The Time Did NOT Fly ...

Nor was I having a damn bit of fun.  But my day is coming.  Soon.

I am SO OVER a ton of things, and I'm about ready to tell every single person I know precisely what I think of them.  You think that's a bad thing?  Perhaps ... but perhaps not, depending on whom you are and how much you've screwed me over because I just took it, I swallowed it, I'm the damned peacemaker!!

Stay tuned.   

A Wolf Moon

So how was everyone's Christmas and New Year? I'm gonna assume you're still all alive and well, and no one was involved in any New Year's-related incidents. Good! We're all great here, we and our extended families, the friends who say, "You're not friends to us, you're folks!" (But that's how they are in the south, God bless 'em, and they truly mean it!) No sick animals, no more paramedics taking Daddy to two different hospitals, and Mama's still rolling around on her "little wheels." She doesn't actually have wheels mind you, but she's such a go-getter, run, run, run from the moment she opens her big brown eyes until she beds down for the night I've always said, "Here she comes, on her little wheels," something I find precious. I did have a sick horsey on 29 December, my Snickerdoodle. We thought he was colocking so Daddy gave him a pain injection and we set to walking, walking, walking him but I could hear no gut sounds out of him. Ordinarily, if a horse colics his tummy will roar and I told Daddy, "I just don't think this is colic." But I didn't know exactly what was going on except that Sir Snickers just didn't feel well. For me, the eyes give it away. I once predicted one of our horses was going into colic from the look of his eyes, and I was right -- didn't take very long. Well, my boy's eyes just didn't look good and I knew something was going on but I didn't know what. On one of my trips back and forth as I walked Snickers in the stable Daddy stopped us, said it looked like he had a swollen area near his flank. I looked and sure enough, he had a lump, and when I palpated it he turned around and looked at me so it was definitely tender. No doubt he'd gotten kicked -- which happens w/ horses, either in play or by a moody mare (in our case) but he was swollen and tender and even though I offered him treats including his absolute favorite, carrots, he wasn't having any of it. So we walked him more and pretty soon he reluctantly took a carrot, then he began snarfing the carrots as well as apple treats. After that, we stabled him for a few hours and gave him only hay but when we next went to check on him he really wanted out of his stall to be outside w/ his buddies so we turned him out and he's been fit as a fiddle ever since. Thank God for that! As I've said previously, horses are magnificent, powerful animals but in many ways they're also very fragile. Remember Barbaro? Excellent example. Barbaro will walk w/ a tremendous limp for the rest of his life, and it was only his heart that pulled him through. He had the best medical care, true. But the boy got heart and he just wanted to live, so between that and constant prayers, Barbaro is hale and hearty, albeit w/ tremendous difficulty walking which he'll never recuperate from.

Christmas on the ranch was lovely as always. I mostly made Thanksgiving dinner so Mama returned the favor on Christmas and that little girl has some specialties that'll make you cry. Or in my case, drool and make such a pig of myself I probably regained five hard-lost pounds. *sniff!* November was a busy month but it was dead in the water compared to what December turned out to be for me, but that was a very Good Thing. I decided to make a gazillion Christmas cookies and after I burned up my poor mom's mixer doing so she ran right out and got me a big MixMaster and you'll never believe this one: IT'S RED! Are you even believing that? My kitchen has that color appliances -- toaster, microwave, coffeemaker, etc. I suspect she could have found something comparable for less $ but you'd have to know my mom -- she gifted me w/ something special. That's the kinda girl she is, which is where I got that tendency my own self. So that actually was my first Christmas gift and the Good Lord knows, I'da been one happy girl if that's all I'd gotten. Oh my stars, it's fabulous and now I can make homemade bread -- which is the first thing Mama said to me when we unpacked it. She tickles me sometimes! So we baked cookies and oh my stars, she was a tremendous help to me! Once baked we set to decorating. Now, I'd already strongly suggested to Daddy that he could help decorate and he sort of went along w/ the program however, on the evening we were to do this, he decided he'd go to a horsey doin's. Uh-huh. I told him he was risking his Christmas w/ Santa Cow (Santa Cow comes to our house, right down the chimney!) but he paid me no mind, and evidently he was a very good boy last year because he had a lovely Christmas -- we all did! Christmas is the only time of year I really get to spoil my parents terribly, and even if I do say so myself, I did admirably. But they're no slouches in that department either.

It's a Wolf Moon tonight -- but that's nothing special since I own a Slovakian Wolf Dog. She howls anytime she feels like it, doesn't have to be a special occasion either.

Daddy and Bucky

**Friday**
No, I'm not talking about a friend named Bucky, I'm talking about the Real Deal: He got him an 8 point -- almost 9 point buck this morning. Thank heavens that's over! I'm thinkin' he'll probably keep going out because Uncle Steve hasn't gotten one yet, and Lord knows he can't go out alone in his wheelchair to hunt! Wait -- Uncle Steve has been going out in his little mini-car to hunt, not his wheelchair. Poor soul. This morning he saw two 4 points but they were too far away. Everyone else has gotten a deer -- Uncle Rex, Daddy and even my cousin's husband Sarma and it was the first time he ever went deer hunting. Now Uncle Steve needs to get him a bigun'! My daddy just hauled Bucky off, and I'm glad. It was so beautiful, and for once his big old tongue wasn't stickin' out. I took photos w/ my 35mm. and I'll post one when I get it processed. That was one big deer! Sad. When I come back from town night before last it was about 6.15 PM. I turned off Natchez Trace onto Pin Oak and there was a little bitty fawn right by the side of the road, just as plain as day. She was tiny, about 1/2 the size of Precious and I was scared she was gonna dart out across the road so I creeped by as slowly as I could. I didn't see Mama but you can bet the ranch she was watching Baby. That's why Daddy doesn't want to take a doe.

I slept all night w/ the windows open and like to smothered to death. They're still open but at least now there's a nice breeze coming through. Another hot day but then it'll turn to winter down here again: 50°and rain. I miss snow.

**Saturday**
Bucky is long gone, all that remains is his ... *gulp* ... head, I think. Gross. The rest of him is at Hay's Meat House or whatever it is. This is kinda funny: When Da was deer hunting he counted I believe he said 39 turkeys in the clearing -- boys and girls, or whatever they're called -- so he got his deer and today went out turkey hunting. Didn't see a one. *snicker* I mean, is it really necessary he murder every animal on our land? Hunting season just began, for heaven's sake! I feel bad for them ... I know, I know, it's the balance of nature and all that crap but it still breaks my heart.

So. Do y'all know about the Lips Urinal? Now this is disgusting. Get a load of it:
Yeah. Can you believe this thing? It's called the Kisses! Urinal and this hunk of porcelain can be installed in any home, where it will undoubtedly amuse both you and your guests who might fancy a tinkle. The upside: With this as their target you may finally break their disgusting habit of sprinkling on the floor. Maybe. How would you like this?

Oooh, classy. However, they're all over Europe, and they can keep 'em far's I'm concerned.
DISGUSTING

So tomorrow is the church's Thanksgiving dinner and it looks like every thing's gonna turn out just fine despite my mom stressing about it. She made the pea salad (using English peas, of course) that everyone but me loves, dressing and I'm sure something else but it just fell out my head. I made like a gallon of gravy plus Samantha's Famous Deviled Eggs. Daddy sampled everything just to make sure it was up to his high standards! He tickles me when he does that.

And you thought you had a lousy day, how would you like to be this person? Officials in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, spotted what could be a rare World War One stamp on an absentee ballot on election night. But by the time they discussed what kind of stamp it was, the envelope it came on was already locked in a ballot box. Of course, it cannot be opened once sealed so it'll be another 22 months before anyone knows if it's the infamous inverted Jenny. However, it's worth a lot less than what it once was because it's been canceled! Sad.
NO LONGER $200K

This is also ridiculous, and I've been left wondering what were they thinking? Check out the luxury laptop which also includes a built-in videocam that has "a mirror-like function ... to allow you to check your style," according to the laptop maker's Web site, Ego-Lifestyle. Yeah, I'm gonna plunk down $5K for a laptop I'm sure to replace in 18 months.

Mind you, that's the el-cheapo laptop. For the ritzy one w/ platinum and diamonds click the link:
ASININE
It's still gonna be a hunk of junk, a freaking dinosaur in 18 months!! Sheesh.

And this is a Good Thing: Barbaro's cast was removed last Friday!! He is in no way out of the woods and still suffers from laminitis in his right hind leg which occurs frequently when horses put too much weight on one leg. But Big B is definitely on the mend!! I can think of no horse more loved by the world than he.

LOTS OF LOVE

The article states, "thousands of fans worldwide who have sent cards, posters, carrots, apples, candies and flowers. 'And Barbaro is not greedy,' reports Bellwether, the school's newsmagazine. 'Of the thousands of treats sent to him, he enjoys what he can, and shares the rest with other equine patients.'"

Such a precious boy. God bless you and keep you, Barbaro. Our prayers are with you always.

It's All in The Cards Baby!!

Celebrating in Saint Louis -- and in Tennessee!! Woo-hoo, the Cardinals win the World Series!!


Check 'em out, all of 'em running all over the field! *LOL!*




Jeff Weaver allowed just one earned run in closing out the Tigers.

The Cardinals accomplished what few expected outside of St. Louis:
win the World Series. And they did it Friday night behind Jeff Weaver,
another unlikely story who pitched eight remarkable innings in beating
Detroit 4-2 in Game 5. It's St. Louis' first title in 24 years.
In-Card-ible!


I'm so happy! Daddy's happy, all of Saint Louis is happy, I just wish we'd been there! But ... I'm still sick. But this is still a Good Thing! WOO-HOO! Come to think of it ... I don't believe I know anyone who isn't a Cardinals fan. We have excellent taste!

Where My Down Coat?

It got soooo cold last night when I woke up this morning it looked like snow on the grass! Snow? In TN? In October? Never! But it did get freaky cold last night, and now it's returning to more normal temps. Yesterday the high was 53°, the low 33°and normally it's 75°and 50°. Today it'll be around 67°, tomorrow 73° w/ the sun shining brightly! This is normal weather in the south. It sucks. I'm stuck in the No Snow Zone. Life is so not fair, but I don't know what my horses would do if it snowed more than an inch down here and lasted only 30 minutes. I can tell you for a fact, my wolf hybrid doesn't know from snow at all -- she's only 2! I doubt she'll ever learn what it is down here, but I could be surprised. It wouldn't be the first time I fell over in shock ... as a result of various monentous events.

Speaking of which, check out this photo from MI w/ the caption:

"The many colors of fall...reds, golds, and white from snow."

Just check this out, a photo taken yesterday in Chippewa Falls, WI:

I ask you, how lucky is this guy? I loved living in Wisconsin, being right there at the lake front! Yup, we had plenty of lake-effect snow which was awesome -- until I had my first experience w/ thunder-snow. That scared the stuffin' outta me! Otherwise, I loved it, loved every minute I lived there as I recall. I guess because my entire childhood was spent in areas where we had real seasons, where the change in season was highly defined, I miss it all the more. I remember the snow coming down in big, fat flakes, how warm it was when it snowed and the quiet. It's so quiet when it snows! Except of course if you're near O'Hare International Airport where you can hear the birds but not see them. Eerie.

But it's not all bad in the south. So what if my daddy outgrew his tremendous allergies and passed them on to his only child? We had frost last night so the grass will no longer grow -- that goes for the new Bermuda sod in the pasture, by the way -- so that's the end of part of my sneezy problem. However, I'm surrounded by 97 acres of pine and cedar trees which never stop growing. *achoo* But, I do miss the autumn colors -- very little on the ranch, however I do get to enjoy them when I travel. I have a Chris Cagle concert coming up as well as Montgomery Gentry, and I have a few reservations in Tunica -- all comped of course. That would be a Good Thing.

Now this is a gorgeous photo, taken five days ago in Lincoln, NH:

Now it's apple season -- yummy, crunch, tart, sweet, crispy, tasty apples! Is your mouth watering? Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away! I don't know what the significance of that is but every time my mama goes to the market she brings me fruit including lots of apples and she often says that to me. I don't know what apples have to do w/ seeing a physician but there you go.

I make an apple crisp (the afore-mentioned recipe Samantha's Famous Apple Crisp which I got out of a cookbook but tweaked) that's to die for! Seriously, I've had people bring me apples just to make them this hot, buttery, cinnamon-y dessert! Mmmm ... this would be another Good Thing.

And back to the snow! Here's an image I'm familiar with:


Oh ... I sorta feel sorry for this guy:


Sucks to be in New York, dude -- they got two feet of snow! Woo-hoo!

And what would this be w/out photos of cats -- Cats Who Look Like Hitler, to be exact!
Disgruntled Hitler:


Where My Eyeballs Hitler:


Stop Exploiting Me Hitler:


And last but not least, Upon My Throne Hitler:


Anyone who is owned by a Furball is familiar w/ that pose! Oh, I love my Furballs ... Even more since we have the automatic litterbox! It rocks! Totally worth the money, no question!

Gotta run -- going to the market, etc.

It's a Good Thing

1. I finally set up the new automatic litter box this evening. It's good because I'm happy, but I don't know how the furballs are going to take it. Someone must have broken down and used it because I heard the sound of an F-18 taking off and I knew that was Mr. Littersweep. I kid you not -- my son stayed at Oshkosh during the annual air show -- EAA AIRVENTURE -- and the sound of fighter jets awoke him at dawn every morning for ten days. That's what Mr. Littersweep sounds like. I opted not for Ms. LitterMaid because -- this is a true story -- I located a litterbox website! I was looking for reviews on the LitterMaid because frankly, it's sort of a lot of $ if it turns out to be a crappy item but even if it weren't the $ I simply can't deal w/ much stress. I mean, you bring it home, set it up, it breaks in two days, you take it back and so on. So at this website everyone discusses their litterboxes and tips and tricks but too they seem to all have automatic boxes.
LITTERBOX CENTRAL
The Littersweep is rated #1, and it's far and above the LitterMaid so off I went to get it. This would not be your conventional style -- wait, I have a photo:

That photo is slightly deceptive. I've not yet figured it out but I think it's either a GIGANTIC cat sitting next to it or it's a smaller model than the one I have. What do you think? No, I mean what do you think about the litterbox? Isn't it cool? But the design is why it works so well. Evidently. Just take a gander at the litterbox website because those people are serious about their litterboxes.

So I was calmly sitting in the livingroom when I hear the unmistakable sound of:


I figured my little Penguinista had braved the new box and after a 30-minute time delay Mr. Littersweep did his thing. LOUDLY. Next thing I know the two furballs are rolling around in the hallway, rasslin' and hissin' at each other! I can come to only one conclusion: The electric eye on the new litterbox is causing my furballs to have seizures and think of each other as enemies! Perhaps they'll learn to avert their eyes ... However, I know what you're thinking: The roar of that thing will keep me awake? Uh-uh. Not this girl. I'll get used to it quick! It's a blessing, trust me.

2. I put together my Scunci Steamer together a few days ago when I had my wings clipped due to illness even though I knew Daddy was gonna explode -- he's such a sweetheart, he didn't let me down. I was in the midst of a U.T.I. and the whole "blood dumping into the bladder" thing spooked my parents although I was pretty okay w/ it, it didn't worry me much. But they didn't want me exerting myself at all I guess because the doctor recommended it ... Anyway, Scunci hasn't had her maiden voyage yet but get a load of it: My mom wants me to clean her baseboards ASAP! That's okay, it'll be fun! Well, maybe not fun but I'm really happy to do it. Doesn't it look like fun?

Okay maybe not. But I think it will be.

3. A couple of days ago I realized I would not be able to continue on w/ my present cellphone. I would be away from the ranch far too much, I needed a car charger which I've misplaced and -- hey! Don't yell at me! You try keeping up w/ something like that when you drive a half-dozen different vehicles, your parents borrow the charger, you move the thing around all the time -- sheesh! It's a minor issue, trust me. Anyway, I knew either I had to purchase another car charger because I was gonna be in Lovey a lot for a few days or I had to buy a new phone. I really wouldn't have minded getting another car charger because my parents can use it except for the fact that I still believe it's here, on the ranch, somewhere and when I accept it's gone I'll buy one for my parents. They'd never used one till they took mine when they were on vacation and they finally saw how convenient it is, and they liked it. Where was I? OH! I knew I had to do something so I went into Verizon and of course there were no less than a gazillion people in that store, and all I could think about was grabbing a phone and getting out of there as fast as I possibly could. I called a friend and asked if he could do it again, would he buy the Razr? Just like everyone else, he said absolutely not. I was forced to scratch the cute pink Razr off my list so at that point I didn't care what I got, and because I hadn't been planning on purchasing immediately I didn't check online beforehand. So I waited, waited, waited and they finally got to me. She asked what I was looking for in a new mobile phone and I was dumbstruck: "Uh ... I don't know, I'm really in a hurry," and I glanced at the display, saw a red one and said, "I'll take that one." HAHAHA, that's a fact and I can hardly believe it myself because I always do research and make informed purchases. ALWAYS! It wasn't until this afternoon I found out not only does it have a camera but also a camcorder -- so I shot Daddy sleeping. He wasn't moving very much but you can hear him breathing. And now, locating a photo of it I found out it's the Music Phone! Yeehaw. Just what I needed. Sigh. It even has stereo speakers but the only thing that caught my eye is the color: It matches Lovey!

Yeah, I guess I'm big on "cute."

And 4. We have some issues to deal w/ concerning Daddy but I know, deep down in my heart, that everything will be fine! Absolutely fine.

And now I've finally unwound enough that I can sleep, I think. I've not slept more than three hours per night w/ Daddy gone because I can feel him gone. There's a great big hole where Daddy's presence should be. *yawn* I love my parents so, so much! I am truly blessed!

Later~