Series A: The Opiate of the Masses
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Above the influence? Not me! That's right, 25 friggin' random things...
One of the latest things going around The Phasebook. Figured I'd at least get double duty out of it.
*Sigh*
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose at least 25 people to be tagged. When you've done that, make me a sandwich. Do what The Facebook orders. Resistance is futile. You will be Face-imilated.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)
1. I love water. The look, the sound, the feel, the smell. Lakes and ponds and streams and rivers and pools and fountains and bathtubs and showers and rain. Combine any of those things and the fondness just increases.
2. I can smell that milk is going bad days before the expiration date.
3. I've had a horse *jump* on my foot. Twice.
4. A blue ribbon was always a letdown to me in 4-H.
5. I never got anything better than a blue ribbon in 4-H.
6. I own enough seasons of Stargate SG-1 to classify me as a pretty hardcore fan. I draw the line at fan fiction.
7. I buy things for my little brother's dog. There are few things as rewarding as the look on her face when I tell her that I have something for her.
8. Of the sciences, physics and astronomy are my great loves. Sometimes I miss being in physics so much that it hurts a little. That's when I go "What the deuce am I doing with my life?"
9. I've worked four jobs in my life, and only been interviewed twice.
10. I've rarely met an animal that I didn't like. I've met a fair number of people that I didn't like.
11. I cannot stand the smell of alcohol.
12. I'm not the World's Greatest Speller, but it irks me when people abuse one word multiple times. Makes me think that they believe that they have it right or they just don't care. I've had A Person Who Shall Remain Nameless tell me that I am "versitul" several times in one IM session.
13. I would stab someone to fly in a really fast jet. I'm not sure how or when it's going to happen, but it is going to happen. Flying a jet that is, not stabbing someone. But you know, if need be...
14. Sometimes I am much more competitive than I should be.
15. I have seen three total lunar eclipses and each one was a completely unique experience.
16. I am infinitely more willing to clean a barn than my own room. I'd clean a barn for funzies.
17. When I worked in a learning and memory research lab I got a little attached to one rat. Seventeen was always sweet and curious and maybe I should have tried to smuggle him out...
18. I don't see myself as a woman. I see myself as a person.
19. I have been afraid of the dark (more appropriately, what might be *in* the dark) inside. Not outside. I *love* the darkness outside.
20. Since I was a tiny, tiny child I wanted a horse more than anything. After having had my horse(s) for over 7 years now, to this day I still occasionally go "Oh my gosh. I have a horse!!"
21. When confronted by large, angry people, my immediate response is not to run, but to get angry back and take an offensive strategy. Oh, I get all up in their grillz with The Righteous Indignation.
22. I get so excited about new phones, automatic carwashes, mail, pretty rocks, and holidays.
23. I love fire. Playing with it. Nurturing it. Just watching it. Fire and me, we're pretty cool with each other in general.
24. This year we did not celebrate my birthday until several days after the actual date. I did not feel that I was any older until I had had my presents and cake.
25. I rode an elephant when I was a kid one time and he threw his ball over a fence. Then he had to lean over the fence to get it back.
You know what annoys me? The fact that when any woman is involved with horses, for some reason people like to equate that somehow with sexuality. It's ridiculous. If you say that you like dogs or salt water fish or stamp collecting nothing at all is made of it. There is no reason that it should be any different with horses.
For instance, just the other day a friend (and I won't say who) was saying something to the group over dinner about a girlfriend that he had. To quote: "She did a lot of horseback riding. And she liked to "gallop". It could be very painful for me."
My response to this type of thing is usually overdone feigned naivete and continued innocent questioning until the sexually repressed and misguided person finally gives up their ridiculous attempt at a metaphor and is forced to use language that actually applies.
Sometimes the person involved is dense enough to not even get that. In which case I give up the act and tell them coldly that they should try to search around and see if they can't come up with the balls to just admit that their former girlfriend enjoyed rougher sex than they did, and to quit trying to somehow connect that with a totally unrelated hobby. If you're too embarrassed to say it in plain language then maybe you shouldn't be saying it.
Grow a backbone and quit throwing my passion to your Freudian jackals.
*Sigh*
*Sigh*
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose at least 25 people to be tagged. When you've done that, make me a sandwich. Do what The Facebook orders. Resistance is futile. You will be Face-imilated.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)
1. I love water. The look, the sound, the feel, the smell. Lakes and ponds and streams and rivers and pools and fountains and bathtubs and showers and rain. Combine any of those things and the fondness just increases.
2. I can smell that milk is going bad days before the expiration date.
3. I've had a horse *jump* on my foot. Twice.
4. A blue ribbon was always a letdown to me in 4-H.
5. I never got anything better than a blue ribbon in 4-H.
6. I own enough seasons of Stargate SG-1 to classify me as a pretty hardcore fan. I draw the line at fan fiction.
7. I buy things for my little brother's dog. There are few things as rewarding as the look on her face when I tell her that I have something for her.
8. Of the sciences, physics and astronomy are my great loves. Sometimes I miss being in physics so much that it hurts a little. That's when I go "What the deuce am I doing with my life?"
9. I've worked four jobs in my life, and only been interviewed twice.
10. I've rarely met an animal that I didn't like. I've met a fair number of people that I didn't like.
11. I cannot stand the smell of alcohol.
12. I'm not the World's Greatest Speller, but it irks me when people abuse one word multiple times. Makes me think that they believe that they have it right or they just don't care. I've had A Person Who Shall Remain Nameless tell me that I am "versitul" several times in one IM session.
13. I would stab someone to fly in a really fast jet. I'm not sure how or when it's going to happen, but it is going to happen. Flying a jet that is, not stabbing someone. But you know, if need be...
14. Sometimes I am much more competitive than I should be.
15. I have seen three total lunar eclipses and each one was a completely unique experience.
16. I am infinitely more willing to clean a barn than my own room. I'd clean a barn for funzies.
17. When I worked in a learning and memory research lab I got a little attached to one rat. Seventeen was always sweet and curious and maybe I should have tried to smuggle him out...
18. I don't see myself as a woman. I see myself as a person.
19. I have been afraid of the dark (more appropriately, what might be *in* the dark) inside. Not outside. I *love* the darkness outside.
20. Since I was a tiny, tiny child I wanted a horse more than anything. After having had my horse(s) for over 7 years now, to this day I still occasionally go "Oh my gosh. I have a horse!!"
21. When confronted by large, angry people, my immediate response is not to run, but to get angry back and take an offensive strategy. Oh, I get all up in their grillz with The Righteous Indignation.
22. I get so excited about new phones, automatic carwashes, mail, pretty rocks, and holidays.
23. I love fire. Playing with it. Nurturing it. Just watching it. Fire and me, we're pretty cool with each other in general.
24. This year we did not celebrate my birthday until several days after the actual date. I did not feel that I was any older until I had had my presents and cake.
25. I rode an elephant when I was a kid one time and he threw his ball over a fence. Then he had to lean over the fence to get it back.
******
You know what annoys me? The fact that when any woman is involved with horses, for some reason people like to equate that somehow with sexuality. It's ridiculous. If you say that you like dogs or salt water fish or stamp collecting nothing at all is made of it. There is no reason that it should be any different with horses.
For instance, just the other day a friend (and I won't say who) was saying something to the group over dinner about a girlfriend that he had. To quote: "She did a lot of horseback riding. And she liked to "gallop". It could be very painful for me."
My response to this type of thing is usually overdone feigned naivete and continued innocent questioning until the sexually repressed and misguided person finally gives up their ridiculous attempt at a metaphor and is forced to use language that actually applies.
Sometimes the person involved is dense enough to not even get that. In which case I give up the act and tell them coldly that they should try to search around and see if they can't come up with the balls to just admit that their former girlfriend enjoyed rougher sex than they did, and to quit trying to somehow connect that with a totally unrelated hobby. If you're too embarrassed to say it in plain language then maybe you shouldn't be saying it.
Grow a backbone and quit throwing my passion to your Freudian jackals.
*Sigh*
Friday, February 06, 2009
I loves me some water...
Whilst in Hammond this past weekend for our annual awesomeness show(s), we went up to see Lake Michigan, just for funzies. And boy, was it fun! ...zies...
Being winter and all there was incredible shelf ice off of the shores and it was downright magical. Slick as well. Angel hair found three "ice thrones" and also a Pride (Ice) Rock. After poking around on the beach near Hammond some we traveled back East and through Gary (Murder Capitol of Indiana!!) to visit the Indiana Dunes, which I for one had never seen before. Again, awesome. There were several inches of snow on the ground, and that had drifted along with the sand, so you never really could tell when you took a step if you were going to sink an inch or a couple of feet. Some sand had blown across the surface of the snow, forming waves and patterns.
At the Dunes the shelf ice extended out many, many yards and when you climbed one of the dunes off of the beach you could just see the water as an indigo strip on the horizon. Pretty amazing.
I do so love me some water.
Being winter and all there was incredible shelf ice off of the shores and it was downright magical. Slick as well. Angel hair found three "ice thrones" and also a Pride (Ice) Rock. After poking around on the beach near Hammond some we traveled back East and through Gary (Murder Capitol of Indiana!!) to visit the Indiana Dunes, which I for one had never seen before. Again, awesome. There were several inches of snow on the ground, and that had drifted along with the sand, so you never really could tell when you took a step if you were going to sink an inch or a couple of feet. Some sand had blown across the surface of the snow, forming waves and patterns.
At the Dunes the shelf ice extended out many, many yards and when you climbed one of the dunes off of the beach you could just see the water as an indigo strip on the horizon. Pretty amazing.
I do so love me some water.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Confusion and amusement...
So I am at work right now, and oh my gosh I still have two hours to go. I'm training a young man on the intricacies of working nights and closing. I'm working on my laptop Schloozy, and he is using the student assistants' work computer to edit some code. All well and good except for occasionally he mutters something not quite under is breath such as:
"Dang..."
"Gosh dang it..."
"What the fu..."
And most recently:
"Oh my gosh, you are so stupid..."
Not sure if he was talking to himself or the computer on that one. I say things like that to Schloozypoo all the time, but I've also been known to say things like that to myself as well. Regardless it could be uncomfortable for me to continue listening to this. Or it could be highly amusing.
Today I took apart a fish tank pump and observed with my own two eyes exactly how it worked. It was all part of a class that I'm in called How Stuff Works. My friend Stu is teaching it. Can you think of a better class? Maybe Cookies, Puppies, and Yahtzee Night With David Duchovny 101. Anyway, it was a lot of fun. And then I had lunch with Jaime. The End.
PS The Fools are going to Hammond this weekend. Stoked.
"Dang..."
"Gosh dang it..."
"What the fu..."
And most recently:
"Oh my gosh, you are so stupid..."
Not sure if he was talking to himself or the computer on that one. I say things like that to Schloozypoo all the time, but I've also been known to say things like that to myself as well. Regardless it could be uncomfortable for me to continue listening to this. Or it could be highly amusing.
Today I took apart a fish tank pump and observed with my own two eyes exactly how it worked. It was all part of a class that I'm in called How Stuff Works. My friend Stu is teaching it. Can you think of a better class? Maybe Cookies, Puppies, and Yahtzee Night With David Duchovny 101. Anyway, it was a lot of fun. And then I had lunch with Jaime. The End.
PS The Fools are going to Hammond this weekend. Stoked.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Perhaps you'll remember...
The continuation of a story that began here. It is not a direct transcript of, but is still almost completely taken from a dream that I had.
~ It has been a full two days now since our engines died and according to the mechanics there is nothing to be done for them. Our engineers, some of the best it should be said, have been ordered by the captain to keep at it, but having looked over the damage myself, I am doubtful that there is any hope of resuscitating the behemoths.
Our ship was blown so far off course in the storm that I believe we are quite distant from the usual currents. We do not seem to be drifting anywhere fast, and as of yet not one other sign of life has been spotted. Allow me to correct myself, there has been one sign of life. A fisherman in a dinghy. Apparently his skiff took damage in the storm. He stayed with her until it was obvious that she was going down, at which time he retired to his lifeboat, taking with him only the barest essentials, aka what he could lay his hand to on his way out.
Just barely riding out the storm in the small dinghy (over which fact I am still at a loss, as I would have sworn that nothing short of a miracle would allow a boat like that to stay afloat in a storm of that magnitude) he spotted us as a speck on the horizon around dawn and rowed his way towards us. He finally reached our ship the following morning (aka, this AM), looking near dead from exhaustion and cold. The captain lowered pulleys and brought his entire dinghy on deck, pulling the poor man out with his own hands and wrapping him in warm blankets.
The man is in the sick bay now, under the care of our ship's doctor and nursing staff. I am pleased to be able to help the poor fellow, and sorry for his own troubles of losing his skiff, which is also his mode of livelihood; but having been put in charge of rationing both food and water for all of the passengers and crew of the Lillianna, I must say that I am more than slightly concerned. The individuals who stocked this ship certainly did not have an emergency such as this one in mind when they did it.
We were meant to be landing in Port Calveston in only slightly more than a week, less than a fortnight to be sure. I have been quite stringent in my rationing as I have no idea how long it will be before we are rescued, and as a result I believe that I am at the brunt end of some hard feelings. The crew and lower classes seem to understand the restrictions and accept them without complaint, but it is the higher class citizenry that may prove to be a problem. I refuse to give them special consideration in this matter.
I have no patience for arrogance in a situation like this. I expect the same treatment for every life aboard this ship; we will all suffer together, and we will die together if it comes to that. The one and only consideration that I have made was to urge the galley staff to reserve whatever canned milk that they have for the young children that are with us, regardless of class. As of yet the kitchen crew has been able to do an incredible job, even with my restrictions, and for that I am grateful. Their prowess is certainly helping me to stretch the supplies that we do have on hand.
I am to bed now, and pray God that some good news will greet us with the morning. ~
~ It has been a full two days now since our engines died and according to the mechanics there is nothing to be done for them. Our engineers, some of the best it should be said, have been ordered by the captain to keep at it, but having looked over the damage myself, I am doubtful that there is any hope of resuscitating the behemoths.
Our ship was blown so far off course in the storm that I believe we are quite distant from the usual currents. We do not seem to be drifting anywhere fast, and as of yet not one other sign of life has been spotted. Allow me to correct myself, there has been one sign of life. A fisherman in a dinghy. Apparently his skiff took damage in the storm. He stayed with her until it was obvious that she was going down, at which time he retired to his lifeboat, taking with him only the barest essentials, aka what he could lay his hand to on his way out.
Just barely riding out the storm in the small dinghy (over which fact I am still at a loss, as I would have sworn that nothing short of a miracle would allow a boat like that to stay afloat in a storm of that magnitude) he spotted us as a speck on the horizon around dawn and rowed his way towards us. He finally reached our ship the following morning (aka, this AM), looking near dead from exhaustion and cold. The captain lowered pulleys and brought his entire dinghy on deck, pulling the poor man out with his own hands and wrapping him in warm blankets.
The man is in the sick bay now, under the care of our ship's doctor and nursing staff. I am pleased to be able to help the poor fellow, and sorry for his own troubles of losing his skiff, which is also his mode of livelihood; but having been put in charge of rationing both food and water for all of the passengers and crew of the Lillianna, I must say that I am more than slightly concerned. The individuals who stocked this ship certainly did not have an emergency such as this one in mind when they did it.
We were meant to be landing in Port Calveston in only slightly more than a week, less than a fortnight to be sure. I have been quite stringent in my rationing as I have no idea how long it will be before we are rescued, and as a result I believe that I am at the brunt end of some hard feelings. The crew and lower classes seem to understand the restrictions and accept them without complaint, but it is the higher class citizenry that may prove to be a problem. I refuse to give them special consideration in this matter.
I have no patience for arrogance in a situation like this. I expect the same treatment for every life aboard this ship; we will all suffer together, and we will die together if it comes to that. The one and only consideration that I have made was to urge the galley staff to reserve whatever canned milk that they have for the young children that are with us, regardless of class. As of yet the kitchen crew has been able to do an incredible job, even with my restrictions, and for that I am grateful. Their prowess is certainly helping me to stretch the supplies that we do have on hand.
I am to bed now, and pray God that some good news will greet us with the morning. ~
Sailing...
Drifting along
Through mist and mirage
Wonder where you're going
A stab of pain
Right through the heart
But don't worry
It passes quickly
Soon you'll forget
Making sure that the next time
Will hurt all the more
Through mist and mirage
Wonder where you're going
A stab of pain
Right through the heart
But don't worry
It passes quickly
Soon you'll forget
Making sure that the next time
Will hurt all the more
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Check it...
The good news is that I've been published on 365 Tomorrows again. The great news is that this one is actually good! Worlds better than the last. So much happier with this one.
Here it is in the archives: http://www.365tomorrows.com/12/06/shades-of-gray/
Hope you like it.
Here it is in the archives: http://www.365tomorrows.com/12/06/shades-of-gray/
Hope you like it.
Friday, December 05, 2008
As some of you...
...no doubt already know, I did not complete NaNoWriMo. According to the marker board on my door, I am awesome (thank you, T. Rex), but apparently that does not extend to the ability write a novel called Property of: Abby in a month. Paul completed his though! Congratulations Paul, you inhuman, novel-writing machine, you.
I have most of my Christmas shopping done for the year. Not sure how that happened, but I'm proud of myself.
Edit: If you'd like to go right to Paul's table of contents for Appendix A, go here: http://www.kuliniewicz.org/blog/appendix-a/
I have most of my Christmas shopping done for the year. Not sure how that happened, but I'm proud of myself.
Edit: If you'd like to go right to Paul's table of contents for Appendix A, go here: http://www.kuliniewicz.org/blog/appendix-a/
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I'll tell you what I want...
...What I really, really want.
Those of you who know me well may also know that I generally cannot answer the question"What do you want for Christmas and/or your birthday?" easily, nor usually before the second week of December. This year I'm ready! Enter the 2008 Wishlist! Ta-daa!
In no particular order:
*Planet Earth ( ~ $21.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000MR9D5E/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used , or $35.00 used with The Blue Planet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000TEUSQ8/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used )
*Down pillow
Printer (cheapest, most basic kind that is made)
*Guitar Theory 4 poster ( ~ $20.00 for large size: http://www.zazzle.com/guitar_theory_4_print-228202254543937048 )
Second Hand Out - Jeff Spanke
*Any kinetic art (aka perpetual motion toys) ( http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=opg&query=perpetual%20motion&.autodone=http://www.officeplayground.com/nsearch.html )
WALL-E DVD (and possibly even Iron Man? I should think about that...)
*Another World - Brian May (~ $6.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000DC7L/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227156327&sr=1-1 )
*The Cosmos Rocks - Queen + Paul Rodgers (~ $24.00 new from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001JGOKPU/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_pg_new?ie=UTF8&coliid=&startIndex=0&me=&qid=&sr=&seller=&colid=&condition=new )
*Pre Ordained - Queen (or pre-Queen really) (~ $6.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00004SOPK/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227156751&sr=1-1 )
Journey music (but not Greatest Hits, I've got that.)
Brian May or Queen t-shirts, posters, etc.
Thinkgeek.com gift certificate
Oh gosh, it's a thing of beauty. Just look at that. Look at all those options. Didn't I say I was prepared, Moms? An asterisk means that I want that more than the non-asterisk items. None of this stuff is necessary.
"Please don't choke on your podcast."
~ Jenny
Those of you who know me well may also know that I generally cannot answer the question"What do you want for Christmas and/or your birthday?" easily, nor usually before the second week of December. This year I'm ready! Enter the 2008 Wishlist! Ta-daa!
In no particular order:
*Planet Earth ( ~ $21.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000MR9D5E/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used , or $35.00 used with The Blue Planet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000TEUSQ8/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used )
*Down pillow
Printer (cheapest, most basic kind that is made)
*Guitar Theory 4 poster ( ~ $20.00 for large size: http://www.zazzle.com/guitar_theory_4_print-228202254543937048 )
Second Hand Out - Jeff Spanke
*Any kinetic art (aka perpetual motion toys) ( http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=opg&query=perpetual%20motion&.autodone=http://www.officeplayground.com/nsearch.html )
WALL-E DVD (and possibly even Iron Man? I should think about that...)
*Another World - Brian May (~ $6.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000DC7L/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227156327&sr=1-1 )
*The Cosmos Rocks - Queen + Paul Rodgers (~ $24.00 new from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001JGOKPU/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_pg_new?ie=UTF8&coliid=&startIndex=0&me=&qid=&sr=&seller=&colid=&condition=new )
*Pre Ordained - Queen (or pre-Queen really) (~ $6.00 used from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00004SOPK/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227156751&sr=1-1 )
Journey music (but not Greatest Hits, I've got that.)
Brian May or Queen t-shirts, posters, etc.
Thinkgeek.com gift certificate
Oh gosh, it's a thing of beauty. Just look at that. Look at all those options. Didn't I say I was prepared, Moms? An asterisk means that I want that more than the non-asterisk items. None of this stuff is necessary.
"Please don't choke on your podcast."
~ Jenny
Friday, October 31, 2008
I think...
...that V for Vendetta is a great movie.
As some of you may know, I fully intend at this point to go forward with NaNoWriMo. I have an idea and everything, so batten down the hatches. Here's the site it will be on: http://www.propertyofabby.blogspot.com/ (There's also a link in the sidebar.)
We'll see how that goes for me. I might fail miserably. It will be exciting.
As some of you may know, I fully intend at this point to go forward with NaNoWriMo. I have an idea and everything, so batten down the hatches. Here's the site it will be on: http://www.propertyofabby.blogspot.com/ (There's also a link in the sidebar.)
We'll see how that goes for me. I might fail miserably. It will be exciting.
Report o' movements...
Well I had a fantastic October break, and at long last you are going to be forced to hear a little about it. It was productive, but relaxing. Some barn organization was done, some cleaning of tack, some laying around in a hammock, some nailing of boards. Hay and feed were purchased, loaded, and put up for the winter, and stalls were stripped down and re-bedded. Weeds were cut, hooves were trimmed, pizza was eaten.
My farrier (who happens to ride English and knows quite a lot about the discipline) thought that my new saddle was great. He seemed to think that I practically stole it. Later that day mom and I saddled up Sage (and I thought she looked very pretty in English tack) and then I coerced my mom into going first to "show me how it's done". She didn't take a ton of convincing. She thought the saddle was awesome as well and after a short while riding around, she dismounted for me to take my turn.
First time riding English and it went pretty great. No problems to speak of, the saddle was comfortable and I felt comfortable in it. Sage had a few bouts of stubbornness, but considering that she hasn't been ridden in a very, very long time, that was nothing. Since Sage is a pacer, posting on her is either impossible or well beyond my capabilities, so we didn't do a lot of trotting, but that was ok.
All in all, for me it was a pretty fantastic experience. Totally do not regret that purchase.
My farrier (who happens to ride English and knows quite a lot about the discipline) thought that my new saddle was great. He seemed to think that I practically stole it. Later that day mom and I saddled up Sage (and I thought she looked very pretty in English tack) and then I coerced my mom into going first to "show me how it's done". She didn't take a ton of convincing. She thought the saddle was awesome as well and after a short while riding around, she dismounted for me to take my turn.
First time riding English and it went pretty great. No problems to speak of, the saddle was comfortable and I felt comfortable in it. Sage had a few bouts of stubbornness, but considering that she hasn't been ridden in a very, very long time, that was nothing. Since Sage is a pacer, posting on her is either impossible or well beyond my capabilities, so we didn't do a lot of trotting, but that was ok.
All in all, for me it was a pretty fantastic experience. Totally do not regret that purchase.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
It's here...
Guess what I got! Ok, I'll just tell you. An English saddle! Something that I've wanted for quite a while now. Thus far all the riding I've done has been either western or bareback, so riding English is going to be new to me, and that is what I'm so excited about! Can I overstate how excited I am? No, no I don't think so.
My saddle is awesome! It's a worn, used no-name, but it's great. Hopefully it will be a good fit for either Tiger or Sage, or maybe even both. At any rate it fits the arm of the couch well! Apartment smells like leather now, which is fantastic.
I expect this to be awesome. I can't wait!
So exciting!
My saddle is awesome! It's a worn, used no-name, but it's great. Hopefully it will be a good fit for either Tiger or Sage, or maybe even both. At any rate it fits the arm of the couch well! Apartment smells like leather now, which is fantastic.
I expect this to be awesome. I can't wait!
So exciting!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
How would you like...
...to wake up to find this parked on the ceiling above your bed?
Yeah, I thought so. That, my friends, is the common House Centipede, or Scutigera coleoptrata to use the Latin. Also known round these parts (specifically, and possibly only, in our apartment) as the Crickepede.
As far as mutant hell spawn go, these are supposedly a very useful type to have around, as they attack, inject with venom, and devour other household pests such as spiders, termites, roaches, silverfish, rodents, small babies, salesmen, and politicians. That does not alter the fact that they are by far the creepiest bugs I have ever seen. And I'm not the whimpering girly girl sort. Or so I claim.
So far we've found four adults (ranging from 1 to 1.75 inches long by my estimation) and two youngsters. Apparently we (or possibly a neighboring apartment) have got a small infestation. Granted we've got no other pests to speak of, thanks to the diligent work of our little Crickepede buddies, but still!
I've been desensitizing myself by looking at pictures on the web, but I still don't like them, useful or not. Eh, nasty Crickepedes. So creepy...
Yeah, I thought so. That, my friends, is the common House Centipede, or Scutigera coleoptrata to use the Latin. Also known round these parts (specifically, and possibly only, in our apartment) as the Crickepede.
As far as mutant hell spawn go, these are supposedly a very useful type to have around, as they attack, inject with venom, and devour other household pests such as spiders, termites, roaches, silverfish, rodents, small babies, salesmen, and politicians. That does not alter the fact that they are by far the creepiest bugs I have ever seen. And I'm not the whimpering girly girl sort. Or so I claim.
So far we've found four adults (ranging from 1 to 1.75 inches long by my estimation) and two youngsters. Apparently we (or possibly a neighboring apartment) have got a small infestation. Granted we've got no other pests to speak of, thanks to the diligent work of our little Crickepede buddies, but still!
I've been desensitizing myself by looking at pictures on the web, but I still don't like them, useful or not. Eh, nasty Crickepedes. So creepy...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
So far...
...my classes have been really great this semester. I love philosophy, and apparently I'm pretty good with rats, so Win.
And I now have keys to a "restricted area". Double Win.
And I now have keys to a "restricted area". Double Win.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Here it is...
Today is the day. My submission is the daily story on 365 Tomorrows. And it is here in the archives.
I'm just so damn proud...
I'm just so damn proud...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Well that's cool...
A couple of months ago I found a site called 365 Tomorrows. The aim of the site is to present one short-short story of the sci-fi persuasion, no more than 365 words long, every day for a year. Most of them that I have read are pretty awesome. Today's and yesterday's (August 13 and 14th) stories were particularly good in my opinion.
Anyway, they have staff writers and they also accept some submissions. When I learned of this, I thought to myself, "What the heck, why not?" and so I took a few minutes to type up something random. I personally don't think it's that great, buuuuuut yesterday I got an email saying that it had been accepted for publication.
I'm not sure when exactly it's going to be featured, but it will be on the main page as the daily story, and then put in the archives. I'm pretty excited about that. First time I have ever been published by anyone other than myself, my school newspaper, or Jaime. So yeah. Awesome.
Anyway, they have staff writers and they also accept some submissions. When I learned of this, I thought to myself, "What the heck, why not?" and so I took a few minutes to type up something random. I personally don't think it's that great, buuuuuut yesterday I got an email saying that it had been accepted for publication.
I'm not sure when exactly it's going to be featured, but it will be on the main page as the daily story, and then put in the archives. I'm pretty excited about that. First time I have ever been published by anyone other than myself, my school newspaper, or Jaime. So yeah. Awesome.
Friday, July 25, 2008
I've seen my share...
...of robot movies, but I have to say that "Wall-E" is a mighty good one. We laughed, we gasped, we "aww"-ed, we got to the point where, were we a good bit sappier and had onions on us, we might have cried. It was a good movie. A very fun (and funny!) movie, with touching and poignant bits thrown throughout. Bit o' symbolism here and there for those who want to look for it, but generally the movie stayed away from the slap-you-in-the-face stuff, so you could watch it as a lighthearted thing as well if you so desired.
Overall a really good movie. We had a great time. I give it an A+.
Overall a really good movie. We had a great time. I give it an A+.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Yeah, it's awesome...
Who knew Neil Patrick Harris could sing?
So far it's been all that I hoped for.
(Watch it before the 20th, while it's free.)
So far it's been all that I hoped for.
(Watch it before the 20th, while it's free.)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Here we go again...
So the other day I got in my car and went to my friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart in order to exchange some cash monies for physical supplies, and guess what I found when I got back out to the parking lot. No really, go ahead and guess. Did you guess a dent in the hood the size of a small dinner plate? Well you are correct!
Somebody jumped on my car! There were a couple of slightly dusty footprints, and that is how I know how my car happened to have its hood molested!
Somebody jumped on my car! How can you jump on somebody's car unintentionally? The answer: You can't! Jumping on something as big as a Toyota Corolla is, as a general rule, a premeditated action. Who says to themselves, "I believe that I will leap upon the bonnet of this automobile that is not under my ownership."?
There is a slight chance that whoever did it did not realize that they caused damage, but I imagine it probably went more like this:
"Ah f**k dude! You dented it! Hahaha! Nobody saw so let's get inside and get that Blue Moon and Cheez Whiz that we came here for!"
Human Race, I have a serious problem with you! Consider yourself on notice!
Somebody jumped on my car! There were a couple of slightly dusty footprints, and that is how I know how my car happened to have its hood molested!
Somebody jumped on my car! How can you jump on somebody's car unintentionally? The answer: You can't! Jumping on something as big as a Toyota Corolla is, as a general rule, a premeditated action. Who says to themselves, "I believe that I will leap upon the bonnet of this automobile that is not under my ownership."?
There is a slight chance that whoever did it did not realize that they caused damage, but I imagine it probably went more like this:
"Ah f**k dude! You dented it! Hahaha! Nobody saw so let's get inside and get that Blue Moon and Cheez Whiz that we came here for!"
Human Race, I have a serious problem with you! Consider yourself on notice!
Friday, July 04, 2008
Watermark...
As of today I have passed both the marks of 75 chapters and 50,000 words for Knowing Andrew. The story line isn't anywhere near being finished, but whenever it is, as of this point, it will be my first novel-sized work. I couldn't be more pleased. Writing it has been an absolute blast.
I remember back to last year when I was all like "I've written 12 chapters for KA and I'm just so proud of myself!" So long ago. So young. So naive...
I remember back to last year when I was all like "I've written 12 chapters for KA and I'm just so proud of myself!" So long ago. So young. So naive...
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