CA Clique Redux

[Steve]

hahaha, you have 38 we have 101 we beat the CA ppl easy! lol jk. you have a cool thread too

ErinB from Florida never ever give cpr to a lizard

[MO]

Quite the contrary. What I mean is how in NYC can a law firm only spend $600.00 on a party of 5?! See what I mean? (Cheap Law Firm)!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Bumpkin: No, that was not QHSM in the photos of Spring Cleaning the Tackroom. Funny thing, I HATE writing those kinds of articles! I swear I keep adding to my list of "don't even ask me to write...". That list now includes articles on trucks/trailers, de-worming, avoiding the summer onslaught of flies and organizing a tackroom. If you could only see our tackroom, you'd understand why the photos weren't shot at our place! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

dublin: Welcome back to the land of the living!
/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Suave & coreene: A "uniboob look"? I'm guessing you mean the one long, rectangular boob look, often created by the use of a sports bra. I do not get a uniboob, I get a unilump. I am not particularly well-endowed. No, I gave my endowment to Beezer. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

MHM, MO & Heidi: Yes, the Iron Rider idea, stolen from the Iron Chef program, would just be hysterical if accompanied by an emcee who was permitted to poke fun at the participants. Hmm... instead of a course with an Audi, what about a course where first you navigated around the jumps in a golf cart (with a filled-to-the-brim grooming tote in the back), then climbed right on a horse and jumped the same course, and added the two times together? What a crack up! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MO]

(You can tell Mr. Mo is down stairs while I have fun with you all!)

Anyway, what I imagine is a herd of horses already tacked up, two riders waiting on the side for that bell to ring, and when it does they race to grab a fine mount and proceed on with the show. Then what? a dressage test? a GP? hmmm I need help. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Merry]

I know in the intercollegiate competitions riders have to draw for which horse they have to show. But in for our hypothetical purposes, to keep it fair, the riders/entrants couldn't have any prior knowledge of which horses were being chosen to be placed in the "herd" or else you know what'd happen: "Pssst... here's $50. I don't want to look like an idiot. I hear your horse Stormy is one of the chosen horses. What's he like to ride?"

You know, seriously, this might be a great class for our year-end county show (San Diego or Orange County). The specialty classes are always the same ol', same ol'. But this... this could be hysterical... entertaining... educational... and best of all, humiliating! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[vineyridge]

Is that possible today?

I know I spent $100 for lunch at a three star restaurant in France twenty years ago. I could see how dinner and inflation could easily hike the cost up 5X.

Law Firm Recruiting mores are just plain weird.

[MO]

Prior Knowledge? Of course not!! ( I rode IHSA too). But unfortunately in this world we live, there is always dishonesty and deception!! But isn't it funny how on Iron Chef the two contestants race to the barrel/ tank for their goodies?! I do enjoy that show, honestly. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Merry]

Ah yes, let me just scoop my hands into that tank of octopus innards! Yummy! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Now I'm geared up to catch Iron Chef. It comes on really late on my satelitte dish.

Now, about these very expensive restaurant meals... I'm sorry, but it just sounds so very ludicrous to me. See, not to be gross, but my health puts things in perspective. Hmmm.... how shall I put this politely... I have bouts of ulcerative colitis. At any given time, after eating a restaurant meal, I can become violently ill if I haven't taken my medicine. I just can't imagine eating a $100. meal and then 15 minutes later... well, you get the idea, I'm sure! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I know, "Thank you, Merry, for that medical update." /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[MO]

Well, I'm sure it's the same in California, not in the midwest (mind you), that one can eat a very light meal for an exuberant amount of money.
The Russian Tea room in NYC, just one example, where you can rack up the bucks for a tiny amount of food. Delicious food, but very,very light.

So, all I'm saying is that if a law Firm foots the bill for a large party at a very (VERY) (as Elizabeth puts it), nice resturant in down town Manhatten, the total $ would and should exceed the amount she stated.

Merry, did you see the Iron Chef show where the challenger was from Calf. and he won!? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[B.G.M. heidi]

The last time I was in New York on a business trip, albeit three years ago, a dinner for four rang in at $800. And to think, I thought we were pretty restrained that night. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

In San Francisco, we've enjoyed some absolutely wonderful dinners at Cypress Club and Moose's. Also really liked Lulu's in SOMA.

When I used to venture to Cannes for the tv markets, had some really wonderful meals, but they were, surprisingly 'cheap' by comparison. Machou remains among my favourite restaurant in the world.

My ever-favourite, though, is Ballymaloe House in Middleton, County Cork, Ireland. Egads ahoy. The last time we were there for the week, Hans gained 15 pounds. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[dublin]

But first off, what a bummer that Beezer doesn't get to go to the Kentucky Derby with him!!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

I saw he is covering the Derby for the LA Times -
I was in the same dorm in college with Suzanne Shirley (perfect cheerleader looks, perfect cheerleader name - cute, bubbly and oh so perky), whose father was at the time (I'm pretty sure upon recollection) Sports Editor there. After college, she married Jay Hovdey, who may have covered horse racing for the LA Times at some time??? He has written books about Cigar and Charlie Whittingham for the Blood Horse, writes for the Daily Racing Form and the Blood Horse now, and seems to be pretty well known and successful. Alas, he and the cheerleader did not live happily ever after, and are now divorced.... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[This message was edited by dublin on Apr. 29, 2001 at 01:07 AM.]

[Jumphigh83]

Thanks MO! Next time I will try to be more careful reading and actually "get" it!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
And Elizabitch daaaarling....so how was the SECOND DATE?????? Come on...DISH!

Betsy

[MO]

Betsy, I'm not a midwestern girl at heart! Besides Mr. Mo growing up in NYC, I grew up in the Philly area! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Now another question for all you California Girls, Where do you think the term's, "wash rack" and "show bill" came from? I alway's referred to them as, "wash stall" and "prize list". Then I met MCJM and heard her use those former terms. Must be a California thing? /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Merry]

MO: Well, I do wash rack and prize list, so go figure! I used to always say "show premium" but that's oh-so-out-of-date, isn't it? Like so many horse shows give away great prizes and awards that there needs to be a "premium". /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif Let's save "premium" for the county fairs and their homemade jam contests!

Last night on Iron Chef they were cooking with some sort of very salty pork. One chef was tossing it into a pressure cooker with rock sugar (?) to sweeten it; another was sauteeing it with prunes and a coating of pineapple. Looked interesting, but when I saw the inches of fat encasing the tiny vein of actual pork meat... /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Then I fell asleep. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Hey, steam me a bunch of asparagus and plop it on a bed of jasmine rice and I'm happy.

dublin: As for your Six Degrees of Separation from Mr. Beezer, my sister will be back "on line" tomorrow (Monday) at work and she can answer your query.

I shall see Beezer this afternoon, because I'm riding her 4 yr. old for her. He is just coming back from a fractured hock /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif I sat on him the other day, but I want her to actually watch me work him under saddle. When last I left him, he was at the point where he didn't exactly make circles at the trot, he made, uhm, pentagons. I believe I shall once again introduce the concept of moving off the inside leg to create a bend in one's body. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[rusty]

MO, Wash rack came from some horses that think going into one of them is a form of torture. Just like the ancient "civilaztions" had the torture racks.

Show bill is the bill you recieve from your trainer after the show, the one that has your share of the 5star hotel and resturants and any thing else the trainer "needed" at said show.

/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[wtywmn4]

rusty, tooooo funny!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Okay, so we all know NOT to take Merry and feed her a $100 meal. Or, as a cult/clique we should carry her medicine constantly. Which would be a much better idea. Truly sorry Merry. Thats the pits.. Been there, lived on Lomotil, iccch. Finally decided just to try and eat better, so far so good. Still, it will raise it's ugly head periodicaly. Makes you a believer in the "stay on the back of a horse" rather than being squashed from retrainees. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[elizabeth]

Mo, actually, my estimates are fairly accurate. About $80- 150 per person is what you would spend at a Le Cirque or Le Bernadin or a similarly nice restaurant.

(For those who are not familiar with NYC, both of those restaurants are essentially the cream of the crop, both in prices and, arguably, in quality. (They get rated well - I actually don't like the food at Le Bernadin. I would rather eat at some no-name seafood restaurant down at the Seaport than at Le Bernadin (which is known for its seafood), but I concede that I am almost alone in that view.))

Anyway, MO, I'll show you. For fun, we'll use "Windows on the World," in the World Trade Center. (I lived on downtown, so I ate downtown a lot.)

Here's how it breaks down:

Appetizer: $15
Entree: $29
Dessert: $ 9
Coffee: $ 5
________________
$58

$58 x 5 people = $290 + 20 tax + 70 tip = $380

Tack on another $200 for wine. Assume three, maybe four, bottles of wine will run about $175 or so (plus tax, hence the $200). While you could spend more on wine, generally only those who are not familiar with wine will do so, since most wonderful restaurants have good wines in the $40-60 range. The wines in the excessive price range tend to be for show, though, for sure, some people really like them.

So now we are only at $580, with tax and tip.

Potentially, people could do after-dinner drinks. If so, it will run anywhere from $8-17 per cordial. My groups rarely did, however, because the kids often would go out clubbing/dancing after dinner, so they really didn't want to fall asleep on the cab ride home.

(Before dinner cocktails were usually done at my apartment or at some random lounge along the way. I suppose if everyone had cocktails either before dinner or while ordering, we could tack on another $60.)

So there you have it. Dining in NYC for $600-700.

For the record, estimating at $80-150 a head almost always works at the fancy-fancy restaurants.

[Bumpkin]

Does anyone else have a problem with squirrels eating their flower bulbs?
I swear I planted tons of those bulbs, and now I am finding half eaten flower blubs all over the place while I am mowing the yards.
The JRT's never use to dig them up, so I can only imagine it is the pesky squirrels. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Coreene]

Ah, weight and shape.

I am, alas, not built as an eq rider at the best of times (although I did quite well in Those Junior Years). But I must say that the Shapely Breech, which you can get both through 18-24 and Dover (Dover stocks Longs, too, which 18-24 doesn't), feels like it is custom made for the tres hourglass figure.

So, my darling Bumpkin, you will love them.

Alas, you will not find them is puke hunter ring green (which is actually a color I quite like). My lost pair was regular length and fit better than most Longs, and the one I ordered is Long. I know they do full seat and regular, but alas my legs are so fat and my knees knock a bit so I must bypass full seat lest my thighs stick together and I flip myself over in the HCPEC parking lot.

I do have some very nice side-zip puke green breeches in 34L which any of my fellow BBers may have free of charge if they like, given that I have decided to wear only black. And several full seat new breeches, in white and black, brand new in 32L and 34L. They were some overstock that a friend had and she gave them to me, and I laughed hysterically when looking at the 32L because I wear 36L.

Freebies. What a concept! They are at my house and I am housesitting, still, for the Queen Mother and my dad, so I will get over there in a week or so and grab them should anyone want them.

[Coreene]

And you were thinking you could get out of the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna and pay less than $7 for water these days?

Heidi, I remember the days they would jack the drinks prices up on the Carlton Terrace during MIP-TV and Cannes. And I was horrified to pay $8 for a gin and tonic. What was I thinking????????

[Bumpkin]

I will try them Coreene dearest /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
But first let me send you that cheque I have been errant on /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[JustaLurker]

MO says:

Now another question for all you California Girls, Where do you think the term's, "wash rack" and "show bill" came from? I alway's referred to them as, "wash stall" and "prize list". Then I met MCJM and heard her use those former terms. Must be a California thing?

I'm with Merry on this. We in California call them "wash rack" and "prize list." So, "show bill" came from somewhere else. Could it be Mexico or Nevada?

I love rusty's definition of "show bill" and believe that must be it. Perhaps dreamed up by MCJM herself for use when billing just you, the mark from the East.

Cheers, Maggi

[dmj]

I have these on the HJ board as well but here are some pics from the Oaks earlier this month...asst. trainer riding my horse in the schooling jumpers (his first show).

[dmj]

and one more just to show is is SOMEWHAT capable of jumping like a normal member of the equine species...

[wtywmn4]

How can anyone say we are expensive in Calif. after that break down???? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif Yikes elizabeth, now are those regular ole wines for $175? Inquiring minds want to know. /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

DMJ is that your horse's first show or the trainers? Hopefully you mean your horse's. But in this day and age, well you get my drift....

[dmj]

oy - the horse. Sorry. Re-read and was quite confusing! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MO]

Since you put it that way, I'll let it go. Just curious to know, is "Daniel's" still open? I love that place. Mr. Mo and I frequent "Cipriani's" too. (We can't stand Windows On The World). Just a difference in taste I suppose, no hard feelings eh?! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[SoEasy]

So many things became clear ... Mr SoEasy has had Crohn's disease for as long as I have known him (um ... married almost 25 yrs!) He lives on lomotil, flagyl?, and sometimes pred ... not fun at all.

[elizabeth]

Mo, there was no hard feelings to begin with! Lord knows, there are tons of people, I am sure, who could spend me wayyyy under the table on dinner just by drinking a whole lot or ordering multiple desserts.

Daniel's is still open - at least it was in 1998 when I went there last. When I moved downtown in 2000, I pretty much stopped eating uptown and started trying new places downtown. I have never heard of the other place that you mentioned. . . . /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Now, my magnus opus on the cost of dinner caused me to POSTPONE telling jumphigh83 and Beezer about DATE NUMBER THREE (3) with David.

Jumphigh83, date number two was on Friday, but it went so well that he immediately asked me out for date number three on Saturday. Even though I know that I am supposed to decline a date with a man who asks me out less than three days in advance, I accepted anyway because I am just having such fun with David.

Can I just say how happy I am? O.k., I will type the details later - maybe tomorrow. I'm going to the opera tonight. (I fully anticipate not enjoying opera (I have never been), but I will keep an open mind!) /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[wtywmn4]

elizabeth you can dance on roof tops and fly thru the air if you want to. We are soooooooo happy for you !!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

SoEasy, sorry to hear about Mr SoEasy. Living on all those meds is trying. But, guess it does beat not having them. I don't know anything about Croyn's disease, it sounds quite awful. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[MO]

Crohn's disease is awful!! Mr. Mo is a rheumatoligist, he treats people with Chrons offten. I recommend having Mr. SoEasy ask his Dr. about a drug called "Remicade" put out by Centocor.Just so happens that they're based in Malvern! Anyway, it's done wonders for his Crohn's people. Actually, there is a girl who post's here (horse care section) who goes by the name of JennB who actually works for Centocor.

Elizabeth, well you have'nt tried NYC until you try Cipriani's!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Merry]

Really, knowing that there are other sufferers out there helps me... truly! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif I am supposed to take 6 Asacol pills (think brown horse pills) everyday but I've become incredibly lax. When I know I'm going somewhere, or when I have a flare-up, I take either Bactrim or Cipro. Either of those two antibiotics have an amazing effect in 24 hours. I don't "do" Lomotil, but I "did" Bentyl (kind of same thing) but it totally knocks me out. One year, at the Las Amigas Charity show in L.A. I was really sick and took 2 Bentyl... and I swear I could not keep my feet in my stirrups! I wasn't dopey feeling, but it's an anti-spasmodic, and boy, was I anti-spazzed! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif So I take 1/2 a Vicodin instead. Same effect, still able to ride & function, and no pain from the ah, lower end of my body, so it can remain in the saddle! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Hence, when I'm at an away horse show, it becomes a choice betweeen starvation, take-out food from some Mexican restaurant (rice and guacamole) or playing gambler's choice and eating out, risking ending up in the ER (last summer). /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Now on to more fun things... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

rusty, gotta love your definition of the show bill! Gosh dang, that irks me so much to pay splits for my "trainer" to stay at a fancy hotel! Once Beezer and I went to an A show on the cheap, and ran into our old trainer who bragged to us and our mom that he was staying at the Hilton because, "My customers are paying, so I figure I should just go first class, /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ."

elizabeth, hope you have fun at the opera! I've been a few times, and I just figured out to clap late; I wait until everyone starts to applaud, that way I'm not a complete hick-idiot, clapping in the midst of what turns out to be a death scene. /infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif

dmj, your horse is so cute! I love how they spread their front legs and look at the jump as they go over. Mine smacks himself in the chin with his knees, or his head disappears between his front legs. Thank goodness my medal days are over, LOL!

coreene: we must get you one of those fancy, Rodeo Drive black felt chi-chi cowboy hats with the sterling concho hat band to wear with your black breeches. Couple that with some designer sunglasses, and you shall be our Official Cal Clique Rep.! No one would mess with you. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[AAJumper]

Well, I have nothing fascinating to contribute, except to say that today was gorgeous!!! I got to take Cypress out on a trail ride again today, and everything was so nice with lots of pretty wildflowers. And she barely jigged at all! She's finally getting the hang of going out on trail and relaxing!

Then I came home and floated around in the pool. I'm really enjoying it because this is the first weekend that we've had it heated since it's been done. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Unfortunately, though, I did learn yesterday that flagstone is sharp on the edges and can rip off half of a small toenail. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

On another note, is anyone going to the Gold Coast show at LAEC in May? I might go for one day (saturday), then to the Memorial Day Classic. Hopefully I will have my COTH hat by then! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Bumpkin]

Up here in the PNW where most of the electricity comes from they are not letting people use their hot tubs!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
Lucky you AA /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif
Rainy and icky here today, I am jealous.
Think I will just lay back and visualize I am in a nice pool in the sun.
/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[AAJumper]

No hot tubbing allowed Bumpkin??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif We use gas to heat the pool, although our electic bill has really jumped from having to run the filter daily, for four hours.

Hmmm...icky and rainy, eh? I'll have to call up my dad, who lives in Olympia, and make sure to tell him what a lovely day it was here! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[B.G.M. heidi]

I went through a decade when my doctors suspected me of suffering from a gamut of diseases, ranging from food poisoning, to Crohns, IBS, to MS. I was either unable to absorb food, and hence 20 pounds underweight, or suffering from numb body parts and on the verge of a heart attack at 24.

Through a simple blood test, I was eventually diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. It took four years, two years of Inderal, hospitalization, horrific fears when I was pregnant with my second child, and an irradiation in the process, but eventually I grew to cherish the feeling of normalcy. Simple but so wonderfully comforting to know that one can eat what one wants without pain and hospitalization; that one can venture to the mall without fainting and dropping a child in the water fountain.

Health, and the feeling of healthfulness is something to be cherished.

[rusty]

The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. We could n't use the pool because the pool cover that heats it had to stay off. It isn't pretty and there were people coming to look at the house today.
So we took the kid and did the family thing at Train Town, and then went and looked at new living accomodations,travel trailers and RVs.

This could prove to be a very interesting summer. Living in an RV or travel trailer with a 2yr old child. This is Mr. Rusty's idea of living accomadations while we are building something more permanent, like a modular, until we can really build a house.

I guess you can't fault a man that thinks the barn ought to go in first. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

My suggestion was a three horse slant with living quarters. If we don't use the horse part right away it would make a good play room for our daughter. Then later on we could take it to shows. Then we would have to get a new truck so one could haul the house and onc=e could haul the old four horse. It never ends does it? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[TrickOfTheTrade]

Never posted on the CA Clique, but being as I am from Southern California I thought I should, lol.
Heres a pic of my greenie at his first show last year.

[Bumpkin]

Welcome Trick and great idea Rusty!!!

Hmmm how can I get Mr Bumpkin to get me a horse trailer?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[AAJumper]

Yikes Rusty...living in an RV all summer sounds pretty cramped! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif But the time will fly, and then you'll have an awesome place!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Welcome to the CA Clique thread, Trick!

Oh, I forgot to mention earlier that after my day of lounging, I painted my toenails....all 9 1/2 of them!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[elizabeth]

Hi Trick. Welcome!

Mr. So Easy and others who have suffered with Crohn's Disease, you have my sympathy. I have known others with that condition, and, God bless you all, that is a tough-ie.

Merry, I SO followed the leader tonight at the opera. I share your fear of being the only person enthusiastically clapping during the badly-performed death scene.

Now on to my favorite topic: Me, me, me!!

David and I are having . . . uhmm. . . intimacy issues. Now, before you all cringe or Erin deletes this post for lewdness, let me clarify what I meant: David held my hand on our first date, and he hasn't held it since!!

He still calls a lot, he continues to give me a nice kiss (fairly chaste) goodnight after each date, and he just called to say he wants to see me this week before the church retreat this weekend which we are both going on, but I think he is refraining from holding my hand again b/c he is trying sooooo hard to go slow and not offend me. Yet I am DYIN' here for some hand holding.

We went to the movies last night - date Number Three - and I kept my hand free and out - on my lap, yet he didn't try to hold it. Ladies, HELP.

I'm afraid to take hold of HIS hand b/c then I think either (a) I'm being pushy and forcing things or (b) he really would not have chosen to hold my hand but for the fact that I grabbed his.

HELP.

To make this horse related, let me note again that at least once a conversation David asks about Buster and re-iterates (over and over again) how foolish it is that the love of my life is not out here!

[wtywmn4]

rusty, absolutely you can not fault the man. He is a prize!! The barn first? WOW!!

heidi, Merry, SoEasy we have a sub clique within. Years of tests, blood, samples, well you know, it's the pits. Every antibiotic pharmacology came up with. ICK!! Between being told one of my kidneys was bad, and then it could be a tumor, don't you know. Lucky all of us weren't put in a mental institution. Nothing like being guinea pigs!! Seems I have hep C. Gotten with a blood transfusion, nearly 30 yrs ago. And since they finally a) have a test & b) a name for it its now able to be tested for. Well, enough of this...On to horses, the one true love!!

elizabeth, do you think that maybe he feels things are moving to fast? Cause it certainly sounds like he wants to be with you, maybe he doesn't want you to feel rushed.. /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

Love the pics you guys. The bay, playing peek a boo, and the chestnut pointing his toes... /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[vineyridge]

You're an adult, he's an adult, and I'm assuming you are both experienced.

You said you recoiled at his first warm kiss. So give him a signal that you are ready for the relationship to progress to the physical. If HE recoils, maybe the man is gay or doesn't find you thrilling. If that's the case, knowledge sooner than later is better.

After all, reaching for his hand in a particularly moving moment in the opera is not the same as grabbing for his lap.

Sheesh, whatever happened to liberated women and equality of the sexes. You sound like you were born the fifties, not the seventies.

You are WOMAN, hear you roar!

[NancyL]

Did you not hear of the lady in Calif (bay area perhaps?) whose first PG&E bill after heating her new pool was around .... $15,000?

Seems a "systems error" kept them from sending her the bill for a few months, so they added up a bit! No error on the dollar amount however!

Don't forget, most of the heating around here is done with natural gas, not electricity. Natural gas prices soared over the winter.

She said "I would have turned off the pool heater had I known it would cost so much. I didn't notice that there were no natural gas charges on my bill". Wouldn't a normal person look at that part of the bill after turning on a pool heater for the first time?

[elizabeth]

"Geesh vineyridge," elizabeth says defensively, smoothing her poodle skirt and fiddling with the laces on her saddle shoes, "maybe I still am in the 1950's."

No, seriously, vineyridge, you are right. Thanks for the advice and the gentle encouragement. I will see David Thursday night (we are watching the final episode of Survivor - is anyone else??), and if he doesn't hold my hand, I'll hold HIS!!

AAJumper and NancyL, do people in CA not have solar covers for their pools, which heat the pools so that you don't NEED a heater? Or is putting on and taking off the cover too much trouble? $15,000? That just HURTS!

[Merry]

rusty: Ah, nothing like family togetherness! But frankly, I commend you on your suggestion for a horse trailer with living quarters! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

wtywmn: Oh my gosh, you have hep. C? That's a tough one to deal with. I went through a couple of years of monthly infusions of I.V. gamma globulin, and I was always conscious of possibly getting hepatitis. I hope you're doing well. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

elizabeth: Okay, I'll weigh in on the man thing. He obviously likes you, because he's spending time with you. But you mentioned a church retreat. Maybe David is just morally conflicted. He may have strong feelings for you, but he's keeping them under wraps. Flashing back to my one and only date with the very shy, deeply Catholic Tony S. of my Disneyland days...(Scared him off!) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif I'd just give ol' Dave some clues, like during a good laugh about something, reach over and rub his upper arm, or if you happen to congratulate him about something, give him an enthusiastic hug. But if you just suddenly leap on top of him and put a lip-lock on his face, he may run for the hills, figuring you've "been around the barn" a few too many times. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

AAJumper & Bumpkin: We use gas for our outdoor, built-in barbecue. Now, if we could only figure out a way to use gas to run the computer!

Now, finally, Trick of the Trade: Welcome! Should we play a game and guess which Orange County stable was the site of that photograph of your cute horse? I say Serrano Creek.

[Coreene]

Your horse is a darling, and right in front of a Giddyap Girls sign - my horse is one of their taste test horses (okay, everyone stop laughing because this is truuuuuuuuuuue), and he is also featured in their ads. He is the horse on the right. I don't know why the photos are distorted, but thats Mr Plume.

[Coreene]

Willem's new thing is becoming more hysterical every time I ride. He walks slower and slower as we go to the arena, and stops at least twice on the way. Then, while working, decides he is done and Just Stops. If you try and get him to go, he whinnies and looks back at you for a carrot.

The carrot thing while riding is, I know, a bad habit, but sometimes he likes to play with a piece of carrot while we ride. Yesterday I was just going to fart around, which is why he could play with his carrot, but then changed my mind. And, shock horror, when I asked him to canter the carrot flew out of his mouth and he was such a fusspot that I had to get off, get it, clean it off and give it back to him.

Did I tell you we were permanently retired from the show ring?

[Merry]

Ah, coreene, I see you and Willem are the champions of the "Hack and Snack" class? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I had to stop feeding Hammie Nicker Nibbles because he was getting testy about, "Hey, what? No cookie? Then get lost. I'm not coming out of my stall." /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[Coreene]

Willem has been known to grab the 59 cent bean burrito from Taco Bell right out of the hands of poor, unsuspecting people. He's terrible when we go up top to shows and watch the hunter/jumper rounds (he loves to watch shows). People are warned who come too close with food, because after a while he just KNOWS they are bringing it to him and helps himself.

You can ask SuaveReno - he's very good at begging.

[Bumpkin]

Elliot's new thing is bananas!
Poncho and him both have banana breath. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Elliot loves to savour his banana and carrots and if he opens his mouth too wide the whole thing plops out in the big gooey mass of banana. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Coreene]

Bumpkin, it's hell when they make all sorts of banana slobber, isn't it? Worse than Apple Froth.

[Bumpkin]

Oh I forgot about Apple Froth!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
Hmmm maybe I should give Elliot the apple with the banana, close stall door.
I know the people who clean the aisle are prob not happy with the residue he leaves, leaning ever so far out of his stall, looking like he has rabies. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Beezer]

I've spent most of my morning AT WORK, I must point out, catching up on the clique. I don't even know where to begin.

Welcome to the club, Trick of the Trade! Very cute horse. Ditto the cuteness of the bay jumper with the eyeballs coming out of his head. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

For whoever said I should buy Merry some cookbook for her "belated birthday gift" (sorry, thought I would remember who it was but that was soooo many pages ago), allow me to point out that Merry already GOT her b-day present from me, and it beat a cookbook, didn't it Merry?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Elizabeth, you should take Merry's advice on the dating thing. She knows aaaaaalllll about that kinda thing. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Love the idea of camping out in a horse trailer, rusty. And Dublin, we may indeed have a match! In fact, Mr. Beezer went to dinner the other night with one of the Jays ... Hovdey or Privman, can't remember ... but I know he knows Jay Hovdey. Will keep you posted ... btw, he rather fancies Millennium Wind -- and since he was one of the only ones who pegged Ferdinand, Sunny's Halo, Gato Del Dol and several others, I've gotten to where I listen to him. And believe me, that's rare. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Merry neglected to tell the group just how good the Tiggster was during his outing. Though he really wants to know how Willem got his job as a taster-horse. He thinks that job and "pet" are perfect job descriptions for him. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Coreene]

Willem has always been mad about the head of Giddyap Girls anyhow (she boards at our barn), and since they are in love she always has him taste. It's truly something to see. A few months ago she came up with three bags, marked A, B and C. She had made some adjustments to the recipe, and each bad had a different adjustment.

He sniffed A and refused to eat it. Sniffed B and turned his head away. Sniffed C, very slowly took it, chewed a bit and spat it out (he really does spit things out - I know they're not meant to be able to spit but he does). So, all those adjustments of the recipe were 86ed. He is just picky enough to rule out the recipes that most horses won't eat, yet on the other hand has a varied palate.

The Galloping Gourmet, ahahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!

Then, when she was going to start advertising, she said "I've got these ideas, how about blablabla," and I said "No, how about 'Four out of five horses prefer Giddyap Girls' just like the old Trident gum ads?"

Et voila. And Mr Plume appears.

[dmj]

Coreene - do the gals have a website where we might view His Royal Plumage? I am dying to see him. He sounds so funny and chock full o' personality.

Trick - your chestnut is very very cute! I am so partial to chestnuts w/ lots of white...shhh...don't tell the "bay wonder". And Merry I am with you on the equitation thing. On horses like these, it is not even a consideration. Hell I just hang on for dear life. It is odd though - he doesn't give the jumps quite as much oomph with me on. I mean, he still over jumps, but not in such an extreme manner (and thank god for that). And totally off topic here - but would you be adverse to sending me your email address so that I might ask you a few questions about your writing career? I would SO appreciate it.... /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[TrickOfTheTrade]

Thanks to everyone who likes Trick. Now if only I could steer him so I could show over fences, lol.
Merry- It is Serrano Creek. Took him there for his first show, as there is not a lot of horses in each class.
coreene- Tick loves Giddy Up Gals cookies, or any kind of cookies for that matter. I'm sure he would love to be a test horse.

[JustaLurker]

I know I'm coming from an entirely different generation here, but I have to say that you shouldn't worry about intimacy, at least not yet. As vineyridge mentioned, you said you had "recoiled" at his first warm kiss on your first date. I suspect that backed him off - note I said "backed" not "turned." He's obviously turned on and has decided to respect your obvious reticence at jumping into a physical relationship right off the bat. Obviously a relationship is in the process of being established and he keeps coming back. Relax and let everything proceed at a reasonable pace, learning more and more about one another as time progresses.

Some of the younger generation advise that you should play the liberated woman and "roar like WOMAN." However, that could scare off a more traditional man, feeling his way into what he seems to perceive as a possibly permanent relationship.

So my old fogey advise is to play it cool and let things progress at a more reasonable pace.

Someone quotes Dennis Miller as saying something like "this is just my opinion, I could be wrong" and this sure fits here. But, once the cork is removed from the bottle... /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Cheers, Maggi

[Coreene]

Maggi, were you at the epicenter when it happened??? Do tell.

[JustaLurker]

Dublin:

Sorry Dublin, I didn't mean to slight you. I just saw that it's you who uses the very apropos quote "Of course, that's only my opinion. I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller. I want to give you the credit for coming up with it.

coreene:

Nope, I wasn't here during the quake. I moved down here from the Peninsula in 1990. My old house in Woodside sat on bedrock and, except for a couple of cupboard doors that opened and several pretty spooked animals, absolutely nothing happened.

However, the building where I worked (on Page Mill Road) was rather damaged as it was constructed over the underground garage and the supports/pillars were pretty much weakened. We had to move out while reconstruction took place.

Cheers, Maggi

[wtywmn4]

Thank you for the kind words Merry. Doing just fine /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif As long as we can ride, what else is there right? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif Well, just a few things..like hmm maybe unlimited shopping at Nordlies /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

coreene, your Willem is going to do this more & more. You will just have to get him his plume /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif That should substitute for treats.

So, elizabeth, after smoothing her skirt, which I might add, has a dynamite sequined poodle on it, have we decided what the next move is? Seems he may be a wee shy, but, and we're all assuming here, he may take his faith literally?

What are we, all posting within the same nano second??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Coreene]

I probably would have slept with him on the first date. My reputation for getting drunk at wakes and having it off with the waiters probably let you know that already. Ahahahahahaha!!!

Thank goodness you weren't Right On Top Of It, Maggi. I keep waiting for our next one and am a complete wreck at the mere thought. I had to breathe into a paper bag during the Loma Prieta one, and I was living in England at the time and watching it on teevee.

Re the plume, I have decided to bite the big one and just go ahead and pay the shipping...can't wait until next year.

[wtywmn4]

You know of course we are expecting pictures!! And perhaps a video? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Merry]

Beezer's youngster is--- I swear he is!--- learning to bend and be supple... dang it! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif How can this be a heriditary thing? He's just like his mother, Beezer's former combined driving/jumper that is now officially a lawn ornament. She didn't bend, he doesn't bend. Side reins? What side reins? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif He doesn't make circles, he makes pentagons. He doesn't turn, he merely changes directions. It's like turning a ship: "Captain, prepare to come about!" /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif But I must say, he's a very cute, bright chestnut with hind stockings and a dear face. And best of all, he does not want to get in trouble. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

But I'm not sure I'm thrilled with my sister's intimation that I, what, dated a lot or something? Just because I had that thing with the blond surfer boy/busboy that gave my parents ulcers...Maybe I'm somehow related to coreene???

By the way, I must try the banana taste test at the barn. The real Beezer (the horse) was just like Willem at shows. He mooched anything edible within reach. He once dragged an entire box of Winchell's donuts off the entry table. Then, at another show my sister was standing too close to Linda Hough, who was eating a cheeseburger, and Beezer (horse) snatched the entire thing-- paper wrapper and all-- right out of her hand! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

dmj: I will gladly e-mail you.Are you sure you want to be dragged into the "feast or famine" world of writing? I'm rich/I'm poor/I'm rich/I have no money for the horse show/I'm buying everyone lavish gifts/I'm poor/I'm ordering stuff from Dover/I'm poor/I'm rich/Where's my check?/ I get checks I didn't expect/I'm poor... /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[AAJumper]

NancyL, what was the woman heating her pool to, 100 degrees in 30 degree weather??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif We heated to 75 for 3 weeks in October, but turned it off when the nights got colder. And I was shocked by the $200 gas bill!!! Our gas is billed separately from electric, so there is no chance of missing it, fortunately! We went in the spa about 4-6 times or so per month in the winter, and the gas bill never got over $100. However, now that it is hotter, the pool seems to be staying at 78 (about what I heated it to) and I turned off the heater completely on Saturday. Elizabeth, some people have solar covers, but they are a real pain in the butt, and can often make the water almost too hot!

On another note, my old horse, Roy, used to eat Taco Bell burritos too! I used to hang out next to his stall to study while I was in college, and we'd share a burrito. He was Mr.Curiousity...he was quite fascinated by my engineering books...he even tried to taste them! He really liked watermelon rinds the best though...he'd get so slobbery eating them! I also had a mare who stole a big bite of her old owner's McDonald's hamburger! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

I didn't get to sign on from work today because the owner's son (a total computer guru) is in town (he used to be my boss) and I would have gotten caught for sure!!!

[Merry]

AAJumper: But does the owner's son bring a pooping dog to work? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Watermelon rinds: The quintessential summer horse treat! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I say, plumes for all of our horses! coreene, order them for all of us! Surely there must be some sort of costume class at a show this summer or later. My horse gets turquoise. And the spotted beast gets flaming red. And sparklies on her feet!

[Bumpkin]

Ohhhhh yessss Bumpkin quite fancied those watermelon rinds.
Will have to see if Elliot is truly a reincarnation of dear Bumpkin. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Where is Suave?

[MHM]

We used to have a small pony who loved McDonald's cheeseburgers. Her favorite thing was to hit the drive-through on the way home from a show. The trailer would just fit under the overhang.

People would often get an extra snack for her at lunchtime. Eventually she had to get a sign on her stall: "No more burgers- she's too fat!"

[AAJumper]

Merry, the owner's son does not have a pooping dog of his own, but enjoys the family pooping dog. He loves petting the thing...and it stinks!!! He used to get annoyed with us when we'd open the door too fast and hit the dog with it. Well, maybe it shouldn't be lying on the floor right next to the door!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif Then he'd tell the dog to bite us. And no, he's not 14 years old...he's 36!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Cypress would like a plume....maybe in burgundy. She's not much of a froofy girl, so no pink for her. But the burgundy compliments her dark color.

Oh, I forget to mention that my trainer videotaped us on Saturday during our lesson. It was cool because we got to watch it with her later on, and got to see everyone and hear her critiques. It was pretty educational. I'm happy because all my suffering to change my position is paying off...I might have good equitation one of these days!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Then, that day my trainer's ex came to teach her, and was totally after her about her position, and not getting in the backseat, etc. She said that now she can better understand how hard I've been working and how I've been suffering! My back muscles have been totally getting work what with trying to arch my back all the time! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif But like they say, no pain no gain!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[elizabeth]

Maggi, thanks. I think you have a great point about my recoil, and its effects on his willingness to process with caution.

Wty, after polling my two close guy friends at the office, I have come to the following conclusion. Are you all sitting down? Brace yourself: If David does not take my hand, I am going to gracefully take David's hand and hold it as we watch the season finale of Survivor this Thursday.

My guy friends feel that if I can gracefully - not forcefully, Maggi - do it, if the opportunity presents itself, he will be relieved that I have taken the step and will not see it as too forward. So, there we have it.

<< elizabeth truimphantly fluffs her bob and smoothes her poodle skirt. she shyly straightens the cuffs on her socks and smiles, thinking of Thursday night.>>

So, to keep this horse related, my sister, who is a non-horsie person, came up with the following phrase when describing why she is going to her graduation (for her Ph.D.) even though she doesn't want to: Sometimes you just have to take the salt block your trainer gives you and lick it.
/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[SuaveReno]

Hey Y'all. I've just been catching up on the boards as I have spent the last 24 hours or so catching up on my SAT tutorial. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Coreene's Willum is too cute. Hell, I'd even give him my burrito even if he didn't beg me for it /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Willum, do you want fries with that? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Did someone mention bananas??? Hmmm...Maybe I should put together a fruit cocktail for Suave Poo. A little potassium might be a good thing /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

A costume sounds good. May I be the Yellow Plume or how about this....

[wtywmn4]

OMG Merry, you have me rolling!!! I can just imagine the look on Linda Hough's face when that happened. Did she say anything to you?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Banana's?? It seems all our imported horses in the barn, just love banana's. They have to be taught to eat carrots. Is this a european thing? Oh now she remembers. Someone told wty that banana's are cheap in europe, and have become the preferred treat for equines. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

elizabeth, okay girlfriend, our curbs are jingling. Your guy friends are probably right on! We await the out come.... /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gifImagining elizabeth gently reaching for David's hand. He not knowing, pulls back ever so slightly, grabbing she says, "give me that, damn it" Listen, we are going to hold hands. The entire clique is supporting this. David, befuddled looks inquiringly at his date. Clique, what has he gotten into?

[This message was edited by wtywmn4 on May. 01, 2001 at 08:35 AM.]

[elizabeth]

suave, welcome back. isn't cosmo a good boy for dealing with the indignity of wearing a HORN???

wty, so right- so right! even worse, if I get stuck about what to do and have to log onto the computer in the middle of a date to get advice from you guys. excuse me david. i need to . . . ummm . . . check my e-mail!

Buster loves bananas too. he won't eat the skins, though. does anyone's horse eat the skins??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Coreene]

Willem's great friend Diamond, who used to show in So Cal as "Class of Diamonds" (big fat Dutch WB jumper), is now 23 and goes everywhere with his owner's husband in a wonderful yee-ha western saddle.

Willem is insanely jealous. I am sure that, deep down, they all want to be cowboys for at least one day. Just think - the silver conchos, the jingle jangle jingle, Trigger, Silver, Scout ...

He did wear a western saddle once that I know of, and looked like the world's biggest quarter horse. But I have often been tempted to get another western saddle for the longer trail days.

Then again, I will probably get a suede polo saddle instead. Like riding in an armchair...

Divoza only does plumes in white/red and white/blue. Am unable to find plumes in the US.

[dmj]

Am I the only one who finds the thought of equines consuming cow just a tad disconcerting??? hehe.

(ps- thank you Merry!!)

[Merry]

Did anyone else besides me and Beezer go to the Las Vegas World Cup? Did ya' get a load of the dancing show girls that came out while the course was being torn down? Talk about plummage!"Ta-ta-ta-ta, da-da-da!" Here comes the voluptuous Calif. Clique and their equally plumed horses! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif I can see it now, a touring road show at all the major Calif. grand prix events...

MHM, I love the drive-thru story with the horse trailer! On the way home from Ride America we just can't seem to make it without stopping at this gas station & fast food place near Lake Elsinore. And then we have to cruise through the Walmart parking lot in order to turn the rig around. You'd think we'd learn, eh? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

I must try the banana thing. Gotta be cheaper than horse cookies. I just paid $5.99 for a little bag of Joanie's Pony's Treats, which are sold locally for a therapeutic riding program. I also bought a huge "bag" of beautiful Timothy hay from a broken bale sale at the feed store. Only $5.00 for about 1/3 of a bale. I thought it'd be a welcome treat, but only a couple of our horses would touch it. They are so spoiled! It's grade A alfalfa or nuthin'. /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[Coreene]

DMJ, Willem said to tell you he only eats bean burritos.

[dmj]

Well thank god for that! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

With cheese? Hot or mild sauce? With or sans onions?

[MHM]

Well, she was only eating McDonald's burgers, so I don't know how much meat was really involved. This was long before the days of mad cow disease. It couldn't have done her much harm, since she lived to a very ripe old age- 30? 35? Her exact date of birth was lost in the mists of time.

[dublin]

Great story, Merry! My Linda Hough encounter (actually Larimer, at that time) was at the Oregon State Fair one year, when I beat she and Instant Trouble out for the 2nd year Green Working Championship with my OTTTB Talkalot, when I was 16. (Not to brag, but one of my show career highlights....). I remember the look on her face as she went into the ring behind me as Reserve Champion, probably thinking who IS this person??? LOL Anyone else remember Instant Trouble??

Maggi, as you probably can guess, I am a major Dennis Miller fan!! I noticed someone else is using that as a signature line....hrrumph

Beezer, my husband is a UCLA alum, so we have the LA Times sports section bookmarked. I will definitely be reading your hubby's coverage of the Derby. I really like Millenium Wind as well - he has overcome some significant medical problems to get where he is, and certainly looked good in his last race!!

"Of course, that's only my opinion. I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller

[NancyL]

Try peppermints for treats instead of horse cookies. Most horses love them, and so does the farrier. He would rather face "peppermint breath" than carrot slobber. The farrier always gets a few too (if that would simply work for payment!).

I did get an odd look from the vet one day: "what did you feed him?" as he floated the horsie teeth.

Just bought a 5 lb bag at Office Depot --$6.99 -- they don't spoil like carrots and are a lot cheaper than horse cookies.

[dmj]

I second the peppermint thing NancyL. Leaves breath oh so kissable. The beast is also fond of the butterscotch hard candies....

[Coreene]

Willem gave up peppermints a few years ago. We have no idea why. His favorite candy is Werther's Originals (original, since dad is Werther). Very good cheapo horse treat.

However, Red Vines go over really well!

[wtywmn4]

dmj, very possibly our equines, knew something we did not. That the so called, cow meat, might in fact be something else? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif Of course that goes down the tubes when you realize our old quarter pounder with cheese, (QH), loved hot dogs with mustard. Don't forget the orange pop to go with it. Everytime he got near a soda machine, he'd plant himself, waiting for one to appear. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

wty heads for the pile of aged "Horses" magazines. Hoping to find the elusive issue with dublin in it. I know it's here somewhere?

[dublin]

you're talking ancient, ancient history here, /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif but I looked in a horsey scrapbook I kept as a kid, and we had ads in HORSES 12/67, 7/68 and 2/70 under Portland Riding Academy and/or Sunwood Farms....

[Beezer]

Oh, Wty, another QH who was an orange soda pop fan?? The original Beezer -- who was this enormous (and I do mean ENORMOUS) appendix quarter -- loved his orange soda. And his cotton candy, candy apples, pizza, licorice (a big fave), doughnuts ... basically, if it went in a human's mouth, it went in his. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Re his stealing from Linda Hough ... I think she was so stunned ... and I was sooooo embarrassed ... that we both just kinda hurriedly walked away. The real Beezer also snitched french fries from Mary Gatti and once spilled lemonade that he, uh, slurped from the cup of one of Bob's wealthiest clients -- she who bankrolled his Idaho operation -- all over her fur-clad arm. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif He was an incredible food thief. Once, I was trying to stand on the steps of the show manager's trailer to talk about something or other, and he PULLED ME OFF the stairs and knocked down the awning to get to the danish that was on the tables. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

The morning I knew that he was going to die, I called Merry and begged her to stop on her way and bring him a treat. I will always be grateful that one of his last memories was getting an orange soda and donuts from two of his favorite people. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[dublin]

what a touching story about Beezer the horse....

Sorry I attributed the Linda Hough story to Merry, my bad! /infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif

[Coreene]

Now I'm in tears...

[Coreene]

One of my coworkers is doing the 3 PM Napster thing and downloading theme songs from all the old tv shows. And we all know the words. What a scary freaky bunch of weirdos...

[Bumpkin]

Millenium Wind's owners live here!!!
So of course he is the local favourite /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Beezer]

Thanks, Dublin and Coreene. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif (And you aren't crazy, Dublin ... Merry posted the Linda Hough story, but I was the one attached to Beezer's reins.)

He really was a special, special guy. And still greatly missed. Our little ranch has never been quite the same without him around, stirring up trouble. Like the night he got out and then proceeded to liberate much of the rest of the herd before we uncovered the plot.... Funny thing is, he was so much a part of my life for so long, that even now when I go to a county fair and see the cotton candy stands, my immediate impulse is to go buy some for him. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Coreene]

Well, Beezer, make me cry even harder whydontcha ...

[wtywmn4]

Oh Beezer, that is so sad. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif Couldn't figure why I wasn't able to sign on to the BB's, till I looked, I was typing Beezer as my password..See what that story did?? And yes, our QH loved orange soda. He actually was mid air, over a jump, when he heard money going into the machine next to the ring. We landed, and he stopped dead, I was a lawn ornament. He did a lovely 180, and cantered happily over to the machine. We always miss them. They are our family and kindred spirits, nothing changes that ever.

[Merry]

I forgot about Beezer's last meal. Yes, when we knew it was time, I stopped at the donut shop by my house and bought him two big glazed donuts. It was so very sad... me, my sister, my mom, the vet, we were all crying. But it had to be done. I just know that if I get to Heaven and there aren't any horses, I shall come back to haunt all the stables and showgrounds of my youth.

[Chef Jade]

That is so sad /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I know Beezer will be waiting for you guys when you get to Heaven because Chef is already there waiting for me!

/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

However, I kinda like the idea of haunting showgrounds and stables. Some ratty guy, who's mean to his horses, rides in a grand prix, and geez, what happened? His horse didn't seem to rub the rail, but it slipped from the cups! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Or, what on earth did that horse see that made it put on the brakes and slide to a stop, sending doofus man into the liverpool? /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

It's the ghost of Merry past!

[elizabeth]

Yes, this is a group hug moment, Merry.

Sad to lose the Beezer horsie. I'll bet you bawled as you were paying for the donuts. I was gettin' all misty just reading about it.

[weeble]

My goodness, I sure picked a sentimental time to try and catch up!

You're right, wty, we never forget them, any of them. That's one of the reasons this BB is so great, though we never met Beezer (the horse) our commonality (is that a word?) means we all know how Merry and Beezer felt on that last day. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
Good thing I have Kleenex next to the keyboard...

Elizabeth, we know you can do it. T-minus 48 hours and counting to "Survivor".

My old hunter came to me with a propensity for fried chicken. Would stand and wait for you to pull off a piece for him. My current horses love peppermints, especially the Brach's red and white striped ones.

[SuaveReno]

Ahhhh...I have to quit living in the past /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

BTW...I tried bananas today and Reno spit them out. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif he looked at me and said "No Like!"

I'll try the burrito next.

happy Cinco de Mayo all. A Rusty margarita to all!

/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MO]

When was it that you all lost Beezer?

[MO]

Fantastic picture!! Oh, the envy! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[AAJumper]

It seems like I've been waiting forever to get this pic. So I've scanned it in, and posted it below.

Merry and Beezer, that is such a sad story about the original Beezer! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Merry, I was at the World Cup in Vegas...those showgirls were, uh, a little out of place, dancing around in the arena. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif But the whole event itself was great. I went with a bunch of friends from the barn, and 4 of us split a room at Treasure Island. We spent a LOT of time at the spa there, and did LOTS of shopping! It was a blast! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

More good news on the job front - I got another call today from the manager of the office and he left a message saying that the people from the other office called people at my old job and I got rave reviews. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif My old job was working for the government, and this company gets lots of $$$ from them in contracts. So he wants to talk to me again. I called him from my cell phone on the way to the barn, but he wasn't in...I'll try again tomorrow. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Please, no comments on the fact that my heel is practically hitting me in the butt in the pic...I am working on it!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Merry]

MO: Gosh, I think Beezer-horse was put down maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I keep thinking we'll come across another horse with that great personality, but with all the ones we've had and bred, it hasn't happened. We've had better movers and fancier looking horses, but none with that "I'm a clown/I'm a lover" mentality. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Hey, check out the braid job on Instant Trouble! Don't tell me that's a modern $35. braid job! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

AAJumper, your mare looks like she's really relaxed doing her job. I'll bet she's fun to ride! Plus, I must point out that I want your girth. Beezer talked me out of getting a fluffy girth for Hammie and now I want one even more! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Sorry, I have not seen the old Survivor nor the new Survivor. However, regardless of what I'm doing at that moment Thursday night, I'll be sending amorous thoughts in elizabeth and David's direction. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[AAJumper]

Merry, she was really relaxed that day...she felt like an equitation horse! Sometimes she gets hot and nervous. I had to get that girth because she is sensitive, and needed the fluffy type. The hubby ordered it for me for Christmas from your favorite place...yes, Mary's!!!

[dublin]

What a nice horse, I still am rather amazed that I pulled off beating Linda with my Maggie, but she was a pretty good girl herself!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Here we are doing the 1st year green at the California State Fair the prior year....

My non-horsey husband is getting a big laugh out of all the funny horse stories you have been posting and what characters so many of them were/are, starting with Willem and his bunnies, and proceeding through all the people food they like to eat!

But wty, your story of being dumped so your horse could make a beeline to the soda machine had him chuckling the most.... Of course, he was laughing WITH you, not AT you.....!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[This message was edited by dublin on May. 02, 2001 at 11:55 AM.]

[SuaveReno]

AA Jumper: Your picture looks wonderful and Cypress is clearing the fence by quite a bit. Love your girth BTW. Which class was that???

Also good luck on the job front. It sounds like thy are really interested in you. WTG! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Dublin: I am so glad tha your Maggie beat Instant Trouble. They were always winning most everything. I wonder what happened to Instant Trouble?? I loved your picture..You picture looks George Morris perfect! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Regarding all the horses that we have known and loved and who have gone on to "Greener Pastures". I certainly hope there are horses in heaven because I am fully expecting to ride when I get up there /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[elizabeth]

ohhhh, I love Cypress. . . in addition to looking wonderful and fun, she's got a wonderful snout/nose!! And congrats on the job progression, AAJumper.

<<elizabeth can faintly hear the soft sounds of the curb chains beginning to jingle again. with a delighted smile, elizabeth closes her eyes, envisions AAJumper at a happy new job, and jingles along.>>

Merry and Beezer, maybe you could post a picture of Beezer the horse. . . .

[rusty]

Great memories and pictures.
Since Cinco de Mayo is coming up I am warming up the blenders. I have to have something to do to keep my mind off of the planning commission hearin g for my barn. It is going to be Mon. at 1:30PM. So please think positive thoughts and jingle the curb chains. This is one of the last major hurdles between me and my new barn. Some of the neighbors are not happy about the fact that I want to teach there and board a few horses. Even though the barn is over a quarter of a mile away from the nearest house nad we don't drive by any of the other houses on the street. Can any one tell that I am a little anxious about this?
/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[AAJumper]

Thanks everyone! Suave, that class was either the schooling jumpers or the A/A Jumpers....I think maybe schooling. That was week 2 when we were in the ring by the campers. By weeks 5 and 6 they switched the AA ring and we were in the oval ring by the bathroom. I swear that oval ring is my bad luck ring!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

I will jingle my curb chain for you Rusty!!! Those planning commissions can be such a pain, but you will get through with flying colors!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif A quarter mile is a long way, and no one should have any right to complain!!!!!

OMG....I gotta sign off...I'm missing BattleBots!!!!

[TrickOfTheTrade]

Beezer- What a sad story. I was almost crying after I got done reading it.

Suave Reno- I love the costume picture. Trick was a jail brid at that show and this year I am attempting to make him a hot air balloon or circus pony costume for this years finals. Our barn goses costume CRAZY. Last year we dressed the big WB with the horrible reputation as a carousel horse and his owner who is 15 rode him as Mary Poppins. And then there was the year someone convinced Medevil Times to let her barrow a knight costume. Ah too many fun costumes to remember.

AA Jumper- Very cute jumper. Wish I had the guts to do jumpers beyond 3'. I love fuzzy girths! As soon as I got my new saddle I had to get one that match everything.

As for horses eating stuff I have the funniest story. Ae were at a show at one of the adults in the barn set her lunch (in a paper bag) down on a takc trunk to go check her horse. One of our horses procedes to lean out his stall and remove the comtents of the bag: a can of coke, oreos, and a sandwich both in plastic ziploc bags. He Suchs the cookies and sandwich out of their bags, not harming the plastic in any way. Then he reaches for the coke, pops it open himself and drinks the whole thing. We saw him just as he was finishing and all laughed.

Tomorrow I am going with my trainer down to San Louis Rey to the evt hospital.
At the end of last summer/beginning of fall my best friends horse rolled around tin the mud/dirt and caked it over is whole body (even his eyelids). We cleaned him odff real good, but I guess so drit scratched his eye. He developed an eye infection about 3 weeks befor OCHSA finals. We had the vet out and he gave us medicine and got him a protective eye hood to cover the infected eye. He the developed a fungal cyst in his eye and we ahd him in EVA's hospital in Youba Linda. The vet then said there was no hope and we should just let his eye wither away and get him fitted for a glass one. We really didn't want it to come to that, although he could have functioned OK with it. So they decided to take him to the hospital in San Louis Rey to see if the special eye vet could fix him. He said there was a posibility of fixing him with surgery, but thta it might not work. They decided to go ahead with surgery anyway just on the chance. Now they are so glad they did. the eye is almost completly healed and as far as we can tell he sees good still. His owner is now back riding and jumping him and should be showing later this summer. The vet visit is his check-up so the vet can remove a flap of white that the stiches didn't come out of.
Sorry this is so long, but this really was a maricle and a great sucess story.

Lisa

[wtywmn4]

Oh sure dublin, just like my husband was laughing with me when it happened! He was doubled over at the far side of the ring. Just out of reach. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Merry, I believe that our horses souls are recycled. You will find Beezer, he will be back. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Different color maybe, but he's coming.

/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif Happy Cinco de Mayo /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Also a very nice horse that Hap used to ride. Hit it rusty, Cinco de Mayo margarita's if you please.

Weeble, yours does take the cake tho, fried chicken? And all this time we thought they were vegetarians /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

Oh dublin your horse is very cute. Love her look!! Also have to say, love that chocker Linda's wearing, boy does that bring back memories..You know, if you take away the chrome, Instant jumps alot like Bavaria from this picture.

Trick thats wonderful!! Glad the vet was able to save his eye! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[This message was edited by wtywmn4 on May. 02, 2001 at 08:32 AM.]

[elizabeth]

rusty, we'll jingle for ya.

Now, I've only dealt with a planning commission once, and perhaps you've dealt with them more, but to ensure that you kick a&*, are you TOTALLY prepared?

Have you outlined on paper every possible concern that might be raised and your response thereto?

If the commission doesn't simpley agree with the argument that 1/2 mile from the road is enough, do you have a back-up argument like "The pastures are set-off from the road and not visible" or "manure is removed once every two weeks so that there is no smell or vermin" or "you [the commission] approved a similar structure on Fox Road last fall"?

I'm just asking, rusty, b/c I want you to WIN WIN WIN!!

/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[rusty]

elizabeth, Yes we have covered all of those things. Many times. There latest was that we have to apply for a varience because the plan does not call for the parking lot to be paved. A new planner got involved at the last minute, so they wanted to postpone it another month. (We have only been trying to get this hearing for over a year.) They didn't know what to do when we agreed to pave it. We were going to wait and pave it later but now we can't procrastinate.
Our manure management composting system is state of the art. We will be using the completed compost to fertilize our pastures. And sell the excess to some landscape architects that have expressed an interest.

Sorry this is so long but it is on my mind alot as well as the horse show that I am putting on a week from Sat. That is a whole other topic. /infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[dublin]

Wishing you the very best of luck with the planning commission!! JINGLE JINGLE JINGLE....

[wtywmn4]

Everyone, on the count of 2, JINGLE JINGLE JINGLE...rusty can we make you a margarita too? We have those positive thoughts headed your way!!

[Beezer]

Sorry ... really didn't mean to bring everyone down with the stories about the real Beezer. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Heaven knows it took me days to stop crying and then took forever to be able to remember him and laugh -- even though I still get teary-eyed. Funny how they twist us around their hooves, isn't it?

And I like the idea of their souls being returned. That's a comforting thought. Maybe I'll ask Tigger tomorrow if Beezer is in there somewhere. He has a lot of the same qualities. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif (Oh, and don't worry, Merry: I have NO DOUBT that you will come back to haunt someone. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif )

Rusty, my curb chain is jingling for your barn. Ditto, Elizabeth, for your big hand-holding expedition ... just don't let your own curb chain get in the way!

[This message was edited by Beezer, Royal Princess to Queen Merry on May. 02, 2001 at 06:11 PM.]

[Merry]

What the heck is going on with Infopopped? /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

It's pretty amazing when I call Beezer at her work and we're staring at two distinctly different lists of thread topics! I thought the Cal Clique thread had vanished... into Canada...or some other forbidden zone.

So, elizabeth, have you shaved your legs, plucked your eyebrows and exfoliated your face yet, in preparation for tomorrow night? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

rusty, knock 'em dead at the meeting--- well, not literally--- although you have my permission as your former Queen to bop any city officials on the head with a riding crop if they give you a bad time.

AAJumper, just to get your potential new bosses a proper mindset, toss into your next conversation something like, "Oh, excuse me, I have to bend down and pick up my spurs that I dropped. I was taking off my riding gloves and they slipped out of my hand..." /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Beezer and I would love to post photos, but alas, we have no scanner! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif (Or does Mr. Beezer have one at home? If so, is it "sacred", meaning it cannot be touched by anyone female?).

[Beezer]

Psst. So Merry ... tell the class about Hammie's new bit from Dover. The eggbutt one you HAD to get because the precious bay prince was getting little itty-bitty almost invisible rub sores from his regular bit. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif The one you paid extra for to have it express mailed.

You know, Merry ... the GOLD bit you got today from Dover! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

The one you are now weeping over because, how can Hammie POSSIBLY wear a gold-colored bit? All the other horses would LAUGH at him! Personally, Beezer thinks it would fit in PERFECTLY with Hammie's sheepskin saddle pad, sheepskin front and hind boots ... not to mention matching Merry's tiara! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[TuxWink]

Hello everyone. I am feeling a bit down in the horse department, although the story about the horse Beezer puts my measly story to shame. I hope everyone else's weeks are going or will go better than mine!

As you may remember, a horse that I vet checked failed pretty miserably. That was step one. However, right after that I was approached about purchasing a really great horse whose owner just wanted her to have a good home, etc. I try her and love her. She's exactly within my price range. My mood picks up considerably and I am already thinking of all the new things I am going to buy my wonderful new horse. I leave for the weekend to go to a horse trials thinking, wow, when I get back I'm going to have my very own new horse. Well, today I get the news that the owner changed her mind and doesn't want to sell. So, I am back to square one. Sigh

I am thankful I have a nice horse to lease, but kind of at a loss about what to do. I have a very limited budget, so if any of you have any suggestions about TB or non-TB rescues or other inexpensive avenues I could pursue, please let me know here or via e-mail. I am in a good lease situation, so I can definitely spend the time to look around, but I really want a pony of my own! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have!

[Bumpkin]

hahaha that is soooo funny.
Guess it is the CALIFORNIA model!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

The Herm Sprenger KK full cheek that Elliot sports is a gold colour on the bit portion.
Perhaps it is a Herm Sprenger? /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

You practically have to take out a second mortgage to buy some of those bits, like the HS D and Full Cheek. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

It was bad enought writing a cheque for almost 200$ for the County Pro Logic girth, Elliot absolutely had to have. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[JustaLurker]

rusty and elizabeth:

I'm holding good thoughts for your activities and/or ordeals this week.
My efforts seem to have done some good before, so I'm assuming the rattling of curb chains and, perhaps most important, crossing of fingers will do it again. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Cheers, Maggi

[Beezer]

Oh no, Bumpkin ... this sucker is all gold ... bit, cheek pieces, the whole enchilada. Now, when Hammie takes the bit between his teeth, he really will be grabbing for Merry's tiara! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[rusty]

Wtywmn I will take you up on the Margarita. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Merry]

Did we not all discuss here on this very thread my compulsion towards bit buying?

But when I saw my precious Bay Prince had a little rub mark by the corner of his mouth from his big loose-ring snaffle, his mommy just had to get him an eggbutt snaffle so he wouldn't get pinched again. And not just any eggbutt, but a fancy one, with nearly round cheekpieces...

I swear, it didn't look gold in the Dover catalog!It's one of those Korsteel Klasse bits that are "allergy free, no nickel." Well, let me tell you, they must've replaced the nickel with brass, because this sucker is gold!I mean, you know those decorative snaffle bits they put on belts, shoes and purses? This is a giant one of them! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

I suppose I can use it at home, in lessons, and on warm-up days at shows. ("Pssst... Look at Cindy. What sort of bit does she have on her horse? It looks exotic. It's... it's... made of GOLD!") /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Wow, that'll psyche out the competition. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

See Merry tromping off to tack store this weekend in search of another pretty eggbutt in the traditional SILVER tone...

Okay, done ranting now.

[SuaveReno]

Very cool gold bits??? Oh Suave Reno must have one being Queen of the Impulse Buyers /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif And a yellow plume to go /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Today, someone at the barn asked me if Reno was a hunter or an EQ horse. To wit (with apologoes to Elizabeth)I replied, "We can be whatever you want us to be.". At the old barn they thought he wasan EQ horse, at the new barn they think he's more of a hunter. He's not a toe pointer, but he puts in a very smooth, even round (even when I don't). Is there a definition. Can he be like a CERTS and do both /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

"Jangle, jangle, sip, sip for Rusty" You're Margaritas are the best. Say if we all meet at Pebble, Rusty you need to bring the blender /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif And Elisabeth, you need to bring your soon to be significant other! the rest of us can either brign a dip or their significant other perhaps with the lure of golf /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Weatherford]

Who was at the show in Monterrey (I think that's where it was - above San Jose but below SF...) this past weekend? Showgrounds up on a hill with several rings - lots of XC fences, etc...

I was watching, but saw no one with COTHBB in bright letters anywhere on their beings, and no caps...And, of course, I did NOT watch any hunters! (Watched the last "open" jumper class in the ring on top of the hill.)

Looked like fun and a nice show.

[Merry]

What, Weatherford, are you intimating that the COTH BB hats have been delivered somewhere other than Rolex??? Beezer and I shall be donning ours in the San Diego area at the end of the month, providing, ahem, they've arrived...

Suave, don't rush out and buy your golden bit just yet. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif I may occasionally make appearances in rust TS breeches, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to display my horse's talents in a golden bit. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

As for hunters vs. equitation: Suave, darling, in our ahem, "aged" amateur divisions, trust me, babe, unless you're in the Marshall & Sterling at Indio, if the round is free of major faults and "senior rider moments", you'll pin in both hunters & eq.


TuxWink: I'm really sorry to hear about the pre-purchase fiasco (try being the breeder/owner/seller when a horse fails /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif ) and then hearing that the giver-of-the-nearly-free-horse backed out. Just take heart in knowing that she might have been one of those people who then shows up on your doorstep and starts critiquing how you're caring/not caring for her former precious baby, and that maybe you weren't such a good home after all. Trust me, I've had friends where that happened! Can you say, "legal issues"? /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[weeble]

I wasn't there but know the show last weekend was at Woodside near Stanford.

Curbs jingling for Rusty and Elizabeth /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[TuxWink]

Almost-free could definitely have had strings attached. I didn't really think of that. That's one of the reasons I want to be free of my lease (the restrictions) but this could have been potentially even worse! There's always a bright side I suppose ! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[wtywmn4]

Tux hang in there. Your horse is out there. Sorry it's been such a battle. We will all keep our ears to the ground and let you know if something very nice comes to mind. Now perk up, here's one of rusty's famous margaritas.

GOLD, gold????? Oh Merry do tell. A gold, $50 bit for the Hamster? Girlfriend, we need to talk!!! Beezer how could you let her do this? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif You are our Queen Merry. Send it back. YIKES! Hunters wear chrome, and stainless. Not gold....

wty scratching her head in wonderment toddles off. I tell them over and over, no one ever listens. Go to Brad's, he's at Show Park....Gold, what have we come to?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[rusty]

Tux a friend of mine said, "We don't find the right horse, he/she finds us." I hope he/she find you soon.

[AAJumper]

Tux, the right horse is waiting for you....he's out there and eventually you will find each other!

I got an email from the HR person of the company I interviewed with, asking me to call her...the manager of the office told me that they wanted to discuss an offer package with me! I'm dying of curiosity now! I'm gonna slip out of here and go to Starbucks soon and call her on my cell phone. That means I will actually have to make a decision...aaaahhh!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Merry, I almost thought I was going to have to take a call from the potential new boss while I was taking my lesson! I called him from my cell phone en route to the barn and left a message. As I got closer and closer to the barn, I was thinking "OMG, I am going to have to ride around the arena w/my cell phone waiting for this guy to call...what if the phone rings right in the middle of riding through the gymnastic???"

Oh, hi Jeff....(huff puff huff puff)...no....I'm not jogging.....yes, sorry it took so long for me to answer but Cypress got a little strong after the gymnastic and....oh can you hold on??? (aside) Can someone please help me get take off these spurs...thanks... Sorry Jeff....what did you say about an offer??? These Thorougbreds...they can be SO HOT!!!

[dmj]

TuxWink -- so sorry. That sounds like quite the disheartening experience -- but chalk it up to "not meant to be".

Try www.unitedpegasus.com. (http://www.unitedpegasus.com.) That is where I got my greenie from (you can find pics of him if you go back a few pages). I don't know precisely what you are looking for, but they are a TB rescue and have project horses.

Good luck!!

[elizabeth]

Tux, I agree with what AAJumper said. Sometimes you just have to kiss a bunch of frogs, too. How will you know the RIGHT horse if you don't get to meet lots of WRONG horses?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Keep the faith, Tux!

AAJumper, you go girl!! YAY!! As soon as you make that surreptitious (sp?) Starbucks call, let us know how it goes. Yippee!!

<<And NO, Merry, just b/c AAJumper has good news does NOT mean you can buy Hammie another new bit as part of the celebration routine!>>

Now, I'm off to shave my legs and loofah relevant body parts as tonight is my Survivor finale-watching date! Jingle, ladies, jingle! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Coreene]

Please detail what exactly you want and how much your price range is and how old and how tall bla bla bla and we can all help you hunt. How fun! Like going to South Coast Plaza, only much much better.

[AAJumper]

The offer was, well, insulting. $9000/year less base salary than I am currently making. Benefits bring the offer to $1000/year less than I am currently making. But get this, 45 hours of work/week. I currently work 40 hours per week, and OT is time and a half. Those 5 hours per week at time and a half would add up to a hefty chunk...a chunk that would not be matched by their performance bonuses, I can almost guarantee it. Oh...and here is the real kicker...they say they offer 14 days of leave. Sounds great right? That includes vacation AND sick leave! Right now I have 10 days vacation and 6 days of sick leave! When I worked at the government, I had 20 days of vacation and 13 days of sick leave!!!! And if I went back to the government I would be making the SAME base salary that this company is offering me!!! Thanks but no thanks Big Engineering Firm!!!

A solemn look comes over the CA Clique, almost a replay of the original Merry thread wake. One by one, the curb chains are silenced. Just then, a dog walks over and parks itself in the center of the gathering, relieving itself on the rug.

Don't these people realize I have a horse to support and shows to go to??? I cannot afford to take a pay cut in hopes of recouping the $$$ at the end of the year in the form of profit sharing/performance bonuses!!! I have several A shows planned....these cost money NOW, not at the end of the year!!! And well, to be honest, Cypress has been asking for that burgundy plume, encrusted in diamonds. I cannot deny my dear her heart's desire, now can I???

[elizabeth]

"The indignity," elizabeth snips, patting AAJumper on the back. "But at least they want you - let's see if they up the offer, but let's also keep circulating the resume, shall we. Oh, and were you in a position to tactfully suggest that you were very flattered with the offer and would indeed accept if it were slightly higher? These guys might have room to play. And salary AND vacation are generally negotiable, you know (at least with most companies)."

Good luck AAJumper. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Do tell us, Tux, what you're looking for!

And now I want to state this for the record one more time: I did not know the bit was golden in hue. I shall not compete in it. However, I believe I shall keep it as a novelty item and to use at home. Besides, Beezer will spread the humorous story, I'm sure, amongst our horse show friends, so that when I'm warming up on a Friday afternoon somewhere I'll get a dozen people walking up and smirking, "So... is that the illustrious golden bit?" /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

AAJumper, when they ask you to come in to preview your employment package, add a cheerful, "Well, that time will be perfect, because I'll have finished with my riding lesson by then." /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Now Merry dons a baseball cap from her growing collection and braves the winds outside to ride the 2 four yr. olds in the lovely, fabled Santa Ana winds. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Merry]

Sorry, AAJumper! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif Looks like you're back to the dog poop-a-rama joint for a while. At least you know you're marketable. I probably would've just blurted out, "Are you freakin' crazy?" /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[Beezer]

Wait! Stop everything! Did someone mention the lovely words "South Coast Plaza"?? The nirvana that is but mere moments from Beezer's job site? ROAD TRIP!

Whoa there, Wty. Whaddya mean, saying something like, "Beezer how could you let her do this?" I TRIED TO STOP MERRY'S MADNESS! But would she listen to me? No, no she would not! When it comes to bits, she is pretty much unstoppable ... kinda like Hammie sometimes. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

AAJumper, good for you for sticking to your priorities. Elizabeth's right, though, sometimes these corporate types do low-ball you and then come back with another offer. But it sounds like they have a long way to go before getting into your ballpark.

Elizabeth, dear, don't loofah yourself TOO much. Guys kinda like the hand trying to grab theirs to have SOME skin on it. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

And Tux Wink, folks are right. Your horse is out there and he/she will find you. Sometimes they just take their own sweet time getting around to it. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Now ... about that shopping list. I didn't realize there was a horse store at SCP. I shall have to look for it at lunch! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Coreene]

AA, I would have just given them the finger! But then I'm in that kind of mood today. Or stood up, puffed out your chest and barked "Where is it printed on my forehead that I was here to waste my time?!" Gawd, I just hate stuff like that.

[AAJumper]

Well, I as tactfully as possible told the HR woman that they aren't even matching what I am currently making. But she knew that...that is why she went on and on for 20 minutes telling me about the benefits before she gave me the salary.

Uh, listen lady, I'm on my cell phone paying $0.25/minutes and it's windy and cold out here...can we talk bottom line here???

LOL....that's what I was thinking. What I was saying was...

Uh huh...okay, uh huh.....

After telling her that they are offering me less than I am making, I had to hear her ramble about how the numbers all added up to the same amount yearly. I'm thinking...

Sheesh, I'm an engineer. I spent hours a day number crunching. Don't you think I can figure out that you are trying to trick me into believing I would be making the same amount??? I have a spreadsheet...I know how to use it. I also know that I have show bills and horse payments, and horse bills, all due during the year, not at the end of it.

It reminded me of buying my car. But we are GIVING you the rust protection undercoating for FREE. So you are getting much better deal from us, even though you are paying $1100 over invoice rather than $500 over invoice. Hmmm....looks like invisible undercoating for $600 to me....

Don't get me wrong, I was polite, but she said that she felt it was unlikely that she'd be able to get the higher ups to increase the base salary. But she was going to call me next week, as she knows I will be out of town until next Tuesday night. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

So I show up here, I get a good paycheck, I can do whatever I want...I will learn to avoid the poop, in more ways than one.

On a good note, Cypress was really good last night! We jumped fairly high, and did some stuff that makes me think okay, I cannot screw up!!! One stride combinations are not my friend, and we had to do a bending line to a combination that rode right into the rail, and the first jump in the combination was the evil solid panel!!! I hate solid looking stuff, and for it to be the first jump makes the whole thing double yuck. But Cypress was acting like hey woman, just chill and let me take care of this....we're doing the bending 6 NOT 7, so hang on!!!! We've also discovered that it makes her neurotic when I carry a crop. We think it fries her brain and makes her unable to focus. Poor thing.

Oh my....I have really rambled haven't I??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[AAJumper]

Oh, Elizabeth......have fun tonight! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[vineyridge]

but I gotta brag.

I just fixed my laptop, that had been DEAD for six months. Took it apart, installed a new battery, put it all back together, clamping some ribbon cables and plugging in all the ports, and the thing boots and runs windows. Now I have to see if all the parts work. I can't imagine why they won't.

But it boots! and it runs. Yeehaw!!

And I'm not a techie. I'm an old, retired ex-lawyer with too much time on my hands in an area where laptop repair doesn't exist. And I wasn't going to pay Acer $400 to replace the CMOS battery.

[NancyL]

Are they nuts?

I used 4 days of sick leave for that crappy cold that everyone in the world had a couple of months ago and just took 2 days off for that lovely, highly infectious pink eye.

I was told I would die an early death if my co-workers got it -- hence the 2 days off. (Now, where did I get it from???)

I am not normally a "sickie" --I think I used 2 days of sick leave all of last year (sinus infections) -- but it is nice to know it's there.

I just got a title promo (same job, new title) and now have 4 weeks of vaca -- plus whatever sick leave we get.

Boo to them for thinking they could get you cheap!

[Bumpkin]

I just got back from almost ordering my new Warners Celebrity tack trunk at the Gift Horse.
But I made a beeline for the bit wall and there were several,(I believe all the eggbutts), eggbutt snaffles in the gold tone.
They were all Herm Sprenger KK bits.
So there you have it Merry, it is OK to ride your Hammie in the gold.
Even more acceptable than rust breeches!!
/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[This message was edited by Bumpkin on May. 03, 2001 at 05:41 PM.]

[wtywmn4]

Personally I like coreene's idea. I'm in one of those moods too!! Must be that wind. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif So A/A, how much you want to bet they will come back with another offer? Me thinks they may have been trying to feel you out?

Okay Beezer, I know you tried really hard to stop her. But as queen, she does what she wants. So, will we see the aforementioned bit, with a lovely plume on Hammies head? That might clear the schooling area at her next show /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Okay Merry, as our queen, here is the bit!! Eggbutt snaffle, with a nickle slow twist, made in England. Looks to die for on your horse. It works, they listen and even whoa... Hippo woman was a darling in it. During her hunter days.

elizabeth, polished, exfoliated and totally awesome, heads to the door. Will he hold hands?? This is actually more exciting than Surviour. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[This message was edited by wtywmn4 on May. 03, 2001 at 05:53 PM.]

[Coreene]

We've now got a bunny hotel going on. Original Mother Bunny is now back and scouting for a place for round two. Another Mother Bunny is now under the tackbox. And the kids from Nest One obviously think Willem is a good surrogate, because they like to sleep in his stall.

[wtywmn4]

Coreene, that is sooo cute. Can you take any pictures?

[Merry]

You know, I rode and jumped him in the bit today and he was really good! The eggbutt is just a tad more fixed in his mouth than the loose ring, but it doesn't pinch him. I don't believe I'll jump him at a show in it unless Beezer is in need of amusement. I shall indeed buy a "normal" slow twist eggbutt for that.

I must admit, in the sunshine the bit wasn't that golden. But, true to form, QHSM was watering the rose bushes and I asked her to look at Hammie's new bit. I said, "Take off your sunglasses and tell me what you think."

She stares for a minute and says, "Oh, that's the new bit. It looks really nice on him. It's obviously an expensive bit. (Pause)It's kind of a soft, gold color." /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

There's no gettin' nuthin' past QHSM! /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

And to think that my friend, Andrea, the AHSA judge, is the one who told me, "Oh, Cindy, order this bit. It's so pretty!" /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif Hello, it's GOLD! She'd better pin me if I show under her in that dang bit or I'll bop her with it! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Now, onto more sedate matters: Is there really a horsey-themed store at South Coast Plaza??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

AAJumper: Don't cha love it when people are low-balling you and try to sugar coat it like you're such a doofus that you don't realize you're getting dumped on? Kind of like when someone comes out to look at your $15,000 horse, rides it, vets it, then offers you $10,000 and has the audacity to tell you, "But it'll have a great home and you can come ride it anytime!" /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Vineyridge: The question WE want to know is, "But are you any good at putting up an awning at horse shows?" /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I'm having a cosmic moment... I'm envisioning Jamaican Rum doing something spectacular in the Derby on Saturday...

[Taryn]

I stayed up until 2 AM last night finishing Seabiscuit, weeping into my pillow after he won the Santa Anita. I was a complete wreck.

I'll bring the digital camera tonight to see if we can catch momma bunnie in action. Perhaps we will even capture Willem trying to mount Dave!

[weeble]

AA, stick to your guns, girl! The CA Clique will not stand for one of it's own getting jerked around! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Elizabeth, our recently-lotioned fingers are crossed for you. (this wind dries out everything!)

Tuxwink, I agree with everyone else, horses are like men, the best ones appear when you least expect it. (and at least for men, usually when you look like hell) /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Viney, congratulations...anyone that can do more than push buttons on the computer has my undying admiration.

Finally, Merry, I am really disappointed. For a moment I thought you said you were envisioning jamaican rum doing something spectacular during the Derby on Saturday, and then I realized you were talking about the horse! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif Thought the clique was heading in a different direction than margaritas for the Derby party. Oh well...

[rusty]

I am going to try making Mint Margaritas for the derby. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[TuxWink]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement! I'm feeling much better today. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

AAJumper - That sucks about the job offer! /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif The indignity! I'm sure there is something out there at a more generous firm. Have you tried monster.com? I got all kinds of great calls on my resume when I posted it on there, and you can be very specific about your salary/benefits.

As for my horse hunt, I am kind of at a loss for where to start, but if anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. I'm afraid it will be more like shopping at Mervyn's /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif than South Coast plaza, but here's the details:

Purpose: Lower level eventing
Qualities: Sound, sane, bold and loves to jump. I am willing to work on problems with dressage, but not with a stopper.
Height: 15.0 hands and up. (I am only a measly 5'2")
Breed: Preferably TB, Appendix Quarter, or Quarter but I'm not too picky! OTTB is fine as long as they have had some retraining.
Age: 10 years or under
Price: $5,000 or less

Green is fine as long as they can walk, trot, canter and are ready to start jumping. I know my price range is really low, but that's all I got right now! Any suggestions would be appreciated. My e-mail is in my bio!

[Coreene]

The regular camera with zoom lens is in my bag, ready to go. Between Taryn and I, we should come up with something.

TARYN - Willem is going to have his picture taken this weekend surrounded by the mustard flowers. You know, like take him right into the middle and get a photo from a bit away, but a close up, so it's just his fat head and neck surrounded by blossoms. He said Dave wants one, too. Sorry about the book ... I told you it was a three-Kleenex number!

WTY - So we'll go for the photos. Best part is when two of the Ground Squirrel Family (Homer, Henry, Howard and Jose) stand as tall as possible, tails totally bristled out, and have loud squirrel conversations about the bunnies. They were quite PO-ed the last time.

TUXY - As I have shared before, my dear friend Christy and I are of the opinion that one should not spend more than $3000 for a horse, and that should be one you can get right on and win the AOs with. Okay, time for everyone to throw a bucket of ice water over themselves to stop laughing ... I have really and truly seen this happen. I find it easier to come up with an inexpensive nice horse than an expensive one. No, really!

Thank you for the details. We will now set out on our search. This will be better than gold bits at South Coast Plaza!!!

[Coreene]

Have to go now. Am going to watch a Brady Bunch rerun before going to bed early. This housesitting and weather is really getting me tired.

[AAJumper]

Well, I am headed up north tomorrow...it should be a nice break from work. Thanks to everyone for the nice words of encouragement regarding the job hunt. Tux, I have the resume posted on Monster.com...I've gotten several emails. Unfortunately, most are from head hunters, or for jobs that are beyond commuting distance. Anyway, if things get really bad (as in the company goes out of business) I can always go back to working for the government. Not what I'd want to do, but it would be a paycheck. Another guy just quit today, so we are getting really low on people.

Okay, so does anyone else ever get just slightly bummed about going on vacation because they are going to miss riding? I take 3 lessons per week...Wed, Fri and Sat, and I absolutely HATE missing them! So usually I try to schedule my short vacations (like waterskiing) Saturday afternoon (after the morning lesson) to Tuesday. I am such a riding junkie...I need my fix!!!

Hmmmm.....is Survivor on yet? Do you suppose Elizabeth has taken his hand yet??? Inquiring minds want to know!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Merry]

Eh, who's watching Survivor? All I know is there's some nurse still alive, and so of course I want her to win just because she's a mom and a nurse. But nooo, I'm sitting at the computer coming up with my ideas for articles I'd like to write for 2001. Editors, they're always sixteen jumps ahead of the game!

Gee, I wonder if elizabeth shaved enough of her legs? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Tux, I think you should be able to find such an animal. In fact, I shall put on my thinking cap right now... since you don't want a 17 hander, that definitely helps!
/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Bumpkin]

Tux try Flying Changes. The classifieds are great with many lower level event horses. Lots of photos

www.flyingchanges.com (http://www.flyingchanges.com)

/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[This message was edited by Bumpkin on May. 04, 2001 at 11:58 AM.]

[dublin]

We're going up to Ft. Bragg this weekend as well... (via Garberville, self-proclaimed 'Gateway to the Redwoods', where my husband has to first take 3 depositions.) We're leaving early tomorrow morning, so I will have to catch up on the CA Clique goings on late Sunday..... Ya'll be good, okay??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Coreene: Tell Willem to look purdy for his picture - are you going to pose him with the bunnies??? LOL

bumpkin: hope the dog show goes well, talk to you Monday morning!!

[elizabeth]

Merry - I didn't. That's all I have to say. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

No, no. Seriously. We watch the whole Survivor thing, my hand is free and available and hold-able. He doesn't hold it. I gracefully touch his arm once or twice and his leg once or twice, indicating that contact is good. Nothing. Nada.

Then, when the show is over, and I'm thinkin' it is hopeless, he leans over and really plants one on me. Wowsers!! Holy Moley!! Skipped the whole hand-holding thing and went straight for the smooch!

Ladies, the curb chain jingling is finally paying off.

Now, I must admit that in the middle of the nice smooch, I almost chuckled to myself, thinking of wty or weeble or suave or whomever it was that said I should just grab his hand and tell him the girls in the CA clique said to hold your hand, damn it!! You guys are great! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[wtywmn4]

Yeah elizabeth!!!! That is soooo much better than just hand holding. Of course we all hope you didn't chuckle too loud. Don't want him to think it was the kiss!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Oh coreene, can't wait to see the pictures of Willem and his court. Have seen those little prairie varments when they have a thistle up their tails. They carry on for hours. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

A/A it's called endorphines! Thats why we love to ride. Our beenie brains release them while we're in the saddle. We all have fits without horses. I have a friend who's headed to europe on a vacation of a lifetime. She's beside herself that she won't be able to ride for almost a month. /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif Told her I might be able to handle that if I were going on her trip..Geeeesh /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Tux, there are horses out there in your price range. Keep looking. It will take time and you will probably just stumble across one. Can you get your hands on California Horsemen? They have lots of ads in there.

[NancyL]

Tux, if you are willing to look in the SF Bay Area -- try www.bayequest.com (http://www.bayequest.com) -- lots of horses there.

[Bumpkin]

We have a magazine that is free from the Bay Area, called Riders.
Someone may beable to direct you to how to get a copy of that.
DevilDog? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[vineyridge]

Haven't had horses at home for more than three weeks. Never understood why people got up so danged early to do stable stuff. After all, if all you have to do is the horses, why not do it at a time convenient to YOU.

Now I know.

I'm just back from riding my bicycle down a gravel road to the horse pasture. Feed, sprayed for flies, and mucked out two stalls. Rode home.

I am absolutely drenched. My hair is wet, my body glows, and I'm exhausted. I can feel fungus growing.

I'm going to set my alarm for six am, so I can get all this heavy work done before Mississippi heat and humidity make it miserable. At night, I feed in the dark, and it IS comparatively cool.

This summer is going to be hell on bicycle wheels.

[Merry]

I'll match your heat and humidity and raise you dust and Santa Ana winds and smog. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Nothing like mucking and riding until you can smell yourself! Put on that sunscreen, don the visor, and voila, you're a cookin' Californian! Ah, the pleasures of a sunburned nose, mooshed sweaty hair and leathery skin... but no, God, I'm not complaining! At least it's not raining! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Ooooh, elizabeth, I can just imagine the pent-up tension that poor David was mastering until the final credits of Survivor. Gee, and to think on most of my dates I diffused the whole situation by just stamping my feet and saying, "Okay, darnit, just kiss me and let's get the formality over with so we can get on with the rest of the date." /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Thanks for the tips on horse for sale websites. That really talented 12 yr. old girl in our trainer's barn is still looking for an older, seasoned eq horse/hunter with some miles. A few soundness problems are even okay. Gee, you'd think there'd be something in California that'd fit the bill for $15 grand, wouldn't ya'? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[NancyL]

Bumpkin -- do you mean Ride? I think they even have a so-cal version. I can pick one up and send it to whomever would like one.

Merry -- have you tried agdirect.com ?

The winds have died down up here (the building is no longer creaking in the wind), but the temp has risen -- 87 yesterday.

[rusty]

Merry email me I might know of a horse for that girl.

[SuaveReno]

This is absolutely true...one of the gals that I used to ride with came out to the barn after Christmas with her new Hermes saddle from...you guessed South Coast Plaza /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif It seems her hubby bought one there. (Gee all I got for Christmas from my hubby was a box of golf balls /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif How did he know that's exactly what I wanted /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif ) Apparently, there is such terrific mark up that the saddles sell for somewhere in the 5k range as oppossed to the 3.3k range at Dover or Dominion. Coreene have you seen them there? Plus they sell hunt coats. Red Ones! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Still looking for my yellow plume /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Good job Elizabeth. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif jangle, jangle jangle

Hey Rusty: Hope all is well with your barn and the local politics. More jangling /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[JustaLurker]

Hoo ha, elizabeth, the ice has been broken! I'm assuming you kissed back so that little barrier has been broached. As Merry said, getting beyond the first kiss allows things to progress without that barrier standing between you. Both of you can just forget about the surprise of and your involuntary (and much regretted) reaction to the first attempt at a kiss. So, on with relationship building.

Cheers, Maggi

[TuxWink]

Happy weekend to all!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have hope that I will find something good! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif I've started looking through ads online and will also go by the tack store this weekend to grab hard-copy publications. I'm looking through United Pegasus, TIER, Horsetrader, Dreamhorse, Horseclassifieds and anything else I can find. I now need some help in how to cull the ads into those that are truly worth investigating. I've posted this in another topic; please check it out as you all have much more experience than I do...
Help me here! (http://chronofhorse.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=691099205&f=1970907951&m=7340936902)

[Beezer]

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH, AAAAAAWWWWWW, the clique collectively sighs. What a very happy ending to your beginning, Elizabeth. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Rusty: When do you hear about your barn??

And Merry ... what's this I hear about you riding some really cute chestnut 4-year-old? A really well-behaved, hard-trying horse? I hear he is quite the thing. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Yes, Beezer, that chestnut horse that, let's see, belongs to YOU actually made some round circles today!

Hey, what did I say about the nurse Tina winning on Survivor? And I haven't even watched the show at all! Just remember, I said I gotta feeling about Jamaican Rum in the Derby... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[MO]

Merry, e-mail me too. Sounds like I might have a horse for the girl in your barn.

[Coreene]

Plunked my still-not-feeling-well self in a lounge chair in the backyard today and got some color. Was simply horrified at the thought of going in public with Almost Green Butt White Legs. Can do this when housesitting, since I do not have a backyard at Chateau Coreene. Can't remember when the last time was that I did this, but I know when the next time will be - this weekend, for sure!

Am sharing this because I want you all to know I had a Diet Coke in the sun in your honor, and read a Suitably Trashy Sunbathing Novel.

SUAVE RENO - good luck Tuesday! I did know about the Hermes in SCP. Did you know that just the brushes are $95?! And not nearly as nice as a shoe brush from the grocery store. Oh well. Guess he wanted to pay an extra $1500 for the carrier bag and Hermes box...

[wtywmn4]

So, the clique has a Cinco de Mayo saturday, plus Derby Day all on one weekend?? Wahooo, rusty hit that blender. Coreene, set out more chairs we're coming over. Merry, since you have this feeling, well, should we put up the ranch on Jamican Rum? elizabeth, bring David. You can introduce him to your, ahem, group other half. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif dublin is probably at the Derby. Suave, come on, we're headed for a party. Beezer, do come. We can't have you not be there. weeble, it's Cinco de Mayo...You know how you love a good party!! viney shake off that humidity come try our lovely dry climate. Mo, chef, Lurker, and yes, even our canadian other half heidi let's have a weekend party!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Ole, chips and salsa for everyone! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

coreene: I was just thinking today about the California Horsewoman Tan. I'm always playing catch-up, the color on my legs vainly trying to match the color of my arms and shoulders. So when you're sitting down, do you ever notice when you lay your hand and arm down across your thigh that you look like you belong to two different ethnic groups? I spend the entire month of May wearing shorts in hiding while I muck and lunge, just to take the clammy white glow off of my legs before *gasp!* I display them in public. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Gotta love the Hermes store at South Coast Plaza. So that's the "horse store", eh? Rats! I was so hoping for a Mary's outlet next to Nordstroms... /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[weeble]

Cinco de Mayo/Derby party? I'm there. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Throw in a trip to the mall and you have an almost perfect Saturday...margaritas, horses and shopping! Am I the only one this appeals to?

[vineyridge]

Margueritas? Mint Margaritas? Mint Julips? Derby Pie? Chips and Salsa and Fish Tacos? This reminds me of a visit to New York where I tried what must have been all of the ethnic specialities in one day and got really sick in the Oak Room (or was it the Blue Room) of the Algonquin Hotel.

I pitied the next user of the stall in the ladies.

Be warned. I don't hold my liquor or my food well.

I love parties. If an Apple shaped old lady with white hair with a deep Southern accent, a strange sense of humor, and a story telling fool shows up by some Cliquer's California poolside, you'll know it's me. I'm loading the pimpmobile now.

Want some REAL barbeque? OR I just made some cheese straws and could offer them up to the party gods.

[SuaveReno]

Definitely shopping is on my list as well as the margaritas and Mint Julip. BTW, I don't think I've ever had a Julip? I don't think it can beat Rusty's margaritas /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[weeble]

Viney, maybe you remember the room as both because the Oak Room became the Blue Room by the time you were done! /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif BTW, Pimpmobile? This lends an interesting possible twist to the Clique's Derby/Mayo bash...I'm afraid to ask. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

And for all of you non-Californians, poolside tomorrow at weeble's house, no wind, no humidity, and a perfect 90 degrees. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif (sorry, shouldn't gloat, but neener, neener!)

[wtywmn4]

SHOPPING????? Can hardly breath for the excitement of it all!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
It's the absolute most perfect day!

viney, we'll get you a port-o-potty, sorry hon, but just in case. Bring that barbie, we'll have a ball.

Uh people, we need to go extract Merry from this position she assumed on another thread. She was doing some sort of split, and well......IT's pretty ugly. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Coreene]

A few days ago I'd made the mistake of telling someone I'd only called a vet out for colic once in the nine years I'd had Willem.

BIG mistake.

So last night, after Andy schooled him and he was in the stall for two minutes, I got the Oh My God I Am Going Down dance. Fortunately he had it for two minutes when I already had the vet on the phone, but of course I did make a semi-fool of myself and start to cry at one point while waiting.

THE GOOD NEWS: he had overstressed himself (who knew?) and had a bit of gas in the secum, and was almost himself when the vet got there.

NO BAD NEWS: twice in nine years is great, so I will not complain.

Went back this a.m. (got there before six and found out they don't feed until 7:15-7:30, so waiting patiently, curb chain jingling, to take away half the food - don't think they read "no comida" signs), almost got mowed down in Mr Plume's search for food and think he's gonna be A-OK.

Then went back to sleep.

PS: My date on Tuesday was much better looking, and I am so glad it was on Tuesday and not last night!!!.

[dmj]

Oh wow Coreene - quite the eventful night!! So glad that Sir Willem is feeling like himself again. Are you sure he didn't accidentally ingest one of his rodent /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif entourage?? no really, that is great news!

[wtywmn4]

coreene, you didn't make a fool of yourself!! Glad Wilem is doing better! I hate colic, it just plain scares me. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif With all the ups & downs we've had in the weather, no wonder.

Did you at least get a chance to watch the Derby? It was very incredible. Even with Baffert not winning, you had to love it. Hate when there's a problem, but it was solved, Monarchos won! The Invisible Ink story was very touching. Took an old time vet coming up with an old remedy to bring him back from death's door. Very cool!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Taryn]

I guess I shouldn't have left yesterday. I'm so sorry, glad to hear the princess is feeling better. I'll bring Dave over to cheer him up.

[Merry]

I have deserted my husband in the kitchen because he and his insect hunting biology scientist buddies are discussing things of nature... I prepared and cooked them dinner. I sat politely at the table and dined with them. But when one of them, who just bought a new home on several acres, starts discussing how he'll plant selected varieties of native plants to lure butterflies and beetles onto his property, I had to leave. I mean, he's just fascinated with how he'll put in a couple of ponds to attract some rare species of insect... Sorry, I'm so out of there.

And I thought it was bad the night the Disney animators came over to borrow our llama skeleton... yes, we have a llama skeleton in our garage, *sigh*, and they used it as a model for the llamas in "The Emperor's New Groove" cartoon feature.

If I am a queen, it is the Queen of Geekdom! /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Now, Vineyridge, about that Pimpmobile... That's sounds infinitely more interesting... /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[SuaveReno]

Corrine: Glad to hear Willum is doing much better. Gastric goingson are so worrisome. Sometimes I wonder if eating the grass on the berm at the OCFG's will upset poor Suave's tummy. You are indeed lucky that you haven't had many problemos for the vet to unravel.

Merry you are indeed a Queen to put up with bugs. Sometimes I watch a show on the animal planet about the bug guy and I tell you it make s my flesh crawl.

Here's a tidbit. The Golf Cart Queen stormed into are arena complaining about several things.
1. The horses grazing on the berm and 2. someone at her barn suggested to one of her Rico" clients that she might enjoy our barn best" I swear it wasn't me......

My most humble apologies to wtny. It's nice to know that you understand /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Anyway, took a header off Suave today as he was playing and I decided I couldn't cope. Thank God for all the soft footing /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Egad these old bones /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Oh Suave, don't you know that after the age of 30 taking a header is simply against our cult's religion? It's sacrilege, I say! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Coreene: Sorry I didn't post earlier about your Willem's colic bout. It is indeed so scary and nothing to mess with. We have 2 strategies while awaiting the vet (who fortunately, in Horsetown USA, lives locally): 1. lunge at the jog; and 2. put horse in trailer. Both seem to promote spontaneous passing of gas and pooping, which with simple gas colic can relieve symptoms. Come to think of it, if I run around in circles and go for a long ride in a car, I suffer the same effects... /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

Thankfully, the "Bug People" have left. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif But not until they and my husband commandeered my computer so they could surf the Internet and look up information on DEET-based insect repellents. They've been arguing over whether or not they're slowly poisoning themselves on their forays into the jungle. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[wtywmn4]

Oh Suave, sorry but you know I would have been rolling watching the act go down /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Hurrrumphing and all that. Flying into the ring!! Okay, hopefully a nice glass of wine, couple of aspirin and you are feeling better? These bones of ours, well, they just love to remind us how old we are!

viney, so send the pimpmobile over to Merry. This will awaken the geek herd! Am with you, so probably you should have cooked up some entomolgy in a stew for the group? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif Geeesh but you have to admit, the butterflies would be beautiful to watch. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

coreene, hope Wilem is doing well today. No more bouts!! We used to do what Merry suggested. A ride up and down our bumpy dirt drive before the vet got there. It would help. It's still bumpy, but they're trying to make it a real driveway.

[SuaveReno]

I can barely move this morning /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif However I am determined to be on the Suave at 10:00am hackamore in place with saddle and my straw hat. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif You are right Merry...it is sacriledge. Maybe I need a horsey blessing? (Forgive me Merry for I have taken a header /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif )
Loved the article this month from Grungy to Georgeous. Tigger looks wonderful! I think a little trimming goes a long way. Speaking of which, why don't the DQ's trim their horses whiskers? Did they all train at UC Santa Clara? I noticed in Germany they don't do that as well /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif Is it a new trend /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Coreene]

Willem is feeling a bit better. Am about to head for the barn - yesterday he was mowing after all the food he could get near (my arms are screaming from trying to keep him away - but not nearly as bad as Suave's ENTIRE BOD, I am sure!), but was a bit lethargic. Kind of like they get after a Strangles shot.

Merry, after all that chat re the bugs I'm surpirsed you didn't need some Banimine yourself! Eek, the thought would make me colic. Perhaps next time you should send them out to your local honky tonk.

Wty, did you also catch the cable tv hour of pre-Derby from 1-2 PM? Had some very nice clips from past races. Thought that History of Horse Racing show was pretty good, too, but I wish it had cast a bigger net and not focused on just a few. Although it was wonderful to see so much on Secretariat and Man o'War.

Okay, off to see Mr Plume. I am sure he will be sending love back.

[Coreene]

You're not the only one to notice this! I asked a German gal why before, and she said "Oh, we never trim the whiskers." So I would guess that the DQs who were "borrowing" this look must think it's The Done Thing.

Scruffy, if ya ask me.

[vineyridge]

They don't always shave under their arms either!

Seriously, though, the Europeans (Germans, Swedes, etc.) believe that it is animal abuse to remove parts of the animal that nature had a use for. They are opposed to removing dewclaws from dogs, to neutering, unless there is medical reason for it, and probably think that whiskers serve a purpose as the horse's antennae, thus opposing cutting them off.

You should read some of the discussions of EU animal protection legislation relating to dogs. There is legislation proposed that would prevent breeding any dog with genetic flaws--and that means dogs like bassetts and dachshunds. Dalmatians couldn't be bred because of the genetic trait of deafness and kidney stones. It's AR to the extreme.

[Merry]

Viney: Hmmmm... didn't the Germans have that idea oh, a few decades ago? The Uber Race???

I'd heard that the An. Rights folks really thought that getting dogs back to their feral state, ala coyotes and wolves, was kind of their ideal. Taken a step further, I suppose we should all be on Spanish Barbs and mustangs? /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

coreene, glad the Willmster is doing better. A voracious appetite is always a good sign.

Suave, I have yet to see the issue or the photos. All I know is that the photos were shot over 2 days, I was really sick and not thrilled about having to bathe/braid/clip a 4yr. old who'd been in lay-up for 6 months. Hence, the amount of braids was dramatically reduced from what is desired for the show ring. Sort of a "Don't do this at home" moment. But for the purposes of the article, I think it got the point across.

Yes, Beezer, your Tigger was perfect... /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[rusty]

coreene I am glad that your horse is doing much better. I hate it when they colic.

Suave have a Margarita and you will feel better.

I really don't have much to say since I have been concentrating on being prepared for my planning commission meeting on Mon. Please Jingle those curb chains.
/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[JustaLurker]

rusty, curb chains are gently jingling and will increase in intensity, culminating with a horrendous clatter Monday evening. As you know, it will work, but I suppose it's best to be well prepared, too. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Cheers, Maggi

[Merry]

Aha, rusty, so the city meets Monday night. We were wondering. Just remember: we're all jinglin' for you! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Oh and Suave, I just saw the Horse Illustrated issue. Gee, I wonder if I should ask Calvin Klein for an endorsement fee for so vividly displaying their jeans? /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[elizabeth]

rusty, good luck. curb chains are jingling! and remember, if things get sticky, offer bribes. (no, no, I am just kidding!!!)

coreene, poor willem. i guess he was so upset about not getting his plume that his tummy got all upset. . . .

merry, one more time, can you give me the website for the magazine your write for so that i can see tigger, the best four-year-old in the universe? thanks. (sorry to have to ask AGAIN - i know you gave it to me before but. . . well. . . i'm too lazy to search this whole thread for it!!)
/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[elizabeth]

actually, i found the site - horsecity.com - but i did not see any articles that appeared to have pixs of the best four-year-old in the universe. . . .

"i can't continue looking for the article right now," elizabeth says proudly, "because i have to get showered and ready for my date. . . with david."

the CA clique collectively sighs and mutters happily "ahhhhh, David."

[MO]

" the Ca Clique collectively sighs and mutters happily, ' ahhhhhh, David' "

Sorry, not the entire clique! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Some of us do not follow the soaps. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[rusty]

The planning commission meeting is at 1:30 PM. An most inconvienent time for most people. How ever in my case this is probably a good thing. I have been told by Mr. rusty that I should probably sit in the back and keep my mouth shut. I think I'll listen to him, otherwise I will probably call the two neighbors that are doing the most complaining a bunch of %%#@&&*** hypocrits. They are worried about traffic, but they are subdividing their lots.

OK I will get off of my soap box now. One of these days I will tell every one the whole story. At least with the BB you don't have to read it, where if we were talking you probably could'nt get a word in edgewise


/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

The smilies didn't go where they were suppose to. /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[B.G.M. heidi]

Hehe, I'm watching the L.A. Kings in the NHL playoff against Colorado and yes, all my CA friends, I am rooting for L.A. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

rusty, I know how difficult these planning commission/re-zoning committees can be. A friend of ours wanted to buy a former garage in a residential neighbourhood and renovate to a family home for himself and his daughter. Hired an architect on the reasonable assumption that the neighbours would prefer a residential home to a stinking garage. Apparently not. One woman, who seemingly had nothing to do with her life but to stir the sh*t decided she'd mount a campaign against his plans. She won, he lost.

I wish you well tomorrow with the meeting. Amazing, at times, isn't it, how such innocuous meetings brings out all the hyopcrites and poo disturbers from the woodwork, so to speak.

[SuaveReno]

is the place to see Merry's article /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Good luck Rusty with the local whiners (jangle jangle). Hopefully, the meeting will go off as planned with little interference (more jangling).

Well it's almost time for the Soprano's. I am now ging to drag my battered and bruised bod downstairs...I just found out my mafia name is Suave "Junior Mints" Reno

/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[wtywmn4]

Curbs they are a jingling!!! Jingle jingle jingle, soothing sounds so the @#%^&^%% neighbors screw up!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Hang in there rusty, a margarita before you go maybe?

My my my, elizabeth.... How many dates is this now in a weeks time??? /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif Do we hear bells ringing?

WOWZER, heidi a convert? Thanks sometimes we all need a little help!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Bumpkin]

Suave dear, I hope that you had a hard hat on with the straw hat on your ride!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
You know us oldies but goodies should not tempt fate in any way!!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Mo, like you I have never watched the soaps either, even when I did not have my 15 hour a week "Horse Fund", job and lived off my Trophy Wife status and Trust Fund, haha /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Chef Jade]

Just rolling in from another weekend in Vegas. Coreene...so happy Wilhem is back to his old self! What would those bunnies do w/o him? I searched long and hard for horse sized plumes for the clique to don at the next show, without success...sorry gals.

Of course I spent big bucks in vegas acting like I was about to win the lotto, only to come home to an e-mail from the lady who I thought was going to buy my horse, saying she decided to go another route. So back to square one.

However, the trip to Vegas for my sister's Bachelorette was lots of fun. We got into a sufficient amount of trouble to call it a success and lost a sufficient amount of money to call it a trip to Vegas. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Coreene]

When I was leaving the barn yesterday, Willem said "Ja, tell all mein BB girlfriends I loff them verrie much und thanks for die good vishes."

And he'd gotten over the drama of me pulling his mane far too short.

RUSTY - fingers crossed, fingers crossed! Hope it works out GREAT. Let us know the full report.

[dublin]

No time for soap operas; much too busy eating bon bons and doing needlework..... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Coreene]

HEY DEE DEE - are you eating ice cream bon bons like you get at the movies, or some fab chocolates?

[dublin]

the chocolate ones....mmmmmm /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Bumpkin]

They have these fabulous shortbread thumbprint cookies with a drop of chocolate in the center, they are great and Elliot quite likes them.

[Bumpkin]

Or the shortbread cookies with the chocolate center kind of like an Oreo from Nordstroms are to die for.
I always send some down to my mother in AZ when she is there for the winter. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Coreene]

The Trader Joe's biscotti - chocolate with almonds and dipped in chocolate - is quite the yummy experience. I do love those something fierce.

But when it comes to chocolate, for me nothing will beat Leonidas!

[Bumpkin]

Trader Joe's is the best!!!
I get the Vitamin C from there for the dogs and horses.
Along with so many other great things. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Merry]

Oh, I like the thumbprint cookies I make from scratch: you can either put a giant Ghiradelli chocolate chip in the center or a blop of your favorite jam. My girlfriend gave me the recipe, saying, "Basically it's sugar held together with butter." /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Yes, the Tigger photos/article are in magazine issues of Horse Illustrated. You can actually see what I look like, along with el ranchito. The website I write for, totally unrelated, is horsecity.com.

Now, onto a far more stimulating topic...although I haven't yet read the other thread on this very topic, I must mention, ladies, that I saw last night, The Mummy sequel. Alas, I have been unfaithful to my boy toy, Brendan Fraser. I spent the entire movie lusting after the swarthy, tattooed, long-haired Arab-type comrade... The fact that he portrayed a chaste, monk of sorts only made him more appealing. *sigh* And here I was, sitting next to Mr. Merry, holding his hand and thinking, "Maybe he'd look good in a long black robe..." /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Bumpkin]

Are BonBons only the ice cream ones from the theatre?
I have never bought/eaten them before, maybe I should sometime.
Or are they any chocolate?

[Coreene]

Bumpkin, you haven't lived. Vanilla ice cream bits dipped in chocolate. Quite scrummy. Dove Bar does them, too.

[MO]

Yesyesyes!!! The bite size individually wrapped Dove Bar!! Scrumptious, absolutely!! But buyer beware, you can never eat just one! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Merry]

You're sounding mighty decadent: bonbons, cookies and rusty's margaritas. What's bringing this on? The onslaught of warm weather? Now, if they could only be served by a swarthy, long-haired Arab-type in black robes, galloping into the pool area on his steed, I'd sit down for a bite. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[MO]

Even better yet if he fed them to you!!

[Coreene]

...and frosted grapes and palm fronds!

[Merry]

"Come here and peel me a grape with your, ah, sword." /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Now pardon me while I go take a cold shower BEFORE I go muck stalls.

[JustaLurker]

Sorry, rusty, I did the good old ass-u-me with the time of the planning commission meeting and it rose up to bit me /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif big time.

At least I found out the correct time soon enough to start the curb chain rattling before the meeting starts, increasing to a deafening roar at 1:30.

Good luck -- knock 'em dead. Be sure to post the meeting results as soon as you can.

Cheers, Maggi

[wtywmn4]

The best! You all have me salivating big time. Love those Bon Bon's. They even come in mint too!! The thumb print cookies, hmmmmm...Is there any other place that has chocolate covered everythings besides TJ's? It sounds like we're chocolate deprived?? So Merry, are you willing to share this recipe with the rest of your clique?

Let's hope rusty's trek is good! Vilems better, ja vowl! Chef has had a ball in Lost Wages. Hopefully, not literally /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif The full moon is about to subside, and NO I don't care what you have been told. It really does have an affect. So things may fall back in sinct? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Coreene]

This was in our Stable Times last year. It is written by the big guy himself (lovely spelling). He was trying to win cookies:

Hallo, Willem here! My English it be a little bit German because I be from Germany. Any how, my modder Corinne, she asked me what happens at die barn with Santa Claus und because I know every thing, I am going to share it with all of you.

Wenn the lights they go off, we all get lamps und lanterns from die tack boxes. Don't nott to think we don't have keys because we do. Und then we go to die parking lot und clear it up and putt the lights on both sides like a big runway. Our barn it be an international Santa Claus landing site. Und then we take mannie buckes of water and hay and apples and stuff und we leave it at die end of die runway.

We are not allowed to go right up to Santa Claus so we all wait in die riding school arena und we watch. First we see die little red light von Rudolph und then Santa Claus he makes a verrie big circle around die stable und then he lands and he give die rein deers a big snack. Then he comes up to us and we who have beed verrie good during the year, he gives us a little kiss on the nose. Then we go to bed. Verrie mannie of us getted kisses this year.

Because I know every thing, you can always ask me a question. I will not talk to you in person but you can email me.


For this he was Horse of the Month and won a pail of Giddyap Girls cookies. No, really!

[dublin]

is there no end to your talents????? Your Santa Claus story was wonderful - I'm betting he will be bringing you the most spectacular plume in the world this Christmas. He knows what good care you have taken of your bunnies, and you are definitely on his nice, not naughty, list! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Lucy is still very tired from her exciting weekend at the beach, but sends you a cyber-glad you're feeling better, slobbery black Lab kiss! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Chef Jade]

did Willem take on a wee bit of an Irish accent as well? Or is that just so he can claim his right to drink buckets o'beer on another well known holiday?

[rusty]

The planning commission meeting went well. The nieghbors were told that we were with in our rights and had agreed to the conditions set forth by the commission. WHich were all very reasonable.
The curb chain jingleing Helped alot. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

You guys are going to laugh I had a curb chain in my pocket the whole time. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Hopefully the barn warming party will be some time in Sept. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Margaritas all around. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Bumpkin]

I am so happy for you!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Coreene]

HURRAY!!! HURRAY!!!

See - our dances and jingles DO work!

[Beezer]

PARTY AT RUSTY'S!!!

Congrats on your success! And I loved the part about your carrying a curb chain. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[dublin]

That is wonderful news. Maybe I can make it up to the barn warming in September - wearing my COTH cap, of course (assuming it ever arrives....) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[JustaLurker]

We're all so pleased for you! No one will ever convince us in the CA Clique that the rattling of curb chains doesn't work -- you proved that it does, twice! Once with the acquisition of the property after the nepotism fiasco, and now with the Planning Commission.

Now, onward and upward with the building program.

Cheers, Maggi

[Merry]

Does this mean Beezer and I should carry curb chains in our pockets while competing at Ride America in a week or two? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[rusty]

I definately recomend carrying a curb chain in your pocket. It can't hurt,( unless you fall off on it, which I don't recomend) and it probably does help. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[SuaveReno]

I took the afternoon off from studying the SAT's in prep for my Psych eval...Yeah the swarthy guy with the stuff on his face gets my vote (there were a lot of horses in there too)( for COTH moderators)I saw this afternoon as i knew no one in the family would want to see it /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Although it got panned, I thought it was a fast 2 hours and 25 minutes /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Willeum: I luft your accent /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[vineyridge]

You're gonna have a blast building! (NOT!!) But it'll all be worth it in the end.

Way to exorcise the neighborhood demons with your rattling curb chain.

[MO]

So, those curb chains really do work after all?! I'll have to remember that!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

COREENE, You crack me up!! That story is adorable, but the accent just about killed me!! Pour yourself a margarita on that one!! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Merry]

Suave, what are you taking the SAT's for, and why do you need a psych evaluation? You want to go back to college and yet you have a history of mental disorders? Or we've all driven you crazy?

P.S. So, Suave, what dya' think about Swarthy Arab Man? I kinda think after we're done with him he might just be Beezer or coreene's type.

"Come here, my little desert flower, my little date cupcake. Climb aboard my dappled Arabian drinker-of-the-wind and we shall ride to Kofu together!" /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Geez, I gotta get out more. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Bumpkin]

Merry are we going to see some articles by you in Arabian Horse World?
You could go to the Middle East and interview "Middle Eastern Horsemen and How They .....Tackle Dry Skin,... Grooming Techniques During Sand Storms,... How To Get Your Rig Out of A Hidden Quick Sand....Changing Trailer Tires On The Road To Mecca....Quick Bridle Tassle Cleaning When You Are Low On Water.... /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Sorry I couldn't think of more humourous titles, but maybe your editor will send you on those ideas!! hahaha /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[This message was edited by Bumpkin on May. 08, 2001 at 10:23 AM.]

[Chef Jade]

Merry - Grace will gladly pose for any Arab World photo shoots....we will just have to give her a new new name like...
Grace's Desert Wind Ala Kazam Sherif

[Coreene]

Chef, you forgot all the math signs after her name. You could call her Khemosabi Grace +++++++++++++++++++!!!

[wtywmn4]

Yeah baby, way to go!! We kept a jingling. See MO it really does work. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Can't wait for the barn party.

Ahhh Chef, shouldn't that be Bint Grace than the ++++++++++?

Oh right Merry, tell coreene about swarthy man in Mummy...Sidling off, coreene picks up the phone. She has to find out who this man is, she is intrigued...

And where is elizabeth?? Are we, ahem, tooo busy to stop by?

Suave you are taking that psych stat because of ex-t right? /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif Hopefully it's not us?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Beezer]

You know, Wty, I was thinking the same thing about Elizabeth. Gets herself a beau and drops all her gal pals. Ain't that always how it goes? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

So, how surprising does the group find this? The fabled bit of gold -- it does not stop the Hambola Virus. Or, as Merry says, it is fine for just hacking and making Hammie look purdy, but well ... it doesn't work for schooling things. /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

All together now: Beezer told you so, Merry! Beezer told you so! /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[wtywmn4]

Beezer said so, Beezer said so....Neener, neener neener.......... /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[weeble]

I'm a little late but , congratulations Rusty!

I refuse to say, "I told you so", who knows, if Merry hadn't bought the golden wonder many of us would have never known you could get a GOLD bit!

Well, can you believe it's just May and we are already in the "get all barn chores and riding done before 11 AM" mode? Keep cool, girls. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Merry]

I flaked out at about noon today and just bitted-up horses and lunged instead of riding because I let it get too hot. Tomorrow I must ride, so I shall rise at dawn. /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

Hmmm.... I wonder if elizabeth and David have progressed beyond the mere peck on the cheek?

NO, the "Bit of Gold" does not function in the capacity of an effective training aid on Hammie. But coupled with a flash noseband and a running martingale, it'll work. It'll work, I say!I said, it'll do, dang it! It looks pretty and I'll make it work!

... see Hammie cantering around the warm-up ring at Ride America oblivious to the lady on his back... /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Bumpkin: Your story ideas are hysterical! I've jotted them down and I'll trawl them out in front of my editor just for laughs. She just got divorced, so I'm guessin' she'll be buying herself a ticket to The Mummy! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

See, coreene, picture this swarthy Arab guy in draping, flowing black robes, his raven hair blown back from his face by harsh desert winds. He is strong, he is athletic, he rides a silver Arabian stallion. He has a sword. He has these cryptic cartouche-like tattoos on his face, no doubt symbolizing his valor and status. But alas, his allegiance is sworn to Allah (or someone like that) and he fights a noble battle for Good. So he is a chaste man, but, woo-hoo-ha-ha, toss the goat on the barbie and pit those dates, Omar, because there will be a party in the streets of Abu Simbel tonight! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Bumpkin]

I have a feeling that "gold tone" is the way many of the new metal bits are going to be.
Like I said I saw a wall of them at the local tack shop and my KK Herm Sprenger full cheek has a gold mouthpiece. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[elizabeth]

Oh, Merry, Beezer, and Wty, I'm sorry I've been incommunicado.

But I was so busy smelling the roses - those would be the dozen South American roses that David sent to me at work - that I just haven't had time to check the BB. Thanks for missing me, though, you guys. Be honest - you love me! /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

And thanks for being interested in my life. That makes me feel all warm and fluffy.

Now, horse related matters: I am starting to look for a shipper to FLY Buster out here. I've called two, but both won't fly him w/o two other horses. (Or they will, but for $8500!!) Anyone know of any other shippers who arrange flights? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

P.S. Beezer said so, Beezer said so! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif