'Bites' refer to the first part of the outdoor adventure. I shot some more video. I haven't looked at it yet, however, so I can't tell you how it looks. Anyway, I got some more creek shots (overflowed creek, by the way), and some of me standing there blabbing. I'm toying with a 'teaser trailer' idea. I found out that I can turn the LCD screen all the way around and so I can stand in front of the camera and watch myself! That was pretty neat. And no, I'm not being narcissitic--it really is helpful...that way I didn't have to record--then go check where I showed up at in the frame. I also used a filter, so I look forward to seeing how that turned out.

'Bits', 'Bucks', and 'Bounces' refers to the second, more grueling part of the afternoon. I first had to fight the bit into Snip's mouth. I didn't exactly lose my temper, but I came awful close. I'm tired of his dumb fighting. He knows how to take the bit--he just makes me work at it. Brat.

Almost as soon as I got on him and took him through the gate ('the' gate...ha! as many gates as there is on this property that is rather undiscriptive), the bad boy started to actually buck! Now this wasn't any of that half-hearted trying stuff that he's done before, either. I guess I'm an okay horsewoman 'cause I stayed on--even after my feet (or at least one of them) came out of the stirrups. I kept my head and a steady pressure on the reins. I'm a tad sore in a strange place, but I don't know if that is from the bucking or the other almost 'Racheal went flying' moment. That happened at the other end of the pasture.

Snip decided, as he streached his neck into a faster run, that he wanted to go down that little hill to the wet creek area. Uh-huh. Well, all was fine (as far as my seat went) until he skipped through a bull hole and continued his left-ward drift; speeding up as he did so. Left foot took to the sky. I came *this close* (hold up fingers) to cracking my head into the ground again. (If I had, at least it would have been squishy--that whole area is wet and boggy right now.) I hung on to the saddle horn, pulled on the reins, squoze with my knees (as hard as I could while bouncing down a hill), and tried to throw my weight to the left. Well, I guess it worked because I stayed on and got the stinker stopped.

He really wanted to RUN RUN RUN today. So even though it was hot, I ran him. There were no 'sweet Snippy' feelings today. It was 'Boy, you are going to behave.' I was somewhat more forceful--I'm thinking that is what he needs. Reading pro's writing they make it sound so easy: you ask--and give the animal time to respond--but some how I think they do a bit more 'making' the horse behave than they let on. Snip finally decided that he would at least pretend he was paying attention to me. It was after that that I quit. I needed a drink.

Stink pot. Anyhow...it isn't like I have even been naughty! :)

Some surprises, like the one I received this morning, are exciting. This surprise also put some new life into my fire over the Cow Cavalry.

You see, I checked my e-mail as usual this morning, really not expecting anything of any import. I got two e-mails of interest; but only one of them needs be mentioned for this post. A certain gentleman contacted me with an offer of any assitance that he could provide concerning my Cow Cavalry documentary! Of all places that he found out about me was off this here blog. He said that he stumbled on my blog while doing some research. Personally, I don't know what I said that made him so fired up interested; I went back and read what I said before on the subject and I don't see how any of it was that awesome. But anyhow, I shot off an answering e-mail and got another in exchange. To that one I also sent an answer, going into a little more depth about the project and what goes on in my brain.

On a related note, I really need to get down there to the creek and get some more footage before the water goes down. We have had a tropical storm over us for days so the water is up back there. But I'm sticking to the house today on account of the sunburn I contracted yesterday. Boy, is it a beaut! :) It also hurts in a couple of spots. It is nice and sunny, so that it is a bit of a bummer that I would want to stay in... 

Well, my friends, yesterday was a big, unusual day. A fun one for sure.

First off, before lunch, Savannah and I went over to our place and opened up the honey house to let it air out/dry up some after Fridays rain. Savannah had tried calling our cousin Ashley before we left Granddaddy's. Straight to voicemail. Anyway, we just zipped on over to their place (right next door). Aunt C. was home by herself, packing things for a move. Ashley was at school doing exams (she graduates high school on Friday) and Uncle L. was going to pick her up on the way to a doctors appointment. We told Aunt C. that we wanted to take Ashley out to lunch. It was fine with her, so she called Ashley and had no more success than Savannah did. So she called Uncle L. Anyway, we ended up going to the doctor's office to pick Ashley up and headed out for lunch. We went to a 'tea room' called Mary Margeret's. Savannah and I had salad with some very nice baked salmon (at least I think it was) on top. Mmm. We had a ball. After lunch we took Ashley home and must have sat around talking for at least an hour, an hour and a half. It is really kind of funny. I didn't use to like Ashley...she was rather a mean little girl...but she has really developed into a sweet and funny person. (I have actually told her this to her face, by the way.) Anyway, I always love 'hanging out' with her. She's just a hoot!

Once that adventure was over, we went back to our place, closed up the honey house, grabbed some books, and popped back over here to Granddadddy's.

Adventure Two: The Interview (of Myself)

First, I changed my shirt and did my make up. Well, most of it. Savannah told me I hadn't done my eyeshadow right (that always seems to happen anytime someone actually looks at my eye jobs) so she fixed me up. Those make up brushes tickle a little.

Then I compiled my gear: one camera, one battery, one tripod, one stinger (didn't get used), one lavalier mic, an xlr cable  and one umbrella (just in case it rained). Also, a resin chair for me to sit in :) We headed off to the creek. Once down there, I put the camera on the tripod. We had forgotten something (I forget what--but it was something we needed) so Savannah went back to the house and got whatever it was. Well, we got everything hooked up and realized we had a problem--a big one. Let me explain--Daddy has an electical outlet rigged on the truck battery to run the sprayer motor. Well--it's a 12 volt. The mic has to run off 120 volt. So, we packed things back up and roared up to the barn were there is a plug. While the background isn't what we were planning on (*shrug*)  it worked fine. It was kind of funny because the water pump kept running...I glared at it a time or two. There is plenty of goofs, but overall, I think I did alright. Just about the time we were half done, I got comfortable. We decided to attempt a take two--shouldn't have tried...it was terrible :) I probably was getting hungry even though my stomach wasn't talking yet--my brain was though. You know, one of those "uh duh" moments.

I had to go feed Snip. He was happy to see me (of course--it was really the feed he was happiest to see).

What am I talking about? Facial expressions in movies and TV. You see, I was watching 'The Rebel' (or "Johnny Yuma" as Granddaddy calls it) with him. During the opening set-up scene, J. Yuma is talking to the printers--an old man and a young one. They tell him where to find the daughter of an old friend of his. She is going to be forcibly married to a dirt bag. Anyway, along with certain wording, I noticed a very subtle look on the younger man's face that made me go "AH-ha! He's in love with her (and vice-versa)." If you'd been looking at the other man's face, the import of the words might have missed you. It was such a tiny, short look too! Very telling though...

From there I blabbed to Savannah how, although I'm NOT an actress and freeze up in front of a camera (besides, I don't look good on the front end of a video camera--don't tell me I do! I have a double-chin that is much more noticable on video than real-life), that I think I could teach acting...I think it would be fun actually. We also discussed how so often the acting in these independent Christian films (often made by young folks) well, to be blunt, stinks. Take Sybil Ludington for instance...

The script and storyline were GREAT. However, the acting was pretty weak. The girl who played Sybil (at left--cool picture isn't it?) was the worst actor/ess in the entire movie. She didn't have the 'fire' that she needed. She was supposed to be a spunky, almost Tomboy-ish character. The actress couldn't pull it off, she was flat. I particularly remember a sence where she flares up (I forget what over), but the 'anger' wasn't real. It was unconvincing at best.

I got done watching it and my gut reaction was "I want to re-make this!" That's how good the story was. The set, the lighting, and the costumes were all very good. Some of the actors/esses were better than others. It probably would have passed muster better with a different girl in the title role.

I guess it's a good thing I want to be a director, isn't it? And by the way, that horse ain't happy...

During our town trip this afternoon, Savannah and I stopped at the local music store. I wanted to see about those strings I 'ordered' a couple months ago. The owner recognized me, "Haven't you been here before?" I laughed, "A couple months ago!" I took a pretty brown guitar off the wall and and played 'Greensleeves' jig-style. I find it interesting that "Greensleeves' is universally known by people of all music walks. This young man has a fairly clean-rock look. (If that makes sense.)

When I mentioned the stings he said he sold them all--the mirachi players buy 2-3 packs at a time. He said he'd have more in next week. SO I may poke back in there soon. He gave us his phone number if I wanted to call and make sure the strings were in...I think I'd rather just walk in. I hate using the telephone.

He mentioned that they have a studio in the back and Savannah asked if we could take a look. He said sure! Once standing in the studio, Savannah mentioned that I'm a aspiring filmmaker and from there we got a business pitch. A good business man pitches his talents with confidence and yet not in a pushy fashion. He just 'dropped' the fact that he does sound mastering for $40 an hour. Other than that, he gave a short explaination of why mastering needs to be done, that he's worked on movies, he's done commercials, and of course, recording. Overall, it was a pretty pleasant conversation...I was feeling slightly awkward standing in the doorway with my spurs bumping whatever that contraption was behind me. Savannah said I sound like I need to go to the chiropractor the way I walk. My right spur clangs lounder than my left. I have a funny gait--that's for sure.

The reason I was booted and spurred was simply because we went to the feed store first (Yay! they StockandStable12 today *laughs*). Once we got home, I grabbed a snack and jumped back in the truck. It didn't take thirty minutes to get the bit in Snips mouth today...I'm glad. I got overheated--it's funny how quickly one can get overheated bouncing around on the back of a horse.

That's the day in a couple of words.

First, we sprayed soda apples. Unfortunately we didn't finish (I think we could have, but anyway...) It was time to go in for lunch and then because it was perhaps looking like rain Savannah decided that we shouldn't bother (didn't want the rain to wash it off). However, it didn't rain at all. Savannah drove the truck and I did the spraying...most of the time I was actually walking around with the spray wand.

After lunch Savannah went and got vegetables. I messed around on the computer, drank my coffee, washed the dishes, and started to match footage to narration...which leads to the next point.

I had Savannah read my narration, both as a voice test and as an editor. The latter kind of just happened. She is my best critic :) I really would like a male voice so I may end up posting a 'Wanted: Male Voice Actor' in the Jobs forum on CF.org. I'm fully intending on doing that for the voice overs anyway. Anyway, that brought on a conversation about how we talk. I'm terrible at V/O (I guess I can call it that) because unless I talk REALLY slow I tend to slurr my words...and when I do talk very slow, it sounds awful and it makes my jaw hurt!

Snip and I had another 'bit-fight' but I won in the end. Then we took a gallop...or two...or half a dozen...or maybe even a baker's dozen :) In between we walked...and worked on spins...and backed...and sat...Normal stuff all :)

Good morning! Before I get started with my day, I thought I'd try Weebly on the "big computer" (i.e. my video computer--it's newer so I thought maybe some of these changes might work better over here...)

I am going to spray soda apples today. Here's why--some of them are getting ready to drop their seeds. I can't very well dig anymore until we get the ones in the burn hole burned--and it's been too wet and the plants are still soggy (not so grand for burning). In fact, I had a thistle that I dug one day; the next day it was still rigid and green!

This morning I intend to go through my Narration and look at my footage and kind of map some of it together...you know: this shot to that paragraph and part of this shot with that paragraph.

After lunch I'll spray soda apples and then hopefully ride Snip again this afternoon. It took the usual 30 minutes to get the bit in him (I'm a bit stiff from that yesterday). After riding I changed the bits out because the one I've been using isn't wide enough for him. He kept getting the side shaft between his teeth (NOT good). (Maybe...just maybe that's why when after I switched headstalls he started to throw his head like a idgit.)

I completed four After Effects compositions this afternoon! Or mostly anyway. I have one or two I didn't scroll; simply because I'm not sure I want them too. I'll decide that later on. These are my V/O (voice over) compositions with on-screen text. No, I don't have any V/O's yet (I hope to be able to utilize some of the gentlemen off CF.org for this aspect--it would be a unpaid job, unfortunately), just the text and background. I also have a couple other V/O's that I want to put over something else besides floating brow/tan mist over a black background...those I need b-roll for. For the b-roll I need to tramp down to the creek (keeping an eye out for snakes, gators, etc.--probably ought to take the .22 with me), get my horse over here (to do that I need to fence in the horse lot--a stall would also be nice; but there are two trees, so maybe that can wait), meander and think and shoot.

On a side note that isn't really totally unrelated...it is MUCH easier to concentrate when Granddaddy is watching cooking shows than when he's watching cartoons. Cartoons are SO loud and that one is completely obnoxious (feministic too). I even had the glass doors shut today and my headphones on (classical guitar in my ears *wink*) and I could STILL hear it and it was driving me NUTS! I was glad when he changed channels...the chef with the French accent is definitely more peaceful than "Word Girl" (Blah.)

How was your day? I have to run off and feed Snip... (One of these days, ol' boy, we'll start riding again...)

YES! I finally got what I need to assemble my lighting kit! Two chinamen's hats (ya know, those metal globes that go around heat lamps), a stinger (a.k.a. extention cord), and some daylight bulbs. Not suprisingly the man at the hardware store thought I was raising chickens :) Which I still want to do...but I have to build a coop or something first...if I can even get chicks in the summertime?

Snip got his hooves trimmed today. We got to watch while Barney did his feet and I hope to be able to copy some of that in the future. After that I got on him (out of the back of the pick-up) and now have a great deep bruise appearing on the inside of my left calf. Anyhow, I rode Snippy bareback out to the pens. He behaved alright and was super glad to get his food.  

I had fun a couple of times today :)

What do all the above have in common? Well, they all have to do with today.

First--Westerns. That's right, and I don't mean I spent the whole day watching Westerns either (I did see a few pieces of Bonanza, The Big Valley, and most of the Rifleman--during dinner and washing dishes). What I mean is I'm writing a Western. A screenplay, that is. I got the idea for it from an old rusty revolver we found in the garage the other day. I asked Granddaddy about it and he said, "Oh it was [Uncle] Pat's. He got it off an old [black man]." That's all he knew and obviously there has to be more to the story. It gave me the idea...here's the brief run down of the plot (not 100% figured it all out yet.)

It's 1942 and Jerry is avoiding joining. His Granddad dies and they clean out his stuff. Jerry finds an old rusty, useless revolver (see, there's the gun!) and gets this strange, obsessive drive to discover it's story. He uncovers his Granddad's diary from when he was about 27 and there he finds the story of the weapon--and his courage to face the war. That's it without all the details. The "Western" part is the Granddad's tale. I just keep writing on it because it's there (in my brain I mean). Once it's written I can go back and tweak it at will.

Second--Bathrooms. Savannah and I cleaned Granddaddy's bathroom today. I scrubbed the shower while Savannah did everything else. I spent almost the entire time in the shower cleaning the mold out of the grout with baking soda and vinegar. That vegetable scrubber I found under the kitchen sink was perfect for the job...

Third--Pastures. I went out to see if there was an old gate in one of scrap piles (NOT). I ended up pulling some wicked thistles. Some of those thistles are taller than me and the bases are one, one and a half, to two and a two and a half inches thick! From there I wandered down to the creek.

Fourth--Creeks. I ended up location scouting down there. I hopped the creek here, there, and yonder. Looked at the fish (one of them I saw was big enough to eat!), squinted at the trees, considered this angle, and that angle...and all around got excited about my Cow Cavalry project again. I need to take my camera down there and set up shop. (Maybe I'd better remember to oil my tripod first! Speaking of which, I forgot to pick up some gun oil when we were over at our place this afternoon...)

Fifth--Horses. Well, I go down and feed Snip every afternoon. This is the way it went today: Savannah and I went to our place where I basically dropped her off...she wanted to walk while watering the citrus trees. I zipped off to go ride my horse. Snip was up the lane and I finally got his attention and he came barrelling down ready to eat! Well, I decieded to attempt to get on him bareback again. I finally got on him once I went and got a bucket to stand on (I'm kinda short you know.) Even then, I ended up laying over him squirming in an attmept to get my leg over him. I hurt that stupid rib of mine again :) I did get upright eventually. Anyway, it's rather crazy for me to even attempt to get on him bareback...after all, when I get on him with the saddle on, I have to stick my foot up about waist level to get it in the stirrup! Oh well.

I went back and picked Savannah up (along with her bike and some bones out of the freezer for broth.) We got home and I noticed that one of the neighbors calves, a little, tiny bull was on our side of the fence. I knew it was his because 1) all Granddaddy's cows where WAY at the other side of the pasture, and 2) Mama cow was right there looking at her wayward baby. So, Savannah and I jumped in the golf cart and meandered out there. Poor baby got so scared that he went through the fence and didn't stop running for over 100 yards. (Of course, that was the point of going over there.) Glad that worked out :)