::shrugs:: you know how i roll

santorini. that's where i'm headed in september 2006. you can come, or you can stay home and listen to me talk about how glorious it is. it's up to you.

stephie's here for a visit, always wonderful. went to jake ivory's last night - a dueling piano bar in the fenway. much fun. they're request based, and the guys can play/sing absolutely anything from sinatra to snoop. the neighboring table delivered three shots to us and shyly left - steph and i clinked happily and downed them. however, once kathryn and i had gone to the bathroom, an older patron approached steph and advised her against taking any more open shots. when the original bearer of shots reappeared to strike up conversation with her, she tipsily told him that only creepy guys try to rape girls in bars, and if he wanted to talk, he'd better not be a creep. ::head in hands:: i then proceeded to dial drunkenly from my perch on the bathroom sink. queen of my own porcelain pile. thank you, kathryn, for getting us home. (tonight's plans involve redline and middlesex - come out!)

work's wonderful. it had better be, since the two jobs together occupy approximately 70 hours each week, but i honestly don't think i've ever been happier or felt more productive. thank you to my friends who helped with the harmonyline market research and offered advice.

to those of you who asked about my mom - they kept her for a few extra days, but she's home now. internal bleeding required three transfusions. we think, however, that this time she's really on the mend. she's at home reclining and alternately yelling for me, dad, or the dogs. all is well.

sir the gamer is progressing quite nicely...so much so that alex has backdoored me into riding in a gymkhana on sunday to further market our little friend. (holy hell. someone find me a seatbelt. i've gamed before, but this horse is smallish, fast, and squirmy. it'll be fun, but i'm just happy to have health insurance.) for those of you who are horsey and/or interested, here's what we'll be doing:

arena race: a starting line is drawn. a pole is set straight up at the end of the arena. gallop down, right or left hand turn around the pole, gallop back. fastest horse wins.

keyhole race: a starting line is drawn. at the other end of the arena, a keyhole shape is drawn in the dirt with lime powder (leaving the mouth to the "chute" open). gallop up, enter the chute, slam on the breaks and pivot inside the head of the keyhole, and gallop out. if you touch the lines, you're DQed. fastest/most accurate horse wins.

barrel race: three oil drums are set up in a triangle. gallop in, run a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels, and gallop home. fastest horse on course wins.

pole bending: six poles are set upright in a line down the length of the arena. gallop up the side of the line, weaving through the poles on the way back. weave the poles back up to the top of the arena, and gallop home straight down the other side of the poles. fastest horse on course wins.

<-- that's a good example of barrel racing. note the distinct lack of equitation, prim and proper attire, or navy blue and olive green. let's not be fooled by the whole riding team business. i'm kind of a yahoo.


--> that craziness is pole bending. the poles move, thank god, but if you hit one with a kneecap going at that speed, you risk a break. entirely possible and likely. the things we do for fun. :) wish us luck!