Well gentle readers, Nancy's at a loss as to what to write tonight. I've been hacking away at my little Doctor Who story, but when it comes to my blog--I've a wee bit of a writer's block tonight. So, what to do, ey?
I guess I'm just going to rattle off whatever spings to mind--may not have much rhyme or reason tonight. I do most of my blog writing spur of the moment--as you can tell by my poor editing--but I do think about what I'm going to write, before I sit down to it, as a general rule. Not so tonight.
So, it there may or may not be a neat segway from one paragraph to another, there may not be any rhyme or reason to this blog--I can't say...haven't written it, yet. 
For someone who's been a horse nutter far longer than a Doctor Who nutter, I don't write much about horses, do I?
I've not ridden in over two years...spained my ankle (indirectly, not while riding) last time. It hurts a lot to ride now, what with my bad knees and all...my knees are a torn up mess, still, even after the one surgery a few years back...so lessons are an object in excruciating pain. Lessons, in my case, usually involve a lot of work at the trot--without the benefit of stirrups--which is hard enough riding hunt seat (or "English" as we Yanks say), but a whole lot harder in a big old western saddle.more leather to get in your way. It means standing up without stirrups, at a bouncy trot (I'm not advanced enough, usually, to merit the horses with the lovely springy smooth gaits--I usually get the old rotters that trot like they've three legs) and when your knees are shot--baby, it HURTS!!!
Technically,the style of riding that I do, western pleasure (see photo below), you don't trot, but jog. That's a slow version of a trot--it's a ground covering gait that's between a walk and a trot, and it's usually very comfy to sit to, once you've learned how...again, depends on the gaits of the horse and your own skill level. I'm still novice...can't afford to go advanced...lessons when I was a kid ranged from 5 to 15 dollars an hour--now they're 25 dollars--way over my head, financially, so I'm stuck at novice--tho' when re-starting lessons after a long period, like I did for phys-ed class in college (only time I ever got an "A" in gym class 
) I began at the beginner level to refresh my memory and to re-train my muscles...very important, believe me.
Anyway, 'fraid I was just a big scardy cat when I was younger--truth to tell, still am, a bit. Let's put it this way, my favourite horse story--and man, did I have a lot of them--when I was a kid, was called "Afraid to Ride" by the late CW Anderson (great illustrator as well, btw)...I was terrified of going fast on a horse--still am a bit scared, I guess...but at the same time, thrilled...sort of like someone who's a little afraid of the water, but loves to swim, I guess. Which is maybe why I got into antique saddles and other equine collectables. I view antique saddles--most epsecially western saddles--as working pieces of art--these were mostly handmade. And western saddles are fun, as they changed designs over the decades--very much like automobiles and clothing. I can frequently date a saddle, roughly, by its design. My favourite non-fiction book, is an out-of-print book called, Man on Horseback. It's the history of horse equipment and riding since the day man first domesticated the horse--facinating reading for someone like me--a history lover and a horse lover. I love cleaning tack--especially something that's not been cleaned in a long time--leather restoration is not much different than wood restoration...just need the right products, tools, knowlege, time and patience--and loads of good old fashioned elbow grease. I once bought an old iron stirrup--military or police style--and it was positively black with age. Thought I'd shine it up---expecting to see a silver finish--turns out the stirrup was actually brass--and it was beautiful! Took me hours and hours, but I got it looking back to it's orginal condition--gave it to a friend as a Christmas gift--which she loved. She still uses it as a deocration on her bookshelf. It came out even shinier than the pair shown below:
People ask me what my favourite horse breed is, but it's hard to say. I believe that a horse is a horse, and a good horse is a good horse...but I am rather fond of Friesians (top photo). I first encountered them in the movies, Disney's "Tall Tale" (Patrick Swayze's character rode one) and the movie "Ladyhawke." Later, I actually went to Friesland, and had many close up encounters with this wonderful breed. They are not only beautiful, but intelligent, friendly and gentle as lambs. I fell in love, leaning over fences and petting these great horses. Of course, I enjoyed riding the Icelandic horses, and in Egypt rode a snow white purebred Arab mare, at 10pm at night, in the dunes above the Spynx/great pyramid. The mare was a dream--with gaits that were like riding on a cloud!-and, I very much like our American Standardbreds. They are also very intelligent and often very sensible horses. But, any good horse is okay with me.
These days, the only horses in my life are models--and I can't afford to collect and show those, either. But, I still have the love, and that's what counts, ey? My dream is learn how to drive a horse--I've tried several times to get lessons--both by cash or trade for work--but either got stiffed after all my work (don't ask) or the lessons were simply way out of my price range. Of course now, not only can't I afford it, I don't have transport any longer, so that's another dream that bit the dust. But, at least I can say that I tried to make it come true, ey?
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And, several people on the phone told me I was "nice" today, and more complements on my phone voice. That was nice, for a change--course I got the old bugger from the golfing club, who threatened to sue me and drag me through the courts because I wouldn't cancel his membership for him (I can't, as I don't work directly for the club--which I tried repeatedly to tell him). Gah! I hate golfers--I mean it. I don't know about other parts of the world, but American golfers are complete arses. And I do mean, complete. Utter. 110% Arses. The old fart yelled and fussed and hollered that I was "harrassing" him--all I was doing was politely asking him to ring up the club directly to cancel his membership...had to hang up on the old 
.
Also, someone stopped by to say hello, a co-worker from my former job at the harness race track/casino in Saratoga Springs. She loved my apartment--which took me a bit by surprise. She wanted to know where I "got my ideas" for decor...huh. Didn't really think about decor too much--just put things where I liked them and where I thought they'd go well together--but not really planned or anything like that. And I don't really have a lot of nice things--don't even own a sofa or even a proper chair--this one I'm sitting in, a glider rocker with cushions--I bought used and it's literally falling apart--tho' it still looks sort of okay. I have only 3 chairs in the living room (two of which can be seen in the cat photos), one chair in the bedroom and two chairs at the kitchen table--and that's my seting--unless you count the bed--and none of the chairs are especially meant for comfort, trust me on this one. So, I was a bit taken aback by her enthusiasm. I always thought of my decor as just a step above Early American chav, ha-ha. I mean, the Queer Eye guys definately din't visit my home. Good thing I'm a straight old maid--they'd have a field day re-doing my apartment and me! Not that I'd ever want to be trendy, mind. NMS--not my style. 
Well...I guess I'll go watch Doctor Who some more. Love Runaway Bride. There are so many layers added to the Doctor's character in this--especially the final scene...first time I almost shed a tear watching the show--I felt so bad for the Doctor--and Donna. Tennant really did blow me away with his range, this time. It seemed to me, he really dug down deep into the character..fantastic acting. I don't usually get weepy with tv or movies--unless an animal dies--especially if it's a dog. But, something about the Doctor this time, and what he was "feeling"--or in reality, what Mr. Tennant was portraying him as feeling--really touched home with me.
So, guess I've wound down, for now. Not a very interesting blog tonight, I'm afraid. Sorry. My jaw hurts from this blasted perpetual toothace--one of the many downfalls of poverty..oh, you have some health coverage, sort of--but you are limited in your medical/dental as to who you can see--can't see anyone locally, until mid-February, as there's only 2 dentists in the entire north country who take state/federal medical plans. So, I just have to live with a tooh/jaw/ear ache every day...the Tylenol helps, but it's actually quite tiring, sometimes, and often keeps me awake for a few hours at night. But I do have hours during the day, when it hardly hurts at all. So it's not that bad. It's no worse then when I hurt my back, or when I blew out my knee, at any rate. No big deal.
It's finally cold again here--expecting more sleet, snow and freezing rain--yippee. Suppose that's life, ey? And, if any of you have bothered to read this far, I do so want to thank my dozen or so readers for taking the time to read my blogs--and for your kind remarks. I do appreciate it, very much. You've all been so kind and I'm just plain gobsmacked every time, I swear. Thanks.
) as the pain in near my kidneys, no idea what this is about. Doesn't hurt as much now, but decided it needed a look, so off I go to hospital late today. 
