So I am back in school and it is feeling better. the course this year is Hist374 - Russian History of the Tsars. Serhy is my instructor and he is pretty cool. He is from the Ukraine and definately has some opinions. There is lots of reading and it really tries my comprehension to understand all the Eastern European names. But it is early and I am prepared to try hard.
Our other course is that Marla and I are taking horseback riding courses from Connect and Ride. Carmen had to cancel today's ride which was a bit of a bummer but all in all it wasn't a bad thing because today was terribly hot. We actually set records today for Victoria being the hottest day since 1975. I think it may have been too hot for the horses to hump us about.
Yeechy things happening in the house. Our fridge sucks, it has since we bought it but seeing as the dishwasher decided to do its impression of a waterfall and we have to get the service rep out for that we might as well get the fridge looked at too.
On the good side, Trev from Arbour Renovations came over and fixed the back door. He does a good job. So I am going to get him to fix the back deck or build us a new one.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Yeehaw
Well just a little bit of a yee haw. Marla and I started our horse riding course on Wednesday. We went out to Connect and Ride to get started. Last time Carmen said to come a little later - the week before we were really early. This time she said we were a half hour late. So next week we are going to get there 40 minutes early and see how that works.
We got out to the stable and the first thing we did was to go out to the paddock and get our horses. I got a brownish gold mare named Sam and Marla was to ride a little gypsy horse named Vixen. We put the halters and leads on them and brought them down to the stable. Once we 'tied' them up to the fence we gave each of them a good brushing. Then we scraped down their hooves. We put on their saddle blankets, saddle pads, and got the saddle up. Sam stands about 6ft high and it is a tall lift to get the saddle up on her. We don't use a halter with a bit in it - the kind we use is called a hackamore.
We went out to the riding ring. I was able to stretch up my stirrup and get my left foot in, I work my steeltoed boots rather than cowboy boots but they were just a little too wide. Sam goes forward with a little click of the heels and a 'che che' sound. "whoa" stops and sometimes goes into reverse. To go left hold the reigns a little high and to the left, right goes the same way. Actually the hard part was dropping down out of the saddle. Rather than staying in the stirrup I take both feet out and slipped down to the ground.
The horses get another brush down and clean hooves. I felt a little bad for Sam because I am so big but felt totally awesome that I am small enough to be able to ride. Even if it was just circles in a ring, it felt great.
We got out to the stable and the first thing we did was to go out to the paddock and get our horses. I got a brownish gold mare named Sam and Marla was to ride a little gypsy horse named Vixen. We put the halters and leads on them and brought them down to the stable. Once we 'tied' them up to the fence we gave each of them a good brushing. Then we scraped down their hooves. We put on their saddle blankets, saddle pads, and got the saddle up. Sam stands about 6ft high and it is a tall lift to get the saddle up on her. We don't use a halter with a bit in it - the kind we use is called a hackamore.
We went out to the riding ring. I was able to stretch up my stirrup and get my left foot in, I work my steeltoed boots rather than cowboy boots but they were just a little too wide. Sam goes forward with a little click of the heels and a 'che che' sound. "whoa" stops and sometimes goes into reverse. To go left hold the reigns a little high and to the left, right goes the same way. Actually the hard part was dropping down out of the saddle. Rather than staying in the stirrup I take both feet out and slipped down to the ground.
The horses get another brush down and clean hooves. I felt a little bad for Sam because I am so big but felt totally awesome that I am small enough to be able to ride. Even if it was just circles in a ring, it felt great.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Bleh
I was so sore. I woke up feeling really stiff, sore and generally yeechy. Not only that, I was waking up at 6am on a day when I could be sleeping in. But first lets go back to the out of Stomp. It was a really good out. The show started at 7:30pm and we were ready to take down the show at 9:30pm. Our guys were expecting a three hour out, instead we had them out the door with the truck doors closed by 11:30. We give good out.
Colin and I were doing a whole bunch of cleaning up. There was a ton of sand and dust left from the show. But we did our best and left the theatre cleaner than when we found it. So I wasn't that hard worked from the night before. And I happily went to bed before 1am. So what I am doing up at six. Well I am feeling really bad.
On the sideboard by my bed is my bookcase, alarm clock, a glass of water and two tylenol t-3s. They are a pretty heavy duty pill that I have used in the past to help recover from surgery, cramps, and other bad stuff. So I took them. Within a few minutes I was rolled up in a ball on the floor. I totally hurt. I had not experienced pain like this since my surgery.
I was trying to decide if I should let it pass or go to emergency. Emergency would mean waiting a couple of hours to see what is going on and I could do that or wait and see. I elected to wait and see. I felt terrible for two hours and it passed. I guess the issue really lies with taking the NSAID. The T-3 may have been too much. So I think I will stay away from them.
As the day progressed I got better and was happy to spend quality time with Marla. We watched the Labour Day Classic game between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg (why isn't it Manitoba?). The Roughies won and the day is good again.
Colin and I were doing a whole bunch of cleaning up. There was a ton of sand and dust left from the show. But we did our best and left the theatre cleaner than when we found it. So I wasn't that hard worked from the night before. And I happily went to bed before 1am. So what I am doing up at six. Well I am feeling really bad.
On the sideboard by my bed is my bookcase, alarm clock, a glass of water and two tylenol t-3s. They are a pretty heavy duty pill that I have used in the past to help recover from surgery, cramps, and other bad stuff. So I took them. Within a few minutes I was rolled up in a ball on the floor. I totally hurt. I had not experienced pain like this since my surgery.
I was trying to decide if I should let it pass or go to emergency. Emergency would mean waiting a couple of hours to see what is going on and I could do that or wait and see. I elected to wait and see. I felt terrible for two hours and it passed. I guess the issue really lies with taking the NSAID. The T-3 may have been too much. So I think I will stay away from them.
As the day progressed I got better and was happy to spend quality time with Marla. We watched the Labour Day Classic game between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg (why isn't it Manitoba?). The Roughies won and the day is good again.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Its Showtime
It has been a busy week. The national touring company of Stomp is in town and I have been working backstage on the crew. Eight shows in five days is a bit of a tear up and really messes with the exercise schedule.
But going back a little further, I have completed my Ceramics course at University. I got my usual mark, B+. I am okay with that and will keep at it. I was thinking that I may take the follow up course in January. But I am also toying with the idea of taking the semester off.
Anyways, back to Stomp. It was a really good show to work on. The road crew was a fantastic bunch. Graham (the head carp) and Sam (head props) were the guys that Colin and I worked with the most. Doing props for the show is a nice active job. The performers were also nice to work with. They were funny and polite which is always a plus.
My eating has been a little all over the place. Mostly because of working this schedule but also because I am drifting a bit. I am being led astray by some of the 'treats' around the house. So the best thing is to get the bad stuff out of the house and stick to the good stuff.
The pear tree's fruit is ready. It is really nice to go out into the back yard, pick a pear, brush it off and enjoy a healthy treat. They are very sweet so it is a good thing they are small.
I have been pre-reading for my fall UVic class. This time around it is Russian History. I think it is going to be a lot harder getting the names right. But I am ready for a challenge as much as I am ready for a holiday.
With Classes this summer and shows in September, Marla and I haven't been able to get away. We are in serious need of a road trip but I don't see any available time until late September or early October. Even a trip to Portland would be a good break.
But now things are on the way to returning to normal. Two shows today and an out. Horse riding on Wednesday and maybe a photo shoot for Camosun, UVic on Thursday and a concert on next Sunday.
Whew.
But going back a little further, I have completed my Ceramics course at University. I got my usual mark, B+. I am okay with that and will keep at it. I was thinking that I may take the follow up course in January. But I am also toying with the idea of taking the semester off.
Anyways, back to Stomp. It was a really good show to work on. The road crew was a fantastic bunch. Graham (the head carp) and Sam (head props) were the guys that Colin and I worked with the most. Doing props for the show is a nice active job. The performers were also nice to work with. They were funny and polite which is always a plus.
My eating has been a little all over the place. Mostly because of working this schedule but also because I am drifting a bit. I am being led astray by some of the 'treats' around the house. So the best thing is to get the bad stuff out of the house and stick to the good stuff.
The pear tree's fruit is ready. It is really nice to go out into the back yard, pick a pear, brush it off and enjoy a healthy treat. They are very sweet so it is a good thing they are small.
I have been pre-reading for my fall UVic class. This time around it is Russian History. I think it is going to be a lot harder getting the names right. But I am ready for a challenge as much as I am ready for a holiday.
With Classes this summer and shows in September, Marla and I haven't been able to get away. We are in serious need of a road trip but I don't see any available time until late September or early October. Even a trip to Portland would be a good break.
But now things are on the way to returning to normal. Two shows today and an out. Horse riding on Wednesday and maybe a photo shoot for Camosun, UVic on Thursday and a concert on next Sunday.
Whew.
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