MULE(S) OF MOSCOW VS. BULL

I've always been an advocate for trying anything once. When I turned 18 - seriously, the day I turned 18 - I drove to a piercing parlor and got the nose piercing I had wanted since as long as I can remember. When I turned 22, I decided to face my biggest fear and skydive. A year later, I woke up wanting to tackle something on my bucket list and went to yet another piercing parlor with my best friend to get my belly button pierced. Over my birthday weekend this year, I picked an item from the NYC portion of my list and took the double-decker bus tour I've always wanted to do. The list remains in a box under my bed and has survived four moves since it was last rewritten at my parent's house back in the summer of 2012. I add to it here and there and cross out items as they're accomplished.

With that being said, I also strongly believe there is a time and place for everything. Riding a mechanical bull had always been on my list. Lucky for me, Hoboken's bar The Stewed Cow has a bull but no matter how many times I've been in front of the thing I wind up chickening out fearing that I'll break my neck.

What The Stewed Cow also has, is an incredible way of making their Moscow Mules. At first I was deceived when the drink was served in a mason jar instead of a copper mug, but after my first sip I don't think I could have cared any less. Combine a few rounds of those with the hype of being out with a group of friends and what ended up happening? ...You guessed it, Annie rode her first mechanical bull.

While I'm not incredibly proud of the way in which I rode the bull, I will say I am proud of the amount of time I stayed on the bull. Thanks to my trusty friend, I have the videos to prove it. And no, I am not sharing them.

Below are 5 tips for Mechanical Bull Riding from the Mechanical Bull Association. Special thanks to them (http://mechanicalbullassociation.com/ride-mechanical-bull-5-quick-tips-weekend/) for preparing me for my next ride, The Stewed Cow for serving me the Moscow Mules that gave me the courage to ride, and my friends for filming and cheering me on.

1. Hold the padded strap with one hand while using your free DOMINANT hand (that’s the one you write with) in the air to balance.

2. Move your legs forward and squeeze with your lower body. Relax the upper body.

3. Watch the head of the mechanical bull to indicate directional changes and maintain balance. Do not smile at your friends when the bull is moving. Just watch the head of the mechanical bull.

4. Lean back when the bull head moves down and forward when the bull head moves upward. A good operator will give you a chance to practice a bit before speeding up the mechanical bull.

5. If you are concerned at any time, say, “STOP,” or use an extended arm with flat hand, the international signal for “stop,” to communicate to the operator that you are ready for the ride to end. You may want to make sure the operator knows the signal before you start.