Raining...

PHOTO: CALVES
Today it's raining and so I slept in and didn't ride. I'm also sick. Laris said I looked like Tarzan this weekend and he was right. I didn't look like Tarzan ALL weekend, just once, but then Sunday morning when I woke up I caught a glance in the mirror and I could see the resemblance, too. It's because I'm sick. And my hair is unruly. I'm supposed to go to NY tomorrow after my dentist appointment.. I can't wait. I hope I feel better. And that I look less Tarzan-like. Rain is called for, so I think cowboy boots won't be so out of place. I was wondering, remember?

Reach Out And Touch Someone...

PHOTO: ME AND MIKE

I have been making the meetings for next week in NY. So far, so good. I'm making progress. It's really hot out but I'm thinking I might wear my cowboy boots to all business related meetings. Thoughts?

Work Is The Thing...

PHOTO: AROUND THE FIRE

Work is the thing that comes between riding and yoga. I have decided. The other thing I have decided comes from watching the last Harry Potter movie (I'm catching up for the new one): Riding horses is a pretty Harry Potterish thing you can do. It's a little like magic.

If you know horses and have spent any kind of time around them, you'll get what I'm talking about. They are big and they could kill you. Like dragons.

Jamie Said...

PHOTO: BRANDING DAY

Today Ila, the horse who started out crazy who has been actually really great lately, was amazing. I think it had something to do with the fact that it was 100 degrees outside, so she couldn't get nutso. I think Lezlie is having a little "I told you so" with me because she told me Ila'd normal out when she was fit. I didn't really believe her. I thought Ila was a lost cause. What do I know?

The Scope Of Things...

PHOTO: ME AND NICOLE BY THE CAMPFIRE

I am really trying hard right now. I am tired and I feel like I'm trying to do things like stop work at normal hours and not work so much on the weekend, but it's making me get less done. I have started telling Laris to do stuff and I wonder if it will make HIM crazy. But he tells me to do stuff, so it probably evens out. Besides, I'm certain he LIKES working like a maniac, so until it gets to be too much for him, I'll presume it's all OK.

I found a girl who is a business girl who I'll also meet with in NY. I gave her the business prospectus and I'll have to see what she thinks of it. I went over it with her but I think it's good to give her a little sheet about it, so she can get excited. The excitement I have over the project feels like an open window. If I don't seize every opportunity while the window is open, it could close— and then what? It IS just a feeling. But I feel like I have to act NOW... and that's fort of the exciting part.

BTW, I like this photo of me and Nicole. Cute.

Philly Cowboys...

PHOTO: DRIVING INTO TOWN ONE NIGHT

There is a tradition in Philadelphia of urban black cowboys and I want to profile them for the Boundless Philadelphia project we do. Boundless promotes Philly's outdoor spaces and the group of black cowboys keep their horses in spots throughout the city and get up in full regalia and arrive in full force at public events. Their horses are beautiful and they also have a race across Fairmount Park. At any rate, the Boundless project was in touch with the president of the organization last year and he invited us to go on a ride in Fairmount Park. Nobody took him up on it, but I will. I'll call him this week. Awesome!

Readers and Party Talk...

PHOTO: METH IS A BIG PROBLEM IN TOWNSEND, AS THIS MURAL ILLUSTRATES

A friend of mine said she was at a party last weekend and a girl mentioned my blog! Granted, this girl is a friend of a friend, but I was thrilled that A) someone had passed the link along and B) that someone thought it was interesting enough to bring up at a party.

I haven't figured out how to set up the analytics so I can see how many people visit the each day, but I do get psyched when people comment (hint, hint).

Mounted Search And Rescue...

PHOTO: ME AND BLUE

I know I just said in my last post that I can't DO any more stuff, but what I meant was that I can't ADD more stuff at the MOMENT. Things I am looking forward to adding include "how to be more cowgirl"-type ideas, and so I'm happy to announce that I've officially looked into and inquired about joining the mounted unit of the Greater Philadelphia Search and Rescue. I don't know if I have to have my own horse (I think I probably do), but if I don't, it would be a great thing. We'll see. You basically look for people who've become lost in the woods. Next best thing to finding a cow, right?

A Thing I Don't Much Say Out Loud...

PHOTO: MADISON, A KID THAT I LIKE IN MONTANA

The other day I told Laris that I couldn't possibly be DOING any more things. I am maxed. Tapped. Unable to put anything else in front of me until something else goes away. It is scary and I'm worried about details. I hate waking up first thing in the morning with a start and feeling like I'm a dummy for not doing all the things I was supposed to already have done. That said, I think after this Lego project is shot I'll have more of an opportunity to mellow out and make things different. In the meantime...

Martini...

PHOTO: COMING DOWN THE LINE

I got to ride Jaimie's horse, Martini. She's a baby and a little A.D.D., but she's adorable and sweet and comfortable and she goes when you squeeze and you'll never have a hard time making her stop. I may try her with a little spur and draw reins next time, and I would love to start riding her regularly, which Jaimie says is ok. Crazy Ila isn't so crazy now that she's fit, but she could use some more schooling. I maybe would use a little spur with her, too. It's so hot out and nobody wants to go anywhere. Maybe she needs some reminding.

Don't Let Him Do That...

PHOTO: GRACE, JOHN AND ME

I called John today, just to say hi. I called Connie on Sunday to do the same. You know how if you get someone's number and then if you don't call it gets weird if you DO call? I decided it'd be better if I did call, and if I did it now, it'd be easier to keep up being friends.

It was nice.

John didn't get the bottle of Crown I sent him in the mail, which at first I wondered if maybe was a lie. But he really didn't get it. Damn. Sending it and buying at and getting it sent off was no small feat- do I have to do it again? I really was fond of the sentiment. I think I might should.

John said that a dad rode Blue this past drive. This dad let Blue pick up some bad habits John isn't crazy about, mostly not making Blue go. Speaking of bad habits, Ila, the crazy I ride at Chamounix, has a way of throwing her head around while you're on the ground, where she comes at you and wants a rub or wants to be a brat or wants to walk off and nudges you away. I hate it. Yesterday I got so mad I socked her in the face. I think I said so on the blog already. I told John about letting her have it. He laughed. Said I had to. He's right. I did. Today she was a peach on the ground. Sweet as could be. She's just faking being so dumb.

I'm still invited to come to Montana.

Now We're Talking...

PHOTO: HORSES LOVING

Grace said she's looking for Montana properties and sent me a link to a place she's thinking of. It's beautiful. Grace, let me know when you go to look at it, I'd love to come too (put me in your suitcase) and see if I can picture you there. I'll be objective. Swear.

Yesterday in yoga the teacher was talking about how we need to believe we deserve the things we seek. I believe I deserve to develop my business plan. I also believe that there will be people who will find it valuable and lucrative. I don't want to run the business, I want to develop a plan and see it get it started. I'm actually very excited about all this.

I also believe I will have some chocolate.

Anxieties...

PHOTO: COWBOYS AROUND THE FIRE

I tried to shut work out this weekend and we had so many guests that it worked for a little while. But you know that Sunday feeling? When it's like 8 pm and you haven't done any of your homework and Simpsons are about to start and you're either trying to convince yourself you can do your Biology homework while it's on (but you know you can't) OR you're freaking out a little because you know you likely already blew the class.

I'm not a procrastinator (at all) (anymore) (since 11th grade), but there's just so much to do that I get that Sunday feeling pretty regularly, even if I'm doing everything I can. Friday I thought of all the work I had due on Monday and felt like I needed a... poop.

We are shooting a video for Lego next week, which I'm really excited for, and once that's done I will go into BUSINESS mode not FULL TIME, but more heavily. I will be able to take day-time to work on it. And go to NY. And figure things out. And make it happen.

AND, tomorrow I get to ride Jaimie's horse, Martini. Crazy Ila, the horse I ride regularly, was so pushy on the ground today that I actually fought her. At one point she was shoving me with her head and swinging it around at me that I physically grabbed her nose. My fingernail caught the soft skin inside and made her bleed. Yikes. I looked under my nail and there was horseflesh. GROSS!!!! But that's life as a cowgirl.