Travelogue Day 1

Today my travelogue begins covering the move from Grants Pass OR back to LA.  its starting out swimmingly so far.  I wont ask anyone for help so I took a taxi to pickup the uhaul truck.  when i got there ($15 cab), I discovered I did not have my wallet.  I had to have the taxi drive me back to my house. ($15) and on the ride I chattted it up with "wayne" my driver, a 60 something pot belly w indian feather silver earring.  Told him about the move, work, can't sustain up here, etc. 

He replies "Well, I hope I don't offend you but you're a nice looking friendly girl, you could always work as a...............(I couldnt imagine what would come out) .........waitress."

There's a life!!!  working at Applebees  or La Casita Mexican as a waitress, waiting on all the people I know from work because its a tiny town and everyone goes there.  I can't imagine a more horrible fate.

"uh, yeah well thats always an option isn't it."

We get to my house and I realize I left my keys inside and button locked the door on my way out.  This is great.  I hoped and prayed that my back gate was open, it was and I had a hide a key in the back yard. 

Got to the truck place, paid $60 w tip for a $15 ride. 

Drove home, tried to back in the truck to my garage door,  and ran over my mailbox.

Oh, and my movers never showed up, never called.  Couldnt get hold of them no answer.  An excellent start to the week. 

Testing Testing 1 2 3

Completed One of "100 things to do before you die"

As Olympic sports announcer Jim McKay used to say--

The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat

I don't know what you were doing today but I was realizing a long time goal-- competing in a Gymkhana in Grants Pass OR.  During-my-Lifetime-Goal: move to small town where I am ostracized for being myself and also having CA plates, learn how to ride a horse in 6 months, and just before moving away, compete in 'friendly' competition at the Josephine-County-Oregon-Sheriff's-Posse-sponsored games and beat the pants off several 11 year olds and a couple Oregonian 30 somethings and win two ribbons as my "last hurrah" in that town.  Check and check.

I entered to run in all four events on "Dusty"-- a fast and agile Arabian mix--where basically if you don't do anything spastic and just ride "correctly" he will rocket you through all the patterns like a programmable robot bullet.  Rocky, the huge clunky draft horse mix because, while no one can deny his beauty and personality, is too green to even think about putting him in this competition, plus he honestly doesn't care about doing the patterns, he thinks its dumb and doesn't possess the drive to compete at these kinds of things: 1) Running around a barrel [it was supposed to be picking up a flag when you rounded the barrel but they removed that part because the flag guy didn't show up] 2) The Poles 3) The Keyhole and 4) The Texas Barrels

This very seasoned horse woman named Lizzie (a heavy set 30 something who also rides at Greyback Stables) got so mad that I beat her at running around the barrel that she said "I'll get you in the poles Marni..." rather competitively and with a nasty smirk.  I didn't care about her, she was easy to beat.  All I wanted to do was beat the times of these little kids and this other 30 something named Troy who kept beating me in our "Division" ages 31 to 49.  Please realize I'm at the high end of this range people.

Marni runs around a barrel, wins 4th place at 12.2 seconds 

(60 second video)

So when we came up to go head to head in the Poles, Lizzie fell off her horse, and me, not caring or calling out or checking to see if she's hurt, was just frustrated about my time at 35 seconds as this did not beat this Troy dude who got 33 something and that's why I slap myself at the end of this 90 second video:

Lizzie tries to beat me at the Poles (90 seconds).

Marni emerges triumphant into the sunshine over Lizzie,

who limps out after falling off. (20 seconds)

I also won a 2nd place ribbon at the Keyhole-- running into a circle of chalk and not touching the chalk line-- you must turn the horse and run back.  Many a speedy young teenage girl (about twice as fast as I) totally blew this one--with their champion horses and shrieking stage moms-- because they tried to go too fast and blasted over the chalk.

Its all about precision, you see, and if you just stay out of the chalk, you may win even though you're not the fastest in the "B" Division.  Uh, otherwise known as the slow division.

   Marni places 2nd in the Keyhole-(video 45 seconds)
 featuring my Evil Nemesis "Troy"-- I beat him here at least.

Anyway, an excellent way to go out in style from this town.  Thank you to my dear friend Jamie for catching it ALL on video and not laughing!

Out on a high note as George and Jerry would say.  I will ride into the LA sunset with a new direction and love of my life, the horses-- and a fresh new batch of stories for our weekly "sunset and wine on Karas rooftop lounge"

Ahhhh..... an easy gab with the gals
and Bella the dog on my lap on the roof in the LA sunset

I'm okay with praying to Jesus if its followed by Pantera & Fire

Another recent outing took me and Jamie (and her boyfriend) to the Oregon Bull Riding Championships. Ho-leeee cow. LOVED IT. The whole night is a mashup of concert -- performance -- --tense --dangerous killer cows -- and a handsome trim matching pair of fearless cowboy savior ropers.

I made sure to hang on to my ticket stub for
the coupon on the back.

Jamie and I attend Bull Riding with all the Greyback stable peeps.
You can still rock a western look and look relevant and stylish--
retaining dignity for your age group--
all black, huge conch belt with enormous buckle,
super long narrow black boot cut pants,
western cut yoke black leather jacket from a thrift store
("Made in Paris" the label says) I've had for 15 years--
worn all through the late 90's, early 2000's Sunset Blvd/Rocker/Rainbow years.
Checkout the look on the girl's face in pink behind us.

Or, your outfit can take a terrible turn as you
see on these perhaps 50+ aged ladies.  Wait, was that girl in pink
looking at the bullride or these women?

None of my pics or videos came out very well, but let me describe.  The place is packed with people dressed in their finest western frippery, lots of camo and hats, out for the big Saturday night-- pounding beers and all riled up.  A DJ/announcer begins his patter and they do the National Anthem, then he goes into "Ladies and gentlemen lets bow our heads together in prayer to jesus christ-- that we come out of this safe, that this livestock is safe, and no one gets hurt"  on and on--that we're proud to be americans in america, they boo Californians, they are so glad that they're all white (I saw one mexican and one black cowboy-- they stood at the very back to stay out of the line of sight of most of the arena) and praising to the rooftop that all we have is apparently due to the wonderful protection of our lord and savior J. Chrizzle.  Blechhhh.

The ONE black dude and ONE vaquero--
I imagine they are discussing the hardships
 of living in a 93% white area.
Wayyy out of sight
 in the very back corner section

Then, what a shocker and so fucking awesome--the houselights go totally dark and on comes "FUCKING HOSTILE" by Pantera at earsplitting volume as all the competing cowboys come out in a line into the dark arena and a huge line of fire flares up as they walk. 

Oregon has Cowboys from Hell

So I go from wanting to puke, to my head almost exploding with joy!  That's quite a confusing and startling trip in half a second, let me tell you.  From then on, as each cowboy is introduced, they come out of the gate on the bull to their own song-- all good stuff.  From Gaga and Marilyn Manson to Journey or the Eagles.  I was impressed by the music, not one country song that I remember.  David Bowie (Under Pressure), ONE gangsta hip-hop tune, Joan Jett, not bad at all...

Bad video but it gives you the overall vibe.

See the handsome ropers in matching blue. 

Bulls have a "bucking strap"

put on them to make them mental....

The two dudes in blue, the "pickup men" ropers, are very trim and slim and matching and I had a big crush on them even though I could barely see their faces--because they saved every cowboy from the killer bulls roping and keeping them from killing anyone-- including--I'm not lying-- one bull that smashed out of the back pen, through the wall of the arena, and escaped out into the parking lot, they had to run out and get it.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES.

But the Pantera fire, heaven and Jesus reminds me and lets take a moment to

remember our friend lost too soon--

R.I.P. we'll never forget the kindness,
friendliness and hilarity of
our dear friend, Dimebag from Pantera
Shot and killed 12-08-2004

We loved you.

Lets Lighten Up Already with Jumpoff Joe

Recently I was invited up to Hugo, OR to check out a fancy farm--

Its up on "Jumpoff Joe Road"-- my favorite named road up here, (it comes from this old seastack in late 1800's that people had to get around or jump off to walk down the beach)  -- besides the name Jumpoff Joe, I love anything called a "sea stack"!?

Jump-off Joe in 1890

...Jumpoff Joe was a 100-foot-tall sea stack geological formation composed of middle Miocene concretionary sandstone^[1] at Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon, United States.^[2] It was a well-known tourist attraction before World War I.^[3] It formed sometime before the 1880s when it was connected to the mainland, and was a major impediment walking the beach.^[3] Early travelers would have to jump off the side to get over it, hence the name. Early writers claimed the site was connected with Native American mythology.^[3] Natural forces separated it from the mainland in the 1890s, and its large arch collapsed in 1916.^[3] Nothing remains of the structure today...


So we were able to take a gander at the fancy "Star Point Farms" and all their champion paints including stallions, which I've never been around, thats a lot of power and vibe when your nutsack is still intact!

Mike from Star Point Farms shows off his
Mare's wears

snazzy bodysuit keeps warm,
keeps their coat smashed down and shiny

Stallion Power-- Jadyn checks it out

Thanks Mike and Jamie!!



More Horse Sadness

Sad-- Because I'm leaving, he has to go--
there's a consequence I never thought I'd cause....

15.3hh GORGEOUS Bay Gelding, Draft Cross, 6 years - $2000 (Grants Pass)

---

Date: 2012-01-11, 1:00PM PST
Reply to: sale-ktfvj-2795010808@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

---

Absolutely gorgeous bay gelding, with tons of mane and tail and he's smart/affectionate/curious like a dog. Rocky is that one in a million horse! He is adored by everyone that knows him and women often refer to him as the Fabio of the horse world (he has rock star hair!). . .

He's just shy of 16hh, completely sound with wonderful bone and perfect feet. Could be a magnificent hunt seat horse, dressage horse, jumper, cart horse, husband horse, show stopper (with his good looks) - ANYTHING! He's just six years old now (I've had him since he was 2.5) and it breaks my heart to have to sell him, but I got him for my boyfriend in 2008 and unfortunately he never rides him. Rocky could do anything really. . . he has an amazing super-slow jog, and goes down the trail without any trouble. He's been ridden for the last few months by a beginner rider that fell in love with him (as most women do), but she's moving to LA and Rocky's going to be left standing in his run again. His actual breading is ½ Percheron, ¼ Morgan and ¼ Arabian and though he doesn't resemble of these breeds -- he took the best from each of them. He looks like a REALLY expensive, incredibly handsome warmblood - with tons and tons of mane and tail!! Price is negotiable to an EXCELLENT home.

Contact me if you're interested (541) 415-1288.

Thanks!

The sadness of detaching from the horses

Learned almost all I know from Jack

Today I told my mentor sensei Master Pai Mai cowboy Jack that I was leaving at the end of the month and I felt he was truly sad, then he said "go down to that Burbank equestrian center and hang around, see whats what-- people will take you on for exercising their horses for sure." 
Jack just knows everything and he's like a father figure. I'm sure I'll be calling him for help if/when I get some horses to ride.
I asked him how he would describe my horse skills at this point so I could put it in the classifieds.  so simple, he says "well you're not an amateur, and you're not advanced, that makes you intermediate."   Great!!!  I aspired to that classification and wondered if I could use it in CA.

Learned the other half of what I know from my only friend Jamie,
(She owns Rocky) a true "horsewoman" --fearless and admirable in
her strength and intimidating skills in all things

Jack jokes, "take Rocky with you, you guys are so good together"  The first day I got to the stables I said "wow look at him, I want to ride him!"  Jamie told me I had a ways to go before I could handle him.  Half Percheron, quarter Arabian and quarter Morgan.  So he's a big oaf.  Mouthy, spirited, 'green' (not fully trained) unfocused, obnoxious at times, but also the best looking-- see how looks can get you so far!

Jamie was the first to say okay how about Rocky today?   Jack thought I wasn't good enough yet.  But I think Jamie said something like "are you afraid of falling off?" "No." "Then you're ready to ride  him."  Never got bucked OFF once yet.  Bucked yes, fallen off, no.

 As he is now for sale... I said if I ever get to my previous level of income again I would think about bringing him down to live with me..if he didn't work out for the first people who purchase him.  I wonder.... hmmmm.

The first few days I rode him he didn't respect me.  He would play this game bobbing his head up and down, up and down, so I couldn't get his bit on.  Finally I grabbed him by the halter and said in a very low voice, right in the side of his face--  "Look, do you want to stand around here playing this fucking game in the mud, or do you want to go out and run."  He put his head right down for me and the bit went right in.  We came to "an understanding" after that and ever since its been improvement every day.  Don't anyone tell me he's not too bright (Jack).

There is a horse at these stables here that just sits in her pen day after day, no one ever comes for her. They said oh yeah that's Bailey she gets ridden about 3 times a year when her owner comes in. I was horrified! I feel guilty if I miss a week with Rocky! So i asked Jack to ask the owner if I could take her out for exercise and today was the first time I worked with her, everybody who saw me brushing her says "Oh gawd, you're going to try to ride HER? and all said she was difficult " Jack says "Her owner wants to love and hug and all over her but Bailey's just straight to the point, 'don't give me that bullshit lets go"  so I treated her that way.   she didn't act up a bit, just running in the round pen, face time I like to do before riding because riding they never get to look you in the eye, feel your body, smell you, etc right?, and when we were done she came to me with head down and licking lips just like Horse Talk TV says (I don't know why they do that but it means they acknowledge you as the boss) and Jack said she totally submitted to me and I think he was a little surprised. So i said will you give me a good reference when I go for these horse jobs in LA. ha ha ha. horse whisperer. but if they are so sensitive, which they are, don't you think they can tell that I just love them and would not hurt them and she was probably so thankful to get out of 1 foot deep manure and mud that she stands in?  I'll get more pics tomorrow and put them in here.

3 times a year-- thats neglect if you ask me. Many of the horses boarding there are taken EVERY DAY out to the pasture to run and cavort, and put away at dusk.  Some, like Rocky and Bailey, are kept in these row houses with kind of a "backyard" space-- some of  them dont play well with others.  I understand this like with my pit mix Rune.

I'm pouring out my blahhhhhh here because I really love that place (the stables) and those horses and Jack, Jamie and Jadyn and even Jessica-- the 4Jays.... so, incredibly, it actually WILL be hard to leave them behind-- unlike the rest of this shit town.

This has been the most unusual period in my life, not having a job for 5 months, the joy of being able to drive on down to the stables every day, sometimes twice, learn so much in such a short time, have zero places to go and only friends at the stable. AND I was able to exist on much less money than I ever thought possible.........

so I enjoyed it as much as possible, and I'm so grateful I had it~!  But I hope I can work from home in LA because a nap at 10:30am or 2 pm is now regular.