As I sit here, on the eve of a brand new year, I wonder what direction to take this blog. Mostly, whether or not I should even continue it. I don't think anyone finds it particularly interesting. All I ever post about are the wild horses I sometimes see and occasionally about Breyers. I know people read it. I see the numbers. I just don't know why. I don't make model tack that everyone drools over. I couldn't paint a decent custom to save my life. I don't own any real horses or go horseback riding so I can't thrill you with my latest trail adventures. All I can do is take okay pictures. I just don't know what I want to do. Maybe a break is the answer, but I'd likely post about the same things when I came back. I've actually tried to discontinue this blog a couple of times, but something always drew me back. I just don't know.
As we sit here on the eve of a new year, none of us know what's in store for us. My wish for everyone is a fulfilling life and a happy one. I hope you all get what you want out of this crazy adventure. I wish good health for everyone. If you go out tonight to celebrate the changing of 2014 to 2015, please be careful. There are a lot of crazy and scary people out there who don't know their limits or refuse to accept them and get behind the wheel anyway. If I come back in the new year, I would like everyone who reads this "thing" to come back, too, and with all the body parts and people they left 2014 with.
Until next time...
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Would YOU go? FEI World Cup
I don't remember if I posted about it before, the World Cup being held in Las Vegas, NV in 2015. If I did say anything about it, it was about wanting to go, but then looking at the costs and realizing it's way too expensive because I'd have to buy a plane ticket and rent a car and get a hotel plus decide if I wanted to see the show jumping or dressage more and it would end up being too expensive. Anyway, today I got an email about tickets again and I decided to look at it again. As much as I enjoy Musical Freestyle Dressage, I think I would have more enjoyment at the Show Jumping portion, especially if the big names are going to be there such as Beezie Madden, Margie Engle, McLain Ward etc etc so that takes away from having to decide between the two and being bummed about not being able to afford both. All of this was before I'd boughten my car so I now no longer need to fly and rent a car since Las Vegas is only about 5 1/2 hours from where I live so it's totally do-able and I can probably get there on one tank of gas. Maybe. There's a feature on MapQuest where you can indicate what kind of car you have and it'll figure out gas costs. So really, my biggest epxense would be the entry ticket and when you look at it, the cost is nominal considering it's for the entire event and not just a couple of nights. I'd probably only go for one night, maybe two. So after that is taken care of, there's the matter of lodging. That's not something I'm currently worried about right now.
So that brings us to the question of, would YOU go? You know, if you lived close enough to drive there and were even interested in going. Nothing this big in the horse show world happens this close to where I live because it's usually all on the East Coast. We have big rodeos here. Whoop. Whoop. My birthday is in April...2 weeks before the event...so I could say it's my birthday gift to myself. Or, should the fact that I can't make up my mind be an indicator that I shouldn't go because I'm not 100% on board. Or maybe I'm overthinking it too much and should just go...? hahaha. I don't know. It would be super cool to see some of the riders I've admired for years compete. And if there was even the slightest opportunity to maybe get to meet some of them. I'm sure they'll be focused on their riding so I wouldn't want to interfer with that, but just to be around so many great riders...
Would you go if you had the opportunity?
So that brings us to the question of, would YOU go? You know, if you lived close enough to drive there and were even interested in going. Nothing this big in the horse show world happens this close to where I live because it's usually all on the East Coast. We have big rodeos here. Whoop. Whoop. My birthday is in April...2 weeks before the event...so I could say it's my birthday gift to myself. Or, should the fact that I can't make up my mind be an indicator that I shouldn't go because I'm not 100% on board. Or maybe I'm overthinking it too much and should just go...? hahaha. I don't know. It would be super cool to see some of the riders I've admired for years compete. And if there was even the slightest opportunity to maybe get to meet some of them. I'm sure they'll be focused on their riding so I wouldn't want to interfer with that, but just to be around so many great riders...
Would you go if you had the opportunity?
Saturday, December 13, 2014
12-13-14...
No, I'm not just counting randomly...that's the date today. 12-13-14. Pretty cool, huh? That doesn't happen very often and since there is no 13th month, it'll be awhile until it happens again.
So, I was reading the Secret Santa Thank You thread on Blab and saw something that made me pause and say "what?"
How did I NOT know about Bacon Jerky? I'm going to have to see if I can find it. Surely it's gotta be yummy. Most stuff with bacon is. Have you ever had Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies? Total yum. I wasn't sure I'd like them, but they were quite tasty. Swiss Miss is pretty good as well, but I'll pass on the M&Ms. It's been really neat seeing what people have been getting in their Secret Santa boxes...There are a lot of generous Blabbers out there. I almost signed up for it this year, but ended up not doing it. Just as well. Money is a little tight right now and I would feel bad not being able to be as generous as I would like.
Also on Blab...an on-going thread about the 2015 Breyer line-up. The thread started out asking if there was any news on the new releases and has now progressed to "oooh, I need this one and that one and..." All of the new models haven't been released yet, so there's still more to come. Hopefully some neat Stablemates...specifically the new molds introduced during the 2013 Breyerfest. In addition to new models, there's some new tack items I'm super excited about, designed by Jennifer Buxton, who is also a Blabber. She told us yesterday they were her designs. Anyway, here are some of my favorites that I will need to get. All photos are from MPV, an online site based in Germany, I think
I don't tend to collect Classics, but I have a Mesteno that would look good having a chestnut friend. I'm not totally sold on tje rabicano Roxy in the middle, I'll have to see it in person first, but the CWP is almost a given.
And the there is the portrait model of a wild Mustang named Picasso
The general consensus is that it's a beautiful model, but they should have used a different mold. Smart Chic Olena was a favorite choice for many, but I'm glad they didn't use it. Besides, I don't think it would've fit her
They are also releasing a new rider doll that I may have to get...
Especially if I get the matching pony and tack set
The tack is so wonderfully designed. I hope Breyer is able to do justice to Jennifer's design in mass production.
The last one that is available that I want would be a step outside my normal collection focus, but who wouldn't love this guy?
And, of course, I'd have to get the pack set to go with it. Jennifer, I know you visit my blog now and then and I know I've said it on Blab, but well-done. You should be proud of yourself for these pieces. You are very talented and it's awesome that Breyer is contracting you to design tack for them. Keep up the good work!
On Thursday I had the day off. Friday, too, but I didn't do anything interesting. An old friend was in town from southern Utah and I took the 2 days off to spend some time with her, but things got a little tense between us in the days leading up to her visit. I found out by seeing it on Facebook that she had a new girlfriend and it led to some hurt feelings on my part. We've known each other since the 3rd grade and I was hurt that she would have so little regard for my feelings that she wouldn't tell me about her new girlfriend before it going 'public' on FB. She kept saying that I'm her soulmate and that she loves me and blah blah blah, but if I'm so important to her, why didn't she tell me sooner about her new girlfriend? ANYWAY.........so I ended up doing my own thing on Thursday (she was in town with family and staying with family so I didn't leave her high and dry). First I went horse hunting and saw 4, I think. I didn't really get any good pictures or views of them because they were kind of timid and took off running. I did take some pictures, but I don't know how they turned out yet.
After looking for horses I drove up to Prescott to visit a wild animal sanctuary. The original plan was to go there for a couple of hours then head to Sedona to visit the Bell Rock Vortex, but that didn't happen . So I went to the sanctuary for a couple of hours. Saw the new Serval. Saw the new black bear (he was born in the wild, but became orphaned and so Heritage Park gave him a forever home (along with 4 other unrelated cubs who went to other homes). I saw the Ring-tailed Lemurs jump around their exhibit and then in a Lemur Ball
Lemurs huddle together in a ball to stay warm as well as strengthen social bonds. Lemurs are very social animals and do best when they're in a group.
The highlight of the day, however, was when then fed Cassie, the Bengal Tiger. The keepers brought her inside her nighthouse then brought out a pan of raw meat and put it by the fence. After they did some quick house-cleaning, they let her back out. There were only 4 of us there, but apparently she saw us as a threat because she kept growling at us. One of the keepers asked us to take a step back and that seemed to relax her a bit, but she quickly finished her snack and no longer snarled at us. I *think * I got video of it, but since I'm still learning my camera, I don't know how any of my pictures or video turned out. I'll share whatever is decent enough.
From Heritage Park I went to downtown Prescott to a Harley store to get my brother a shirt for Christmas. I hope he likes it, but I'm sure he will. Next I was off to Sedona. Or, at least, that was the plan. I stopped at McDonalds for a lunch to go then headed off. When I reached the point where I'd have to take a freeway to the left to get to Sedona or stay going straight to get back home, I decided to go home. I was an hour from Sedona and then would've been 2 hours from home and I really didn't want to spend that much more time driving so I headed home. I would still like to visit the Sedona Vortexes
(http://lovesedona.com/01.htm), but I think I may have to do that on a stand-alone trip or take one of the Pink Jeep tours that has a vortex side trip. Maybe for my birthday. I'm not hugely into New Age stuff and crystals , but I'd really like to see the Juniper Trees around the vortexes that grow twisted branches. A couple of co-workers have been there and really enjoy it.
Well, I guess that's it for now. I have to finish my laundry and go buy lottery tickets. It was raining some this morning amd there's still some heavy clouds hanging around so the storm may not be done with us yet.
Happy Saturday!
So, I was reading the Secret Santa Thank You thread on Blab and saw something that made me pause and say "what?"
Also on Blab...an on-going thread about the 2015 Breyer line-up. The thread started out asking if there was any news on the new releases and has now progressed to "oooh, I need this one and that one and..." All of the new models haven't been released yet, so there's still more to come. Hopefully some neat Stablemates...specifically the new molds introduced during the 2013 Breyerfest. In addition to new models, there's some new tack items I'm super excited about, designed by Jennifer Buxton, who is also a Blabber. She told us yesterday they were her designs. Anyway, here are some of my favorites that I will need to get. All photos are from MPV, an online site based in Germany, I think
And the there is the portrait model of a wild Mustang named Picasso
They are also releasing a new rider doll that I may have to get...
The last one that is available that I want would be a step outside my normal collection focus, but who wouldn't love this guy?
On Thursday I had the day off. Friday, too, but I didn't do anything interesting. An old friend was in town from southern Utah and I took the 2 days off to spend some time with her, but things got a little tense between us in the days leading up to her visit. I found out by seeing it on Facebook that she had a new girlfriend and it led to some hurt feelings on my part. We've known each other since the 3rd grade and I was hurt that she would have so little regard for my feelings that she wouldn't tell me about her new girlfriend before it going 'public' on FB. She kept saying that I'm her soulmate and that she loves me and blah blah blah, but if I'm so important to her, why didn't she tell me sooner about her new girlfriend? ANYWAY.........so I ended up doing my own thing on Thursday (she was in town with family and staying with family so I didn't leave her high and dry). First I went horse hunting and saw 4, I think. I didn't really get any good pictures or views of them because they were kind of timid and took off running. I did take some pictures, but I don't know how they turned out yet.
After looking for horses I drove up to Prescott to visit a wild animal sanctuary. The original plan was to go there for a couple of hours then head to Sedona to visit the Bell Rock Vortex, but that didn't happen . So I went to the sanctuary for a couple of hours. Saw the new Serval. Saw the new black bear (he was born in the wild, but became orphaned and so Heritage Park gave him a forever home (along with 4 other unrelated cubs who went to other homes). I saw the Ring-tailed Lemurs jump around their exhibit and then in a Lemur Ball
 |
| National Zoo |
The highlight of the day, however, was when then fed Cassie, the Bengal Tiger. The keepers brought her inside her nighthouse then brought out a pan of raw meat and put it by the fence. After they did some quick house-cleaning, they let her back out. There were only 4 of us there, but apparently she saw us as a threat because she kept growling at us. One of the keepers asked us to take a step back and that seemed to relax her a bit, but she quickly finished her snack and no longer snarled at us. I *think * I got video of it, but since I'm still learning my camera, I don't know how any of my pictures or video turned out. I'll share whatever is decent enough.
From Heritage Park I went to downtown Prescott to a Harley store to get my brother a shirt for Christmas. I hope he likes it, but I'm sure he will. Next I was off to Sedona. Or, at least, that was the plan. I stopped at McDonalds for a lunch to go then headed off. When I reached the point where I'd have to take a freeway to the left to get to Sedona or stay going straight to get back home, I decided to go home. I was an hour from Sedona and then would've been 2 hours from home and I really didn't want to spend that much more time driving so I headed home. I would still like to visit the Sedona Vortexes
(http://lovesedona.com/01.htm), but I think I may have to do that on a stand-alone trip or take one of the Pink Jeep tours that has a vortex side trip. Maybe for my birthday. I'm not hugely into New Age stuff and crystals , but I'd really like to see the Juniper Trees around the vortexes that grow twisted branches. A couple of co-workers have been there and really enjoy it.
Well, I guess that's it for now. I have to finish my laundry and go buy lottery tickets. It was raining some this morning amd there's still some heavy clouds hanging around so the storm may not be done with us yet.
Happy Saturday!
Monday, December 8, 2014
Work Vent...
Last week I noticed only one other person had requested off the week of New Year's that would impact my job duties so I decided to jump at the extra days off and submitted my request. I also emailed my supervisor to tell him that only one other processor had the week off and so I was requesting the days off, but if he had other requests pending, that was fine. Well, he didn't have others pending, but what he was about to do was send an email out to the processors to see if anyone was interested in the days off for a lottery. The only restriction was if you have the week of Christmas off. Well, at least 3 other people replied back and said they were interested. Here is the vent. This morning I got a notification from our time off planning that my request had been denied. It makes me mad because nobody else had even thought about requesting the time off until he sent the email. If there had already been "public" plans for a lottery then that would've been one thing, but because nobody said enything until his email, suddenly others are wanting the days off and I don't think it's fair. And dammit, that pisses me off! But what can I do? Nothing. Nothing except be pissed off.