Home

New Year's Real Solutions.

  • Jan. 8th, 2010 at 5:59 AM
So, I'm kind of a week late because I kind of missed out on doing New Year's Eve (that's for another entry yet, I promise). Tonight I did a do-over NYE, continuing a family-and-friend tradition that's gone on for the past 18 years, at least: the kids I used to babysit come over and we get buffet food and go to Meijer and load up on more sugar and snacks, we go play video games and board games, and ring in the New Year with confetti. It's no raucous party, it's no explosive celebration, but it is my New Year's. This year we did it without the confetti, because I didn't feel like cleaning up the mess (and it gets verymessy), but the rest of night was the same so now I'm officially considering it 2010.

New years mean new starts!

Here are some resolutions. Some real ones. Real solutions. Wow, that worked out handily, didn't it? Some are new, some are old, like the ones that spring up every year but maybe with some slight changes so as to differentiate them from previous, unsuccessful years, and some work in concert with each other: similar concepts with different end-results.

*be creative(outside of school) EVERY day. Doesn't matter how small a show it is. Sit down and write a very short short story. Draw a doodle. Make a craft. Something. Somehow. It doesn't take long. I need to get over my creative blocks and realize that just because I'm in art school doesn't mean I can't make art outside of it.

*contribute in some way or another, every week, to the new Detroit blog my mom and I set up: http://detroitbitbybit.blogspot.com. (though this also falls under the creativity umbrella, it's got an actual purpose in my mind's eye, so it warrants a separate resolution)

*be more active as a Metro-Detroiter, for Detroit's sake. In the past year I've made a ton of new friends who are really devoted to Detroit, and my love affair with the city is going through a renaissance. I've been really lucky to have these people in my life and moreover, to have this city in my life, even though she and I haven't always seen eye to eye.

*add more "handmade" into my life, buying *and* selling (locally, etsy, etc) and reduce my commercial consumerism.

*be more grateful/appreciative, for all the myriad wonderful things in my life. Too often, I get bogged down in the bad times, the bad things. I don't say thank you enough. Thank you. I said it. It's a start.

*become more active in some aspects online (blogging, finally setting up a real website for blogging and arts/creative stuff, etc.) and less in some aspects (uhm, Bejeweled Blitz on facebook? Looking up questions to the random, pointless questions that race through my brain at any minute? Unnecessary.)

*stop saying sorry so much, and think about why I'm saying it when I do use it.

*cook more, goshdarnit, and use locally-grown/locally-produced ingredients whenever possible. I'm not a *talented* cook, but I have faith I can learn. When not cooking at home (and, well, even when cooking at home) try new things! After an involuntary week of a clear-liquids-only diet, my taste buds are crying out for new experiences. Who am I to deprive them? Foodie-land, here I come. My palate has expanded considerably just in the past year, and there's no reason to stop where I'm at now. Old dog, new tricks.

*be healthier overall. Normally I want to lose xx amounts of pounds, and though I'm not 100% happy with my weight right now, I'm generally feeling pretty good & confident about my body. As long as I'm making a concerted effort to get out and do more/run more/whatever more/and take in less, then I'm not going to worry about the numbers on the scales. I have 2 mostly-working legs, a paid-for membership at my school's gym, a dog who loves to run, and a horse who needs riding. It'll work itself out.

*ACTUALLY keep track of every book I read this year, and write at least a few sentences about what I thought about it. I've tried this every year for the past 3 years and each time peter out at the halfway mark, it seems. I'm always reading, I always have a notebook with me, and it takes like four seconds to write a few sentences.

*do not fall for just anyone. This is the most important. I feel like this could be a big year for falling, so I don't want to waste it. I've done that enough the past few years. You won't fool me again.

*I almost forgot this one, but it's kind of silly. Maybe not. The art department at my school is running a supply drive for the Michigan Humane Society, in memory of a former art supervisor. I'm making it my goal to donate at least one thing, once a week, till the drive is over at the end of the semester. Baby steps to greatness.

What are yours? Do you bother? I do every year and fail every year. I suppose my last one should be:

*do not fail at the resolutions this year.

^&*$ing fluffy fins

  • Jan. 8th, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Oh, ffs. I get a new fish, and suddenly Bu gets sick. (And no, their tanks are not connected in any way whatsoever.)

Bu has just a little bit of cotton-y white fluff at the tips of his ventral fins. I thought white fluff was columnaris, but I can't find anything from searching about just fluff with no underlying sores or obvious fin damage. Mostly I see "saddles", mouth sores, and fin sores.

Either way, what is recommended for columnaris? I have malachite green, triple sulfa, Jungle parasite, and Jungle fungus. I don't usually put salt in, but I did just now.

He's in an unfiltered 2.5 that stays between about 70 and 73. He may still be stressed from the trip back from my parents' for the vacation. We were there for two weeks, came back last Sunday, and he was noticeably pretty unhappy early this week. Also, I brought my jug of water from home, so his tank just changed from Yakima water to Seattle water during the water change today. I didn't think they were that different? Additionally, though, his face is dark brown instead of black right now.

Helouise is still completely striped out, and she clearly did not like the bus ride home, and I think the store guy was rather rough while scooping her. :(

Jan. 8th, 2010

  • 12:27 AM
Hey all haven't posted in a while, seems to be my running theme here.

Just wondering if anyone has heard about this yet?

http://arlb.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Turtle_Hyde_Park_Bait_Dog

It's about a female APBT found around Hyde Park in Boston, it's really sad. Check out the link for more info, but I figured I throw it out there because there is a $3000 reward foe anyone with any info leading up to an arrest!!

Shes doing really well check out her videos!!

Jan. 7th, 2010

  • 11:55 PM

23:55 @ohrebecca I've 'muted' mine. Now that you can hang out, I don't know if I can! I might be in the process of moving to Ann Arbor. :( #

00:12 @ohrebecca my schedule at umich is 5x a week, so it's too hard to commute. Also I got grant money to pay for a sublet :) #

14:20 I got my apartment! Who wants to live with me #

15:54 @yelpmichigan I'll be busy packing to move to Ann Arbor! #

20:34 so glad to be off of the roads. Now to pack up my stuff and get to a squared :) #

Jan. 7th, 2010

  • 11:38 PM
My fishy Charles Emerson Winchester the Third died bit before December. His poor little body is corpsified and gross. Down the porcelain tunnel to heaven he went.

Last night I bought got a new fishy for Christmas from [info]kittencuffs!

He is pretty and a little on the short side. Red and purple, quiet dark. =)

And I think he has fin rot. =(

(Pics to come when I get my camera back from [info]kittencuffs house.)

EDIT: It's been a while since I had a fin rotted fish. What's best to get rid of it?

Jan. 7th, 2010

  • 10:16 PM
Hi all! Been lurking this community for a few days. I looked all over for a post that featured a similar dilemma, but I couldn't find one, so here I am!

I'll be joining SUNY Binghamton's equestrian team in a few weeks and I've recently started taking formal lessons again. Most of my experience lies in working with OTTBs, taking them from the track and retraining them as trail horses, so I haven't had much use for formal riding. But now that I'll be showing for the first time, I need my ring lessons. :( I'm also a beginner jumper. I've never jumped higher than the 2ft-ish cross country jumps on trail.

My problem is this: I got kicked in both knees when I was younger, and a ton of fluid built up. I wound up needing surgery in both knees when I was in my senior year of high school, and my surgeon also told me I have tendonitis. (I'm almost 22 now, if that matters.) Since my surgery, the recovery process has been slow. The surgery didn't help much, and it also caused my Achilles tendon to become very tight.

I've ALWAYS had a problem with keeping my heels down, but the problem got worse after my surgeries. And now that I am starting to jump higher, my trainer has noted that I have a huge problem with keeping my weight in my toes, and not my heels. Which I can get away with while I'm flatting, sometimes, and I can even get away with it on smaller jumps, but it's a terrible habit. And I wouldn't be able to get away with it as I jump higher.

My questions for you:
1. Are there any exercises I can do to stretch out my Achilles tendon? I know some, such as standing on the edge of a step and stretching, but it doesn't seem to help much. Any other suggestions?
2. How about exercises to strengthen my lower leg? I have very strong thigh muscles, but I have trouble controlling my lower leg. I assume strength training would help.
3. Has anyone had similar problem(s)?

Thanks so much!

Buy More Fish syndrome strikes again.

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 6:36 PM
So, guess who is sitting on my desk, vaguely glaring at my boy Bu?

Did you guess a teeny tiny crowntail female? Because you'd be right.

Jan. 7th, 2010

  • 8:27 PM
A friend finally loaned me his thumb drive so i could get copies of all the pictures he's taken over the past six months or so.


This one best captures the essence of Rosa: a cheerfully annoying blur.

That's a lotta dog )

Secret Santa

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 5:27 PM
Hello!

I just wanted to let everyone and oneradchick and Lilah know that Rocky's present arrived today. Due to the massive snow storm it is unclear as to when Rocky will be home again to enjoy it and I will then post photos!

Everything looks wonderful!! I can't wait until he get to play with it.

In a more disconcerting note. I heard a rumor last night, that the stupid town in which we reside is having discussions about a bully breed ban. Right now my plan is to go to the next city council meeting and find out more about what the crap is going on. Grr. I will move before I will live in a town with a ban.

Mod post

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 4:55 PM
To whom it may concern:

Is there a particular reason why a recent post with nearly 40 comments on it was deleted today/last night?

It was the one with the grey horse jumping in the first 2 pictures, followed by a bunch of sales photos including a paint ridden in sidereins. It was a photo dump with no lj-cut.

Deleting posts is against the rules. That thread has a lot of good conversation in it that is now gone.

To everyone else:

Does anyone recall the name of the OP on that thread? I made the mistake of not writing the name down when I first issued a warning about not using an lj-cut, and when I went to put the name on my list this morning (oh yes, there is a blacklist!) the post was already deleted. Any help would be appreciated.

Dressage Lessons in NEPA?

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 4:59 PM
This might be a stab in the dark, but does anyone know of any Dressage barns in NEPA worth going to that have lesson openings (next Tuesday or Wednesday would be nice - hah!). I have one week of break left and with the ice and snow and lack of a proper arena, riding my own horse hasn't really happened much. I could use a tune-up, anyway.

For the record, I technically have done up to probably 2nd level, but have dabbled in several different sports of the years.

Thank you much!

I love this one, and I’ve got a bad cold and busy today so you’re getting a rerun but I’m sure a lot of my newer readers never saw it.  Feel free to share the worst typos you’ve seen lately!  My favorite is the “well manured” horse.  :)

Thanks to Forthefutureofthebreed for supplying today’s guest blog, which should be saved as a reference for anyone writing horse ads who isn’t quite sure about terminology. Taking a little time to learn makes you look much more professional and helps get your horses attention from the kind of good homes you would like for them to have.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Yup, that little filly colt is out of my best stud…”

Why can’t horse people figure out how to use correct terminology on their websites and in their stallion or sale ads? The amount of effort you put into your web site or sale ads (not adds; ad is short for “advertisement”) are equal to the amount of effort you put into the breeding and care of your horses. If you are an illiterate, stupid idiot, and use misspelled words and lame terminology, no one with any class is going to do business with you – only other illiterate, stupid idiots.

And, it’s horses for “sale”, not “horses for sell”. You consign your horse to a sale to sell him. I see people write, “I’m going to sale my horse”. It’s “sell”, you uneducated, backwoods moron. At least it’s only four letters…

How difficult is it to remember that a horse is BY a stallion, and OUT OF a mare? Horses are NOT out of a stallion. Foals literally come out of a mare. I’ve seen some people actually say “by a mare”, too.

How hard is it to spell “CONFORMATION” correctly? I mean, there really IS a difference between the definitions of conformation and confirmation.
Conformation – The shape or body structure of a horse.
Confirmation – Verification, evidence, or proof of something.

If you’re referring to the breed of a horse, it’s spelled “breed”.

It’s spelled “bred” if you mean, I bred my mare, or that mare is well-bred.

“Bred” is also found in the word, Thoroughbred. It’s not spelled Thorobred, Throughbreed, Thorobreed, or Thoroughbreed. FHOTD in: Also, Thoroughbred is a breed, not a synonym for “purebred.” You do not have a Thoroughbred Appaloosa unless of course it is a cross between Thoroughbred and Appaloosa.

“Bread” is that stuff you buy at the store to make sandwiches with.

Horse colors and parts are not difficult to understand or spell, either.

“Sorrel” is one word used to describe a red horse. It’s not spelled “sorrow” or “sorrell” or “sorel”.

A “palomino” is a golden horse with a white mane and tail. It’s not a palamino with a white main and tale. Sometimes they are “gaited”, not gated. A gate is one of those things with a latch that lets you go from one side of a fence to the other.

All horses have “pasterns”, not pasturns. You know, the part between the fetlock and the hoof.

They also have “withers”, not whithers.

And what is it with people who use the phrase, “half-brother to so-and-so”, meaning they only share the same sire? How many other foals are by that stallion? Possibly hundreds? How many foals does a mare usually have? One a year, maybe? Do you think that saying “half-brother to” would provide more information if we all knew it meant they shared the same dam?

No, you’d rather pick the name of some famous, well-known horse by the same stallion and call it a half-brother…it makes your horse appear to be so much better quality than he really is, doesn’t it? Many horses who only share the same sire can be as different as night and day; horses who are out of the same mare tend to resemble each other, in phenotype and ability.

Horses are not people, and the relationship terminology is different.

Half-sibling – A relationship of two foals out of the same dam, but by different sires; does not apply to horses that only share the same sire.

Another very common, misused word is “produce” to describe what a stallion has sired. Mares produce, not stallions. Stallions sire; sometimes their foals are referred to as “get”, “progeny” or “offspring”. I don’t know how many times I’ve read, “My stud produced a champion.” No, your stallion sired a champion.

“My stallion is a homozygous black Tobiano”. Great. Which is it? Homozygous for black or homozygous for Tobiano, or both? You really need to be more specific if you’re going to use big words and fancy genetic terms. And you should have a test from a reputable genetics testing lab to prove your claims. Your Tobiano with a QH or TB parent is NOT homozygous for Tobiano. It is impossible.

FHOTD in: Also, there is no such word as homogygous. Really. Hideozygous is a word I invented on this blog to describe horses that are only stallions because they are homozygous. :)

Not all foals for sale are “halter prospects”. People who show quality halter Quarter Horses and Paints really can tell if they’re halter prospects or not. Your weanling from foundation working horse stock isn’t going to be a competitive halter horse. Just because he is stocky right now, it doesn’t qualify him as a “halter prospect”. Most of them are not.

Why are all your colts “stallion prospects”? I’d love to know the answer to this one. Just because they haven’t been gelded (not gilded) yet, doesn’t make them “stallion prospects”. That little dun colt you raised that you’ve priced at $1,000 isn’t stallion quality. And you ranch horse and foundation QH breeders: all of your male foals are NOT stallion material. They really aren’t. Truly excellent weanling stallion prospects are registered, and worth at least $5,000, usually more. True stallion quality colts are only among the top 5% of any breed; the other 95% needs to be gelded. Just because he’s a popular color or by some famous stallion doesn’t mean he deserves to remain intact (not in tact). His dam is probably a no-name, low quality, do-nothing mare of undistinguished breeding. Most great stallions have great dams and even greater pedigrees, and they are capable of actually being competitive at the top levels of the breed.

WHY are all of your fillies (it’s not spelled phillies or fillys) and mares, “broodmare prospects”? Must you breed them all? Just because they are capable of having a foal, doesn’t mean they should be bred. Do you know that a mare really worthy of being a broodmare should be, in the very least, the same level of quality as a good stallion? Most mares will be bred at some point in their lifetime, just because they CAN be bred. That cheap stallion down the road isn’t going to magically fix your mare’s crooked legs. And, no, having a foal isn’t going to “settle her down”, either. She’s still going to be a crooked-legged nasty bitch after she has her foal, and that foal will most likely be just like her.

Also, why is it people say that “nothing matters past the first three generations” of a pedigree, yet they will use a name “just off the papers” to make their horse sound better? You know, if your horse doesn’t have anyone worth a shit in the first three generations of hispedigree , he’s probably a piece of shit, too. The true value of your horse is probably quite different than your idea of the value of your horse.

And, what moron decided that the term, “tri-colored” applied to horses? What you consider “tri-colored” are just bay Paints or Pintos! You know, brown and white body, with a black mane and tail and legs. Would you call a bay horse with white socks “tri-colored”, too? Tri-colored is a dog term.

Finally, can someone tell me the difference between an “own son of” and a “son of”? Is an own son better?


</p>

Better late than never

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 2:43 PM
A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY
by Joan Frye Williams (http://www.georgeandjoan.com)
with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the day before Christmas, all still in the stacks.
Senior staff had already gone home to relax.
The materials nestled all snug on their shelves,
Though we’ve trimmed pages’ hours and can’t afford elves.
Read more... )

Snow for dummies

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 7:09 PM
We're getting an unusually long spell of snow here in the UK that people aren't used to. Normally in winter, I barrier my horse's legs against mud and mud rash, but snow is a novelty and I'm not sure what to do regarding leg protection. Do you put vaseline inside their hooves to keep the snow from balling up? Do you also use barrier cream on the legs against the snow? Do horses get rain scald type scabs from the snow, as well?

My mare came in from the field with balls of snow in her feathers so I spent some time "de-icing" her tonight . . .

Tags:

Jan. 7th, 2010

  • 9:09 AM
The Big Red Book of the Jew's Brother... the big blue book of Hebrew poetry.

Doing course reserves, again. A book requested is called "poems". Ask the teacher if he has anything more specific than that as there is nothing under the author's name called "poems". He doesn't remember, but it's big and blue.

resolved for 2009 - how'd i do???

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 7:02 PM
dug this out...thought i'd do a little review and see how i did. thinking about what i want to resolve this year.



* lose 10 more pounds appx. but do not get caught up in it and lose more than appx 10 more pounds.
well, so succeeded then failed and am starting to succeed again. travel and medication has made this a very up and down year for weight. i would like to be in peek condition by the end of this year and preferably by the time i get back to sf in july.

* read some books that are not required reading for work, committee, reviews etc.
serious success. i'd guess i've read (according to goodreads) at least 60 books that were not required for work.

* begin to write 3 books. i know what they are already.
eh. i started a novel that i think i have to entirely redo. this will definitely be a huge part of my resolutions this year. the picture book is in my head and will exist someday!

* become a librarian 2
success

* take travel in stride. enjoy myself. don't stress. emjoy every second.
better and easier than i had imagined. no problem.

* try new things. foods that gross me out. heights that scare me. walks that seem too long. people that seem not for me.
i've been pretty good about this as well.

* appreciate my husband every day.
easy. at least 99% of days.

* don't worry about friends not missing me, not loving me when i return, not caring that i'm gone. friends who are friends will be friends.
didn't do so well with this before i left and for the first six months or so of the trip. ironically as i am getting, in a way, more homesick, i am also feeling way way way less of this worry.

* send postcards.
yep!

* kick ass at work until the second i leave.
i think i did! i never stopped caring or trying.

* save money.
i would call this a half win. we did well about saving finally at the end of our time in sf, which was the beginning of 2009. but of course the rest of the year has been only spending, and we spent more than we wanted to in europe. hmmm.

* keep my mouth shut if anything that is going to come out might have the potential to hurt someone ever. remember to journal if i need to vent. or talk to ian. he's my other half and he can hear anything in my brain, uncensored.
i don't think i was perfect about this, but i will say that i really tried. and was better than ever in the past. and plan to continue working on this goal.

* grow my hair. trim it to keep it nice, but no chopping the shit off when i get bored.
success. although i have to say i'm tired of long hair already and it's not LONG by most standards. i already have my haircut picked out for when i get home. but i did grow pretty much the whole year...barely even trimmed.

* don't fart if my butt is touching ian's body anywhere. he hates that.
fail.

* cook food at home (as far into the year as i can).
eh. i don't really remember how we were about this. but we've been great about it in december!

* cook several delicious meals for my parents/family.
i did i did!

* enjoy every second i spend with my family.
i enjoyed most seconds!

* cry at my sister's wedding and cry at my brother's wedding and look cute at both, but not as cute as the brides. screw the grooms - i can look cuter than them.
shockingly i didn't cry at either. although i think ian did at both. ahem. i did, however, love love love being at both and being in both wedding parties. i consider both of their marriages a huge highlight of my year and am so excited that brock and ali are officially part of the fam now!

* open mind, no judgement.
i did pretty ok at this, i have to say.

* live my personal morals and values every day as best i can.
better than ever. easier when traveling. the real test of this will be the second half of 2010 when i'm back in the bay.

* take enough time for me.
yes.

* learn french.
hmmm. worked on it. but i wouldn't call this a full win.

* print this list and carry it with me.
yep.

* take folic acid.
yep.

* just be me as best as i can be.
don't know who else to be.

* think about forgiveness. forgive as best i can. do i forgive too much? is there such a thing?
i decided there is not. not for me. so success.

* make volunteering in the west bank happen.
it's happening!

* open my eyes, mind, and heart to every place i see, every culture i enter, every person i meet, every bit of the world i have the chance to explore.
as best i have been able to!

Water Bucket Cozy

  • Jan. 7th, 2010 at 1:54 AM
I need to throw out a product recommendation: Wild Angel Cozy. It's a cozy that goes around your water bucket and helps keep them from freezing in cold weather. I bought only one for Cracker to check it out to see if it worked; I ordered two more for Fritz. Fritz's buckets have been completely frozen solid (ugh, I hate beating water buckets). The same day, Cracker's water bucket only had a slight ice film that was easily broken up when I touched it. It was -10*F outside, but about 16*F in the barn. It's recommended that it emptied twice a day and filled with warm water. I only empty it once a day when I do the stalls and then fill it with warm water. It's fantastic and I'm sure it would work in colder weather if emptied twice a day and filled with warm water. I feel bad for Fritz while I wait for the other cozy to come for him since he drinks more after I fill his bucket with warm water. I don't know if anyone else has tried them, but they are working for us in southwestern OH. I think it's a good alternative to heated water buckets and a heck of a lot cheaper than thermal buckets. I hope that if someone else gives these a try, they have as great of an experience as I'm having.

Nix's Workout Plan

  • Jan. 6th, 2010 at 9:42 PM
I thought you all might enjoy this video I took of Nix ... ummm ... "acclimating" to his new dog bed, and getting some serious exercise in the process.

Profile

single girl with saucepans
[info]thepartyline
saucepans & the single girl

Advertisement

Latest Month

January 2010
S M T W T F S
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
Powered by LiveJournal.com
Designed by Katy Towell