Musings of a Poor Student and TV Addict

Oh man..

2009-01-27T02:02:11Z

I'm devoting my study time to rewatching the entire series of Lost... Oh man. Its fun though, seeing the old episodes through my 5th season point of view. Actually, its allowing me to develop some new theories (well, new to me... lets face it, I'm not all that active in the fandom, they've probably been out there for forever)

For instance:

-Perhaps the island's healing properties means it can bring dead people back to life, if it has use for them. It would explain why Christian keeps coming up again and again... It would explain John's return from the Dharma pit... And it could mean that John is only dead off-island... Lets hope so :-D

-The sickness that everybody was so afraid of... Perhaps it happened around the same time that Ben gassed the Dharma initiative? I dunno... I'm not far enough into that plotline to really say one way or the other... But hey, who knows?

I'm on episode 1.08...

Also, WTF, I swear I'm being haunted by the number 108. I see it EVERYWHERE. spooky

In other news, I have a raging headache. Ew :( I hope its gone for classes tomorrow! Especially German. Yay German is starting again!!!!

Lost 5.02 - The Lie

2009-01-22T05:29:10Z

I really, really, love this show.

First, the likes:

- Bloop! Thats all I really have to say.

- Hurley putting a seatbelt on unconscious Sayid, AS HE RUNS INTO A MAILBOX. Tee hee Hurley, you're kind of hopeless sometimes.

- Expendable Male Character(EMC) Neal getting shot with a flaming arrow. Because seriously, that dude was ANNOYING. Also, the following are the raw comments of mine from the moments of the Cuisineart comment, up to when he gets shot:

"DUDE. NEAL. EMC. WILL YOU JUST BE EXPENDABLE AND DIE YET?! WHOA! THANK YOU WELL TIMED FIRE ARROW!"

Yes thats right, I called it.

- The survivors having trouble without their leaders, and Bernard trying to start a fire and failing. Things have been too easy for the survivors at times. I kind of like this 'back to primativeness' thing we've got going on.

- Hurley loves Shi-Tzus. You know its true.

- John Locke is dead. Or is he?

- Ben flushes Jack's pills. Benjamin Linus: My anti-drug

- I love that Sayid was put out of action for so much of this episode. It forces Hurley to man up and try and take care of things, instead of letting somebody else take control. He is being tested really for one of the first times - I'd like to see more of that in the future. I don't think Hurley is as helpless as he sometimes seems to be, and I think that hes going to become more important, instead of just the comedic relief. I hope so anyway. I mean, hes getting a bit obnoxious and vindictive, but at least hes starting to be his own person. I'm interested to see where this goes.

- Ben bringing John to a butcher. I kind of feel like theres a man on Fleet Street thats already done that.

- Jack minus the fugly beard.

- Hahaha Hurley throwing the Pizza Pocket at Ben. That was kind of amazing.

The Dislikes:

- Hurley and his vindictiveness. Now, I'm happy that Hurley seems to be hashing out his character and finding his spine. But do we really have to be a jackass. Whats up with this "Someday you're going to need my help. And you're not going to get it." Crap?

- Anna Lucia telling Hurley that Libby says hi. It was really flippant and just... Eh, it came out bitchy. Not cool show, not cool.

- Whiney EMC!Neal. Seriously. The best part of that EMC? WHEN HE DIED.

- Caviar sandwich? Ew.

- Charlotte is still the only one affected by the time travel. I still don't like it. Also, can Miles talk to dead pigs now? Weeeeird. Its like Babe meets the Sixth Sense.

- The flaming arrow on the tree. Don't you know, only YOU can prevent forest fires? Jeez.

- I really don't trust Sun. Something was NOT right with that convo. Its sad, because I totally liked Sun. And I feel like Show is setting us up to be... betrayed. By her. Hmm.

- Jack's fugly car. For Christsake, you're a DOCTOR. Buy a nice car, to go with your lovely beardless face.

- Near-dismemberment of Juliette. Ew. Dismemberment totally squicks me. Just ew.

Quotes:

"Bloop!"

"Why is there a dead Pakistani on my couch?" HAHAHAHA

Questions:

- Who are the people on the island now? Dharma Initiative? Others? Rousseau’s peeps? Somebody else? Where are we in time? WHEN ARE WE?! (thanks Locke!)

- So is John dead? Or... not?

- Where was Hurley's spine up until this season?

- The woman in the lab/church/thing. Is that Hawking, the one who wouldn't sell Desmond the ring? That would make sense...

Lost 5.01 - Because You Left

2009-01-22T04:49:35Z

All I have to say is... SHOW! SHOW YOURE BACK! I missed you so!

First, the likes:

- Daniel Dae Kim is totally on the cast list still!!! Carlton said earlier that Sun "believes" her husband is dead. Yes, this gives me hope. HES JUST BEHIND THE VEIL!!! Ahem. Wrong fandom. Moving on...

- Sawyer bitchslapping Daniel. That was kind of amazing. GO SAWYER!

- Hurley wanting a codename. Awww Hurley. Just go ask Sawyer! I vote for Stay-Puff

- Death by dishwasher. Don't lie people, that was BAD ASS. I think that beats Sayid's breakdancing neck breaking. Also, I am now going to be VERY careful around all my home appliances. Jeez. Between Lost and SPN, I'm going to need to bubblewrap my entire house.

- I love how we've decided that, in Lost, you can't change the past. I'm sure some people are going to be mad - although time travel theory hurts my head, I don't believe its usually accepted as the way that Lost is doing it - but I like it. This totally eliminates the whole 'grandfather paradox'. For us poor non physicists who are all into time travel theory (or at least me), this makes my head not hurt, and is going to make this a lot easier to follow, I think. However, you do seem to be able to change the future by.. implanting memories in the past? That confuses me. But more on that later.

- Sawyer is totally grieving for Kate, who I guess he thinks is dead. Thats sweet. Because I am a hardcore Skater. Though, I could totally make him happier. I'm not a confused crazy bitch. Jus' sayin'.

- I like that Charlotte is having headaches and nosebleeds. Not that I like that shes in danger, because I think shes an interesting character, and its too early to kill her off. But I like the consistancy. I was wondering if we were going to see that phenomenon like we did in the Constant. What I don't understand is why Charlottes the only one having issues.

The dislikes:

- Sawyer being obsessed about getting a shirt. Seriously dude, you've never cared before. It was kinda annoying. ~~Besides, why couldnt the flashing knock off all of Sawyer's clothes?~~

- Locke is stupid. Doesn't he remember what happened the LAST TIME he went to explore that plane?! I'll give you a clue. It rhymes with Moon Fries. Jus' sayin'.

- I feel like this season is going to have us jumping everytime John is threatened, because they're going to convince us that THIS is the time that he dies. Lame show, since we know he first has to get off the island and talk to the 6 before dying.

- What was with the scene in the airport with Sun and Widmore? That was random, and dropped really quickly. Hopefully we will see more in the future, and that doesn't go the way of a certain four-toed statue.

- Miles. Seriously, this guy just gets on my nerves. You're a smartass, but an annoying smartass. Kinda like Sawyer, but less hot, no southern accent, not nearly as funny, and plain annoying. Hmm.

- John 'bleeding to death'. Now I'm no doctor, but seriously, that didn't exactly look too threatening... You know, I'd expect bright red spurting blood if he was bleeding to death, you know, from being shot in the femoral artery or something. And that tourniquet was totally not necessary.

- Charlotte is the only one having issues. Whats up with that?

- Desmond is living on a boat?! Really? Why the hell would he want to do that?

- My ABC's timing was all weird - the show ended at like 8:53. WTF?! Fail ABC. Fail.

Memorable Quotes:

"Either we're in the past... or we're in the future" - Thank you captain obvious

"Whatever he says, do the opposite" - Ah Sayid. Its like a mixed up version of "Ben Says" (which, incidentally, is a game in this ridiculously hawt fanfic - if you're into that sort of thing Over at Henry Gale Lovers

"Danny Boy"

"What does it do" "It points north, John"

"Ghost of Christmas Future!" - You know, techincally, its the ghost of Christmas Past.

Questions:

- Who is asking for the blood test on Aaron and Kate? I vote for Widmore, given that (mini spoiler) in the next ep, Sun really seems intent on defending that person. But why? Hmm... Interesting.

- Daniel is, at some point, working in the Dharma initiative just as the orchid is being built... Is this another awesome time travel thing? Or has Daniel been to the island before this trip? He does seem to understand a lot about time travel ON THE ISLAND, as opposed to just theory. I feel like this guy is going to be super important this season. Also, how (in the future) does he know so much about the Dharma initiative? Are these 'memories' that were constructed by him going back in time at some point? Or did he actually work for the initiative beforehand? Does that even make sense? Damn this time travel thing.

- Speaking of time travel. The Others seem to be... impervious to it. You noticed how Richard told John that the Others hadn't gone anywhere - John had? If the Others are impervious to time travel, that could explain the non-aging of Richard. But how the heck do they manage this? Also, do you have to be an original Other to be impervious to this? Because clearly, Ben and Juliette can age. Who else is an original Other? Ethan seems that he might be. I hope that this means that we get to learn lots about the Others' history this season!

- So why is Charlotte the only one who is affected by the constant time traveling? Why aren't the rest of them having issues?

- Why is Desmond so special? Is it because he is Dan's constant? And what the heck is Dan's mother going to do?

I love this show.

ITS LOST WEDNESDAY!!!!!!

2009-01-21T19:45:52Z

OMG ITS LOST WEDNESDAY! LOST IS BACK ON!!!

I can hardly contain my squee

Its also my little brother's birthday. Happy 17th Terry! (AHHH HOW CAN HE BE THAT OLD?!) So unfortunately, I am well within range of MISSING THE PREMIERE because of having to go out to dinner with the fam. But we're supposed to go at like 5:30... I should be back by 8, right? RIGHT? Gah, NO AMOUNT OF SUSHI WILL KEEP ME FROM LOST! And Sawyer. And Ben.

And then Supernatural tomorrow night, which I will probably miss because I have to teach. Jeez life, way to get in the way there.

Wow, I definitely haven't posted since like last year.... Yeaaah. I started writing fanfic. But I didn't finish it because halfway through I just had to laugh at it. Perhaps I will try again when another plotbunny strikes. One that doesn't involve Elliot Spitzer this time (you probably shouldn't ask)

I can has bruises!

2008-04-30T01:47:01Z

Ouchie. We had our Tae Kwon Do 'final' today - man am I glad to be done with that class. Hopefully the TKD club at UWRF will be serious and hardcore, not this pansy crap that we've done at school

ALTHOUGH, I did collect some very lovely bruises sparring tonight. One is making my forearm look like I had a very blue egg implanted in it - and its rather difficult to type (or do anything!) right now without it hurting - of course it WOULD be my left hand. And lets see, my shin is bruised (big surprise there, I know), and I somehow managed to pull something in my leg - if I had to guess, by the when and where it hurts, I'd say my extensor tendon. Lovely. Glad I'm not riding until I get home! I've got a couple more minor bruises, but those are sorta whatever.

Tomorrow is the last day of classes - yay! So close, I can taste it.

Ever feel like somethings just not meant to be?

2008-04-28T02:47:43Z

I'm beginning to wonder about this damned HB. You see, you need to have a conditioning schedule for it. Not a plan that you just made up, but a real, done, schedule. There is just one issue... I HAVE NO FREAKING HORSE

And yet somehow I have to have one conditioned in 8 weeks for the HB. Great. Just. Great. I talked to my friend briefly about half leasing her horse and conditioning him with her help, but lets face it, thats crazy. I'm friends with her, I'd like to STAY friends. -sigh-

First the issues with the C2, and now the HB. Pony Club at the upper levels was not made to be done without a horse. Maybe I truely am done with PC. I can't see a way out of this one - not short of completely inventing a horse and a conditioning schedule, and praying I get away with it. I don't want to do that. How insanely dishonest. But I don't want to end as a C2... I want my C3, but that clearly is not going to happen. I thought the HB was doable, but it turns out that it too is not. God. Somedays I hate that I ever got invested in something. Actually, lately, most days I've hated being invested in PC. It just seems to be causing a lot more trouble and pain than it ever did before.

Whats so frustrating is, as usual, I've got nobody to talk to about it. Which I guess is fair, not everybody can be like me - staying up or avoiding work that needs to be done in order to help somebody else. I wish I could hold everybody to that standard but I realise thats unrealistic. And I can't expect anybody to care about my problems... I just... It would make it easier to deal with. -sigh-

I just want everything to work out. In the end, I want to be happy with what I've done. Why does that seem to be so much to ask?

See this icon? This is how my life currently feels

2008-04-27T02:31:45Z

Seriously. Bio prof moved our paper's due date to this Friday instead of yesterday - great! Except now I'm procrastinating again. Oooops. Still, I've got it about halfway done, so yay!

I'm sick, thank you roommate! This of course means I've got no energy. Seriously, I went to sleep yesterday at SIX FREAKING IN THE EVENING. Woke up at 10, and then went back to bed at midnight, and slept till 9, when my alarm went off. I could have slept longer. Blech! Still, I'm now able to sit up for more than 20 minutes or so. Thats good.

I kicked ASS at my recital on Monday. I don't think I've ever actually LIKED performing with my flute before. But that was fun! And amazing - you know how everything comes together, sometimes at the last moment, and the performance just is amazing? Yeah, that would be my recital. Lovin it!

I went to the athletic banquet on Wednesday night - I was recognized as a scholar athlete because of my 4.0! Melody came up to me later and said "Wow Lisa, I never realised you were actually so smart!" *bitchy tone and fake smile* mmm, I am SO glad I've decided to leave Wesleyan - I never have to deal with her ever again! Good bye abusive idiotic poor excuse for an equestrian program!

Finals start this week on Friday - bright and early at 9 AM with my German final. Still, Friday is pretty easy, German (which I could do in my sleep) and WISe, which is just a reception to look at everybody's art installations. Bio is on Monday, and Chem is on Tuesday, way too early in the morning (8:30). But then I'm done! Mom's arriving sometime on the 6th, and we're leaving on the 7th! YES! I'm almost done

So this whole college idea?

2008-04-15T03:13:00Z

Whose was it? Can I kill them? Wow, the last couple of weeks of the semester are killer! I've got one powerpoint down, another started. Some research done on my Bio paper but not nearly enough - that will be saved for Wednesday, when, mercifully, all classes are canceled. And then I've got honors banquets to attend, recitals to give, a clinic to organize... Survival isn't looking so good right now. No, of course not, I know I'll make it. Its just, the making it through that feels like its going to kill me. I'm actually looking FORWARD to finals - they'll be easier than the next couple of weeks!

Got my acceptance letter to UWRF today - I am officially transferring! YAY!

I'm super excited for next Thursday - Supernatural AND Lost!!! My life has felt empty without my thursday night ritual. How sad. And I found another SN fangirl here!!!! Super exciting. Now I just need a Lost-obsessed geek and we'd be good to go! You know, until I left. Haha.

Rawer

2008-04-10T15:49:24Z

I am SO done with this year. Seriously, 3 more weeks. And I have so much to do! Bio paper (which, I finally decided on a topic on LAST NIGHT, since our library sucks and has no journals), WISe paper, 2 chem quizzes and a test (not counting the final) several pieces of german crap (including a presentation), WISe presentation, Tae Kwon Do paper, and Fundamentals of Riding Presentation...

Why did I insist on taking a full schedule for the second semester in a row?

Goodbye 4.0, how I loved you :(

Oh, and how uncool is it that both of my big papers are due the day after new episodes of LOST and Supernatural air?! How am I supposed to procrastinate now!?

Yeaaah

2008-04-06T15:42:51Z

I didn't think it would last... Whats on the to do list today?

-Research for Bio research paper (evolutionary mechanisms controlling anthelminthic resistance in equine parasites!)

-Swear at the library for not having any journals I need

-Swear at ILL taking more time than I have

-Decide to use journal abstracts for all sources

-Rationalize that this doesn't NEED to be done today, because I don't have chem class tomorrow

-Procrastinate further by reading fanfiction/playing games/watching TV/sleeping/attempting to write that ben fanfiction I've promised myself I'll write someday/not bio

Welcome to my life at a small private liberal arts college in the middle of Georgia. But I'm transferring, so... One more month! -is excited-

Uh oh...

2008-04-01T15:25:56Z

Second post in a day? Not April fools! Omg, I am IN LOVE with the Ben-centric part of the Lost fandom. Hes such an amazing character, and the fics that I've read have all just been such great character studies. Makes me want to get brave and try my hand at one... Maybe some other time.

Also, excuse the dust as I revamp my entire journal, because I definitely don't have other work I could be doing... Noooo

Keeping an LJ? Doubt it... but until then...

2008-04-01T13:41:25Z

Haha, lookee here. I'm posting on an LJ... again. Lets see how long this one lasts eh? I passed my C2 a few weeks ago, and am now in limbo, hoping to get my HB this summer, and praying like mad that for some crazy reason, I can take this horse at school home with me. I mean seriously, I love this horse. And after I had so much trouble letting Hattan go when school started, I promised myself I would NOT fall in love with any of the horses down at the school. And now heres Chester. Of course, since I'm transferring, I'll never see him again unless I manage to make him mine. I know Melodys not a fan of him anyway... Mrawer, I want him. He has so much potential, I can feel it. Hes green, and 7, but fairly well built. He could easily be my dressage C3 horse, maybe even a traditional C3 horse given time (he doesn't jump a whole lot, he still needs to learn his balance, but I know he's been jumped 3', I don't see why he wouldn't have the athletiscism to do a C3, just no experience. I would love to have a green project horse - hes easily training level in dressage, and I'm sure with some time and conditioning, 1st level and probably even beyond that would be no problem for him. He just needs a rider, not a bunch of idiot school people, and a proper horse management situation, not the overuse and underconditioning they like to do down here at school. Ohh my gosh I want him so bad.

See? Lovely. Legs aren't perfect, but look serviceably sound. He wouldn't be able to do, like, 4th level with those hind cannons probably, but um, I'm not looking for that. And I KNOW that at the very least, if I got him, I could make one hell of a resale project out of him. Merf. IcanhasChester?

Okay, wow

2007-07-10T03:15:37Z

Its been almost 2 freaking months. Where the hell have I been? Everywhere but on LJ of course. Passed my C1, graduated, had multiple epiphanies at regional camp, got 3rd in the mini event, and got accepted to barn fair!

I obviously can't remember most of my rides - I guess those will just have to be made up in my record book. I did have a lesson with Matt on the wednesday before my rating where we focused on relaxation and he thought I was going for my C2, not my C1, and I had a lesson with him last weekend where we focused on adjusting hattan with my seat, and not settling for badness the first time we do anything (first canter transition, first jump), because I'm becoming complacent. Damn.

Yesterday I had a lesson on Hattan with Maureen Pach. I don't think I learned as much as I could have, but I did get some good stuff out of it - so it wasn't a complete loss. We worked on finding the neutral zone with my seat bones, by finding too forward, too back, and too far to each side, and then finding the middle. It was a good exercise, and my position leveled out and improved a lot. I learned at regional camp I really need to lift my hands and sit up - and I have been doing better but I didn't do too well yesterday at it.

I've started riding Sirus, now that hes back in work. About a month ago he came up lame and now hes ready to work again. Last weekend I rode him and we only walked. Then Monday I rode again and we walked and a little trot - this time Linda watched! To my surprise she asked me to ride again (I was sure after she saw me ride I was going to get nixed), and he was good, we did some more trot, but he felt sore, so we stopped early and I haven't ridden him since. Rae checked him out and said it was only muscle soreness, and that he needs to work through it. I was supposed to ride today but I forgot >.<, so I will ride tommorrow. Now its time to make him start using himself. Oh my gosh, can you say Lisas going to die? I sure can! Thats going to be HARD, he has no energy to begin with, and now I have to create it, and then contain it? Oi vey, I'm glad Matts not here to see this.

Well AP Bio test is over with forever!

2007-05-15T01:06:07Z

I am NEVER doing that again! Oh wait, whats that word next to the 'major' heading on my info at Wesleyan? BIOLOGY!? Well shit. Haha, not really, but I don't like going into tests feeling unprepared. As it is, I don't think I did all that horribly, I think I at least passed. Don't think I pulled off the 4 I needed unless I did amazingly well on the multiple choice. I know I did passably well in the essays, for the most part. Except the lab question was a lab that we ACTUALLY DID, and I still couldn't remember anything I learned from it. Haha, that was lame. I knew I should have reviewed the labs we've done, as well as the labs we haven't done because my class sucks.

Even if I did somehow miraculously manage a 4, I'm retaking the class, because this AP Bio class hasn't taught me nearly as much as I need to know. I can't tell you how much stuff I learned on my own in the past couple of weeks. So I'll get a fairly easy A in college, and perhaps a second chance to dissect the cat (less muscle groups destroyed this time?! We'll see)

I didn't ride today because it was 92 fucking degress outside. I'm sorry, but when the temps in WISCONSIN are higher than the temps in GEORGIA, somethings wrong. Just. WRONG. However Hattan did get a lovely bath and I took him out to graze for a bit which I know he enjoyed. The MTG seems to be working on his dandruff, thank god. Its like 3000 times better after just one application. I did his second today. The stuff is so gross - it had better keep working!

Holy crap

2007-05-13T23:05:06Z

Havent updated in a while have I? Haven't ridden much either. Thats bad right?

Monday - oh the ickiness of it, it was tense and blech

Tuesday - better, I focused on identifying what was making me so tense and fixing it. Turned out to be a lot of not having Hattan's shoulder or hip. The diamond instead of a circle exercise worked really well for that. We didn't canter - I figured there was no reason to

Thursday - In hindsight, I shouldn't have tried jumping with Lizzy Schuman. Talk about making me nervous. We ended with a very good jump over the barrels and that was it.

Saturday - We rode outside in this grassy field and did fake dressage. Control was sometimes looking like it was going to go, but we kept it. Hattan was very unbalanced on the downhill - something good to remember.

The AP Bio test is tommorrow. I'm not going to do very well at all. Ugh, this sucks majorly. But in my defense, we haven't been very well prepared at all.

And I'm getting icky minded about this rating. I hope Matt comes down early enough that I can get a lesson from him before Saturday. Not to fix anything - nothing to fix, as far as C-1 goes. Just... make my mind better.

I really can't think of a title here

2007-05-02T22:07:24Z

So my ride yesterday wasn't very good. I probably asked for more than he wanted to give, which just ended up making a bad ride. And I was rushed and stressed out. Not very good things to feel when going into a ride. Plus all these fences were set up, so I couldn't do anything but circles. Basically, not a great ride.

So we're attempting to put this junior board D-1 jamboree together, and I swear, without Marlie, me, Sedate, and Meg, we'd be completely screwed. Since when did the junior board get 4 members? Oh yeah, since work became involved. Silly me.

I have an AP Bio review in 20 minutes. I DONT WANNA GO -tear-

Outreach day 2

2007-04-30T19:19:44Z

Well I got myself a 3rd ride because a C-2 canceled and Sedate said I could take her place in one of the C-1/C-2 groups! YAY! So I finally went XC on Hattan for the first time this year. It was great! We first practiced our positions again, and then we built up a coffin outside - first with the ditch, and then a fence after the ditch, and then a fence before and after the ditch to make it a true coffin. Hattan handled it like a pro - it was great! And our recovery time (we had to halt after the last fence) wasn't awful. Then we worked on banks - up and down. Up Hattan was okay, but down he wanted to rush (we were only supposed to walk) and wasn't so cool with it - not good since I'd never done a down bank before. So Sarah held him and walked down with us, telling me to ride on the buckle and focus on my position. After a few tries, we did it alone and he was great! We finished with a 'course' which involved cruising up a hill at the canter, halting at the top, then cantering or trotting over a hanging long (it was like 2', we opted for trotting), walking down the bank and then up another one, and then going through the coffin. Hattan was a star.

Later - Linda asked Evelyn to take Sirus out and school him XC during the lunch break, and she asked me to take Hattan out with just in case she needed a pony. So we did! Since Hattan really hadn't worked very hard in our lesson, we had tons of fun and jumped just about everything out there. We avoided the banks, and I didn't jump him over a couple of things because he was getting tired, but still. We did barrels, a tire jump, the hanging log from our lesson earlier, a larger hanging log, a staircase type fence.. It was fun! And then I had my first true gallop on Hattan. It started as cruising up the hill at a canter, but then he wanted to go faster, and I said 'what the hell' so we did a full true gallop. Holy crap that was fun. Took me a bit to get him to halt, but really it wasn't much more than it took me to halt him from the canter in our lesson.

I have never felt so damn confident cross country. It was so much fun.

Outreach Clinic, Day 1

2007-04-30T19:07:44Z

So we left Friday night for the outreach clinic, and Hattan hadn't been ridden since Tuesday. So We got to the barn early to feed Saturday morning, and I schooled Hattan before the rides started. He was great, at first a bit excited and tense, but quickly relaxed and we had a very nice 20 minute ride.

Ride 1 - We learned about cross country positions in the indoor - our cruising position, our preparation position, and our jumping position. My cruising position was really good, but I had some difficulties with the preparation position, which took a while to make any sort of sense. We then worked on an exercise that would prepare us for corners later - jumping 2 angled fences on a straight line. She kept the fences very easy - a crossrail and a short (prolly 2') vertical. This pretty much took all lesson, and it was good

Ride 2 - We reviewed our positions - my preparation position was already much better, I was getting the feel of it. We then worked more on the angled fences - this time they were a bit bigger, prolly 2'6". I messed it up the first time - we had an excellent jump over the first fence, and I forgot about the second fence, so hattan swerved all over the place and we made it over the jump but I was popped outta the tack and landed on his neck - embarassing, but Sarah didn't make a big deal of it, just reminded me to finish my exercise and go again. We then discussed jumping ditches - stay more upright, and have a longer rein so the horse can have a look and just pop over it - instead of overjumping. We then practiced over a fake ditch - hattan had no problems with it whatsoever. Last, we went over a corner. I was majorly freaked out by it (because I'm me, thats why), so she lowered it (because it looked HUGE to me before - though it was probably 2'9", it was much wider than any corner Matt's ever put me over), and we popped over it just fine. A good ending!

Monday + Tuesday

2007-04-30T18:54:56Z

I've just been so busy and stressed out lately that I didn't post, but here are some snippets of Monday's and Tuesday's rides

Monday - flatwork, was fairly inconsistant, but ironic, because I thought it was a bad ride. A couple months ago? That would have been a good ride. Funny how that works

Tuesday - Jumping, awesome. A course was set up in the arena, including a 4 stride line, a brushbox vertical, and a vertical with barrels, and we did them all. Probably about 2'6", just totally awesome. He listened to me and added strides where I asked and kept a nice pace. And I rode boldly to the line, I cantered in with a confident pace, legged him up for the four, and we had some beautiful rides through it.

I didn't ride again until the outreach clinic, which I'll talk about in my next posts.

YAAAAAAAAAAAY

2007-04-21T22:17:13Z

Okay, yesterday was amazing. Lija, Jamie, and I went out on the trails, and eventually found our way to a huuuge open field with good footing. I cantered Hattan in the open in a group! IN HIS SNAFFLE BIT!!!!!!!!!! YEAH! That was pretty much amazing! I was SO happy! And it was FUN!

Hee

Clinic today

flat - really good. Alex focused a lot on proper use of the outside rein and keeping horses straight. At the walk trot and canter we increased and decreased our circles, and especially at the trot and canter, I really realised how much I tend to lose Hattan's shoulder. She also was making me ride much more upright than I'm used to. At first I was majorly apprehensive because Deb told me to ride in that forward seat to keep from hitting on his back. And at first Hattan hollowed out, but the more secure I got in the more upright position, the softer and rounder he got, and pretty soon we were going like we would normally go. I have to start doing crunches (EW) to help build up my core strength, which is not where I'd like it to be.

jump - AMAZING. I told Alex he has a tendency to run and can get very on the forehand and blech. So what does Hattan do? None of the above! Instead hes using himself and listening and jumping nice and round and being forward and having fun but polite! Good lord, it was excellent. Again Alex had me focusing on lifting my diaphram and opening my shoulders (or as she finally said, thrust your bust! Or as Daniel Stewart says, Wonderbra! Lift and Seperate!). This really helped around one turn after a line that Hattan tended to run through. I at first wanted to get all blech with his mouth, but I tried instead staying steady and sitting up and doing that whole thing, and he came to me nicely and went around the turn well, and we met the fence well every time. Very good. She also kept reminding me to have soft hands over the fence, which is getting better, and told me to think 'toes up' rather than heels down. Most of the time my heels are good, but I still have the tendency to pinch sometimes and bring the heels up.

I'm hoping to get out on the trails at least once more and take some kind of jump -even if its that tiny coop at the top of the treeline. Sarah Dierks clinic next weekend - cross country, so I need to be prepared!

doo doo doo

2007-04-20T20:12:42Z

So...

Monday's ride - I have NO recollection of it! But I do know it was good and fairly relaxed.

Thursday - I was exhausted, didn't ride again till yesterday. We again did a ton of canter work. I realised I need to stop doing ONLY extensions down the longside - Hattans starting to run when we canter down the longside. So today I'm thinking some normal/Hattan!collected canters down the longside, just thinking 'slow'. He was very relaxed again, really working into the bit at the trot. I love that feeling! Canter wasn't great at first, but it got better, and I was proud of myself because I didn't freak out and just rode better instead. Haha. We messed a bit with the 1st level canter loop - that was an adventure! He kinda spazzed and tried to gallop both times. I don't think thats what he was expecting, and it was towards the end of the ride, so I stopped trying that. Today maybe I'll mess with it again though

Alex Philpen clinic tommorrow! Yay!

We've started dissecting the cats in bio. Its pretty sweet. But I can cross surgeon off my list of things to do - I FAIL! I've only almost destroyed a couple muscle groups so far, but it would have been worse if I hadn't finally decided to ask for help. Haha. And my lab partner may as well be on the table being dissected himself, for all the good hes doing. Though I think hes really grossed out by the whole thing - he seems quite happy to just hold pieces of tissue out of the way so I can cut at the fascia. But hes gotta start working or we'll never get anything done!

My flute section = fail. They STILL don't have Purple Carnival down, and its the easiest march we've EVER done! It makes me wonder how much they played in the other marches. But you can tell in this one because they have a full 20 measures where its the FLUTES playing, kind of soli but not really. What would you call that? Soli falso? Anyway. I talked to the student teacher (hes directing PC) and we're having another sectional next week, with ME leading it (God help me), and I'm going to start doubling that area for a while (which means if my piccolo gets thrown across the room with me desperately switching instruments every few measures, everybody is allowed to laugh).

Oi vey

YAY A TRUE CHANGE!

2007-04-15T01:58:40Z

HATTANGAVEMEAREALFLYINGCHANGETODAYWHENIASKEDCHANGINGBOTHLEGSOMGOMGOMG

Yeah. Hattan gave me a true, clean change, on the flat, when I asked. *HAPPY*

My ride was quite good today, we did a lot of canter work, lengthens and shortens, general circles, and we practiced our figure eights again, which turned into "OMG will he change for me?". He gave me a single trot stride change, and so I decided just to sit through the canter, and change bend and aids, and see what happened. Okay it wasn't that simple. I really was focusing on balance today, which I'm sure set him up for the changes very well. I really focused on balancing around the turns - today I felt like I was actually riding a classically trained horse who had at least skimmed over the theory once in his life, or maybe I was just riding better. Anyway. I came into the center very balanced, and just shifted aids and made it clear where we are going. And he tried SO hard at first to change, but he kept getting the front and not the back, and then changing his hind a few paces later. But the last time I was really really really focusing hard on preparing for that change and balancing him, and I switched aids and HE DID IT! He got a clean change! I was SOOOOOO proud of him!

So of course I tortured him by beginning to pull that awful winter mane and clipping his billy goatness away

BUT HE LOOKED SO GOOD AFTERWARDS

okay so his mane still needs work, but whatevs

I'm excited for Alex Philpin next weekend!

I AM SO BORED

2007-04-14T20:23:29Z

So thursday's ride was real good - again Hattan was moving into contact, felt real nice and soft and happy. I did some more lengthening of the canter/bringing it back on the whole arena; I'm really pushing my comfort zone there, but its good! I've been forcing myself to sit the lengthening instead of getting into a halfseat, which makes bringing it back much easier. Not that its easy, Hattan takes a lot of really well timed stuff to get it right because he just wants to run on his forehand, but I managed to get him cantering in a nice frame again! I was happy.

I didn't get to ride yesterday because my father HAD to take us to the museum to see a movie, which meant no riding time for Lisa. Grrrrrrrrrr

However, I'm going to regional camp, and contemplating the mini event. It would be fun, but it depends on whether mom will pay for it, and if other people from RCPC are staying after camp to do it - AKA, if I will have a trailer ride home.

It does help that 2/3 of regional camp is paid for thanks to the club giving me a scholarship for 200 bucks for doing so much with the littlies. Yay me

Oh my

2007-04-12T20:46:03Z

Haven't posted in days!

I had a lesson on Saturday and it went really well, even as exhausted as I was. At the canter, Matt reminded me that a controlled canter does not have to be, and should not be, a dead canter, so I worked on asking for a bit more, and Hattan responded well, by softening and giving a bit and rounding his back. Matt suggested for our sitting trot to do really small intervals of sitting trot until he gets uncomfortable with it, and then post again, and repeat. Of course then I told Matt that we'd already been doing that. First of many times that night you could tell I was his student. Haha. He looked at our canter figure eights and said that if I hadn't told him we were trying to make the trot times gradually shorter, he would have already suggested to do it like I was doing it, so we're good there. We saw improvement even as I was showing him, so yay. For our jumping he set up a gymnastic (LE GASP) which was, at its largest, a cross rail, bounce to a 2'3" vertical, once stride to another 2'3" vertical. Teeny yes, but I hate gymnastics, and I'd never done a bounce before, and I was sick, so he told me point blank he was taking pity on me. That definitely didn't bother me by that point, as I was exhausted. However he did imply that if I wasn't sick, all the fences would be going up, and that scares me. Hes like 'I know you can do it, but we're not going to push you today because you're sick'. Sometimes, his threats to push me are the worst things of all. Ah well. I survived, and got all my stuff checked off.

I rode on Tuesday, and Hattan was brilliant, moving forward into the bit, energetic but controlled, real good. I even asked for some canter lengthens down the long side and got something that wasn't completely running. Haha, that was nice. I need to continue making Hattan's canter better, as its his weakest gait by far, according to Matt, and I'd agree there. So we'll keep practicing

Didn't ride yesterday, but I will today before PC. I should probably go find something to wear to PC tonight, since I'm going to be in front of the group at least for a moment to discuss JB stuff, maybe a moment more if Deb announces the club's gift to me and I have to be all 'omg thankyou' and shake deb's hand and stuff, except of course I already know, but most of the club doesn't, I hope, as I haven't told anybody. Jamie and Lauren probably know because of their moms, and its in the sponsor's meeting minutes, but nobody reads those.

Music Meme

2007-04-08T23:30:02Z

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense.

NO CHEATING!

How are you feeling today?
Swagger - Flogging Molly
(I know I'm awesome, but I don't feel that awesome!)

How do your friends see you?
I Could Fly - Keith Urban
I think this is good?

Will you get married?
Overture to Phantom of the Opera
So thats a no then?

What is your best friend's theme song?
To the Pirate's Cave! - POTC 1 soundtrack
Hee

What is the story of your life?
Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Barenaked Ladies
Interesting, since I don't have a lover...

What was high school like?
Down Once More/Track Down this Murderer - Phantom of the Opera
Oh goodness, that makes my day. Hellish? Yeah.

How can you get ahead in life?
The Take Over, The Break's Over - Fall Out Boy
So I don't get to take breaks?

What is the best thing about your friends?
Factory Girls - Flogging Molly
Theyre simple and down to earth? Yeah, that works (In honesty, I had to skip several before I got a song title that wasn't in Gaelic. So sue me.)

What is tonight going to be like?
Prima Donna - Phantom of the Opera
Hee

What is in store for the remainder of this weekend?
Johnny Jump Up - Gaelic Storm
DRINKING! WHOO HOO! I mean, what?

What song describes you?
Angel of Music - Phantom of the Opera (good lord, I have so many bloody songs, why does it choose POTO so much more often than anything else?)
Mr. Young should consult this meme before being annoyed with me further :D

To describe your grandparents?
Terry Teehan's / Her Long Black Hair - Michael McGoldrick
My grandmother's hair is short and white... DUH

How is your life going?
Gods Been Good to Me - Keith Urban
Could there ever have been a more perfect song answer to that question? And for the most part, I'd even agree

What song will they play at your funeral?
Whats Left of the Flag - Flogging Molly
I nearly sporfled my water at this one. If you knew the song, you would have too

How does the world see you?
Cruel Mistress - Flogging Molly
*coughcough* I have no comment

Will you have a happy life?
Alternative Girlfriend - Barenaked Ladies
OUCH!

What do your friends really think of you?
What a Good Boy - Barenaked Ladies
My friends obviously need to realise I'm a GIRL, TYVM

Do people secretly lust after you?
Thriller - Fall Out Boy
Is that a yes?

How can you make yourself happy?
Somebody Like You - Keith Urban
Hmmm, I'm supposed to find the perfect partner? That seems very... dependent

What should you do with your life?
Bang the Doldrums - Fall Out Boy
... THE WORLD IS AGAINST MY PESSIMISTIC NATURE
(alright Deb, Sarah, Matt, Linda, Evelyn, and anybody else who has ever told me I need to be positive... I GET THE MESSAGE, GOSH)

Will you ever have children?
This Ain't a Scene, Its an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy
I'm not really sure what to make of this one...