aug 31,2017

lots of us are asking ----what would we do?--- i already had a total house cleaning when my house burned down ( so i  would not have any maternity clothes in my current bedroom drawer,,....)  the only thing i rescued is teh counter which now holds the coffee pot in the kitchen...  if you turn it  over, it is all charred....)  i would ----  starting when predictions turned bad...... ... put on that  fishing vest with all the zip pockets-- so i can attach critical stuff to me. go to the bank and cash as big a check as i could manage.... -- really for one reason only.......  i would then go the  CVS store and try and convince--- or bribe them-- to refil my dilantin Rx as many times as i could--put all the pills in a  screw tight waterproof flask shapped bottle--- put them in a zipped section of the fishing vest- and  go to the costco pharmacy and do the same thing--- then  face whatever happens with esentials zipped to me...... without dilantin , i would have a very large problem.  to me that is the worst part of the diagnosis of epilepsy that i had 40 years ago-- i am now totally dependent on part of society i never intended to be dependent on... thankfully the pills have worked 100% -- aside from making my teeth fall out, thier primary purpose has been  successful. **** around here you are allowed to mention one illness and one medication per day- so that is it for me. my point being  it is one aspect of this houston mess that has not been discussed... KEEP GOING AT WHATEVER YOU DID...  i was very  heartened to hear of the baker-- who's whole crew kept baking as the waters rose.... and got all the bread to the  rescue arenas--- now there is a guy who should be in charge of more that 4 baking stores...   he went on to say when they ran out of flour all his help that could not get home came to his house to ride it out.   from practical  bread---to humanitarian of all workers to his house... i can think of many political jobs whihc would benefit from his expertise... then.... the doctor... specialist in  infectious diseases-   i don't even want to think of all the things he is worried about.- 3rd world country type problems     ---there sin't enough  clorox in the world to solve that problem...  ----  besides i am told  alligators drink it for breakfast..... we have only begun. i am reminded of steve #3 with his flooded basement and how " the authorities"  swooped in and made him tear everything apart back to the 2x4 wall studs. ---- go to houston now-- have at it guys--  be as  picky there !!--- --- these " health issues"-- whatever starts.going around........ some will get on planes and fly  north... ( south  east and west)and  as it infects both democrats and republicans-  will get the point across ---- united we stand-- divided we fall...  who said that?   **** so back to my sick donkey...pockets...she  just does not feel good... and bryan verified that with  his  investigation of her various parts... he did draw blood to analyze things like white blood cells... he-- with my approval-- decidedd the probablility is it is the same thing ms. harl had... and since  ms. harl is doing spectacularly well, we might start that treatment, altho he did suggest the absolutely correct thing might be to let pockets get over it herself...  she is young and in good shape--  problem isx we need her WELL by janine's donkey race... on sept 9th..... as for the other poppy and clover... neither is in dire straights, so best course of action is to try and let them get over whatever  without medical intervention at the moment. now all of you have to quiet down and realize  raiising animals  can be a huge challange and there are times when  20 - 20 hindsight is  a beautiful theng ----and darn annoying....  i needed to prepare you to  understand -- we are going with   bryan's  best guess--- and if anyone starts in with " the 20-20 bit  of... well they should have...."--- i hope courtney strikes it down..   you do  not send your school  age  child to the emergency room with each drip out of their nose.... unless you are a new mothrer....if it does go round more....and MO gets it, it will be a big drip--  if you want sure things... go manufacture widgits. **** david #1 took on the jog cart tires and seat  yesterday-- and we notdd... those 3 lightweight wagons i have  that were once bush -clinton- and perot in parades, could be pulled by her- the only parade i know of in the near future would be the topsfield fair parade in octobr..which would be fun except we would have to ask MO  ahead of time how she feels about massive crowds squeezing in on both sides,,, as is what happens at the end of that parrade...  the wagons  are an engineered wonder-- both front and back wheels angle  in oposite directions as you turn corners so the entire "train" tracs exactly inthe tracks of teh pulling vehicle.... otherwise yo would wipe out the crowd when you turn... our famous bed is like that-- and was my model for constructing teh 3 light weights. i used them alot--- until perot's axle broke in the parade in salem mass and we had to pull the pin and leave him behind...  how symbolic  was that?--- and how long ago?? *** last i knew the fair parade had very few animals...except a goat or two and maybe  yankee draft horse team.... so i am sure we would be welcome... they used to pay us to  provide animals....  mostly the donkeys in "the hitch" -- i doubt it now.-- thenew manager thinks we shoudl pay them... NO. ****** temp takeing day... at least dogs are all healthy  i think... so far....lainie's open  mastitus  hole looks lovely and clean...

AUG 30 2017

FINALLY I HAVE THIS WARDROBE THING DOWN PAT... YOU GET UNDRESSED IN FRONT OF THE WASHER... AND GET DRESSED IN FRONT OF THE DRYER- THAT EVEN ELIMINATES SOME FURNATURE..I HAVE A 9 DRAWER BUREAU AND I WOULD NOT BET AGAINST FINDING SOME OF MY OLD MATERNITY CLOTHING IN ONE DRAWER.

FINALLYT AT THIS TENDER AGE I AM FINDING OUT WHAT I CAN REALLY LIVE WITHOUT.  FIRST I HAD TO LEARN TO  NOT BUY  THINGS ADVERTISING TOLD ME I NEEDED...I CAN'T SOUND TOO HOLIER THAN THOU... BECAUSE I DID FIND I REEEEEAAAAAALLLLLY NEEDED A TOOTHBRUSH WITH A ROUND HEAD.... LIVING IN ONE ROOM IMPROVES THE TENDANCY TO RESIST NEEDING AN ORANGE JACKET INSTEAD OF A BLUE ONE... I PRETTY MUCH WEAR A UNIFORM WITH ONLY A SLIGHT VARIATION WITH THE SEASONS...

I HAVE SAID FOR A LONG TIME A HOUSE SHOUODL BE CONSTRUCTED ABOUT THE SIZE OF A 2 CAR GARAGE WHICH IS HEATED AND AIRCONDITIONED  ... WITH A HUGE UNHEATED CLOSET ATTACHED...THAT IS WHAT I JUST ABOUT HAVE NOW... WITH THE ARENA-

I LIKE TO THINK... SITUATIONS .....CAUSE ME TO SPEND MONEY... NOT ADVERTISING....  NOT THAT THAT IS ANY CHEAPER,  BUT IT IS, TO ME ANYWAY , MORE INTERESTING.

TAKE MO-- I NEVER PLANNED ON HAVING  AN 1800 POUND PLAYMATE....BUT SITUATIONS... JANIANE DOWN AT THE KILL PEN  NEAR AMISH COUNTRY SAW MO TIED TO A FENCE SO SHE JSUT SLIPPED HER IN  THE TRAILER  AMID TEH 8  KNEE HIGH DONKEYS  AND FIGURED MAYBE I WOULDNT NOTICE.-- SHE ARRIVED WITH A CHOKING PROBLEM  AND SHE KICKED AT PEOPLE WITH DEADLY ACCURACY. ( REMEMBER??)-- THT IS THE ONLY REASON SO FAR I CAN SEE THAT THEY GAVE HER UP.----.AS I STOOD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, MY HALF FAST EXPERIENCE  TOLD ME....IF THERE IS ANYTHING WORSE THAN A CHOKING 1800 POUND ANIMAL IN THE BARN, IT IS A DEAD 1800  POUND ANIMAL THAT DOES NOT FIT OUT THE BARN DOOR.  SO I CALLED BRYAN...

NOW BRYAN IS NOT JUST ANY HORSE DOCTOR- HE IS AN ACADEMIC, KNOWLEDGEABLE VET ,  PHYSICALLY STRONG,  WITH A  GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.  I HAVE BEEN TO MUCH LESS  KNOWLEDGEABLE MEDICAL DOCTORS--- WHO ARE NO FUN AT ALL/.... !!!- SO HE  NOT OLY CURED THE CHOKE (WITH A GALLON OF MINERAL OIL???)  AND MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HER DIET  AND VITAMIN "E"  AND MO TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT LOOKING  DRAFT  HORSE SIZE MULE WHO QUICKLY REALIZED POEPLE AROUND HERE HAD CARROTS... SO I WENT AND SPENT  $800  ( OF MY OWN... NOT SDP's ) MONEY ON A DRAFT HARNESS.  THUS PROVING I HAVE NOT LOST THE ABILITY TO SPEND MONEY... JUST NOT ON  CLOTHING FOR ME...

SO FAR I HAVE MANAGED TO GET THE HARNESS ON MO--- I USED TO HAVE 2 TEAMS OF DRAFT HORSES, SO I KNEW ABOUT 96.3% OF HOW TO HARNESS--  SHE DOES "DRIVE"... I HANDED THE REINS TO BUD  WHO'S MULE DRIVEING ESPERIENCE JUST WENT UP 100%    AND THEY WANDEERED AROUND APPROPRIATELY.. WE TOOK OFF THE HARNESS.   -----NEXT IS TO "HOOK" HER

.

FROM MY "BIG CLOSET."..( THE ARENA)  I PULLED OUT A RACING JOG CART THAT HAS BEEN THE FRONT PART OTHE  

OF MY HALF FAST FIRE DEPARTMENT's  LADDER TRUCK... MINUS THE LADDEER AND TILLER WHEELS STUFF, THE JOG CART SHOULD FIT MO... MAYBE..

BUT IT HAS 2 FLAT TIRES AND NO SEAT- BECAUSE WHEN MARY PULLED THE THING IN THE PARADES  I HAD A HARLEQUIN  DOG ON A PLATFORM INSTEAD OF THE drivers  SEAT BECAUSE MARY DIDN'T NEED A DRIVER... SHE  JUST FOLLOWED A CAR WITH ME AND THE PAIL OF CARROTS......

UNFORTUNATELY  THAT IS WHERE WE NOW STAND... WITH NO SEAT... AND 2 FLAT TYRES.  WAITING FOR GOLDIE  TO FIGURE OUT HOW  TO FIX IT.

****

ONE SMALL FYI...... 

 I KNOW MO IS SOUND...   ... HOW DO I KNOW THAT????  BEST WAY IS TO STAND BACK AND LISTEN  FOR HER RHYTHM  AS  SHE TROTS OUT THE GATE AND  DOWN THE NEW DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET HAVING FIGURED OUT THAT THE BEEPING NOISE MEANT SOMEONE HAD CAUSED THE GATE TO OPEN AND STAY OPEN FOR 30 SECONDS...

***

 THAT REMINDS ME OF A STORY OF MY UNCLE JIM.... COMMUTED TO NYC DAILY THRU GRAND CENTRAL STATION...- HE WAS BASICALLY A FARM BOY  WITH HORSE EXPERIENCE....ON HIS WAY TO FANCY JOB-- AND HE NOTICED THE RHYTHM OF HIS WALK WAS IRREGULAR...   LUCKILY,    HE CANCELLED THE APT HE MADE WITH THE DOCTOR JUST AFTER HE REALIZED HIS SHOES DIDN'T MATCH. --- REAL STORY.  IT IS HIS DAUGHTER STANDING NUDE WITH AN ARMFULL OF MARIHUANA ON THE COVER OF HER BOOK " "HUERFANO" ( AMAZON   ... A GOOD READ) 

***

I LOVE A GOOD RAINSTORM--  BUT EDUCATION HAS NOW TAUGHT ME NOT ALL RAINSTORMS ARE GOOD... HERE 'S OUR RESIDENT CP  FROM HOUSTON...

IT WON'T LET ME INCLUDE THE CHART OF 51"RAIN.... I TRIED 

****

 I ONLY HEARD ONE  BAD STORY- 3 STORY APT BUILDING-- STARTING TO FLOOD AND THE PERSON IN  THE TOP FLOOR ASKED THE PERSON FROM THE FIRST FLOOR $300 TO COME UP  OUT OF THE WATER.----

  AMERICAN INGENUITY GONE WRONG...

AUG 29 2017

THE PICTURES OF HOUSTON LOOK MORE LIKE VENICE...IT IS AMAZING HOW PEOPLE ?MEDIA? WILL STRUGGLE  TO  APPLY 20-20 HINDSIGHT TO ANY DECISION MADE...I LISTENED TO THEM CRITIQUING WHOEVER MADE THE "NOT EVACUATE" DECISION...

CERTAINLY , BEFORE THE STORM STARTED PEOPLE COULD HAVE LEFT-- IT WAS DURING THAT THEY SUGGESTED  STAY PUT...I WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HOUSTON HAD A MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTICE....  WHERE WOULD  THE 4TH MOST POPULOUS CITY PUT THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE 2 MILLION WHO RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE THRUWAY?    -- AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE ALL THE THEIVES  DRIVING TOWARD TEH CITY  TO HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH EVERYTHING UNATTENDED.  NOW .... I WORRY ABOUT THINGS LIKE SNAKES... AND SEWERAGE---  CARS FLOATING ABOUT -- AND DRINKING WATER???? I THINK I WOULD BE SETTING UP TARPS TO CATCH RAINWATER-- BECAUSE  THERE AIN'T ENOUGH PLASTIC BOTTLES FOR THE SIZE OF HOUSTON... AND IT IS STILL RAINING... BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT....

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT   TWO INCHES OF RAIN CAUSES OUR POND TO OVERFLOW IT'S BANKS  IN THE EFFORT TO GET TO HOOD POND ACROSS THE STREET.....   4 INCHES OF RAIN CUTS US OFF FROM THE PIZZA HOUSE..... HOUSTON HAS 48 INCHES?????    THERE ARE COUNTRIES ALL SET UP TO HANDLE THE MONSOON RAINS... HOUSTON IS NOT ONE OF THEM...

******

BACK TO THE FARM....

BENTLEY JUST THREW UP FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW...  YELLOW BILE... EMPTY TUMMY... AND HE HAD JUST COME AND ASKED ME FOR  A COOKIE....  DANES DO NOT DO WELL ON EMPTY TUMMIES... I KNOW THAT... AND I TELL PEOPLE TO "READ WHAT YOUR DOG SAYS"  -- I IGNORED THE PART ABOUT EMPTY TUMMIES BECAUSE  EVERY M ORNING AS I TYPE THE DAILY DOGGIE, HE COMES AND SAYS," I NEED TO BLOW MY NOSE IN  YOUR HAIR"  WHICH I FIND DISTRACTING...AND UPSETTING... COMPELLING ME TO GO WASH MY HAIR DAILY....I DON'T LIKE HIS VERSION OF "CREME RINSE" 

******

PUPS IN THE KITCHEN... LOOKING LIKE BIG DOGS NOW... IN A MONTH THEY WIL BE TERRIFFIC FOR DOG FEST..  THERE  WILL BE A SIT ON THE GROUND SOMEWHERE AND PLAY WITH PUPS...  INSIDE A TENT OR OUTSIDE...

DOG FEST... DETAILS-- BAGS..... 

ANNE AND I  IN AN EFFORT TO WRITE A LETTER/ REPORT  TO EXPLORE FOUND THAT OUR HUNGER WAS PREVENTING US FROM WRITING SO WE ENDED UP AT IPSWICH CLAMBKE-- THE OUTFIT GOING TO PUT ON THE SAT NITE DINNER--THEY SERVED THINGS IN WHITE/BRITE BAGS.... LIKE FRIED CLAMS ETC-- I REALIZED A LARGER VERSION WOULD BE GOOD TO GET THEWSES T-SHIRTS BAGGED WITH NAMAES AHEAD OF TIME...AND STARTED IN ASKING QUESTIONS......  TURNS OUT ULINE HAS THEM-- IN 500 PIECE BUNDLES-- THT ARE THEN $567.93 TO SHIP BEAUSE THEY ONLY DO OVERNIGHT....  THERE MUST BE A LOCAL PLACE WHERE I SHOULD HAVE  TAKE NTHE TIME TO FIND... UNTIL I RAN INTO THE PURPLE BAGS...-- THOSE COME IN A MUCH SMALLER AMT AND ARE ONLY $15 TO SHIP-- SO THEY SHOULD ARRIVE TODAY...I AM SURE 1/2 THE $15 IS THEY WILL INCLUDE THAT IMPOSSIBLY THICK HEAVYWEIGHT CATALOG THAT I  REQUESTED THEY NOT SEND TO ME.

TABLES AND CHAIRS ARE ORDERED... MONKEY FISTS ARE DYED ( PURPLE OF COURSE) PORTAPOTS ARE ORDERED. AND WE COME TO  PARTRIDGEBERRY PLACE...

WHEN I WAS "CUTTING  MY DRIVEWAY THRU THE  UNDERBRUSH, A VERY OFFICIAL WOMAN CAME AND TOLD ME SHE HOPED I WOULD LET THEM KNOW WHEN I  PLANNED TO HAVE A PARTY AND USE THAT DRIVEWAY....(MY DRIVEWAY)... I KNOW THERE IS AT LEAST ONE NICE FAMILY OVER THERE... BUT WHICH ONE??/ I THOUGHT I MIGHT INVITE  ALL  OF THEM TO THE SUNDAY ICE CREAM/ WHICH I THINK IS ALSO THE LIVE ACCAPELLA GROUP ALSO..  LAST TIME I DID THIS.. NO ONE CAME...  THEY WERE STILL MAD SDP EXHISTED.

******

 WE ARE SET FOR GABBY TO ARRIVE FOR HER "CONFINEMENT"    MAYBE IN A COUPLE DAYS  PEOPLE TELL ME SHE IS DUE FROM SEPT 4 TO 8-  SHE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE SO SHE WOULD NEED ONLY A FEW DAYS TO ACCLIMATE . 

/*****

LAINIE IS BACK FROM HER OVERNIGHT AND HAPPY TO SEE HER PUPS SHE WILL PROBWBLY SAY "HI" THN ESCAPE TO THE NEAREST SOFA...

*****

THE ROTATION  MOVES ON....  TO THE BACK HA;LL, THEN THE CONDO.. THEN THE NUTT HOUSE ... THEN KENNEL 10 IS THE WAY IS USUALLY GOES,,,, AND ALL THE GAUDY HANGINGS OVER THE AREAS ARE TO DRFLECT THE HAWKS AND ?EAGLE  FROM MAKING A PUP THERI DINNER... MOMMY NATURE IS ONLY JUST SO WISE...

****

I THINK I WATCHED THE CLOCK AROUND THE ENTIRE NIGHT -- SO DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM EM TODAY.

AUG 28 2017

5 PEOPLE OUT... GRACE SAID SHE IS WORSHIPING HER PORCELAIN GODDESS- DONNA'S DAUGHTER IS IN TOWN--WELL I SUPPOSE HYPPA REGULATIONS DON'T ALLOW ME TO SAY WHY EVERYONE ELSE IS  OUT...

 FACT REMAINS... WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET TODAY...

 I AM NOT SURE POCKETS IS FEELING WELL...  WITH NO GRACE HERE.... I SUPPOSE THAT PUTS ME ON THE OTHER END OF A THERMOMETER-- SHE DID HAVE A SLIGHT COUGH... AND  WAS A LITTLE LETHARGIC...

AS FOT THE REST OF THE DONKEY NEWS... PLEASE DON'T BOTHER NOTING ALL JASPERS ACITIVITY--  BRYAN SAID HE COUD NOT FEEL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO  COMPLETE TEH IMPREGNANTING PROCESS.   JANINE SAYS SHE PAID A BILL TO SOME VET IN VA   QUARENTINING STATION  FOR THE  REMOVAL PROCEEDURE... 

WHICH--- FYI--- A VERY QUICK DELICATE  DISCUSSION...  TIPTOEING AROUND  THE SPAM IDENTIFYING SYSTEMS----- THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE 2 CONTAINERS OF  IMPREGNANTING DEVICES.. WHICH ARE REMOVED IN THE NEUTERING OPERATION..  THESE 2 DEVICES ARE LOWERED INTO  ACTIVATION BY AGING... AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN ONE IS "UNDESCENDED" -- NOW THIS IS PURELY FROM MY OWN FILE OF OLD WIVES TAILS--- I THINK IT IS PRACTICALLY ILLEGAL TO REMOVE JUST THE DESCNEDED ONE AND LEAVE THT OTHER "HIDDEN"    BECAUSE THAT ANIMAL WILL  HAVE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS  WHICH BY VISUAL INSPECTION CAN NOT BE JUSTIFIED...  THESE ANIMALS ARE CALLED "BLIND STUDS" AND ARE NOT RELIABLE... MIND YOU ... THE  ONE OF  THE MOST RELIABLE DONKIES I EVER OWNED WAS MY ORIGIONAL  STUD DONQUI JOTE-- WHO WAS MY LEAD DONKEY IN THE 8 HITCH AND MOST  EXPOSED TO  THE GENERAL PUBLIC.. DONQUI WAS EXTREMELY "VISUALLY CORRECT"  -- THERE IS A VERY FUNNY UNPRINTABLE STORY ABOUT A TV SHOW  WITH TOM BROKAW..   I DON'T THINK I COULD EVEN TELL THAT LIVE AT DOGFEST.....

SOOOOOOOO--- IF JASPER IS A BLIND STUD, ... WE WILL HAVE TO RE ASSESS THAT - AND MAYBE FIND HIM A  JOB AS PROTECTOR OF SHEEP...

P.S.  MANY TIMES THE UNDESCENDED ONE IS "EMPTY"   

SO TODAY -- I HAVE HAD MANY CALLS FOR THE ULTRASOUND OF LADY HARL... AND ONLY ONE  DON'T BOTHER.... SO IF WE DO HAVE TO HAVE BRYAN COME, I WILL ASK IF HE HAS TIME.. IT REALLY IS NOT NECESSARY-- BUT THAT IS EXACLY WHAT THE FUN FUND IS FOR... THINGS NOT NECESSARY , BUT INTERESTING.

THAT 2100  CHICKEN BRICKS IS FOR THE PAYROLL AND  CRITICAL..... SO DON'T FIGURE WE HAVE  "EXTRA MONEY "  BECAISE... WE DON'T..

AS FOR SO MANY DONKEYS IN ONE STALL,,, LINCOLN'S STALL-- BEHIND THAT WALL...  I OPEN  TO THE SAME PASTURE   FOR ALL OF THEM TO USE ...

 I ANSWERED SHARON'S CONCERN THAT 9 IS TOO MANY

THAT   LINCOLN  AREA IS OPEN TO THEM TOO- BEHIND THAT WALL--SO THEY GET A CHOICE..

KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE WILD ANIMALS -- ESPECIALLY THE ONES WE JUST GOT...  THEY ARE PROBABLY HAPPIER OUTSIDE...

IT IS THEIR CHOICE... EVEN IN THE WIND, THEY GET ON THE BACKSIDE OF A TREE.

I ONCE HAD 30 DONKEYS WHO  WOULD PACK THEMSELVES INTO THE AREA FROM KENNEL 1 TO KENNEL 8  AND JUST BE A SEA OF GREY BACKS....STANDING QUIETLY OUT OF THE WIND...

BUSY DAY-- AND ANN -- WITH HER PAPERWSORK TOO.....

AUG 27 2017 THE   ART OF OVER  SIMPLIFICATION  FOR COMIC PURPOSES  GOT ME ONE COMMENT ABOUT NOT SHOWING RESPECT FOR THE ARMED FORCES..--- I HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPECT FOR THE MILITARY   I WORK VERY HARD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR A FEW OF THEM-- BUT THAT SHOULD NOT PREVENT ME FOR HAVING FUN WITH HUMANITY IN GENERAL--  THE CONCEPT OF DOING EVERYTHING PERFECTLY IS A FIGMENT OF  TEH IMAGINATION... IF IT INVOLVES A GROUP OF PEOPLE...  EVEN IN TH OPERATION ROOM THEY NOW COUNT THE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT BEFORE CLOSING-- NOT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF REPLACING THEM  BUT SOMEEWHERE SOMETIME  SOMEONE REPLACED A GALL BLADDER WITH A GAUZE SPONGE.... A VERY  BRIGHT FRIEND  ONCE TOLD ME WHATEVER SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM THERE IS,  GOD WILL EVENTUALLY SEE TO POINT OUT A MINOR FLAW.   FROM OPERATING ROOMS TO OIL RIGS   TO  REFRIGERATION ON SHIPS--  TO IGNORE THE FOOLISH  POSIBILITY IS REALLLLLLLLLLY FOOLISH. SO...I DON'T HAVE TO BOTHER WITH THE CONGRESS/ POLITICAL SCENE-- I WILL LEAVE THAT TO SAT NITE LIVE...   BUT CLOSE AT HAND IS ---ADI--- WHICH  FOR ACCREDITATION TO TRAIN DOGS....HAS TEH RULE ALL DOORS MUST HAVE AN EXIT SIGN--- SO WE HHAVE ONE IN THE T TENT... WHICH HAS NO WALLS???.. THE "THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK" ON  IRS NOTICES  ON PAPER CAREFULLY LABLELD  "PLEASE  RECYCLE..." "PLEASE DON'T LET YOUR CHILD SWALLOW THE CAP TO THIS WATER BOTTLE." "READ THIS WARNING" SOMEBODY WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THE $400 TOILET SEAT THE ARMY BOUGHT--- LEAVING OUT DETAILS IS VERY EFFECTIVE. IT IS RAINING IN HOUSTON?   THE BIG DEAL IS ... IT IS NOT STOPPING TO RAIN IN HOUSTON...  JUST SO I DON'T LEAVE OUT THE AIRFORCE,   I DO KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT AN AIRFORCE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY FROM TEXAS TO FLORIDA TO GET SOME ORANGE JUICE.  NAVY  ACCIDENT FACT STILL REMAINS... THE BUMPOR WAS A 900 FOOT LONG COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WAS BEING STEERED FROM  910 FEET  AWAY AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE  BUMPEE ( US NAVY SHIP)- THERE IS A BASIC CONCEPT THERE THAT I DON 'T UNDERSTAND... ***** TEH RELATIONSHIP TO DOG TRAININBG IS OBTUSE....  WE CAN DO ALL WE CAN TO RAISE PUPPIES  PERFECTLY THEN  FATE SENDS US MASTITIS.. OR PARVO...----    IF WE ARE OUT AND AROUND  AND 2 DOGS GET IN A FIGHT... IT IS ALWAYS THE BIG ONE THAT WAS WRONG... ALWAYS... **** THERE ARE SOLUTIONS... I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO'S ATTENTION TO THE ON-COMING RALLY OF SOME GROUP THEY DON'T WANT -- SO THEY HAVE ADVIC=SED ALL DOG OWNERS -- HUNDREDS OF THEM.....TO GO TO THIIS MEETING PLACE WITH THEIR DOGS... AND WHEN THEY DO WHAT DOGS DO,,, DON'T PICK IT UP..  GOTTA LOVE CREATIVITY !! ***** MOVING ON---- MARINI'S CORN IS IN-- IT IS CRIMINAL NOT TO EAT IT WHEN IT IS  FOR SALE  3 MILES AWAY...--IT IS PERFECT--- HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT THEY PUT ON THE FIELDS... BUT  IT IS CORN OF THE FIRST ORDER. I DO REMEMBER... MY FATHER HAD A SMALL PATCH OF CORN AND A FARMER GAVE HIM A BALL JAR FILLED WITH WHITE DUST-- FO RHIN TO SPRINKLE BECAUSE IT WOUL D ONLY LET CORBN GROW...  NO WEEDS... NO NOTHING.  JUST CORN WHY DON'T WE SPRINKLE AFGHANISTAN  WITH IT?  THEN THEY COUDL NOT GROW POPPIES AND WOULD NOT STARVE BECASUE E  THEY COULD GROW CORN? ****** THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS EASY/FAST WAY TO COOK SWEET CORN FOR A CROWD - WE TRIED IT & IT DOES WORK. SHUCK CORN & PLACE EARS IN CLEAN COOLER. ADD 2 QTS BOILING WATER PER EACH DOZEN EARS OF CORN OR ENOUGH TO COVER THE CORN. PUT LID ON COOLER. LET IT SIT 30 - 45 MINUTES. DRAIN WATER. PUT LID BACK ON COOLER. CORN WILL STAY WARM UP TO 2 HOURS. MIGHT SAVE SOME TIME FOR YOU AT DOGFEST. I HAVE DONE THIS... AND IT WORKS... ************ HI CARLENE, YESTERDAY, GRONK CONQUERED MOUNT TOM. HE OFTEN SPRINTED BACK DOWN THE TRAIL TO RETRIEVE ME WHEN I FELL BEHIND, AND BACK UP THE PATH TO LEAD THE WAY. THIS HIKE WAS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BARRIER BREAKING DOWN IN MY LIFE SINCE MEETING MY NOW 2 YEAR OLD FRIEND. BEFORE MEETING GRONK, SUCH AN ADVENTURE SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT. MY INJURIES MADE EVERYDAY LIFE A CHALLENGE FOR ME AND MY WIFE, AND MY PTSD SYMPTOMS WERE ISOLATING ME AND KEEPING ME FROM TRULY LIVING. THAT CHANGED IN APRIL 2016 WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL FROM STEVE, TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS A DOG NAMED ‘GRONK’ (I IMMEDIATELY EXCLAIMED “NO WAY!” AS I AM A LIFELONG PATRIOTS FAN) WHO WAS GETTING BORED AND WAS READY TO WORK. THAT WEEKEND MY WIFE AND I HEADED TO THE FARM, AND GRONK HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR FAMILY EVER SINCE. GRONK HAS MORE PERSONALITY THAN MOST HUMANS I KNOW. HE KNOWS HOW TO PUSH MY BUTTONS AND PULL MY STRINGS, BUT HE ALSO KNOWS HOW TO COMFORT ME AND SHOWS ME HOW TO ENJOY LIFE. I NEVER APPRECIATED HOW NICE IT IS TO SIMPLY SIT OUTSIDE ON THE GRASS ON A SUMMER DAY UNTIL GRONK GRUMBLED AT ME TO TAKE HIM OUT ONE DAY, AND PLOPPED DOWN BENEATH OUR MAPLE TREE. I COULDN’T STAY PRESENT AND CALM UNTIL GRONK INSTRUCTED ME IN THE AGE-OLD ART OF THE BELLY RUB. I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS REALLY CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING UNTIL I GAVE GRONK HIS MEDICINE WHEN HE TESTED FOR LYME. BEFORE I MET GRONK I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE. NOW, I AM WORKING ON MY WRITING AGAIN AND STUDYING GERMAN AS WE PREPARE TO MOVE TO EUROPE ONCE LISA FINISHES COLLEGE. I PLAN ON APPLYING TO A FEW M.F.A. PROGRAMS AS I GET MY SEA-LEGS BACK. PUT SIMPLY, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT GRONK. HE BRINGS SOMETHING INTANGIBLE INTO MY LIFE THAT DOESN’T NEED TO BE EXPLAINED, IT JUST WORKS. I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO SDP FOR HELPING ME IN SO GREAT A WAY AND INTRODUCING ME TO MY BEST FRIEND. I THINK GRONK IS PRETTY GRATEFUL, TOO. THANKS,

aug 26 2017

the words of the day are    uninhabitable for weeks-- possibly months...  closely followed by contaminated water supply as harvey drifts inward..  i hear things like good old red cross is there ...i hope they have alot of bottled water... there are millions of people in this storm which last i looked was moving at 6 miles per hour-- raining hard til next wednesday.... all of texas without air conditioning is almost as bad as new england without heat... 

*****

dog report... lainie's abcess has not only opened, she scratched it with her back foot , there is now a gaping hole... so it is draining  very well...  temp 100

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bentley has finally decided sizzle does not want to go to dinner with him...

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other large news is  trainer steve is going to be out for a few days-- ouch----so as we approach the kids gong back to school.... if any of you cp's can come help... please let pam know...

******

for those watchingt pockets and the tractor bucket...  i have been putting her first foot on the step... she then stands and eats breakjfast out of her dish on the  raised bucket... problem being... she stepped sideways and did not understand she was stepping off a box.. and scared herself.. so now she has to think about it.. and watches me put her foot on the box...   interesting.

*********

i had many comments and photos about the boats running into each other...it is a learning experience.... and tho i stand by my murphy's law statement about  "for want of a nail the war was lost"   i should have found a better way to express it than a jar of contaminated mayonase causing food poison...which eliminated  the  usual precautions about watching for large objects.

the photo's of ships all waiting around a harbor was an eye opener.... they dont  float around in a nice tidy line...and those big commerdcial ships- the guys driving are way in the back- i don't see how they can even see what's in front....

doug-- a relative--- was/is  a navy man with alot of letters after his name that i don't understand-- but he sent a long email which was very educational....

One of our duties was to deliver fuel to San Nicholas Island and San Clemente Island every month.  This involved departing Long Beach Naval station on Monday evenings at 9 pm for a 6 am arrival at San Nicholas Island anchorage, then a transit to San Clemente Island for a 2 pm arrival.  We would return to Long Beach Naval station at 9 pm that evening.  During those trips, I would get a 1-hour cat nap in my stateroom if I was lucky.  The reason was simple.  To get from Long Beach Naval station to San Nicholas Island you must transit what is arguably one of the busiest shipping channels in the world and is in fact, the busiest on the west coast of North America, and I did it at night.  In the winter, weather was a huge factor.  

You see, a good portion of the transit involved working in the Traffic Separation scheme.  It extends above Santa Barbara all the way to Queens gate at Los Angeles port.  I am very familiar with the navigation watch standing requirements of STCW 95 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) which CP Steve attempts to speak too.  I can tell you with certainty that the containership and super tanker traffic from Valdez and the North Pacific, zooming down the Santa Barbara channel in the Traffic Separation scheme, had one lookout, and one deck officer on watch with a 900-foot-long vessel, on auto-pilot until Queens gate.  Everyone in the Southern California bight knew this.  It was common knowledge.  That is not STCW 95 compliant then or now.  Basically, I spent the night dodging shipping.  Dodging vessels that could not stop in time.

In closing I would like to remind everyone who reads this of certain realities.  We don’t know all the circumstances that led to the loss of 17 U.S. Navy Sailors in these two collisions over the course of two months now.   They died because a series of events during a difficult time came together to form a tragedy.  They died serving our country which is the ultimate sacrifice. The men and women of the U.S. Military deserve more respect than glib comments about mayonnaise,

****

 OUCH !!--- right--- they certainly do deserve the ultimate respect...and they  certainly have that from me...however.. my point still is that the most horrendous of accidents often boils down to some  insignifient fact.. that no amount of rules and regulations can possibly anticipate and address...

somewhere along the line someone figured out that pilots and co pilots must not eat the same airline meal...

**

and speaking of right..... i am waiting to hear the reason the ship was struck at a right angle-- it may take months/years  -- i hope i remember to notice...then to see how rules are changed....if  the person at the top is to blame  for an accident way down the chain of command....  keep that up and there will be a shortage of people who want to be  at the top...

*************

ASHER AND I HAVE BEEN BURIED IN OUR BOOKS THIS WEEK, BUT WE'RE DOING WELL AND STAYING ON TOP OF THE WORKLOAD! WE'RE ABOUT TWO WEEKS INTO LAW SCHOOL BY NOW, AND WE'RE REALLY LOVING MOST OF OUR PROFESSORS AND GETTING THROUGH THE COURSE WORK WITH LITTLE PROBLEM. BUT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THIS MONTH - WITH EVERYONE GETTING BUSY WITH END-OF-SUMMER ROUTINES - TO REMIND OUR FRIENDS TO BUY YOUR CHICKEN BRICKS!!

FOR OUR FRIENDS NOT FAMILIAR WITH SERVICE DOG PROJECT OR THEIR MONTHLY "CHICKEN BRICK" FUNDRAISER: SDP IS SUCH A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION BECAUSE I WAS PAIRED WITH ASHER SEVEN WEEKS AGO (HOW TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!!) AT NO COST TO ME. ASHER IS TRAINED TO HELP ME BALANCE BY BRACING WHEN I NEED TO STEADY MYSELF, HELPING ME UP AND DOWN STAIRS AND CURBS, HELPING ME UP OFF THE GROUND, AND A LOT OF OTHER TASKS THAT HE SEEMS TO FIGURE OUT ON HIS OWN WHEN THE NEED ARISES. THAT TRAINING TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO ACHIEVE (LET ALONE THE COST OF FEEDING AND CARING FOR ALL THE AMAZING DOGS IN TRAINING!), MAKING THE COST OF RAISING A SERVICE DOG FROM BIRTH TO "GRADUATION" (WHEN THE DOG IS MATCHED WITH THEIR PERSON) INTO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ASHER HAS CHANGED MY LIFE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR SDP'S MISSION OF DONATING DOGS TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE LIFE WITH ASHER'S HELP - THE COST IS JUST TOO MUCH.

SO, ENTER CHICKEN BRICKS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHATTING SUNDAYS. SDP IS A 12-ACRE FARM HOME TO LOTS OF GREAT DANES, DONKEYS, AND A FEW CHICKENS. EACH MONTH, SUPPORTERS CAN PAY $10 FOR EACH NUMBERED "BRICK" THAT WILL BE PLACED ON A BOARD ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. THE CHICKENS ARE THEN RELEASED ONTO THE BOARD TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST, AND IF THE CHICKEN CHOOSES TO, UM, "SHAT" ON YOUR BRICK, YOU'LL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM AND A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO THE IPSWICH SHATUPON SOCIETY, AND $500. YOU CAN EVEN WATCH THE SHATTING TAKE PLACE LIVE ON EXPLORE.ORG!

IF YOU FEEL LIKE PLAYING ALONG AND HELPING SOMEONE ELSE BE ABLE TO FIND SOME INDEPENDENCE AND A BEST FRIEND THROUGH A SERVICE DOG FROM THE SERVICE DOG PROJECT LIKE I HAVE, CLICK ON THE LINK on thier web   CHOOSE YOUR BRICK(S), AND MAY YOU BE SHAT UPON ON SEPTEMBER 3RD! LAW SCHOOL AND LIFE IN GENERAL WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT ASHER, SO WE LOVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SHATTING SUNDAYS! JOIN IN ON THE FUN HERE:

aug 25 2017

some of you may remember my professor stuff with the rubber ducky and panama canal..  water likes to be flat... except in the ocean where the bumps can be significant...so now the people in texas are getting calculations about the exact elevation of their property...--- because with the prediction of 2 to 3 feet of rain... it is not so much what your  exact elevation is, but how many people are you living downhill from.. i don't know what the glaciers did to texas... but i don't think they were as effective at landscaping design as around here   but all you then need  is a narrow place or two and you will  have  water rushing thru faster than green corn goes thru the new maid.

2 to 3 feet of water here???  well these glacier  formed mounds --- "eskers" --- we live in  could  be a problem  with the little hill we live on...-- i think the fact that there isw a sizable lake across the street indicates we are downhill from  alot of somwhere else.  i do know that 4" of rain will flood that lake over the roads...

i also know that ADI insists we have  flood  plans in our accreditation manual... so i thought about it.   what to do.?..

  the tv tells me 2 foot of rain is coming   --- and to make sure i have food and water for a week...and it also tells me that if i buy a certain machine to dehydrate food,  i can prepare meals that will be good for 25 years...   it starts raining ... and i slice peaches and put them in the machine.  somehow those peaches aint never going to be set on my table 25 years from now--- for alot of reasons -- mostly because of the immediancy of  water that is unhappy being  lumped up where it  currently doesn't want to be...

.advertising in general   amazes me that the people who make that dehydrater use as a selling point having your family gather round a thanksgiving dinner prepared 25 years previously... ..?  they are appealing to a group of people  who vote???

SNL could have a field day with that one.  (SNL   is   sat nite live  for people who don't stay up past 9pm...)

back to what to do???   granted this house is on a little hill...-- probably 30 feet higher than the donkey camera area.... which if ipswich gets 3 feet of rain- that 30 feet will be insignificant, and we will be talking new orleans or worse with the water rushing  about trying to find the ocean. if eh dehydratiobn of peaches is ridicoulous--- why is the  ADI plans for flood  not just as bad...?    or worse.... because   you have the ADI in some  authoritative role  demanding we prepare for flood...

so i wrote a protocol  for flood disasters.  we had to  to have our accreditation renewed-- so that the veterans could get 100% coverage for service dog expenses like vet care...

this somehow illustrates a bigger problem...i am a pretty good dog trainer... and i am a terrible preparer for flood disasters.... but if i don't learn to prepare to be flooded  our recipients who are vets could not get the va to pay for vet care..

so how do i approach floods???  

  i already have... i don't  go to new orleans-- it makes me too nervous to look UP  at a ship going by....

***

if i lived in houston?  - i would  have already filled up the gas tank- loaded all eh dogs in the car and  gone in search of relatives  living higher up  the flood  scale.

***********-

  special problem........like water... manure has a way about it....    this is from   janine....

I need to borrow the tractor for 24 hours - my manure pile is overtaking my backyard and the stone guy needs it to finish and repair the crappy work that he did last month. Can I borrow it until Saturday morning?

 it takes about 30 minutes rto drive the tractor to her house.. abd tha t needs a car behind it...

*****

IN CASE YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THIS NEWS LINK OF HUNTER AND WENDY:

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/service-dog-helps-alfred-boy-re-learn-to-walk/467096903

*************

aug 24 2017

i

biggest problem now is lainie and her mastitis...  yesterday she spiked a 106 temp and we ran for DAH   .. where they gave meds and fluids and sent her home where hopefully the  involved gland would present a soft spot where they could incise  and drain it.....  she did fine all night  but at 4am her temp went to 103  and by 5am it was 104...i have emailed both george and megan... hopefully megan can get here before 8 and george can alert the hospital that we are around...

 if it ain't ants, it's fleas...

***

on a more positive note.... pockets is thinking.... today when i put them out-- hopefully mo will go to the food dish by the manequins and pockets to the tractor bucket-- if they don't do that, i will be upset trying to get that  organized...  but pockets must stand on the box to reach the bucket of the tractor-- up to this point she has argued with me when i try and place her foot on the box...by pulling it away...  then yesterday she saw the food and wanted it ... when i picked up her foot she let me place it--and i saw a distinct "wait a minute, last time that person put  my foot there i coudl get the food !!"  it may have been that "water moment in the hellen keller movie - "miracle worker" where helen suddenly realizes ann is communicating with her hands....

dogs donkeys and pigs have more ability to communicate than we give them credit for... there was a large pig at the spca farm in methuen... it was in a perfect clean horse stall with clean shavings and a 4' tall door that it could not see out of... it was clean,watered,fed, and miserable because it could not see and be entertained... it was solitary confinement of the first order... i tried to convince the director-- but their protocal said to keep it in a horse stall-- this happens all the time around here...where a person decides what is  nice for a person... not realizing it is not what the animal had in mind.

if i didn't have such a poor memory i could give you 100 examples-- however unfortunately........ maybe floor washing is the best i can do at the moment.... we use a - lot of things like lysol and cholrox --- the place does not smell like dogs at all...( i am told) but in an effort to try and clean the place with the dog's nose in mind.... we have gone to the steamer mopper upper- plain water.... -which seems to work, tho i am not convinced any heated steam ever actually gets to the floor...  but with constant use... the place smells like whatever we are cooking for supper.

AH !   i just thought of one.... lainie--- last night ate a small treat from a volunteer X ( i forget who)  when i saw that i said  "maybe she is feeling better if she will eat"   and the person x went directly for the can of "wet food" that the dogs usually like... lainie stuck her nose up at that "meat"   so person X decided "she must not be hungry"  WRONG..... she just clearly said "what i want right now are the crunchy dry treats... f"  

person x had decided - probably becasue of a n advertisement-- that canned  wet food is more desireable to a dog than dry crunch not paying any attention to what the dog said. 

 i must admit  ---usually they like the wet food... but if you read the labels... most of it is the same stuff as teh dry crunch.. with 74% water with production  and shipping  costs, it is no bargain at all-- you might find one or two brands that are actuallyt meat-- but read more labels... and when you finish reading  labels compare prices with the cost of chicken thighs-- even if you do have to cook them.. wet dog food is the most expensive water you would ever buy....( no ... i would never willingly feed raw chicken-- i think that idea of feeding  only  raw chicken necks was  a promotional idea byt the guy who had too many  left over  raw chicken necks) 

it is shocking what experts can get someone to believe..... just give me $500 and i will tie an elastic around your ankle and shove you off this bridge...how about $2500 to bob around like a cork,  on a floating island with 4000 other people, gleaming glassware and 30 foot waves...

i should not  cast asparagus  as one who actively markets "puppy breath " for $8  ( refill for $5)

****

if teh government shuts down in september... whatever will the overnight comedians talk about? 

 and which will be first  to be eliminagted..SSA  checks or congressional paychecks. ? 

i always wanted to invent a board game like monopoly with spaces " cash a paycheck $700" " lose your glasses $500"  "buy lottery tickets $120" 

"find $20" "go to the dentist for root canal...-- do not pass the ATM or  collect  $300" "win the  scratch ticket $400."

things like that...

 there is an immediate problem with money.... if you don't have 10 cents, you get no coffee-

how's that for showing my age...  ? coffee at 10 cents...?

i do remember a pack of cigarettes for 18 cents and when you got them from a machine, there were 2 pennies inside the celophane.

*****

lainie's temp is now 104.6  so we are still going up... in spite of teh durama

  grace is on her way to do the drip..... 

come on megan-- be early !!!

aug 23 2017

as for playing bumper cars with ships in th e paciffic----big news.. they fired the admiral of the fleet for the colision of our navy ship with a huge tanker...-- boy i don't understand that logic...

in our vast cp community we do have a marine expert.. here is a comment from our ocean trained expert --  #1  steve

You are absolutely correct, the officers of naval vessels that have collisions should be xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When maneuvering in shipping channels the bridge of a vessel should at a minimum have three QUALIFIED maneuvering officers, and a couple of non- commissioned seamen.

Radar systems are CONSTANTLY active, and there goes another group of incompetents.

steve went on to question where they had gone to school... which made me wonder where you have to go to school to  learn  to watch out for big things that might run over you...seems to me... the chain of  command  had little to do with the chain of responsibility.. if indeed there was to be  3 maneuvering officers  did  the couple seamen have some way of  waking up the captain and asking  if they could be promoted to officer status so they would have some proticol for reporting oncoming large objects.

maybe teh accident was actually caused by the  fact that they all were otherwise occupied with food poisoning caused by seaman janitor who was to clean out the regftrigerator and overlooked an old jar of mayonase.  

and who tripped over the extension cord which unplugged teh radar...

there are sooooo many questions-- was this admiral who got fired anywheres near the pacific ocean-- or was he mired in some swamp on the mainland.. how as he to know about the mayonase...

congress will work on it ... i am sure.

remember.... for want of a nail the shoe was lost

for want of a shoe the horse was lost..., then the officer,  then the battle,,then the war, then the kingdom  all for want of a nail....

*****

there is -  even around here a huge tendency ... if things have always worked A  to B  to  C  then that is what will happen and i don't even have to consider the possibility of A  to B  to K... i can not tell you how many times i can ask something like  "were the water buckets filled?"  and get the answer " yes --i am sure they were"  from a person no where near the actual bucket.

how much paper does it take to legislate common sense?  our friends at ADI (  assisance dog international 's accreditation committee)  certainly try.. 

***

 bucket filling... i bet you folk don'tknow that   we get kids  who are to do community service dfor some infractio of the rules-- and we have one lately  SAM--  was to spent 10 hours here..  8 to 1 for 2 days--  he was already a no show once-- and the district atorney showed up one dy just  to look us over and be sure we were a place they could send people.. the DA  was very pleased... and left me her number..  SAM showed up on monday and wss given the job of filling the water buckets...  but since they all had some water in them  he figured he didn't have to  do anything...  luckily one of the purple shirted people noticed and we solved that  quickly..  so i had this guy SAM... big strong 18 year old - load a bunch of rails that were in the wrong place... and i could sit in  the a/c tractor and watch-- a perfectly legitimate job for some kid who did enough wrong to involve the da's office...  well it apparently did him is... because he did not stay  til noon.. and he did not show yesterday at all...  so i have lefgt word at teh da's office as i was requested to do.. he apparently will be picked up and put behind bars...

*********

 Sunday was a hot one and I wanted to take Ned to Paint Creek Park in the Cherokee National Forest where it's shady and cool.  I used to go there often but in recent years have only driven through to enjoy the mountains but didn't try to navigate walking on the uneven terrain.   

Ned hasn't been around water yet and I didn't expect he would want to go in but knew there would be interesting things for him to explore.  My niece and her family decided to make it a day and go with us.  I started by sitting on a rock at the edge while the children played in the water and boulders in the middle of the steam.  Ned wanted to go in but would hesitate after dipping a foot in the water.  After about 40 minutes he couldn't stand it anymore and bravely waded into the water (with a little encouragement).  He LOVED it!  He bounced and jumped and splashed through the water then ran up and down the banks of the stream having a wonderful time. With my balance issues I didn't expect to get beyond the banks but having my big strong Ned there gave me the confidence to wade out to the boulders too.  You can't know how wonderful it was to do something I love but thought I'd never be able to do again with my Sweet Ned there!  I'm amazed over and over at how solid it feels to walk with him.  I'd have never considered trying that with a cane!  

I can't thank you and all the CP's who support SDP enough.  You change lives every day!

AUG 22 2017

i have to look into this bit about insurance comanies offering a discount if you have a home security system...... 

 IF WE AINT GOT  A SECURITY SYUSTEM.... I MISS MY GUESS !!

ANYONE THRU THE GATE WILL CAUSE AT LEAST ONE DOG TO BARK.... WHICH I DO HEAR ( IF I HAVE ON  A HEARING DEVICE...)

SPEAKING OF THRU THE GATE, I THINK MO HAS THE PICTURE OF DON'T GO NEAR THAT GATE... SHE WILL START GRAZING OPPOSITE THE GUEST HOUSE AND THN VERY CASUALLY COME UP TO MY GOLF CART AND TURN INTO TH E SMOKING AREA.. CASUALLY AROUND ME-- NEARER THE GATE BUT NOT APPROACING IT  AND GO UP THE DRIVEWAY NEAR THE GARAGE.. SOR T OF SAYING ... "SEE I GOT THE PICTURE"

SO I AM TRYING TO TRUST HER.... KNOWING FULL WELL MARY-- MY "OLD" MAMOTH DONKEY PLAYED "GOTCHA" EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE... AND GET OUTSIDE THE GATE... THEN STAND AND BRAY TO GET BACK IN....

******

PUPS ARE MATURING BIG TIME-- EATING OUT OIF THIER  OWN DISHES N A VERY ADULT MANNER-- WHICH MEANS... IF WE PLANNED CORRECTLY, THE NEXT LITTER IS APPROACHING...????? APPARENTLY SEPT 3-4TH IS GABBY'S  DUE DATE... SHE  WILL  COME HERE ABOUT THE 1ST... AS WE SHUFFLE THIS LITTER TO THE "KITCHEN SOFA" AREA-- BY THE TIME OF DOG FEST, WE SHOULD HAVE 2 PRETTY SMALL PUPS ON THE GROUND... WITH GABBY'S PUPS JUST OPENING THEIR EYES????-- SO AS THERI EYES OPEN AUDRY WILL  BE MOVING IN FOR HER LITTER AND LANIES WILL BE SHUFFLED TO THE "USED CAR LOT" IN THE NUTT HOUSE....

AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TO REPORT AT THE MOMENT.... SIZZLE HAS A MOST PEQULIAR HEAT PERIOD... SHE IS STILL VERY ATTRACTIVE TO BENTLEY-- IT IS A NOT YET FOR  THAT  --- MAYBE NEXT TIME... I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ONE MORE LITTER WITH OPAL... SHE HAD SUCH A GOOD BUNCH-- ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T GET ANY MORE OF BENTLEY'S GENES ( HE'S  OPALS BROTHER) GOT ALL THAT STRAIGHT????

 I AM HOPING JULIETTE WILL COME THRU WITH MORE TREE-- I AM TOTALLY  DEPENDANT ON THAT FOR FIRGUING OUT BLOODLINES...

I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD DO OUT A NORMAL LOOKING PEDIGREE FOR   EVERY LITTER FOR REFERENCE... 

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN INTERN JOB THIS SUMMER...

*******

BOY ARE WE GOING TO MISS OUR TEENAGERS-- THEY ARE GOOD.... NOT ONLY THIER YOUNG LEGS AND STRONG BACKS...., BUT THEY ARE QUITE ASTUTE - CAPABLE OF MAKING DECISIONS--ALL PURPLE SHIRTERS....  MAYBE I CAN PURSUDE THEM TO WRITHE A DAILY DOGGIE BEFORE THE Y GO BACK TO SCHOOL.... IN LAURA'S CASE I THINK  THAT IS A WEEK.

******

TODAY'S SCHEDULE*****

ANNE IS COMING ABOUT 10:00  WITH RELTIVES WHO WILL THEN GO AWAY AND WE WILL TALK BUSINESS WHILE  WE  GO TO THE BUCKLE GUY'S WAREHOUSE IN NEWBURY FOR MORE BRASS RINGS.... TO MAKE THE ROPES WE USE AROUND HERE... RECORDS SHOW I BOUGHT 95 RINGS 8 MONTS AGO... AND I HAVE ONE LEFT... -- GRANTED ... A ROPE AND A RING ( THE OLD SCOTISH RENDITION OF A PIECE OF  HAY STRING)  GETS USED  NOT ONLY FOR A LEASH AND COLLAR.... BUT THEY TIE GATES CLOSED... HOLD UP SAGGING TARPS....AND REPLACE NAILS IN SOOO MANY PLACES....  RUN THE NUMBERS-- THAT MEANS  12 PER MONTH GO OUT OF CIRCULATION AS LEASHES--

IF I ASK AROIUND, I FIND.." OH, I NEVER CAN FIND ONE SO I HIDE ONE  IN MY CAR,  OVER THE RAFTER IN THE DEAGLE HOUSE, BEHIND THE BARREL "....AD INFINITUM  AND THE  BRASS RINGS COST $2 EACH -- IT WOULD PAIN ME TO BUY THE CHEAPER ONES FOR $1 THAT DO RUST---  BRASS IS GOOD THAT WAY -- IT MAY GET GREEN BUT IT STILL IS HTERE. 

***

AND THEN 1:00 ISH  BRYAN IS DUE BACK TO WAVE HIS HANDS OVER THE DONKEYS WHO ARE DOING MUCH BETTER-- THE OVERNIGHT CROWD EVEN SAID THE PAINTEED DONK CAN NOW LIE DOWN WITHOUT CHOKING...  THIS IS PROGRESS... ESPECIALLY IF SHE GOES INTO LABOR...  BREATHING IS ESENTIAL....

***

LAST NIGHT AT MAILCALL I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MEGAN AND STEVE HAD SO MUCH MAIL.... APPARENTLY SOMEONE COMPLAINED THAT THEY WERE NOT GETTING  QUICK ENOUGH ANSWERS TO THIER EMAILS OR TEXTS.... SO MORE KINDLY CP'S SENT CARDS TO CHEER THEM UP...  GOOD FOR YOU !!   

UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING I AM MISSING... I CAN NOT THINK OF ANY EMERGENCY THAT WOULD DEMAND EITHER MEGAN OR STEVE GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE.. IMMEDIATELY..THE CAMERA CROWD IS WONDRFUL-- AND VERY HELPFUL--  AND THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD AT REMINDING  CP'S WHO ARE IN SOME PANIC MODE THAT EVEN THOTHE CAMERAS SHOW ALOT.... THEY DON'T SHOW EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON....- STEVE AND MEGAN'S PRIMARY JOB IS TO DEAL WITH DOGS.... THEN RECIPIENTS QUESTIONS WHEN THEY CAN...

THIS ALSO GOES FOR BARN AND DONKEY MANAGEMENT-- THERE WERE A FEW  COMMENTS DURING TH E DONKEY CRISIS THAT WERE  MORE THAN NECESSARY..... FOR EXAMPLE-- TO START A DISCUSSION  ABOUT HOW  WE SHOULD BE WORMING THE DONKEYS AGAIN FOR  LUNG WORM  IN 2 WEEKS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE READ IT ONLINE-- WHAT WAS MISSING IN THE ONLINE ARTICLE  WAS THAT THERE WAS A BIG POSSIBLIITY  THE WORMING THEY HAD IN QUARENTINE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE LUNG PROBLEMS WE WERE STRUGGLING WITH... AND TO WORM THEM AGAIN MIGHT HAVE KILLED THEM.  

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN THAT  BEFORE  AND SOMEONE SENT  ME AN EMAIL M   "WELL IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THINGS , EXPLORE SHOULD TAKE YOU OFF THEIR LIST"  

 I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO "HAND FEED THE COMMENTS"  I WAS TOO BUSY HAND FEED ING THE DONKEYS...

IT AIN'T DULL  AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF  99.47% OF YOU ALL...

****

   DONKEYS..... THAT IS WHERE I HAVE TO GO NOW.

AUG 21 2017

I QUOTE " IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROTOCOL MIGHT  NEED REVIEW"  AND A FEW OTHER INANE  COMMENTS AS TO WHY IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS A  MONSTER SHIP PLOWS INTO THE SIDE OF A US NAVY SHIP.-- I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE 10 MISSING SAILORS AT ALL, BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS....

WASN'T ANYONE LOOKING?   JUST WHAT IS THIS PROTOCOL THAT MIGHT NEED REVIEWING..? 

IF NOT  $4 MILLION DOLLAR RADAR, WHY NOT  $2.99 BINOCULARS -- OR A SAILOR WITH NORMAL VISION ?...

THE HOLE IN THE SHIP LOOKS STRAIGHT ON WITH NO DRAG SIDEWAYS --- WAS  IT JUST FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE....-- HOW COME THE NAVY WASN'T RUSHING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY? 

HOW CAN A VESSEL THE SIZE OF A TANKER  BE A SURPRISE ?

MY  CAR CAN TELL ME BOTH WHERE I AM , AND WHAT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ARE,

LETS HAVE AN AMERICAN THOUGHT-- WHY WAS ONE OF OUR SHIPS OVER THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE...  CANT THE NAVY PRACTICE AVOIDING BIG COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN HARBORS  CLOSER TO HOME-- AND THE SHIP REPAIR SHOPS-- LIKE CALIFORNIA  ?

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE HOLE IS AT/BELOW WATERLINE--- I THOUGHT THE FRONT END OF A SHIP HAD AN ABOVE WATER POINT MUCH HIGHER THAN THIS HOLE... AND THE LAST ONE HAD A  POINT OF CONTACT BELOW THE WATERLINE ???

.. IT ALSO SEEMS STRANGE THAT THE DAMAGE WAS NOT WORSE CONSIDERING THE MASS--  WHAT DO I KNOW?? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING-- BUT THAT NEVER STOPPED ME....IT LOOKS LIKE THE TANKER SLOWED UP ( WHICH TAKES 2?  MILES TO SLOW UP THAT MASS)  AND THE NAVY DIDNT  EVEN TRY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY??????

WE MUST HAVE SOME NAVY PEOPLE IN OUR CAMERA CROWD.. I KNOW WE HAVE ONE MERCHANT MARINE TYPE WHO READS THIS THING... MAYBE HE CAN GIVE US SOME ANSWERS...

EVEN THO---TO SOME OF THESE-- THERE IS NO ANSWER.

****

ON THE TOPIC OF WATER.... BRYAN DID COME OVER AND PUMP A GALLON OF WATER/ELECTROLITES INTO EACH OF THE SICK DONKEYS.. THIS SHOULD HELP BIG TIME... HOWEVER THAT DID NOT STOP PEOPLE FROM COMPLAINING THEY DONKEYS DID NOT DRINK ANY WATER LAST NIGHT.... HOPEFULLY  THEY DIDN'T NEED ANY...   THE 2 PREGO LADIES ARE LOOKING BETTER... GRACE DID GET THEM OUT FOR GRASS.. AND THE  PAINTED LADY CHOSE TO GRAZE ON THE WORST POSSIBLE SPINDLY PIECES F GRASS OPNTHE EDGE OF THE STONE DUST AREA...  THERE IS GRASS THAT LOOKS MUCH BETTER TO ME, UNDER THE SHADE TENT WHERE MO HAS NOT REACHED... EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY CHEWED UP... BUT WE COULD NOT CONVINCE HER. 

BRYAN IS SET TO RETURN TUESDAY  UNLESS ONE GOES INTO LABOR--  AFTER WORRYING  ABOUT THE JENNIES, TEH PREGNANCIES ARE A SE[ARATE WORRY.. WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN...

***

  THERE IS A WONDERFUL PICTURE OF BUD DRIVING MO IN HER NEW HARNESS-- HE REALLY LOOKS THE PART.. PROBLEM THERE IS TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS PROCESS BEFORE MNO REALIZES WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE..  WE DO HAVE A RACING JOG CART-- 2 BICYCLE WHEELS WIH SHAFTS--I WILL TRY THAT WITH HER SOON SHE SEEMS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE IS DOING... AND IN HARNESS  SHE SEEMS  TO WHOA WHEN ASKED TO DO SO.

WHOA IS MUCH MORE CRITICAL THAT GITTEE UP-- JUST LIKE IN A CAR BRAKES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACCELERATION,

YOU CAN NOT ACCELLERATE AT THE RATE  WITH WHICH YOU CAN DECELLERATE-- SOMETHING LOST ON MANY OWNERS OF 4WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES.

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AFTER TEH SHOCK OF A NEW WEBSITE BY EXPLORE, I AM BEGINNING TO LIKE IT...  IT MAY SHOCK THE YOUNGSTERS AROUND HERE... EVEN TURNING ON MY COMPUTER IS CONFUSING TO ME... BUT I HAVE FOUND THE FEW SIMPLE WAYS TO FIND WHAT I WANT WITHOUT HAVING THE  THING  GIVE THE WEATHER  AND TRAFFIC REPORT FOR BOISE  IDAHO.. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE CHANGE.. THAT HAPPENS- ESPECIALLY WITH MY "AGE GROUP"  --REALISTICALLY I THINK I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER S CAN DO SO MANY FANCY THINGS WITH THEIR PHONES AND COMPUTERS AND I AM HELPLESS..

 BUT I CAN NOW GET THE  EXPLORE  LIVE PICTURES AND THE COMMENTS...   THIS I S ALL I CAN COPE  WITH--  THER IS A RUMOR THAT COURTNEY WILL TRY AND TEACH ME THINGS THIS AFTERNOON AROUND  5PM  MAIL CALL.... HOWEVER..... I PROMISE TO KEEP IT EXTREMELY SIMPLE-- BECAUSE I DON'T DEAL WITH ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE -- I LEAVE TEH REST TO THE NEAREST 12 YEAR OLD.

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Good morning

Rogue is doing great. It has been a long summer at home. Haven't been doing much because both my kids are on the gymnastics team and have had gymnastics practice daily! We have spent most of the summer at home and taking walks around the neighborhood! My adventures are limited with 4 kids and John not home much. Rogue loves when her harness goes on and is always ready to help. Neuropathy has caused so many problems and rogue knows when I need her. She has been the best friend I could ask for. She adores my kids and is very gentle to my two year old. I wish I had more adventures to talk about. Rogue has learned to open the baby gates and push the door open if it is not closed completely to follow me where I go. So I have to watch the gates for the steps closely now. She is extremely smart and communicates a lot. She really has matured and isn't afraid of much. I wish I had more exciting stories to share. I hope to make it to dog fest. My husband doesn't have his work schedule for September yet. I hope to know soon! 

Thank you so much ! I am very proud of how much service dog project has grown and all the people you have changed their lives for the better! From starting out with Annie to now. It is so amazing! My life most certainly is much better! 

Rogue and melissa 

AUG 20 2017
WHOOPS...I FORGOT THE DD... BUT THE 3 DONKS ARE DOING BETTER

aug 19 2017

i figured out what is wrong with the modern generation -- i don't think any of them would think the sound  of a flushing toilet was  extremely funny.. MY generation laughed hysterically at that sound  on the  all in the family show-- with archie bunker....  there were some great shows.. sienfield- a hysterical show about 4 people carrying a  big box around a parking garage--- maude- with her swooping in to say one word or two...  bob newheart  on the phone -trying to explain to the king of england how these colonials took a big leaf, twisted it up ,  put it  in their mouths then  lit the other end.... where are those writers/ shows  now?   "they" say  probbly too expensive to run-- so all we have left are  one or two political comedians -- what we don't think about is  those polititians are reallllly expensive to  laugh at.  i much preferred the flushing toilet.   ** why these things occurr to me is beyond me... welllll .... today alredy i have laughed at some ofo the comments CP's put on the picture of our dogs and donkeys... yesterdays chuckle was 4 pups diggging one hole in the sand "we got to find dat toy before it starts to wian again"  it just fit so perfectly we do have some really tallented CP's out there providing us with good creative material that is just fun to think about. i love a good creative laugh... so i have to also mention some of the  poo pickers we get are great too... i try and read alot of them at mail call--and i get a second laugh when one of the volunteers tells me she gave a ahndfull to a neighbor to try and the neighvbor claled back laughing at  the comment on th e back...like.....  "I HAVE DAYS WHEN MY LIFE IS ONE TENT AWAY FROM A CIRCUS"  somehow i can relate to that one.   **** donkeys---   i am having slightly better feeilngs about them-  thanks to everyone who watched them all night, i got reports that they both are trying to eat and drink-- also reports of poo production and color of urine..  you can not beat these camera people !!!!  actually i sent the report to bryan  he will get a kick out of it--secretariat never had better surveillance... ** for all the people that object to antibiotics useage... if anything saves these it will be that... i panic when they lie down and cough so hard, i am afraid that they'll push out the foal.... so far so good...  donkeys are prone to  lung worms in the wild... and these were probably that.. so when the vet at quarentine de- wormed them, it might have caused lung complications-- (that is just a carlene concept... based on  zero medical experience--- but next time lets not worm til they are settled in their new homes.... ) janine thinks they were in some farm situation where the person ws into raising mini mules... because they were sent to slaughter with a palomino pony stud-- palomino being MO's color. so if we are lucky and they do have healty foals.. next question will be is it a donkey or a mule???-- not always obvious... ***** antibiotics..... i honestly do not know how mr purdue can raise chickens without any antibiotiscs at all... i question that... because  "chick starter " feed is medicated--- and i have found.. if i don't use it , i lose many chicks  that i don't lose when i use it.. certainly after a week or two i run out of starteer and begin ot feed regular stuff and they do fine... but to start them  we really need and use medicated. ( fyi.... it is specific... i think you should not use it on ducklings or turkeys?????? read the labels).... **** a little short.. i want to go and cut up anothre apple and see if that helps... and also give the shot, change that dish of food that  i am sure the birds have be sxxxxxxx in all night i-- and square  and lower the water buckets-- i saw "dotty"  trying to drink and it was a few inches higher than convenient. last night  i think the grey donk got the name GG.  *****   hippo cake day  2 ewes.... ! ****

aug 18 2017

3 more donk's have landed-- thanks to ann( getchel)--luckily the trailer haas 2 compartments -- front and rear... the dark nose female walked right on -- as did the little male  "jasper"  so we put them up front....however---- i can see why janine could not get that spotted jenny  in the trailer...  it took a rope around her rear with ann in the trailer pulling  tanner picking up the front end and me keeping the rope high on her rear so it didn't get into her feet and knock her over-- once in there she stood very quietly-- so did we all !!! 

she has a cough-- we know that-- she has been on some antibiotic -and brian will be here today-- at 11:15 if he has no other emergencies... yeserday he was watchign her online..

wiht all the new camera controls... the one picture i can not get on my computer is.... the donkey stall...

*****

computrs are very like those terriffic water sprinklers...that fling water 30 feet in any direction.. they really do work wonderfully at watering shapes of lawn  and things.. only if you sit there with  the manual and equipment needed to  unclog the strainer/filter-- and at times an air compressor to dislodge the tiny piece of grit lodged in the sprinkler head...- every august i like to run the pump in our 500 foot deep well-- water perfectly tested for drinking---but-----over the charts on every metal and other foul smelling substance.... i usuall water the  dried up lawn areas for a couple days but yestrday  i gave up and will go back tothe old sprinklers... plus  today it is supposed to rian...

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i copied this yesterday-- it was impressive.. i think...  but now i can't remember what  was such good mental exercise...

*****THIS IS ALL SUCH WONDERFUL MENTAL EXERCISE – LOVE IT....BEST WISHES TO ALL.....

 i suppose the daily doggie in general can be a mental exercisejust wondering what i was saying when my hands slide one

 key to the left without my biruxubf-- add that to my lack of spelling ability and it could be a challange. 

  noticing ( biruxubg) things has to become a speciality.. if i am to rry and figure out how to develope  "seeing eye dog" .. and it started yesterday... --with 440,000 details to follow.... i did notice with bentley when i went to the dr office in the hospital... they have concrete lumps at the ER entrance-- spaced about 4 feet apart... i don't know why but last time i was holding his harness while walking,, we did not go a straight line to the door.... but swerved slightly... maybe a car was parked there last time...  i dunno..  but this time he swerved the same way which is what reminded me...- now i know - from th e paths around here that the dogs very often  use the same 6 inch trail as they run around-- would  this be something to notice in the  wild and wooly concept of leading a blind person...-- if you did basics of  "don't walk me into an overhead  barrier, or down a flight of stairs" and then you  "patterened" the dog to go to  places ... on the bus, off the buss, turn right then watch for traffic as you go --  left cross the street and go into the mall.  it would be a bit of freedpm...

remembering george finally understanding he  went to class a... and slept.. then class  b  and slept for the whole day.  my guess in his head he was just following a patterning.

i don't want to go and ask them how they train their guide dogs... i want to see if we can dream up any different apporaches

as we go thru this thought process . .. be prepared for alot of screwy ideas-- don't knock strange ideas... there ae many strange ideas out there - working----after all someone figured out you could stave of dementia by eating jelly fish   --- or maybe they figured out you could be pursuaded to buy jelly fish to store next to your pet rock ...

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aug 17 2017

short doggie... quickly re donkeys... janine could not load them last night by herself-- and she had to work today-- is already on her way (6am) that leaves me...with mayge tanner and anyone else to go get 3 donkeys... she wants me to take th e second prego because she knows i will be asking brian to come vet them...and "she wasn't looking great last night..." so i will be doing that as soon as i get myself together... plan now is as soon as tanner gets here to go get the trailer at janine's  and hopefully meet brian.. the vet.. who's office is right near groton house where the donkeys are....and  #1 get him to look them over... and then #2 pick them up and put them on the trailer... brian is as strong as a bull... and be at the dr apt by 11:00 with the pregos in the barn here in front of the camera. that is wht is supposed to happen-- i ordered a work horse harness for mo.... one CP  person was concerned that i was going to work mo in harness...maybe make her pull the amish buggy that we have in the arena... we might ask her to pull it-- either around here or 2 miles in a parade ( if she behaves) just for fun...  and i think she would enjoy i.. she seems intelligent and enjoys investigating all over here.. i can pull. that amish buggy ,.. it is not anywheres near what she has pulled in her life... like plows...  and being an intelligent animal i can clearly see she likes being around people - here at any rate.. and does poke around...slightly bored..  i really don't think she wouol dmind... and i think she would enjoy the activity...   mary used to love this stuff     ****** i gave some poo pickers to judy who enjoyed reading the commentw on them and sent me these    Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed I don’t mean to brag, but I finished my 14 day diet in 3 hours and 20 minutes My goal was to lose just 10 pounds, only 15 to go. Follow your dreams, except for the one where you’re naked in church. - Rev. David Ault Always remember that you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else. -Margaret Mead You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think. -Milton Berle How to prepare tofu 1. Throw it in the trash 2. Grill some meat! Kids don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpeting to change the TV channel. *************** and then the  "me and steve"   boy did i get emails on that one... here's only a few.... Sheep 1 has left a new comment on your post  I think "with Steve and me" is the correct form. Usually one mentions the other person before oneself in a situation like that.  ***** Hi Carlene, You need to use "me" because it is the object form of "I", and in this situation it is the object of the preposition "with". Grammatical convention is that all other objects are listed before the one representing yourself, namely "me". Therefore the form should be "with Steve and me". hope this helps! :) Carolyn ****** IN THE STATEMENT THE DOGS ARE FINE WITH ME AND STEVE, THE PRONOUN "ME" IS AN OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION "WITH" AND IS CORRECTLY IN THE OBJECTIVE CASE. THE TEST YOU MENTIONED -- TO READ THE SENTENCE WITH THE PRONOUN ALONE -- IS INDEED VALID.  YOU WOULD SAY THE DOGS ARE FINE WITH ME, NOT THE DOGS ARE FINE WITH I. WHAT LIKELY CONFUSED YOU IS THAT THE PRONOUN “ME” WAS MENTIONED BEFORE THE NOUN “STEVE”. ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT THE TYPICAL ORDER, IT DOESN’T CHANGE THE SITUATION.  IN THE MORE TYPICAL ORDER, THE CORRECT STATEMENT WOULD BE THE DOGS ARE FINE WITH STEVE AND ME.    WHEN A PRONOUN IS A SUBJECT OF A STATEMENT, THEN THE SUBJECTIVE CASE IS APPROPRIATE.  FOR EXAMPLE, STEVE AND I TRAIN DOGS IS CORRECT.  HERE, THE PRONOUN “I” IS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE AND IS CORRECTLY IN THE SUBJECTIVE CASE.  AGAIN, THE “PRONOUN ALONE” TEST VERIFIES IT; YOU WOULD SAY I TRAIN DOGS, NOT ME TRAIN DOGS.  --Judy