Productive, But Not Really
This morning I was going to go to training, but Kim wasn't feeling well so we rescheduled for Monday. Instead I worked Kash in the walk and trot around the neighborhood and realized that he's not been out around the neighborhood in a while. He didn't do bad, but he was a bit distracted and not really "on the aids."
After that I had a lesson and Emma got to start the trot, she was quite excited. Granted, there was some minor trauma when Chewy stepped on Emma's toe. Of course, it wasn't until Chewy's hoof was OFF Emma's foot that she cried. We took off her boot and sock to reassure Emma that her toe was OK. A few more sniffles and the reapplication of said footwear and she was good to go. Her focus is becoming much better and thus her riding is improving. She really likes draft horses and so having Chewy plus Ruby and Panda is quite a treat for her.
Following the lesson I was going to work Mom's two horses, but discovered Dakota in quite a state. She was standing under the shade with Rowdy but unlike the big black gelding, she was breathing quite heavily, practically panting, but just through her nose. Knowing this not to be a good thing I led her over to the hose and spent the next 10-20 minutes hosing the mare with water to help cool her down. Granted, now we were standing in the sun, but the water was much cooler than her hot flesh. After I hosed her down she, of course, rolled and created a rather muddy mess, but that's okay, she was breathing much more steadily and had drunk quite a bit of water.
Then it was off and running errands. I FINALLY mailed the computer to its new home. (It should be there the 31st!) It's insured and being sent via UPS, they'll e-mail me the tracking number later. The lady at the counter was quite slow in getting everything inputed, though. I remember when I worked at Kwik Ship and having to do a much, much quicker job. By the time I was done there were three other people waiting to be served. I could hear another person in back packing things. Ah, yes, the old memories of working for shipping places!
The next stop was Marley Feeds to pick up some joint pellets for Mom's horses. When I pulled up around noon some crazy person was out working a horse over jumps. My thought is either she was exceptionally dedicated or extremely stupid. Not only is it hard on the rider, but 105˚ at 20-30% humidity does NOT agree with the equine athlete. That's a rough guestimate, I don't actually know what the humidity was, but the temperature is about the same and since it's the monsoon season the dewpoint and humidity are both up. As I was pulling out I noticed that they changed riders and a second person worked the horse over some low jumps. I don't know, I can work outside until about 11.00 without too much worry, but I will NOT work a horse after 10.30 in the summer. It's just stupid and foolish and it most definitely isn't worth the health of the horse or the risk of some sort of heat stroke or exhaustion for both horse and rider.
As I wandered back home I hit the feed store to grab some oats and pick up a few things for Marty. I finally made it home a bit after 1.00 and have been working on page 24 for Shifting Times, which is just about finished! I'm quite excited, I haven't had this quick of a turn-around for pages in quite some time. I hope I can keep it up and get myself a bit caught up and then maintain once school starts. It would be REALLY nice to be able to finish with the first chapter before the end of next year.
Speaking of next year ... did you know I will be graduated in less than 10 months? WOHOOOOOOO!!!!! *Dances happily.*
I need to finish the re-vamp for my site next week and try and get some more information down for Kashian. I don't think I ever mentioned that I finally have Aitnu's family line figured out, mwah ha ha, but I can't tell until after I'm done with Merging Worlds (the first part/book of the Shifting Times series). Part of me can't believe that I've managed to stick with it this long, and the other part knew I was quite stubborn all along.
Once I finish Chapter One: Runaways, I plan on re-doing the first two pages (at least) and then possibly getting it published, just a small self-published run. It'll mostly be for myself, but if anyone's interested I'll make more copies, probably to sell near cost (unless I manage some massive following in the next year, which, given my current track record, is highly unlikely).
Which brings me to the ever-present curiosity that occasionally plagues my mind of why I don't get more recognition for my art. I know I have a small, fierce following, but they are friends more than fans, which is actually quite a good thing, but it can get frustrating because at times I don't feel like I get the recognition that my ability deserves...? I think part of it continues to fall back on the fact that I don't really promote myself much (or well for that matter). I might have my art a lot of places, but I don't always go out of my way in trying to engage people. I'm not very good at self-promotion and I feel a bit self-conscious and don't want to get obnoxious.
Ach, whatever. I'm still in college (for a little while at least). As I've figured before, I won't worry too much about promoting myself until I'm through and have the time for such pursuits, like more conventions and the like (if I have the money for it, and I should, I WILL be at FC in 2010!). And checking out local galleries and getting into the First Friday thing down in Phoenix where they have the artwalk and other activities once a month.
Of course then there's the consideration that both horses and art take up a lot of time and I do have to consider that there will be a bit of give and take there. I don't ever plan on doing a whole lot of showing, but I do think it would be a fun experience to compete and get a sense of how good I actually am compared to other riders.
Time to wander off the computer and feed horses, or at least get them their Psyllium, Kash already had his this morning, but the other three went without due to lack of oats.
After that I had a lesson and Emma got to start the trot, she was quite excited. Granted, there was some minor trauma when Chewy stepped on Emma's toe. Of course, it wasn't until Chewy's hoof was OFF Emma's foot that she cried. We took off her boot and sock to reassure Emma that her toe was OK. A few more sniffles and the reapplication of said footwear and she was good to go. Her focus is becoming much better and thus her riding is improving. She really likes draft horses and so having Chewy plus Ruby and Panda is quite a treat for her.
Following the lesson I was going to work Mom's two horses, but discovered Dakota in quite a state. She was standing under the shade with Rowdy but unlike the big black gelding, she was breathing quite heavily, practically panting, but just through her nose. Knowing this not to be a good thing I led her over to the hose and spent the next 10-20 minutes hosing the mare with water to help cool her down. Granted, now we were standing in the sun, but the water was much cooler than her hot flesh. After I hosed her down she, of course, rolled and created a rather muddy mess, but that's okay, she was breathing much more steadily and had drunk quite a bit of water.
Then it was off and running errands. I FINALLY mailed the computer to its new home. (It should be there the 31st!) It's insured and being sent via UPS, they'll e-mail me the tracking number later. The lady at the counter was quite slow in getting everything inputed, though. I remember when I worked at Kwik Ship and having to do a much, much quicker job. By the time I was done there were three other people waiting to be served. I could hear another person in back packing things. Ah, yes, the old memories of working for shipping places!
The next stop was Marley Feeds to pick up some joint pellets for Mom's horses. When I pulled up around noon some crazy person was out working a horse over jumps. My thought is either she was exceptionally dedicated or extremely stupid. Not only is it hard on the rider, but 105˚ at 20-30% humidity does NOT agree with the equine athlete. That's a rough guestimate, I don't actually know what the humidity was, but the temperature is about the same and since it's the monsoon season the dewpoint and humidity are both up. As I was pulling out I noticed that they changed riders and a second person worked the horse over some low jumps. I don't know, I can work outside until about 11.00 without too much worry, but I will NOT work a horse after 10.30 in the summer. It's just stupid and foolish and it most definitely isn't worth the health of the horse or the risk of some sort of heat stroke or exhaustion for both horse and rider.
As I wandered back home I hit the feed store to grab some oats and pick up a few things for Marty. I finally made it home a bit after 1.00 and have been working on page 24 for Shifting Times, which is just about finished! I'm quite excited, I haven't had this quick of a turn-around for pages in quite some time. I hope I can keep it up and get myself a bit caught up and then maintain once school starts. It would be REALLY nice to be able to finish with the first chapter before the end of next year.
Speaking of next year ... did you know I will be graduated in less than 10 months? WOHOOOOOOO!!!!! *Dances happily.*
I need to finish the re-vamp for my site next week and try and get some more information down for Kashian. I don't think I ever mentioned that I finally have Aitnu's family line figured out, mwah ha ha, but I can't tell until after I'm done with Merging Worlds (the first part/book of the Shifting Times series). Part of me can't believe that I've managed to stick with it this long, and the other part knew I was quite stubborn all along.
Once I finish Chapter One: Runaways, I plan on re-doing the first two pages (at least) and then possibly getting it published, just a small self-published run. It'll mostly be for myself, but if anyone's interested I'll make more copies, probably to sell near cost (unless I manage some massive following in the next year, which, given my current track record, is highly unlikely).
Which brings me to the ever-present curiosity that occasionally plagues my mind of why I don't get more recognition for my art. I know I have a small, fierce following, but they are friends more than fans, which is actually quite a good thing, but it can get frustrating because at times I don't feel like I get the recognition that my ability deserves...? I think part of it continues to fall back on the fact that I don't really promote myself much (or well for that matter). I might have my art a lot of places, but I don't always go out of my way in trying to engage people. I'm not very good at self-promotion and I feel a bit self-conscious and don't want to get obnoxious.
Ach, whatever. I'm still in college (for a little while at least). As I've figured before, I won't worry too much about promoting myself until I'm through and have the time for such pursuits, like more conventions and the like (if I have the money for it, and I should, I WILL be at FC in 2010!). And checking out local galleries and getting into the First Friday thing down in Phoenix where they have the artwalk and other activities once a month.
Of course then there's the consideration that both horses and art take up a lot of time and I do have to consider that there will be a bit of give and take there. I don't ever plan on doing a whole lot of showing, but I do think it would be a fun experience to compete and get a sense of how good I actually am compared to other riders.
Time to wander off the computer and feed horses, or at least get them their Psyllium, Kash already had his this morning, but the other three went without due to lack of oats.