OzVet

I am mostly moved into my new basement apartment in Manhattan, Kansas. It’s a nice little place, although there are still boxes everywhere and I keep running into strange items that I had forgotten I owned. (For instance, a bottle opener with the following inscription: “University of Chicago Class of 2006 Senior Class Gift,” which could only have come from Quinn & Co.)

My most pressing needs include the lack of a microwave, internet and silverware. The microwave isn’t completely necessary, mostly because I’m having more than enough fun experimenting with my toaster oven. I need to call the local cable company on Monday about internet, although I’m still bitter at AT&T for not providing high-speed internet in my neighborhood. (And the silverware I actually just bought.) Although, having only one fork and two spoons meant my dishes got cleaned at at faster rate than otherwise, since every time I wanted to eat I had to wash silverware. The only other solution to this would have been to throw dinner parties shipwrecked dinner* style. Which perhaps would have been quite fun indeed.

I recently discovered the Olympic Sport of Modern Pentathlon. (I haven’t really been following the Olympics due to no TV or internet at the apartment). Modern Pentathlon is really really cool. The history behind the event is that it is designed to test for the best soldier. The scenario I read in one article said: “The narrative behind the event told of a soldier ordered to deliver a message on horseback. When the horse went down, he was forced to defend himself with both a sword and pistol. He completed his mission by swimming across a river and running a long distance through the woods.”

So, the event involves shooting, fencing, show jumping, swimming and then running, with all 5 events being performed on a single day. However, in the spirit of a true soldier, the competitor must be able to ride any horse given to him. To that effect, horses are assigned 20 minutes before the show jumping starts!

Athletes compete with horses provided by the organisers, which are selected through a random draw 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the event.
For warm-up and preparation purposes, athletes are allowed to ride their allocated horse for 20 minutes and to have up to five trial jumps in the auxiliary exercise area provided for the purpose.

Here’s a good website with a bit more info if anyone’s interested:
http://www.modern-pentathlon.com/

*Shipwrecked dinner style–Back when I worked at scout camp, occasionally someone (usually a mischievous staff member or CIT) would steal all the silverware right before a meal and call a “shipwrecked dinner.” The cooks would put all the extra cooking utensils (gigantic wooden spoons, egg beaters, spatulas, tongs, etc) into a big bucket and pass them out, one to each camper. There’s really nothing funnier than watching a 10 year old eat mac-and-cheese with a whisk. (Except maybe getting to be that 10 year old.)