Yee Haw!

The weather finally broke (a little. It was still 85) and I decided to take one of my pretty ponies out for a ride. It has been long enough since I have been on that I decided I needed a saddle which kind of ruined the spontaneous feel but that was the sacrifice I made.

I let the loose horse follow us and we went for a sweet stroll out into the back pasture. Loose rein, easy going, absolutely wonderful. I was having so much fun that I decided I would pen the other mare and Daydream and I would do an additional stroll up the neighbor's hill.


She got halfway up the hill and decided she was done going in that direction. I decided she wasn't. She charged up a slate cliff face. I did get her stopped but that meant we also had to get back down. Once we had (and that was pretty doggone hair raising), she became pretty insistent we were going down the rest of the way. Again I disagreed.

We were facing downhill on gravel and she went up into the air. Now you know I am over 50, I know I am over 50, but the wee little horsey didn't seem to give a darn about that at all. Her goal was to get rid of me.


By sheer luck she didn't. But she did succeed in making me mad. We went up the rest of that hill at a trot. I figured if she was going fast enough she wouldn't have enough brain power left to think about tossing me.

When we reached the top, we were both panting. As if our struggle hadn't been enough we discovered a group of possible horse eating chickens waiting for us. Scary stuff for an exhausted little horse.

I got off and showed her that the chickens weren't too dangerous after all (I could do this because they were behind 2 fences. Hey, I'm not especially brave around them either). I even took the bridle off and let her graze a bit.

To save us both any more stress, I walked her back down the hill. Piece of cake. A stop at the house to pick up a few carrots for good behavior and then down to the barn. Some brushing, some carrot munching and then back to her well earned freedom.

Pretty exciting stuff, huh? Yeah. I have decided it was just too hard on the horse and I am going to give her a few days off. That sounds way better (and braver!) than admitting to any cowardice or soreness on my part.

Hooray (Again)!

A new Simon's Cat video. My day is complete now.

Criminal Behavior

I am back in Kentucky and I am a murderer. No, if I am to be honest, I am a mass murderer. I wasn't raised that way but it just happened. A sad, sad state of affairs.

It started innocently enough. Fuchsia and I had to go to town to stock up on all the things I consider necessities after being away for a month (her version of what is necessary is way different than mine) so we hopped in the car and headed for the nearest big town (2400 people). It had recently rained which had brought out every black butterfly within 600 miles. All of them were in the road.

I tried avoiding them for the first several miles but being tossed from side to side in the car was not quite the joy ride Fuchsia had been envisioning. She pointed out that getting ourselves killed by calling both sides of the road our own was probably not the best answer to the dilemma. No, I would have to face up to the fact that our grocery trip would involve murder. On a mass scale.

I hit them. I plowed through hundreds of them. And I winced every time I did.

By the time we had finished our errands and returned home my sides ached from all the wincing. My jaws were locked together and I had a massive headache. The front of my car was covered with butterfly gore. I won't even discuss the immense guilt complex. My biggest hope is that they don't decide to stage a revenge and retribution melee.

I may park the car for the rest of the summer. You all can be ready for me to call you for a ride. Just bring the car with the butterfly catcher.

Garden Party

If I have the time, one of my favorite things to do when I am in New York is to visit Sonnenberg Gardens. I discovered it (for myself since obviously someone knew about it before me!) many years ago listed in a book titled, New York, Off The Beaten Path (a great state series by the way). The gardens are peaceful, beautiful, and feel like a step back in time. This year I was lucky enough to share it with my little baby brother. Not only was he great company but he also helped me see it through a beginner's eyes again.

Before we entered the actual grounds, we came upon the welcome crew out panhandling.


Unfortunately we were not prepared for their appearance so we had nothing to give them. I swear I heard them mumbling something about ungrateful tourists as we walked away.

Once on the grounds, I ignored the admission person's advice and headed to the Japanese Garden. In my humble (?) opinion it really is the best starting point. Asian statuary, brooks running east to west, and a marvelous teahouse replica that the original owner used as both an entertainment center and a playhouse.


From there, it was off to the Roman bath house. When I first started going there the pool area was closed to the public as it was too unsafe to enter. It is still undergoing renovation but at least visitors can get a peek at it now for a sense of what life was like back in the 20's.


The pillars and the floor tiles are marble. If you enlarge the above photo the fountain that fed the pool is visible behind one of the pair of pillars.

We wandered through the other gardens (rose, traditional, blue and white, subrosa, and one I can't remember the name of) taking our time and oohing and ahing over each.


(In the formal garden)


(Rose garden)

We also passed under this exquisite Art Nouveau folly. Another structure that was no longer accessible to the public,


but it was on the way to my absolute favorite garden on the grounds. The Rock Garden.






It was cooler there which was a treat after walking the entire grounds in August heat.

Our final stop was the mansion itself,



(BTW ladies, he is single!) a 40 room summer home for Frederick (founder of Citibank) and Mary Thompson.


Many of the couple's original furnishings are still scattered through the house,



including one of Mrs. Thompson's famous white peacocks which she had stuffed upon its demise (let's hope it was after its demise!).



After we had done all that walking, baby brother and I agreed that it was time to find some 'stuffing' for ourselves so we left the grounds and headed back into the 21st century for some elegant cafeteria chow. Ponderosa called to us and, after all that gentility, it would have been uncivilized to ignore them.

As homage to our day we made sure to crook our pinkies when we ate.

The Dog Ate My Internet

Yes, I did have the best of intentions but I unknowingly traveled into an internet netherworld earlier this week. By the time I clawed my way out of the abyss, my nablopomo was way past being a possibility. Therefore the rest of this months posts are entirely at my whim. And I won't feel guilty! (Yeah, right.)

Anyway, after Bassman and I had Geezer Night Out, I went back to Rochester with him to spend the night (shameless hussy that I am). The next morning we decided to do explore Seabreeze, an area he had spent a great deal of time as a child. His grandparents had a home directly in front of it. Their house was no longer there but he had a wonderful time telling me stories of what it had been like.

The Great Ontario Sea was across the street from the amusement park. It was busy, busy, busy. Boats everywhere and who could blame them? If there had been a rowboat available, we would have been in it.




No seaworthy vehicles for us. We made do with the car and drove around the big city instead. I had the feeling there was a store Bassman wanted to show me (since he only mentioned it 9,999 times. Don't call me dense!) so I suggested we go by there.

To him, this is what Rochester is all about. Not RIT, or Kodak, or even the Eastman school of Music (side note - I was saddened by Mitch Miller's passing [an alumni]. After I realized he hadn't died years before. Am I on top of things or what?). Nope, none of those can compare to this;



The HOG. Also known as 'The Store That Ate My Brain'. Three floors of musical gear. Not just single displays but stacks. It was too dangerous for us to go in (because, as a drummer wannabe I know that if I just had enough gear, I would be great. Practice is overrated!) without boatloads of cash at our disposal. We had to content ourselves with merely passing by.

After a quick lunch, he had to get back to work and I had to head south to Pine Valley (where further adventures awaited me on Monday. That is what is known as a teaser). We never have nearly enough time together. The good news is that after 30 years spending time together is still our goal.

I will probably be heading back into the netherworld for a few more days before we pack our bags and head back south. But you can trust that if I can find that pesky internet, I will make use of it.

PSA

A wonderful video from a wonderful blog, Hyperbole and a Half. Much fun.




I still haven't learned that lesson!

Geezer Night Out

Last night was the Carnival of Madness concert at CMAC in Canandaigua.



It was my first time there (and in all probability, my last since I am rarely in NY in the summer) so I had no idea what to expect as far as the venue. Smaller than the Verizon Wireless Center in Indy and much more comfortable. The fairly constant breeze from the lake had a lot to do with that. There was a lovely mural on one of the walls,


denoting music, lakes, and grapes (this is wine country after all). And in addition to the typical beer, wine, and merchandise vendors there were also booths that sold food. Food we don't have back home in Kentucky.


(I want to know where the dinosaur ranch is)

The first band up was 10 Years. I had seen them once before in Indy and I looked forward to seeing them again. They did not disappoint.



At one point during their show, the drummer started tossing sticks into the audience. Not to be outdone, the guitar player brought this out


and the crowd went crazy. He didn't toss it but he did use it in a unique way,



which caused my brain to cry out, "But that's a Zildjian cymbal!" My favorites. I had to take a break to recover from the slaughter.

Meanwhile, Sevendust (named after the garden insect killer) had been busy setting up. I wandered back to my seat in time for some MAJOR head banging.


The first time I saw them was in a bar in Louisville. It was fun but nowhere near as theatrical as they were on a huge stage. Very entertaining.

As they finished up, Bassman and our friends finally arrived (they came from Rochester). Just in time for Puddle of Mudd



who were kind enough to remember all their lyrics (who doesn't want to hear the entire version of Psycho? Exactly).

Chevelle quickly followed. I had never seen them before. Great voices, amazing musicians,



but a tad too mellow for this old geezer.

I had to take another break so I wandered outside. Where drunken drama took place.



Not an unusual occurrence when that much alcohol is consumed. What was unusual was that within seconds the troublemaker had a whole bunch of new friends.



The problem was resolved quickly with most people none the wiser. Good job security.

By that time I was getting tired (I am not used to standing for so long) but I knew I couldn't leave without seeing the headliners, Shinedown.



Bassman and I made it through two songs before I had to call it a night (I know, I know. I am a weenie). We also wanted to get out of there before all the drunks hit the highway.

I had a great time. Not only did I buy the T-shirts, but I also walked away with this prize,


Sure, to you it looks like an empty water bottle but it is so much more than that. The lead singer from 10 Years drank from it and then tossed it to me. I will treasure it always. Or at least until I take the recycling out.

Hopin' to Hear Some Gitfiddle

I was lucky enough to have two tickets to the Carnival of Madness given to me. The show is tonight in Canandaigua, NY which is about halfway to Rochester. And that made it easy for me to bestow the other ticket on Bassman (who is back in Rochester).




So the older folks are gonna' don their coolest duds, hang out with the youngen's, and listen to some great (hopefully. Last time I saw Puddle of Mudd the lead singer was so high he forgot the lyrics to his own songs) music.

The consequences of my actions will mean that if you happen to run into me tomorrow, make sure to speak just a bit louder than usual. My ears will be suffering their typical after mega-decibel hangover.

Gang Signs

In the United States there is an urban legend that when a gang member kills someone the deceased persons' shoes are tossed over the power lines. There are other possibilities pertaining to the shoes(graduations, finishing basic training, advertising for drug dealers, etc.) but the one that sticks in my head is the first one.


In light of all that information, what do you make of this?


What is that draped over the power lines? Bobbers. For fishing. Granted, these did extend over the creek but who did it? Boastful fishermen? Fish who don't want others crowding their turf? Minnows who graduated to fishdom?

It's a puzzler.

Crows and Ted

I mentioned earlier in the week something about TED (remember? Of course you do.). Great website.

Not only am I a fan of that but I love crows too (one of the highlights of my life was when they would fly up to the balcony and eat out of my hand in Hilton Head). How cool that I have found a combination of the two;



A bit lengthy video but because it is so fascinating, it is worth every moment.

Reconnecting

Bassman (who has been much further north in Tundra Land than I) and I are taking a few days and escaping to our own little paradise. It will be great to spend time with him again. Peaceful. Serene.

With a heavy metal background.

Pushing My Brain To The Limits

Today I will be hanging with The Cutest Toddler in the World. It will probably be the last time I get to see her before she heads home to the Palmetto State and that makes me sad. I never expected to be this kind of touchy/feely lovey dovey Granny. Neither did anyone else.




We will probably spend our day doing one of two fascinating activities. A) screwing the cap on and off a water bottle and B) placing bingo chips, one at a time mind you, into a plastic pitcher. Don't be surprised if a video of us doing this shows up on TED, just past The Bio-future of Joint Replacement (Is that a great website or what?).

P.S. She was Princess Contrary Crankypants today. But it was still a good time.

It Makes Me Strong

For the oh, I don't know, zillionth time perhaps I am attempting Nablopomo (don't laugh, it's not polite). This month the theme is 'green'. In honor of that, I am dressed in green today (that sounds better than telling you that the green clothes just happened to be on top of the pile).

Green huh? Like cherries? No, I know cherries are red but when you have been eating them every day for two weeks straight you tend to turn a bit green at the sight of them so I am sticking to this statement.

What else? Uhm, well my Twitter page (OMG, can you believe that? There's something I swore I would NEVER do. Live and learn to never say..., oh hey, I think that might be headed towards a cliche. None of that allowed here.) has green on it. Of course, if you don't believe me, you could look for yourself (how is that for subtlety?).

Continuing on the shameless self-promotion..., I mean green, theme is the Liberty blog with its stupenfabulous pictures. Then there is... I just can't do anymore. This self-prom... thinking stuff just wears me out.

At least I have the first day covered! Only 30 more of these riveting posts to go.