Cowgirl up

I finally did it. I finally drove the 90 minutes to Kent, WA to find a horse to lease. After some risky driving/map reading, I finally found Reber Ranch, the site of Equiventures Horse Riding Academy. Ok, so I don’t know if that’s what it’s actually called, but it sounded good at that moment.

I met the owner Leslie, and her horses, in the big red barn next to the General Store. That part is true. There was a General Store. Meeting her and having her give me a horse was such a fast informal process that I honestly don’t have a lot to say except she pointed out two horses deciding ultimately that “Danny” would be a better choice for me since he had been in horse shows demonstrating “Western Pleasure.”

(Sidenote: I don’t know if it’s all the wine I drank last night, and my subsequent hangover, but it feels like I am making this whole story up, but I’m not, I swear. I could not make up, Western Pleasure)

Ok, so where was I? Danny! So all of the horses at this ranch are Arabians. All you really need to know about Arabians is that they’re not anything like ranch horses, or trail horses. Where trail horses are mutts, Arabians are purebreds. Where mutts are a mixed bag in terms of temperament, purebreds are usually strong-willed and it’s no different with Arabians. These are some feisty ponies. Even Danny, a 20 year old geezer, has got some spunk.

And the girls. The girls that were there were those girls I always grew up envying, hating, judging, etc….horse girls. Being around horses is second nature to them and I have to assume with a sneer that they all “come from money.” But they were ultimately very nice as they talked circles around me regarding horse x and why he is that way because he’s a gelding just like her last horse whose canter was off because he was lame and oh look at these bites right here on this horse, and oh let’s just go tack up our horses like we’ve been doing forever and ever, ahem. Yeah. It was slightly intimidating. But I hung in there because HELLO I was in a BARN full of HORSES.

So, the deal is, I show up as much as once a week, saddle Danny the horse, groom Danny the horse, go riding in one of 4 giant, fenced pastures. Essentially, as Leslie put it, I show up and Danny is mine for a few hours, all for the economical price of $30 per week. Oh, and one of those weeks will be in the form of a lesson.

The curious thing about all of this is that it’s primarily an English-saddle operation. I’ve only ridden English once – in Ireland – and it was difficult. Maybe just because it was different but still….it is all thighs. And again, the fact that they ride English style goes to show that these are a different breed of horse girls than I am used to and I am pretty sure that Leslie, as part of her lesson, is going to push English saddles on me, and you know, I am not too sad about that.

I think, yeah! I could become a horse girl minus the family inheritance and with a side of ranch because F**k it! This is a hot damn killer opportunity to become a more well-rounded, knowledgeable rider – not to mention the fact that – with these spunky Arabians, my actually riding prowess will rule and being a good rider has always been a serious life goal. Yeehaw!

Even though I am totally freaked out and intimidated, I figure there is no better way to learn and in 3 weeks I feel confident I will be saddling up my own horse without a seconds hesitation. It is really a cool thing Leslie is offering and once the minor anxiety dissipates, I know that personally speaking, it will become the opportunity of a lifetime for me.

I don’t have any pictures of Danny the Horse because I already felt stupid enough around the horse girls and whipping out my cell phone would have been mortifying. So, I did the next best thing and found a close representation in this stock photo of an Arabian Bay. Also included, Western vs English saddles for those not familiar with the differences. Coming soon….real pictures of Danny the horse and the riding facilities.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

It’s not that I didn’t think I could do it, it was more just one of those ‘bite the bullet’ type of moments. It wasn’t long ago that I first got over any anxiety I had about riding my borrowed bike in and out of traffic, so to do it all alone in a new city for approximately 6.5 miles first thing in the morning – well – it was slightly unnerving. But not so much that I didn’t do it. And now? Now I am morally superior!!!

I think that much we all know. Oh gosh. Literally two seconds after writing that I went to take a drink of water and completely missed my mouth spilling it all over my desk. Me. F. T. W.

So, yeah. I rode my bike to work this morning, which means I have/get to ride it home. Bike commuting rules, to be sure, but it does take some getting used to – namely in the THIGH area. And my God my lungs are out of shape. (I blame you late night Portland parties). I rode from my mom’s house in Magnolia to the U District. Really not a bad route considering 5.5 miles of it are spent on the beautiful, well-paved Burke-Gilman trail.


Burke-Gilman (actual photograph!)

This path took me through the best industrial fish processing shit storm machines that Ballard has to offer before dumping me along some lovely canal, which I am sure has a name, but which I just think of as the Duffy Boat canal. It is right before the Fremont Bridge and it’s pretty rough riding along watching the glassy surface of the morning water break from hungry fish or the gliding paddles of those lunatic rowers who got up earlier and burned more calories than me this morning. Jerks.


Duffy Boat Canal (Internet Stock)

I like to think I will bike commute, oh, say, 3 times a week? If not more. And when it’s not bike, it’s bus. This is my environmental favor for the time I’m in Seattle, as well as my attempt to have a bangin ass body when I return to P-town. I would like to buy vintage clothes. Bags and bags of vintage clothes. Girls whose clothes I want to buy were once midgets, so I have to shrink down to look tres cool. Who am I kidding? I will never look tres cool, but whatever! I can still have killer stems.

And yes, the ultimate goal is to make this a permanent thing. With all the perks of bike riding, why would I want to go back to sitting in my car dealing with asshole drivers while I stink up the ozone and let the world pass me by? Plus, bike riding is fun. ‘Nuff said.

Special thanks to Ryan Miller for lending me his, uh, Soma (insert cool bike knowledge here – sorry babe – I forget) I will protect it with my, uh, … well let’s just say I will protect it really, really well.

PS - every person that comes into work this morning and sees my bike sitting here gives me a "Well done!" or a "Good for you!" See, I am helping them feel good too. again, ftw.

It's Friday again!

And thank goodness, I feel like I have finally turned a corner. Ok, so maybe, took a curve on a windy mountain road, is a more apt description. But either way, things are starting to develop a bit more in Seattle. Sure, I still get homesick for Portland, but I am no longer at that point where I can’t even help but wallow about my situation. Instead! I am at that point where I have identified all my sources of unease, admitted and dealt with the fact that I am sometimes less than happy about this situation, and have started looking for ways to make the most of it instead of focusing on the fact that it’s hard or not ideal, or whatever. Really, even though it’s hard, I know it’s right. And maybe I’d go so far to say I know it’s right because it’s hard.

What is no longer hard is finding new things to occupy my time with. Yesterday, Bernadette gave me 3 new books to read. All delightful summer reading: The Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton biography, Furious Love; Andre Agassi’s autobiography; and some other book about a Jewish family sitting Shiva after the death of their father/husband/brother/uncle/what-have-you.

I am also going to check out that ranch today – the one that leases horses. Whooo! I am not sure on the details, like, what leasing a horse for $40 a ride actually gets me, but I do know that I am crazy excited at the prospect of having my own horse to ride every week.

I also ran across an article in the Seattle Times today about a dance studio downtown that has reasonably priced drop-in dance classes available. I am so in. I’ve always wanted to take dance classes – so watch out world.

And of course to do all of these new things, I need money, which! Will happen on August 10. First paycheck. If that is not a morale boost, motivation, and incentive to keep on keepin on, than I don’t know what is. To have money after not having money for so long is pretty unfathomable. First order of business, taking my very patient and supportive boyfriend to a Mariner’s game. Then I take my ladies out to get cocktails and pedicures – drinks on me. Then I take the burden off of my overworked mother and for the first time in a long time, pay my bills and then some. Dim sum? Yes, I can buy that too.

So, fear not faithful readers. My temporary tryst in Seattle is burgeoning into a nice, little, happy space in my brain. It’s been a slow and demanding (sorry and thanks to those who consistently quell my anxiety!) road, but I am making the turns one by one, and I expect, at the end of it all, life will, for at least awhile, feel like the equivalent of cruising down a Montana freeway, complete with lovely scenery – curvy mountain roads far off in the distance.

Friday, I'm in Love with You

This week. This week is best summed up with my decision to write a blog post on Wednesday night that flowed freely and spoke openly about my attempts at positivity in the face of unforeseen hardships related to this move. It was pretty good. I felt good writing it and felt good reading it and was like, yeah! Wow! I am a champion!

Enter the following morning when I rolled over in bed and before doing anything else, deleted the entire thing, adorable picture and all. Shit. Needless to say, this week has been rough city for me! Change is hard. For everyone. I know. But for me, it is my Achilles. I’ve always struggled to deal with change and had to force myself into those uncomfortable situations and have usually come out happier for it. So while I know it’s hard, I also know it’s good and if you want to grow and learn at all in this crazy world….then change is the necessary evil we all must face.

So, here it is Friday and I am at work (I know, I know) and my job is picking up a bit and they let me wear whatever I want (Chucks – yeah!) and they all have Ph.D’s and talk about nerdy, research-heavy topics, and I can walk out the door at 4 every day, and I commute by bus (and soon to be bike), and I work on a beautiful campus surrounded by funky shops and even funkier people, and it’s Seattle, not Guam, so I mean, all in all, there are some positive aspects to this decision to move away from the home I love so much.

I haven’t done much this week but try relentlessly, and at times hopelessly, to get a hold on my emotions. New job? New living situation? All my crap in boxes? Far away from friends? No more gorgeous, Portland apartment? No more gorgeous daily Portland period??? Sigggghhhhhh. It’s not ideal. BUT! I am making money and relieving some stress off those who have spent far too long supporting me. And I am living rent-free, which means I have months to save up for the house that trumps the apartment and becomes the ultimate in SE Portland living….

Speaking of Portland, I am headed there after work today. My first weekend back and MY GOD it took so long to get here! Needless to say, I am having my second happy, positive day this week. 2/3, not terrible. Here’s hoping that next week the tables turn in my favor.

Here's to Portland. I'll see you today, yo!

The Times They Are A Changin'

What fun would summer be if I didn't pack it up and move it out and keep a blog about it all? My most recent adventure finds me venturing back to Seattle...not so much by choice, but because this economy is in such disarray that I might classify as a complete idiot if I didn't take the job offered to me by my beautiful sister and the kind folks at the University of Washington.

Stable, regular employment. Ah, what a blessing. What a relief! My new steady requires I (wo)man the front desk at a research center on campus. Everyone I met with during my interview was super chill and the environment was perfect! School. I love school. I love that I'll be surrounded by grad students and professors who ride their bikes to work and can't be bothered to throw on anything more impressive than a t-shirt from their latest travels to Costa Rica or whatever.

The job is all well and good. Hell, it's great! But I am loathe to leave Portland even with the amazingness that is friends and family and ferry rides in Sea-town. I love Portland. Like full on want to make out with Portland all of the time, which faithful readers, is why this move is temporary to the fullest. I'll be back in Portland most weekends and I hope my Portland peeps aren't lying to me when they say they'll be up to visit me (H&M shopping sprees, ahem). I'm gonna save money like a mother f*cker and head back to rent myself a beautiful little house with a garden and a garage in the heart of Portland proper just as soon as I can.

And in the meantime...I am going to enjoy the crap out of this latest adventure. I had such a rollicking good time the brief year I previously resided in the Emerald city and I have no doubt similar shenanigans will again ensue. As for this blog, it is at once a selfish way for me to stay connected to the life I'm leaving, but also a way for me to update everyone on the haps in Seattle, while also chit-chatting with those I won't be harassing every day through text, or telephone, or frequent facebook hello's.

So please read and enjoy and comment as often as your pretty little heart desires. I'm totally selfish, it's true, but believe it or not, I want to hear about you too...(and we can make rhymes together!)...now I bid you adieu. <3, Lucy