Some time ago I remember a glitch causing this blog to be suspended because a program routine with an overactive hypothalamus thought I might be peddling spam. That got resolved in jig time (thanks Blogger!) but still left me with the idea that a back-up blog might not be such a bad idea. So I started a duplicate blog at Live Journal.
I kept both blogs going side by side despite the fact that I found Live Journal to be somewhat obtuse and less user-friendly than Blogger. But after a while, I decided that I no longer needed to pay Live Journal for the account. It was pretty inexpensive at about $20 per year, but I could do everything here that I wanted to do there for free. So why bother paying for an account when free accounts were available?
So I dropped back to "Basic" account status at LJ.
Today, I went to see when I last posted to the LJ blog with the intention of bringing it up to date. Guess what? I got a screen with a goat's face staring back at me that read "PURGED ACCOUNT."
Well, I don't recall doing that. I'm not sure why I have disappeared. And it's not just my journal that went away, it's my entire account.
Not saying I didn't do it, but if I did, it isn't what I meant to do. In any case, It's been far too long to do anything about it now, so the Live Journal copy of this blog is history.
So be it!
Friday, February 11, 2011
A Flea in my Ear
Ok, last December I expressed doubts about going to the Flea this year. Well, I reconsidered and so did Stormy. It's going to be odd this time around, though.
We are going as humans.
There will be no organized pony activities at the Flea, which is a shame, but Mistress could not commit this year and alternatives did not work out. I didn't feel comfortable or capable of organizing anything - and after all, ponies aren't the organizers most of the time. So there really is no pony reason to travel the six or seven hours to get to Providence.
Well, except for the chance to spend some quality time with Stormy. That's incentive enough.
I'm also going to meet up with my pony pal Clover and his Good Wife (no accident on the caps there). We had some fun last year and are looking forward to having more this time around.
So yes, we will be going to the Flea. No, we are not planning on doing any pony activity. We may actually get a chance to attend a class or two, which is something ponies don't often get to do. That could be an eye opener. Well, at least it could open something...
We won't be staying at the Westin, which is the host hotel for the Flea. We just can't afford it at $150 per night. That may be a price break, but it breaks my bank. We have had a REALLY tough winter up this way and it isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. I take a risk every time I pull out of the driveway. That would be the driveway that is currently costing me about $60 a week to keep clear and has pretty much shredded a set of tires that are not yet a year and a half old.
Nest year...studded snow tires. I hope.
The Flea will not be a bore, however. Stormy and I are playing things by ear, but we will see a lot of friends. And in an expression of the hope that springs eternal, we are still packing our tack. We don't expect to use it, but when you're a devoted pony, it becomes a part of who you are. To leave your tack at home is to leave an important part of yourself behind. Neither of us can bring ourselves to do that.
Besides, Mistress did say She might be in on Sunday to see Foxy Davis. Apparently he has a pair of custom gloves for Her to pick up. I didn't ask what those gloves were, but I hope to find out. It's unlikely that we will play pony on Sunday, but the option is open however remote.
That's pony hope. I'll let you know how things go.
We are going as humans.
There will be no organized pony activities at the Flea, which is a shame, but Mistress could not commit this year and alternatives did not work out. I didn't feel comfortable or capable of organizing anything - and after all, ponies aren't the organizers most of the time. So there really is no pony reason to travel the six or seven hours to get to Providence.
Well, except for the chance to spend some quality time with Stormy. That's incentive enough.
I'm also going to meet up with my pony pal Clover and his Good Wife (no accident on the caps there). We had some fun last year and are looking forward to having more this time around.
So yes, we will be going to the Flea. No, we are not planning on doing any pony activity. We may actually get a chance to attend a class or two, which is something ponies don't often get to do. That could be an eye opener. Well, at least it could open something...
We won't be staying at the Westin, which is the host hotel for the Flea. We just can't afford it at $150 per night. That may be a price break, but it breaks my bank. We have had a REALLY tough winter up this way and it isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. I take a risk every time I pull out of the driveway. That would be the driveway that is currently costing me about $60 a week to keep clear and has pretty much shredded a set of tires that are not yet a year and a half old.
Nest year...studded snow tires. I hope.
The Flea will not be a bore, however. Stormy and I are playing things by ear, but we will see a lot of friends. And in an expression of the hope that springs eternal, we are still packing our tack. We don't expect to use it, but when you're a devoted pony, it becomes a part of who you are. To leave your tack at home is to leave an important part of yourself behind. Neither of us can bring ourselves to do that.
Besides, Mistress did say She might be in on Sunday to see Foxy Davis. Apparently he has a pair of custom gloves for Her to pick up. I didn't ask what those gloves were, but I hope to find out. It's unlikely that we will play pony on Sunday, but the option is open however remote.
That's pony hope. I'll let you know how things go.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Pony Thoughts
No Flea this year by the looks of it.
I'll miss it, but without Mistress (who is currently working on Her thesis), there isn't much point in bothering. Oh, there are friends who will be there and who I would dearly love to see - so the thought of a road trip isn't entirely out of the question.
But no tack. No prancing. No play.
Fact is, it has been what could fairly be called an off year. Other than Ponies in the Park (detailed in two posts), there wasn't a lot to tell in the way of stories. We did the Winter Flea in February, which went well. We marched in the 40th Boston Pride Parade in June with Ms. Nikki and Ponyboy Blaze - the drenching rain doing little to curb out spirits. We appeared at the Summer Flea with Mistress and went to a great play party after that. Stormy and I went to TFW in August, but again without Mistress - Ms. Nikki again taking us under Her wing. Stormy and I went to a nice play party up this way with permission and had a good time.
Yeah, stuph happened. It was fun. But it felt different somehow.
But my relationship with Stormy has certainly deepened. If nothing else happened this year, that alone would suffice. We had some time together on the past two weekends attending holiday parties at Centaur Stables and at Mistress' home. Both glorious times. I hope to have more time with him in the coming months.
It makes the lack of playtime far more tolerable.
I also hope to be back regaling you with more stories of my adventures. I'm just waiting to have some right now.
Patience, ponyboy...
I'll miss it, but without Mistress (who is currently working on Her thesis), there isn't much point in bothering. Oh, there are friends who will be there and who I would dearly love to see - so the thought of a road trip isn't entirely out of the question.
But no tack. No prancing. No play.
Fact is, it has been what could fairly be called an off year. Other than Ponies in the Park (detailed in two posts), there wasn't a lot to tell in the way of stories. We did the Winter Flea in February, which went well. We marched in the 40th Boston Pride Parade in June with Ms. Nikki and Ponyboy Blaze - the drenching rain doing little to curb out spirits. We appeared at the Summer Flea with Mistress and went to a great play party after that. Stormy and I went to TFW in August, but again without Mistress - Ms. Nikki again taking us under Her wing. Stormy and I went to a nice play party up this way with permission and had a good time.
Yeah, stuph happened. It was fun. But it felt different somehow.
But my relationship with Stormy has certainly deepened. If nothing else happened this year, that alone would suffice. We had some time together on the past two weekends attending holiday parties at Centaur Stables and at Mistress' home. Both glorious times. I hope to have more time with him in the coming months.
It makes the lack of playtime far more tolerable.
I also hope to be back regaling you with more stories of my adventures. I'm just waiting to have some right now.
Patience, ponyboy...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Another Romp in the Park - Part 2
What can I say about New York City that I haven't said already? I have seen it in all four seasons of the year and under many different circumstances, but to be there in the spring on a warm day with the sun shining is as close to Heaven as it gets.
Well, Heaven with graffiti, traffic, noise and a bustling throng of people anyway.
But there is something about the Big Apple that causes me to put away all those concerns - or put up with them, at least. It's a place where you can get anything you want at pretty much any hour. It's a place that contains so much of our history. It's a place that challenges you to stay for more than a few minutes without finding something that piques your interest. It's a place where a bunch of people dressed in leather tack with tails on their butts can haul carts around the public park with no fear of a bad reaction.
These people have seen just about everything and they are always willing to be amused by the unusual. Ponies, of course, love to be the unusual things that get attention.
On May 1, Mistress, Stormy and I drove to the meeting place - headquarters if you will - of the 2010 Pony Romp. We met at the same location as we did in 2008 when last we roamed the Bridle Path, giving the ladies out front of the Redeemer Lutheran Church a giggle in the process. Times change everywhere, but in NYC, times change almost constantly. The little restaurant that had occupied the store front of this building was no longer there. Nothing had come to take its place as yet. Probably a sign of the economy. Those little hole-in-the-wall cafes tend to be here today and gone tomorrow or the day after. It's just part of the rhythm, but it's a sad commentary on our times.
Not to wallow in our grief, we wasted no time getting our stables, tack, toys and other apparatus out of the van and into the meeting room. There was a lot to do, so Mistress busied Herself with logistics while Stormy and I tacked each other up.
Tacking up is something of a ritual for Stormy and me. If we are tacked by another person, we tend to go much deeper into head space. If we tack ourselves up, we feel more like a couple of guys putting on costumes. Getting into pony space takes a lot longer and sometimes doesn't really happen. But today was different. Head space is less of a concern when you are going out in public. While it's highly desirable, the schedule was pretty tight, there was a lot to do, and the ponies needed to get ready quickly. So Stormy and I set about the task.
It wasn't long before everything was ready and we all headed for the park. We got there just about on time for the romp and piled out of the vans. Ms. Nikki and Blaze from Centaur Stables were there as were Foxy Davis and Sherifox of Native American Exotics. Wow...Foxy and Sherifox had traveled all the way from Florida for this day in the park. Ponygroom Tim and his ponygirl Lindsay were there - also from Florida (!). So was Pepper. There were others who play rather privately and who probably would not want their names listed here. But there was quite a crowd ready and raring to go.
I once noted that New Yorkers generally don't get phased by much. They have been through a lot over the years and get exposed to a whole lot of stuff you and I probably see once in our lives if ever. But I suppose a couple of ponyboys putting the wheels on a cart might be a bit unusual. The crowd gathered quickly and the cameras came out just as fast. Stormy and I put Mistress' cart together as quickly and efficiently as we could, relying on Her to make the final adjustments. Once hitched up and ready, the romp began.
This romp would be different for one big reason...it was heavily documented on video! You can find lots of snippets on YouTube, but here are some of my favorites:
La Dresseuse Maureen (that's my Mistress!) discusses what She likes about pony play.
Doctorcharley of Pleasure talks about pony play (with yours truly in the background!).
Ms. Reina Darkness talks to Doctorcharley about the three parts of pony play.
Heck, go to YouTube and put "pony play" into the search box. You'll be amazed!
After the romp and subsequent rest period on the green, we headed back to headquarters for our barbecue and party. That trip was uneventful until we came close to Times Square. That's when we encountered the road blocks and the detour. Huh? Well folks, it was May 1, 2010 and although we didn't get the full story for a couple of days, it seems some crazy decided he would try and blow a few people up that particular day. May Day. What timing. Thanks Faisal, you really made our day.
Ms. Reina certainly does put on a fantastic spread! I think you would have to go back to the barbecue at the Central Texas Kink Ranch in November 2008 to match what we found awaiting us in the small room behind the defunct patisserie. We ate, socialized, compared stories of what we had seen on the bridal path, explained a few things to a few people who were mystified about something this pony or that pony did or didn't do, and put our stalls together for what would prove to be a splendid play session.
I have to tell you about a very special gift that I got from ms. Reina. I was seated on the floor at one point following a scene I had done with a friend when I noticed Her holding not one but two single tail whips. They were brand new, She said, and needed to be broken in. Was I up for it? I think a very quick look at Mistress told the whole story. Rare is the night that I get to play more than once, and I had not felt the sting of any single tail other that the one Mistress holds, so yes! I was ready and willing!
Ms. Reina proceeded to use both single tails in the Florentine style. I had experienced Florentine flogging before, but this was something quite apart and exquisite. I also left me with some very impressive marks on my back. They stayed with me for several days and reminded me of the wonderful time and attention I received each and every time I toweled off after a shower.
Tired and exhausted after the party, the three of us drove back to Queens where we found our hosts awake and eager to hear about our escapades. To my delight, we had more conversation over a late night breakfast (I told you that you can get just about anything you want at any hour) at a diner close by.
Then back to the apartment and to bed. The next day we had another great breakfast at another great diner, then it was on the road for home.
Another wonderful time with wonderful people in a fantastic city.
Well, Heaven with graffiti, traffic, noise and a bustling throng of people anyway.
But there is something about the Big Apple that causes me to put away all those concerns - or put up with them, at least. It's a place where you can get anything you want at pretty much any hour. It's a place that contains so much of our history. It's a place that challenges you to stay for more than a few minutes without finding something that piques your interest. It's a place where a bunch of people dressed in leather tack with tails on their butts can haul carts around the public park with no fear of a bad reaction.
These people have seen just about everything and they are always willing to be amused by the unusual. Ponies, of course, love to be the unusual things that get attention.
On May 1, Mistress, Stormy and I drove to the meeting place - headquarters if you will - of the 2010 Pony Romp. We met at the same location as we did in 2008 when last we roamed the Bridle Path, giving the ladies out front of the Redeemer Lutheran Church a giggle in the process. Times change everywhere, but in NYC, times change almost constantly. The little restaurant that had occupied the store front of this building was no longer there. Nothing had come to take its place as yet. Probably a sign of the economy. Those little hole-in-the-wall cafes tend to be here today and gone tomorrow or the day after. It's just part of the rhythm, but it's a sad commentary on our times.
Not to wallow in our grief, we wasted no time getting our stables, tack, toys and other apparatus out of the van and into the meeting room. There was a lot to do, so Mistress busied Herself with logistics while Stormy and I tacked each other up.
Tacking up is something of a ritual for Stormy and me. If we are tacked by another person, we tend to go much deeper into head space. If we tack ourselves up, we feel more like a couple of guys putting on costumes. Getting into pony space takes a lot longer and sometimes doesn't really happen. But today was different. Head space is less of a concern when you are going out in public. While it's highly desirable, the schedule was pretty tight, there was a lot to do, and the ponies needed to get ready quickly. So Stormy and I set about the task.
It wasn't long before everything was ready and we all headed for the park. We got there just about on time for the romp and piled out of the vans. Ms. Nikki and Blaze from Centaur Stables were there as were Foxy Davis and Sherifox of Native American Exotics. Wow...Foxy and Sherifox had traveled all the way from Florida for this day in the park. Ponygroom Tim and his ponygirl Lindsay were there - also from Florida (!). So was Pepper. There were others who play rather privately and who probably would not want their names listed here. But there was quite a crowd ready and raring to go.
I once noted that New Yorkers generally don't get phased by much. They have been through a lot over the years and get exposed to a whole lot of stuff you and I probably see once in our lives if ever. But I suppose a couple of ponyboys putting the wheels on a cart might be a bit unusual. The crowd gathered quickly and the cameras came out just as fast. Stormy and I put Mistress' cart together as quickly and efficiently as we could, relying on Her to make the final adjustments. Once hitched up and ready, the romp began.
This romp would be different for one big reason...it was heavily documented on video! You can find lots of snippets on YouTube, but here are some of my favorites:
La Dresseuse Maureen (that's my Mistress!) discusses what She likes about pony play.
Doctorcharley of Pleasure talks about pony play (with yours truly in the background!).
Ms. Reina Darkness talks to Doctorcharley about the three parts of pony play.
Heck, go to YouTube and put "pony play" into the search box. You'll be amazed!
After the romp and subsequent rest period on the green, we headed back to headquarters for our barbecue and party. That trip was uneventful until we came close to Times Square. That's when we encountered the road blocks and the detour. Huh? Well folks, it was May 1, 2010 and although we didn't get the full story for a couple of days, it seems some crazy decided he would try and blow a few people up that particular day. May Day. What timing. Thanks Faisal, you really made our day.
Ms. Reina certainly does put on a fantastic spread! I think you would have to go back to the barbecue at the Central Texas Kink Ranch in November 2008 to match what we found awaiting us in the small room behind the defunct patisserie. We ate, socialized, compared stories of what we had seen on the bridal path, explained a few things to a few people who were mystified about something this pony or that pony did or didn't do, and put our stalls together for what would prove to be a splendid play session.
I have to tell you about a very special gift that I got from ms. Reina. I was seated on the floor at one point following a scene I had done with a friend when I noticed Her holding not one but two single tail whips. They were brand new, She said, and needed to be broken in. Was I up for it? I think a very quick look at Mistress told the whole story. Rare is the night that I get to play more than once, and I had not felt the sting of any single tail other that the one Mistress holds, so yes! I was ready and willing!
Ms. Reina proceeded to use both single tails in the Florentine style. I had experienced Florentine flogging before, but this was something quite apart and exquisite. I also left me with some very impressive marks on my back. They stayed with me for several days and reminded me of the wonderful time and attention I received each and every time I toweled off after a shower.
Tired and exhausted after the party, the three of us drove back to Queens where we found our hosts awake and eager to hear about our escapades. To my delight, we had more conversation over a late night breakfast (I told you that you can get just about anything you want at any hour) at a diner close by.
Then back to the apartment and to bed. The next day we had another great breakfast at another great diner, then it was on the road for home.
Another wonderful time with wonderful people in a fantastic city.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Another Romp in the Park
Two years ago, I wrote of the great adventure called the Romp in Central Park. While we had hoped to do that each year, it did not happen in 2009. From my perspective, that was not a bad thing given the general state of my health, but it was sorely missed all the same.
So it was with great joy that I heard that the Romp would happen again this year. The spring has been unusually warm, and a pony's thoughts do tend toward frolicking and romping...not to mention pulling carts, getting his picture taken and nuzzling noses with Firefox.
More on that later.
The date was set for May 1, 2010. Now it's always great to spend a day in Central Park, but Mayday! Of all the days, that one seems to touch chords in my psyche. It may be because it happens to be the pagan celebration of Beltane (yes, I'm pagan) or perhaps it's just because it would provide me a chance to spend some time with Mistress and Stormy. Maybe it was both...especially where Stormy is concerned. In point of fact, though, the date probably has more to do with the romantic notion of canoodling beneath the cherry blossoms with the New York City skyline behind you.
Or the thought of it anyway. The spring had been so warm that the cherry blossoms were pretty much gone by Mayday this year. There was an impressive carpet of them on the ground, however, so there was no need for dampened spirits on that count.
But I get ahead of myself.
I may be getting older. The last time, I was out of the house and on my way to Mistress' place by five in the morning. This time around, it was 6:30. Not a big deal since the people who would be hosting us this year would not get home much before 8:00 in the evening. I had had a scare the night before leaving that left me reluctant to believe that I would be able to make the trip at all, so getting underway was really important. Once on my way with a considerable amount of the state of Maine behind me, I relaxed enough to believe it was actually going to happen. I was on my way to a wonderful pony play event and nothing would stop it now.
The trip to Mistress' house went smoothly and I arrived in the late morning. There was the usual packing and rearranging of the van to do. We were asked to bring three stalls for ponies in addition to the cart and the usual assortment of whips, tack, stable supplies and evil grooming tools. Oh, and the treats. Never forget the treats!
Or anything else for that matter. The last time we romped in Central Park, I had forgotten to pack the tire pump. The wheels on our cart are air filled rather than solid. They give a better ride, but do tend to soften over time no matter how much gunk you inject into them. I don't know what got into me - or what failed to do so - but two years ago, I looked at that pump on the cellar floor and thought, "Tire pump..." and then left it sitting right there. Something I came to regret a day or two later.
This time, I remembered the tire pump. I made sure it was in the van and even asked Mistress about it just to be certain. Two sets of eyes are far better than one, especially if the one belongs to a very anxious pony. No mistake. It was there. So was the cart, the clothing, the tack bag, the stalls, the stable signs, the carriage whip, the toy box, the food, and the two of us.
Once we were all strapped in, Mistress fired up the engine. "First stop," She said, "air for the tires."
The tires.
I had forgotten the tires. They were still sitting on the ground just outside the cellar door. Well, it had to be something, I suppose. And at least we were still sitting out in front of the house. I would have looked pretty foolish holding up the rear of the cart on the bridle path because I didn't pack the tires. And make no mistake, I would have had to do that.
"At least I remembered the pump this time!" I said.
"Yes, because if you got winded, we could stick it in your mouth and pump you back up."
Really, She would have.
So, with everything finally packed, and me feeling very fortunate that She had mentioned filling the tires, we at last headed for the Big Apple.
We stopped to pick up Stormy and had a late (read very late) lunch. It was more of an early dinner, but it was not at all bad. Maggie McFly's is a pretty nice spot that doesn't cost a whole lot. That's important on road trips like this. Once sated, we were again on our way. This time, with three in the van.
I don't know how She does it, but Mistress manages to drive in places like New York City without losing Her cool. I suppose it comes from being raised and learning to drive in Boston. In fact, New York drivers are pretty tame compared to their counterparts in Boston. I'd be nervous about that comparison except I'm certain Bostonians are quite proud of that. Still, the liminal snarl of roads and bridges on the outskirts of NYC are some of the most counter-intuitive passages you will ever encounter. Just because you can see the big buildings doesn't mean you are actually headed toward them, and one moment of lost concentration will send you off course.
Truth is, I have a very troubled history with the outskirts of New York City. I have attempted the Triborough Bridge at least three times that I can remember, and have ended up in Queens each time. That's not a bad thing if Queens is your destination, but if you're trying to get into Manhattan, well, it's bad. It helps if you realize that the Triborough Bridge is actually three separate bridges, but not much. This was the first time I had ever been in the passenger's seat while crossing the first bridge. I knew there was supposed to be an exit to FDR Drive on the right side, but I had never been able to find it while driving. The best I could figure, you were supposed to drive over the right side of the bridge at some point and hope you landed on a road bed. But no, there is an exit. I just never managed to find it in all the traffic.
But let me tell you, I know how to get to Queens! Entirely by accident, but I can do it! But Queens is a lot like the land of the dead. In the words of Captain Barbosa, it's not getting there that's the problem. It's getting back.
Still, Queens was where we were headed, and with Mistress at the wheel, we made it without too much trouble. You can't help the glitches that Google Maps provides, so you just have to deal.
The friends we were staying with live in the Astoria section of Queens. It's a rather nice, upscale area that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. There are a lot of restaurants - including a lot of Greek establishments. I happen to love Greek food and it's not very available in Maine these days. So I was looking forward to that. The area is also pretty handy to the part of Manhattan that we were going to be visiting in preparation for the romp, so everything was fitting together nicely.
When we pulled up to our friend's town house apartment, we found that there were three door bells. They hadn't told us which to push, so I did what any self-respecting pony would. I pushed the shiniest one.
It was the wrong one. Fortunately, that nice person had to get up at that point in preparation for his night shift. Oops. We asked which button would get our friend to the door, and he showed us. Once that was cleared up, we were admitted and spent some time visiting.
It wasn't a late night as we were going to be busy the next day. We had dinner at a lovely Greek restaurant and went back to the apartment to visit. Soon, we were hitting the hay for the night.
Morning came none too early. Stormy and I had shared a bed and slept well. That's odd as neither of us tends to sleep well in an unfamiliar bed on the first night. Then again, we are both very comfortable sleeping together, so maybe that compensated or something. Beatrice the cat came in to inspect us several times during the night, but that was about it.
Once we had breakfast and got showered, we headed into the city for the Romp.
That will be the next story...
So it was with great joy that I heard that the Romp would happen again this year. The spring has been unusually warm, and a pony's thoughts do tend toward frolicking and romping...not to mention pulling carts, getting his picture taken and nuzzling noses with Firefox.
More on that later.
The date was set for May 1, 2010. Now it's always great to spend a day in Central Park, but Mayday! Of all the days, that one seems to touch chords in my psyche. It may be because it happens to be the pagan celebration of Beltane (yes, I'm pagan) or perhaps it's just because it would provide me a chance to spend some time with Mistress and Stormy. Maybe it was both...especially where Stormy is concerned. In point of fact, though, the date probably has more to do with the romantic notion of canoodling beneath the cherry blossoms with the New York City skyline behind you.
Or the thought of it anyway. The spring had been so warm that the cherry blossoms were pretty much gone by Mayday this year. There was an impressive carpet of them on the ground, however, so there was no need for dampened spirits on that count.
But I get ahead of myself.
I may be getting older. The last time, I was out of the house and on my way to Mistress' place by five in the morning. This time around, it was 6:30. Not a big deal since the people who would be hosting us this year would not get home much before 8:00 in the evening. I had had a scare the night before leaving that left me reluctant to believe that I would be able to make the trip at all, so getting underway was really important. Once on my way with a considerable amount of the state of Maine behind me, I relaxed enough to believe it was actually going to happen. I was on my way to a wonderful pony play event and nothing would stop it now.
The trip to Mistress' house went smoothly and I arrived in the late morning. There was the usual packing and rearranging of the van to do. We were asked to bring three stalls for ponies in addition to the cart and the usual assortment of whips, tack, stable supplies and evil grooming tools. Oh, and the treats. Never forget the treats!
Or anything else for that matter. The last time we romped in Central Park, I had forgotten to pack the tire pump. The wheels on our cart are air filled rather than solid. They give a better ride, but do tend to soften over time no matter how much gunk you inject into them. I don't know what got into me - or what failed to do so - but two years ago, I looked at that pump on the cellar floor and thought, "Tire pump..." and then left it sitting right there. Something I came to regret a day or two later.
This time, I remembered the tire pump. I made sure it was in the van and even asked Mistress about it just to be certain. Two sets of eyes are far better than one, especially if the one belongs to a very anxious pony. No mistake. It was there. So was the cart, the clothing, the tack bag, the stalls, the stable signs, the carriage whip, the toy box, the food, and the two of us.
Once we were all strapped in, Mistress fired up the engine. "First stop," She said, "air for the tires."
The tires.
I had forgotten the tires. They were still sitting on the ground just outside the cellar door. Well, it had to be something, I suppose. And at least we were still sitting out in front of the house. I would have looked pretty foolish holding up the rear of the cart on the bridle path because I didn't pack the tires. And make no mistake, I would have had to do that.
"At least I remembered the pump this time!" I said.
"Yes, because if you got winded, we could stick it in your mouth and pump you back up."
Really, She would have.
So, with everything finally packed, and me feeling very fortunate that She had mentioned filling the tires, we at last headed for the Big Apple.
We stopped to pick up Stormy and had a late (read very late) lunch. It was more of an early dinner, but it was not at all bad. Maggie McFly's is a pretty nice spot that doesn't cost a whole lot. That's important on road trips like this. Once sated, we were again on our way. This time, with three in the van.
I don't know how She does it, but Mistress manages to drive in places like New York City without losing Her cool. I suppose it comes from being raised and learning to drive in Boston. In fact, New York drivers are pretty tame compared to their counterparts in Boston. I'd be nervous about that comparison except I'm certain Bostonians are quite proud of that. Still, the liminal snarl of roads and bridges on the outskirts of NYC are some of the most counter-intuitive passages you will ever encounter. Just because you can see the big buildings doesn't mean you are actually headed toward them, and one moment of lost concentration will send you off course.
Truth is, I have a very troubled history with the outskirts of New York City. I have attempted the Triborough Bridge at least three times that I can remember, and have ended up in Queens each time. That's not a bad thing if Queens is your destination, but if you're trying to get into Manhattan, well, it's bad. It helps if you realize that the Triborough Bridge is actually three separate bridges, but not much. This was the first time I had ever been in the passenger's seat while crossing the first bridge. I knew there was supposed to be an exit to FDR Drive on the right side, but I had never been able to find it while driving. The best I could figure, you were supposed to drive over the right side of the bridge at some point and hope you landed on a road bed. But no, there is an exit. I just never managed to find it in all the traffic.
But let me tell you, I know how to get to Queens! Entirely by accident, but I can do it! But Queens is a lot like the land of the dead. In the words of Captain Barbosa, it's not getting there that's the problem. It's getting back.
Still, Queens was where we were headed, and with Mistress at the wheel, we made it without too much trouble. You can't help the glitches that Google Maps provides, so you just have to deal.
The friends we were staying with live in the Astoria section of Queens. It's a rather nice, upscale area that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. There are a lot of restaurants - including a lot of Greek establishments. I happen to love Greek food and it's not very available in Maine these days. So I was looking forward to that. The area is also pretty handy to the part of Manhattan that we were going to be visiting in preparation for the romp, so everything was fitting together nicely.
When we pulled up to our friend's town house apartment, we found that there were three door bells. They hadn't told us which to push, so I did what any self-respecting pony would. I pushed the shiniest one.
It was the wrong one. Fortunately, that nice person had to get up at that point in preparation for his night shift. Oops. We asked which button would get our friend to the door, and he showed us. Once that was cleared up, we were admitted and spent some time visiting.
It wasn't a late night as we were going to be busy the next day. We had dinner at a lovely Greek restaurant and went back to the apartment to visit. Soon, we were hitting the hay for the night.
Morning came none too early. Stormy and I had shared a bed and slept well. That's odd as neither of us tends to sleep well in an unfamiliar bed on the first night. Then again, we are both very comfortable sleeping together, so maybe that compensated or something. Beatrice the cat came in to inspect us several times during the night, but that was about it.
Once we had breakfast and got showered, we headed into the city for the Romp.
That will be the next story...
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I'm an Author!
Ok, I've written and published before - albeit on a completely different topic - but now I have managed to get published in an erotic anthology called "Love Me Tender: Romantic Tales of Pleasure and Pain". It's edited by Mira Paul and can be found on the Ravenous Romance website.
The story is an edited adaptation of my blog entry called Aphrodite's Embrace. They did make a small mistake on my nom de plume, calling me simply Pony Boy instead of Ponyboy Rusty, but those are the knocks you take sometimes when working with a publisher. Still, know that it is my story (and I'm sticking to it)!
Do go to the website and have a look! The books are downloadable as PDF files and are very inexpensive. In fact, I may just go get me a couple of the other titles they have just for kicks.
On another topic, I will be going to The Floating World this year! This will be my first time at TFW as I don't have the hectic summer performance schedule I have had for the last four years. I got in by volunteering as an EMT, but I also plan on spending some quality time with Stormy and my many friends in the pony community. Most of them are Camp Crucible folks, and since I can't make it to camp this year, this will be my chance to see them.
I can't wait! Or maybe I can. TFW takes place in August, and I don't want the summer to fly by too quickly. Frankly, we've all earned some pleasant skies for a while, and I intend to enjoy them.
More soon enough!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thoughts on a Gray Day
I wasn't supposed to be working today. The phone rang at 7:15 this morning and I awoke to the news that someone scheduled to work would not be able to come in during the day shift. Part of being a manager is that you sometimes have to patch up a hole like that yourself. I don't like that aspect of my job, but I did say, "Yes," when it was offered to me, so...tag, I'm it.
*Sigh*
I also made the final decision about camp this year. It's a no-go. My triumph over the thyroid cancer pretty much ate up the treasury for vacations this year, so a whole lot of travel is out of the question. I'll set my sights on next year and hope for the best.
In terms of my health, I can only hope the last shoe has dropped. I'm still waiting for the hormones to adjust and work the way they are supposed to. Days go fairly well until mid-afternoon. Then I tend to hit the wall rather suddenly. I go in for a blood test this week, and if my levels are still out of whack, I will consider switching to the brand name product. My doctor tells me that patients tend to do better on the name brand than they do on the generic equivalent. At three times the cost, it had better work.
In July, we will check in on the kidneys to see if they are fomenting mischief. I continue to make stones, but so far, they have made their own way out without causing much pain - a situation I can live with if I have to.
But enough grousing. Ponies in the Park will be happening again this year! That hasn't happened since May of 2008 and it was so much fun. Gathering the stares of the general public - especially in New York City - is always entertaining on my side of the blinders. "Guerrilla Theater" my Mistress calls it. Whatever it is, proudly pulling the cart with Stormy beside me can only be described as a slice of heaven.
Now the praying starts for good weather. After the disaster of last summer, I think we deserve a break. A summer of temperatures in the mid to high 70's would suit me just fine, thank you. Plenty of sunshine with appropriate amounts of rain to keep the grass green will be in order. Ponies like green grass. It's great fun to roll in.
I ache for the chance to do just that!
*Sigh*
I also made the final decision about camp this year. It's a no-go. My triumph over the thyroid cancer pretty much ate up the treasury for vacations this year, so a whole lot of travel is out of the question. I'll set my sights on next year and hope for the best.
In terms of my health, I can only hope the last shoe has dropped. I'm still waiting for the hormones to adjust and work the way they are supposed to. Days go fairly well until mid-afternoon. Then I tend to hit the wall rather suddenly. I go in for a blood test this week, and if my levels are still out of whack, I will consider switching to the brand name product. My doctor tells me that patients tend to do better on the name brand than they do on the generic equivalent. At three times the cost, it had better work.
In July, we will check in on the kidneys to see if they are fomenting mischief. I continue to make stones, but so far, they have made their own way out without causing much pain - a situation I can live with if I have to.
But enough grousing. Ponies in the Park will be happening again this year! That hasn't happened since May of 2008 and it was so much fun. Gathering the stares of the general public - especially in New York City - is always entertaining on my side of the blinders. "Guerrilla Theater" my Mistress calls it. Whatever it is, proudly pulling the cart with Stormy beside me can only be described as a slice of heaven.
Now the praying starts for good weather. After the disaster of last summer, I think we deserve a break. A summer of temperatures in the mid to high 70's would suit me just fine, thank you. Plenty of sunshine with appropriate amounts of rain to keep the grass green will be in order. Ponies like green grass. It's great fun to roll in.
I ache for the chance to do just that!
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