading about a culture or seeing it on TV does not make it my own.
11.4.08
Newsy news
My knee is still bothering me but it is fine when I ride, thank goodness. I still need to get a physical therapist -- the problem is I just don't want to do it--- I want the knee to JUST HEAL ALREADY.
We do have some spring-like things happening around here, but it is still cold and rainy - you know.
I went on a trailride on Sunday, and man it was very challenging--it was a tough trail and almost too much for Imax's peanut-sized brain. he Does Not Like other horses in front of him, but he also wants to go slowly.....
Some of the trails were switchbacks with mushy steep hillsides on either side of the trail. One "spook" and you were toast. Unfortunately our group encountered some tourists along the trail with little to no English, carrying UMBRELLAS!!!! the group of horses were TERRIFIED be the umbrellas, being good Washingtonians all. Thankfully Imax was way ahead of the regular group and so for once was not in the Drama. but one woman did fall off, and get more scared than hurt. Thankfully the trail was rather wide at this point. It took some doing to get the umbrella hikers to lower the damn things and back off the trail. Yeah, lady -- you getting wet is better than us getting killed. Thanks.
Three hours in and almost to the trailers, Imax decides he has Had Enough. and stops dead in the middle of the trail. I had to pummel his sides with my heels to get him to go -- this my delicate, sensitive little arena flower who bucks if I leg him too long when asking for a canter. I have given the poor S.O.B. the last couple of days off. I'll ride today, though.
Anyhow, that is the news from Lake Seattlebegone, where all the women are crazy, the men in the basement, and all the dogs are above average.
We do have some spring-like things happening around here, but it is still cold and rainy - you know.
I went on a trailride on Sunday, and man it was very challenging--it was a tough trail and almost too much for Imax's peanut-sized brain. he Does Not Like other horses in front of him, but he also wants to go slowly.....
Some of the trails were switchbacks with mushy steep hillsides on either side of the trail. One "spook" and you were toast. Unfortunately our group encountered some tourists along the trail with little to no English, carrying UMBRELLAS!!!! the group of horses were TERRIFIED be the umbrellas, being good Washingtonians all. Thankfully Imax was way ahead of the regular group and so for once was not in the Drama. but one woman did fall off, and get more scared than hurt. Thankfully the trail was rather wide at this point. It took some doing to get the umbrella hikers to lower the damn things and back off the trail. Yeah, lady -- you getting wet is better than us getting killed. Thanks.
Three hours in and almost to the trailers, Imax decides he has Had Enough. and stops dead in the middle of the trail. I had to pummel his sides with my heels to get him to go -- this my delicate, sensitive little arena flower who bucks if I leg him too long when asking for a canter. I have given the poor S.O.B. the last couple of days off. I'll ride today, though.
Anyhow, that is the news from Lake Seattlebegone, where all the women are crazy, the men in the basement, and all the dogs are above average.
1.4.08
I knew it.
Doowee's owner showed up.
Well, Doowee's owner's roommate. Scott got an email on Friday from said roommate saying Doowee's owner is a musician and at a gig on the east coast. I guess said roomie finally told the musician that his dog was missing, and was browbeaten into searching Craigslist for "found dog" listings, where she ran across ours.
Scott gave her an earful about updating microchip info, and took Doowee home. He lives just on the other side of the valley from us, about 3 blocks from where Scott found him. So I guess all's well that ends well, but I really miss that little dog. We found out he's fifteen years old, though; so I guess his musician owner guy would miss him too, if we hadn't found him.
Well, Doowee's owner's roommate. Scott got an email on Friday from said roommate saying Doowee's owner is a musician and at a gig on the east coast. I guess said roomie finally told the musician that his dog was missing, and was browbeaten into searching Craigslist for "found dog" listings, where she ran across ours.
Scott gave her an earful about updating microchip info, and took Doowee home. He lives just on the other side of the valley from us, about 3 blocks from where Scott found him. So I guess all's well that ends well, but I really miss that little dog. We found out he's fifteen years old, though; so I guess his musician owner guy would miss him too, if we hadn't found him.
27.3.08
Doo Wee
The microchip didn't reveal anything of use except that the old dog's name is Doowee (I think I will spell it Dewey). I have a friend who is a private investigator, and even she couldn't find anything conclusive. It seems the phone number associated with the chip number has never been associated with the guy who is the registered owner of the dog, and there isn't any record of him living in Seattle anyhow. So, so much for that.
That said, Dewey is settling in nicely, Scott has been taking him along with King to the dog park, to work, to petco and anywhere else he happens to be going. Dewey loves to ride in the car, and like King doesn't care where you are going as long as he can go with.
We gave him a bath so he is not so doggy smelling, but still has dog-breath extraordinaire. I imagine the vet will talk us in to having his teeth cleaned when we have him neutered; because yes, he still has 'em. I figure after we drop a couple hundred bucks in vet fees on him, his sweet old lady owner will show up.
That said, Dewey is settling in nicely, Scott has been taking him along with King to the dog park, to work, to petco and anywhere else he happens to be going. Dewey loves to ride in the car, and like King doesn't care where you are going as long as he can go with.
We gave him a bath so he is not so doggy smelling, but still has dog-breath extraordinaire. I imagine the vet will talk us in to having his teeth cleaned when we have him neutered; because yes, he still has 'em. I figure after we drop a couple hundred bucks in vet fees on him, his sweet old lady owner will show up.
24.3.08
New Old Dog
Scott found a dog on Friday. He is a super sweet old dog, mostly blind and pretty deaf.
He was found on the corner of MLK and S. Henderson, wandering in traffic. It just breaks my heart , I can't imagine what circumstances this good guy found himself in to be in that situation. He is well fed, and loves to ride in the car; obviously he has spent his life as someone's beloved doggie. We are looking for his owners, but as the days go on it is not looking good. Scott put up posters all over the neighborhood in like a mile radius.
It seems like we may have a new old dog.
**update** Old dog is microchipped -- maybe we can find his home after all. I hope so for him and his person.
He was found on the corner of MLK and S. Henderson, wandering in traffic. It just breaks my heart , I can't imagine what circumstances this good guy found himself in to be in that situation. He is well fed, and loves to ride in the car; obviously he has spent his life as someone's beloved doggie. We are looking for his owners, but as the days go on it is not looking good. Scott put up posters all over the neighborhood in like a mile radius.
It seems like we may have a new old dog.
**update** Old dog is microchipped -- maybe we can find his home after all. I hope so for him and his person.
I laughed! I cried! Really!
Scott and I went to go see Adam Corolla's new movie The Hammer last night, and it was great! It was genuinely funny and very sweet. It's a quintessential feel good movie, and the boxing doesn't get in the way at all. I hate "sports movies" and this is not one of those, it is a nice little underdog fights the man story.
Go see it!
Go see it!
28.2.08
Ketchup
So I have some stuff going on right now -- my show opened at Albion College in Michigan -- (Wisconson? no, Michigan, definitely Michigan...for some reason I can't remember what state it's in. The Midwest is sort of an amorphous blob to me, I am ashamed to say.)
They have a...disappointing...web presence for the Visual Arts Center so I won't even bother to link. But I have been interviewed by the school paper, and will link to that if they put it on-line.
Imax is doing much better, in that he is not lame anymore, we never really did figure out what was wrong. Mary, my Animal Communicator said it was a "nervy" type of pain. I had a Vet, a chiropractor and psychic all treat him, and while I learned a lot, mostly I learned I need a new Vet.
I also realized we were not ready for the Adult Rider's Camp at Tulip Springs, which is just so disappointing, I was looking forward to it so much. But I can't be sure how Imax will act in public in a strange place, with strange horses. We just need many more miles under our belts, before we commit to such a big deal.
I am trying to ride him in the arena with other horses as much as possible and going to take him on a trail ride to Bridle Trails on Sunday. We will see how that goes.
They have a...disappointing...web presence for the Visual Arts Center so I won't even bother to link. But I have been interviewed by the school paper, and will link to that if they put it on-line.
Imax is doing much better, in that he is not lame anymore, we never really did figure out what was wrong. Mary, my Animal Communicator said it was a "nervy" type of pain. I had a Vet, a chiropractor and psychic all treat him, and while I learned a lot, mostly I learned I need a new Vet.
I also realized we were not ready for the Adult Rider's Camp at Tulip Springs, which is just so disappointing, I was looking forward to it so much. But I can't be sure how Imax will act in public in a strange place, with strange horses. We just need many more miles under our belts, before we commit to such a big deal.
I am trying to ride him in the arena with other horses as much as possible and going to take him on a trail ride to Bridle Trails on Sunday. We will see how that goes.
14.2.08
Imax started bucking again when Von was in the arena with Six.
I wanted to get him to trot long and fast, but when ever I would give him some reign, the bastard would start rearing and striking. I just kept trying to push him forward, he kept trying to buck me off. Finally I had had it, and got off, and started chasing him in circles, sort of lunging in tight circles at the end of the reigns. I was fucking furious and Von of course could tell. she told me to just get on him and canter him (she said "lope" - cute!) until he didn't want to canter any more, then make him keep going. Then do it the other way.
Now I know what I was doing (chasing him around yelling at him) was not doing any of us any good. But I had a trainer in my dark, misty past who firmly believed that even if your horse was fresh, they had to listen to you - you should let them trot fast, canter & etc to get their ya-yas out, but they had to listen while you did it. So I was trying to get him to the listening phase, so I could let him do what he wanted, which was canter. But he was not ready to listen, so we were at a stalemate.
Since I didn't have a better idea, I did what Von said, and got on him and just tore around the arena. Dear god. Not only is he fast, he can run forever. It was utterly exhausting, and to the right he motorcycles so badly if I let him (and even when I don't) and that is hard to ride. When we had been going for a really long time, he acted like he was ready to stop, so I asked him to keep going. He found another whole pocket of energy and we galloped around for god only knows how long. I ran him until I was utterly exhausted, at least, and he was pretty winded. I honestly think we galloped around that arena for fifteen or twenty minutes. And he could have gone longer.
So it is no wonder he wasn't listening to me.
Anyway after I let him catch his breath a bit, we did some side passing and walk/trot transitions and called it a day.
So I think I have to run Imax around, at least some days, before asking him to work.
That leads me to the problem of the BO thinking having your horse at liberty and chasing him around equals "turnout". He has finally told me point blank not to do that. I really don't understand the difference between riding/tearing ass around with me on his back, as opposed to me off his back, but apparently there is a difference. So I guess we will just gallop around with me up.
That said, Area VII Adult Rider's Camp is in Kennewick at Tulip Springs March 20 - 23 !!! Squeek! I am so excited. I have to figure out a way to get us there.
I wanted to get him to trot long and fast, but when ever I would give him some reign, the bastard would start rearing and striking. I just kept trying to push him forward, he kept trying to buck me off. Finally I had had it, and got off, and started chasing him in circles, sort of lunging in tight circles at the end of the reigns. I was fucking furious and Von of course could tell. she told me to just get on him and canter him (she said "lope" - cute!) until he didn't want to canter any more, then make him keep going. Then do it the other way.
Now I know what I was doing (chasing him around yelling at him) was not doing any of us any good. But I had a trainer in my dark, misty past who firmly believed that even if your horse was fresh, they had to listen to you - you should let them trot fast, canter & etc to get their ya-yas out, but they had to listen while you did it. So I was trying to get him to the listening phase, so I could let him do what he wanted, which was canter. But he was not ready to listen, so we were at a stalemate.
Since I didn't have a better idea, I did what Von said, and got on him and just tore around the arena. Dear god. Not only is he fast, he can run forever. It was utterly exhausting, and to the right he motorcycles so badly if I let him (and even when I don't) and that is hard to ride. When we had been going for a really long time, he acted like he was ready to stop, so I asked him to keep going. He found another whole pocket of energy and we galloped around for god only knows how long. I ran him until I was utterly exhausted, at least, and he was pretty winded. I honestly think we galloped around that arena for fifteen or twenty minutes. And he could have gone longer.
So it is no wonder he wasn't listening to me.
Anyway after I let him catch his breath a bit, we did some side passing and walk/trot transitions and called it a day.
So I think I have to run Imax around, at least some days, before asking him to work.
That leads me to the problem of the BO thinking having your horse at liberty and chasing him around equals "turnout". He has finally told me point blank not to do that. I really don't understand the difference between riding/tearing ass around with me on his back, as opposed to me off his back, but apparently there is a difference. So I guess we will just gallop around with me up.
That said, Area VII Adult Rider's Camp is in Kennewick at Tulip Springs March 20 - 23 !!! Squeek! I am so excited. I have to figure out a way to get us there.
24.1.08
Pallette Cleanser!
This is like a little cheese and crackers to get the depressing taste out of our collective mouths.
I need to push the depressing further down the blog page.
Imax is such a good guy. Look how cute he is. Folks at the barn have been telling me how much better he is looking, and how far he has come in his training. He is a nice mover and loves to jump. More than I can say about a lot of pretty horses. He almost looks as though his neck is on right way up.
Part of a horse not being in good condition us a "U" shape to the neck, as opposed to an arch. Horse people say "It looks like his neck is on upside down" about ewe necked horses. Compare:
Subtle, but it is coming.
I am warning you, this is depressing.
I have not been posting much, my blog seems to be a sad place these days. But then so is everywhere else, so what do I expect? I'd been avoiding posting because seeing JD's obituary reminds me of how hard the last year has been.
Jake died a little over a year ago, and Mom's illness was hard, and lasted so long. I still think about her all the time, I'm processing and examining our relationship. It is all such a mystery. And I worry about my Dad.
Then there are all my friends' parents, too. C's Mom, and J's Dad. R's Mom died of pneumonia last week. It is not the dying that bothers me -- it is how long it takes. All of these people were (or still are) sick for a very long time. Not "oh i don't feel good give me an Advil" kind of sick. No, it is month after month of actual suffering.
God this is depressing.
I am actually looking forward to the death part of dying, I know that sounds very weird, but I am so curious as to what will happen. Not that I would ever do anything to hasten my demise (unless you count the years of smoking) but the moment will be fascinating. I just want to do it quickly. In about 45 more years.
Okay that is enough of that.
Jake died a little over a year ago, and Mom's illness was hard, and lasted so long. I still think about her all the time, I'm processing and examining our relationship. It is all such a mystery. And I worry about my Dad.
Then there are all my friends' parents, too. C's Mom, and J's Dad. R's Mom died of pneumonia last week. It is not the dying that bothers me -- it is how long it takes. All of these people were (or still are) sick for a very long time. Not "oh i don't feel good give me an Advil" kind of sick. No, it is month after month of actual suffering.
God this is depressing.
I am actually looking forward to the death part of dying, I know that sounds very weird, but I am so curious as to what will happen. Not that I would ever do anything to hasten my demise (unless you count the years of smoking) but the moment will be fascinating. I just want to do it quickly. In about 45 more years.
Okay that is enough of that.
4.1.08
J.D. Franz. 1990 -- 2008
Our little cat JD, passed away yesterday January 3rd. She was my mom's cat for most of her life -- she lived in the barn and would come out to visit mom while she gardened. JD had to be a very courageous and wiley cat to survive out there in the wilds of Lake Stevens -- just to avoid the coyotes, feral cats, dogs and various other dangers, she had to be on her toes.
We took her in when Mom was too sick to go outside to give JD a pat -- Mom was very worried about her old friend, and wanted to make sure JD was taken care of after she died.
We were JD's retirement home for about six months, and in that time Scott and I became very attached to her. She was an old lady who was set in her ways, and wanted affection, but on her own terms. She preferred to be alone, although she forged a truce with King, and liked to share his dog bed. She'd also eat out of his dog bowl, much to his consternation.
RIP little kitty.
2.1.08
Happy New Year from the whole bunch of us
We have many wonderful friends in our lives, some of whom happen to be animals at the moment. I'd like to dedicate this entry to them, and thank them for the past year of love. I could not have made it without them.
First up is Binkie, who we have had for seventeen years. She is a wonderful little cat, with the softest fur. I think she is french, because every time you pick her up she says "Merde!"
Next is Bhodi, who is the smartest, funniest, most loving cat in the world. Has world-domination fantasies. Rules with an iron claw.
Then there is Bug. Almost unbearably cute and goofy, super playful and needy. She also is a garbage scow, who if given a chance will eat all four of the other cat's food, before they can make it to the bowl.
Next up is Miles, who is super weird, we suspect he is actually a space alien who somehow got trapped on earth but is finding it interesting, so decided to stay. He loves to sit in the bath tub, to stare at the underside of cabinets and to sleep half-on and half-off the bed.
Finishing the Cat portion of our program is J.D. She was my Mom's cat. J.D. (named for Jack Daniels - yes, that was my mom-- naming her pets after favorite booze.) is seventeen or eighteen, she spent the majority of her life as a barn cat, living by her wits, luck and determination. We have taken her in for a life of ease in her old age, living as a well-loved indoor cat, with plenty of snugglers, scratching posts and warmth. Unfortunately she has Lymphoma, and won't be with us much longer. I am glad we have been able to make her as comfortable as possible in her last days.
We only have one entry in the Dog category - King. Superlatives fail in praise of King; a purer heart never existed. He loves the cats and me, but loves Scott most of all. He's as beautiful as he is loyal. Dog personified. Or Dogsonified.
Lastly in our pet parade is Imax. I am totally pissed off at him right now, we went on a New Year's Day trail ride with eleven other horses and riders. He went ballistic. Two hours of bucking, kicking out, rearing, lunging forward, striking out and any other butt-holish behavior he could think of.
This is the next photo in the sequence from the one above. Yes, that is him trying to bite my foot. What I didn't get a picture of was what happened next, which was me kicking him in the teeth.
Everyone was very impressed that I stayed on the whole time -- Fortunately for me, his bucking is relatively easy to sit, even when he is jumping four feet vertically in the air. Everyone who was watching that particular display swore that they could see the entire horse following behind, in the space under all four of his hooves. We eventually just left the rest of the party behind, as I just pushed the bastard on all day, forcing him forward, forward, forward. At the end of the ride, he was going over pretty long, scary bridges with hardly a hesitation, so he learned that at least. He still seemed plenty fresh after two hours. Tonight I am going to lunge the hell out of him. But I still love him. I guess.
Anyhow. Happy New Year to you, gentle reader. Onward.
First up is Binkie, who we have had for seventeen years. She is a wonderful little cat, with the softest fur. I think she is french, because every time you pick her up she says "Merde!"Next is Bhodi, who is the smartest, funniest, most loving cat in the world. Has world-domination fantasies. Rules with an iron claw. Then there is Bug. Almost unbearably cute and goofy, super playful and needy. She also is a garbage scow, who if given a chance will eat all four of the other cat's food, before they can make it to the bowl. Next up is Miles, who is super weird, we suspect he is actually a space alien who somehow got trapped on earth but is finding it interesting, so decided to stay. He loves to sit in the bath tub, to stare at the underside of cabinets and to sleep half-on and half-off the bed.
Finishing the Cat portion of our program is J.D. She was my Mom's cat. J.D. (named for Jack Daniels - yes, that was my mom-- naming her pets after favorite booze.) is seventeen or eighteen, she spent the majority of her life as a barn cat, living by her wits, luck and determination. We have taken her in for a life of ease in her old age, living as a well-loved indoor cat, with plenty of snugglers, scratching posts and warmth. Unfortunately she has Lymphoma, and won't be with us much longer. I am glad we have been able to make her as comfortable as possible in her last days. We only have one entry in the Dog category - King. Superlatives fail in praise of King; a purer heart never existed. He loves the cats and me, but loves Scott most of all. He's as beautiful as he is loyal. Dog personified. Or Dogsonified. Lastly in our pet parade is Imax. I am totally pissed off at him right now, we went on a New Year's Day trail ride with eleven other horses and riders. He went ballistic. Two hours of bucking, kicking out, rearing, lunging forward, striking out and any other butt-holish behavior he could think of. This is the next photo in the sequence from the one above. Yes, that is him trying to bite my foot. What I didn't get a picture of was what happened next, which was me kicking him in the teeth. Everyone was very impressed that I stayed on the whole time -- Fortunately for me, his bucking is relatively easy to sit, even when he is jumping four feet vertically in the air. Everyone who was watching that particular display swore that they could see the entire horse following behind, in the space under all four of his hooves. We eventually just left the rest of the party behind, as I just pushed the bastard on all day, forcing him forward, forward, forward. At the end of the ride, he was going over pretty long, scary bridges with hardly a hesitation, so he learned that at least. He still seemed plenty fresh after two hours. Tonight I am going to lunge the hell out of him. But I still love him. I guess.
Anyhow. Happy New Year to you, gentle reader. Onward.
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