FEB 28 2018

 between  tax paperwork and this pup from germany, i have spent an hour already playing catch up

plus  i have a dr apt at 7:30  and speaking to a group at 9:30

  

not sure i am right yet... but this LOF means born of acceptable parents  which as they age, gets shown to a judge which gives it  some CACS rating and teh final  HD and ED  raTING.

BUT I COULD BE WRONG....

 HERE'S A CUT AND PASTE .. FILLER UPPER.

FROM YESTERDAY:

WELL THIS WAS A FIRST. A CUP OF WATER GOT SPILLED AND WENT IN THE SIDE OF THE HALO VEST AND OUT THE BOTTOM! SOMEONE WAS PRETTY WET. THANKFULLY WE HAVE A COOL SETTING ON THE HAIR DRYER AND JUST HAD HER LAY ON THE COUCH AND DRY OUT. 

TODAY WAS PT AND BELLA DID GREAT. SHE STOOD WITH GEORGE FOR A LONG TIME. EVEN THOUGH SHE LOOKS GREAT STANDING SHE DIDN’T TAKE STEPS WITH GEORGE TODAY. BUT WE WENT TO GO SEE GABI AT WORK TONIGHT AND SHE WALKED IN WITH HER WALKER WHICH WAS GREAT PROGRESS FROM WANTING HER WHEELCHAIR OR TO BE CARRIED. SO 3 WEEKS FROM TODAY THIS HALO SHOULD COME OFF AND HOPEFULLY SHE CAN START REALLY WALKING AND MOVING MUCH BETTER. SO 21 DAYS TO GO! 

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING IN! LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE 

HTTPS://GOO.GL/FORMS/ROAZQN3HYE44ATQF2

FROM TODAY:

ONLY 1 MORE DAY TO ORDER TEAM BELLA AND GEORGE COOLERS AND FLASHLIGHTS! HELP THIS POOCH OUT SO HE CAN GET HIS DONATION TO SERVICE DOG PROJECT WHERE HE WAS TRAINED TO BE THE AMAZING SERVICE DOG THAT HE IS! HELP BELLA GIVE HER DONATION TO BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ON MARCH 23RD AT THE MIX CARES FOR KIDS RADIOTHON. TEAM BELLA AND GEORGE WILL BE THERE TO ANSWER PHONES AND BELLA I AM SURE WILL BE ON THE RADIO TALKING ABOUT HOW AWESOME CHILDRENS WAS WHILE SHE WAS ADMITTED FOR 34 DAYS. ONLY 20 MORE DAYS IN THE HALO! CAN WE GET 20 ORDER BEFORE MIDNIGHT 2/28? I BET WE CAN! 2/28 IS ALSO RARE DISEASE AWARENESS DAY SO IF YOU CAN WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SHOW OF SUPPORT AND IF YOU HAVE PURPLE WEAR IT AND SHARE A PHOTO! MORQUIO IS A RARE DISEASE WITH ONLY ABOUT 3,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. WE ARE THANKFUL TO EVEN HAVE A TREATMENT FOR SUCH A SMALL
COMMUNITY. IF YOU DON’T OWN PURPLE BUT OWN BELLA LIPSENSE YOU CAN ALWAYS DO #WEARBELLAFORBELLA TOMORROW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LOVE AND SUPPORT! LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE 

THE ORDER LINK!

HTTPS://GOO.GL/FORMS/ROAZQN3HYE44ATQF2

FEB 27 2018

mind boggling of the day

 kitty met cat in st louis---- apparently they had a great visit-- kitty being our  kitty of calendar fame.. and cat being  OUR CONTAct in  purina fame.... couple qmazing things.... cat did not know about the cameras.....  and .... ready?????  she thought i was 20 years old...shocker that was.   of course.... we think service dog project is the best thing that ever happened to  purina-- and explore-- it is a shocker to realize we are  such a tiny part of a huge picture..  -----we are a very nice part... but tiny...  both purina and explore are sooooooo big.

cat has been in whatever her position is  for only a A COUPLE YEARS...  AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF CUTE PICTURES THEY GET OF  INDIVIDUAL DOGS LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHED BY OWNERS....THE FACT THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF  our very best purina picture.....THE PICTURE OF ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS SLIDING DOWN PUPPY HILL ON PURINA DOG FOOD BAGS-- ESPECIALLY WHERE THE AVG AGE OF THE VOLUNTEERS  WAS 53 YEARS OLD.... I WAS UPSET... I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS A UNIQUE  PICTURE... 

i bet most of purina does not know how slippery those bags really are...or the fact that you can dress a manequin  or make a quilt out of them...

or alot of things.... ah well..

****

now on the topic of c-secion in large animals....CP's are driving me nuts... let me clarify..... i know it can be done-- and at  vet university hospitals

 i also know that when it is done successfully , it makes the news--- sometimes with incorrect details...what you all are  missing is the reason it makes the news is that the success is so unusual... what tehy never put  in the news are all the times it was a terrible disaster...there is another detail which seems to be scientifically correct... that once serious  labor starts in a horse-- you have about 20 minutes to get out a live foal.  given all the conditions- all we can do is give them the best care and chance of  living thru the production of a live foal....-- and ...-- so far tufts vet is not interested in any learning in that field.   so we give her a chance....bryan did think there is a posibility of twins -- or large tumor---  she is big ! and he is ready to come help-- i have his cell phone...  i don't think we can do any better.

***as bryan sat here------ we figured out we have known each other 30 years....and there are stories... some mentionable...  of course.... like the night he was driving down rt 95 and realized something was happening and pulled over to find he was loosing  his ability to use his hand -- he called me saying he was in need of a ride to the hospital and he did not wnat to go with the police and lieave his truck with all the meds etc on the highway..-- i picked up a neighbor and flew up the highway- took him to the hospital and teh neighbor took his truck at the farm...

one of the reasons i always try and have a full tank  of gAs in a car that will start---

it is like that with pregnancies.. all you can do is get as ready as you can  to do whatever you can...

****

next problem--  there is a nice looking female pup-- at a kennel where they are about to breed a dog for a litter in 2 months... now...plan woulod be to  reserve a  MALE pup "with color"   not necessarily show color... but not black....  she just sent me the name of the father to be....Je'taime de la Benjamine

so for the next 2 hours i will pplay with trying to locate as many of his relatives as i can..aND SEE HOW THYE ARE "RATED" .  he is black... but the dog she is breeding is harl... so she should get somE  color--

J  U  D  Y    HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FRANKFURT????  PASSPORT READY TO GO????? MAYBE GO GET THE FEFMALE   #N3 ??????

FEB 26 2018

COUPLE THINGS TO DODGE MY DD TODAY...  

FIRST  ASHER AND  ERICA  WERE crowned onto Barrister's Court --PROM KING/QUEEN-- AND TEH IS NOT A MORE DESEARVING PAIR I AM SURE....

Hi Carlene, 

Asher and I went to our first Barrister's Ball (also known as Law School Prom) this past Saturday as first-year law students and had such a wonderful time! We - Asher's name was on there too - were on the final Ballot for Barrister's Court (aka Prom King/Queen) a couple of weeks ago, something that I never would have gotten on my own. We got the most votes of our 1L class, and were named onto Barrister's Court! I've never been part of the popular crowd before now, but then again, this is my first year with a Dane as a constant companion!

I was thinking today, as I went through all the pictures we took last night among friends, about why I had chosen the small, more personal  school I did to attend law school this year over a huge one in New York: I was so uncomfortable walking and moving around in front of people, whether at work one-on-one with a client who didn't know me well, in court in front of law clerks and judges, or even just in casual administrative hearings in front of other lawyers. I'd feel their stares, even if I was just imagining them. Even in college, I dreaded award ceremonies because the thought of walking up in front of all those people was mortifying. I decided I needed a more close-knit campus to feel comfortable enough around people to get over that. 

And while I'm sure the familiar atmosphere has helped, Asher has gotten rid of that insecurity completely. He helps me physically every day, but he's also given me such a unique way to meet people, start conversations, and he shifts the focus from my movement to him (and usually his huge size!). The Student Bar Association president called both of our names as the 1L winners last night and we took the long walk from our table to the stage together while the whole room watched, definitely a walk that I would have struggled to get through alone just a short several months ago. The room was so loud with people cheering and we weaved around some tight spaces, but it didn't faze Asher one bit. I'm convinced he knew he was walking up to claim his prize because his popularity comes as no surprise to him, and he smugly takes the reactions of his fans in stride, reassuring me with his "Yeah, whatever, we've got this" demeanor in the process.

To be crowned onto Barrister's Court by our classmates meant so much. Here, with Asher, I'm not the girl with the weird gait that people feel bad for. I'm Erica with the huge dog wearing the necktie as we go about our day like anybody else. People have gotten to know me for me, and Asher has been responsible for initiating most of those casual conversations, looks of surprise instead of uncomfortable stares, and friendships I have today. He's given me so much confidence - it doesn't matter who we're walking in front of when he's next to me.

I'll paste our Facebook post below so you can read it and attach some photos. I just wanted you to know that, while I'm so thrilled to win a fun popularity contest in the middle of my hardest year of school yet, I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity I've had to live a different life these days; one where people can see through my physical differences and get to know me, and Asher too! 

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

SECONDLY---  THERE IS AN  "ABOUT US" TALK BY CHARLIE  ON THE START OF EXPLORE.ORG AND DOG BLESS YOU--WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT--  SOMEWHERE IN HIS TALK HE DOES MENTION SERVICE DOGS IN GENERAL  AND GEOJump to ToolbarRGE SPECIFICALLY--  HIS HISTORY IS ALSO HOW/WHY WE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION.

https://explore.org/about-us  must listen to... IT IS ABOUT 30 MINUTES LONG..AND WORTH THE 30 MINUTES.

********

I made an unplanned trip to the Firestation this week. A little bird told me that Captain Dave’s Birthday was the 24th and he really likes brownies.

I quickly made a batch and my son helped deliver then. As we were pulling around to the parking lot, the big red fire truck followed us. Dave, not seeing me, ask my son, who was already at the door, if he could help and Kirk replied, “My Mom made some goodies for you” and at that moment he saw me sitting in the car. With a big smile he said, “Can I give you a hug?”. We wished him a happy birthday and was on our way.

Just having a little fun.

Ila Steutermann

Missouri

FEB 25 2018

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXCITING DAy ..per  intellicast.com it syas it will snow heavily all morningn  startting at 7:38 and  rain like crazy from 11:38 til 4:32pm.. -- so therefore we won't need to plow, just wait for teh rain to take it all away...

that's  like why fix teh roof when it is not raining.?

****

roof's and raining...... i had a nice old house in lynnfield--- lovely  uncomplicated  farm house type-- burned down very quickly one night and we built a new modern one thaT LEAked like a seive --- how bad dd it leak you ask???  it was a constant challange... ..-- PROBLEM WAS AN UPSTAIRS DECK-- OF TEH FVERY MOST STYLISH   PITCHED IN TOWARD THE HOUSE-- SO ALL THE WATER FROM A 12 X 12 ' AREA  RAN THRU THE  "SITTING ROOM" ON TH EFIRST FLOOR..-- SO TO SLEEP ALL NIGHT IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM I HAD TO SET UP  3 GARBAGE CANS WITH CONNECTINF SIPHON HOSES ALL SET TO FILL 3 CANS AT ONCE .. THAT WQS SOLUTION #1..  THE SECOND WAS TO DRILL A HOLE IN THE FLOOR AND STICK A FUNNEL IN IT SO IT ALL WENT INTO THE Garage downstairs...-- which  during one heavy rainstorm had a race horse in the garage  which then stood in 6" of water...  i forgot why it was there.... i am sure there was a good reason...  maybe my old "stable boy"  now Doctor Nugent- from kentucky ( who reads this)  can remember why we had the horse in the garaage?????

i don't remember  that topic being in janine's book either... but it was teh sAME "PERIOD" IN OUR LIVES-- I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE  MY HUSBAND  COUDL NOT PARK HIS CAR IN THE GARAge because of the horse.... which cause him to have to paqrk where lucy the kids pet 500 pound  pig found she could  scream and chase him- making him run into the house----- that part is in the book.. ( dogs donkeys and circus performers... amazon still i believe-- i know we are out  OF BOOKS...and need anothre carton...JANINE??????/) --

****

I WOULD LIKE TO BLAMDE ALL THE TYPOS ON MY NEW KEYBOard- but it is really a defective left hand pinky that keeps hitting teh  caps lock...-- i have had this problem before....

*****

 i am going to order pens.... i have ben shamed into it... they keep sending me free ones-- which are soooo much nicer than teh 10 year old  collection of pens i already have....  you see..... another story...years ago---- i had a bacground knowledge of personal  experiences in doctors offices where ... the most expensive helop in the place... either  the veternarian or the medical doctor would spend more  time than they should  saying " i need a pen"--often the only one with a pen was the receptionist--  

that being in mind.... i went to ebay and for $40 bought 1000 misprinted pens-- lovely pens-- so to then "buy " my way to the head of the line in any waiting room, all i had to do was to give the office a shoebox of pens-- this was better than chocolates--- pens are/were always in short supply.

i still have  some of those 1000 pens-- but they are drying up.... so i am going to splurge - this last sample from national pen is a nice fine point... and comes in purple...

*****

the other way i had for getting  into a pediatrition's office- is to give janine a coffee can and pretend she was going to throw up.  that worked too.

****

and then the news....

 the great wall of china... with it's 23 foot tall 16 foot wide, 10,000 watch towers - which basically failed to keep out the northerners who were just trying to move south for the more comfortable winters.

****

now about the donkeys...i kid you not... in the past 24 hours i have had emaILS ABOUT 

BREATHING FAST (2)

LIMPING (4)

LYING DOWN

NOT EATING

CHEWING STRANGELY

NOT GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION

GETTING TOO PREGNANT 

 AND SIOME I AM SURE I FORGOT.

THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT PREGNANCY- BRYAN KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING... HE WATCHES THE CAMERAS TOO... AND IS COMING HERE MONDAY ABOUT NOON TO DO SOME BLOOD STUDIES... FACCT REMAINS.. SOMETHING FOR ALL TEEN AGERS TO REMEMBER, THERE IS ONLY  ONE  CONCLUSION TO PREGNANCY-- IT HAS TO GET OUT OF THERE SOMEHOW... AND THE PROCESS CAN GET VERY COMPLICATED AND OFTEN DANGEROUS....

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A C- SECTION IN AN EQUINE... SO ALL WE CAN DO IS GIVE TEHM TEH BEST SUPPORTIVE CARE AND LET NATURE DO IT'S THING.

****

feb 24 2018

I SHOULD WRITE THIS STRAIGHT OUT OF BED to have far more  "pure thoughts not influnced ( or forgotton) ... by all teh mail and comments....someone did point out thata writing one every day was easier than weekly  -- i agree with that one... i also have to  refrain from any comments aBOUT THE NEWS-- SO I WILL REFRAin from comparing a water pistol to Niagara falls.

*****

i did get alot of sympothiy on the hole in my leg after having the vising nurse change teh bandage on camera-- there is a different saturday visiting nurse today-- she called to ask if any of the dogs bite--

****

prime  beef... and the costco run---- i did go by myself to costco-- i do have it down  to a science... because of the roving loose stool, i did not take  either bentely or sizzle in with me-- no point in temptiong fate... and teh shopping cart works well as a walker.. also  because of this  intestinal problem on farm... i was told to buy 9 gallons of chlorox and 200 pounds of rice...  chlorox comes 3 toa box... and i managed to slide and kick thme onto my cart... but teh 200 pounds of rice loomed a challange... as i apporached the aisle.... a younger man-- not looking where he was going ran into my right leg-- i yelled when it happened-  and took one look --he felt terrible-- i immediately thought..-----.i can use his guilt !!!  ----.  the rice-----  so i quickly said i would forgive him if he would put 200 pounds of rice in my cart...

goldie provides a solution again...\u0010

as for teh prime beef... those steaks are wonderful... but i have seen a round-- tied together 4 inch prime  circle of stuff.... which is apparently the top "ridge"  of a standing rib roast-  i iknow that ridge--- it has alot of fat  flecked in it( so it really tastes goooooood) --- probably becasue of  my age.... i have been looking for  a beef to add to some fluid like gravey - or indian falvored sauce-- to put over mashed otatoes or rice-- naked meat/ steak  without some sauce has lost it's charm.   i am hoping that   sliced across the grain, with mushrooms and onliOns -maybe a little sherry wine  might be teh aNSWER.  BEEF STROGONOFF STYLE...

****

SPEAKING OF BEEF STROGONOFF,  THERE IS A DINER  ON NEWBURGH SIDE OF TEH HUDSON RIER   - RT 84  - WHICH HAS BEEFR STROGONOFF ON FRIDAYS...  I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT  IT.. AND TO TRY AND CONTACT THE OWNER  AND GIVE HIM A POKER CHIP[...   SOMEONE OF OOUR CP'S SAID HE PLAYS POKER  WEEKLY AND I WOULOD LIKE TO CLOSE THAT LOOP..   I BET WE HAVE 2 OR 3 PEOPLE GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE MONTHLY GOING TO AND FROM PENNA AND NY AREA  LETS SEE IF WE CAN PILE UP[ POKER CHIPS THER..-- TEHN NAIL  HIM FOR $10 A MONTH CHJICKEN BRICK !!!

****

I NEVER HEARD MORE ABOUT TEH  ASHER AND ERICA nd teh prom king and queen project... that sonded like a good story...

*****

Eve and Finn had a great day! Eve said Finn seemed extra snuggly today. She was a little off with some sensory things this morning so maybe he picked up on that and gave her some extra love! After school we made a short stop at the dog park where Eve walked all over. Then we stopped at home so I could take care of a few things then we went to Walmart and Eve left the wheelchair in the car despite knowing it wasn’t going to be a short trip! She has NEVER done that! She did regret it a little bit about 3/4 of the way through but we took breaks and she did it!! It’s the most walking she’s done in a LONG time. So excited for the warm weather to come and see her moving again like this on a regular basis! Go team Eve and Finn! 

\uD83D\uDC51\uD83D\uDC3E

FEB 23 2018

IF  it ain't ants, it's fleas... one of my mother's favorites...     i don't know what we haVE GOING ON IN THE BARN..... THE WAY IT GOES IS....  VOMIT--TEHN SPRAYED POO WATER TYPE.. NO TEMP NO EAt-- no drink 24 hours.--. miserable..-- then nibble--then considerably better just in time for the next one or two on the same rotation...  we don't think anyone has got it a second time....  but...  we have young pups... who could not \stand to go thru that...-- so-- among other things we have a walk thru basin at the door with a towel and chlorox solution in it.,and today i really don't want anone from the barn in here....-- i will punch cards for people...  we  are so far helathy- but we could have a huge  problem at any moment... such is a real life animal oriented episode...

we are all vacinated etc  so should be ok... there 's alot of things it could be..  george is on deck and told us what to do...   we may start iv's earlier than we ordinarily would .... i usually say  more than 24 hours of waterry stool   gets fluids.. ..    mopping   we are rotating in  and out of the icu building  except we coudl use 10 "stalls"... and lotsa chlorox.

so far none in the deagle  or nutt  or main house  it will be a struggle to keeep it that way, but we must try...

******

now for the other  good news and bad news.....good news  for staff.... we really must get everyone over the  minimun wage...  and if you CP'S all keep going at the current rate, we should be able to...let ther be not one ounce of confusion... your chicken bricks pay teh payroll-  and to get everyone over minimun will be another $3000 per month... our mail call type cash  and checks seem to be keeping up with that-- but i woulod feel alot better if every one of you who can... get one more person addicted to teh cameras so they could buy a $10 brick  a month. could we have a goal of increasing teh chincken board by 300 bricks by june 1st????

it drives me nuts--- well alot of thngs have driven me permantly nuts... however....it makes me worried to think that  people are living, paying morgagees and making car payments based on the chicken bricks and shatupon society...  but  THAT IS FACT !!

 WE DO HAVE 90% OF TEH  separTE  FINAQNCES FOR THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM...  LAURA, HAley,bella tanner,jade will do 3 days and one overnight for about 3 months... $25,000 - .  devlin is a slightly different cataGORIE.. ... SHE IS OUT OF SCHOOL AND READY TO WORK LIKE A REGULAR JOB..... OK... SO SHE WILL BE WORKING 5 DAYS AND NO OVERNIGHT.--

BECAUSE OF THIS,   YOU... AS IN CAMERA PEOPLE   "YOU"  SHOULD HAVE MUCH MORE  DOGS ON CAMERA TIME...

******

\MANY OF YOU ARE SENDING IDEAS OF WHAT TO HAVE THISE KIDS DO... SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS.. FROM COOKING A MEAL TO WRITING A DAILY DOGGIE....  OR AT LEAST A PARAGRAPH/TOPIC FOR THE DD... THERE IS ALSO TEH  TRACTOR LEARNING JOB ... OF "TURNING OVER  THE MANURE PILE/ COMPOST PILE OUT BEYOD TEH POND...  IT SHOULD BE "TOP SOIL" BY NOW AND READY TO SPREAD-- OUR GRASS AREAS HAVE SUFFERED BADLY THIS WINTER.  IT IS POSSIBLE TO SPREAd FERTALIZER AND LIME WITH MY  CAR-- A GIZZMO THING  FITS INT HE TRAILER HITCH AND PLUGS INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER...  A FLIMSY ARRAINGEMENT , BUT  IT HAS WORKED FOR YEARS...-- NOT ENOUGH  UMPH TO SPREAD SAND IN TEH WINTER,  BUT PELLETED LIME... YES.

****

NO CUT AND PASTE....  BUT we did hVE  WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY AMUSING EPISODE YESTERDAY...

JUDY- WITH FROZEN LUMP OF CHICKEN THIGHS IN HER HAND..." SHALL I COOK THESE FOR  THE NEW MOMMY?"

ME   "ESPECIALLY IF I CAN HAVE SOME FOR LUNCH TOO."

LATER

VOL #1  WHAT'S  BOILING  IN THIS POT?"  

VOL 2  MAYBE IT'S CHICKEN

JUDY  FROM AFAR...  "BETTER ADD MORE WATER AND TURN IT DOWN" 

VOL 3 PASSING BY..." IS THIS  DONE?

VOL 1  DO WE KNOW WHAT IT IS? 

LINDA  "HOW LONG DO YOU COOK CHICKEN?"

VOL 1  WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS STArted?

VOL 2  OR EVEN IF IT IS CHICKEN

VOL 3  I DON'T THINK CARLENE IS GONG TO WANT THAT FOR  LUNCH.. WHATEVER IT IS

AND REESE GOT IT ALL- AND I HAD NO LUNCH.

feb 22 2018

i have spent  the last 2 hours re-doing a schedule for spring /summer-- we will have alot of  help with  2 interns per day... i expect great things to get done....  we need goals..... like  pockets should drive  by july... and mo should be redesigned into something useful... a good one would be to drag the path arounf teh pond and "A" field....  and david should come round and teach the interns all teh useful things he knows.... like plumbing....

WE ARE NO LONGER TEH SAME SEAT OF TEH PANTS OPERATION... THERE ARE SOME BIG RESPONSIBILITIES HERE NOW... AND  WHEN WE HAVE  STAFF PLANNED FOR 8 AM TO 5PM-- WE REALLY NEED  THAT TIME.... THE TIME CLOCK HAS STRAIGHTENED UP A  few propblems...   but i still like the  solution from the day  care center at the church.. if you were late it was $5 per minute...  that was fair....  i don't see what is wrong with  that.... it is also the old  one minute late for a train  means the train is  100 feet down the track and you can't really run to catch it.

******

i was thrilled  to have td bank  be up and functioning yesterday.... i was beginning to really worry-  i can't say  i am completely comfortable yet...  there is a new bank manager... comfortable aND CAASUAL-- not been there too long yet...   last time  i talked with teh  old manager she was about to tear her hair trying to deal with all the complaints....

****

 i did get some ssa payment... not the correct amt... but at least i got some.... this means next time ihave a day with not much to do, i can  go play the role of the little old lady  with an awfully big dog....at the SSA office-- this time i will be ready.... if there is no chair to sit on, i will just sit on the floor... with my dog..  could be fun.... 

***-

the pile of applicants i came back to was interesting...  there are some really good ones i think we can help....  HOWEVER..... there is the guy who  has narcolepsy  who wants a dog to nudge him on the head from eht back seat so he doesn't fall asleep while driving ??????  that concept is not the first one... there was the woman who faked a bomb injury from the boston marathon --  not realizing all her paperwork was fake, we gave her a dog-- and  amid alot of suspicious activfity, she explained  she was late driving here because she had  had a seizure..  yet here she was at  crazy acres... that was the point at which i called  our "emergency contacts" on file from her application -- her mother--  blocked her car in with the tractor and kept the dog-- it was a day or so later that both channel 5 and a boston police inspector called and asked why...... within  a day or so she was in jail... for having duped the  bomb  charity out of a bunch-- including a $30,000 handicapped bathroom-- she was the one who called to say the dog had got loose in jamaca plain and she coudnt't find her-- which sent in 20 + volunteers from here roaming jp looking- after alot of confusion about black loose dogs, she was found at the woman apt... we suspected the whole thing was a publicity stunt

***

having a visiting nurse is certainly  one way to be suer i change the bandage on thaAT HOLE IN MY LEG...--- but it is confining... yesterday her schedule interyupted mail call.. i suppose if that happens againWE CAN  change teh bandage  on camera...

I HAVE A NEW KEYBOARD... CAN YOU TELL...  THE LAST ON E KIND OF LOST THE ZZZ AAA SS WWW QQAQ  AREA...PROBABLY FROM SPILLED COFFEE...

Hi Carlene,

I am a math teacher down here in Florida and just shared the cams with the vet tech teacher. Some of the high schools down here have vocational programs, and now in order to get  a vet tech certificate these kids are going to be responsible for watching the puppy cam. Just another example of the impact of SDP.

-Jade

FEB 21 2018

I AM BAD......THANKFULLY SOMEONE POINTED OUT HOW MY MIND HAD BEEN DISTRACTED BY THE  FLAPPING HOSPITAL JOHNNY OF TEH  PERSON ACROSS THE HALL  MANEUVERING AROUND THE REST ROOM DOOR... ON A NATIONAL LEVEL  THE CONCEPT IS TERRIFYING... IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME  THAT THE REASON THE DOORS OPEN  THE WAY THEY DO IS BECAUSE  IN A HOSPITAL THE RESTROOM IS TEH PLACE  PEOPLE MOST OFTEN FALL OR HAVE SOME MEDICAL EMERGENCY REQUIRING PERSONELL TO ENTER QUICKLY FROM TEH HALL.

 THE REALLY BAD PART IS THAT SOMEONE HAS STUDIED HOW EASILY  PEOPLE ( ME) CAN BE DISTRACTED FROM MAKING CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS...-- I REALLY DON'T THINK THE HOSPITAL HAD ANY ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN PUTTING THOSE HINGES TOT HE REST ROOM ON THAT SIDE..... BUT IT ENABLED SOMEONE TO STUDY HOW EASILY I GOT DISTR4ACTED FROM THINKING CLEARLY...AND THAT ISA THE WORLD SHAKING  CONCEPT.

THIS MAKES ARGUING About the second ammendment A WASTE OF TIME... BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST AMMENDMENT THAT IS BEING CHALLANGED BY THE INTERNET WHICH IS FAR MORE CRITICAL.  THE LACK OF AN EDITOR TO  REQUIRE FACT CHECKING ON STUFF ON THE  INTERNET IS TURNING OT TO BE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY...  I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE  OVER 1000 EDITORS  OF TEH DD WHO DO NOT HESITATE TO STRAIGHTEN ME OUT-  THIS ONE WITH QUESTIONING THE HIBNGES ON TEH REST ROOM IS A PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS ERROR  ON MY PART.

 THE CONCEPT IS NOT NEW... LIKE THE  PICKPOCKET -- CREATE A DISTRACTION AND LIFT THE WALLET--  

I HAVE IN THE PAST DAILY DOGGIES -- DISCUSSED TEH RADIO GUY WHO  SAID WITH GREAT AUTHORITY THAT THE  RATE OF INCREASE ( OF SOMETHING ) WAS DOWN-  WITH  CONCENTRATION ON THE WORD DOWN....     WHEN IN FACT  TALKING ABOUT THE RATE OF INCREASE WAS TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN THE FIRST PLACE....THAT WAS IN THE 1990'S  ???

WASN'T THERE  A BOOK ABOUT  HIDDEN PERSUADERS????  ABOUT THE STUDY OF MANIPULATING THE MINDS OF SHOPPERS TO HAVE THEM RUN OUT AND BUY 2 OR 3 CARROT PEELERS -- BEFORE THE SUPPLY IS EXHAUSTED..   THAT CONCEPT HAS GOT OUT OF HAND WITH   THE INTERNET. 

I HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT THE ANSWER.... BUT I WILL WORK ON IT.

IN THE MEANTIMNE.... I MISSED THE 19TH DELIVERY TO GEORGETOWN  FIRE DEPT... BUT ILA DIDN'T MISS---

Dear Carlene,

The question is should I be calling them Firefighters or Firemen?

I’m always referring to them as My Firemen, but, a kind CP ask me to use Firefighters, as that is what they want to be call.

When I was with my Firemen/Firefighters on the 19th, I ask them what they preferred I use.  Captain Dave said for 30 + years he has been known as a Fireman and really didn’t care what anyone called him, but just don’t call me late for dinner.

It seems these later years, it is now politically correct to call them Firefighters, so no lady, woman, gal Firefighter would be offended.  

Jen, the lady Firefighter at the station said, “Are we going to have to correct “mankind”?

To me Firefighters seems like someone that puts out fires.  My firemen are not only firefighters, but are trained in medical emergency - EMT’s.I personally experienced first hand their professional expertise, caring mannerism and thoughtfulness that I will long remember.  Believe me, when they walked through my front door, I knew I was in good hands and when the doors of the ambulance were closed, all eight eyes were standing there wishing me well.

You having experienced the same, I believe you will agree with me that the Firemen are the best.

Ila Steutermann     Charter CP of Missouri

feb 20 2018

i made it !!  i could write a book on my 4 days in hospital -- you just can not leave me wit h nothing to do but watch peole work and not have me redesign an awful lot-- starting with the  hinges on th ebathroom doors are all on the wrondg side for patient   access... if they were put there for janitorial access, i would have to add the patient acccess was far more frequent than th e janitorial access-the image  was priceless..and i enjoed the  problem as i observed the man across the hall try and cope..  solution was to leave teh room door open which meant  to get n the rest room you had to swing your rear  into the hall as you went around the rest room door...  add to that  the open back hospital johnnie and teh  factor of speed.and it was entertaining..*****.the doctors and nurses were technically wondeful... i survived...  (so far)but there were details.... like a minor surgical room.. without an overhead light??   and the doctor not wanting to give me novicain to debried the wound  because he "didn't want to stick me" - i have had novicaine in my life... fine needle slight burn.. no problem... what i didn't know was teh only syringe he had on nis  tray was a 20 cc syringe like   i would use on a horse with a fat needle that hurt worse than him poking without the novicaine...*** teh sterile technique in the whole place would leave George myers(DVM)  screaming....

there are 2  competing hospital systems  arond here... lahey-- where i was.... and "partners" which involves mass general and many of the big boston hospitals --i just happen to have 2 childeren  -- gwen doing someting in  partners management -- and the other  ( the professor) is into managing information  systems and data--both  could make use of all this  4 days worth of   intensive study--if success is defining a problem and solving it-- then ... there is certainly a "hands on"   problme waiting for a solution.

their data management is super as every pill they gave me was scanned along with my bracelet before they let me swallow it.

****

mean while reeses  babies got born with out  my help at all...  pam and crew did a wonderful job... grace still flu like staggered in and tried but was reatlly hitting on about 3 cylindars...  every one pulled together and kept the ship afloat. janine set me up on a laptop to watch long sdistance...-- that  had it funny side too...  at one point i talked to megan... who was watching from afar also  and we both were tearing our hair about details that eventaully will get worked out.--   reese eventually had a toatal of 15 pups-- teh  origional 9  live +2 doa were followed by 3 definitely not surviveable and tehn a few hours later one other pup-- margionally alive and now doing well... has to come from the fact that a dog uterous is a bifurcated one----great word-- means 2 horns  Y  shaped-- not sure whether the  last live pup was stuck behind teh 3 not live... or if he was in the other "horn"

he is now nursing well... and teh runt... is one of the harl pups. who is nursing well as of ysesterday...

concept being -- stop micromanaginging the litter and let them have longer periods of sleep- mommy is teh e only expert onn puppy management.. so give her a chance... and stand by in case she inadvertainly sits  on one.---   but all this in the basket and out  are tiring for me to watch and from the expression on reeses face... it is too hard for her to watch too...  she does not understand.. nor does she approve.

so-- for the moment  only megan and i will weigh anyone who needs weighing... so maybe we can explainit to her...

******

i did have alot of this kind of email----

 DEAR CARLENE,

  EVERYONE DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB THIS MORNING HELPING TO BIRTH REESE'S PUPS, NOW CALLED "REESE'S POOHS".  YOU CAN BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR WONDERFUL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.  REESE'S HUMAN MOM DID GREAT TOO.   AND OF COURSE REESE.

I AM PROUD TOO.  OF WATCHING YOUR WONDERFUL LIFE CHANGING WORLD AND BEING EVEN A SMALL PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT SDP HAS CREATED.  THANK YOU FOR THIS.  

THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO MUCH WITH ALL OF US.  YOU HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES TOO.

*****

another thing i did whle hospiataixed was to give everyone who  "waited on" me  one of the monkey fists--.... they clipped them to thier badges-- and soon  we had doctors noticing and talking to the person who emptied my trash  --very interesting...  i must have given away 20-- i ran out of the string eventually..

****

donna just came in  and siad vance is doing very well at home...  he even asks to be let out... oh really?????? or did you just learn to read him better...  negative training does not work well in training dogs-- however for dogs training people, they have thier own negative  training methods "learn to  listen to what i am saying or i will just  put this shlt on your floor" --- listening  works well in both directions.

 STILLLLL.... WE SIT...  WE LIE DOWN  AND  WE WAIT...  AN AWFUL BULDGING MOMMY DOG...  I HAVE REVISED MY GUESS ON  PUPS... FROM 7 TO 43  SHE IS BBBBIIIIGGGGG-- AND THERE AE 3 PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THERE WITH HER..I AM NOT SURE WHO THE ARE...-- 3 LUMPS...... I THINK TOCDAY WE SHOULD MOVE OUT TH ELUMPS AND GIVE THE DOG ROOM TO HAVE PUPS...I PREDICT... TODAY.... SHE HAS NOT EVEN STARTED DIGGING.... SHE DID LOOOK AT THE "UNDER THE PORCH"  WHICH HAS ALS=WAYS BEEN FASCINATING TO A NEW MOM...

I TRUST WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY TO GET CHORES DONE...   I AM ONE LEGGED...NOT THAT I WOULD DO MUCH... BUT I ALWYS HAVE THE FEELING IF THE SHAT  HITS THE FAN I COULD HELP OUT...  BUT NOT  TODAY ON ONE LEG...  I LIKE LYING IN BED WITH ONE LEG RAISED HIGH...

********

THANKFULLY HERE'S ERICA TO BAIL ME OUT OF THIS DD.......

**********

IT SEEMS WE'VE GOTTEN BEHIND ON OUR UPDATES AGAIN! SPRING SEMESTER IS REALLY WEARING US THIN, BUT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH IT. MIDTERMS ARE NEXT WEEK ALREADY, SO WE CAN ALMOST SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF OUR 1L YEAR!

ASHER'S HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF DOWNTIME OTHER THAN OUR WALKS AROUND CAMPUS LATELY BECAUSE OF THE SOGGY WEATHER OR MY OVERWHELMING WORKLOAD, BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND BEING A COUCH POTATO WHILE I LOOK ON WITH JEALOUSY OVER THE STACK OF BOOKS AND PAPERS IN FRONT OF ME.  WE DO OCCASIONALLY GET OUTSIDE SO HE CAN RUN AROUND BETWEEN CLASSES, AND HE STILL LOVES ZOOMIES WHEN HE CAN GET THEM IN!

ASHER AND I HAD A LOVELY VALENTINE'S DAY TOGETHER YESTERDAY, AND HE SPREAD SOME CHEER AROUND CAMPUS WITH HIS LIGHT PINK TIE! ASHER'S COMPANIONSHIP MEANS SO MUCH TO ME EVERY DAY, BUT ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN WE'RE MORE ISOLATED THAN EVER. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT HIS COMPANY - SOMETIMES I GET BURNT OUT IN THE EVENING AFTER DEALING WITH CLASS AND THE READINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND I HAVE SO MUCH LEFT TO GO, AND THAT'S THE PERFECT TIME FOR A SNUGGLE BREAK ON THE COUCH.  

WE'RE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG WEEKEND COMING UP. I HAVE MY PROPERTY LAW MIDTERM TO STUDY FOR, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TAKE A DAY OFF AND HEAD INTO PROVIDENCE FOR A FUN DAY TOGETHER. THE FOLLOWING WEEK IS BARRISTER'S BALL - A.K.A, LAW SCHOOL PROM - SO THIS WEEKEND WILL BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE SHOPPING (ASHER'S FAVORITE THING!) TO GET READY!

SPEAKING OF BARRISTER'S BALL, WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE: THIS YEAR IS THE LAW SCHOOL'S FIRST ANNUAL BARRISTER'S COURT, SIMILAR TO PROM KING & QUEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL. NOW I'VE NEVER BEEN PART OF THE POPULAR CROWD, BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S BOUND TO HAPPEN WITH A CELEBRITY CONSTANTLY AT MY SIDE - ASHER AND I MADE THE FINAL BALLOT TO REPRESENT OUR 1L CLASS! VOTING CLOSES TOMORROW AFTERNOON, AND THEN BARRISTER'S COURT (2 STUDENTS FROM EACH CLASS) WILL BE CROWNED AT THE BALL. ASHER MIGHT JUST BE THE FIRST GREAT DANE PROM KING!

THANK YOU ALL FOR CHECKING IN - I KNOW YOU'VE HAD TO BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE PLUG AWAY THROUGH SPRING SEMESTER, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING WONDERFULLY AS ALWAYS. WE CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP YOU ALL POSTED ON OUR FUN COUPLE WEEKS COMING UP!

ASHER.... PROM KING  !!!  WHO ELSE WOULD BE BETTER?????

FEB 15 2018

PROBLEMS.......  #1 PAM IS TOO NICE...AND ACCOMODATING-- IT MAY HAVE TAKEN ME A WHILE, BUT I FINALLY FIGURED -- WE ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON VOLUNTEERS-- HARD WORKERS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO DONATE THESE DOGS TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEAD THEM.... HOWEVER---ALONG WITH  ALL THE MOTHERS WHO HAVE CALLED TO TELL ME HOW WONDERFUL THEIR 18 YEAR OLD SON'S ARE  WHO CAN'T GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL BEDCAUES THEY FORGOT TO  MAKE ARRAINGEMENT S  TO DO TEH COMMUNITT SERVICE NOW REQUIRED OF STUDENTS....-- I HAVE SOMEONE TODAY WHO WANTS TO BRING A  GROUP OF 8 YEAR OLDS TO "WORK" FOR AN HOUR.... WE ---- PAM--- HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO ACCOMODATE THAT KIND OF THINEG  AND SOMEONE  WILL THEN HAVE TO HAND CARRY THE  GROUP AROUND----THE INTENTION IS WONDERFUL...  GET KIDS HELPING SOMEONE SOMEHOW WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE  AND  COLLECTING BAGS OF DOG TOYS--- IT IS AT LEAST THINKING OUTSIDE THEUR USUAL "BOX"  HOWEVER..... TOO MUCH YOUTH PARTICIPATION....AND IT IS TOO DISRUPTIVE...I HAVE SEEN ON CAMERA... SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE FEED ROOM THAT  NO ONE CAN FOLD  A FLUFFY..

WE NEED TO RETHINK OUR POLICIES--- #1  GENERAL PUBLIC CAN COME AND WANDER SUNDAY 12  TO 4...  AND THE REST OF THE TIME  IF A GROUP WANTS TO COME OTHER TIMES, YOU  DON'T GET PUPPY PATTING.... YOU GET- ME- TO TALK....... IN THE HOUSE----  AND YOU MAY MEET BENTLEY, CHAOS AND SIZZLE-- AND THE REST OF TEH PLACE HAS TO BE ALLOWED TO FUNCTION...  WITH OUT TRIPPING OVER 6 BOYSCOUTS WHO WOULD REALLY RATHER  ROUGHHOUSE IN THE WOODS.

*****

#2 THRU 687--- I CAN'T REMEMBER-- BUT I AM SURE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED...

*****

NOW ... TAXES.... WHY... MUST I PAY A FEE TO HAVE A DOG-- DOGS DO BITE-- SOME ARE DANGEROUS AND ALL FOUL SOMEWHERE........THEY CALL IT A LICENSE--- AND TEH FEE WAS  HIGHER FOR AN UNSPAYED FEMALE FOR YEARS TILL THE WOMENS RIGHTS GOT INVOLVED AND SAID ANY MALE  WITH TESTICLES SHOULD BE A HIGHTER FEE ALSO.. YOU MAY OWN THESE UNSPAYED OR UN NEUTERED DOGS,  JUST PAY THE "TAX"  .-- NOW IF I DO NOT PAY THIS FEE, THEY CAN COME TAKE THE DOG FROM ME....   YOU HAVE TO SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS... THERE AE MORE LAWS ABOUT OWNING A DOG - WITH TESTICLES THAN THERE ARE LAWS ABOUT OWNING   AN  AK- WHATEVER   WITH THE MULTI SHOOTING ADAPTER.  THE AUTHORITIES CAN REMOVE MY DOG... BUT NOT MY AK RIFLE.  I HAVE A PROVBLEM WITH THAT...  AH--- WELL... IT S COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAPPEN HERE IN IPSWICH....

WRONG.

******

SEE IT -SAY IT...   I DID ONCE...  I WAS AT BURLINGTON MALL-- A HUGE MALL... AND I SAW A GUY  GT A 3' LONG  COVERED OBJECT  OUT OF HIS CAR AND START TO THE BUILDING...--I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY  NOTHING.... BUT HOW WAS I GOING TO FEEL IF IT WASN'T... SO I CALLED THE LOCAL POLICE-  AND WATCHED.... THE RESPONSE WAS SO QUICK THAT  THE PLACE WAS SURROUNDED IN VERY FEW MINUTES... AND THEY HAD LOCATEED THE MAN...  AND HIS UMBRELLA--- I TALKED TO A PATROLMAN IN ONE OF THE RESPONDING CRUISERS  - ---I FELT SO STUPID--- BUT THE POLICE SAID "NO THAT WAS A GOOD CALL--- WE ARE ALL ON THE PAYROLL ANYWAY.."

******

I WONDERED IF I WOULD HAVE CALLED IF IT WAS A WOMAN CARRYING A 3'LONG RIFLE SHAPED THING...  PROBABLY NOT... HOW ODD.... COMMON DENOMINATOR  ---   AGAIN...

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

from janine

He doesn't have a name, although I call him lots of names as he drags me around the paddock or stands defiantly when I am trying to teach him to lead. I know he is going to be with me for a LONG time because who would ever want such an awful, ornery creature? SO I guess I should give him a name?

This guy is just AWFUL. On his first day here, he kicked me on the shoulder. Not hard enough to leave a bruise, but hard enough to establish the distinct boundaries in our relationship - and hard enough for me to want to put him right back on the trailer and send him back where he came from...but then I remind myself...'Failure is NOT an option'.

Two weeks later: the good news is he has stopped kicking at me. When you have something so awful in your barn, you need to celebrate these small milestones. 

The negotiations between us have been slow. He drags a "Catch Rope" from his halter so that he is ALMOST impossible to catch, rather than completely impossible to catch. smart like a donkey, strong like a horse. 

The last awful, ornery creature I had was given the unfortunate name of "Grumpy". When Grumpy arrived he kicked too and I was convinced I would have him forever because I thought "Who would ever want such an awful, ornery creature?" But then one day, Grumpy wasn't awful anymore. And soon after he found a new mom. I am going to miss that Grumpy. ❤

While many people celebrate training victories; perhaps jumping over a bigger fence or flying lead changes, rescue is equally as challenging. Yet, I would argue that rescue is far more rewarding.

feb 14 2018

dr apt 730

we have had alot of suggestions about  what to make the interns do this summer...  and  2 peopel suggested the girls  have to cook a meal for 6 people-- WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE........  tanner is one of the summer interns-- and there is nothing wrong with having him cook a meal either......   this woman's lib  goes just so far... so tanner get ready... you are not going to be allowed to fake ineptitude -- and you will eat whatever you cook... just like the rest...just like the female people  will hit the nails with the hammer until they can drive them in ..and maybe lift rocks into  trash cans with teh back hoe.... on camera  

i can remember....... time was  that a man in a supermarket was  like a fish out of water...-- they would wander around with a piece of paper someone had given them- and constantly have to ask where things were..-- i can not get used to the fact that a man in the frozen food department is a normal thing. 

so it could be an interesting summer  with entertainment proviced by cameras..  we can swing that house camera to the kitchen... and the puppy hill to the parking  lot...  this could be fun...    tire changing is another favorite topic....  oh we will have fun...  stay tuned...

i have a dr apt and must run---

feb 13 2018

am not much of a bible reader,  but i am told-- somebody predicts lust to be the destruction of the world..- i could be wrong... as i said.. i wasn't the one who read that first hand.... but--- i look at all the  people packed into skyscrapers or tents-- and wonder why no one has explained to these people that they no longer need to have 12 children to help til the fields and milk cows as their parents age.

**that is not one of those problems that should take up my time--  far better  i try and figure out what sort of internship program to have for these kids..  they need to learn useful things...  most notabley how to stop water from pouring out of a copper pipe  all over the fllooor in the feed room...  as happened the other day...

it was a management problem.... i had not cemented myself with a local plumber who would give us 24 hour coverage in a disaster...-- therefore 8 of us sat around helpless--- with the water shut off to the entire property all because of a 1/2 inch slice in a pipe that we did not know how to fix...

disgraceful !!-- so that is one thing on my list for summer education...  get david down here and give lessons on pipe gluing (aka soldering)  i have a blowtorch.. right here on my desk-- left over from cooking lamb- bergers to try for  a gyro- i would have done better to  learn to mend pipe...... i know we have a bin of copper pieces left over from alot of things..  good practice...

***splicing-- is another not useless endeavour   ( enjoy the double negative)  splicing was something that helped start SDP..... i was standing in a fancy barn in hamilton and teh cross ties were a shambles of knots and striings-- so as i was standing around doing nothing . i just spliced the ends.... which was  so impressive that  a person there who had a family charity fund.. gave me $7500 by way of encouragement...--

i have a long list... that is not a list of   "why should tey learn that?????"     but more "why should they not learn to  xxxxxx"   i could even order a truck full of 40 tons of  8"rocks and see if they could build a stone wall  in our "loading area" before the landscape timbers give out....

*****

this morning another "inspection "  crew is due here from cummings -- they have said they want to see  normal activity-- so i have  made no special plans  except to maybe clean my desk and wash the golf cart..   there is not alot we can change... prego is still prego  and  basil  is recovering in the kitchen from surgery... 

****

FOR LACK OF A BETTER TOPIC..... i found this interesting from a CP.....

The real random numbers are with flood irrigating. We order so many cubic feet of water for so much time for so many acres. Example:  15 cu. ft. for an hour to cover 5 acres. Then some guy goes to the control gate that he opens only so far to let in the water which rushes down the ditch to open portals to our field. You order it a week before and they give you an hour notice...day or middle of the night...to accept delivery. It takes 7-10 min. for the water to reach my portals. Then you have to guess if there's too much water coming because there may be run off if you're the last one or a field change to your neighbor. We each order independently. If there's too much water (you might have to guess 40 minutes into your hour), you have to send it somewhere or pay the damages for flooding driveways, homes or broken (washed out) ditch banks. All because some guy looks for a pencil mark on a post to see how high he should set the main gate.  Very random!

and we in new england   thought snow was confusing.....

FEB 12 2018

IF  ONE MORE MOTHER CALLS ME AND ASKS IF THIER SON CAN COME HERE TO DO HIS SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OF 40 HOURS-- WHICH BY THE WAY HE NEEDS TO GRADUATE IN JUNE- AND HE WILL BE AWAY THIS WEEK--- SO HE CAN'T COME AND MEET YOU  BECAUSE HE IS GONG TO VISIT A FRIEND  IN WASHINGTON DC...----, BUT HE IS CHARMING AND VREY RESPONSIBLE, AND I AM SURE YOU WILL BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIS HELP.

MEANWHILE I AM THINKING -- IF HE IS RESPONSIBLE THEY WHY ARE YOU THE ONE ON THE PHONE... WHY DID HE NOT GET IN TOUCH SOONER--- AND IF IT IS THAT CRITICAL WHY CAN'T HE COME THIS WEEK FOR AN INTERVIEW.

SO.......  OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM-- ABOUT WHICH ANNE HAS DESCRIBED IN GLOWING DETAILS... LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT REALLY  HAS BOILED DOWN TO....  WE HAVE 6 KIDS -- BEEN THRU PRIMARY COURSE HERE AT THE COLLEGE OF HARD KNOCKS...EXTREMELY VALUABLE-- WORTH PAYING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.... MOST ARE ALREADY ON THE PAYROLL FOR A DAY OR TWO A MONTH NOW....

I HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL COURSE DESIGNED FOR THEM FOR THE SUMMER-- I EVEN MADE A LIST--  THEY KNOW 84% OF  THE BASICS AROUND HERE. AND THEN THERE ARE THINGS ... THERE IS NO EXCUSE THAT THEY DO NOT LEARN... LIKE HOW TO SPLICE TEH END OF A ROPE...  BUT THEN THERE ARE ANOTEHR 6 KIDS-- STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL-- WHO HAD THEIR MOTHERS CALL AND ASK ... NO... TELL ME HOW LUCKY I AM TO  HAVE THE HELP OF THIER CHILD FOR 40 HOURS.. WHILE I AM THINKING IT IS GOIN G TO TAKE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT ON MY PART TO EVEN TRY AND KEEP THEM FROM DOING DAMMAGE AROIUND HERE.   I CAN GUARENTEE.. THEY ARE GOING TO WORK... AND BE ON TIME...  I WILL ALSO  GIVE TEHM ALL A HUNK OF ROPE TO LEARN TO SPLICE, WITH THE PROVISION THAT THEY THEN SPLICE ON IN FRONT OF ME... NOT SHOW UP WITH ONE SPLICED--- THERE IS A 4 X 4 ON TEH GROUND INFRONT OF THE ICU HOUSE... BEEN THERE FOR  MONTSH...WE COULD USE THAT FOR PRACTICE NAIL HAMMERING....THE  FACT THAT THEY CAN NAME THE GREAT LAKES MAY WORK IN SCHOOL, BUT  THAT DOES NOT EVEN COME UP IN NORMAL ADULT CONVERSATION TOO OFTEN... SO WHY IS IT TAUGHT IN SCHOOL?

******

MOVING ON TO POLAND...-  IT LOOKS LIKE TEH PUP.... MATT.... WILL BECOMING TO SDP SOMEHOW... I HAVE ALOT OF WORK TO DO TO BRING THAT ABOUT.... IDEALLY... THIS WILL CLOSE A GENE GAP IN OUR BREEDING PROGRAM... AND MAYBE EVEN  USE HIM A S STUDD  FOR  OTHERS..

****

AND ... AN INSPECTION CREWW FROM CUMMINGS IS DUE HERE TOMORROW-- THEY HAVE SAID THEY DON'T WANT US TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT-- WELL WE CAN'T DO ANYTHIG DIFFERENT .. WE ARE PROGRAMMED TO THE HILT IN GETTING THINGS DONE WITH AN ABREVIATED WORK FORCE...  THEY ARE DUE HERE TOMORROW MORNING 9: 30-- WE WILL HAE THE PREGO TO DEAL WITH...  ALONG WITH ONE FEMALE BEING SPAYED TODAY.. THE DOG IN POLAND TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT... ALONG WITH  -- PROBABLY GLARE ICE...... IT IS CALLED RAIN TODAY-- TOMORROW I AM TOLD THE TEMP WILL DROP AND  IT WOLL NO LONGER BE FLUID...  I HATE SPREADING SALT-- BUT USUALLY ONCE A YEAR , IT BECOMES A MATTER OF NECESSITY.  WE DO HAVE A BIG PILE OF SAND-- BUT TOM IS NOT DUE HERE TIL NOON..THAT LEAVES ME AS TRACTOR DRIVER.. 

****

FOOD... MY FAVORITE...  THAT BLUE APRON  CONTINUES TO SEND GOOD MEALS-- LAST NITGHT A CASEROLLE OF  MEXICAN ORIGIN.. AND  A NOODLE PAD THAI SORT OF THIGN.. BOTH E GOOD..  NO ONE STARVED...  AND IT IS AL LPACKEAGED IN THE DOG FOOD CONTAINERS FOR BREAKFAST/LUNCH...

***

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE IS CUT AND PASTE...  SORRY.

feb 11 2018

i am only going to write this once--- it is tricky...

fact/  in europe all the dogs in a litter have name starting with the same letter --litter letters...  

there is a male pup-- mantle-  Matthew   which looks good... in poland ( found with help of smiley from ?uk?)

the mother looks like sizzle-- and teh father  harl.... parodie- seems to have fathered many of the current pups for sale in europe.. he has been tested and checked for everything..--  parodie's mother is pearl-- i.e  the pup's grandmother is pearl

there is also a female pup in austria---a mantle...from the  "S" litter    both parents blocky harls-- with budapest ( bobby) in their background...-- this pup's  grandfather is pepsi

turns out pepsi and pearl are from th e  "P"  litter in austria

have at it...how closely related are teh 2 pups?..is it enough to worry about???

what has held me up from doing the DD is-- i think we finally decicded teh 2 pups would be second cousins?

******

 researching this has taken me 2-3 days--- and alot of it started witheth  irish winter jacket for bentley. i can not remember the excact numbers... but when we got to meassuring dogs... watson center chest to center rear was..maybe 45"  bentley 41.5-- considerably shorter-- i like shorter

for this balance/stability  ---we don't know what watson's first pups will look like--they are due this weeek.... 

looking way down th e pike... if bentley continues to be non functioning--- then  we need to breed in some more short bodied dogs- which is how i got going  on dogs from europe... again...

so the affects of teh eelectrical accident 2 years ago is continuing to  consume a great deal of my time  and energy... yo just don't "buy another dog."

****

fyi  details

the male pup from poland owuld be $2600 shipped to boston -- all papers--  new crate--

 the shipping  part is is $1200

we could ship... it is not that big a deal---  buut...... stay tuned....

feb 10 2018

out sick... linda, grace,pam,-- i am feeling much better, but  i'm limited anyway...so i anyone of our usual volunteers can come round, it would be helpful.. sepecially since we have th e prego coming in sometime... we need special overnighters...maybe even pairs of people who  might think it fun to have a pajama party and might have pups  for amusement...

i had this note about our internship program this summer...  there are things i must manage to teach these 6 kids..  like how to hammer nails and things...

WE MUST TRAIN OUR YOUNGER GENERATION TO FILL THOSE JOBS WHICH WILL BE NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE.

WITH THAT IN MIND......OUR INTERNS WILL BE TAKING COURSES IN HOW TO FIX A BROKEN PIPE...A ND  HOW TO 

NAIL UP  A SAGGING DOORFRAME-  AND FIX AN EXTENSION CORD. (LIKE NEVER TRY AND FIX AN EXTENSION CORD IF YOU CAN NOT SEE BOTH ENDS.)

i just have no stoke of brilliance-- or even boneheaded stupidity this morning-- so i will go find my naked mango juice and ride out some more national news...i may have to help later...i can answer the phone......

feb 9 2018

i would think (i could get those  first few words in black... but no..)back to i  would think... being in the animal breeding business  involving colors of dogs coats, there must be some people study about hair color....

i remember... when i was a kid... with long red hair-  there was a constant "where did that come from"--- so much so that every so often my father ( who's hair was black) would grow  his beard-- which was red...  that wasn't really necessary since i inherited the "price family  nose"  which goes back generations-- however ... the red beard project was interesting.

now.... since  with the flu , i had nothing to do except watch tv, i began to wonder where all these blond women came from -- when there are no blond men in the newsrooms anyway.. granted a few came out of a  bottle ( of hair dye-- or heaven knows maybe stored sperm i dunno) but the re is a disproportunate number of women with brown to blonde hair- as opposed to the men with dark nearly black hair.  just a point to ponder....

however.... i mentioned it at mailcall last night... when steve was my sidekick... and sure enoguh

he siad " yes,  but i watched the weather and both women had black hair."  now this brings up a serious scientific discussion-- the size of the sample studied...  there is a FACT...... behind every "study,  there is  someone who said "you tell me what you wnat me to prove and i will drum up the statistics to prove it." ..

 i had the flu--i took a pill -i feel much better.. i also had  a shot of brandy..  chances are it was the pill-- but there is a population that says it was the brandy-- i submit for you r reference... probably the pill crowd had a bigger sample group to study.

 ..and then there is the ...  "yes but" crowd..

i dunno how or why.. but there si a whole population just waiting to tell you why something  is not true... or is not going to work... for example  

**lets store the cardboard on the front deck " yes but it will take up too much room".--

**lets keep the fireplace wood  holder full.."yes but the wood may have ants  in it"

 granted some ideas do need "modification"  so ... instead of the yesbutts rejecting any idea.. can we modify behavior to say "lets flattan the boxes"  or  "deal with the ants if we see them."

***the 2019 calendar is in the works-- meaning we need to brainstorm ideas for.. just 13 pictures-- doesn't sound like much-   many of the ideas being floated are "an extremely huge challange" like taking a dane up one of these trees..... but the idea is valuable in that it might cause someont to think of another possibility... in a creative environment -stifling any idea is counter productive.   too many yessbutts and we'd never get anything done...

*** by saying dog up a tree i am tempting the facebook crowd to  rip and tear me up for suggesting it...  but there is such a thing as training... and the proper equipment for the job-- they jump out of helecopters all the time with dogs-- so it is possible...  then there is bailey int eh tree all by herself... properly trained-- no problem.

****

now a favor to ask..there is a page "guidestar.com"   which collects comments about charities..-- we are rated highest... however..  at the top of what is showing are 3 comments-- 2 from people we could not provide a dog for and they are mad... the third is from someone who did not like us to breed for the buckeyes--(the pups were exactly what the chart said-- merles and harls... no white)-- everybody else said we are wopnderful

so if some of yo could go to  guidestar.com and write how we do things and the  benefit.. etc  it woold be helpful to   swamp those bad comments..  it might help our grant writing  eve tho we are in the highest rank

*****

Shauna & Kringle will be speaking at Westminster College (New Wilmington Pa) Sunday February 11, 2018 at 7:00 pm. You may watch the live feed by going to the Westminster College main page (web page)--scroll to the bottom of the page--in the blue bar click on News/Watch live. After the event the speech will be in archives to view on demand

feb 8 2018

on the mend....whatever that pill was it worked..  slight problem.. it comes in a package of 10... with a sticker "take them all"   i know that is true with antibiotics-- if you just take one or two days and feel better, you have killed off all the weak bugs  which wil give the stronger bugs a chance to thrive... so... just maybe i will follow directions... one pill and within an hour or two i felt alot better.

***

arguing with the IRS.. because  we were late in sending in the 990  the irs sent us a penalty for $1000.. no no no... one of the reasons  was..... there was some  dispute about how to declare the donation of the use of  this prorperty-- since i still had use of one room and a bath.. so.. against all recomedations, i called teh irs "TAXPAYERS HELP " office in portsmouth--  to ask for thier help in how to do it   .. i could not get an appointment for months... and i called back several times not believing teh "taxpayers help" was out of service...  so i wrote a letter... and sent it  "return recipt" -the biggest arguement was.. if you declare the use of the property, you are sure to be audited.. ok...  so why is that a problem?  i had the placee assessed officially and it was decided this would rent for $5000 a month...  i am not sure who in their right mind would  do that.... however....

since that is  such a really big number.    it means i don't have to struggle with all the little slips of paper reciepts for $12.98.   the next accountant did not have any problem with  it.  i can't wait for  an IRS inspector to come tell me what part of this place is not dog related???

"they" had been here before-- back when they questioned why  a doctor's return would be deducting pitchforks-- when the guy left, he said "i can tell you we will never do this again" 

and then.. today   i will continue to chase my SSA payments--apparently there as a typo of an "A"  where it should have been a "D" which decided i was no longer a widow...

if that was true  you would think i would have noticed

feb 7 2018

great illness is with me..-- my eyeballs are hot--and i have joints i never knew i had....

 i did have the flu shot  last week..

i better go hide in my room

megan did buy me a big bottle of tht naked mango/orange stuff.. so i should survive.

feb 6 2018

a bunch of you  got into the price of hay-- so let m e continue   your education on the topic of hay.......

and this is from the north east observation... maybe idaho is different--

fact #1... you feed hay by the pound-- and a horse or mule...like mo... needs 20 pounds per day.

historically-- there were 3wire bails about 100 pounds   and 2 wire bails 60-70 pounds...-- but someone found out that  ( 40 years ago)  more women than men were hoisting these bails so 3 wires were out-- and there were still 2 wire--  then started  the process of setting the bailers to have 55 pounds then 50 pounds -- same as a 5 pound bag of sugar started having 4.65 pounds--- then wire was out.. and we started hay string...origionally hemp-- the brown scratchy kind... and now either blue or pink  poly-something.

now comes the tricky part..these are listed at 49 pounds per bale---  i have not lifted any  but i will stick my neck out and say they look like the usual  35-40 pound bails...  i have to say...newly bailed hay-- even dried hay... has some moisture so a bail that was 49 pounds inthe field , willweigh  less 6 months later as it is sold to me.   all these numbers  start to slide around..

2000 pounds of hay in 49 pound bails is  41 bails per ton   ... at $380 a ton= $9.30   a bail....=19cents a pound.

unless---assuming perfect honesty by all...

they were bailed at 49  but dried to 40

2000 pounds at 40 pounds  is 50 bails per ton....   at 380 a ton  would be $7.60 a  bail...= 19 cents a pound also.... woowoowooo

all well and good... except we are told 49 pounds at 9.30- and are getting 40 pound bails  for the 9.30 which = 23 cemts a pound  ---- or a 20 percent raise in price-- it is a semi honest mistake hay dealers have been making for centuries...

the only time you know what you are getting is when those huge trucks from canada cross teh  border.. there is a weigh slip-- when i lived in lynnfield  with all those 4H kids horses, i bought hay from  "andre"  because i got the name off the side of one of his trucks--  andre was an honest guy  -- rather slight of build  who would single handedly  unload ands stack 30 tons of hay in the course of a day..  then he began to retire... and we had  driver  guy #345   who stacked the hay and left--- it was during the time when lynn cashman had her Quarterhorse at my barn..  lynn was an acomplished quarterhorse owner... but was often more known for her husband wayne cashman's hockey career  with the bruins...... Waynes family in canada had a hay loft bigger thn our barn and arena compbined... i have been there.- wayne has a bunch of brothers- andgrtew up throwing hay  around  ... so i was not totally undone when wayne didn't approve of the way it was stacked in the loft, and proceeded to throwthe 30 tons  out th ewindow.. where his brothers threw it ( by hand ) back up in the loft and stacked it the way it should be stacked..... cross hatch style.. to let air circulate...all in about 20 minutes.. they were s  t  r  o  n  g.

then there was the day andre gave us a load that was not totally dry-- i was not comfortable when he unloaded it... and went up daily to check on it... and stick my arm deep  between the bails --- sure enough .. it began to get hot  so andre sent an empty truck round to take it all away before it caught fire...

my third  hay story was again driver #345-- i just happened to go up in the loft to open the door for him.. and when i looked down  onto the truck, the entire center was hollow--  from the ground it looked like a full load... with the weight stamp....  except he had unloaded almost 1/2 the load somewhere else- i called andre... we settled on  a per bail price  and that guy was never seen again..

when you are on a farm hay/feed/silage is a huge part of your existance...  kind of like when the purina load arrives-- all activity stops til we get the food  secured in place.

now --- those  pink or blue hay strings and their use is a whole new topic.....  later.....

feb 5 2018

lotsa cut and paste  so i i can get back to  thinking about poland.  goldie has been at work again--  camera person ELISHEVA is apparently getting a pup from this person in poland  and passed on the information to me-- all yesterday amid purple eggs flying off the rafters i researched

Parodie D Amour Of Austria Great Stars   who  has sired a bunch of pups all over europe  as far as i can tell...( not too far.. but i am working on it... have at  it guys...)  and there are 2 pups... in poland.. who look like they might fit in our bloodlines... -- i don't know where in poland.. but the breeder says she ships pups all teh time...  welllllll...... then there is judy with the husband pilot of delta-- who flys all over for free....  and likes to fly...

megan likes to fly too but has to pay....

so i am back at it....  there are companies in europe who specialie in  shipping animals  -- long ago i dealt wth"pet air"-- and then there is "puppies in flight" where  employees of airlines here donate thier time to transport pups all over   free of charge...so .. along with shots and papers... there is alot to figure out

i am on it.

******

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, KAYDET AND I MET. SINCE THAT DAY, MY LIFE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH FOR THE BETTER. I WAS IN SUCH A DARK HOLE AT THE TIME, JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY, JUST MOSTLY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. KAYDET HAS HELPED PULL ME OUT OF THAT HOLE BY JUMPING IN WITH ME AND PUSHING ME OUT. SHE REALLY HAS! SHE HELPS BRING MY CONFIDENCE BACK. SHE HELPS EASE MY ANXIETY. SHE DEFINITELY HELPS KEEP ME VERTICAL, FIRST AND FOREMOST. WALKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT TRIPPING OR FALLING IS NOT MY GREATEST TALENT. WE'RE SO CLOSE AND HAVE COME A LONG WAY TO BECOME A VERY EFFECTIVE TEAM. YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HAVE ONE OF US WITHOUT THE OTHER BECAUSE WE ARE STUCK LIKE GLUE! ❤ I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE DAY I HEARD BACK THAT SERVICE DOG PROJECT COULD HELP ME. AND I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL TO CARLENE, KAYDET'S TRAINERS, AND THE WHOLE CREW AT SERVICE DOG PROJECT TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN. MY LIFE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW BECAUSE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. I AM ALSO GRATEFUL TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT. KAYDET IS MY ROCK. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, GIRL

***

THIS GIRL IS MY LOVE BUG. SHE NEVER LEFT MY SIDE AT THE HOSPITAL AND OR NOW WHILE AT HOME. WE ARE STILL SNUGGLED ALL IN TOGETHER. AS YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO I THINK SHE EVEN MISSED HER BROTHER OR VICE VERSA. I'M HAVING A SLOW RECOVERY BUT WILL GET THERE. ONE DAY AT A TIME AS I LIKE TO SAY. 

PIXIE HAS BEEN WORKING FULL TIME AT HOME DAY AND NIGHT HELPING ME AS MY LEGS ARE SUPER WEEK. SHE IS JUST AMAZING. MY BOYS GIGGLED WELL WE ALL DID CAUSE I HAVE HAD NUMBER CLOSE FALLS W HER AND SHE HAS SAVED EACH AND EVERY ONE ONE OF THEM AND WHEN SHE DOES AS I CATCH MY BALANCE AGAIN SHE LOOKS UP AT ME AND GIVES ME A BIG KISS CAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE DID A JOB WELL DONE. 

UNFORTUNATELY THE DAY WE CAME HOME I LET PIXIE OUT TO THE BATHROOM AND AS I WATCHING HER FROM INSIDE I TOOK A GOOD FALL. I BUMPED MY FACE AND SMASHED MY RIBS. LET'S SAY OUCH. 

PIXIE CAN SENSE SOMETHING IS REALLY OFF BUT SHE'S NOT TO BLAME CAUSE IF I HAD BEEN SITTING LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT HURT. SHE KNOWS I'M NOT FEELING WELL AND IS SNUGGLED TIGHT WITH ME AND KEEPS CHECKING ON ME. SHE SURE IS A VERY SPECIAL GIRL CAUSE EVEN WITH MY ONE FALL WITHOUT HER SHE HAS SAVED I COULDN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY THIS WEEK FROM ME HURTING MYSELF ANY FURTHER. SHE IS JUST AMAZING. 

OH I FORGOT AS WE WHERE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL ALL THE STAFF WAS SAYING GOODBYE TO PIXIE AND NOT ME. LOL..THEY WHERE ALL SO IMPRESSED WITH HER BEHAVIOR AND HOW ATTENTIVE SHE IS TO ME AN MY MY NEEDS. THEY WHERE SO AMAZED THAT SHE STAYED IN BED WITH ME JUMPED WHEN I WOULD GET UP TO HELP. NOT MIND ANYONE COMING TO ME AND DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. SHE IS MY SWEET ANGEL!

PIXIE MY SHINING STAR

feb 4 2018

that Blue Apron box of food is really not bad at all...  it is all planned out for 4 people so if you need one carrot, you get one carrot which shreadded and marinated while everything eolse cooks ( 1/2 hour?)   everybody gets some shreaded carrot-- and tehre  aren't 6 more in the fridge going soft waiting for someone to take to mo...  i am inmpressed-- good ole goldie--  sue--- who volunteers here on sat... has words in her family background like "chef"-- and it shows... i ordered 2 "familymeals" for 4 each... and we had leftovers for breakfast... which made me wonder-- just how many slivers of carrot does one need to eat to get whatever the required nurishment is for the day... for instance... those ramen noodle cups on which college kids live.... have dried "VEGGIES !"  4 peas 3 kernnels of corn and  2  one inch ribbons of carrot.-- all of which float so you can think healthy-- other odd food stories ---- i do like food.. thinking  "soup" -- and girl scout camp....kewie was teh cook...   great cook...  we had alot of "soups" for lunch as she stretched the camp's  food budget...-- my mother was "involved" ?board? and i did hear a comment when kewie said -- out of 100 kids, there are 2 who are anywhere near skinney... so give them 2 cookies at lunch !   .ww 2 . back when......margerine-- was not allowed to be sold yellow-  to protect the butter makeing cows....but congress in it's wisdom allowed it to have a little packet of yellow dye which you then squished around to make a yellow butter looking substnace for your toast. this is world war two. since my father was in the  heavy machinery business that produced food... he was not drafted... but we had a "victory garden"   where we raised most of our veggies... which were prepared ?parboiled? and put in little white bags which we drove across town to the  town's commercial freezer where we put on  extremely used  coats  and went  in  turned right-- down 2 aisles and left to box  #472  was i think the numgber-- where she would put in 10 bags of corn and remove one peas, one lima beans...-- i don't remember any meat being involved---  we also had a "preserve closet" filled in teh fall with  relish and jams  in ball jars with rubber rings....--- there was also some "root celler/closet..." where potatoes -- carrots and thines got saved... ? was sand inviolved???? now as a society-- if the supermarket doesn't have perfectly fresh foods just for the taking... we would all starve to death... which puts us totally dependent on alot of interm projects... like... truck drivers and people who repair  bridges..  there are a limited number of bridges over the hudson  or mississippi-- thinking back...  our ancesters must have had alot more moxie than we do...  who was the first guy  in boston who decided  he had to go to new york- aside from t he question of how did he know there was a new york  in the first place...  but say.. there  he is... on a horse... pointed south just getting thru teh underbrush--i have been on a horse trying to batter my way thru the forest to set up a trail that was maybe 2 miles long..  it ain't easy... or fun..--- but thisyankee guy..was to set up what would become  the  "Old Post Road"   because  there are alot of old post roads..... probably because he spent alot of time lost.. around boston ... it has become rt 20--- but then splits  into three known branches  that join in new rochelle ny... almost in nyc.... i even know of someone who lives on "the old post road " near newburgh ny/.... that guy must have really been lost as it is 50 miles inland and runs paralell to the hudson.... on th ewrong side from nyc....  i even look at that Connecticut river slicing thru new  england and wonder all this running around from boston to philledelphia to get our constitution  written...  tehe's 2 huge rivers in the way-- maybe they could have had more energy for writing  if they used  boston and provdence as teh 2 most available towns..... so they had to  ferry acros.... how excactly did that work...? paul revere's second cousin angello  started off.. came tothe conn river... cut down 6 of the trees- built a raft- swam the horse and floated  himself across-- that worked really well til  there were no more trees on the north side so some guy on the south side lashed them all together and floated  back and was in teh ferry business... until someone reported him as having no permit to operate a ferry. talk about moxie.... i would have hated to be the woman in the wagon  behind two oxen (castrated bulls)  which has just run into the missisippi river.. and have my husband decide we had to get across  it...     somebody had to decide that... i have seen that river-- i would have to question the sanity of  any guy who decided the wildernes on the far side of the mississippi was better thatn the wilderness we were sitting in.  maybe that was teh first siri message      "make a legal u turn" i have alot of questions about the people who did these things...  .  why  did anyone  get to california in the first place --  who was teh one who  first found the gold and  started this mess.   test case??  stand on the sidewalk in denver  and look at those rocky mountains and try and figure out  how do i get over them.... . and why would i want  to be the first.? ****  lacking any cut and paste---- i will continue about my ancesters..- some people seem to think it matters who they were.. i only know 2 stories  one  guy was hung s a horse theif... and another was taken out of the 2nd story window in the johnstown flood- somebody wrote a very good book about that historic event... i forget who....