"El Ka-Bong Will Save Us!"

[merimask]

I completely forgot to mention that my husband, in addition to buying me an armfull of roses that look like burgundy velvet and smell like heaven, ~also~ gave me a DVD I've been wanting for a long time. "The Life Aquatic"! How very cool is ~that~? I love that movie.

Unfortunately I haven't watched it yet because, you know...Olympics. I just love the Olympics. Summer, winter, I don't care. I think the Winter Olympics are actually more fun because of all the funky sports you don't normally get to see. Like curling! I don't know what it is about that sport, but I find it fascinating. It's like a giant frozen game of pool, or something. And all the snowboarding sports have me mesmerized. Those kids are freaking amazing.

And then there's this guy, who is SO much fun to watch. You'd never imagine short track skating could be such a spellbinding sport...and then this guy skates out in his tights...

And what is it with the tights? Except for the snowboarders everyone looks like they're wearing Marvel superhero costumes ('cept no capes), which look like remarkably chilly things to wear outdoors in the snow and the cold. Hmm!

Comments

[moko-moko.livejournal.com]

I was watching curling too! Me and my friend were totally mezmerized because we had NO idea what was happening and we got driven to the point sof needing to look it up on Wikipedia right then and there. Needless to say, I still don't get it :3

I'm mostly a Summer watcher, mostly because of the equestrian stuff. If I can no longer afford lessons, I shall live vicariously through others!

And your hubby sounds SWEET! *coos*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't really get the curling either. There seems to be some strategy involved, where you don't want the rocks too close together or something 'cause they can get bumped out and your points get stolen...? :::shrugs::: Like many obscure winter sports I think it requires some degree of beer consumption, in order to reach its fullest entertainment potential. It does look like fun though. I think it's the image of *men* sweeping as fast as they freaking can that always catches my attention.

Equestrian stuff. :::sigh::: You and I could have long talks on the subject. I did an awful lot of barrel riding and stuff when I was a kid. HUGE horse nut. I miss it.

Yeah Greg is a good one. AND he has super-long pretty hair. So, you know, jackpot. ;-)

Let us speak of Equus! *gushes*

[moko-moko.livejournal.com]

OMG HORSIES! *cough* I mean, aren't they splendid? I used to take lessons for jumping which I *looooved* because of the freedom and total rush you got, and was just getting into some dressage basics when I just couldn't afford it anymore. Wah.

Luckily, one of my friends throughout grade and high school had a farm with 4 horses and I'd go up about every weekend to ride. There were 3 Quarter horses and a retired racehorse who was in foal. My fave was one of the Quarter Hosses named Dan and he was such a weirdo. First off, he didn't have that stocky body and blocky head; he was really lithe and streamlined and sooo high strung (which is why I loved riding him, we were both speed freaks) but still really well behaved. He just always asked "Sure this is fun, but wouldn't it be more fun going 30 mph?!" Le sigh, I miss the guy, but I don't talk to that friend anymore. Together, we would always do flat racing in the fields, jumping and messing with the local cow herds :3

How bout you? I want to hear all about your experiences! *end babble*

Re: Let us speak of Equus! *gushes*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Oh boy, I'm older than you and have much more mileage, so there's no way I could fit my horse stories into a post (or two...or four). But, basically I was a horse nut from an early age, learned how to ride by reading books (I got up on the back of a seventeen-hand high thoroughbred when I was eight and put him through walk, trot, flying trot, canter, hand gallop, and back to trot. Trainer sez "how long have you been riding??" I sez "About five minutes.").

A very brief synopsis: My mom was always afraid I'd get hurt so she didn't condone riding. I started doing it on the sly when I was fifteen. Got a part-time job, used my own money, leased a horse, taught myself to ride western( with a lot of bareback, just for fun). When I was eighteen I started competition riding, mostly barrels but some cutting. Leased a GREAT horse, 16 hand appaloosa gelding named Rebel. We had tons of fun and I totally worked up that horse until he was a shining beautiful thing (and then the owner sold him out from under me for a fortune... Go figger.). In my early twenties I leased another horse which I loved a LOT, a sorrel pinto gelding (mostly quarterhorse I think)that I rode for a long time. The owners were slobs and in spite of my best care (I was the ONLY person who ever cleaned a stall in that place...I had to provide my own straw)he contracted a nasty hoof infection when I was away for a few weeks on business, sickened, and was put down. Very sad story. :-( Since then I've had no stomache for horses. They seem like strong powerful animals but in reality they're SO fragile and exist purly at the whim of (very often) lazy owners who treat them like objects instead of living things.

I've been making some serious money though, with my art, and I've been considering buying and boarding (rather than leasing...cuts down on the uncertainty factor). Haven't ridden for years...but it's not like I've forgotten how.

Oh, and my favorite "breed", in my experience, is most certainly the 3/4 quarter horse, 1/4 Polish Arab. Polish arabs are tough, pretty and a little warm-blooded, and Quarters are so sturdy and sure-footed. It's a popular mix up here in the northeast, and there's a breeder in Canada just over the border that sells 'em (started 4 year olds go for about 3,000 US dollars). I'm leaning that way, if I decide to jump back in the lake. Fresians are wonderfully gaited, smart and beautiful but waaaay out of my price range. I'd get one though, if I won the lottery.

Yay for horse talk! Sorry if I babbled.

[rumdiculous.livejournal.com]

I know that it involves brooms...and big rock things. That's about it. When I came across that sport I just had to stop and give a 'wtf' look. O.o

[merimask.livejournal.com]

My daughter, who is clever, said today about Curling; "It looks like a really fun 'game', but it's a dumb 'sport'."