What's a Weekend????

It's Been Awhile - Kira 1st B-Day, Halloween & Christmas

2009-12-29T13:21:00.001-08:00

The Price of LInving in California

2009-05-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

I go to the grocery store about every two to three weeks. I was last at the store about two weeks ago before I went last night. Now I don’t shop at any of the “fancy” stores, I shop at good old Stater Brothers’. If you’re not familiar with Stater’s, let me tell you it’s as cheap as you can get, price wise, without having to shop at the discount stores that sell seconds. If you are not familiar with these stores, Food 4 Less, Maxi Foods, Cardenas, etc, these stores are allowed to sell products that are past their expiration date. They are not classified as grocery stores, but as discount stores. My only other option is to drive about 30 minutes away to WinCo, who’s prices are comparable to Stater’s. Let me just say…

HOLY SH!T BATMAN!!!!!

As I was walking through the store I noticed that they had all kinds of “sale” price tags on items. I didn’t think much of it at first because we are coming up on Memorial Day. Then I noticed that some of the items that I regularly buy were on “sale” for what I had paid for them two weeks ago or more! Two weeks ago Coolaide was $0.25 per pack they are now $0.33 per pack and were on sale 4 for $1.00. Some of the food that I buy for Kira had gone up about $0.49 and was on sale for $0.25 more than I paid for it two weeks ago. Milk is no costing me almost $4.00 per ½ gallon. Eggs are $4.00 to $5.00 per dozen. I buy bananas every time I go to the store, not last night. Usually they are about $0.42 per pound and really nice looking. Last night they were $0.67 per pound and looked like they had been through the freezer! Gross! Most all the fruit was either nowhere near ripe or so ripe I need to eat it today. But if you want to eat, precooked, preservative laden, frozen Banquet Dinners they were on sale 10 for $10.

No wonder Americans are so fat!!

Got to Love the Baby Love...

2009-02-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

YOUR HORSES ARE ON FIRE

2009-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

© Baron Tayler

Published in ANVIL Magazine, August 1993

Much as I love shoeing horses, my business interests have led me to design, patent, and manufacture machinery for farmers who work with draft animals.

Since the farmers and teamsters who use my machine work with draft animals almost exclusively, I acquired a few Percherons. They're the kindest, gentlest, most easygoing creatures on earth, but owning them created a problem for me. I had only ten acres of pasture; that's a little more than three acres a horse - hardly enough to feed three 1800-pound horses year 'round without haying.

Luckily, a nearby farmer has a large pasture that he hasn't used since he retired. I moseyed over and asked if I could use the pasture for the Percherons during the winter when I'd run out of grass. You should have seen his cataract-clouded eyes light up! He told me he'd just turned 91 years old and had mourned the day he had sold his last team and converted to tractors. Yes, he said, he'd love to have the horses in his pasture.

October rolled around, and the horses finally ate the last stalk of grass in their field. I walked them down the road and let them into the large pasture which was knee deep in lush forage. They were in horsey heaven.

January arrived, and the horses had grown long, thick winter coats. The weather had been cold, but little in the way of snow. The field had a clump of trees in the middle and when it snowed, the horses snuggled up under a huge pine and slept.

With the first big snow came trouble. I was sitting at the breakfast table when the phone rang. It was a lady who lived in a house next to the pasture. She wanted to know if I owned the big horses. I told her that I did and asked her if there was something wrong. "The horses have no building to go into to get out of the snow," she said. I explained that they had the big trees to stand under, and that their dense coat was an excellent insulator. I assured her that the horses were quite comfortable. Semi-satisfied, she let me return to breakfast.

The following day the woman called back, and in a firm voice told me she was sure the horses were cold. I asked her how she knew this. "Because they look cold," she replied. "And, in what way do they look cold?" I countered. Silence. Not a word for 30 seconds. Finally, she said, "I just know they're cold!" "Okay, okay," I replied, "Why don't you meet me in the pasture in five minutes and, if the horses are cold, I'll take them into a barn." She agreed.

We met five minutes later. "Will they hurt me?" she asked. "Do they kick or bite?" It started to dawn on me that this woman was a busybody do-gooder who knew absolutely nothing about horses. With time on her hands, she probably decided that my horses needed rescuing and appointed herself their savior.

As soon as we entered the pasture, the horses trotted over looking for attention - three 1800-pound "puppy dogs." After she watched me pet them for a few minutes, I asked her if they looked cold. "Well, no," she replied, "But it's hard to tell with all the hair." "Why don't you put your hand on one and see if it feels cold to the touch?" I asked. It was obvious she had never touched a horse before. Hesitantly, she reached out and touched one. "Well," she said, "I have to admit that they do feel warm, but I still wish they had a barn to go into."

Just then one of the horses dropped a big, steaming pile of manure on the snow. She stood looking at it, quite puzzled. "What's wrong?" I asked. No reply at first. Then she said, "Why isn't the horse standing in the pile?" "Why would he do that?" I asked. "Because it would keep his feet warm," she replied. That snapped it! I was trying to talk logically with a certified nut case! I left her standing in the field.

The snow melted a few days later, and I heard nothing more. Then another storm hit that promised to be a keeper. With the temperature staying well below freezing, I knew the snow wouldn't melt for a while, which meant I had to start feeding bales of hay until the snow was gone. Since my daytime schedule was hectic, I found it easier to feed at night, usually around midnight. Two days after the snow had stopped falling, the old farmer called me. He said the woman was bothering him again, claiming the horses were not being fed. I assured him they were and told him of my nightly ritual.

The local animal protection society called the next day, explaining they received a report that I was starving my horses. I invited one of their inspectors to come out and see for himself. When the inspector arrived, I showed him the hay scattered over the field and explained my feeding schedule. I told him about the woman who believed horses should stand in their manure. I asked him to confirm my nightly feedings with a neighbor who had seen me feeding the horses. He did and was satisfied that the woman was, in his own words, a "Looney Tune."

A few weeks went by and along came another dusting of snow. The temperature hovered just around freezing, the snow melting as it hit the ground. The local animal control officer called. He was laughing so hard it was difficult to understand him. "Could I come over?" he asked.

Fifteen minutes later he arrived, still laughing. His face was as red as a beet! I thought he was going to have a coronary on the spot. Finally, calmed down to a mild chuckle, he told me that a woman had reported my horses were on fire!

The officer apologized for the inconvenience of his visit, but it was office policy to investigate each complaint. I was too busy laughing to even notice. Regaining control of myself, I climbed into the officer's truck, and off we went to check on my "roasting" horses. When we arrived at the field, the sun was just starting to break through the clouds. Three gorgeous Percherons were standing there, contentedly munching on grass. Thick columns of steam rose off them as evaporated moisture in their coats condensed in the cold air. The officer and I were awed by the beauty of it, but soon the spell was broken. We both started chuckling again, almost rolling on the ground. "Your horses are on fire!" the officer roared.

I never heard from the animal control people again. However, the woman continued pestering the old farmer with a myriad of oddball complaints. I felt so sorry for him that I took the horses back to my place a month before I'd planned to. The farmer was sad to see them go. He still enjoys telling the story about those horses that were on fire.

Author's comment: This story is humorous, but it also portrays a serious and growing problem.

Starlet In Training...

2009-02-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Kira & Drew

2008-12-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Kira looking oh, so cute in one of her little Christmas outfits. She even wore the Santa hat for a long while.

This is as good as it gets when it comes to getting a picture of Drew. Be happy his face in even in it.

More Pictures of Cute

2008-12-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

My Little Angel

2008-11-04T00:13:00.000-08:00

Marriage - A History of Change

2008-06-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

The institution of civil marriage has undergone enormous change in recent times. Within the last century, states could still place extensive restrictions on obtaining a divorce, ban interracial marriage, and subjugate the rights of women to their husbands. The picture now is very different. Racial discrimination within marriage has ended, married women have equal rights to married men, and most states have created access to no-fault divorce. Historians believe ending discrimination against same-sex couples in marriage is no more dramatic than other recent changes.

The last vestige of discrimination in marriage lies in the refusal of the government to grant same-sex couples access to the institution. While scaremongers would have people believe that marriage for same-sex couples will spell an upsurge in infidelity, the break-up of families and society, and the death of marriage itself, the same arguments were put forward against every one of the above changes to marriage. All of these fears have proved groundless. Marriage has always been an evolving institution, taking account of shifting societal attitudes and changing needs of families. Just as other recent changes, thought radical at the time, have done nothing to undermine marriage, acknowledging the right of committed gay and lesbian couples to marry would strengthen the institution.

Race and Marriage

The ongoing struggle to secure the right to marry the partner of your choice, regardless of their sex or sexual orientation, has clear parallels to the battle to end race discrimination in marriage. Just as people defending interracial marriage bans invoked “divine law”, “immorality” and “unnatural unions” as arguments against ending discrimination, so do the opponents of civil marriage for same-sex couples. While there are differences between the two issues, there are also profound and inescapable similarities.

Forty U.S. states, including Massachusetts, once prohibited marrying someone of the “wrong” race, no matter how much you loved them. Social prejudice accomplished much the same result in other states. Marriages between whites and persons of color were decried as “immoral” and “unnatural.” Polls showed that overwhelming numbers of Americans agreed. Massachusetts forbade interracial marriage as early as 1705, a restriction which was ultimately changed in 1843 after a three year campaign in the legislature. The legislature understood that withholding marriage based on race was an affront to human dignity and denied our basic guarantees of equality.

Despite the public opposition to interracial marriage, in 1948, the California Supreme Court became the first state high court to declare a ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional. In Perez v. Sharp the Court stated that:

“A member of any of these races may find himself barred from marrying the person of his choice and that person to him may be irreplaceable. Human beings are bereft of worth and dignity by a doctrine that would make them as interchangeable as trains.”

The decision was controversial, courageous and correct. At that time, 38 states still forbade interracial marriage, and 6 did so by state constitutional provision.

Then, in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the remaining interracial marriage laws nation-wide. A Virginia judge had upheld that state's ban on interracial marriages, invoking God's intention to separate the races. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his decision, declaring that:

the “freedom to marry” belongs to all Americans;
marriage is one of our “vital personal rights” and
the right to marry is “essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by a free [people].”

The parallels between the struggle for the freedom to marry then, and the struggle for gay and lesbian couples today is illustrated by the endorsement of marriage for same-sex couples by civil rights organizations ranging from the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, the Mexican American LDEF, the National Asian Pacific American LDEF, and the Puerto Rican LDEF.

Civil Rights hero and now U.S. Representative John Lewis, speaking in condemnation of the Defense of Marriage Act (which denies federal recognition to marriages of same-sex couples) stated:
“This bill is a slap in the face of the Declaration of Independence. It denies gay men and women the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness … I have known racism. I have known bigotry. This bill stinks of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance. Every word, every purpose, every message is wrong. It is not the right thing to do, to divide America.”

Women in Marriage

For hundreds of years, women had few to no legal rights once they married. Married women had no independent legal existence: they could not make contracts, maintain their own names, file lawsuits, have full ownership and control of property, and in some cases could not maintain custody of their children after their husband's death. The husband controlled all the family earnings and all of his wife's property in exchange for nothing firmer than the general social expectation that he would support his wife and children. Some of these inequalities continued well into the 20th century. Over time, however, both the courts and the legislature have changed marriage laws have changed to reflect the equality of spouses.

Divorce

In the early years of this country, divorce was exceedingly difficult to obtain. If people did get divorced, there were usually restrictions on the “guilty party's” ability to marry again. Over time, to deal with abusive and failed marriages, people moved to states with fewer divorce restrictions. This issue polarized the states and even reached the attention of the U.S. Congress dozens of times in just over 60 years. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states have to honor divorces granted in other states (Williams v. North Carolina). Later, beginning in the 1970's, many states lifted restrictions on divorce, with most creating no-fault divorce systems. In other words, while we aspire to marriage as a life long commitment, that requirement is now absent from law.

History Points to A Tradition of Change

These historical examples point the way to the proper course in ending sex and sexual orientation restrictions in marriage. All of the elements that were once considered essential or natural to a marriage (that women be subordinate to men; that it be lifelong; that it be between people of the same race) have fallen away based on our growing respect for equality and individual freedom. Restricting who can marry whom based on their sex and sexual orientation is also discrimination. It may be controversial to change the status quo, but it is time for this last vestige of discrimination in marriage to end.

http://www.glad.org/rights/OP3-historyofchange.shtml

Mae West

2007-12-07T16:06:00.001-08:00

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.

I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.

It isn't what I do, but how I do it. It isn't what I say, but how I say it, and how I look when I do it and say it.

One and one is two, and two and two is four, and five will get you ten if you know how to work it.
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

'Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

2007-12-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas"

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers! The author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a Worldwide institution.

Brined Whole Turkey

2007-11-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

Make your next turkey the most moist and succulent one you've ever tasted!

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:12 hr 30 min
Makes:14 servings

2 gallons cold water
2 cups kosher salt or 1 cup table salt
1 whole turkey, not prebasted (12 to 14 pounds), thawed if frozen
1 medium onion, cut into fourths
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
1 medium celery stalk, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Mix cold water and salt in a large clean bucket or stockpot (noncorrosive); stir until salt is dissolved. Add turkey. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours.
2. Heat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Thoroughly rinse turkey under cool running water, gently rubbing outside and inside of turkey to release salt. Pat skin and both interior cavities dry with paper towels.
3. Fasten neck skin to back of turkey with skewer. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching. Toss onion, carrot, celery and thyme with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter; place in turkey cavity.
4. Place turkey, breast side down, on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Brush entire back side of turkey with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Turn turkey over. Brush entire breast side of turkey with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone. (Do not add water or cover turkey.)
5. Roast uncovered 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours, brushing twice with pan drippings during last 30 minutes of roasting.
6. Turkey is done when thermometer reads 180°F and juice of turkey is no longer pink when you cut into center of thigh. The drumstick should move easily when lifted or twisted. If a meat thermometer is not used, begin testing for doneness after about 3 hours. When turkey is done, place on warm platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Let stand about 15 minutes for easiest carving.

All About Brining
For exceptionally moist and tender meat, brining is the way to go! Immersing your turkey in a saltwater bath (the brine) overnight draws water into the cells of the turkey so it stays juicy and moist when cooked. For this method, you'll need a large clean plastic bucket or noncorrosive stockpot (not aluminum), enough refrigerator space and time, but it's a great do-ahead.

Use a large clean plastic bucket or a stainless steel stockpot or other noncorrosive container that can fit the turkey and enough brine to keep turkey submerged.

Keep turkey refrigerated while it is brining. You may have to clear a space in your refrigerator to accommodate the bucket or stockpot.

Check the temperature frequently as the turkey is roasting since a brined turkey may cook slightly faster than an unbrined one.

Do not soak turkey in brine for more than 12 hours because it will absorb too much salt.

Do not stuff a brined turkey with stuffing.

Some brines create turkey drippings and juices that are too salty to make good gravy while others make delicious gravy, so follow the recipe directions carefully.

Nutrition Information

1 Serving: Calories 325 (Calories from Fat 135 ); Total Fat 15 g (Saturated Fat 5 g); Cholesterol 145 mg; Sodium 620 mg; Total Carbohydrate 0g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 47 g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 2 %; Iron 12 % Exchanges: 7 Lean Meat
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Do-Ahead Tip
Turkey can be brined a day ahead. Rinse well, cover and refrigerate until time to roast.
Did You Know...
Frozen turkey tastes just as good as fresh and is easily available at any supermarket. Just remember to allow enough time for thawing, since the turkey must be completely thawed before brining. To thaw this size of whole turkey, place the turkey (in its original wrap) in a pan in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Southern California Fires

2007-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

For all of you out there that have not experienced Fire Season in Southern California, it's not fun. In 2003 we had major fires over a large portion of So. Cal. with fierce winds, low humidity and heat. The following year we had heavy rains that caused massive mud slides and even more damage. Now it is October 2007 and we are in a worse state than 4 year ago. We currently have 18 fires burning, and that is only the ones that are over 100 acres. Over 250,000 people have been evacuated from there homes in San Diego County. It is estimated that over 500,000 people have been displaced by the current fires. Last I heard the combined size of all fires was over 890 sq. miles and growing. God be with them all.

Halloween is almost here!!!!

2007-10-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Well it's the 2nd of October, and we pulled in the last of our pumpkins from the "patch." Our largest is over 100lbs, but not sure by how much. What do you think??

The Donkey Story

2007-08-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less

NOW ............

Enough of that crap . . The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

You have two choices...smile and close this page,
or pass this along to someone else to spread the fun.

Loki & the Invisible Force Field - Part 2

2007-08-25T01:03:00.001-07:00

Loki & the Invisible Force Field - Part 1

2007-08-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

Loki & Brandon Playing

2007-08-25T01:01:00.000-07:00

Love My Loki

2007-08-24T23:34:00.001-07:00

Isn't he Pretty!!!

And he loves to bite Brandon.

Pumpkin Update

2007-08-24T23:22:00.000-07:00

At this point, I think that it is safe to say that we are going to end up with 13 giant pumpkins, ranging in weight from 25lbs to well over 100-150lbs, 5 white Luminas and 3 Jack-o-Lanterns. Out oldest "giant" detached itself from the vine last weekend, so we have moved it onto the patio and will be putting it in the closet to wait for Halloween. They keep best if you keep them in a cool, dry, dark place and that would be my closet. We are having a bit of a problem with die off. The older vines/leaves are dying and we had a bit of a problem with fungus, but I think we are going to make it.

Quick Hair Fix

2007-08-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is so cool, a friend of mine at work told me about this.

You know those days when it's late in the afternoon and you have to run an errand. You take a quick glance at yourself in the mirror and realize that your hair looks greasy and plastered to you forhead. You really don't want to have to take a quick shower just to run a simple errand, so what's a girl (or guy) to do?? Put a little bit of baby powder on your finger tips and "fluff" it into your hair. Use a little at a time. The powder absorbs the excess oil and the "fluffing" makes your hair fuller. Problem solved. No obviously this is not going to work if you have not washed your hair in a week, but for the end of the day greasiness, it works great. Added bounes if you like the smell of baby powder!!

pink nobody knows video

2007-08-15T22:35:00.001-07:00

Nobody knows
Nobody knows but me
That I sometimes cry
If I could pretend that I'm asleep
When my tears start to fall
I peek out from behind these walls
I think nobody knows
Nobody knows no

Nobody likes
Nobody likes to lose their inner voice
The one I used to hear before my life
Made a choice
But I think nobody knows
No no
Nobody knows
No

Baby
Oh the secret's safe with me
There's nowhere else in the world that I could ever be
And baby don't it feel like I'm all alone
Who's gonna be there after the last angel has flown
And I've lost my way back home
I think nobody knows no
I said nobody knows

Nobody cares
It's win or lose not how you play the game
And the road to darkness has a way
Of always knowing my name
But I think nobody knows
No no
Nobody knows no no no no

Baby
Oh the secret's safe with me
There's nowhere else in the world that I could ever be
And baby don't it feel like I'm all alone
Who's gonna be there after the last angel has flown
And I've lost my way back home
And oh no no no no
Nobody knows
No no no no no no

Tomorrow I'll be there my friend
I'll wake up and start all over again
When everybody else is gone
No no no

Nobody knows
Nobody knows the rhythm of my heart
The way I do when I'm lying in the dark
And the world is asleep
I think nobody knows
Nobody knows
Nobody knows but me
me

My Birthday

2007-08-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

I know that is a couple of months off, but I thought I would give everyone a jumpstart on buying me a birthday present this year.

This is what I would really like for my birthday this year...

1941 Lincoln 4-door convertible.

By the way...

Did I ever tell you guys how much I really LOVE YOU?!?

THE ANSWER IS...

2007-08-08T10:10:00.001-07:00

1972

Can You Guess the Year???

2007-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

The top five songs for this year are: #1) “The First Time Ever I saw Your Face”; #2) “Alone Again (Naturally)”; #3) “American Pie”; #4) “Without You”; #5) “Candyman.”

The Novel Prize in Physics is awarded for “The Jointly Developed Theory of Superconductivity.”

President Nixon and his wife, Pat, along with Henry Kissinger, arrive in Beijing, China to confer with Chairman Mao.

Major films for the year are Deliverance, The Godfather, Straw Dogs, Sounder, and Play it Again, Sam. On Broadway, Cabaret and Lady Sings the Blues are big hits.

The Polaroid SX-70 system is unveiled. It produces a color print that develops in 60 seconds outside the camera while the photographer watches.

Dallas Beats Miami 24 to 3 in the Super Bowl.

The Winter Olympic Games are held in Sapporo, Japan, and the Summer Games are held in Munich, Germany.

Bobby Fischer becomes the first American to win the World Chess title.

Nike is founded.

L’eggs brand hosiery is launched.

Legendary strong-man Charles Atlas dies at age 78.

July 25, 2007

2007-07-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

So we are now at 13 ½ weeks since I planted the pumpkin seeds. I no longer have a back yard, and the vines started invading my patio about 2 weeks ago. Since I am no longer able to even pick my way through 99% of my back yard, taking pictures and getting a count of exactly how many pumpkins I have has become nearly impossible. At this time I can count 9 Giant Atlantics, 2 Big Max, 3 Jack-o-Lanterns and 8 Luminas. Mind you that these are just the ones that I can see from my patio, or that I know are there from previous ventures into the “patch.” I will continue to do my very best at updating my blog with current pictures and weight/size estimates.

Above are pictures that I was able to take with my cell phone yesterday, 7/25. The “soda can” pumpkin is now approx. 6 ½ weeks old and weighs an estimated 100 lbs. It is no longer our largest pumpkin, it has been surpassed by a pumpkin that is about 4 ½ weeks. I am not able to get a good picture of the larger pumpkin because I simply can’t get close enough. The other pumpkin picture is of a “new” pumpkin that is about 1 ½ weeks old. It is already the size of your average Jack-o-Lantern. I can hardly wait for Halloween.

Another Week...

2007-07-09T19:22:00.001-07:00

June 26th (I Think)

July 9th

July 2nd

July 9th

July 2nd

July 9th

Drew & My Beautiful Nieces

2007-07-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

6 Days Later

2007-07-02T18:47:00.001-07:00

6/26/07

Same plant as above 7/2/07

As a reference, this is a "normal" size pumkin at 2 1/2 weeks

6/26/07

Same pumpkin as above 7/2/07

6/26/07

Same pumpkin as above 7/2/07

6/26/07

Same pumpkin as above 7/2/07

We have about a dozen or so giant pumpkins and will have about that if not more "normal" size pumpkins. The giants should top out at about 150 - 200 lbs.

URGENT!! AB1634

2007-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

So I understand the end to which this bill has been written. What “they” are trying to accomplish is to rid California of the “backyard” breeder and irresponsible pet owners who allow their unaltered pets to roam and breed indiscriminately. However, the phrase “too much of a good thing” really should be used in describing AB 1634. In “their” effort to control the pet overpopulation they are taking a “punish everyone” stance. Yesterday (Thursday, June 28, 2007) the bill was amended to read the following:

(7) The owner furnishes the director of animal control services with a signed statement agreeing to the following conditions:
(A) Offspring of the unaltered animal may not be sold and may be adopted without a fee only after they reach eight weeks of age.
(B) Records will be kept documenting how many offspring were produced and who adopted them.

(8) The dog for whom the unaltered animal certification is sought is currently licensed pursuant to local requirements.

(9) The owner has considered having the animal microchipped for purposes of identification.
(b)The owner shall maintain records documenting how many offspring were produced or adopted, or both, and shall provide proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered after a single litter. This information shall be made available to an animal control agency upon request.

(c)The amount of the fee for an intact permit issued under this section shall be determined by the local jurisdiction and shall not exceed the cost of administering this section.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends that date.

This will so cripple the responsible breeders who are not “licensed” breeders. There are hundreds of responsible people out there who breed champion show/performance dogs that will be severely affected by this bill. Notice that any person is only allowed 1 unaltered male and 1 unaltered female, and that they are to be spayed/neutered within 30 days after only 1 litter! It also does not allow you to sell your puppies! Any resulting offspring must be given away! And the name and contact information of the “adopting” persons must be given over to the “authorities” so that those animals can also be regulated! Imagine the law suites stemming from giving out other peoples personal information! This bill does not apply to breeders from out of state, so imagine the proliferation of puppy and kitten mills that are going to pop up to supply California with purebred pets. These puppy/kitten mills do not breed for quality, they breed for maximum profit. Animals will no longer be bred for specific traits that better the breed, but for the current trend of what the public is looking for at the moment. Responsible breeders already include a spay/neuter clause in their sales contract and every breeder that I know of retains partial ownership of any show quality animal that they sell.

In the end this is not going to curtail the number of unwanted animals in our shelters, the irresponsible pet owners will “disown” their pet in a moments notice when they are faced with a fine that is upwards of $500 per pet. Or they will be dumping these animals off at the shelters or even worse, on the street, to starve and risk the hazards of other animals, vehicles and people. This is not going to reduce the number of animals that are a result of the neighbors dog up the street running loose and breeding with the dog 2 blocks over. Or the cats that everyone seems to think are so cute as kittens and then dump them, unaltered, outside when they start jumping on the counters or scratching the furniture.

THIS IS GOING TO VOTE ON MONDAY, JULY 9TH. AT THIS TIME CURRENT PRELIMINARY VOTING SHOWS THAT THIS BILL WILL PASS! PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSEMBLYMEN LISTED BELOW AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS SHOULD BE VOTED AGAINST. IT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE HARM THEN GOOD!

The following Assemblymen have voted to pass AB1634 in the most recent preliminary voting. Please email them asking them to vote NO on July 9th!
Juan Arambula - assemblymember.arambula@assembly.ca.gov

Karen Bass - assemblymember.bass@assembly.ca.gov

Jim Beall - assemblymember.beall@assembly.ca.gov

Patty Berg - assemblymember.berg@assembly.ca.gov

Julia Brownley - assemblymember.brownley@assembly.ca.gov

Wilmer Amina Carter - assemblymember.carter@assembly.ca.gov

Joe Coto - assemblymember.coto@assembly.ca.gov

Mike Davis - assemblymember.davis@assembly.ca.gov

Hector De La Torre - assemblymember.delatorre@assembly.ca.gov

Kevin De Leon - assemblymember.deleon@assembly.ca.gov

Mark De Saulnier - assemblymember.desaulnier@assembly.ca.gov

Mervyn Dymally - assemblymember.dymally@assembly.ca.gov

Mike Eng - assemblymember.eng@assembly.ca.gov

Noreen Evans - assemblymember.evans@assembly.ca.gov

Mike Feuer - assemblymember.feuer@assembly.ca.gov

Felipe Fuentes - assemblymember.fuentes@assembly.ca.gov

Cathleen Galgiani - assemblymember.galgiani@assembly.ca.gov

Loni Hancock - assemblymember.hancock@assembly.ca.gov

Mary Hayashi - assemblymember.hayashi@assembly.ca.gov

Edward Hernandez - assemblymember.hernandez@assembly.ca.gov

Jared Huffman - assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov

Dave Jones - assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov

Betty Karnette - assemblymember.karnette@assembly.ca.gov

Paul Krekorian - assemblymember.krekorian@assembly.ca.gov

John Laird - assemblymember.laird@assembly.ca.gov

Mark Leno - assemblymember.leno@assembly.ca.gov

Lloyd Levine - assemblymember.levine@assembly.ca.gov

Sally Lieber - assemblymember.lieber@assembly.ca.gov

Ted Lieu - assemblymember.lieu@assembly.ca.gov

Gene Mullin - assemblymember.mullin@assembly.ca.gov

Pedro Nava - assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov

Fabian Nunez - assemblymember.nunez@assembly.ca.gov

Anthony Portantino - assemblymember.portantino@assembly.ca.gov

Curren Price - assemblymember.price@assembly.ca.gov

Laura Richardson - assemblymember.richardson@assembly.ca.gov

Ira Ruskin - assemblymember.ruskin@assembly.ca.gov

Mary Salas - assemblymember.salas@assembly.ca.gov

Lori Saldana - assemblymember.saldana@assembly.ca.gov

Jose Solorio - assemblymember.solorio@assembly.ca.gov

Alberto Torrico - assemblymember.torrico@assembly.ca.gov

Lois Wolk - assemblymember.wolk@assembly.ca.gov

Plant Them And They Will Grow...

2007-06-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

I believe that I planted my pumpkin patch, from seeds, around the end of April. At present I have 8 giant pumpkins and about 6 white pumpkins and a few jack-o-lanterns. The vines are growing so fast that you can almost watch them move across the yard.

Drew Graduated

2007-06-21T19:30:00.000-07:00

Drew graduated from middle school this week. He has already started football practice for Arlington H.S.

God I feel old!

8 is Enough

2007-06-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

On the eighth day God sent us Meebee.

Hey who let Weebee out? Just kidding no relation between the 2 of them.

Pumpkins

2007-06-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Jack-O-Lantern in back, Lumina in Front

Lumina on right, Jack-O-Lantern on left

Two of the Dill's on right and Big Max on Left (Dill's also in lower left corner)

Two Dill's

It's been about 8 weeks since I first planted the pumpkin seeds. I had originally plated 4 Dill's Giant Atlantic's, 3 Jack-O-Lanterns and 3 White Luminas. Then April gave me a Big Max. The Dill's are capable of producing fruit in excess of 400lbs, the Big Max 200lbs. The Luminas and the Jack-O-Lanterns, normal size. Everything I planted has come up and is thriving. I'll keep everyone posted with pictures as we progress.

If You Build It They Will Come...

2007-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

So by now most of you know that we have a lot of animals. We are kind of the neighborhood animal shelter. Most of our 4-legged family members are cats that my husband has rescued from certain death as “wild” kitty’s. The count currently stands at 7 cats, 1 dog, 2 rats and 1 crooked legged horse. This does not include the horses that we use for the carriage company, as they have a job and pay for themselves.

So this morning, the neighbors cocker spaniel was out, yet again, running up and down the block & the So. Cal. Gas Co. was out doing meter readings, so the neighborhood was pretty noisy. Dog’s barking, birds going nuts, etc… Well every morning it’s the same routine for me, I unlock the truck, put my stuff in the front seat, start it up and walk down to the end of the driveway, get the paper and then back in the truck and off I go. So this morning amidst the all the chaos, I hear a sound. At first I’m think that it’s a mocking bird or one of the local wild parrots in the neighbors’ tree. Then I realize that this noise is coming from the neighbors’ truck, and their windows are open a bit. So I walk over expecting to see a bird in the cab of their truck, and that’s when I realize that what I hear is not a bird, but a little kitten in the engine compartment of the truck. Now I live in So. Cal. so I have several neighbors who don’t speak a word of english, or at least not enough that we can communicate effectively. So I shut off my truck, go back in my house and in my best spanish write a note “Gato in engine,” and put it on their windshield. Of course, because I deviated form my usual routine, Brandon was curious about what was going on. I tried to down play it as best I could by saying, “Oh, there’s a cat in the neighbors truck,” and leaving it at that. Of course the questions continue and he finally know that there is a kitten in the engine compartment. Okay, so I finally get out the door to go to work.

At 9:00am my direct line at work rings, it’s Brandon. Apparently when Drew went to leave for school he heard the kitten and went back in and told Brandon that he was able to see it. So the 2 of them head out to our neighbors truck. Brandon coaxed the kitten out with some food and called me to find out what to do with it. From his description it sounds like it is probably 6-8 weeks old. He said that he put in up in the bushes by our front door and it sat there and cried for him. So as I type this we now have another small mouth in our house. He/she is cordoned off in my bedroom with the dog, who most of you don’t know is currently convalescing in my bedroom while recovering from surgery to repair his broken leg. Yep, broke both the ulna and the radius, all the way through. He now has a $1200 piece of plastic, with some JB Weld and 9 finishing nails holding his leg together.

I wonder if this is what Moses felt like?

Hurry Up Halloween!!!

2007-05-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

My back yard consists of a very large covered patio, a large workshop, 3 concrete slabs, one to work on cars, one that a shed used to sit on and a small one that had a very rickety bench on it at one time. The rest is nothing more than a large patch of dirt with some random plants around the fence line and a large orange tree that’s probably about 50 years old. So this year, instead of planting a lawn, like most normal people would do, I decided to grow pumpkins. So I built up 4 mounds and planted a total of 4 Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Seeds, 3 Lumina White Pumpkin Seeds, and 3 Jack-o-Lantern Seeds. I was hoping to get maybe 2 giants, and maybe one each of the white and orange pumpkins. Several years back, while I was living in a condo, my best friend, April, decided I needed an “urban” garden, so she bought me, among other things, some Atlantic Giant Pumpkin seeds. I planted 2 seeds in a pot and wound up with a 98lbs pumpkin and a 108lbs pumpkin. So last week when I only had 2 giants up, April went out and bought a Big Max Pumpkin plant. I was planning to plant it on one of the mounds that did not have a plant on it. Well then some time mid-week last week I noticed that not only did all 2 of my Lumina’s and Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins come up, but 3 of the 4 Giants had come up. I thought, cool, I’ll have one spot to plant the Big Max plant that April bought.

Okay, so I come home Friday night from a short business trip and what do I find when I go out to water??? Every single seed that I planted has come up. That makes 4 Giant Atlantic Pumpkins (400lb - 500lb potential ea fruit), 3 Lumina’s, 3 Jack-o-Lanterns and 1 Big Max. The Lumina’s and Jack-o-Lanterns say that each vine should produce about a dozen or so pumpkins each, and I’m not sure about the Big Max, I need to research it. So that puts me at approx. 10 giant pumpkins, hopefully 150lb + each, and about 3 dozen Jack-o-Lanterns, and 3 dozen Lumina’s.

Oh boy, it’s going to be a pumpkin carving craze at my house this Halloween!! YEAH!!!!!

Why My Husband Sleeps On The Couch

2007-04-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Almost A Year

2007-04-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

It will be a year this June that we lost our very dear friend, Mark, to a very tragic accident. Whether you know me or have read my blog, you know that I have no tolerance for individuals who drive a vehicle that is out of their ability to operate safely. Awhile back some one placed an anonyms post on my blog saying that I seemed to be a very angry person and asked if life was really that bad. Well, let me say that in certain cases yes I can be a very angry, nasty, vindictive person and yes there are times when life really is that bad. It is not anybody’s place to judge my emotions or how I handle them. I have not caused physical harm to anyone, although I am sure I have caused some individuals a bit of emotional harm. But there is not one person out there who is perfect, or has not caused harm to some one, some how. And as sharped tongued as I can be, it is usually not without cause.

That being said…

This past Friday evening, while visiting with some friends, the topic of the wrongful death suite involving our friend Mark came up. Now let me set this up for you. Mark was riding his motorcycle down a street that is 3 lanes wide in each direction with a center island. It is approximately 7:30 - 8:00pm on a summer evening, so there is still plenty of light. This girl, who was driving a Dodge Ram pickup, similar to mine, changed lanes into him, knocking him 650ft. He came to rest in the middle of an intersection. He was wearing his riding gear and a helmet. His helmet was knocked off by the force of the collision. Mark lived for about an hour before he died at the hospital. His injuries were so traumatic that it was a closed casket. In the course of his wrongful death suite it has come to light that this 23 year old girl, driving a truck that her parents bought for her, was involved in the exact same accident only 3 months earlier. Yes, that is correct, 3 months prior to her killing Mark, she changed lanes into another motorcycle rider, killing them. HELLO!!!! And guess what, mommy and daddy bailed her out the first time, so guess who’s bailing her out a second time?!? Great way to teach you kid responsibility. Let them kill 2 innocent people and then tell them it wasn’t really their fault.

I know all of you out there have seen them, no matter where you live. The full size truck, with those stupid stickers all over. And behind the wheel is some bimbo, who thinks her shit don’t stink. These are the same people who back into you in the grocery store parking lot, run you off the road, can’t pull through the drive-thru at the local fast food place without running over the curb. And although I say she, I have seen plenty of men too. And, unfortunately, I’m not just talking about young drivers either. I have had far too many encounters with the local soccer mom’s driving there SUV’s and mini-vans.

Does anyone get it now? Can we all understand that, just like being licensed to drive a motorcycle, I deeply believe that people should have to obtain a special license to drive anything bigger than a mid-size sedan. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people watch, in amazement, as I parallel parked my truck, or back it into my driveway and not hit my house or one of our other cars. Hell, the woman across the street can barley get her little Eclipse into the garage, but I see her hop in their SUV or mid-size pickup and head on down the road. I wonder what she does when she actually has to park it in a tight spot, or maneuver the vehicle to avoid an accident or other hazard? I hear people say how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle, but it’s the irresponsible, uneducated people who make it dangerous. So until the laws are changed as to require people to hold a separate license, the very least everyone can do is be responsible enough to drive a vehicle that is within their ability to handle SAFELY! If you can’t park it, back it, or keep it within one lane, you shouldn’t drive it. Here’s a test, next time you’re driving down the freeway and there is road construction where they put up those concrete barrier walls, drive in that lane at regular speed. If you are not comfortable driving in that lane at regular speed you should not be driving that vehicle. Because remember that lane is still big enough for a tractor-trailer to drive in.

I Love My Job!

2007-04-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Just had my 2 year anniversary here at AALRR-Riverside. I really do love my job, the firm I work for and the people I work with. I would love to work here forever, or at least until I retire, and as long as there are no Major changes to people and/or policy.

Anyway...

Yeah, that's about it for today, just I LOVE MY JOB!

Proud Parent

2007-04-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know that my son, Drew, is smart. However, I think that, unlike most parents, who think there kid(s) are the smartest, Drew can always do better if he would just apply himself more.

Let me say that when Drew was in the 3rd / 4th grade I had him "evaluated" by a couple of the professors at California Baptist College, as part of an after school program he was involved with. After the evaluation, one of the professors sat me down to review Drew's scores, and she told me that I "have a potential Einstein on my hands, and the hardest thing for me is going to be to keep him interested in school and not get board."

Anyway...Drew came home from school last week with his list of suggested classes for the beginning of his freshman year in the fall. Now like I said, I know he's a smart kid, and I know how easy school was for me, but OMG! Drew's classes were selected for him based off the following process: teachers make recommendations to the middle school counselors, the middle school counselors meet with the high school counselors and review the students file, the high school counselors use this information to place the student in the appropriate classes. So what classes to they enroll my "smart" child in???

Advanced Intro To Literature
Geometry
Honors Biology
Health Science
Spanish 1 (although he is currently taking it)
Animation
Baseball P.E.

Hello!!! He's a freshman! I took Geometry and Biology as a sophomore!

Anyway, for once I feel like those proud parents that gush over their children's mediocre accomplishments, only I think, like I'm sure they do, he's really a pretty smart kid.

Liberal or Conservative?

2007-04-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 45% Conservative, 55% Liberal

Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

janet jackson

2007-04-10T21:38:00.001-07:00

The White Stripes - The Denial Twist

2007-04-05T23:44:00.001-07:00

"The Denial Twist"

If you think that a kiss is all in the lips
C'mon, you got it all wrong, man
And if you think that our dance was all in the hips
Oh well, then do the twist
If you think holding hands is all in the fingers
Grab hold of the soul where the memory lingers and
Make sure to never do it with the singer
'Cause he'll tell everyone in the world

What he was thinking about the girl
Ya, what he's thinking about the girl, oh

A lot of people get confused and they bruise
Real easy when it comes to love
They start putting on their shoes and walking out
And singing "boy, I think I had enough"

Just because she makes a big rumpus
She don't mean to be mean or hurt you on purpose, boy
Take a tip and do yourself a little service
Take a mountain turn it into a mole

Just by playing a different role
Ya, by playing a different role, oh

The boat ya you know she's rockin' it
And the truth well ya know there's no stoppin' it

The boat ya you know she's still rockin' it
The truth well you know there's no stoppin' it

So what, somebody left you in a rut
And wants to be the one who's in control
But the feeling that you're under can really make you wonder
How the hell she can be so cold

So now you're mad, denying the truth
And it's hidden in the wisdom in the back of your tooth
Ya need ta spit it out, in a telephone booth
While ya call everyone that you know, and ask 'em

Where do you think she goes
Oh ya, where d'ya suppose she goes, oh

The truth well you know there's no stoppin' it
And the boat well ya know she's still rockin' it

The boat ya you know she's still rockin' it
And the truth ya you know there's no stoppin' it

You recognize with your back in the back?
That it's colder when she rocks the boat
But it's the cause hittin on the Cardinal Laws?
'bout the proper place to hang her coat

So to you, the truth is still hidden
And the soul plays the role of a lost little kitten but
You should know that the doctors weren't kiddin?
She's been singing it all along

But you were hearin' a different song
Ya you were hearin' a different song
But you were hearin' a different song

My Nine Names (Just Because It's Fun)

2007-03-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

YOUR REAL NAME:
Amberlyn

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.)
Ambizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Blue Horse

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street)
Beth Manchester

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name)
Rasamell

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
Red Tea

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of you dads middle name,2nd to last letter of your moms maiden name, 1st letter of a siblings first name, last letter of your moms middle name, the letter e)
Mseoijse

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mothers middle name and fathers middle name)
Kay Joseph

9. GOTH NAME: (black and the name of your pet)
- Black Loki

Peace in the Rash House

2007-03-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

Loki had gotten very comfortable living with us. We have had him at home for 3 weeks now, he has gained over a pound and found his voice. He knows which cats he can play with and which ones he can't and he also has figured out that Brandon and Drew don't make him mind.

But we love him to death.

ANDREAS HELGSTRAND - WEG2006 Freestyle Final

2007-03-17T21:21:00.001-07:00

For those of you who know Dressage and how difficult it is, you will not believe this horse is only 9 years old. AMAZING FREESTYLE!!!! For those of you who are not familiar with the sport of Dressage, the moves that this horse is making is VERY advanced for even a horse that is 15 years old!!!

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

2007-03-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

Have a Great Weekend!!!

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tell Me Baby

2007-03-14T18:45:00.001-07:00

The Otermost House - Henry Beston

2007-03-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

...The animal shall not be measured by a man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.

Selling Out...

2007-03-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hey look....

I'm selling out!!! I added an adsence button to my blog.

:-))

High School

2007-03-09T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well...

I thought I had convinced myself that I was ready for Drew to start High School this fall, but...I was wrong.

Last night was Freshman Orientation Night. I think it was more for us parents than the kids. Anyway, Drew and I went and it was a lot of fun at first. We all sat in the gym and watched the different performances, then it was time to walk around and check out all the different clubs/sports/activity groups he could join/sign-up for. We were having a pretty good time (I hate crowds) checking out the Media club, football, and baseball when 2 girls from the Mock Trial team made a beeline for Drew. They were cute, typical teenage girls. The were talking to Drew about joining the Mock Trial team. Poor Drew, he was clueless as to what was happening, just as I was at first. Like I said typical teenage girls. You remember girls, when you were that age and you saw a guy you thought was cute, but you were to afraid/shy to go up and talk to him, so your friend, like it or not drug you over to stand there and look like a bump on a log while she chatted up with romeo, continually dropping hints that you liked him, all the while he is oblivious to what is really going on. So there we stand the 4 of us and it dawns on me what is happening when the one girl, trying to "convince" Drew that Mock Trial was for him says, "And you can meet cute girls, like her..." as she glances over at her friend, who is now turning a slight shade of red.

Okay, so it's about this time I realize I am not ready for Drew to go to High School. These girls are flirting away, Drew is oblivious, and I all of a sudden realize that I'm getting old. This is not going to be as fun as I thought. I start really looking around at all the other parents and really notice that everyone looks soooo old. OMG, this can't be happening to me, I don't look like, I can't look like all these other parents, I'm only 34!!!!!

So as I sit here in my corner, rocking back and forth chanting...I'm not ready for this, I'm not ready for this, Drew us taking great pleasure in continually reminding me that there is not a damn thing I can do about it.

Got to love those teenagers.

Loki

2007-03-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

Loki

This is Loki at 10 weeks old. He is a true hairless, so he will only have the hair on the top of his head, his feet and on his tail. What you see is what you get, it will only get longer. He has fit in just fine around here. The cat's have figured out he is not a threat, only the occasional pest. At only about 2lbs he is considerably smaller that all of our cats, who range from 8-15lbs. Full grown Loki is only going to get to about 5-8lbs, but you can't tell him that. Although he was a "pocket puppy" when we got him and we have only had him for a week, we have been working with him to make him less dependent. He will now sleep on the couch without having to have one of us sit with him. We are working with him on potty training. He uses the piddle pads about 90% of the time, but you have to watch him. He sleeps under the covers with me and is quite happy to sleep in in the morning. He does ask to get down off the bed to use the potty and he will growl and bark if you knock on the door, then he will lick and puppy bite you to death.

My New Puppy

2007-02-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to clarify, because a couple of people have said something about it. The puppy's ears have not been cropped, or altered in any way. Their ears are like a German Shepards ears, and will stand up naturally on their own. However, because they are small dogs, sometimes nature needs a little help, so when they are small like this, they tape their ears to help them stand up. Kind of like wearing your hair in a ponytail 2 days in a row. It is always a little easier to put it up the second day.

With The Good Alwasys Comes The Bad...

2007-02-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

The Bad

This last Friday we lost our beloved Daisy. We retired Daisy last year from our carriage company, so she could live out the rest of her life being a horse. This last fall she started having trouble with severe arthritis in her shoulder. We had the vet monitoring her, and although she was not getting any better, we had been able to keep it from getting too mcuh worse. This last Thursday night she got real sick. She was up and down for awhile, then her shoulder got to hurting her so bad, she was unable to lay down or even walk. Friday morning we had the vet out and although he said that she could be saved, it was no longer going to be a quality of life, but a quantity of life. She was unable to walk and the vet said that she was not going to get much better. So we made the decision to have her put down.

Daisy will be greatly missed, she was the cornerstone of our company for many years. We purchased Daisy about 11-12 years ago. At that time we were told she was between 9 and 13 years old. Horses live to be between 20 to 30 years old on average and we figure Daisy was probably closer to 25. Although we will be getting new horses, we will never replace Daisy.

The Good…

Currently living in my 3 bedroom 1 ½ bath home are 2 adults, 1 teenager, 2 pet rats, and 7 cats. This Friday we will be adding to that. My new baby will get to come home!!!! YEAH!!! Our new addition is a 9 week old Chinese Crested. Yes he will be hairless, with the exception of the crest of hair on his head, and hair on his tail and feet. He is the runt of a litter of 8 so at 9 weeks his just under 2lbs. He will require clothes, and daily lotion. He will be sleeping with me, on the bed and probably under the covers. I know I need another pet like I need another hole in my head, but hey it beats getting my lip or something else pierced. Right?!?!

We have yet to name him and he will probably have a registered name and a pet name. He comes from champion show lines, but because of his size will not be able to be shown, unless he has a huge growth spurt here soon. The breed standard is only 8-10 lbs and 11”-13” tall. He will probably max out at 5-7 lbs and 7”- 10” tall. So he will be about the same size as my two smallest cats.

6 Week Vacation...

2007-02-15T08:45:00.000-08:00

Well after having 6 weeks off in his pasture Jess got to work. Now imagine a very fresh, yet now out of shape, 2000+ lb horse. The vets were out yesterday to look at two of our old ladies, so by the time they left we were not able to work Jess at all before bring him in to downtown for Valentine's Day. April brought him in and when I go to our lot, her husband was holding Jess. Jess was so fresh that he would not stand tied to the horse trailer. Then murphy's law kicks in...our first ride...a blind couple. We had to get Jess to stand still long enough to load two blind people into the carriage. But on the up side, once they were in, and since we did not have another reservation for 1 1/2 hrs we decided to give them an extended ride. So for 45 min we jogged Jess in a circle. Like I said, "the up side," well they were blind so they did not care how many time's we went around the same tired old block, they couldn't see it and they were having a great time riding. By half way through the night Jess was being a very good boy and standing as quiet as he can be expected to. So now he'll have another few weeks off before we use him again and it will be freshness all over.

The picture is from Christmas...Amanda (15) & Anabelle (2). That's me holding Jess, to give you an idea of his size, I'm about 5'10".

Snow... :-)

2007-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

As you may know I live in So. Cal. and, unless you live in the mountains, you do not get snow here. So imagine my suprise and delight to get to drive into work this morning in the snow. I know that most of you who have "real" weather might disagree, but it was "real" snow, not just sleet, or hail, but real snow. All us girls here at work were like a bunch of little kids, exiceted and running around. It's supposed to be down in the 20's the next couple of nights, so after we blanket the orange trees I think I might try and wet the patio down so we can have an "ice skating rink" in the morning. I soo love the winter months.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we put up our Christmas tree last night. Oh fun!! It took all of 30 sec after we were finished decorating for Widget to excitedly start attacking the decorations. Luckily I had the forethought to realize that with 7 cats/kittens in the house this was going to be a problem and only put our plastic Kmart decorations on. Anyway, within 5 minutes they had undecorated the lower third of the tree, so before getting in the shower I put all the decorations back on. By the time I got out of the shower not only had the once again undecorated the lower third of the tree, but Frank had made himself quite at home about half way up the tree. Of course as soon as I got the camera out he hopped down. What a party pooper!! We all figured that the tree was going to come down some time during the night, so imagine my surprise when I got up this morning to find the tree exactly as I had left it (with the bottom third undecorated). Of course it was only a matter of time this morning before Lucky decided that he was not going to let Frank have all the fun and climbed about 1/3 of the way up the tree, and once again, hopped down before I could get a good picture of him. We figure at this rate the tree should be down by the time we get home this evening, or at least by tomorrow morning. Oh well, thank goodness for artificial trees and plastic decorations!

Sick Horse Update...

2006-11-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

It’s been crazy around here with the horses lately and their health.

Daisy has had arthritis set in pretty bad in her shoulder and after bringing her in from the pasture she turned her ankle on her backend, so she was gimpy on both the front and the back. Her back leg is doing much better, but the arthritis is only as good as the weather. She is going to be placed on a senior feed and bute when needed and retired from everything. God willing she will be with us for another year or so, as long as the arthritis doesn’t get worse. When she stops getting up for her grain, then we will know it’s her time.

Holly also turned her ankle, only on her front end. She was really gimpy for about a week or so. She is doing much better, she ran from April the other day. She did not want to be caught and have her fly spray put on. She will be fine, no permanent problems from the injury. Holly is being retired from the business to be our fun, no hassle show horse. We plan on entering her in the monthly cart classes at the local arena.

Sergeant coliced, again. I talked to the vet about it. It seems that every time the weather changes he does this. The vet said that he has sand colic and when the weather changes some horses tend not to drink enough water, because the temperature of the water changes and is not to their liking. Anyway without enough water their poop gets a little on the dry side and starts pushing out the sand that is sitting in their gut, sound like a good thing, but it’s not. The sand irritates the intestines and upsets their system. Kind of like IBS in humans, gas, blotting, cramping, diarrhea, etc, only horses don’t tolerate the pain and you get colic. He is doing 1000 times better. He will be on a regiment of rice bran and sweet feed on a regular basis. He is also getting a clean out dose of “Sand Clear.” This will happen every night for the next week, then he will get a maintenance does once a week. With all the bran and the pysllium once a week we should be able to stay one step ahead of the colic. Now all I have to do is get the kids who feed him his hay to start putting it in his feeder and not be lazy little shits and through it on the ground.

Knock on wood everyone else seems to be doing okay.

How Stupid Can They Be?

2006-11-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, so my blog has not turned out to be like everyone else’s blog, you know filled with what I did today, and how funny this or that is, or the like, it’s more along the line of a public place for me to vent my frustrations. Well, today’s post is no different.

As some of you might know, for a brief period of time, I worked for the City of Riverside. Now hindsight being 20/20 I see things a lot more clearly than before. I was “let go,” not offered a full time position after my 1 year probation period, because. That’s the reason they gave me, because. Anyway, after looking at the people they let go just before and after me, and the management that took “early retirement,” it’s very clear. Too much knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Brief history…the manager for the city’s wastewater treatment facility plant was on paid administrative leave pending a federal investigation for some no no’s that she was later found guilty of. Well “they” only found a portion of what was really going on and when a few of us admin people (non-management) found out what no no’s were still going on, well you can guess what happened. We no longer had jobs. No no’s like changing numbers on official reports that go to the EPA!

So anyway in today’s paper it was said that the EPA found that the City of Riverside has the cleanest post treatment water in the nation!?!

Let’s all say OH GROSS!! And fresh fish is supposed to be good for you! I think I’ll take my chances with Mad Cow Disease, Avian Flu and Trichinosis! Thank you very much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

2006-11-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to me.
Happy birthday to me.
Happy birthday dear me'e
Happy birthday to me.

Moving Sucks....

2006-11-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

Well we are almost done moving into our new house. I was out of town the better part of last week, so not much got done around the house in the way of packing. Then I got sick on Monday, so not much moving has gotten done since then. But now it's crunch time, we have to have everything moved and cleaned by the end of the day tomorrow so....we are all going back over to the townhouse to clean out the garage and the last of the stuff inside and then it will be clean, clean, clean.

Did I mention that I hate moving.

And of course we are still living out of boxes at the new place, but the cats seem to really love it.

And by the way did I tell you I really hate moving!

In Honor of Stupid People

2006-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

n case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods.

On a Sears hairdryer -- Do not use while sleeping.
(That's the only time I have to work on my hair.)

On a bag of Fritos -- You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
(the shoplifter special?)

On a bar of Dial soap -- "Directions: Use like regular soap."
(and that would be???....)

On some Swanson frozen dinners -- "Serving suggestion: Defrost."
(but, it's just a suggestion.)

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom) -- "Do not turn upside down."
(well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding -- "Product will be hot after heating."
(...and you thought????...)

On packaging for a Rowenta iron -- "Do not iron clothes on body."
(but wouldn't this save me time?)

On Boot's Children Cough Medicine -- "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication."
(We could do a lot to reduce the rate of construction accidents if we could just get those 5 year-olds with head-colds off those bulldozers.)

On Nytol Sleep Aid -- "Warning: May cause drowsiness."
(...I'm taking this because???....)

On most brands of Christmas lights -- "For indoor or outdoor use only."
(as opposed to what?)

On a Japanese food processor -- "Not to be used for the other use."
(now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts -- "Warning: contains nuts."
(talk about a news flash)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts -- "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts."
(Step 3: say what?)

On a child's Superman costume -- "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."
(I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

On a Swedish chainsaw -- "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."
(Oh my God..was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)

On KY Lubercant--"Do not put in eyes or ears"
(and just think someone had to have tryed this to have to warn you about it.........just a thought)

On Chapstick-- "Do not put in eyes"

101 Ways To Annoy People

2006-10-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.

2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."

3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeep Bip..."

5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TV and then pointing it at the screen. <

7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.

8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.

9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub".

10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 98 copies.

11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.

12. Sniffle incessantly.

13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.

14. Name your dog "Dog."

15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."

17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."

18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace".

19. Forget the punchline to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."

20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with Lysol.

21. Practice making fax and modem noises.

22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.

23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.

24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.

25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."

26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with the prophesy."

27. Wear a special hip holster for your
remote control.

28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.

29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.

30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.

31. Give a play-by-play account of a persons every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.

32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."

34. Drum on every available surface.

35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.

36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.

37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.

38. Sew anti-theft detector strips
into peoples backpacks.

39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.

40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.

41. Set alarms for random times.

42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.

43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.

44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.

45. Honk and wave to strangers.

46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunters Orange.

47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.

48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.

49. Wear your pants backwards.

50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.

51. Begin all your sentences with "ooh la la!"

52. ONLY TYPE IN UPPERCASE.

53. only type in lowercase.

54. dont use any punctuation either

55. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.

56. Pay for your dinner with pennies.

57. Tie jingle bells to all your clothes.

58. Repeat everything someone says, as a question.

59. Write "X - BURIED TREASURE" in random spots on all of someone's roadmaps.

60. Inform everyone you meet of your personal Kennedy assassination/UFO/ O.J Simpson conspiracy theories.

61. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, its gone now."

62. Light road flares on a birthday cake.

63. Wander around a restaurant, asking other diners for their parsley.

64. Leave tips in Bolivian currency.

65. Demand that everyone address you as "Conquistador."

66. At the laundromat, use one dryer for each of your socks.

67. When Christmas caroling, sing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" until physically restrained.

68. Wear a cape that says "Magnificent One."

69. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.

70. Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as they read.

71. Pretend your computer's mouse is a CB radio, and talk to it.

72. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.

73. Drive half a block.

74. Inform others that they exist only in your imagination.

75. Ask people what gender they are. Laugh out loud when they tell you.

76. Lick the filling out of all the Oreos, and place the cookie parts back.

77. Cultivate a Norwegian accent. If Norwegian, affect a Southern drawl.

78. Routinely handcuff yourself to furniture, informing the curious that you don't want to fall off "in case the big one comes".

79. Deliberately hum songs that will remain lodged in co-workers brains, such as "Feliz Navidad", the Archies "Sugar" or the Mr. Rogers theme song.

80. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head. like a parakeet.

81. Lie obviously about trivial things such as the time of day.

82. Leave your Christmas lights up and lit until September.

83. Change your name to "AaJohn Aaaaasmith" for the great glory of being first in the phone book. Claim it's a Hawaiian name, and demand that people pronounce each "a."

84. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.

85. Chew on pens that you've borrowed.

86. Wear a LOT of cologne.

87. Listen to 33rpm records at 45rpm speed, and claim the faster speed is necessary because of your "superior mental processing."

88. Sing along at the opera.

89. Mow your lawn with scissors.

90. At a golf tournament, chant "swing-batabatabata-suhWING-batter!"

91. Ask the waitress for an extra seat for your "imaginary friend."

92. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.

93. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions, and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something
about "psychological profiles."

94. Stare at static on the TV and claim you can see a "magic picture."

95. Select the same song on the jukebox fifty times.

96. Never make eye contact.

97. Never break eye contact.

98. Construct elaborate "crop circles" in your front lawn.

99. Construct your own pretend "tricorder," and "scan" people with it, announcing the results.

100. Make appointments for the 31st of September.

101. Invite lots of people to other people's parties

Still Like My Coke

2006-10-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, not sure of how much of this is actually true, but it still makes you think about what we consume.

This is really an eye opener...Water or Coke?

We all know that water is important but,
I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so
weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's
metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger
pains for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a
University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses
of water a day could significantly ease back and
joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy
short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and
difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a
printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the
risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the
risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less
likely to develop bladder cancer.

And now for the properties of COKE:

In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol
carries two gallons of coke in the trunk to remove
blood from the highway after a car accident.

You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and
it will be gone in two days.

To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into
the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one
hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke
removes stains from vitreous China.

To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub
the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap
aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals:
Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
away the corrosion.

To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked
in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke
into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help
loosen grease stains.

It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

For Your Info:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.
Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones
and is a major contributor to the rising increase in
osteoporosis.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the
commercial truck must use the Hazardous material
place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to
clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a coke or a glass
of water?

Have A Great Day and Share It With Others

Have To Brag...

2006-09-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, my bestfriend, April, and I have a carriage business together. About 6 month ago we purchased a "new" horse for our Christmas season. Jesse is a 17hh (5'8" at the shoulder) Belgian (like a Budweiser horse) gelding. Jesse has a condition called Equine Polysaccharide Myopathy (EPSM) which means he lacks the ability to metabolize sugars. Since he can't handle sugars he has to be fed a high fat, high protein diet. This will make the best of horses "hot." In the 6 months we have had Jesse we have had the opportunity to drive him only 4 or 5 times and until last Friday only one of those times was in downtown Riverside. Every Christmas, for the last 13 years, the Mission Inn hotel has put up decorations. Over the years there have been street vendors and entertainment added, but the one consistent draw, besides the Inn, has always been a carriage ride to see the lights. And every year we always do the same route, until this year. The city has decided to take over the event and is going to give each carriage company (there are 3) a dedicated route. So our horses have to be confident in us as drivers, not just comfortable with the route.

Than being said, here's where I get to brag...

Last Friday evening, April and I brought Jesse into downtown for a "training session." We did not exercise Jesse, or lunge him, or anything. We took him from is paddock and loaded him in the trailer and off we went into downtown. He did so well. He went down the busy streets, into the parking lots, over manhole covers, across water in the gutters, stopped at the stop signs and signals and never broke into a trot; although he was walking as fast as he could walk for a short while. About an hour into our "training session" we decided to "test" him. We decided to take him up under the freeway overpass and over into the Metrolink parking lot. Now remembering that horses are a prey animal and they are more flight than fight we headed up Mission Inn Ave towards the freeway. Jesse had his head has high as it would go and he was walking as fast as he could, and it was not until 2 "hot-rodded" trucks went by us while we were under the overpass, and he could not hear me that he kind of "freaked out." Now most horses would not of even gone under the overpass, hello it looks like a cave (were mountain lions and other predators live) and there is a very loud "growling" noise caused by the big trucks going by overhead, yet Jesse went where I asked him to go. And in that brief moment, when he could not hear me, all he did was tuck his haunch's under him as shuffle to the left. I pick up my hands and asked him to step back to the right and he was like, "oh, okay, there you are," and he was fine. When we got to Metrolink we did not encounter 1 or 2, but 3 trains. Whistles blowing, crossing arms, flashing lights, clanging bells. Not hardly a notice. We were soooooo proud of Jesse, then came the realization that we had to go back under the overpass to get back to the trailer. Nowthat he was aware of what the overpass was and would be anticipating it and we figured there was going to be one of three outcomes. 1. He would refuse to go under at all. 2. He would spook and run off, or into a car or oncoming traffic. or 3. He would, although not sure of himself, walk under the overpass without a problem.
As with all freeway offramp/onramp overpasses there is a signal light on both sides. So of course just as we are approaching the underpass the light turns red. So there we are first in line, waiting for the light to change, all the while Jesse has time to stand there and think about the "mountain lion" waiting inside to eat him. And to add injury to insult the right lane was blocked with more horse eating items such as orange cones, flashing warning lights, and caution tape flutter in the breeze, forcing us to use the left lane and leaving us no way out in case of a mental melt down on Jesse's part. The light turns green and Jesse step off as if he knew for a fact that there was no horse eating mountain lion roaring under that bridge. And as luck would have it, just as we stepped under the overpass, here it comes, the extra large charter tour bus with the air brakes on the left, the group of boisterous teenage boys on the right and somewhere in the middle of it all a car horn. Jesse took it like a pro, although a very nervous one, he never broke from a walk. His head was as high as he could possibly hold it and he was as collected as he could possibly be, but he walked, with my reassurance through the cave of the horse eating mountain lion. As we cleared the far side of the overpass, we thought we were in the clear, then once again, the light turned red. Now like any small kid who jumps into bed to keep the boogie monster under the bed from grabbing his feet, most horses would run from the scary noise behind them, or at least not stand still for one moment, much less the duration of a traffic signal. Not Jesse, just as the perfect boy he is, I asked him to stand at that light and he did not move a muscle. Now whether it was because he was scared to move for fear the mountain lion was going to get him, or he was fearing me more than that mountain lion, I'm sure I'll never know. But I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of him. He is worth 10 times what we paid for him, more than his weight in gold, all 2300 pounds of him.
We made it back to the trailer in one piece and he got his reward of a whole bag of carrots.

And if anyone out there thinks that their horse could do the same, while pulling a carriage on a cool, breeze fall night. Let me know how much your asking for them.

As I Mature

2006-09-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Drew's Great!!

2006-09-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Well after all the hell we went through with Drew's grades last year, I think he might actually be catching on to the whole middle school thing. We just received is first set of progress reports and his grades are as follows:

Algebra 79.2% (C+)
Hist/Geo 100.00% (A+)
Adv. Lang Arts 82% (B) (Class Avg. 76%, so he is above avg!)
Science 100% (A+) (Class Avg. 96.5%, again above avg!)

I AM SOOOOO PROUD OF HIM.

Hershey

2006-09-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

I kind of forgot about Hershey yesterday...so here she is in all her glory "Super Dumma"

New Pictures of the Babies

2006-09-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

Lucky Luciano

Bugsey Segal (The perfect son)

Frank Sinatra (ol' blue eyes)

Little Girl (aka Sammy Davis/Sam)

Widget (sleeping in his favorite spot)

Wifes Revenge (sorry I had to, it was too funny)

2006-09-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

A wife arrived home and found her husband in bed with another woman.

With superhuman strength borne of fury, she dragged him out of the house, into the tool shed in their back yard and put his penis in a vice.

Securing it tightly and removing the handle of the vice, she then picked up a hacksaw.

Terrified, her husband screamed, "Stop! Please! You aren't going to cut it off, are you?"

Placing the saw in her husband's hand and with a gleam of revenge in her eye, the wife replied, "Of course not! I'm going to set fire to the shed. You do whatever you have to do!"

Back to the Grind

2006-09-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Okay…it’s about this time that I am really missing Priest Lake. It has been unbearably hot the last few days. As of right now (9:44am) it is 92° and 31% humidity. Looks like it’s going to be another hot one.

My computer is still down and out, so I am having to update my blog using other peoples computers, so it’s not going to be that often that it is updated, but I’ll do my best.

We had an eventful 3-day weekend. I worked Saturday (as usual), we had 3 weddings so I was out and about for about 13 hours (7:15 am - 8:30pm). Sunday was Brandon’s birthday and we had a party for him and Drew at the in-law’s house. Brandon did not feel good, Drew was playing video games with his cousin, which left me by myself to have to play nice with my brother-in-law and his wife. Monday started out pretty slow, we all slept in, recovering from the over indulgence in food from Sunday. We had planned to go out to breakfast, but that never happened. At about 4:30pm or so, I was sitting at Brandon’s computer in the kitchen, Brandon was watching television and Drew was upstairs playing video games in our bedroom. I heard what I thought was a siren on the T.V. and asked Brandon what he was watching. About that time, Drew came bounding down the stairs saying that there were fire engines parked outside. Well, long story short, our building was on fire. The townhouse unit at the opposite end of our building was on fire. There dryer, apparently, had an issue, the sprinkler system did its job, and by the time the fire department got there the fire was all but out. However, the amount of black, stinky smoke was immense. It has taken 2 days to get that smell out of my nose.

Anyway, all is back to normal, and it’s good to be back at work.

Take Time

2006-08-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

I received this from some one and thought that it was worth reposting.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Huff Lake (ID)

2006-08-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

We're back in California, but we're wishing we were still in WA or ID (at least I am). The cat's are all happy now that we are home. The kittens were happy to see us and got over our absence very quickly, however, the two older cats were pissed to say the least. Widget took about 30 min's before he would come down stairs and Hershey took about two hours. She should her displeasure by bitting Drew (typical).

The Invitation - Oriah

2006-08-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

What I Want After the Week I've Had!

2006-08-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

New Day

2006-08-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so for awhile now this has been my place to bitch and vent, so I'm sure everyone is just as tired of it as I am. So just one last time and then I through with it, at least for a while.

Yesterday was Princes' funeral. I have never been to anything Catholic, it was a beautiful service. We filled St. Catherin's (about 250-300 people) and if God ever wanted to get rid of the majority of California's punk bands he could have in one shot. It was quite the motley bunch.

After the service there was the reception. Unlike most funeral reception's this one was held at InCahoots. It used to be a country/western bar, now it's just a bar/nightclub (non-denominational).

Drew went with us (yes he was aloud inside, no he did not drink). He is excited to tell his friends that at 13 he was allowed inside a bar. Princes' son Paul (also a friend of Drew's) played on stage with some of his dad's old bandmates/friends.

To say the least, it was not your typical reception, but it was what Prince would of wanted.

We all "partied" a little too hard, celabrating Princes' life. We will miss him and we all still harbor a lot of ill feel's for the person who killed him, but he ended life on top, doing what he loved to do.

Brandon, Rich, Chris and Bob, are keeping the sound company alive with all net proceeds going into a trust for Paul.

Anyway...no more on that subject.

Stupid Girl

2006-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

Okay for those of you who are not Pink fans, here are the lyrics that I referenced in my previous blog.

Stupid Girls Stupid girl, stupid girls, stupid girls
Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
Porno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

Go to Fred Segal, you'll find them there
Laughing loud so all the little people stare
Looking for a daddy to pay for the champagne
(Droping names)
What happened to the dreams of a girl president
She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent
They travel in packs of two or three
With their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny tees

Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
Oh where, oh where could they be?

Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
Porno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Maybe if I act like that, flipping my blond hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

(Break it down now)

The disease's growing, it's epidemic
I'm scared that there ain't a cure
The world believes it and I'm going crazy
I cannot take any more
I'm so glad that I'll never fit in
That will never be me
Outcasts and girls with ambition
That's what I wanna see

Disasters all around
World despaire
Their only concern
Will they f**k up my hair

Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
Porno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Maybe if I act like that, flipping my blond hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

[Interlude]
Oh my god you guys, I totally had more than 300 calories
That was so not sexy, no
Good one, can I borrow that?
[Vomits]
I WILL BE SKINNY

(Do ya thing, do ya thing, do ya thing)
(I like this, like this, like this)
Pretty will you **** me girl, silly as a lucky girl
Pull my head and suck it girl, stupid girl!
Pretty would you **** me girl, silly as a lucky girl
Pull my head and suck it girl, stupid girl!

Baby if I act like that, flipping my blond hair back
Push up my bra like that, stupid girl!

Maybe if I act like that, that guy will call me back
Porno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Maybe if I act like that, flipping my blond hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

Men (aka little boys)

2006-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I think I have finally figured this whole thing out. Men for the most part, and I am only speaking about the majority of the population, because there are a few out there who do not fit this profile, are insecure little boys and don’t think that women can do anything for themselves, especially if the man in question can’t complete the task at hand. This has all come about, because once again, my abilities to park my truck were questioned. Only this time the “man” had to stand there and watch me park my truck. When I noticed him watching me I stopped the truck and asked him if something was wrong. He just waived his hand at me and told me to continue parking because he wanted to see how I got my truck into that little space. (Side note: this is the same man who cannot parallel park his own truck, but instead backs the rear tires into the curb and leaves the front end hanging out, which according to him is because he “doesn’t have time to bother with parking it correctly.” RIGHT!) Anyway and then to save face, after I got out of the truck, he tired to criticize my parking job by telling me I was not far enough over. I pointed out that I, in fact, was well within the white line’s and that I did not park right up against the curb because I did not want the plants to scratch the paint, the birds in the tree’s to poop on my truck or the sprinklers to get my rims wet. After that he pretty much just walked away. From the brief conversation we had, it has come to my attention that my ability to park my truck every night is somewhat of a common topic amongst the men in my complex. Drew even pointed it out by saying that I have to be the most popular person, in the complex, to talk about.So after consulting with several different men and women, it has become clear that most men believe women are all helpless. Okay, I can see how this can sometimes work to my advantage, however my pride does seem to get in the way some and this is not the case with my husband, for the most part, because he hate’s it when I play the helpless little girl to get out of doing something. But why do men think of women this way? Well we can’t really blame all those corny 50’s, 60’s and some 70’s TV show’s, most of today’s show’s portray women as independent and capable. I know that some men were raised in a home where the man was the boss and the wife was the little lady of the house, but with the majority of homes having to be 2-income homes, women have taken on more responsibility. So why? Well, I honestly think it’s the whole dumb bimbo thing. You know, people like Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and the such. Girls seem to want to emulate these proverbial dumb blondes. Women who have been sensationalized by the media, not for their accomplishments and brains, but for their sexcapades and looks. Hey far be it from me to knock some one for using their looks to get ahead, but there has to be substance and brains behind the beauty. I think Pink summed it up best with her song “Stupid Girls.” I don’t know, that’s my opinion, so, um, yeah.

Services

2006-07-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Not that anyone who reads my blog is going to be there, but services for Prinece will be next Monday, 7/31 at 10:00am at St. Catherins in Riverside. There will be a reception at Incahoots following. I will not be available, as if I am ever available during these hours.

Not Changing A Thing

2006-07-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

I have no intention of changing my blog. What I said, and how I feel have not changed. It was released today that the woman, driving her 2005 Dodge truck (gee there's a suprise!) changed lanes in front of him, he hit her, lost control of the bike and was thrown 300ft. Although he was wearing his helmet and gear he did not make it to the hospital. I guess she figures at least she was safe! Like I said before and I will say again IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT SAFELY DON'T OWN IT! When they start requiring people to be licensed to drive a truck like they do a motorcycle then I might change my mind until then or until you can prove to me otherwise all these "soccer mom's" are nothing but a menace and I will not curb my opinion or my mouth.

STUPID F*!@KING DRIVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

2006-07-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

First thing I have to say is that if you are in any way offended by this post you can go to hell! That being said....

If you know me at all you know that I hate stupid drivers more than anything else, especially people who buy an SUV or truck because "they want someting safe" and don't know how to drive it. YOU'R A F*!KING MENACE! Because I pull a horse trailer on a weekly basis, I regularly deal with these f*!king idiots and sadly most of them are women. Yesterday one of Brandon's closest friends (since childhood) and a friend of mine was tragically killed when an idiot driver, who was too busy doing whatever and not paying attention, pulled out in front of him while he was riding his motorcycle. All I can say is that this has been a pretty hard thing for all of us to deal with.

Mark Hernandez (aka Prince) was a lot of things...he was the bassist for Kill Allen Wrench "Punks most important band," he was a father, he was a goal oriented person with limitless potential, he was a good friend and all this has been brought to an abupt end because some a**hole was not paying attention.

I know what a lot of you are saying that because he was riding a motorcycle he was taking that risk, well you know what F*!@K YOU!!! That is the biggest cop-out I have ever heard, motorcycle or not half the people out there with drivers license should not be permitted to drive PERIOD!!! Like I said I drive a pick up and pull a horse trailer, let me point out the dumba** broad in the mustang that almost clipped the front end of my truck this last Friday evening as she cut in front of me changing lanes on the freeway, or the woman, who after backing her mini-van out of a drive way, across a street that is over 4 vehicles wide, hit my parked car (that had been parked there for over an hour) so hard that I could not open my door to stop her as she drove off. After Brandon jumped out the passenger side and flagged her down she said, and I quote "I did not know I even hit you, I'm not used to driving something this big. I've driven a Honda all my life." Oh my god, it took everything I had to not punch the b*!#h. IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT SAFELY, DON'T BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means, change lanes, get out of people's way, get on and off the free way, backup and paralle park. And I don't care if you have not been in an "at fault" accident in "forever," how many of those "not at fault" accidents happened because of your stupidity!!! I hate all of you stupid f*!@king soccer mom's who buy a mini-van or suv because you want to be safe! You're a menace! And I'm sorry, just because you are 78 years old and have been driving for a million years does not mean that you are entitled to drive, it you can't pass the test you damn well can't drive. And if you can't read and understand the english language well enough to take and pass the written test then you shouldn't be driving either. AND I SWEAR TO GOD THAT THE NEXT MAN THAT ASKES ME WHO PARALELL PARKS MY TRUCK FOR ME OR IF I DRIVE IT UP OVER THE CURB AND THROUGH THE GRASS TO PARK IT, IS GOING TO GET PUNCHED! JUST BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN AND YOU ARE A MAN AND YOU CAN'T DO IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I CAN'T!!!!!! F*!k you all, because of you a little boy woke up this morning to find out that he will NEVER get to see his father again, a family woke up to the news that they will never spend another holiday, or birthday or any day with a person they loved, friends woke up to the news that they will never get to enjoy the companionship and company of some one they care very much about and hundered of fans learned that a muscian they idolized will never pick up another instument.

A Few More....

2006-07-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

Sergeant

Dumb Blondes???

2006-07-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's my take on the whole dumb blonde thing. Not too long ago I read that less than 10% of all blondes are natural blondes. Then to be P.C. most people say that not all blondes are dumb, there are a few smart ones out there. So wouldn't one conclude that since there are only a few natural blondes, we are the smart ones and the dumb ones are all the wannabe blondes? Kind of sounds good to me...all those chemicals affecting their brains... or maybe they wern't to bright to begin with and they are all looking for an excuse??

The Crew

2006-07-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here is my "family" at least the pic's that I have available on this computer....

Hershey & Widget

Dottie, Frankie & Bugsy (Cali & Lola went to a new home)

Drew & Brandon

There is also Sergeant, but I don't have a pic on this computer right now.

First Posting

2006-07-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm new at this so bear with me while I figure this out. Maybe I'll ask Drew, you know he's 13 going on 23 so he know's everything. Today is my one day off this week, it's 2:12pm and I still have not gotten dressed. Hey it's my day off and I'll use it as I please, besides it supposed to cool down to 106 today. Yesterday at 11:38 am it was 104 so when I came home from work I took a nap with the kittens. Lucky is trying to help my type this, so if you see wierd things in this post, you can thank him. In case you are not familier with my "herd" I am the proud mother of 1 human son, 5 not so human son's and 2 not so human daughters. Drew is my one and only human son (can you believe he's going to be 14 next month!) and then there is Sergeant (horse), Widget (cat), Frank Sinatra (cat), Lucky Luciano (cat), Bugsy Segal (cat), Hershey (cat) and Dottie (cat, name pending). This does not inclued the 2 rats that Drew has as pets or the 7 other horses that we have as carriage horses. I have no life and way too many animals, but I like it that way. They love me unconditionally and don't give me near the grief that most 2-legged animals give me. Anyway, this is my first post so yeah and yeah and yeah....