Matt and I have discovered another Pacifica gem for Sunday morning breakfasts. Not as good as Joann's, but if you're in the mood for a hot, homemade, no-frills breakfast, Kerri's Coffee Shop is perfect! We went Sunday morning and I had the vegetarian omelette (made of 3 eggs, mushrooms, jack cheese, spinach, and tomatoes) with hash browns, and Matt had the breakfast special (2 eggs, 4 sausage, and dollar pancakes - which were delish!).

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to drive down to Cupertino for my VB for Excel class. The class was good, 80% review for me, but lasted until 5pm or so. After class I needed to drive to Milpitas to show my saddle to a gal (who decided not to buy it, grr) so I didn't get home until 7pm. I was pretty tired and worn down by then. At dinner Matt and I were talking about work possibilities for him and he mentioned that if he got a job in the east bay he'd have to move there. Much later it was explained that *we* would move there or find a place in between for us to live, but in my tired, pitiful state I took it the worst way that he'd be finding a place of his own and that we wouldn't live with each other. This got me very very sad and upset and I was quiet for the rest of the evening. Later that night in my tears I explained to him why I was so upset and he hugged me and reassured me that living without me wasn't what he was saying at all. Looking back, he talks about 'when we live together' scenarios all the time so I was being pretty girly and silly.

Sunday evening we went grocery shopping at TJ's and while we passed the flowers on the way out I pointed to some chrysanthemums and remarked how pretty they were. Quite unexpectedly, he went right back in and purchased them for me. :) Nice boyfriend..

I saw two more potential places to board this past weekend.

Situation 1. At a private residence. One other boarder in an adjacent mini pasture. $200 plus about $70 extra for hay which I have to buy myself. They feed, I have to clean. Decently sized mini pasture for 1 horse. If I ever got another horse I would pay the same amount ($200) just more hay. Central to trails. Lots of other animals, a head-butting goat and a very frightening looking turkey. Owner lives at premises.. haven't met him yet. Tight Trailer parking on the street.

Situation 2. Just 1 mile down the road. Small boarding situation about 25 horses. $250/month includes hay and feeding and I wouldn't have to clean The pasture Isabella would be in is a fixer upper (she'd be there by herself), Matt and I and the manager would put up the fencing. I'm thinking of asking for a little bit of a space extension to give Isabella some more room to run/play. Very friendly manager and friendly, horse conscientious boarders. It seems like there are a lot of eyes to watch over Isabella in case I wasn't out there. Secure trailer parking. Lots of funny dogs and cute chickens, and a funny guinea fowl with a pea sized brain.

Trying to decide which one is better.. I really like Situation 2 and I'm leaning towards this option, although I'd have to talk to the manager about making her pasture a little bigger. Even though we'd have to put a little elbow grease into her pasture, I think the flexibility to customize her living situation would be greater since it's not like the other situation where the owner lives on the premises and may be real particular to what happens to his land.

Decisions decisions..

A - Available? For stripping only, I've stopped hooking a while ago.
A - Age: 29 *sob*

B - Best Friend(s)? Matty, Amit, Walt, Merima and Laquel
B - Birthday? 2/5/77

C - Crush: Matty
C - Car: Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel baby (love my truck)

D - Dead Pets Name: None that I know of.. Julius?
D - Dads Name: Myung
D - Dog: China Vagina

E - Easiest person to talk to: Matty, maybe Walt cuz nothing phases him
E - Eggs: over easy with spinach, feta cheese, and bacon (oh my, I'm drooling)
E - Email: keeps me busy

F - Favorite color? I've had a baby blue fetish lately
F - Food: Korean
F - Foreign Slang: Ljubis mi mjehurice od prdeza u kadi! (I'll let Merima translate)

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears, only after placing them in lewd positions
G - God: yes
G - Good Time: Riding Miss Isabella in a grassy field on a loverly day

H - Hair Color: black
H - Height: 5'2
H - Happy: quite

I - Ice Cream: currently, Thrifty's chocolate malt
I - Instrument: played oboe and flute in junior high?
I - Idol: American!

J - Jewelery: a necessary hassle
J - Job: scientist

K - Kids: 2 someday..
K - karate: reached blue (or green, I forget) in Taekwondo

L - Longest Car Ride: Seattle, WA from Davis, CA
L - Longest your hair has ever been: past the bra line

M - MILK FLAVOR: makes me fart
M - Mothers Name: Kyung
M - Movie Last Watched: King Kong

N - Number of Siblings: 2
N - Northern or Southern: Northern
N - Name: Julienne, Jules

O - ONE WISH: Matt needs a job? ;)
O - One Phobia? walking over grates on the sidewalk
O - Otter Pop: yum

P - Parents, are they married or divorced: Divorced
P - Part of your appearence you like best: my cuticles?
P - Part of your Personality you like best: my ability to flip off people without abandon

Q - Quote: "Bitch, move!"

(holy crap I'm getting tired of this stupid quiz)

R - Reality TV Show(s): The more the better
R - Right or Left: Right

S - Song Last Heard: 3 Doors Down "love me when I'm gone"
S - Season: Fall
S - Sex: few nights ago!

T - Time you woke up: 7am
T - Time Now: 9:37am
T - Time for bed: 12am

U - Unknown Fact about me: I eat raisens obsessively
U - Unicorns: if you drink their blood you get eternal life

V - Vegetable you hate: water chestnuts (are those a vegetable?)
V - Vegetable you love: spinach

W- Worst Habits: I want everything *MY WAY*
W- Where are you going to travel next? Tahoe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X - X-Rated Porn: Haven't been in one in a while
X - X-xtra special someone: Matty

Y - Year you were born: 1977
Y - Year it is now: 2006

Z - Zoo Animal: Giraffes
Z - Zodiac: Aquarius

Who the heck gave it the 'thumbs up' to clip your nails at work? It gives me the heebie jeebies to have to listen to someone clip their nails in the hallways. It's right next to chewing with your mouth open.. UCK!! It's like fingernails down a chalkboard for me! Yesterday someone was walking down the hallways brushing their teeth also. What has happened to the 'personal' in 'personal hygeine', people??

This past weekend Matt and I did absolutely nothing! It was wonderful. We lounged around, watched Olympic Curling, played lots of video games, and cooked yummy foods.

I managed to get a really nice ride on Isabella on Monday.. now that I'm selling her saddle I've just been riding her bareback around on the trails. She's really been feeling good! We had a good trot/canter thrown in here and there and she felt really strong and forward.. she's a happy little camper. On Saturday we checked out Renegade Ranch, a nearby boarding stable that I may move Isabella. The pasture she's in currently doesn't allow back shoes which I'm going to need now that I know the Epics aren't going to work for her. Renegade was nice, although the mud situation in pasture isn't the best and the driveway going in/out is steep - which will make trailering out pretty scary. I'll be checking out another boarding stable right across the street called Morning Star this Sunday and I've heard the trailer situation is much better there. Plus the pasture is gender seperated so I don't have to worry so much about Isabella when she gets into raging heat and gets raging horny.

Later on Monday Amit came over for some pizza eatin's and we played more video games into the evening. Matt and Amit played Halo and I played my Bejewelled Multi-player (up to rank 3500, bitches) and we ended the evening by watching some exciting 24. Go Jack! Saving the world again..

American Idol boys on tonight.. girls were on last night. There are some really horrible singers in the bunch..

Happy post-Valentine's day! I guess I'm a few days late..

Matt and I had a loverly quiet Valentine's day. After work I went to check on Isabella and was greeted happily by her.. my little mare even turned away from her dinner to say hello! Hooray, I was relieved that she didn't hate me after what I put her through this past weekend. Her windpuffs were completely gone and Dana had stopped by to tack on her missing front shoe. Good as new! Her back was still a bit sore.. which reminds me, I need to bring home the saddle from the barn and start getting pictures to sell.

Coming back from the barn, traffic through Pacifica slowed down to a standstill. Matt was caught in similar traffic coming down on 1S. It took about 30 minutes to crawl from south Pacifica to north.. maybe about 3-4 miles. Yeesh. We forgo'd our plans to have V-day dinner at Nona's and went to the local Peruvian restaurant instead, El Toro Loco. Dinner was yummy (and left us with very attractive fish breath). It really was a nice Valentine's day.. Matt bought me a bouquet of tons of mini roses (which have started blooming and smell just divine) and also bought me '50 First Dates', the movie we watched on our very first date. I was the awesomest girlfriend ever and bought him a vintage Atari 2600 system with such games as: Tennis, Ms Pacman, Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Missile Command, etc... alas, best girlfriend ever neglected to buy joysticks so we haven't been able to play it yet.

I'm considering moving Isabella to a different barn.. one that I'll be able to bring China along on the trails and allow Isabella to have hind shoes on if needed. Matt and I are going to check it out Saturday to see if it's a good match. It's just on the other side of the hill but it's a little more expensive than where I am now so we'll have to see what the pros/cons are.

Back to work.. busybusy.

Ridestory has been posted under 'Stories'.. Shine and Shine Only 25!

After a delicious meal.. My empty dessert plate!

After a delicious meal.. My empty dessert plate!
Originally uploaded by Julienne:).

Birthday dinner with Matt's parents at Michael Mina's

Last night we went out with Matt's parents to the St. Francis hotel in Union Square for quite possibly one of the best, fancy schmancy meals I've ever had.

The three course meal consisted of a variety of samples for each course. I couldn't tell you which was more delicious, the appetizers, main course, or dessert, because each was just heaven on earth in every bite. I felt sacreligious today when warming up my leftover prime ribe in the microwave for lunch.. and you know, even re-heated prime rib roasted for 6 hours is every bit as good as when it was served fresh last night. Yumyumyum. Thanks Matt's parents!!

Posted by a fellow endurance rider on an email list (pretty much sums up the horse's perspective on endurance rides):

An endurance horse was a recent guest on the Dave Letterman show.
Following is a transcript from the show:
David Letterman:" Let's give him a big hand, he trotted in all the
way from Auburn!" (Crowd roars) "Welcome to the show, you ol' hayburner!'
Horse: "Thanks, Dave. Good to be here. Thought I was gonna be
late. Really had to hoof it over here."
Dave: " So what's shakin' in the world of endurance riding these
days?"
Horse: "Lots, Dave. Convention's comin' up in about two weeks.
Some great speakers, fabulous trade show. Good place to blow some bucks
and learn square dancing. Lots of new riders coming into the sport. New
vet standards, more international competition.They even got a committee
of people lookin' out for my welfare."
Dave: "Really? SPCA?"
Horse: "Nope. AERC. And they're settin' the world standard in
health and safety for the equine athlete."
Dave: "How's that going?"
Horse: "Pretty good. Pretty good. It's like joining a union. Ya
see, they got these horse doctors, who check me out in all kinds of
ways, and touch me in places I can't mention on TV. They do this before,
during and after a ride, and if I'm not lookin' too shiny, they give me
the rest of the afternoon off. I get to go back to the trailer and eat
and drink as much as I like. Even take a nap if I want to. Someone then
usually watches over me, wringin' their hands--all nervous like. Nothin'
seems to make 'em happy until I pee and poop!" Then they smile, breathe
a sigh of relief, and proudly inspect the quality of my work. Sometimes
they're so proud they even bring a friend over to show them. So, I just
keep eatin', and poopin'. If I don't, that there horse doctor is gonna
reach into one end of me or the other and make it happen. It ain't
pleasant, Dave."
Dave: "I had no idea it was like that. How do you cope with that?"
Horse: "Well, if you're lucky, you get placed with a rider who
cares more about me eatin' and drinkin' and poopin' and peein', than
holdin' his pants up or coverin' his walls. They got treeless saddles
that feel good on my back, sheepskin covered girths so I don't chafe,
and even these cute little overshoes they put on me. I guess it's a way
of accessorizin'. They paint numbers on my ass, but I don't know why. I
can't even count to ten. I get lots of carrots, and baby talk (like I
understand it). I get to wear a nice warm blanket at night, and all my
meals are catered. If I get injured or have some other painful
condition, after the ride they give me drugs that make me glad I got
hurt! Sometimes my rider cracks enough beers where he ain't feelin no
pain either.
Dave: "So how far do they actually ride you?
Horse: "Good question. They got rides anywhere from 25 to 100
miles in a day."
Dave: "In a single day?!!! Do they use more than one horse? Do
the riders stop and sleep? Do you get to rest?!!!!!!!!
Horse: "Take it easy, Dave. One horse. One rider. 24 hour time
limit even for a 100 miler. But them there horse doctors keep a real
close eye, and most riders care enough about us ponies that sometimes
they'll pull us out even when the vet says we can go on. Cuz they KNOW
us. And they're supposed to. We spend long hours, days, weeks, months,
even years together. We rely on and protect each other. I'm usually the
only one that's naked, but I'm used to it.
Dave: "Ya know, I'm kind of a lazy guy. I'd be lookin' for a way
to get out of that much work. Any tricks to that?
Horse: "You betcha. I can do a pretty convincing limp. If the
vet's not sure, I drop my head every other step. I can breathe really
fast, and get a dull look in my eyes. I can refuse food and water, and
act like I want to bite at my sides. These will usually get me the day
off, and a lot of treats and lovin'. That anal tone thing is hard to
fake though. I ain't that relaxed."
Dave: "Well, It's been great having you here, tonight. Would you
come back and tell us how you do at Tevis?"
Horse "Glad to Dave. Unless I can think of a way to get out of it."
(Band plays. Horse exits. Fade to commercial)
Dr. Quackenbush, cheesy Hollywood producer

Sunday has come and gone and alas, I am now 29. 29.. it feels wierd for me even to type the two numbers. Old, old, old.. I'm so old.. I even managed to depress Matt with how old we both are now...

Despite my reluctance for this day to come, I managed to have a really nice weekend. Friday night Matt took me out to Nona's Kitchen for dinner. We've been there dozens of times but never for dinner. We had some very yummy mushroom and tomato bruschetta and some skirt steak for dinner. We even split a bottle of very yummy sauvignon blanc (actually I don't know what wine it was, I just wanted to write 'sauvignon blanc'). It was delicious and after a drunken romp in the parking lot we went to shop for kleenex and panties. (whoa, just re-read this paragraph and it sounds a lot more naughty than it actually was)

Saturday continued the birthday revelry and it wasn't even my birthday yet! Walt volunteered his place for a nice little intimate dinner of close friends and we all dined on wieners, balls, and cream. Mmm.. the perfect potluck dinner! It was such a nice dinner.. I had been feeling a little dejected all week long because I really hadn't heard from anyone, but my spirits lifted when Matt told me Friday evening that everyone had been sending a flurry of emails regarding my little bday shindig. It couldn't have been a better evening..

Sunday morning Matt made the Strongest Coffee Ever Known To Man which was absolutely delicious. It sent us both on a flurry of manic housecleaning and I had the brilliant idea to continue on the activity by going on a bike ride. Keep in mind I haven't ridden on my bike for months and months... Anyways, there's a relatively flat area up on Skyline we spotted the day before, but looks can be oh so decieving. A short 30 minute bike ride just literally kicked MY ASS. I was sooo tired and my heart was racing from all the caffeine rushing through my bloodstream and intense physical exercise (well for me anyway). I came home and just crashed.. I was so pooped. What the heck was I thinking?? That I was 28 or something?? After a whole lot of fluids and a lot of rest I was back to my normal old 29 year old self and we ended the birthday weekend with a quiet birthday dinner at Todai. Matt was the only non-asian in the restaurant which was amusing.

Happy birthday to me! Thanks to everyone who contributed to a great weekend (and to those who send electronic bday wishes!).. love you all!

I've been so busy at work these past few days I haven't had time to really even think! Man, I thought last week was busy, this week has been non-stop. It caught up with me a bit yesterday.. I was so sick when I got home - sniffles, sneezing, the whole bit. Of course it didn't stop me from heading out to go see Isabella in the freezing cold. With a huge pocketful of tissues I hopped on Isabella bareback and walked/jogged around the ranch until it got dark. When I got home I felt even worse so after downing some Aleve Cold and Sinus and watching American Idol and Sex in the City reruns I went to bed at 10pm. This morning I felt much better!

With all this work stuff I really haven't been able to think about this weekend.. I'm not talking about the Superbowl kiddies, but rather the first day of the entrance into my last year of my twenties. How sad. I have mixed feelings about going into this year. Matt, in his ripe old age (he turned 30 in August), says that the year of 29 is really when you start getting your life in order of how you want things to be. I'm happy with my job. I'm happy with what I have at home (China, Isabella). I'm happy with my friends. However, I thought I would be in a different place with myself and with the SO in my life. I've yet to be truely happy with myself.. but I'm working small steps towards that place where I'll be content. These past few months have been especially rough with switching around medications then deciding to go off them completely. Going off of them isn't helping, even with herbal help, so I'm looking for another medication which may help push me in the direction I need in order for me to place the things in my life where they need to be. Relationship-wise, I know in order to have a long-lasting, happy marriage, I need to be in a good place with myself, which I know will fall into place eventually. Both are intertwined.. both will be worked on this last year of my twenties.

Matt has been especially patient during these times when emotionally I'm not at my best. He's very very good at not taking jabs personally and realizing what I'm dealing with doesn't necessarily involve him. So thank you a million billion times, baby, for understanding.

Shine and Shine Only ride next weekend (Feb 11th).. yay. I'm looking forward to the first ride of the season.. SO VERY EXCITED!!

P.S. Oh yeah, after I wrote that chicken post I was talking to my neighbor (who we are convinced is a hit man, but kind-hearted) about his chickens. He has a dozen or so next door, 4 of which are roosters, and I professed my love for them. He kindly provided a dozen fresh eggs (with which I made a cinnamon apple cake) and said whenever he's out of town I can go back there and take care of them. Hooray!