Meet Tim & Larry....or...Breyerfest or Bust...

Meet Tim & Larry...

Yes, I agree they're strange names, especially since Larry is a mare, but when I was driving to work yesterday and trying to come up with names for them, not show names, just names, I decided I wanted the appaloosa to be named Larry.  I was thinking of spelling it "Larri" and be short for 'Larissa' but I didn't want it to potentially be pronounced incorrectly.  I'm a bit odd when it comes to correct pronunciation of names.  Anyway, This is what I got from Breyerfest, thanks to a pick-up by blabber erin123373.  They arrived yesterday along with a program, a magnet and a Smart & Shiney trading card.  I just LOVE the little pouches they came in and it'll make traveling with them so much easier because they're padded plus the SMs came in bubblewrap, which I kept.

Anyway, on a thread on Blab yesterday I mentioned I'd come up with what I thought was a cute idea regarding these two and Breyerfest.  They are going to be my "representatives", so to speak.  I don't really know how to describe it, but they'll be part of the planning process to get me to Kentucky next year and then they'll go with me.  Yeah, it doesn't make much sense, but...hahaha.  But I have this Smash Book and what I'm going to do is make it a Breyerfest or Bust (or Breyerfest Bound...haven't decided yet) kind of scrapbook and I'll put different Breyerfest stuff in it along with information about stuff to do there and it'll culminate with my actual trip to Kentucky.  I've got a bunch of stuff so far...

I just need to start getting it together in the book.  I also have a special money box.  I took the box I got in the Spring Fling Stablemate Swap on Blab and added some extra stickers and I'll put my BF spending money in there

It's a really cool box.  Nicely made and solid wood.  It'll do nicely for this purpose.  It's already got some money in it, too!  Yay!  Not much, but it's a start.  hahaha.

A couple of weeks ago I got a new horse and I never got around to taking pictures of it.  It's the Overo Paint Mare & Foal set.  I really only wanted it for the mare because she's on the Lady Phase mold, but the foal is growing on me.

I'd been meaning to get some kind of backdrop material to take pictures on and never got around to it and then I got this wonderful ivory color piece that's really silky (might be silk, don't know) when a friend on Blab so generously PIFed me her Buttercream (idocus mold) and I thought it'd be perfect.  This is the first time I've used it so I need to work on placement and draping a bit more.  But both pictures were taken on my beat up ol' dresser.  The cloth does a nice job at hiding it and all the lighthouses on it, don't you think?

Today has been pretty rainy and grey.  I'm half-asleep and apparently hallucinating because I walked by a window and saw a couple of darker grey clouds in the sky and thought it was something flying.  I keep making mistakes on my work.  Gaaaaah!  Hopefully the day will improve.  This Sunday there's supposed to be at least 4, if not 5 coupon inserts in the paper and from the preliminary lists I've seen, there's going to be some good ones.  I'm looking forward to it.  I don't usually care for Sundays (grocery shopping and having to go back to work the next day) but I'm actually looking forward to it this week.  I'm just looking forward to the weekend.

Breyerfest....bummed...

I am so totally bummed to not be at Breyerfest right now.  So totally bummed.  And to think how close I came to being able to go this year, only to have to make a mature choice to not go because of money.  But I'm so totally bummed.  So.  Totally.  Bummed.

For the past several weeks/months Breyer has been releasing pictures of the special run models that will be available.  All accept one.  They called it CC Shuffle and nobody knew what it would be.  There was a poll on Blab where you could guess...

• Missouri Fox Trotter
• Bluegrass Bandit
• Pacer
• Nokota
• Brishen
• Five-Gaiter
• Silver
• Zippo Pine Bar
• Roxy
• Gilen/Giselle
• Lady Phase
• A Cutting Horse and Calf Set
• Marwari
• Cody
• A New Mold

but there's too many potentials it could be.  Well, when the SR tent opened this morning it was quickly revealed what the CC Shuffle was.  Not one Roxy.  Not two Roxies.  But FOUR Roxy models.  All 4 different paint colors and with different mane and tail types

photo by Attaway1

Aren't they GORGEOUS?????  I only have 2 horses on the Roxy mold, but only because I wasn't collecting when it first came out and I've only been able to get the 2 so far.  Unfortunately, since these will be a limited run and a lot of people seem to conga this mold, the odds of me getting one at a good price are slim to none.  Bummer.  I think my favorite two are the grey and the pinto.  <sigh>  Congrats to everyone who got one.  I'm really hoping to make Breyerfest next year, but I still wish I could be there right now!

Wednesday July 17th, 2013

Every now and then you need a mental health day off from work so you don't go and "shoot the place up" so I took yesterday off....with approval from my supervisor.  And really, it wasn't due to stress, I just wanted a day off.  The timing worked out pretty good because the baby Andean Bear Luka, went on public display the day before!  He's only 6 months old and just full of energy, despite how hot and humid it is right now.  Both he and his mom were panting, but don't worry, they have access to their night house, which has cooling.  Plus, the keeper fills a big black tub full of ice before letting them out on exhibit and when Luka wasn't eating the ice he was playing in the water it created when it melted, as was Rio.  I spent about 20 minutes with them and got some pretty decent photos, I think...

Isn't he the cutest?  He's the first cub of Rio's that lived past 7 days (they don't know why the other 3 died) and she has been a very attentive mom to him.  Every time he went bounding up a tree, she rushed to the bottom.  I guess maybe she thought she could cushion a fall or something, I don't know.  But despite her loving-ness to him, it didn't stop him from "attacking" her...

I look forward to seeing him grow and I hope that with the birth of Luka, there'll be more babies for Rio and Rizarro.

After leaving the zoo I headed up the Beeline Highway to see if there were any horses visible.  I went as far as I did last time where I saw the two different herds, but came up empty so turned around to head back and as I crossed the Verde River I looked over and saw a small group of horses.  Initially I wasn't going to go back because I was a little hesitant to stop on the bridge (it's not a 'standard' bridge) so I kept going but then I decided to turn around and pulled off to the side.  I kept one eye on my rearview mirror watching for Ft McDowell Police and the other eye on the horses.  There was 4 of them and they were feasting on the nice green grasses that were growing on the banks of the river

Eventually I found myself at Best Buy in Paradise Valley and I decided to go ahead and get my new phone.  Unlike WalMart saying the one I wanted not working in my area (or any other area, for that matter), I had no problem getting it set up.  I let them do it for me.  hahaha.  In switching back to TracFone, I will have to give up my wi-fi hotspot (which isn't working right now anyway), unlimited minutes/texting and a 5mp camera.  The camera that came with my phone has a much smaller resolution, but as you can see from this picture I took at Denny's, it does pretty good I think

I'm impressed with the quality.  My Cricket phone never gave me a picture that clear.

So, Breyerfest starts tomorrow.  Many people are on their way there today and some of my horse buddies arrived yesterday.  I hope everyone has fun.  I'll be glued to Blab this weekend, soaking up all the festivities.  Maybe I can go next year.  I know I can, but it's a matter of wanting to...hahaha

The mechanical horse still exists!

Depending on how old you are, and possibly where you live in the country, you may or may not remember those mechanical horse rides that used to be in front of almost every grocery store (and our local Sears had one inside the store!) for usually 25cents a ride.

I can remember constantly bugging my parents to give me a quarter so I could ride one when we went shopping and I could be kept entertained by them for a good hour.  It wasn't as fun as riding the real thing, but it was better than trying to ride one of my Breyers (no, i didn't even try! hahaha).  But, as you grow up, you outgrow the mechanical horses.  Not necessarily mentally/emotionally, but physically and then one day, you don't see them anymore.  I can't remember the last time I saw one.

Until today.  At lunch I decided to go to Dairy Queen (I know, bad Brenda!) and as I was walking up to the restaurant I stopped in my tracks.  I couldn't believe my eyes!

And LOOK!  It's still just 25cents!  Granted, I don't know if it even works, but I don't care.  I still think it's pretty neat.  I wonder if there's someplace I could buy one, just for shits and giggles.  hahaha.  I probably couldn't afford it anyway.  But seeing this guy brought back such memories.  :)

I'll have a fairly busy weekend.  Tomorrow is laundry day plus I have to get my car emmissions tested.  Oh joy.  Keep your fingers crossed it passes.  My registration is up for renewal by the end of the month so hopefully all will go well.

I won...

I didn't enter for Zeus because I don't like the mold

I sort of liked Poseidon so I entered a few times for myself but agreed to let a friend have it who really wanted it

The third in the series was a lovely glossy palomino by the name of Apollo.  I thought he was neat, but not really too interested in him and agreed to enter for the same person I entered in Poseidon for

I didn't win any of them, but fortunately my friend I was entering for did.  Which is good, especially for Apollo, since she congas that mold.  Then along came Dionysus.  Originally I thought I might enter for him and use him to try to get a Mother Lode Lady Phase, but when a couple of people contacted me and offered to sell me their Mother Lode for $400, I knew I wouldn't be able to make an across-the-board trade.  Then, in a blab thread, I mentioned I was surprised my friend hadn't asked me to enter for her and she said it was because she'd read I was going to try to use him for trade and I said I would enter for her and she could have him if I won because I couldn't afford to buy him on the off chance I'd be able to find someone with another model I wanted who wanted Dionysus.  I didn't think I'd win him anyway, so imagine my surprise when I got this email

Yup.  I won him.  I like the color of the model, but not the mold itself so I have no problem passing him along.  I sent "S" a PM asking if she wanted him then was reading the various posts and threads on Blab from people who either were looking for him or had him and were looking to sell him.  A couple already increased the price, but I wouldn't do that unless I already had him in my possession.  But that's just me and I'm not criticizing them or anything, just saying what I've seen already.  Anyway, this morning I got a response from "S" saying she wants him and is working out payment with her husband so hopefully it works out.  If it doesn't, I also received a PM from another Blabber looking to buy him from me.  I'd rather sell him to a Blabber than him going to some random person on the waiting list.  Hopefully the 5th Greek horse will be a mold I like and will win, but that's a couple of months off.

Speaking of trading models.  While looking at various threads on Blab yesterday I saw someone was looking to trade their Mother Lode Lady Phase in Buckskin for a Premier Club Kalahkaari AND Currituck.  Uhm...what?  I'm guessing she's thinking that since the ML is only 1 of 100 and the going price on the secondary market is a minimum of $400 she thinks it's a fair trade...and that's her right to try to trade like that...but I think she's getting the better end of the deal.  While the ML might be up for sale for $400, she only paid $175 for it, which is the same as the two Premier Club models each...or were they more?  I don't know.  I'm not a member so I don't know how much they ended up costing.  Oh well.

Anyway, everyone is getting excited for Breyerfest, which is next weekend.  I keep wobbling back and forth between trying to go next year and not.  I still have some time to decide.  The flight would be a big deal for me, that's for sure.  But it'll be the 25th anniversary and I'd really like to attend one.  I just wish it was something driveable.  People from the west coast DO drive to Breyerfest, but it'd be such a long drive and I don't want to be gone that long.  <sigh>  We'll see.

Today's temperature is "only" supposed to reach 105 today with a chance for rain.  In July that means it's going to be sticky, too.  Yes, folks, it's not always a "dry heat" here in Arizona.  We do get humidity.  Don't let anyone tell you differently.  Anyone who says it's a dry heat has never been here during Monsoon Season

The plus to the clouds is that I'm picking up more chatter on my scanner that I don't usually get while at work so that's good.

Happy Wednesday!  Is it Friday yet?  ;)

If you only knew...

Last week my friend at work and I got to talking on Facebook about what we were going to do with our 4 day holiday and she mentioned she was probably going to go riding on Thursday so immediately I sent her a sametime message (it's an instant messenger here at work) and asked her if she would take some pictures for me if she was able to.  I sent her an email showing her what I was looking for and she said she would do what she could.  I then got to thinking and decided to start a thread on Blab with the same request.  I know there are several people on Blab with either their own horse or ride often with friends or whatever so I thought it would be a good idea.  I got a couple of responses, not as many as I'd hoped for, but that's okay.  I really do appreciate everyone who took the time to send me pictures they already had or actually went out and took pictures:

I'd said international photos were welcome and got this one from "magick" who lives in Ireland.  I'm still waiting for a couple of others to send in pictures.  I'm patient.  hehehe.

But this post is about the pictures my friend Sara took on Thursday.  When I opened the email up, I instantly had tears in my eyes.  I literally felt like I was the one sitting on Baron's back and I could just reach over and give his neck a nice scratch, which is what I was looking for...

I was so floored by my reaction to the photos.  I have quite a collection of this type and none of them evoked the same reaction as the first one she took of Baron.  I thanked her profusely.  She's a horse lover like me, but until you've gone as long as I have without riding, it's hard to understand what it's like.  She rides at Camelot Therapeutic Riding School (she's deaf) and has friends who ride so she has no shortage of horses to ride.  I plan to use these photos as inspiration to get myself back into riding shape and with the help of these photos and my friends cheering me on (and telling me I'd scare the horses if I became a crack whore), I know I can do it! 

Thank you again, Sara L.  If you only knew how much it means to me you took the photos...

Peter Stone DAH...

Why, oh why did I have to look at the Design A Horse thread on Blab?  I don't even have one yet...he's being made...so I don't look at the thread very often.  Today I should NOT have looked because they have a new color that would look so awesome on a short mane/tail ISH but I don't have the money, dang it!

The color is called Champagne and I love it!

Isn't it just beautiful?  But alas, I'm broke.  I'm broker than broke.  I have tried getting my mom to buy him for me but she's not budging.   Oh well.  Hopefully they will offer the color again in the future when I have the money.  She's been having to spend enough of her money lately because of my current money situation, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I get paid next week and things should be back to normal for me.  I hope so because I hate not having money.

It's kind of funny, though.  I am 43 and buying plastic ponies while there's an 18 year old I sort of know whose parents just dropped a bundle on a horse for her for a potential trip to the Pan American Games in 2015.  She's also living in Germany for the summer, training.  Usually she's in San Diego training with Steffens Peters.

I'm 43, have a full time job and get plastic horses.  She's 18 and gets real ones.  Something is wrong with that picture.  Of course, if my dad was a famous (more like infamous) former NHL player I might get expensive horses, too.  I wonder if he'd consider adopting me...I'm only 3 months younger than him.  Maybe he could adopt me as his sister...hahahaha

FWIW....the above "rant" is in jest.

Fiesta Island and Horses...I never knew...

I LOVE San Diego.  It's easily my favorite place to visit when I have a few dollars in my wallet.  It has fog and the beach and a couple of really neat zoos.  What's not to like about it?  There's a beach down near the border where you can even go horseback riding.  Almost 2 years ago I was there in December and went down to the Border Field State Park because that stretch of beach was new to me plus I'd always wanted to see the border fence.  As I was leaving, I saw an unusual-looking horse

Myles

so I had to stop and find out what breed he was.  Turns out I was seeing my very first Gypsy Vanner.  I was quite excited.  And while it may look like he's about to let one drop, he was actually just swishing his tail.  His person was very nice and trying to get him to pose for my camera when I asked if I could take his picture, but he didn't want to cooperate.  Turns out there's quite a few Gypsy owners in the San Diego area and she said a bunch of them were gathering that day for a ride on the beach.  Unfortunately, I didn't really have time to stick around and wait to see more and left, but it left quite an impression on me as far as the breed goes.  Also with this woman was her daughter with a Thoroughbred named Bear.  He looked a little thin to me, but I don't know a whole lot about TBs so maybe this is how they're supposed to look...

Bear

So the other day I was looking around for some pictures to use as motivation to get into riding shape when I found a rather unusual one

After some exploring I discovered this picture was taken off the "beach" of Fiesta Island, which is near Sea World

While I've been to the area many times, I've never actually been to Fiesta Island.  I knew there was a dog park there, but not that you were allowed to ride your horse around the "island" and into the bay.

It's pretty neat.  Next time I go to San Diego I'll have to go check out Fiesta Island.  My luck there won't be any people riding when I go, but at the very least it'll be a different photography perspective for me and that's always a plus.

Breyer has released the fourth model in their Greek Mythology series.  This one is called Dionysus and is on the Ethereal mold.  Of the four they've now had, this is my least favorite

I like the color, but the rest of it kind of bugs me.  Especially the mane.  The holes look weird to me.  hahaha.  Anyway, I'm going to enter for it, but I'll let a Blab friend have it if I win.  Originally I was going to see if I could trade it for a Mother Lode Lady Phase or one of the two Idocus models I want (Idocus, Camelot and Valiant), but I can't afford to buy him then hope someone is willing to trade.  So I'll enter for people who really want him and want to increase their chances or they aren't a member of the Collector Club.  Hopefully the 5th one will be something I like and I"ll have the money to get it.  And hopefully I'll get picked.  I haven't had much success with these things, but I'll keep trying.  I may just enter the Premier Club next year, we'll see.

Well, I'd better get to work.  Not that I want to.  Tomorrow is July 4th and we have both tomorrow and Friday off (plus the standard weekend) so most of us don't want to work today.  hahaha.