I feel like an honest to god writer!
Today in class when the instructor decided to read a couple of descriptions that "stood out" from the bunch, the first one she picked to read was mine. She had a few suggestions on it, but wrote at the bottom, "Outstanding writing. Definitely worth revising."
*blush*
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes....
That's what aches. Ok I'm exaggerating again.
Class went good today, we rode and Monkey did good, everything was kosher... about thirty minutes before the scheduled end of class Marilyn told us to lope them around some.
We were having fun, the only problem was Monkey was wanting to dive in on the right hand turns, so as we were coming around the end of the arena I was lifting my inside rein, to pick up his shoulder, and his head dropped and he broke in two on me.
Bam.
I was not expecting that, there were no signs, nothing, just all of a sudden he dropped his head and I was airborne over his shoulder. I rolled about three times and came up on my knees going "well, that sucked."
That one is literal.
I thumped my head once, tweaked my back a little, and my right shoulder, nothing major. I just don't know why he did it.
It's probably something as simple as he wasn't ridden yesterday, and one of the other horses got too close to his butt for his liking, but we're going to do some work tomorrow.
In other news, I don't have feed crew for a while and I don't have class till eleven tomorrow. My puppy butt is sleeping in, in my nice bed with my nice electric blanket to heat out all the aches.
Class went good today, we rode and Monkey did good, everything was kosher... about thirty minutes before the scheduled end of class Marilyn told us to lope them around some.
We were having fun, the only problem was Monkey was wanting to dive in on the right hand turns, so as we were coming around the end of the arena I was lifting my inside rein, to pick up his shoulder, and his head dropped and he broke in two on me.
Bam.
I was not expecting that, there were no signs, nothing, just all of a sudden he dropped his head and I was airborne over his shoulder. I rolled about three times and came up on my knees going "well, that sucked."
That one is literal.
I thumped my head once, tweaked my back a little, and my right shoulder, nothing major. I just don't know why he did it.
It's probably something as simple as he wasn't ridden yesterday, and one of the other horses got too close to his butt for his liking, but we're going to do some work tomorrow.
In other news, I don't have feed crew for a while and I don't have class till eleven tomorrow. My puppy butt is sleeping in, in my nice bed with my nice electric blanket to heat out all the aches.
I'm afraid to take off my boots...
Because my toes might be black with frostbite. I've been at the barn for two solid hours, and when I left the house this morning it was four below, with a windchill of eleven below.
But we judged horses today for eval.
Everyone kept saying "ugly" on this one horse who really wasn't ugly, he was just rough. So Marilyn had me bring out Red.
JJ ordered everyone to find one good thing about Red, conformation wise. Marilyn said he had withers. JJ said he had a tail, and could get rid of the flies. No one else could come up with anything. I just started laughing at the expressions on people's faces.
JJ asked me what he had in him, I told him I had no clue, I bought him at an auction because of his personality on the ground, and he turned out to be a jerk in the saddle.
But, Red has been officially labeled as "Ugly", as if I needed the help to figure that out!
But we judged horses today for eval.
Everyone kept saying "ugly" on this one horse who really wasn't ugly, he was just rough. So Marilyn had me bring out Red.
JJ ordered everyone to find one good thing about Red, conformation wise. Marilyn said he had withers. JJ said he had a tail, and could get rid of the flies. No one else could come up with anything. I just started laughing at the expressions on people's faces.
JJ asked me what he had in him, I told him I had no clue, I bought him at an auction because of his personality on the ground, and he turned out to be a jerk in the saddle.
But, Red has been officially labeled as "Ugly", as if I needed the help to figure that out!
Monday, February 4, 2008
The "On" Switch
Even the best of horses tends to get a bit lazy once in a while. They don't want to listen, they don't want to move out, and they just turn off.
At that point, it's handy to know what your horse's "on" switch is. Whether it's a certain tone of voice, taking two trips around the arena at a dead run, or even a specific phrase, like "lets go!"
Monkey's "on" switch is quite simple. All I have to do is pick up the trailing end of my rein in my right hand.
The little fart didn't do bad today, but I wanted to work on pivots while everyone else did the class time thing, and he just wasn't wanting to do it. So I shortened my reins up, picked up the "on" switch, laid the reins over his neck and gave him leg pressure, and I'll be damned if he didn't spin around like a pro. To the right that is. He's still got issues to the left. But we side passed and pivoted and backed halfway down the arena, once he realized that yes, he really did have to do it. But that is his on switch, the signal that he recognizes that turns on the "yes mommy" portion of his brain instead of the Bart Simpson portion. He has fun when he turns on, too, he just has to try the brat side first.
It's not like I beat the horse, I can sit relaxed on his back and swing the end of that same rein around until it whoops and he doesn't twitch. That's just the signal that he understands that yes, he really does have to do what I'm asking for.
In other news, the goober was convinced that a piece of paper was going to eat him today. We were trotting on the rail and he spotted it, dropped his head to look at it, decided it was dangerous, and jumped it. Surprised me a bit, but I was ready for him the next time.
At the same time, while I was trying to get him to extend his trot a bit rather than get choppier, he decided to lope instead. A nice, rocking chair gait, only slightly faster than the horses who were actually doing the long trot. If I could get him to do that when I ask for the lope, I'll be the most comfortable rider in the class. Of course, when I tried for it later, he wouldn't give it to me.
Silly horse. We'll keep working on it.
At that point, it's handy to know what your horse's "on" switch is. Whether it's a certain tone of voice, taking two trips around the arena at a dead run, or even a specific phrase, like "lets go!"
Monkey's "on" switch is quite simple. All I have to do is pick up the trailing end of my rein in my right hand.
The little fart didn't do bad today, but I wanted to work on pivots while everyone else did the class time thing, and he just wasn't wanting to do it. So I shortened my reins up, picked up the "on" switch, laid the reins over his neck and gave him leg pressure, and I'll be damned if he didn't spin around like a pro. To the right that is. He's still got issues to the left. But we side passed and pivoted and backed halfway down the arena, once he realized that yes, he really did have to do it. But that is his on switch, the signal that he recognizes that turns on the "yes mommy" portion of his brain instead of the Bart Simpson portion. He has fun when he turns on, too, he just has to try the brat side first.
It's not like I beat the horse, I can sit relaxed on his back and swing the end of that same rein around until it whoops and he doesn't twitch. That's just the signal that he understands that yes, he really does have to do what I'm asking for.
In other news, the goober was convinced that a piece of paper was going to eat him today. We were trotting on the rail and he spotted it, dropped his head to look at it, decided it was dangerous, and jumped it. Surprised me a bit, but I was ready for him the next time.
At the same time, while I was trying to get him to extend his trot a bit rather than get choppier, he decided to lope instead. A nice, rocking chair gait, only slightly faster than the horses who were actually doing the long trot. If I could get him to do that when I ask for the lope, I'll be the most comfortable rider in the class. Of course, when I tried for it later, he wouldn't give it to me.
Silly horse. We'll keep working on it.
Soon as I can make it back home....
I'm kidnapping Eldest Nephew. Then I'm hitting the Loaf and buying some scratch cards.
Farmmom won the halftime and third quarter pots last night. Too bad both teams had to be peckers and score after that, or she'd have won everything but the first quarter, and come up with an even larger chunk of change.
Otherwise, I was amused at the fact that they had to clear the field to finish the game with one second on the clock. What can I say it made me giggle that the officials had to poke and prod everyone off the field. And that the Patriots' coach had a quiet hissy fit and left for the locker room.
Sadly enough the thing that amused me the most was the way that Doug Williams clutched the Vince Lombardi trophy to himself, cuddling it against his cheek like a favorite teddy bear.
Is it just me, or did he give anyone else the impression that if he'd let go with one hand his thumb would have flown to his mouth?
What can I say, I'm easily amused.....
Farmmom won the halftime and third quarter pots last night. Too bad both teams had to be peckers and score after that, or she'd have won everything but the first quarter, and come up with an even larger chunk of change.
Otherwise, I was amused at the fact that they had to clear the field to finish the game with one second on the clock. What can I say it made me giggle that the officials had to poke and prod everyone off the field. And that the Patriots' coach had a quiet hissy fit and left for the locker room.
Sadly enough the thing that amused me the most was the way that Doug Williams clutched the Vince Lombardi trophy to himself, cuddling it against his cheek like a favorite teddy bear.
Is it just me, or did he give anyone else the impression that if he'd let go with one hand his thumb would have flown to his mouth?
What can I say, I'm easily amused.....
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Super Bowl Sunday
Ok, let's get this straight. I'm not a big football fan. I don't even watch the Broncos. I'm fully capable of tuning out a game if someone else is watching it. Football is just not my thing.
The Super Bowl, on the other hand, I do watch. For the commercials. Yes, I'm one of those.
This year, I actually have a wager on the game. My brother's work had a pool going, five dollars a square, but due to the heavy workload, they hadn't been able to fill it.
So, Mamaw bought her a square, and me a square, and the Farmparents each a square. I picked mine and Mamaw's, Eldest Nephew picked Farmmom and Farmdad's. If one of the Farmparents wins, I'm buying some scratch cards and kidnapping Eldest Nephew.
I don't even know what my bet is, since they decided to randomize the pool, and have everyone buy their squares before they assigned numbers. Bro will be pulling numbers out of the hat this morning, and assigning numbers. The way I understand it, the first and third quarter scores pay an eighth of the total pot, halftime score pays a quarter, and final score pays half the pot.
So, once I figure out what my wager actually is, I may have to pay attention to the game, as well as the commercials.
Meanwhile, the Black Cat didn't go to Oklahoma with Mamaw. There was a note on the table when I woke up chronicling his ginormous fit, and the phone call to Bill in Oklahoma in which the decision was made not to take the cat to Okieland.
The cat is currently curled up in a corner, perfectly happy to have been left at home, for once.
The Super Bowl, on the other hand, I do watch. For the commercials. Yes, I'm one of those.
This year, I actually have a wager on the game. My brother's work had a pool going, five dollars a square, but due to the heavy workload, they hadn't been able to fill it.
So, Mamaw bought her a square, and me a square, and the Farmparents each a square. I picked mine and Mamaw's, Eldest Nephew picked Farmmom and Farmdad's. If one of the Farmparents wins, I'm buying some scratch cards and kidnapping Eldest Nephew.
I don't even know what my bet is, since they decided to randomize the pool, and have everyone buy their squares before they assigned numbers. Bro will be pulling numbers out of the hat this morning, and assigning numbers. The way I understand it, the first and third quarter scores pay an eighth of the total pot, halftime score pays a quarter, and final score pays half the pot.
So, once I figure out what my wager actually is, I may have to pay attention to the game, as well as the commercials.
Meanwhile, the Black Cat didn't go to Oklahoma with Mamaw. There was a note on the table when I woke up chronicling his ginormous fit, and the phone call to Bill in Oklahoma in which the decision was made not to take the cat to Okieland.
The cat is currently curled up in a corner, perfectly happy to have been left at home, for once.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Just Call Me Miz Fixit
Mamaw has kept me pretty busy this weekend, but I've still had time to relax some.
First it was the screen on the window. The nails holding it (it used to have hangars but the frame has been re-built so many times it's barely recognizable) had come loose and needed replacing or adjustment. So I got that done, as soon as it warmed up enough to be outside for any length of time.
Then it was running a couple of errands. And reminding her how to print recipes off of Food Network's website in the format she likes.
I also put together the presentation for Eval Monday, and worked a bit on the Creative Writing piece due Tuesday. I'll do the Repro paper tomorrow night, it won't take me two hours to put together what I need for that one.
Then, when the Farmparents came over for dinner, we learned that Farmmom had made an unprovoked attack on a poor, defenseless chair. She hauled off and kicked the thing out of the blue, for no reason at all. In all probability she managed to give herself a broken toe, maybe two. So I taped them up for the night too.
I figure she'll have the tape pulled off by seven tomorrow morning. It's bound to be uncomfortable, I taped all of her small toes together because the only one that *wasn't* swollen was the pinky toe. My main goal was to keep them from flexing side to side while she was in bed tonight. We'll see how she feels in the morning.
Also, in coming attractions, Mamaw will be leaving for Oklahoma in the morning, and this time, she's taking Bill's cat. This cat has never traveled more than a couple of blocks, and she's heading out on an eleven hour drive with him. To arrive in a place that contains smells that he's never smelled before.
This is the same cat that gets pissed off and stressed out every time they leave and starts puking all over the house.
I'll be laughing my silly white butt off every time she calls.
I half expect her to wake me up in the morning to get him in the cat carrier.
First it was the screen on the window. The nails holding it (it used to have hangars but the frame has been re-built so many times it's barely recognizable) had come loose and needed replacing or adjustment. So I got that done, as soon as it warmed up enough to be outside for any length of time.
Then it was running a couple of errands. And reminding her how to print recipes off of Food Network's website in the format she likes.
I also put together the presentation for Eval Monday, and worked a bit on the Creative Writing piece due Tuesday. I'll do the Repro paper tomorrow night, it won't take me two hours to put together what I need for that one.
Then, when the Farmparents came over for dinner, we learned that Farmmom had made an unprovoked attack on a poor, defenseless chair. She hauled off and kicked the thing out of the blue, for no reason at all. In all probability she managed to give herself a broken toe, maybe two. So I taped them up for the night too.
I figure she'll have the tape pulled off by seven tomorrow morning. It's bound to be uncomfortable, I taped all of her small toes together because the only one that *wasn't* swollen was the pinky toe. My main goal was to keep them from flexing side to side while she was in bed tonight. We'll see how she feels in the morning.
Also, in coming attractions, Mamaw will be leaving for Oklahoma in the morning, and this time, she's taking Bill's cat. This cat has never traveled more than a couple of blocks, and she's heading out on an eleven hour drive with him. To arrive in a place that contains smells that he's never smelled before.
This is the same cat that gets pissed off and stressed out every time they leave and starts puking all over the house.
I'll be laughing my silly white butt off every time she calls.
I half expect her to wake me up in the morning to get him in the cat carrier.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
