In No Words Or Less
A life with horses and photographyArchive for July, 2006
The aftermath
Ok, so the party went much better than I thought…
I’m still second-guessing myself over some of the photos i took, but the response so far from unbiased sources has been reasonable. So i must just suck it up and hand over the photos to the client, right?
I’m having difficulty finding a base rate though. I don’t want to overcharge, but i do want to make a good profit (and the client himself said “i want you to make a good bit of money out of me, so don’t be shy” – of course he was sloshed at the time. but he did repeat this command about 6 times in various different ways at different times in the evening. so i’m hoping he is not a “i forget” party-goer, and more of a “oh no, i remember” kind of party-goer. *sigh*
It was as fun party, i actually enjoyed myself. Once people got used to me strolling around with my camera, and once they’d had a few to drink, they stopped avoiding me and suddenly i was everyone’s bestest friend. “comenntakephots over her” and “cannyoutakemmmmyphotooooopleash?” and i did. of course.
I was very nervous while i drove there – but i took rescue and it kicked in around 7:30pm… and i was ok for the rest of the night. Lights came up around 1:15am. i drove home, somehow, and slept till 12 today. i’m still kinda tired though, but i think that’s more stress related than anything else. It was my first “people” event (with the new equipment) proper and i was anxious how the flash/camera would hold up. But it seems to have gone ok. i’m too critical of my stuff, so i’ll wait and see what the client says.
i hope J got a chance to ride today.
technorati tags: party, 50’s theme, photography, nerves, rescue remedy is king, money
Someone else
Can I be someone else today?
Can I be you?
I’m tired of being me right now. Being me is difficult right now.
I’m tired of feeling tired!
I’m empty. running low. holding all the bits together with spit and sticky tape and a fervent prayer.
So let me know, if I can be you. And you can be me.
Just for today.
technorati tags: being me
Another farewell…
Goodbye little Gem.
Met S in the shopping mall this morning, and she told me that Gem was knocked over by a car. She found her on monday morning, on the sidewalk. My sweet little Gemima, Gem-gem, Gemmy Gems, Fuzzface, MooCat. Your beautiful little face, your tiny white paws. You really were a Gem, my little angel. You had lived a long life, but it still hurts to have you taken from us like this.
Once more, my heart is aching.
technorati tags: Gem, little cat, farewell, rest in peace, angel
Letter from Lebanon
elizabeth wong » Letter from Lebanon
The images are quite brutal, and very real. She is a reputable source. Spread the word. This can’t happen anymore!!
technorati tags: Lebanon, Israel, atrocities, children
letting go is hardest
I have too many t shirts, according to my mother. I tentatively agree.
So today, being stuck inside (lovely straight-down rain outside most of the day), i decided to go through all my t shirts and *gulp* put aside the ones i was going to give away.
It was difficult. As i’ve said before, i’m a magpie. i cling to things like Kayla the Velcro cat.
I cried a little in some cases. Most of them either belonged to A or i bought with my own money, from my first ever Real Job(tm)… still in good condition… just.. too many.
I’ll take the two packets (white t shirts and colours) to the grooms tomorrow, see if they want them.
i’m hoping I’ll feel better in a little while…. very low right now. but it’s making space for better things. i hope.
i took it from 5 very large piles of t shirts, to 2 medium piles. so… better than nothing. got rid of 25 or so. i, of course, took photos of my favourites. the ones that hurt.
it’s a good thing, right?
*sigh*
technorati tags: tshirts, letting go, goodbye, magpie me
Bugs Dance
How odd am i? I wrote a “poem” about bugs falling in love in my bathroom. i found it today in my big writing book thingy. it was written in 2005.
I was young! Be kind!
Bugs Dance
we come together on the bathroom floor.
it doesn’t matter if the lights are on or off.
we come together on the bathroom floor.
your scent rings in my ears.
your tiny voice smells like sweetness.
we come together on the bathroom floor.
around and around, in squares on the tiles
until your feelers touch mine and i am yours.
brushed aside by opening gusts, we are separated.
but always
we come together on the bathroom floor.
technorati tags: snippet, poem, bugs dance, writing, odd
Weekending
Rode Dex bareback this morning – in order to save the saddle from a soaking. We only got a little damp on the way home when the rain came down a little harder… but mostly it was just fine mist/drizzle – which is awesome to ride in. We herded some geese and their babies through a gate (the mother was wandering up and down the fence, looking for an entrance that didn’t involve flight, because the babies are still too small) and Dex had a good grass session. I dismounted a little badly though, when we got back, and made him dip. I felt really bad. I should have gotten off the proper way, not the shoulder slide. I know for next time i ride bareback – proper dismount only.
Missed the show this weekend – saturday was mum’s surprise party and sunday it rained all morning and i also didn’t want to leave Brutus and Isabella alone too long. Izzie tends to get a little distructive if she gets bored.
The party on saturday was lovely. My mother was teary and emotional, because all her brothers were there from all over the country. I think Brian was there too… watching over her. It was a big surprise and she had a great day. Saw all my cousins that i haven’t seen in 9 years and 13 years and … sheesh.. loooooooooooong time. I didn’t recognise Charles until he told me who he was, then i could see the face i knew under the stubble and curly hair 
(He’s hawt! Am i allowed to say that?) Grant I will always know: from spending my time following him and my brother around when we were younger, desperate to play with them, getting chased off again and again. *sigh* I also knew Kevin, his face hasn’t changed that much and he’s still the quiet person i remember.
My uncles and aunts are the same too solidly familiar. It was so cool to see them all again. To catch up with them. Amazing how all our lives have gone in such different directions.
technorati tags: weekends, rain, horses, dogs, parties, mom, family, surprise, cousins
thunder and lightening
not so frightening…
I rode Dex in the morning, with ominous clouds on the horizon.. but we (for once) didn’t get rained on…
Then i went through to Tokai and decided to take Catch out for a walk on the lead since Ex was ridden tuesday and i thought i’d be riding Ex again today (friday)… we trundled out, stopping for grass snack breaks along the way… got halfway out at the thunder and lightening started rolling overhead… not raining though.. it was warm and everything tasted ozoney.. was so cool! Catch didn’t bat an eyelid at the thunder (or lightening) and we got all the way to the zwaanswyk road crossing… and then the first LARGE splops of rain started coming down… you could literally dodge them… you could see them coming down! it was fun!
Catch had a thought though, and i trust his instincts… so we turned around and began a leisurely stroll back to the stables.
We got back just in time – as i was hanging up Catch’s halter… the rain came bucketing down…
Took Brutus and Isabella out for their morning walk – boy is Izzie NAUGHTY!!! goodness me. she just DOES NOT LISTEn. it’s like her ears switch off when she starts to run… i’m hoping she’ll grow out of it, because Brutus was also a little like that when he was a pup… and he is much better now.
Then i had the pleasure of walking MY beautiful pooches after that – i love my dogs. they are so awesome. and SO WELL BEHAVED! 
I pondered riding, for about 30 seconds… but it’s really cold and wet outside today… so Dex got a day off (we rode yesterday, so i don’t feel so bad)… i’ll try ride him this weekend (between parties for mum and shows in durbanville)… Jamz says that the weather is awful that side of the mountain, but she’ll let me know if it changes enough for us to go ride… :/ if we don’t, it means Al will stand till sunday (if jamz can ride on sunday) and Ex will stand till tuesday again – poor boys. i wish i had more time in the day to ride BOTH every day. *sigh*
i must dash back up to the house to feed William and Archie at lunch time… i thought i’d warm up some of my mums delicious soup for them.
It’s still raining, if softly.
it’s pretty cold too… 12C or something today.
anyhoo
technorati tags: horses, rain, lunch, dogs, hooligans, house sitting, again
Hooray for Mike!
Mike the Mechanic came to have a poke and prod at Broomhilda last night and LO AND BEHOLD, it was a simple case of “oh look, this tubey thingy here is not covered”
we looked around in the engine compartment and taa daa, there was the tubey thing cover…
Mike expertly put it back on and VOILA, Broomhilda roared into life with her customary vooma and throaty purr… and i was so relieved. And mike didn’t even charge me. He said “Pffft” when i started to ask. And away he went…
So this morning we gently drove Broomhilda to the fields to walk Ze Dawgs, and then gently drove her home. We got drenched on the fields… but the dogs are happy and i’ve put Molly and Mishka’s jerseys in the tumble dryer for a few minutes. Macky and I had a battle over the towel, while trying to dry him off So all is right with the world.
I am now deciding whether I want to brave the weather further and go ride Dexter… It _always_ rains on us, if there is a chance of rain. It’s pretending to clear right now… just so that i’ll be lulled into going out there, tacking up and getting soaked. Dex doesn’t care too much, as long as he gets his carrots and grass.
I must also drop some proof sheets off, so I might as well go down to the stables anyway, right?
Right.
Gawn!
technorati tags: dogs, weather, mike the mechanic, broomhilda, cars, horses
