July 2014 ~ Travels of an Animal Lover

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Titles are hard.

By Kristin Pitzer 4:02 PM // No comments

This past Saturday was Philip's birthday. Since he had to go to Houston for a bachelor party Saturday morning, I made plans for his birthday in College Station for Saturday afternoon. They were a surprise, much like him surprising me with horseback riding plans for my birthday (that unfortunately got rained out). So after he left for Houston, I went and picked up the tandem kayak I had rented for the day. I also went to Kroger and got several types of cheeses (he loves cheese) and some fruit and crackers to go with it for a picnic after our boating. I then went to Spec's and attempted to find a wine from one of our first dates, but to no avail, le sigh.

When he got back to CS, we loaded up my truck and headed to Lake Bryan. There were a ton of people there, but we found a good place to put in the kayak, climbed aboard, and off we rowed. I don't know how long we were out on the water, but I will admit that my arms started to get tired sooner than I would have liked them to!

We got done kayaking, pulled the boat on shore, then just hung out in the lake for a while. Those of you who know me know that I am TERRIFIED of bodies of water--lakes, oceans, etc. Walking into the lake and feeling the gross bottom of it resulted in many disgusted noises from me, yet I managed. The water felt really nice, and with all the people around, I wasn't TOO concerned about getting pulled under by the Bryan Loch Ness Monster.

After we got pruny, we enjoyed our picnic under the shade of a tree. I also made Philip pose for a picture, since we are terrible about remembering to take pics (please ignore the ugly blue stripe of paint on the end of my truck; someone vandalized it a month ago or so while I was parked in the mall parking lot).

After we got home, we went back out for dinner to Philip's choice of restaurant (Wendy's) and rented a movie. It was a great day that went much too quickly.

In other news, after not hearing from the lady supposedly interested in Rosa for over a week, I'm assuming she is not coming. Which means Rosa is mine, ALL MINE! Muahaha. At least, for now.

I'm still keeping an eye on prospects that are available in the surrounding areas that I might be interested in, just in case. Just in case of what, I don't know. In case I win the lottery, even though I don't play? In case someone drives up and hands me a check for several thousand dollars? Use your imagination.

But that's currently neither here nor there, so for the time being, I'm going to enjoy the horses I have.

Finally, I got some exciting news today from the publisher I work for. I've been training for a full-fledged editorial position, and I got incredibly positive feedback today on the work I've done. In fact, the managing editor was so happy with it that she has made me the official editor on the two manuscripts I've been working on--which means my name will be on them when they are published! I am really excited. She also wants to get me involved in the marketing and acquisitions processes and says that she sees a lot of potential in me long term.

So now I've opened up the communication lines for these two authors and turned their edited manuscripts back over to them with my suggestions. This is the start of my career. I have more experience to add to my resume. Let me reiterate: I am SO excited!

A change in plans...

By Kristin Pitzer 4:59 PM // No comments

So last weekend my boyfriend was in town, and he asked if we could ride horses. Thrilled at his enthusiasm and wanting to encourage it, I conceded...even though my two year old has never been ridden away from my backyard/her pen. I hoped that with Chica's calming, Madea-like presence, Rosa wouldn't have anything to worry about.

A couple days before I had ridden Chica around more of the property while ponying Rosa, boldly going where no two year old has gone before. At least, not Rosa. The only time she really spooked or was concerned was when Chica...passed gas, and I suppose startled her. Rosa "bolted" straight into Chica's side, and I prepared for a beat down of epic proportions. My forgiving, lovely mare didn't even flinch. She's come a long way since Katy Cowgirls.

I saddled up both horses and taught the bf how to clean hooves. While doing this, some neighbors rode by on four-wheelers, one of which repeatedly backfired and sounded like a gun shot going off next to my head. My whole body tensed up and in slow motion my mind went "Nooooooooo" as I turned to Rosa, bracing myself for the worse. She didn't flinch. Even Chica got a little startled by the noise, but my spooky little baby just glanced over her shoulder at them, shrugged, and carried on.

Phew.

Afterwards, I got Philip up on Chica (in my English saddle, no less). While he rode around and got acclimated to her, I longed Rosa. Warming her up was non-eventful, so after about 20 minutes or so, we headed out.

I'm not foolish enough to take my two year old, who I've never loped before, out someplace where one of us could seriously get hurt. Like, say, my road, where cars whiz past at 50 mph+. Instead I rode her over next door to my landlord's yard. And guess what? She led the way, without hesitation. We even left Chica behind several times. There was no spooking, no silly babyness...then, we got to the "bridge" part of my landlord's driveway. It's not really a bridge, just a place where the sides of the road drop away for about seven yards.

Rosa was NOT having it.

I could have fought with her about it, but between the mower buzzing around the corner, my landlord's dog barking like an idiot, and my landlords' kids throwing stuff, I didn't want to push her anymore. So I called for Philip to ride across first with Chica while I made Rosa stand and consider her choices. We then rode across it without hesitation, and she discovered it actually wasn't a horse-eating monster. She even led the way back over it as we headed back to my place.

Everything was going really well, and I was relaxed. But then, without warning, the four-wheelers came whipping around the corner again. I barely managed to yell out a four letter word at Philip and dismounted my horse in record time. The engine backfired, and again Rosa just stood and didn't react. I glanced behind me to see how Philip had fared and was surprised to find him standing next to Chica, who this time was also unaffected. I just laughed and decided to walk the horses back to the trailer to unsaddle.

So. Now what? It appears that the little mare has a pretty sound mind floating around in that baby brain. And now I don't want to sell her. I've really enjoyed trail riding and would love to take Chica out more if it weren't for her feet, but maybe Rosa can eventually fill that hole for me.

Of course, I have someone that may or may not be coming out to look at her--you never know until the person is at your house, even if you have talked to them on the phone several times--and if they do come out, I'll sell her if they want to buy her. But I've decided not to market her anymore. If it comes down to it and I have to sell her, then so be it. In the meanwhile, I'd like to see what else this little girl has up her sleeve.

Rosa photo shoot!

By Kristin Pitzer 9:22 AM // No comments

I decided to rectify my lack of Rosa pictures yesterday evening. She was a mudball and could have used a good bath beforehand, but ain't nobody got time for that. A good brushing and coating of fly spray spruced her up pretty well anyway.

Here is one of the resulting photos!

Rosa is the most difficult horse to get to put her ears forward. So how did I accomplish this, you might ask?

Romeo lent his voice. He was really happy about being able to help:

Such a cutie pie.

Here are a few more Rosa pics. Also, just wanted to add that she was WONDERFUL about standing still and not trying to wander off or graze. Good job, Rosa.

And a terrible selfie:

And a fun eye selfie:

And then this happened:

Poor, sad Romeo. I decided to set my camera on a timer and try to get all three of us in a picture. Let me tell you, that is not an easy task when your dog is afraid of being closer than five feet to your horse and your horse is afraid of you running at her (to make it into the picture). Ten seconds is not enough time, Canon PowerShot.

Plus I forgot to untuck my jeans from my boots. Neat!

Maybe one day I will attempt this again and include Chica, Fiona...and RAMSES!

Attention logophiles!

By Kristin Pitzer 10:37 AM // No comments

Here's a laugh to start your weekend: Weird Al Yankovic's "Word Crimes," set to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines."

Nerds have fun, too.

I have nothing else to add right now, so here's a pic of my two pony girls!

Chica looks so short. Have a good Friday!

My little Ponderosa

By Kristin Pitzer 8:41 AM // No comments

So I've taken to calling Rosa "Ponderosa." I myself find it really weird, especially since a Ponderosa is a tall, slender pine tree, but it is what it is. I also call her "Rosa Rizo" after a tongue twister I learned in high school Spanish class--"Rosa Rizo reza Ruso, Ruso reza Rosa Rizo"--which feels more appropriate, given my flair for Spanish horse names.

Anyway, last night I got some photos and videos of Rosa FINALLY. Poor Rosa practically doesn't exist compared to how many pictures I have of Chica and Sienna. Here are some of the best:

She started off grumpy and refused to look at me or put her ears forward.

Then I unclipped her and posed her in my driveway, and she was much happier.

And then Romeo walked over and gave her something to look at. Good job, Romos.

She looks like such a horse now! I'm really happy with how she's turning out. She's a small cow horse, but I think she's a pretty cow horse. My pictures of her from before didn't do her justice.

In other news, this post was going to just be about Rosa, but then I discovered these pictures Philip took of Sienna and I a couple months ago while we were waiting for a prospective buyer to come try her out...enjoy!

Could we be any less friends here?

HAHAHA THIS. I can't even!

The 4th and Beyond!

By Kristin Pitzer 2:45 PM // No comments

Well, Sienna has been gone a week and a half now. I do still miss her, but I've found it very easy to fall into the "less work" routine of being down one horse. Plus her new owners seem very happy with her, which makes me happy.

This fourth of July weekend was fun. Philip and I went and met my mom, sister, brother, and grandparents at my aunt and uncle's house north of Austin. We swam, watched fireworks, and got to ride horses! My aunt and uncles have five horses and are looking for a sixth to add to their herd. They have three kids, so with the sixth horse, everyone will be able to go riding together (one of their horses is my aunt's retired, 30 year old quarter horse who is getting to spend his days hanging out).

After riding around the pasture, my aunt, Philip, and I went out to ride around the neighborhoods and roads around their house. My aunt rode the horse she is trying out, Weller, a 16.1 hand quarter horse, I rode Stretch, a quarter horse who is also 16+ hands, and Philip rode Rusty, a maybe 14.3 gelding that one of the kiddos usually rides. It brought me a lot of laughter.

Riding was a lot of fun, especially with such bomb-proof horses. At one point a jack rabbit practically exploded through the bushes right next to Stretch, and he didn't even flinch. Another time 4 birds flew up in his face. None of the horses batted an eyelash.

We reached a mowed down section of open pasture, and I decided to let Stretch, well, stretch out his legs a bit. My aunt had told me that he had really smooth gaits, almost like a gaited horse. And she wasn't lying. I don't think I've ever ridden a smoother horse. It was just lovely. At one point I looked up, and there went Philip, loping by on Rusty. He just smiled at me, perfectly at ease.

I wish I had photos of us riding. My grandmother had been in charge of that. However, when I asked her to send me the photos she took, she replied, "Apparently I took videos instead." Womp womp.

This weekend was also exciting in that Romeo returned!

Turning into a distinguished, older gentleman

He had spent the last couple of weeks in Katy with my parents while I went to the job interview in Dallas and had the exterminator come (meaning one less animal to take to work that day). I'm not sure who was happier to see him, me or Fiona. Or who he was happier to see, for that matter. He immediately reclaimed his spot on my bed that night.

Fiona is always snuggled up with someone

Oh, and about me taking Ramses and Fiona to work? Ramses sat in his carrier the first part of the day, but at lunch I shut the door to my office and let him explore, which he happily did, chatting me up all the while.