dinner, beer and a harvest moon.
pumpkin carving.
detailed pumpkin carving.
self-timer pumpkin carving.
and a solid football game.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Who Knew
Ah. The leaves are starting to change in Louisville.
This tree is outside my apartment and it was so pretty!
The walk to school is made better by beautiful things like this.
This past weekend I went to visit Joe in Ohio and we went to a lake, because the weather was perfect and we had nothing else to do. Joe manned the boat and I sat there basking in the glorious weather.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Water
Apparently, today is Blog Action Day and the topic is water. I was informed by www.treehugger.com, a blog I follow which is quite tree-hugger-ish. If you didn't know already, I am something of an environmentalist/conservationist. Sure, it sounds liberal, but I like nature way too much to not be "liberal" about it. I could go on and on about the conservative and capitalist mentality regarding the environment and why I think it's wrong, but today is about water.
Water is important to me. And it's important to everyone, all around the world. You can click that link above to see the 8 facts about water around the world, but I want to point out something you probably haven't thought about in your own life.
Bottled water is an atrocity (in my opinion). Think about this- assume you drink 4 16oz bottles of water a day, which comes out to 1,460 bottles a year. You pay an average of $4 for 24 of them, so you pay about $243 per year for WATER. But let's assume you refill half of them, to save money, you still pay $122 per year.
That's for one person. We can double this for two people right? And triple it for three? What if you drink more than that? Or buy bottles on the go, which are inherently more expensive than the 24 pack. The average price of water from the tap is $0.002 per gallon. That's a tiny fraction of the cost of bottled water.
Consider also the fact that bottled water is the EXACT same as tap water, see here. Your tap water is fine to drink, we are not in Mexico, nor India.
Now for the plastic. It's carcinogenic, laden with chemicals that seep out, requires tons of energy to produce, ship and recycle (if it gets recycled). Or it ends up in a landfill, the ocean, a spring, a field, an animal. Plastic does not decompose. Overall, plastic is not good for the environment or you.
My solution? Save money, your body and the environment by reusing an inexpensive stainless steel bottle. And if you are really freaked out by tap water, buy a water filter, it's initial cost is more but, compared to the cost of bottled water, is less. You really can take the stainless steel bottle anywhere. I've brought mine to movie theatres, concerts, restaurants, WEG, to & through airports, everywhere. You can find a bubbler just about anywhere and if not, we live in America where tap water is usually clean enough.
Now what to do with your extra $200? If it's an inconsequential amount for you, why don't you donate it to water organizations that work to bring clean water to impoverished areas?
Who knew I was so sensitive about water? Our bodies and our world are about 60-70% water. Stay hydrated and be smart!
Water is important to me. And it's important to everyone, all around the world. You can click that link above to see the 8 facts about water around the world, but I want to point out something you probably haven't thought about in your own life.
Bottled water is an atrocity (in my opinion). Think about this- assume you drink 4 16oz bottles of water a day, which comes out to 1,460 bottles a year. You pay an average of $4 for 24 of them, so you pay about $243 per year for WATER. But let's assume you refill half of them, to save money, you still pay $122 per year.
That's for one person. We can double this for two people right? And triple it for three? What if you drink more than that? Or buy bottles on the go, which are inherently more expensive than the 24 pack. The average price of water from the tap is $0.002 per gallon. That's a tiny fraction of the cost of bottled water.
Consider also the fact that bottled water is the EXACT same as tap water, see here. Your tap water is fine to drink, we are not in Mexico, nor India.
Now for the plastic. It's carcinogenic, laden with chemicals that seep out, requires tons of energy to produce, ship and recycle (if it gets recycled). Or it ends up in a landfill, the ocean, a spring, a field, an animal. Plastic does not decompose. Overall, plastic is not good for the environment or you.
My solution? Save money, your body and the environment by reusing an inexpensive stainless steel bottle. And if you are really freaked out by tap water, buy a water filter, it's initial cost is more but, compared to the cost of bottled water, is less. You really can take the stainless steel bottle anywhere. I've brought mine to movie theatres, concerts, restaurants, WEG, to & through airports, everywhere. You can find a bubbler just about anywhere and if not, we live in America where tap water is usually clean enough.
Now what to do with your extra $200? If it's an inconsequential amount for you, why don't you donate it to water organizations that work to bring clean water to impoverished areas?
Who knew I was so sensitive about water? Our bodies and our world are about 60-70% water. Stay hydrated and be smart!
My trusty water bottle.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Rain
I hear the distant thunder early in the evening. Then the rain, which makes a peculiar tapping sound on the vent of my furnace. The wind picks up and begins blowing the rain against my windows.
It has been weeks since we've had a good rain. I love sun and warm weather but I am happy for this storm.
In the midst of reading another blog, I come across a video of Ray Lamontagne. It renews my love for him and I throw all of his music into a playlist. He's the perfect antidote to mindlessness and the perfect complement to rain.
When the air conditioning kicks on, I realize it is probably cooler outside than in my apartment. So I open the balcony door to find out. It is. And I leave the door open, turn the air off.
The fall rain is here. I know that soon it will be wet more often than it is dry. But, the leaves are starting to change. The meaning of it I don't like to acknowledge.
I think I'll just sit here listening to Ray, the rain, the cars. I may do some serious reading, but I'd rather think.
Finally.
And though all these things will change,
The memories will remain
As green to gold, and gold to brown
The leaves will fall to feed the ground
And in their falling, make no sound
"Winter Birds"
Ray Lamontagne
Ray Lamontagne
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Lesson No. 3 - Good instructors notice good riders.
My last lesson took place about a week ago. I am a little sad. Even though saddleseat is not for me, I will miss the weekly contact with a horse. I neglected to mention to the instructor that it was my last lesson, partly because I forgot and partly because I wanted to see what she might say.
Well, there I was trotting past her, trying to keep my toes in, and she asks if I want to take part in their "winter" horse show in late October.
Hmmm. Maybe?
She says I'd have to get some pants to ride in. Saddleseat pants are special you know. And to enter a couple classes would be about $175.
Oh.
So I go on riding. The mare I'm on has a canter that feels like a kitchen table. This is not my analogy but it's true and I can't think of a better way to describe it. It's like a kitchen table rocking back and forth on two legs. Not hard to ride, but somehow I lost my inside stirrup. I kept going without my stirrup. I got the mare to canter on both leads, as most people cannot.
So she asked me if next Monday was going to work like usual. I had to tell her no, it was my last lesson. She was disappointed; she'd been looking forward to sticking me on a more interesting horse. Then she suggested I ask for lessons for Christmas. I had thought of this already but I am leaning more towards hunter jumper or dressage. Although, it wouldn't hurt to have some more saddleseat lessons to be able to say, why yes, I do know how to ride saddleseat.
I'm diversifying.
Well, there I was trotting past her, trying to keep my toes in, and she asks if I want to take part in their "winter" horse show in late October.
Hmmm. Maybe?
She says I'd have to get some pants to ride in. Saddleseat pants are special you know. And to enter a couple classes would be about $175.
Oh.
So I go on riding. The mare I'm on has a canter that feels like a kitchen table. This is not my analogy but it's true and I can't think of a better way to describe it. It's like a kitchen table rocking back and forth on two legs. Not hard to ride, but somehow I lost my inside stirrup. I kept going without my stirrup. I got the mare to canter on both leads, as most people cannot.
So she asked me if next Monday was going to work like usual. I had to tell her no, it was my last lesson. She was disappointed; she'd been looking forward to sticking me on a more interesting horse. Then she suggested I ask for lessons for Christmas. I had thought of this already but I am leaning more towards hunter jumper or dressage. Although, it wouldn't hurt to have some more saddleseat lessons to be able to say, why yes, I do know how to ride saddleseat.
I'm diversifying.
Friday, October 8, 2010
WEG Part 3: This Thing People Do- Jumping Over Trees and Water- They Call It Cross Country
One of the craziest things people do on horses, in my opinion, is cross country. These are big, dangerous jumps and it blows my mind both horse and rider are willing to take them. On my skip day they were doing cross country and because it's out in the open it's "free." So I snuck up to the rope at the nearest jump set I came to, which happened to be several water jumps. The riders are fearless, and the horses are too. It's crazy. They come flying in, gather up and spring over these jumps. It's not graceful, half the time it's awkward and stumbling. And good grief, it's dangerous. Here are some pics, videos in next post!
Right before the horse took a face plant into the water.
Rider seemed ok, horse was cut up but seemed ok. I'm sure his neck was all messed up.
WEG Part 2: Horses Practicing
I have an opinion about watching horses and riders practice. While most people think the competition is where it's at, I tend to prefer watching riders practice. In competition, especially in populated events like western pleasure and English pleasure, no one does interesting things, they're all exactly the same. The differences are in the length of stride, headset, rider ability, not much. And at high levels of competition the differences continue to decrease. Being familiar with what it takes to get a horse to perform in the ring, I like to watch people practice to see how they get their horse to perform in the ring. Are they using martingales? Kicking their horse and pulling on its mouth relentlessly? Doing little circles or riding the rail? I learn much more about riding while watching the practice ring than the competition. I can identify things I like and would try, and things I don't like and would never do.
Watching the competition at WEG level is truly fascinating, inspiring, awe-some, amazing, exciting, etc.... The difference is that every horse & rider performs differently- dressage has different patterns, think freestyle; show jumpers take thrilling shortcuts, and I mean it is show jumping; cross country has water obstacles. But I still like to watch people practice because it's impossible to not learn by watching these riders - the best of the best. And since I didn't have tickets to any events, I could really only watch horses practice. So, below are some pictures I took of the horses I saw practicing throughout my skip-day, with a couple from the reining clinics.
Watching the competition at WEG level is truly fascinating, inspiring, awe-some, amazing, exciting, etc.... The difference is that every horse & rider performs differently- dressage has different patterns, think freestyle; show jumpers take thrilling shortcuts, and I mean it is show jumping; cross country has water obstacles. But I still like to watch people practice because it's impossible to not learn by watching these riders - the best of the best. And since I didn't have tickets to any events, I could really only watch horses practice. So, below are some pictures I took of the horses I saw practicing throughout my skip-day, with a couple from the reining clinics.
Holy muscled horse!
In the midst of a flying lead change, look at the rider's body and face.
Anky Van Grunsven, the trail blazing crossover from dressage to reining. Amazing.
Monday, October 4, 2010
WEG Part 1: Material Things I Want
I can't help it. I am drawn to high quality things like a fly to raw meat, like a moth to a lamp. I see something, I like it and I find out it is very expensive. When coupled with horses and horse gear, this problem grows exponentially. It's not that I'm a material or frivolous or shallow person, it's just ... I don't know what it is. Should I blame my parents? Probably not, though it's likely they ingrained in me a respect for high quality. As it is, when I see nice horsey things and nice horses, I just drool and go foggy in the eyes. So I took some pictures of nice things I saw at WEG.
A lot of nice Western boots...
Nice horsey statues and jewelry...
Nice fused glass horse art...
More nice stalls...
Horsey leather chairs...
Big leather couches and tables...
Really, really cool horsey sculptures...
Official WEG Corvette...
A lot of nice English boots...
A lot of nice English saddles... these are the used ones...
And the very best thing I saw and wanted were these beautiful, custom handmade leather boots, I could hardly keep the saliva in my mouth... It hurt to leave these behind. But I don't have at least $580 to spend on them...
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