Random excitement blog

So there is a computer free and I am excited so I think I will tell the world about it. I am now counting down the minutes until Buenos Aires, because I have FB befriended aforementioned tattooist and already spoken with him on chat. He is def still keen and I will for sure have a place to stay, but even if not I will stay at a hostel for free (hopefully) through connections here... and if all goes even better I will have a job at one of them, or doing something else in BA!

And if I am friends with tattoo man, I have a good connection for the good parties in BA and all "tattoos on tap", if you may. I want him to design my thigh burlesque dancer tattoo... sorry mum and dad, but I am coming home a patchwork quilt. I haven`t even started on my new piercings yet... haha

This whole situation - should it come together - is just so funny, because I thought, as a fantasy, I would come to South America and meet a cute tattooist and have a short affair with him... never thinking it would come to fruition. But there you go. Life deals me another ace. Thank you higher power, whoever you are. Next round´s on me :)

Also, can I just mention how many dogs there are in my neighbourhood. But I asked and it seems most of them aren`t strays, they have houses, they just roam the streets and protect their corners, and occasionally fuck each other. None of them are neutered, of course. So there are a million little short-legged, long-bodied bastards running around like only mixed breed, quasi-homeless dogs can. There is also a couple that live (as a couple) at the hostel. But they are soooo lovely. I have named them Ricardo (the King) and Freida. The other street dogs are nice too. They all respect humans, but are really protective of their territory with other dogs. Kinda remind me of the people here. Which is so often the case with animals and where they live.

Many options make a list grow...

Using the other Australian helper's computer, a Mac just like mine, I often forget it's not my machine and while away the hours while she no doubt sits upstairs tapping her foot in impatience. Oops! But, on a day like today where there is little else to do but scour the net for ways and means to carry out my latest travel whim, it's easy to do.

It started out nice yesterday but rained insistently from midday - all hopes of an outside lunch on the patio with the amazing view now dashed - and we scrubbed the horses clean from their muddy rolling patches with little room to move in the stable area while it became increasingly dark outside. Thanks daylight saving, you're a pal.

Experienced my first bad Italian mood also that evening when we decided to muck out the horses earlier due to the clock change - big mistake, as the host mum got all uppety about what time the horses get fed etc. Not that I was planning on feeding them til normal time anyway, I just couldn't work out why she got so upset. Maybe she thought we were trying to get it out of the way while they were visiting relatives in Rome. But hey, at least she was getting annoyed at us DOING work not avoiding it!

There is still at least 1 dog following me around all the time (esp at night which is good cos this property is prime real estate for horror movie fantasies) - just the way dogs should be. None of this bite yer finger off business (speaking of which, I'm almost healed completely yay!!). Now the ageing cat Jerry (who looks more like a mutated ferret with its cancerous ears now cut off and his white fur stained with more cancer scabs) also wants to jump up for cuddles every time it can, poor thing. It is a bit of a minefield patting him, though, I gotta be honest.

I've started scooping around the options on this new website where you can get paid to do horse work, which is a welcome relief, but now face the problem of too many options!!! Whatever am I going to do in 2011 before I have to return for my sister's wedding?? Oh oh, just found a place in SA that will pay for help training and exercising horses... sweet. And add it to the list.

Never teach an old stallion new tricks

OK, well I learnt a valuable lesson today. Luckily not with my face this time. If you are a young girl of reasonable strength, perhaps a little lower than normal, do not attempt to try and teach an old stallion new tricks. Ai ai ai... My hands, I can confidently say, are now red raw from pulling back from the almighty beast and I am pretty sure when I wake tomorrow I am going to be sore in places I didn't even know I had muscles. And that was just from trying to walk him down the st.

The guests and girls left with H today for their multi-day trek and I was left minding the farm. And trying to train a stallion. Silly me. Luckily the gypos helped me get him in the right stable, there was NO way I was gettin him to move. I swear I have never met a more powerful or stubborn animal. And I know some stubborn men.

So I rested my hands for a couple of hours (by typing on my computer, go figure) and then waited a little longer for one of the gypos to take some oats to the pension the guys were staying in tonight. Turns out it's a helluva nice place and as they turned up to eat dinner, I was yearning for a taste. Not to be, however, as me and the gypo were bid farewell and drove back in language barrier silence. Except for the times he spoke and just said 'da, da' like I was totally on the same page. I'm getting good at that.

Now I'm back at the homestead, all by my lonesome besides the dogs, and not really looking fwd to sleeping alone at the guest house across the st. But I am taking dogs, oh yes I am. Tomorrow there is meant to be a French girl coming to ride but I don't think she's confirmed so I'm not expecting anything. I'll just have breakfast and then head out by myself. Some peace and quiet, twill be nice.