Animal Husbandry- Why horses are just better companions.

It's been a trying week, to say the least. Quite the melange of events and misadventures which have curdled the first half of this week, making it hard to relax, concentrate and keep a peaceful and straight train of thought.

This all changed today when I hopped off the 194 bus and meandered down the driveway of KBTC. Benji was turned out in the field, quite busy swatting at flies impervious to his efforts to keep them at bay. With his halter strewn with fuzzies and some new evidence of potential rubbing due to sweat, he looked like quite the veteran. Of what, I am not sure, but perhaps the veteran of summer at KBTC?

I called out his name and didn't really expect him to amble over, as he was munching contentedly in a field of verdent grass. Yet he whipped his head around at the sound of his name and took off at a leisurely stroll towards where I waited at the fence to greet him. A few exchanged breaths of welcome greeting and muzzle kisses later, my worries from the past week's events had dissolved into distant memory threads, not even not my radar.

I left briefly to put my bags in the tackroom and Benji took off a full gallop, bucking as he went, in protest of my walking away from him. This was quickly remedied as I brought him right in and began to lavish attention on him, with brushing and conversation (he never answers but I still ask the questions).

I am only 24, and the world is still my oyster, with plenty of handsome guys waiting in the sidewings to emerge in my life. But for now, as of right now, I am happy to call Benji my horse hubby. He's always eager to see me, offers the most welcoming greetings and is eager to be by my side (the former crosstie unclipping he is famous for is usually when I leave the barn just to put away tack or clean things up). So, my wonderful redhead, with highlights most women would envy, thank you for getting me through this past eighteen months in stride, been steadfastly faifthful, never told any secrets, and have given me an outlet to forget my troubles and just love unconditionally.

Making Beauty (More) Affordable From a Discount Beauty Diva

I am somewhat of a known spa junkie. Scrap that, I am borderline addicted to spas, massages and mani/pedis. However, these luxuries are not synonymous with living on a budget, or in this economy. Friends of mine from all walks of life tease me about visiting the spas and inquire about how in the world it is manageable. I will start my tips out with a disclaimer that I have cut back on my spa going, as my muscles were actually getting over massaged and it's much nicer (and healthier) to go every so often and makes it all the mort savory and special of an experience.

Firstly, set up a Lifebooker account. I have been using this fabulous website for over a year to book a variety of treatments (haircuts, waxing, massage...) at discounted four and five star spas/salons. Granted you need to be open to experiencing new places and people and the site only runs specials with particular spas (usually it's a cyclical thing). But I've discovered some amazing places which I continue to frequent (even not booking through Lifebooker). Based on how much your treatment(s) are, Lifebooker asks you to write a short summary of your experience and rate it , then credits you an allotted amount of reward dollars to be used (within a certain time frame) towards any loot on their site you wish.

I usually aimed to book the most discounted massages when I first started using the site, and to this day, have never had a horrible experience (some less stellar than others), but never nightmarish or even close.

Once you've pinpointed your local place to get massages or mani pedis, be smart. ALWAYS ask about a frequent client card (usually it's 10 manis or treatments and then one for free). Acqua Beauty Bar, where I go with my mom, gives you a card which credits you a point for each dollar you spend. When you reach one thousand, you get free 100 dollar value massage. Takes a while, but since I go there regularly and the service is AMAZING, I know eventually I'll reach that goal.

Also check spa websites for Early Bird specials. Almost all salons have a Mon-Wed special on mani-pedis. My favorite? True Nail Salon on Fifth Avenue between 18th and 19th features fantastic, unsurpassed mani/pedis for 28 bucks the first three days of each week. My massage place of choice (and I am a certified massage maven at this point) is Essential Therapy.

Located on 25th between Park and Lex, this fabulous oasis of a spa has a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, all free of charge, every time you come visit. I usually stay for two hours, one for massage and then the second winding down in various areas. They are about middle of the road price wise, but the therapists are always fantastic, listen to your requests/needs and they have amazingly large, lush rooms with great tables and soothing music.

I could probably go on forever about this place...but to get back to the discounted beauty point, Mon-Fri, if you book a massage before 3pm, they offer an Early Bird special, meaning you get 35 bucks off the standard massage price. I know you probably work and can't get away very often, but how about this July 4th? It's on a Monday...

Lastly, if you have a Smartphone, download the FourSquare app and use it! Checking into spas and salons often scores you free goodies and if you end up being a mayor of a venue, you sometimes are entitled to free treatments and discounts. And use those old student IDs, as they will earn a 10 % discount at least...

I hope these tips inspire you to plan a little 'me-time' for yourself. It's still isn't cheap, and is time consuming based on a busy work schedule, but your mind and body will thank you.

Creatures of the Night

Contrary to the title of this post, it not about giant waterbugs, steroidal rats or strange, listless night wanderers lurking in dark corners. I was just out taking Strider for his nightly walk (we made it to the dog run, which is a major accomplishment on my part for those of you know me- though we were the only ones there). I was ruminating on a few things while my dog chased skateboarders from within the run.

Living in the city, being responsible for multiple animals and having a horse 27 miles away is pretty damn hard. Definitely a challenge, having to ensure all beings receive optimal care and attention, as well as working a 35+ hour work week, and giving my all to the clients and tasks at hand.

Every minute for the most part is worth this great feat- coming home to mewing felines anxiously awaiting your arrival (and subsequent treat bags), catching the smile on dog's face and Benji's red head perk up when I utter his name upon arriving at the stable. But transportation, preparation and motivation are three key factors which make my life work.

I wanted to focus on the preparation part, as the other two are a bit self evident, and the motives more obvious. But I've found a few tricks here and there to make my life so much easier and logistics far less painless. One is to always shower and lay out the outfit I am wearing tomorrow (NO EXCUSES, I will literally go through my closet for thirty minutes if I don't do this the night before).

A few others are emailing myself a list of everything I need to get done the next day before I go bed- I try and prioritize this list, keep it realistic and include mandatory things in bold. That way when I load new emails on my phone in the AM, I have an instant reminder of what the day requires and will bring. Time is valuable, and if you happen to have an extra half hour, performing any tasks which can be done and not postponed is a great thing to do.

I always try and buy a round trip bus ticket, so I have a ticket for the next time I come out to the barn, and usually make sure to have at least one good ride left on my Metrocard. This is essential when commuting in a hurry from work to the barn and back. Also, always have a few singles on hand. Yeah, for that stripper you keep on speed dial OR for vending machines, transit which doesn't take metrocards aka NJ buses, or last minute purchases at vendors which have a credit card minimum.

Lastly? Invest in a DVR. That way you can be sure all your quality summer shows (Rescue Me, True Blood, The Killing, a few TLC favorites...) are all waiting for you upon your arrival home.

Tack Trunk Beauty

The words tack trunk and beauty are not synonymous with one another. Horseback riding and summer bring hair, sweat and post-helmet head to a whole other level. But for those of you who ride, have horses and might want a few suggestions to feel a little less icky and more 'human' after riding or a day at the barn, here are some tips:

1.) Don't get sunburned. Seriously, it is so easy to get a nice t-shirt farmer's tan or a burn elsewhere from riding in the sun, especially since it's gorgeous and so much fun to ride outside. I recommend keeping at least a bottle of suntan lotion in your trunk, but if you want to get make things really easy, purchase some Supergoop! (http://www.supergoop.com/) wipes. They are easy to dispose of, handy wipes to coat your arms and back with a non greasy yet effective SPF 30.

2.) Hand Sanitizer- this may seem like a given for those of you who board at my barn where there is no hot water, but it definitely prevents any possible germs or dirt from spreading to the outer world once you are done at the barn. While all natural, spray-on brands are great, I have to differ and go to the high power ones included alcohol...call me a germaphobe, but if I am trying to prevent bacteria, I wana do it right.

3.) Tinted Moisturizer w/ SPF- After your done riding or sweating it out with some manual labor at the barn, slap on a tinted moisturizer for excellent sheer coverage, giving your skin a dewey finish. I like Dermalogica's Tinted Moisturizer (SPF 15) or Boscia's Tinted Moisturizer (comes in a variety of shades to match skin tone). If you want to go a little pricier, Stilla makes a fantastic foundation with bits of crushed up pearl it up for a nice finish. It's measured in watts. They also have another nice tinted moisturizer for about 28 bucks.

4.) Blotting sheets- These little pieces of paper take all the shine glistening on your face off and I find help to reduce oil on skin and potential breakouts. Boscia makes some nice facial blotting tissues in a wide array of scents, excellent for on-the-go cleanup (including green tea, lavender and rose).

5.) Sheer lip color/lip tint- A nude or slightly rosy gloss or lip stick is fantastic for moisturizing chapped lips after a day in the sun and also adds a punch of light color if you are headed out to a dinner, meeting friends, etc.

6.) Hand cream- I find that when riding (even with gloves) in the summer, the process of hosing, sweatscaping, cleaning up after my horse and performing other necessities like cleaning tack leaves hands chafed and dry to the touch. So stick a small tube of hand cream (LOVE L'Occitane's signature hand cream or cherry blossom scented version). You can also dab a bit of cream on your hair, to eliminate or help tame flyaway frizzies.

Hope these tips inspire you to maybe include one, or more of the above in your tack trunk. Cheers!

Puppy Days of Summer

So, for some inane reason, Mother Nature has decided to give us two days in a row which are reminiscent of July and August weather. We still have yet to see a full spring; days of balmy 78 degree weather with a night breeze calling for a light cardigan at night.

Nope. Instead we get highs of 96 and 98 this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Unadulterated, blistering heat, guaranteed to induce potential dehydration, exhaustion and irritability. Ok, I will digress, as I don't want to make this a horribly negative post full of complaints.

To stay cool, I'd highly recommend using AC if you have it, or at least investing in a good old fan, which can rotate and push the air around. If you happen to have cross ventilation, like I do, keeping the windows wide open can also cool things down. If you are going to be outside or running around in the heat, keep water or Gatorade with you and remember to take breaks, not overexert yourself and wear a high SPF to avoid getting burned.

This is perfect stay indoors and watch movies weather, or a good time to get some organization or cleaning done, as long as you don't do too much at once. I just washed a ton of dishes that had piled up in the sink and plan on vacuuming and picking up some new cutlery (we really need knives!) tomorrow.

One fun thing to kill about ten minutes in this heat...type your name into either a Word Doc, or an email and see what suggestions pop up. My best Spellcheck name? Gunman Elephant. Be safe, take necessary precautions for the next two days. Then exhale, plaster a relieved smile across your face and venture out on Friday, when it will be a blissful 81 degrees.

Five Free Things To Make You Feel Instantly Better...

In the spirit of summer coming as well as the start of a new week, I wanted to make a quick list of five free activities which should make you (at least they make me) feel instantly better, more organized, more grown up and give me a semblance of order.

1.) Vacuum your bedroom and organize your living space/closet- something about being able to visually see things, especially my possessions, in an orderly fashion makes me breathe easier. I just did a fast ten minute vacuum job on my room and straightened up a few things which had went astray this week.

2.) Make a phone call (OK, so this isn't technically free, but I do have free minutes on weekends/evenings so it would be free then) to someone who you haven't spoken to in a while- This creates an instant connection to a person you have been meaning to get ahold of or catch up with and can evoke old/shared memories, great laughter and story swapping. Or video chat on AIM/Skype..

3.) Do a good deed- This provides instant gratification and giving to someone in need of a favor or a helping hand- helping a visually impaired individual cross the street, giving up your subway seat or offering it to a person who may need it more than you, slipping spare change to a homeless person.

4.) Save water or Conserve energy- Make sure all appliances not in use are off when you leave and are in your home. If it's not too hot, use an open window instead of the AC. Brush your teeth in the shower.

5.) Take a walk (with your dog, if you have one)- One of my goals this summer is to be more active in the city. It's hard, given the fact that we have such a fantastic public transportation system and since I love convenience (eating out, having everything in a concentrated area, etc.). But be brave and explore new neighborhoods, venues or streets (just not alleyways in the dark, DO use common sense). You never know what you may find. Having a canine companion in tow always brightens the mood and usually makes me walk faster too.

Just a Lazy Day Afternoon

This post will be brief, as I may have a date with my DVR later and am exhausted from a long but rewarding day at the barn. I took a new route home, foregoing the usual bus ride into Port Authority and choosing instead to grab a car ride with a friend to the 'Jitney,' which is a bus that travels over the GW Bridge and drops you off at the 175th Street Bus Station.

I've heard a lot about this station as a good place to catch rides to various other barns and as a quicker alternative to Port Authority, as it's right across from New Jersey. But I literally expected it to be some small bus station on the bridge or overlooking it- not a full fledged mini Port Authority, with shops, subway connections, etc. What a pleasant surprise! I love how even though I've lived here my entire life, this city never ceases to amaze me or show me new pockets of discoveries.

I've included a few recent photos of Benji, the wonderful and challenging horse I adopted from Helping Hearts Equine Rescue seventeen months ago. He is truly the apple of my eye and has captured a large part of my heart. The fact that I have virtually taught him everything he knows, and to respond to current cues and body language is such a wonder to me. After riding for seventeen years, I can say that no other horse is more pleasurable to ride; I have yet to meet a horse who is as eager to please, curious, intelligent and willing about work and new experiences as Benji is.

I could really digress and go on a long tangent about Benji, but don't feel the need (if anyone has looked at my Facebook page recently, he dominates the majority of my activity and posts). What I also love about having a horse (aside from riding, how much I adore him and training, etc.), is that it creates a wonderful obligation which forced me to revisit how I was living my life.

Sure, I still go out for drinks with friends and to some parties. I also do get massages to help preserve my sanity and tightly wound muscles. But the expectation Benji holds of seeing me as much as possible and spending time with me made me re-evaluate how I spent my time and allocated my money. Priorities change, and I can say without any reserve that Benji's needs come before any other party or occasion. I think it's a healthy way to live life.

The Tree of Death...

So tonight I decided, fairly excitedly, to see "Tree of Life," with a good friend. I had previously been acquainted with Malick's work, having seen "Thin Red Line," and painting the Anna Sui backdrop with a "Days of Heaven" theme. Sadly, that backdrop is far more beautiful, coherent and visually sensical than Malick's latest film.

I am not a die-hard Malick fan, but was curious to see the film which had been slated to release a number of times and had been made in roughly 2008. Brad Pitt notably looks much younger than in recent press photos. The theater was chock full of a wide variety of people, all eagerly anticipating the movie which has received quite varying and conflicting reviews.

Whether Malick captures spiritual transcendence, a tale of love and loss and self revelation or just a cinematographic masterpiece is beyond me. I was interested enough at first about the story of Sean Penn, the grown son of Brad Pitt and newcomer Jessica Chastain, and how he appeared to be disconnected and confused with the present day world/environment. It began with the apparent death of the middle brother, shown as a sweet and trusting boy throughout the film. Despite the fact that their eldest son is now more than grown, Brad and Jessica were not aged in the least.

However, my interest sort waned when the juxtaposition of present-day Sean Penn/fifties style childhood shots morphed into a scene from James Cameron meets Planet Earth. Literally, for thirty minutes, I watched the screen evolve from faux dinosaurs, jelly fish, sharks, amoebas, mountains, planets, earth, lava....the list continues.

Whatever tangible threads of interesting plot Malick hinted at (relationship between eldest son and loving yet abusive father, the limits and constraints of brotherly love, adolescent blooming into an infatuation with the older woman next door), were diminished or never fully brought to fruition. He created a visual masterpiece, with shots that rival Peter Jackson and James Cameron.

However, the intertwining of this imagery with a coherent plot line, rich with religious undertones and ideas, Southern upbringing, parental/child relations and human conflict, were ruined by horrible transitions with no rhyme or reason. I felt beyond disconnected and discombobulated after exiting the theater, wanting either a Sci-Fi/Planet Earth/3-D Avatar-type extravaganza, or simply a wonderfully emotional and riveting film about human and family interaction, lives and values (The beach scene where people are supposedly dead or accepting death ran for another wasteful twenty minutes or so....). That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this film.