| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| duh |
Posted - 03/30/2008 : 08:39:44
I hired a young guy to put up more fencing. I want to partition the 20 acres around the barn for pasture rotation and to separate horses by age and function and so on. He got started today and accomplished an amazing amount of work.
One of my riding students came for a lesson today. It was cool with a north breeze, which can make horses feel frisky, so I was extra careful to keep close watch on the horse with her. I was on my feet on walking with them the entire time.
Because of the weather and being on my feet all day, I ended up in a great deal of arthritis pain in hip joints and the bottoms of my feet, which felt like they were burning. It was bad enough to make me wish I could retire from horse training and lessons.
I came home and fell asleep on the couch in front of the TV. Several hours of sleep and I felt better.
I can't retire from horses yet because the horse economy here has continued its download spiral that began on 911 and it is very hard to sell or even to give away a horse. Activists got the US plants that slaughtered horses for human consumption closed and the effect has been devastating. Add to that, the extended drought in the southeast that made hay expensive or impossible to get for horsemen of that region.
Fuel prices are so high that I expect the numbers of folks participating in horse shows will be significantly less this year. I know I won't be going to anything very far out of town. Hay and feed prices are going up because of the expense of the fuel expended while harvesting.
So, I expect the issues with underfed horses and abandoned horses nationwide to become worse. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 08/17/2008 : 20:38:00
Yes, unfortunately. It will be a while before I can afford a new water heater. I was thinking about a tankless one. With the rustiness of the water here, it occurred to me that the settling rust in the tank may have contributed to the old heater's demise. In any case, I have a large stock pot and am heating it when I need it. It's not ideal, but it works. |
| duh |
Posted - 08/17/2008 : 17:00:23
quote:
Originally posted by wildheartlivie
"Who the fuck lives like this, George?" The cats didn't understand it, they don't like Julia Roberts. A neighbor came over yesterday morning and put on a shut off valve, so I've been washing dishes and keep flushing the toilet every few hours, just because I can. Now once again, I can say "it's the greatest thing since indoor plumbing."
Are you still without hot water? |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 08/12/2008 : 09:43:08
If you've followed my misadventures over the past year after moving back to the podunk small town where I grew up, into the house my clever grandfather built, you'll recall that the fine old family estate now has more than its fair share of problems. I won't go into the why of things, but believe me, some of this could have been prevented. Regardless, I've tried to maintain at least some semblance of a sense of humor about things.
I didn't mind that I was forced to keep the temperature of the house hovering somewhere in the neighborhood of 58F through the winter. I love me some long nightgowns and personally had no beef with the Annie Hall layered look. Heavy wool socks, a long nightgown, a short shirt over it and topped with a flannel shirt may have qualified me for What Not to Wear, but on the other hand, I detest when I am forced to perspire. I adapted the viewpoint that this isn't so bad, after all, 100 years ago, people lived like this all the time. Besides, when my mom was still alive and noticed that I complained when it was colder than a witch's tit and also complained when the tar on the street outside was hot enough to stick to the bottom of your bare feet, she said "Oh for heaven's sake, will you pick a season to hate and stick with it???" I picked summer. One can always put on more clothes because of the temperature, but there is a limit to just how much clothing one can shed and still be able to negotiate the outdoors without fear of legal complications. And even if there were no legal complications, I'm smart enough to be aware that I simply have wobbly bits that are best left unexposed. I forego the bra in the summer because I hate the way it feels all the time, and the heat just makes me feel all the more constricted. Then again, I have always tried to adhere to that practice. No two ways about it, for an old hippie chick closing in on purple clothes and red hats, bras are strictly for weddings, funerals, job interviews, the odd church-going adventures and court appearances. That's it. Although I might make an exception if it were an appointment to meet the Queen.
I may have had to learn to tread water for a bit this spring, but again, I detest when I am forced to perspire, so I am not complaining about the current dog days of summer topping out at 85F or the nighttime temps forcing me to take out the long nightgowns and a short shirt. The heavy wool socks and flannel shirts weren't needed. And yes, "town" is six miles away, in any direction you might turn. Not being allowed to drive anymore, this demands that I balance out the favors I ask of my friends and loved ones, but it has also served to teach me patience. Once upon a time, I would get snippy with Jeff, to whom I was never married but lived with for too long, when it seemed he wasn't going to come by and take me to the store. Now, I make an effort to plan ahead at least a week to 10 days, and lay in the supplies and foodstuffs necessary to keep my town trips to 3 or 4 a month. Town is just too far to walk if I run out of Sprite. Such a trek is just too much, and again, I detest when I am forced to perspire.
But recently, a misadventure just took it too far. One morning, as I was about to wash the country grime off my face, I realized I had no hot water. Thinking that the pilot light might have gone out, I ventured into the storeroom to check. The storeroom is actually the rather large room that my clever grandfather built onto the house when he opened his grocery store. It's big, cement-floored, humid and musty and precious little is stored there, save the things my sister didn't want anymore when she abandoned the house. I've been burning some of this bit by bit as I burn my weekly trash. (When I have nearly two acres of yard with an 80 year old incinerator area, you don't think I'm going to pay someone to take my unrecyclable crap away, do you? Not with all of those tree branches that fell with the last ice storm of the winter hurrah. They make great kindling.) When I stepped out into the storeroom, I immediately saw the reason for no hot water. One cannot heat water in a device that has developed a gaping hole in the bottom. The water just won't stick around for the heating. Replacing a water heater isn't in my budget at the moment, so I was dismayed to discover there was no shut off valve for the water heater. I had to shut off the water by turning off the breaker to the water pump. As easy as it sounds, it meant that I was forced to tread water to turn on the water pump in order to flush the toilet and fill a couple gallon jugs with water. I won't go much into the whole bathing thing, except to say that it was great to discover that the area outside my back door is totally hidden when it rains at 3 in the morning. It gives the whole "cold shower" thing an entirely new perspective, and the rain water made my hair soft and gave it a nice shine. In any case, the pressing need to wash dishes finally forced me to act. I just kept saying, in my best Julia Roberts voice (from Erin Brockovich when she's trying to kill the cockroach in the kitchen), "Who the fuck lives like this, George?" The cats didn't understand it, they don't like Julia Roberts. A neighbor came over yesterday morning and put on a shut off valve, so I've been washing dishes and keep flushing the toilet every few hours, just because I can. Now once again, I can say "it's the greatest thing since indoor plumbing." |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 06/26/2008 : 05:09:39
I've already left my four word on the death of George Carlin on the appropriate fourum page, and I hesitated to post this, but I will anyway - catharsis is good for the soul. No one need feel they should respond, it's all understood.
My friend Roger and I worked together at the developmental center, for a very long time as members of the same treatment team, and we joined together, he as team leader, me as the behavioral specialist, to open a unit for very high functioning individuals who were both developmentally disabled and carried a mental illness diagnosis. These guys were, for the most part, a few IQ points shy of a prison term instead of a developmental center. We had successes, and we had failures, but it was all extremely rewarding from the standpoint of client interaction and improvement. (Except for the time one fella stole a staff car and tried to drive home. The theft was a problem, but that he made it 40 miles before the transmission in the car - having been driven in low gear - finally gave out, left us with a mostly unspoken but mutally acknowledged reflection of "But, he made it that far and didn't hurt anyone!!")
We shared a love of movies of all types, music and the art of written language and our pets. He was especially proud this past winter when he had finally managed to see all the films nominated for a best picture Academy Award, even before it was announced. When he left the developmental center, I gave him a special gift. I had a photo of a scene from It's a Wonderful Life, showing Jimmy Stewart holding Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) in his arms, signed by Grimes. I took it to a framer and had it matted and framed with a sprinkling of red rose petals along the border. Nothing had to be said, he knew what it meant.
I stayed at the developmental center until it closed. We stayed in touch, and when he moved to North Carolina to marry a woman he loved, he basically gave me his job as a behavioral specialist at a nursing facility specializing in problem residents. When the marriage didn't work out, Roger returned to Indiana and we became closer again. We would talk at least 2 or 3 times a week and became the greatest of supporters for one another. I supported him as he grieved the loss of his marriage. He supported me as I grieved the huge changes in life my disabilities have brought me. He stepped up and bought me a refrigerator when I moved and had none and could not find a good used one. He allowed me to share his family's Thanksgiving when my family did not have a dinner last year. We were going to Crosby, Stills and Nash in July. We commiserated together over things, such as the deterioration of his mother's health and the problems my aunt's health has wrought. We rejoiced over the happier moments in life together as well. He often said his life was like a Fellini movie. He was a gentleman�s gentleman.
Sunday evening when I heard about George Carlin, I tried to call Roger, who was quite fond of George Carlin, so I could tell him. I couldn't get an answer, and he didn't return my call later, which was quite unusual. It wasn't until the next morning that I got the most horrible of phone calls.
Roger died on Sunday as well, of a heart attack, sitting at his computer, writing. It's a very odd feeling to know that I was calling to tell him about Carlin and the phone was next to the computer. But what I know is that he died peacefully, with no obvious signs of distress, with his beloved dogs beside his chair. And the other thing I know is that in an ironic sort of way, he would have appreciated sharing his death date with George Carlin. But oh gods, will I miss him. I miss him already. At the wake, a truly old-fashioned wake, his family returned the Zuzu's petals photo to me.
Roger, you were the gentlest of souls, the wisest of men, the kindest person I have ever known. Thank you for your remarkable gift of friendship, your strength and generosity through my own dark times, your words, your wit, your soul, your heart that was as big as all outdoors. I hope you had waffles and Zuzu's petals gave you anchor. |
| lemmycaution |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 12:39:57
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
Brava! What was her course of study?
(I'm hoping it isn't English Lit.)
She had a double major: English and Religious Studies.
Ah, so now she can get a job where she can say "Praise the Lord, and do you want fries with that?"!
(Joking! But seriously, what will she do with that degree?)
She starts a two-year Master of Education degree in September.
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| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 11:58:47
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
Brava! What was her course of study?
(I'm hoping it isn't English Lit.)
She had a double major: English and Religious Studies.
Ah, so now she can get a job where she can say "Praise the Lord, and do you want fries with that?"!
(Joking! But seriously, what will she do with that degree?)
|
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 07:53:06
Sorry, lem -- late to the congratulations table [which is sort of like poker except it's harder to lose money  ]
Good work, Sarah!!
And happy belated birthdays and anniversaries, too 
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| thefoxboy |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 06:07:21
Yeah, but can she play poker? 
I got 4 of a kind in my weekly poker game last night. 
Didn't win the night tho, came 11th out of 65.
|
| lemmycaution |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 05:25:00
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
Brava! What was her course of study?
(I'm hoping it isn't English Lit.)
She had a double major: English and Religious Studies. |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 06/15/2008 : 06:38:16
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
Brava! What was her course of study?
(I'm hoping it isn't English Lit.)
|
| Whippersnapper. |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 19:55:10
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
Summa time is upon us.
Congratulations for having a daughter who obviously has inherited your intelligence (as well as Mrs Lemmy's of course)
(But can she write fwfrs?  )
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| duh |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 16:51:13
quote:
Originally posted by lemmycaution
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah.
WTG indeed!!! |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 07:54:30
Way to go Sarah. And congrats, lemmy! |
| Sean |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 07:43:29
 |
| lemmycaution |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 04:48:54
Well. I'm a day late but Thursday, June 12 was a good day. My dear elder daughter graduated with highest distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A.
That's summa cum laude elsewhere.
Way to go Sarah. |
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