of horses, cats, and thunderboomers

[lagilman]

Today, I spent an hour learning how to turn my shoulder without dropping it. This isn't really hard to learn -- except when you're also trying to keep your hands forward and steady, your hips back and centered, your shoulders relaxed and open, your heels down, lower leg back, and eyes forward at all times but not too forward. (ETA: while riding, yes, for those of you who don't read the subject lines!)

I came home a limp noodle. But by the 40 minute mark I seem to have grokked it to C's satisfaction and CD's obedience. Yay me.

It was also hot and humid and those things are trebled when you're wearing chaps and a riding helmet. Thankfully my hair's long enough to braid and pin back, and I made it home before the summer thunderstorm broke and made everything hiss with steam.

And break the storm did, with sheets of water and rumblings and booms! -- and I was reminded once again that Boomerang, Fool of a Took, Cat of Little Brain, is also a cat who does not like thunder. Rather than hide, however, he crawled up next to me, gently dug his claws into my braid, and hid his face against mine. *is ded of teh cute*

Pandora, unfortunately, is showing definite signs the past week of lethargy and listlessness, plus some vocal unhappiness. She's still affectionate, in no discernable pain, and eating about the same, so we're just going to wait and watch. With luck, it's just a passing thing.

Tonight I have to finish up the proofs for THE NIGHT SERPENT and get back to a client on details of something, because my office is starting to be overrun by materials for Vinespell. This writing, it's a messy business...

Comments

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

So I read the first paragraph, and am now trying to figure out: Did you start taking martial arts lessons?

[lagilman]

Nope -- still horseback riding. Riding commands are physical, not verbal -- asking a horse to turn involves shifting your upper body, applying pressure with your lower body, and letting your gaze lead it all. Which sounds weird but actually works really well, if you do it right. Big If, in my case. Or, hopefully, when.

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Oh no, it makes perfect sense. I'm still amused though, by how similar the physical vocabulary is to... Well, really, pretty much every martial art I've encountered.

[varkat.livejournal.com]

See and I was thinking, "She's taking dance lessons?"

[lagilman]

well, it is a sort of dancing, only with six legs and two arms, and the rider always (ideally) leads...

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two :)

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

The horseback riding sounds fun.

About kitties...I think I might take Pandora in for bloodwork just the same. It hasn't been hot enough to explain lethargy in an active tortie. Good wishes for your sweet kitty!

[lagilman]

hasn't been hot enough to explain lethargy in an active tortie.

Well, it's not like Pandora's ever been a bundle of energy. There's a reason we call her The Duchess...delicate and demanding up on her silken pillow (and I think you're thinking of the late, great Indiana -- Pandy's a mackrel tabby).

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I'd always considered her a tabby tortie. :) She does have those tortie marks as well as the tabby. Such a pretty kitty! And yes, Indiana was a great kitty. She and my Squeaky were cut from the came tortie cloth.

She might also just have a kitty bug. Just watch that food and water. She lets up on either, to the vet -- those feline kidneys are way too twitchy. :-/

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

I second the concern about food and water intake!

(frozen)

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

Good wishes for Pandora.

I'm going to tell you about my cat because of a seeming listlessness & lack of eating.

My cat had passed away after several days (a couple of weeks?) of listlessness and a lack of eating. a friend who is now a Vet Tech said that her Vet thought it sounded like throat cancer, but the x-ray at the emergency Vet didn't go up high enough to tell & I couldn't coordinate schedules to get her to the Vet.

(frozen)

[lagilman]

I'm going to tell you about my cat because of a seeming listlessness & lack of eating.

Sympathies on your loss -- Trust me, if Pandora wasn't eating/drinking, I'd be far more concerned. However, as I stated originally, she's still downing her usual food and water with normal levels of enthusiasm. Pandy's hardly my first feline roommate -- I DO know the warning signs!

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Best wishes and scritches for Pandora.

[lagilman]

Thanks. She's up and active this morning, demanding her usual royal portion of the kitty-crack and hissing at her house-sib, so we may be back to situation normal....