I want to know who's Captain of the Karma Cruise Ship, because they need to be fired. They suck.
Diane had to put Erica down today. Complications of old age, or from Cushings; colic, an intestinal displacement of unknown origin- However you want to put it, it sucks. Erica was the resident "geriatric". She was 28. Now, with her passing, Magic is the oldest resident. That's scary. I've had Magic since she was three years old. I'm afraid of how I'm going to deal with it, "when the time comes". She's 23 this year.
Thank heavens she's currently enjoying excellent health. I hope she continues to for quite some time to come.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Don't Argue
Possibly the thing that aggravates me the most is when I offer my advice to someone who's asked me for it, and then they argue with what I've said.
Why ask me for help in the first place??
I try not to waste oxygen. That's just me- doing my part, I guess.
You ask me for an answer to a question, a lesson, help on something with your horse- and then argue with what you get, as though you somehow know more about the matter at hand? I'm positive I do not know everything. I'm also sure I know quite a bit. I've been riding since I was 5 and I've known I was going to be doing this since I was 7, and shaped my life accordingly. That's 23 years of focused learning, with a degree to top it off. However, questioning my knowledge, albeit insulting, is fine. I just don't understand what would possess someone to not only ask for me to apply my knowledge, but to PAY for me to apply it, and then argue with me.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just argue with me in the first place, or ,better for me, to just pay me and then have me walk away so you can do your thing?
No one knows everything. A little active discourse, a little bit of questioning, that is fine. That is how we learn. That is how we develope. I try to keep an open mind. When someone questions me, it causes me to 1) re-evaluate the knowledge that I have for accuracy 2) reconsider how I am communicating that knowledge, to be sure that it is clear, and fully understood.
What I can't understand is why somepeople have to argue with me over everything. Especially when I start pushing them to thier comfort limit. Amazing, the arguing that occurs as your approach the "comfort horizon".
I wish those people would either not bother to ask me for help, or pay me to help them, then inform me that they've no intention of listening anyway, so that I can go about doing something else. I'm a busy person. Just pay me for my "help", and I'll go do something else, and stay the hell out of your way. If you absolutely must have someone to argue with, I guess I could find you a mirror or something.
Why ask me for help in the first place??
I try not to waste oxygen. That's just me- doing my part, I guess.
You ask me for an answer to a question, a lesson, help on something with your horse- and then argue with what you get, as though you somehow know more about the matter at hand? I'm positive I do not know everything. I'm also sure I know quite a bit. I've been riding since I was 5 and I've known I was going to be doing this since I was 7, and shaped my life accordingly. That's 23 years of focused learning, with a degree to top it off. However, questioning my knowledge, albeit insulting, is fine. I just don't understand what would possess someone to not only ask for me to apply my knowledge, but to PAY for me to apply it, and then argue with me.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just argue with me in the first place, or ,better for me, to just pay me and then have me walk away so you can do your thing?
No one knows everything. A little active discourse, a little bit of questioning, that is fine. That is how we learn. That is how we develope. I try to keep an open mind. When someone questions me, it causes me to 1) re-evaluate the knowledge that I have for accuracy 2) reconsider how I am communicating that knowledge, to be sure that it is clear, and fully understood.
What I can't understand is why somepeople have to argue with me over everything. Especially when I start pushing them to thier comfort limit. Amazing, the arguing that occurs as your approach the "comfort horizon".
I wish those people would either not bother to ask me for help, or pay me to help them, then inform me that they've no intention of listening anyway, so that I can go about doing something else. I'm a busy person. Just pay me for my "help", and I'll go do something else, and stay the hell out of your way. If you absolutely must have someone to argue with, I guess I could find you a mirror or something.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Retard Factory
There's something in the water here. That's the only possible explanation.
Okay. I know it's not p.c. to say "retard", but as I'm fond of saying- "if the shoe fits.."
First, you have us people. We just ain't right. Mostly we've all got "Foot in Mouth Disease", but that's a subject for another blog. Still, there are plenty of Here's Your Sign, moments. Such as the other day- I was working with someone on showmanship, and the guys were about to bring the dually into the arena to unload grain. Now, there are two overhead doors in the arena, and 3 man-sized doors. Of the garage doors, one of them has 4 foot of snow up against it. I told this someone to watch out, since the truck was going to be coming in. What did they ask me? "Which way are they coming in?" Oh. Dear.
There was another time- the horses were being fed, and all the horses were eating except one. Someone picked up the feed bucket of grain, with that horse's name on it, and the horse is doing everything but jumping up and down, saying, "Me!" "Me!" They asked me- "Is this this horse's grain?" Hmmmmm..........
Still, the people aren't even close to the horses. I think it's because the horses drink more water.
First, we have Ace, the fire breathing dragon. He thinks he's as tough as they come, but he can get lost in a corner. He simply can NOT understand why the gate isn't in the corner of the paddock closest to the barn. One of these days, a gate WILL appear there, and someone will take him out through that corner. Why use the gate you came in through? That's the wrong way!
Then, of course, comes Timmie Tard.. enough said I think. However, if you don't know him- he tries to walk through solid objects on a regular basis. He also has patience to perform constantly repetitive actions until such a time as he gets his way.
Most of all, there is Lex, who is set to make equine figure skating an Olympic event. He's recently found that on the way out to the paddock, he can set his front feet, and slide them along by continuing to walk with his hind feet. This works wonderfully until the front feet start to splay, of course. Practice will make perfect, I'm sure. In our neck of the snowy world, maybe this will become a new event. Still, our figure-skating quadruped does not stop there. He was the first (and ONLY!) to get cast in the deep fresh-powder snow. Yep. Turn him out, and he drops to roll like a rock, and then needs rescuing. Alas, if he had not rolled atop the buried water-trough, he may have been okay. Instead he lay across it, much like one of those "Fat Lady on a Sofa" paintings.
Each one of the "kids" is perfectly capable of pulling a truly retard maneuver at any time, but these three really exemplify why I'm considering getting a 2-horse trailer in a fine shade of BLUE.
Okay. I know it's not p.c. to say "retard", but as I'm fond of saying- "if the shoe fits.."
First, you have us people. We just ain't right. Mostly we've all got "Foot in Mouth Disease", but that's a subject for another blog. Still, there are plenty of Here's Your Sign, moments. Such as the other day- I was working with someone on showmanship, and the guys were about to bring the dually into the arena to unload grain. Now, there are two overhead doors in the arena, and 3 man-sized doors. Of the garage doors, one of them has 4 foot of snow up against it. I told this someone to watch out, since the truck was going to be coming in. What did they ask me? "Which way are they coming in?" Oh. Dear.
There was another time- the horses were being fed, and all the horses were eating except one. Someone picked up the feed bucket of grain, with that horse's name on it, and the horse is doing everything but jumping up and down, saying, "Me!" "Me!" They asked me- "Is this this horse's grain?" Hmmmmm..........
Still, the people aren't even close to the horses. I think it's because the horses drink more water.
First, we have Ace, the fire breathing dragon. He thinks he's as tough as they come, but he can get lost in a corner. He simply can NOT understand why the gate isn't in the corner of the paddock closest to the barn. One of these days, a gate WILL appear there, and someone will take him out through that corner. Why use the gate you came in through? That's the wrong way!
Then, of course, comes Timmie Tard.. enough said I think. However, if you don't know him- he tries to walk through solid objects on a regular basis. He also has patience to perform constantly repetitive actions until such a time as he gets his way.
Most of all, there is Lex, who is set to make equine figure skating an Olympic event. He's recently found that on the way out to the paddock, he can set his front feet, and slide them along by continuing to walk with his hind feet. This works wonderfully until the front feet start to splay, of course. Practice will make perfect, I'm sure. In our neck of the snowy world, maybe this will become a new event. Still, our figure-skating quadruped does not stop there. He was the first (and ONLY!) to get cast in the deep fresh-powder snow. Yep. Turn him out, and he drops to roll like a rock, and then needs rescuing. Alas, if he had not rolled atop the buried water-trough, he may have been okay. Instead he lay across it, much like one of those "Fat Lady on a Sofa" paintings.
Each one of the "kids" is perfectly capable of pulling a truly retard maneuver at any time, but these three really exemplify why I'm considering getting a 2-horse trailer in a fine shade of BLUE.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
8 Seconds
Like many other things in life, it would be far less traumatic (taxing) if it really did only take 8 seconds to make a qualified ride. Of course, they go until you prove you're finished. In this particular case, it's a little hard to fake it. You bite the dirt or you don't. Thank heavens the "dirt" in the case is resilient, and quite comfortable, provided that you don't take the time to consider what else may have been sprawled across the air mats other than your winded body.
So- let me give you a little "back story". The 19th was the ESQHA banquet. Carrie recieved the high point award for both Sr. Western Pleasure, and Amateur Western Pleasure. (Congrats!!) It's been a very long time (think 29th birthday) since I've gone for an evening out. To relax, and knowing that things stood the chance of getting a little rowdy, I may have had a Cosmo or two. The intent was to have a few drinks, eat dinner, chill for awhile, and then while out and about maybe have another few. How was I to know that dinner was going to SUCK? The salad- I must say, looked suspiciously like the leaves from the centerpiece. Apparently it was strictly baby spinach leaves. Add some oil and vinegar (varying amounts) and one or two slices of strawberries, and some pine nuts and voila'- you've got an inedible masterpiece. It was pretty, just not at all tasty. People with nut allergies.... well.... uh..... gee..... never gave that a thought....
Of course, given my luck, I made a comment about the salad during JUST THAT MOMENT when there is a lull in conversation. You know the one- when it's otherwise silent- except for your voice, which is invariably saying the wrong thing. Ahh well, the best tasting part of the whole meal (other than the potatoes) was my foot.
And so, later on, we end up at Daisy Dukes. Given my outfit, I thought this rather,... hmmm.... ironic. Other than short shorts (yeah yeah,.. hence the name, right?) the "bar wear" is closer to my daily uniform than what I actually had on. I mean, someone actually asked me if I was a lawyer. That had to be the funniest thing I'd heard all evening. So, I found something deeply amusing in riding a mechanical bull while dressed in a pinstripe suit, with patent leather Mary Janes with 4" stillettos. Ahhhhh..... the irony.... sweet irony.. so much better than that chocolate cake (with... ick! nuts) from the banquet. And for my second ride, they were playing "Redneck Woman"; does it get any better??
A few things considering my "qualified ride"- 1) patent leather against plastic is like applying a suction cup- so in the future, all mechanical bullriders should wear patent leather . 2) For those who've seen the whole series of pictures- note: my heels never really come up. (and NO that's not an optical illusion) 3) at the start of the evening, a BULL is not what I expected to fall off of. Wearing those shoes- the least I expected was a nose bleed, if not a busted ankle. I'm damn proud of myself, even if I do say so. 4) I'm bruised all to hell. Apparently I AM too old to do something. That sucks. No more mechanical bull for me.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
"If The Shoe Fits..."
Just lately (oh.. say about the last month or so) I've been receiving a lot of compliments on my series of blogs here. They go something like this- "I laughed so hard! What a great way to vent. Um..was that one {insert subject here} about.. uh, me?"
My response? Invariable it's become, "Weeeelllll, not exactly, but, hey! If the shoe fits..."
If you've read any of this, you realize that I try not to mention any names if the subject matter can be considered negative in some light or other. Sure, most everything I blog about was inspired by an actual event- and usually multiples of that event. Sometimes it was inspired by something I read, and nothing that had actually occurred.
This is the way I see it- there are three possibilities here. 1) It's actually about you, and you know it. 2) It's not about you at all, but you're so egocentric that you think it is- because, lets face it, it's all about you. 3) For some reason you've got a guilty conscience, so it could be about you.
Since the first is fairly rare, it's the second two choices I find so humorous.
To better illuminate my point, let us revisit Danielle's, oh so controversial, blog concerning "the evil empire". This blog's main premise was referring to the Quarter Horse show industry as a whole. Because of AQHA's gargantuan size, it's extremely pervasive, much as is "the evil empire" of Star Wars fame. Due to it's megalithic proportions it exerts it's own sort of gravity (like a black hole.. or hello... Death Star) and has its own light side and its own dark side. (like a planet. 'Luke....I am your father....')
There's nothing quite so funny as a pop-culture reference getting so many peoples' knickers in knots.
So, why did people just assume that blog was directed specifically at them? Choice #2 or #3? Take your pick. You've got a 50% chance at being right. That's the same odds as predicting the weather. My guess? I think that it's going to snow or be sunny. Of course those same people, the description above, and the evil empire DO have striking similarities. I'd say a size 7 foot is a size seven foot.
So, if they are actually analogous (Hey, if the shoe fits...) to Darth Vadar and the Evil Empire, then what does that make me? I sure as hell don't have the zen-like qualities of the great jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. So that leaves... okay, I may be pretty funny looking sometimes, but I am certainly NOT a short green dude with big ears and a snappy attitude. I may be a lot of things but I am NOT..... YODA.
My response? Invariable it's become, "Weeeelllll, not exactly, but, hey! If the shoe fits..."
If you've read any of this, you realize that I try not to mention any names if the subject matter can be considered negative in some light or other. Sure, most everything I blog about was inspired by an actual event- and usually multiples of that event. Sometimes it was inspired by something I read, and nothing that had actually occurred.
This is the way I see it- there are three possibilities here. 1) It's actually about you, and you know it. 2) It's not about you at all, but you're so egocentric that you think it is- because, lets face it, it's all about you. 3) For some reason you've got a guilty conscience, so it could be about you.
Since the first is fairly rare, it's the second two choices I find so humorous.
To better illuminate my point, let us revisit Danielle's, oh so controversial, blog concerning "the evil empire". This blog's main premise was referring to the Quarter Horse show industry as a whole. Because of AQHA's gargantuan size, it's extremely pervasive, much as is "the evil empire" of Star Wars fame. Due to it's megalithic proportions it exerts it's own sort of gravity (like a black hole.. or hello... Death Star) and has its own light side and its own dark side. (like a planet. 'Luke....I am your father....')
There's nothing quite so funny as a pop-culture reference getting so many peoples' knickers in knots.
So, why did people just assume that blog was directed specifically at them? Choice #2 or #3? Take your pick. You've got a 50% chance at being right. That's the same odds as predicting the weather. My guess? I think that it's going to snow or be sunny. Of course those same people, the description above, and the evil empire DO have striking similarities. I'd say a size 7 foot is a size seven foot.
So, if they are actually analogous (Hey, if the shoe fits...) to Darth Vadar and the Evil Empire, then what does that make me? I sure as hell don't have the zen-like qualities of the great jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi. So that leaves... okay, I may be pretty funny looking sometimes, but I am certainly NOT a short green dude with big ears and a snappy attitude. I may be a lot of things but I am NOT..... YODA.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
If I Ran the World...part 1
If I ran the world, (and I may someday.. just watch..) then experts would be allowed to do what they do, in what they've chosen to do without unsolicited advice from the unqualified. For instance, I got my hair colored today. For those who know me well, they know that I'm not exactly the most fashion conscious individual. What's "hot" in the personal appearance department somehow slips right past me. I don't think that's always been the case, but I'll admit, I'm waaaaayy out of practice.
So anyway, I got my hair cut and colored. Julie (who is an absolute magician with color btw) asks me what I want her to do. Now, I realize that we're talking about my head here, and I've got to live with whatever is done. I just look at her, blinking. I imagine I must look like some sort of retarded owl. You're asking me?? If I'm not mistaken, I believe the goal is to leave here looking, well.. better.. than when I came in. My answer was a shrug, and "do what you do." She's the expert.
I ask her what she wants to do with her horse in the general sense, or when it's going to cost a fair penny, but when it comes to his well being, I just tell her. After all, I'm the expert. She leaves me to do what it is that I do best.
If I ran the world, that's the way it'd run. Give the expert a job assignment, and get the hell outta the way. Hmmmm..... not such a bad thing really.. Maybe I should start working on my master plan.
So anyway, I got my hair cut and colored. Julie (who is an absolute magician with color btw) asks me what I want her to do. Now, I realize that we're talking about my head here, and I've got to live with whatever is done. I just look at her, blinking. I imagine I must look like some sort of retarded owl. You're asking me?? If I'm not mistaken, I believe the goal is to leave here looking, well.. better.. than when I came in. My answer was a shrug, and "do what you do." She's the expert.
I ask her what she wants to do with her horse in the general sense, or when it's going to cost a fair penny, but when it comes to his well being, I just tell her. After all, I'm the expert. She leaves me to do what it is that I do best.
If I ran the world, that's the way it'd run. Give the expert a job assignment, and get the hell outta the way. Hmmmm..... not such a bad thing really.. Maybe I should start working on my master plan.
Monday, January 14, 2008
My new love...
Oh me, oh my. So much I thought to blog on.. but somehow its completely slipped my mind in the face of ... CBS's MONDAY NIGHT TV!!!
Dear heavens, how did I miss this? Okay... okay... I know how. I'm just not much of a TV watcher. But this is great stuff. I feel so deprived. Sure, the writer's strike is on, but that only gives me an opportunity to catch up on what I've missed. Every show is incredible- How I Met Your Mother- Doogie Howser in a suit, and cute guys.. so perfect. Two and a Half Men- can't be anything more classic. It's soo inappropriate- how can you not enjoy it? Rules of Engagement- David Spade. I need say no more.
HIMYM is followed by the quirky-est, quarky-est show on TV. It zings. It zaps. It had me rolling on the floor laughing- literally. To be fair, I'm a closet dork. Okay.. maybe I'm just a dork, and there's nothing hidden about it. The Big Bang Theory brings High School back- up close and personal like. That is NOT to say that I identify with the hot neighbor girl. I wish.
Those were my friends! I could have lived in that apartment! Okay. I had other friends- (No, Julie, you were NOT a dork) but by the numbers, my friends were, in the majority, geeks. The dialog is full of polysyllabic words- exactly the type to use if some boring, quasi-literate chimpanzee tries to pick you up while you're at the bar. I almost remember what that's like.
Every Monday I expect I'll be taking a trip down memory lane. My weeks will never be the same.
Dear heavens, how did I miss this? Okay... okay... I know how. I'm just not much of a TV watcher. But this is great stuff. I feel so deprived. Sure, the writer's strike is on, but that only gives me an opportunity to catch up on what I've missed. Every show is incredible- How I Met Your Mother- Doogie Howser in a suit, and cute guys.. so perfect. Two and a Half Men- can't be anything more classic. It's soo inappropriate- how can you not enjoy it? Rules of Engagement- David Spade. I need say no more.
HIMYM is followed by the quirky-est, quarky-est show on TV. It zings. It zaps. It had me rolling on the floor laughing- literally. To be fair, I'm a closet dork. Okay.. maybe I'm just a dork, and there's nothing hidden about it. The Big Bang Theory brings High School back- up close and personal like. That is NOT to say that I identify with the hot neighbor girl. I wish.
Those were my friends! I could have lived in that apartment! Okay. I had other friends- (No, Julie, you were NOT a dork) but by the numbers, my friends were, in the majority, geeks. The dialog is full of polysyllabic words- exactly the type to use if some boring, quasi-literate chimpanzee tries to pick you up while you're at the bar. I almost remember what that's like.
Every Monday I expect I'll be taking a trip down memory lane. My weeks will never be the same.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Remembering.....
Sometimes it hurts to remember, but sometimes pain is good for the soul.
For those of you who never had the privilege of knowing "Scy" and "Badger", please visit the links below, so that new people may know what great individuals these two were.
For those of you who did have the fortune.... never forget them. They were truely amazing animals, who's greatness can only live on in those of us who knew them.
http://d2093745.u50.websitesource.net/subpage.html
http://d2093745.u50.websitesource.net/subpage1.html
For those of you who never had the privilege of knowing "Scy" and "Badger", please visit the links below, so that new people may know what great individuals these two were.
For those of you who did have the fortune.... never forget them. They were truely amazing animals, who's greatness can only live on in those of us who knew them.
http://d2093745.u50.websitesource.net/subpage.html
http://d2093745.u50.websitesource.net/subpage1.html
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
New Years Wishes
Like many people I know, I'm not even going to bother with New Year's Resolutions. What's the point? Like rules, it's they're pretty much made to be broken. Instead, this year, I'm going with New Year's Wishes.
So, without further adieu:
#1) Better than 3rd place at the World Show. No worse than that, obviously. :) Third is fine. It's wonderful, in fact, when compared to 8th, but something other than Yellow would be nice. We're going on 6 years of 3rd place ribbons. It does get old. Still, I'd rather not exchange them for anything other than Blue or Red.
#2) An end to inter-barn competition. I mean, c'mon- you're on the same team! Who cares if someone's horse is taller, or someone isn't out to the barn as much as you are, or your horse is better (or worse, or whatever!) than someone elses. Go ahead, be jealous, or smug, or whatever you want to be, but I don't want to hear about it. Don't ask me for constant affirmation that you/your horse is better in order to pad your ego. The only real competition there is out there is YOURSELF. It's not even your "non team-mates" that you face in the show pen. It's about how you progress as a horseman. It's about being better than the day before. The rest is stupidity.
#3) Chocolate will become bona-fide health food. ... You know, that's not entirely far-fetched. They've found that the less refined the cholate is (Dark Chocolate, here I come!) the better it is for your heart.
#4) Get more sleep. 2007 went by so fast. Mostly due to the fact, I believe, that every day ran straight into the next in a sleep deprived blur. Generally I couldn't remember if I'd done something that morning, or the day before, or the week before.
Ahhhh..... I hold a hope that these will work out better than resolutions. I won't hold my breath too long. Best Wishes!
So, without further adieu:
#1) Better than 3rd place at the World Show. No worse than that, obviously. :) Third is fine. It's wonderful, in fact, when compared to 8th, but something other than Yellow would be nice. We're going on 6 years of 3rd place ribbons. It does get old. Still, I'd rather not exchange them for anything other than Blue or Red.
#2) An end to inter-barn competition. I mean, c'mon- you're on the same team! Who cares if someone's horse is taller, or someone isn't out to the barn as much as you are, or your horse is better (or worse, or whatever!) than someone elses. Go ahead, be jealous, or smug, or whatever you want to be, but I don't want to hear about it. Don't ask me for constant affirmation that you/your horse is better in order to pad your ego. The only real competition there is out there is YOURSELF. It's not even your "non team-mates" that you face in the show pen. It's about how you progress as a horseman. It's about being better than the day before. The rest is stupidity.
#3) Chocolate will become bona-fide health food. ... You know, that's not entirely far-fetched. They've found that the less refined the cholate is (Dark Chocolate, here I come!) the better it is for your heart.
#4) Get more sleep. 2007 went by so fast. Mostly due to the fact, I believe, that every day ran straight into the next in a sleep deprived blur. Generally I couldn't remember if I'd done something that morning, or the day before, or the week before.
Ahhhh..... I hold a hope that these will work out better than resolutions. I won't hold my breath too long. Best Wishes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
