Daonnan Mar Nathair*

Our local animal shelter burned down Monday night

2010-01-07T14:18:10Z

The North Country Humane Society building burned to the ground, most of the animals were rescued, some cats, rabbits and chickens did not survive. The women who run the shelter lived there as well and they lost everything they own except their own pets. The surviving animals have temporary placement...the dogs are all available for adoption, some of the cats are requiring veterinary care for smoke inhalation.

Donations are desperately needed for both the animals and their caregivers. You can donate online at http://sites.google.com/site/northcountryhumanesociety/ there is also a snail mail address there. For those also on FaceBook there is a link to a FaceBook group too.

New Years non-resolutions

2010-01-03T06:22:31Z

I never make resolutions, they seem to be set up for failure. I do often use this time of year to plan things out for the next year, usually more Samhuinn...but things were sort of focused on Scolaighe during that time.

The fitness stuff, well, usually my goal is maintenance, it's been a long time since I really felt out-of-shape, but the shoulders did me in this year. So, as I said, I need to get back to where I was. Oh, I did have always increased persona-best goals, some of which I might dump as far as number of one-armed push-ups, bench-press weight and such. Or not. We'll see how that goes. Chinning and such, that's still on.

As far as eating goes, however, I am totally committed to staying soy and grain free...although eventually I might see if I can tolerate fermented grains, probably not going to try this year. I really did start having problems when I let these things slip back into my diet. Now that I've been more focused on learning WHY that is, well, it's easier to stay committed. I admit, I miss the comfort of a gluten-free grilled cheese sammich. But that emotional comfort only led to physical discomfort...short and long term...so....no.

And in regards to our food, well, we've not had much focus on the homesteading for a few years, things just too crazy. But we're definitely going to do some serious work this year. Chicks, probably Dorkings again...we'll probably keep two flocks, mixed breed and a Dorking (I'd love to get a rarer Dorking, but chicks are more than twice the cost and with current finances we might stick with the Silver Grays) one, bigger eggs, bigger meat birds and then our heritage breed project. Aaron's making plans to do gardening, we're debating locations...we'll rotate, but still need to figure out where to start. Other than chickens, the only "livestock" plan we have is to investigate if any fish have survived in the pond and possibly restock or, if they is still a population, add to it to diversify the gene pool. And then eat more trout. No, no plans to breed Elína at this point or finally get our cow. That'll be awhile.

We had a long term goal to be eating almost 100% local by 2012 (no "Mayan prophecy" reason, just seems a good time frame...also for demonstration during the Sarah Connor Charm School Reunion), but we're closer to that than expected already. Local milk, local meat (some beef coming in), local eggs to supplement our five (the Old Clucker being retired) girls (although since being moved, they're upping production) until we're back in the business ourselves. Not doing grain, soy (and really should NOT have slipped back into that) has helped. Nuts will be an issue. But the REAL thing which will keep us from being 100% is, of course, chocolate...but we always do the fair trade stuff. We need to stockpile, just in case. Although I know someone in a southern state actually has trade plans being made in case of TSHTF, I think working something like that out might be a bit beyond me...so we'll stockpile. How long does powdered cocoa and unsweetened chocolate bars last?

On that, we also need to start making some stuff too, including fermenting things...yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut... And canning will be the other end of the gardening.

We're in discussion about alternative energy, figuring out what we can do. But hope get something started this year.

As for non-livestock animals we'll likely get another Grey shortly. Saorsa's training which got rather neglected with all the overtime this year, is going to be a priority. I still feel 3, which she'll be in May, is too young for saddle training, in fact, I have no real plans for that until she's at least approaching 5, but I want to get her golden on the ground well before that. She's much better, but mostly that's just maturing. Once she's made enough progress for me to feel we can afford the distraction, I do hope we can bring in another full-sized horse.

The other big plan, for both of us, is to get back to our firearms training. We had far more classes we intended to take this year, along with occasionally getting to defensive practice down in Barrington. But when I got the overtime, and there is less stuff in summer anyway, we figured we'd do it in the fall. Then Scolaighe got sick. Now our finances are such that we're not sure. But we're going to work out what sort of plan we can do to get more training and more real practice. *goestoloadupsomewebsites*

*hearsnoises* Do bullets work on Chthulu-spawn? Oh, Gods! WTF!

Okay, then...things I want to look into doing this year. I need to get CPR and First Aid training. I let it all lapse last fall. Which I had once said I'd never do. But I do have some flashbacks when I even think about it too much. But I have to get through that because this is important. Next time it might matter. And I still have hopes to get into EMS eventually, so I gotta get past this issue. Then there's the fact that I am considering getting recertified as a Personal Trainer...or get the training I need to feel I can say I am (as I was certified before CEU requirements and am technically "certified for life" but...there's a reason why CEUs became required). I go back and forth with it, so it's not a major plan for this year. But maybe.

New jobs for both of us would be nice...but that's sort of hard to plan. Aaron's sending out his resume next week for something.

And, duh! I forgot to include that I do hope to get the book finished well before this year is out. Where it goes from there, I can't say, but I want this done. This chapter is both breaking my brain and exciting me a great deal, I feel closer to the Goddess(es) I serve than ever before because after years of reading the material but not examining it because, yes it breaks my brain, I finally am forced to. And it's changed how I see Them in some ways and clarified other aspects of my relationship with Them. This does appear to be a chapter in the book, not a separate article...but I might cannibalize it for a shorter article at some point.

ETA: Workshops, I've been thinking about trying to give workshops again. I forgot to mention that. But not sure if it even CAN happen. Not exactly living where people will come to anything. Not exactly doing stuff a lot of people would want to do workshops on. Not exactly doing stuff the few places that I could probably get to that offer workshops would want to offer...way too dark and scary for them. I do remember the Unicorn Books fiasco...poor woman was scared shitless when I actually showed up and then there was the poor guy who insisted that if you just think pure thoughts and are full of love nothing in the Otherworld would want to eat you. Ever. And was quite upset when I had to explain that wasn't a traditionally Gaelic concept. Or even actually true.

Shoulders again

2010-01-03T04:38:21Z

I don't think I updated on the physical therapy since I went. PT's assessment was probably a bit more precise than the doctor's...somehow not a surprise. His theory is that I strengthened my deltoids at the expense of my rotator cuff muscles, losing their support...aggravated by the repetitive use issues of the computer. I didn't tell him I was doing stuff that is supposed to be for my rotator cuff muscles...as, well, it seems what I was doing was crap. Not surprising either...in physical fitness you just do not always learn this stuff, because it's not "prettifying" it doesn't change how you look, so even when PTrs know it should be done, the focus isn't enough to get it right so doing stuff based on that training wasn't working.

But I think, already, the exercises he gave me are helping. I go twice next week (this past week that didn't happen due to the holiday) and we'll see. He absolutely did NOT suggest I never lift heavy again. ~;p He's much younger, so I guess he has no internalized ageism to try to push on others.

I will look like this icon again! Hopefully before our two weeks of tank top weather.

I'm sticking to back, arms and lower body work until he clears me for heavier shoulder and chest work though.

Well, there you go....

2010-01-01T06:13:03Z

The ALMOST anniversary with an ALMOST celebration. Five of the phone rang and, these days, a late night call means one thing, even if Aaron's not on-call, he's on the list for when there isn't anyone. We got a midnight snog while he got ready to go, but he'll be gone for hours on a transfer. He would have said know if I asked, but this is important to him so I couldn't. So....I get to spend the rest of the night with the dogs, Terminator and T2 and eat roast by myself. I can work out...carefully. And hope he's safe on the road. I could be at work. But I suppose it's nice for the dogs to have someone here...even if they're now passed out.

And I expect great things for our actual anniversary. ~;p

Happy...

2009-12-31T16:24:56Z

Hogmanay, New Years, Blue Moon....what every you're happy about.

Me, it's our nearly anniversary...so I'm taking an extra night off. But now...for sleep....

Will I be seeing Avatar?

2009-12-27T08:47:36Z

The ad campaign is getting obnoxious...it seems my paid account expired just in time to get hit with it too. But then again, it seems that with the "Writer's block" and shit, it would have been unavoidable. And then there's everywhere else.

So, here we go again, another movie where some macho white guy learns that the Noble Savage indigenous people's way is better than his own, but, of course, they're helpless and he must be their savior. Nothing like what could be a good message of we could live better and mixing it up with arrogance and racism. I'm not a huge Southpark fan, but they did sum it up well...."Dances with Smurfs."

When I heard about this movie, I had some hope though. But then, see, I didn't think that the "aliens" would be made to look like some mixture of NDN, African and various South Pacific Island people. I thought they'd be very not humanoid and that the actual message was going to be a stronger one of not judging those absolutely different than us. Not...yeah, Dances with Smurfs.

Oh, I'm sure the 3D and all that are awesome, but I'm a story centered viewer, sorry. Besides, what are my chances of seeing it in a theater? You know, up here.

And, SERIOUSLY, where the fuck is Michelle Rodriguez's muscle? She gets skinnier every job she gets. She at least had some density, if no definition at all, in LOST but now she's scrawny as all hells. Fucking sad.

Sometimes you write the book, sometimes the book writes you

2009-12-27T07:57:56Z

Of course, I don't know if I've just spent the past few weeks working on the book or a separate article or perhaps a personal exercise which might be shared with those who want to be "first readers" but might end up being "only readers." So, being close to finishing this bit, well, I'm sort of stuck...but Mercury just went retrograde, so it may well be finishing up time (at least I think it did, if I remember right...no one needs to go looking, if I'm too lazy to check no one needs to tell me).

Of course, there was a whole other section I've not started if this is a separate piece. But that part would be totally redundant if this is, instead, part of a chapter of Tha Project. And I'm thinking more and more that's what it is.

After all, I don't want to just slap it up on the web and there really are no places for it to be published. Even if there were tons of 'zines out there still...right now it sits at 22 pages, BEFORE you include the 7 or 8 pages of footnotes. And if it's a stand-alone....it's only about half done. That's a tad long for most publications.

And, well, most people are not going to love it.

Once this bit is finished and cleaned up, and probably when Mercury goes direct, I'll send it to those who wish to read it and see what they think.

Meanwhile, it's been a good exercise for me in really examining Her and my relationship with Her more concretely than I have. An Morrígan can be very confusing on so many levels, this is something I've actively avoided doing for years and not been necessary for the way things were going. But now it seems it is. It's been good. Sometimes jarring, but good.

In other news...if you think puppy eyes are bad, you've never had a horse work her big browns on you. I've not been spending much time with Saorsa...just a few minutes of patting her and talking to her in the morning when I get home from work or about the same time if I'm home. I had sort of intended to when I got home this past morning (yes, I worked Christmas and the night before...nice, quiet, perfect for writing), but by the time I did I was just exhausted...still not sleeping well, I sort of forgot how during the time Scolaighe was so very sick. So, I again just spoke with her for a moment...but instead of mostly standing outside by the door (near where her hay was and going back to get mouthfuls), she came into the stall and stood there, showing no interest in her hay. So I stayed just a bit longer. Then I went inside.

There she stood, not eating her hay, but looking over into the window. Okay then, this is clear. I go back out, she comes back into the barn and is pretty good about being haltered (she only sucked the halter into her mouth once during the process...she usually grabs it a few times...she is probably always going to be mouthy, but does keep it to objects although that does included clothing). I brush her, pick up her feet (first time in awhile...due the shoulders, which feel just fine now *shrugs*), find that she has a cut on one of her hind legs. I go off to find the herbal ointment, which went into the shop for the winter. I come back ou to find her back at the gate, looking for me, holding her lead rope in her mouth. *sigh*

BTW, when she wants something she can seriously open up her eyes huge. I need to try to get a photo of this. Her upper lids just go way up. It's very effective, very manipulative.

So...I come in, more exhausted but happy to have spent time with my "little" girl. I sit on the couch with Aaron for a moment watching the tail end of a Law & Order I'd seen before and intending to get right up and shower. Òrlaith who was on the other couch gets up, comes over and snuggles right into my side. Not the lying-on-top-of-you sort of snuggle of Scolaighe, which Glean often does as well, but a more typical Greyhound, curl up against you and tuck the head in snuggle. So...not going anywhere for awhile. Aaron gets up to take care of the shop fire and Gleann gets up and snuggles on my other side. Nope. It was over half-an-hour before she felt she had enough and got up to go to the other couch.

I'm a slave to the big brown eyes. *sigh*

Which everyone except the goats and me have. The goats have yellow rather demonic looking eyes, of course...yet they seem to be manipulative too.

Oh, Randvér's getting his beard in!

In general, everyone is good here. Aaron spent time with the goats and Minis. Even my shoulders are doing just fine so I'm going to workout after I digest lunch.

I hope everyone's been having a happy happy.

Shoulders, life, stuff

2009-12-24T11:36:52Z

I thought I started PT this week, but it's next week. So I started working out again instead. Just back, arms, legs, abs...no chest or shoulder work until I get word from the physical therapist. The shoulder feels okay, of course that started the night before my appointment with the ortho...as usual. Kids, dogs and you ones own body will always try to make a liar out of you. I figured it would start acting up again the night after, as it did when I went to my GP for my physical, but so far so good. I do feel a bit of a twinge in the right one...but not from working out, it's from being HERE. I need to figure out a mousing position that works here...at work I've got that set, with a chair next to me and a mouse attached to the laptop...this one is just too high and forward. Shoulder rolls help.

I feel much better having worked out...and worked out a bit harder than when I had tried a few weeks ago, just not many sets. I'm a bit miffed that I lost so much strength, but that will return. Had been starting to feel restless and out of sorts, I do not function well when not working out regularly. I know a lot of people don't like it, hells, I seem to be married to one, but I don't get it. How does anyone manage?

Not much news, that was all last week. Other than Gleann and Òrlaith's continuing to adjust...she's becoming a very lovey girl, just not totally cuddly. She likes to stretch on the smaller section of the couch, with one of us in the corner, within reach to be petted on the head but not bodily touching. Gleann does not try to get in between any more, but is content to be on the bigger couch with one or both of us.

I've been off the past two nights, working tonight and tomorrow as I figured the coworker would want Christmas off (although he seemed rather indifferent to it). The next few nights I do work should be easy, with many of the kids at home. Not sure if I'll take an extra off for New Years or not...it's an almost anniversary, so it's sort of fitting if we don't spend it together. But, still.

I REALLY hope to actually go out for our actual anniversary, however. That would mean out of town and everything.

Gleann and Òrlaith update

2009-12-23T08:21:38Z

There are things to work out here, obviously. I had hoped they'd get to know each other better before Scolaighe died, so that there'd be some comfort for Gleann when she did. Right now though, they're not sure of each other and Gleann has jealousy issues. And Òrlaith is a bit suspicious of this snuggling thing in general, she'll accept it but then will usually turn around and lie with her butt towards us.

The other night when I was eating breakfast, she was on the other couch section so Gleann lied down between her and I at the corner of the two sections. She snapped in his face but he didn't even flinch so she just sniffed him and then put her head back down. A bit later she got up, turned around with her butt to him, I had gotten up by then but Aaron was sitting on the other section a bit further than I had been by then. She then worked her way down to her side. Then suddenly....

both her back legs kick out and he's off the couch! LOL

Or at least his front half is, he's still sitting on the section that Aaron is on, not the one she is on. He then gets back up and lies back down in the same place. She kept looking up at him, with an annoyed expression, but didn't try again.

There have been no snapping or kicking incidences since then, but he's also not getting in her face while she's lying down as much. They're working it all out, but it'll take a bit.

She's settling in, not as shy with us as she was. She loves attention, just the out right cuddling she's unsure of. She's quiet usually, but is very much a sleep barker. Right now he's in the bedroom with Aaron and she's on the couch...she seems to favor that spot now no matter whose it what room.

Shoulder issue solved...mostly

2009-12-19T12:15:47Z

Finally got the shoulders checked out. As I originally had thought, it was bursitis. He figures it didn't improve on it's own as it has and that I got pain elsewhere, along with weakness at times and such, because I was "winging it" trying to compensate for the pain. Which instead of actually protecting the shoulder, caused irritation in several other locations. No structural damaged, physical therapy should get it back in order and hopefully keep it that way so he's ordered it for both shoulders. I could do a cortisone shot instead or along with, but 1) just as soon avoid more cortisone in my system (already on a form of it for allergies) 2) just as soon avoid needles if they're not leaving behind pretty ink or making room for pretty metal (people look at me weird when I say I hate needles) 3) the worst of the pain now is the secondary problem I created under the scapula, I don't think there is any way to reach that so why bother with the other?

I'm weird, anyway, I like physical therapy and actually will do it religiously. When I had knee surgery I went in for a session, I think it was my third? but can't remember, and I said I was doing it, the PT nodded absently, then started to work with me, noticed that my muscle tone was coming back and all, and looked at me and said "so, you are doing the exercises at home?" I said I was, and he said "well, there's nothing we can do here then, go home and keep doing them." And, you know, sort of acted a bit miffed. Like I was messing with his job by doing them. LOL

HOWEVER, there was one sour note. I had said to the ortho that I guess this meant he wasn't going to tell me I couldn't lift again, and that that was one of the reasons I hesitated to go in. Because I do not want to hear that (especially up here where finding a sports med specialist is going to be impossible...the first ortho I saw for my knee said I would never run again...I found someone who would make sure I would...and a decade later, I can still run). Anyway....

He said, "oh, yeah, you can lift weights, I do. But at 47 you really should be thinking lighter weights more reps."

*blink*

Fuck that!

I don't take that shit from no one, not even someone who is supposedly an expert on these things and has already condemned himself to lower weights and higher reps. I don't take ageism any more than I take sexism when it comes to lifting.

After all, we established the most likely reason I'm having problems with my shoulders is....using the computer mouse.

So, tell me...is the mouse causing the problem because of high weight? Or is it LOTS of repetition.

He quickly figured out that he was not going to win an argument about this with me.

Yes, when I start back, I will start with low weight. And, sadly, it won't be high rep either because I'm now officially a scrawny wimp, even with my last attempts to get back in carefully. I celebrated that my shoulder just hurt and wasn't actually damaged by doing a chin up. Because ONE fucking chin up was all I could do.

Chances are I will alter my lifting a bit. I think I do over do my shoulder work a tad. I just do too many sets. I am going to have to give up on that..I'm never going to get capped shoulders, I know this...I need to just keep them strong and stop worrying about trying to get something that I'm not actually genetically built for. I'll probably make sure to do more back work than chest work as well. Maybe I will give up on one armed push-ups again too.

*thinksofjackpalanceandwhathe'dofthoughtofsuchageism*

Or not.

We'll see.

I will be chinning again though. Soon.

update sort of thing

2009-12-19T12:10:42Z

We're doing okay. Sad at times, but we couldn't wish for her to be suffering, so.... Gleann is having a rough time though.

Òrlaith is starting to settle in, do wish they could have had more time but then I guess we'd have two sadder pups...she's not so affected, although it does seem to have gotten to her a bit. It's also not so windy, so she's not hiding her head all the time, although I really need to get a photo of that next time.

No one is going after the mice. Guess we'll have to get a Husky or a Dobie, those were our two mouser dogs.

I've been working all week, but not getting much sleep due to various stuff. I only had this past night off and won't get another until next week. So very tired, despite sleeping late yesterday. So..back to work tonight.

Saorsa and the vet

2009-12-14T15:47:40Z

It was close, folks. But both survived. I decided to go play and brush her for a bit before he arrived, which was probably good as I probably wouldn't have been able to catch her. The moment he drove in, her head went up and her eyes widened. Mind you, she's been in this same situation with the farrier and other people driving in...she might be curious, but this was not curiosity. This was freaked!

It's not the shot, it's him. I really have no idea how to desensitize her to this, I could poke her with an empty syringe until the cows came home, it's likely not to phase her a bit. I can't rent a vet truck, with all those smells. She's not the first horse I've had that has recognized The Vet Truck...Saorsa recognized that smell four three different vets and trucks. She just is that much harder to deal with.

I did ask if, you know, maybe he's treating an animal in the neighborhood he might just drive in and sit for a moment and drive away. I'm actually curious to see if he'll give it a try.

Otherwise, next year we'll need to use a dart gun.

As for the rest, all are fine and have their shots.

I was worried Saorsa would give me the cold shoulder about this, when I went back after the others. But she came up to me all "that bad man HURT me!" wanting attention.

Life goes on--the living still need care

2009-12-14T12:41:54Z

The farm vet is going to be here in two hours to do the yearlies on all the hooved critters. Hopefully, Cimmeron, won't have a heart attack upon seeing him. Not only is Cimmeron exceptionally jumpy and not only does this vet seem to make him more nervous than most people but last time he saw him he had to put one of his buddies down.

Hopefully Saorsa will let him live.

Why don't we do spring shots like other people?

At least it's a bit warmer today.

Work sucked, but that's not news.

I need to get my ass, or rather my shoulder, to a doctor...months ago.

Scolaighe (Hi Tech Lollypop) 1998-2009

2009-12-13T07:45:32Z

Indeed, she's now running, or lying on couches, with Irony and Bran now. We took her down this past morning. There's a huge hole in our hearts, in our house. Gleann is totally broken-hearted, she meant so very much to him. To us all, but she was just sort of always there in his life...his foster-mother after he left his birth mother. I just wish she and Òrlaith had had more time, but apparently it was enough time for Òrlaith to be feeling this too. They were both with us and both lied down and were very quiet while the vet sent Scolaighe along.

Scolaighe was a truly special soul, I knew it when I saw her photo on the GPS site. While many Greyhounds can be very loving, she was exceptionally aggressive about snuggling, it was her mission in life. Along with chasing things, for outside she was always on the lookout for prey...not just little critters, but she showed interest in everything that moved. She was big, muscular back then, a warrior hound, although in her last couple of years had lost some of that mass. But never the spirit.

I just don't know what more to say at this point.

I do ask, if anyone wishes to do something in her honor, that you consider making a donation to Greyhound Placement Service of NH.

Sometimes being up here sucks

2009-12-06T08:04:49Z

Things didn't go as planned, problem with no competent, or even sane, local vet. We didn't get her down. She's fading, but eating a little on occasion. No hope of stopping the infection. Now it's Sunday...hope she's just sleepy enough to keep sleeping until....whenever. Meanwihle I now have no real use of left arm at all so can't thank everyone individually. So thank you all and *onearmedhugs*

Scolaighe will be chasing bunnies with Irony and Bran soon

2009-12-05T09:23:08Z

It appears that (later) in the morning Scolaighe will be making that last vet trip. We thought a couple of times today that she just wasn't going to wake up, but her heart is stronger than the rest of her and she managed to get up again. But it's not fair to make her try to fight this again, she doesn't have enough left. I hate this part. I hate that it's so soon after Òrlaith came to be with us. I just hate this.

Writer's Block: Internet: Back in Time

2009-12-05T08:58:19Z

How have the ways you used the Internet changed over the years? How did you use it ten or fifteen years ago compared to how you use it now?

Sponsored by Yahoo!

View 158 Answers

I can't resist answering after my recent posts about trying to update my website. But, really, when I first got online, in 1997 (yes, I got in late) I was on AOL and therefore the whole "social networking" thing was actually big part of it...but within the confines of the AOL message boards and chat rooms, as well as AIM.

But for reaching the greater internet community, it was the websites. Shortly after getting on, I put together a horrid site for The Pagan Coffee Talks, the local Portsmouth, NH get together we had. Then for our group. Then we got Irony (hence the icon) and I did my first personal site centered around her. Webrings, guestbooks, on-site message boards. And email lists, of course.

It seems all that got left behind with social networks. Well, also the various changes in web/netring sites that made the unusable and killed traffic to websites before social networks did.

That was all just so last century.

Scolaighe's sick again

2009-12-04T14:12:06Z

Scolaighe's having a rough time again battling an infection. She's reacting badly to the meds. We're very worried again.

okay, some updating

2009-12-02T11:01:23Z

I did do updates on the website after all. Goats, Òrlaith, some new photos and text on Gleann, Scolaighe and a pic of Bran I hadn't gotten up there yet, and the pic in this icon of Saorsa and I, but I really need to update her page for real but I'm fizzled. Of course, you've likely seen and know all that's on it. Websites are truly so last century.

Despite the tired and the sick I managed to work out. With what I'm doing right at this point, it's not that huge an accomplishment. ~:p

sleep? who needs sleep?

2009-12-02T07:32:38Z

Apparently me. I didn't get much today, hence being home now. Well, maybe that's why...

Scolaighe had a bad day, she's gotten another infection and it makes her restless. Aaron had taken Òrlaith to get her rabies shot and was also picking up meds for Scolaighe, so I was alone with the pups. And the outside beasts. Which played a nice role in today's lack of sleep too. So, with Scolaighe not sleeping well, I wasn't sleeping well. I did finally get to sleep somewhat...you know that sort of not very deep but still dreaming stage where you dream you wake up and you're in your own room, everything seems almost real but not quite. In the dream Gleann was jumping over the bed (no, over it completely, a bit of a feat even for him) and then Aaron came home and I was puzzled as to why we no longer had my brother's dog here, who was female in the dream (and is male in real-life, plus we'd not have him here because he attacks Gleann) but remembered I had seen them when I was out with Gleann and Òrlaith for our morning walk (actually, this part is true, he and my sil did drive by, in separate cars..btw, I don't think they've been out of town or anything anyway...and like I said, we'd not be dog sitting for them). During a confused and semi-mimed (because at that stage of sleep, it seems, I usually cannot speak in dreams) conversation with Aaron, I woke up for real.

Oh, yes...let's go back to the night before. Saorsa had gotten out. We seem to have established how to get in now, however. Opened the paddock gate to the driveway, closed the one to her pasture, get grain...she walks right back in, no problem. We left her in the paddock and Aaron was going to wait to fix the fence when he got back from the vets. Um, so...

She had been stomping a bit in her paddock when I went to sleep...she does like to maul her hay (which is a problem we still haven't found a solution that works in regards to her wasting some of it as she won't eat it once it's stomped to a certain level...the only solution that is likely to work is to get another horse who doesn't mind stomped hay and hope she doesn't opt for other ways to ruin it [some horses urinate on hay they can't finish fast enough to keep other horses from eating it...I have no idea why, don't ask]). As I groggily woke up and was working out that Aaron wasn't home and we weren't dogsitting and the dog in question wasn't female I realized her stomping was now coming from the wrong side of the house. I got up and looked out. Yup, she got the gate to her pasture open. And the fence was still down. Going into the other room, there she was under one of the trees digging for grass (we do have a good bit of snow..oh, I think that was noted in a recent post).

I managed to get some clothing on and was just heading to the barn to close and open the required gates and get grain when Aaron drove in. Once advised of the situation he was going to move the car out of the way again, but I suggested he might want to take poor Òrlaith in first, and I stood guard in case Saorsa caught wind of a dog in the vicinity for her to stomp, but she was now busy stomping the Mini horse's manure pile and scaring the goats (who were hiding in the barn, but she was too close to the door apparently). I went back to the barn and as soon as she heard me in there, she appeared. She did think perhaps she'd come in the way I had gone in...which, um, this barn is not well designed being actually a converted storage shed, so that wouldn't really work, a human can get around the stall door, a 1,000 lb (and she probably is now) horse not so much. So I closed the door and she walked right by the car (which before she got so good at this she always treated like it was completely blocking her way) and into the pasture. After finishing the handful of grain she was quite displeased to find that the other gate was closed and better secured.

So..back to bed. Scolaighe by now has been taken out a couple of times but is still restless. It's, oh, well getting dark, but I don't check the time. And it took a good long while to get to sleep because I'm so over exhausted by this point.

Which left Aaron unable and unwilling to wake me when I finally did fall asleep so he called me in sick. Which, it turns out, wasn't an exaggeration. I'd blame the lack of sleep but I do know some stomach bug seems to be going around. So while it's a beautiful moonlit night, just the type I love working this time of year, I'm glad to be home and not venturing about. And glad to have a coworker who was on tonight. Hopefully by tomorrow night I'll be okay and then I'll work Friday instead.

Yay.

So, I'm trying to work on those webpages, but doubt I'll get them done tonight.

Oh, Òrlaith is totally into spending all her time not outside on that dog bed in the bedroom. It's apparently her den. She also is eating in there as we realized that her eating issue was about privacy...or placement. Seems she's now fine eating in there even if we're in there, as long as that's where she's eating. She seems content on that bed in there alone or with some of us sleeping next to her. She's a bit of a mystery, but then all our hounds have been. We'll unpack the bags as she's ready.

The goats continue to be terrorized by horses and terrorize the Gleann dog. We need to build platforms for them so they can eat outside without the Minis having access to all that extra hay. And just to entertain them.

what a week

2009-11-29T10:28:45Z

It has been a week....new goats, new hound, Snow Terminators...and not even a new website page to show for it. I got started, but never finished (losing power several times was last nights excuse, tonight I just didn't do anything). And things are changing already, the first nights Òrlaith stayed out here with me. Today she discovered that dog bed next to the bed, it's such a nice little denlike corner there....so all the pups are in sleeping with Aaron. *sniffle*

I need to see if I can drag her, and Gleann but I don't think he'll be a problem, back out for a walk this morning.

But first leg weights. So far have survived two super-slow upper body sessions, but shoulders are still bothering. But it's the computer. And, well, here I am. *sigh*

Of course, no writing was done here at home and attempts to get chatter going that relates on something other than hooded_crow have not really taken off. Which may or may not be for the best. I'm about finished up with the more research based stuff for the article and had sort of hoped to maybe have other people's experiences to relate to in the UPG/SPG parts. But not so much apparently. Which is making me wonder about several things. Not things I haven't been wondering about before.

Oh, also, I must note that opening up Mary Condren's The Serpent and the Goddess has broken my brain yet again. Remember all the ranting I've done recently about Difference Feminist Goddess Worshipers looking for that peaceful gynocentric mythical past? Well, here it is all about Ireland, with misreadings of mythology, taking the Cain Adamnan literally, and adding in Christian Liberation Theology. You know, there was once a peaceful woman-centered Ireland worshiping a Great Mother-Goddess then the evol patriarchal Pagans came along and forced their Gods and enslaved Goddess upon the people (the ones they didn't kill) and enslaved all the women and then Christianity came along and some of them were evol patriarchal types too but the right kind of Christianity was the only hope the poor helpless women had.

Anyway...I can see where she's not helping the matter when it comes to what people think Irish Goddesses are about. See, because by some amazing gift, she knows exactly what They were before anything was ever written. Because an archaeologist name Gimbutas made the same claims about cultures miles and years away without any proof either.

Ugh.

Yeah....anyway.....

I'd like to find just ONE other person who when they met An Morrígan went from neohippie pacifist to crazed left-wing survivalist. Or something.

At this rate, I might have the rough of this thing done this coming week. Or be close. Then I need to figure out what to do with it. And hopefully get back to Tha Project.

But that means returning to ....that place.

Gleann and Òrlaith's great adventure

2009-11-29T07:15:45Z

I need new icons to include her...and the goats.....but then I have to get rid of some of these....damn...anyway...

So, this (or yesterday) morning I decided that we could brave the snow and go for our dawn walk again, perhaps making it a bit shorter than the morning before. Besides, the power kept going on an off, watching anything or being online was not working out. We'd just go for a quick jaunt. Threw Irony's old coat on Òrlaith and away we went. It wasn't snowing any longer, but it was wet and heavy, but not real deep. No problem getting to the road. But...some concern. Should have listened to myself.

A few yards down the road a branch fell onto the wire...but held, no problem, we scurried away from it and I looked back up the road. At the same time a couple of far larger trees fell right in front of our drive way and were on fire! Okay, not good. Not going back that way, the end of one of the trees had broken over and was dragging on the ground, by all likelihood there was current running into the ground there...and it's one of those lovely things that you can easily not know until it's too late.

If it were just Gleann and I, I'd have just dived into the heavily coated woods with him and made our way through. But Òrlaith wasn't likely to be up for that, robust a hound as she might be. So, only option, find out if the closest neighbors that way were home. Fortunately, they were, and their dog and Gleann, who mostly had avoided each other (as Gleann fears Golden Retrievers due to my brother's male-aggressive one), were fine about each other after some barking and they let Òrlaith in. I took Gleann down to check out a wood path, but it was pretty dense and I got worried about the houndy-girl so we went back and waited. Town truck came through. Cut some of the trees in the road. Then backed back down the road away from the one on the lines...which was a good indication that yes, we've got live wires. Okay then. But at least the trees are n longer burning.

At this point I'm worrying that Aaron will wake up and start getting worried and wander to the road. I tried to call before remember that, as both of us had been home so we weren't too worried about anyone NEEDING to call, we'd not bothered to plug the regular corded phone in, so there was no working phone. Soo....

The neighbors were kind enough to assure me that Òrlaith was welcome to stay as long as necessary as she was being so polite and all. And off Gleann and I go to tackle the woods.

It was rough, the trees were well folded over through out, but we fought our way through. I kept him on leash because I wanted to make sure he didn't go near those trees and lines. He only managed to get himself wrapped around a tree once and we got to the horse pasture. Fortunately, I didn't have to worry about her trying to run him down as she had finally retreated to her barn...although tracks showed she spent much of the night down in that part of the pasture. Aaron was actually starting to wonder if we'd been gone awhile (he had been asleep when we left and at this point it was a couple of hours I think) and wander out.

I got on the phone, as Aaron had JUST switched them, to see if there was a progress report on the outages...shortly after that the utility truck was here cutting the trees. And once cleared, Aaron drove down and picked up Òrlaith from what she seemed to think was her new home...and the power came back right then!

For a little while. More trees right in the same place went down, but not as big...but the outages were probably also from other locations. The gennie meant heat, shower and food not spoiling, but no stove. But we do maintain some stuff that can be eaten cold, even though it's always at a time when you'd really like something warm (heat on, but we didn't have it up high so not to tax the genny and also lots of wind).

Òrlaith remained nervous, between the wind and being abandoned, despite seeming to be fine there, I guess it was overwhelming. She found the dog bed next to our bed that's sort of in a corner, where it was dark and while there's a window there it's well sealed with plastic and spent the day there...and is back there now. Um, so much for "loves her kennel" ...she loves dens and unfortunately her wire crate isn't den like enough. Hopefully she'll recover and start to associate more with us again...although, obviously, this sort of is associating, as Scolaighe does, as one of us is often in there sleeping. *sigh*

Saorsa on the other hand had a great time playing in the snow...if I hadn't been so sick of being out in it I might have braved going back out to try to get photos. She ran, she rolled, she ate snow off of bent over birches (she is a snow eater, despite access to water...Saoradh was the same). The Mini boys had let the goats out of their stall, or sort of...they opened the door then one of the stood at the doorway intimidating them. However...due to the snow, Aaron let the goats and Gleann play in the shop instead of going outside. Um, seems the goats are winning over the dog but losing to the horses.

The power came on at some point while I sleep.

I need to see if I can accomplish anything tonight before having to return to ~~hell~~ work tomorrow.

Website headache

2009-11-27T08:48:05Z

Remember websites? You know, those things people had before social networking became the thing? My Gods, mine is neglected. I was going to put up pages for our new beasts, but its' been forever since I updated any of the others' pages. I realized I have tons of photos shared all over the place, but not on the website. ...Ack! I don't know how much I will get done even with extra time off.

Seriously, I've got half a mind to just can the whole thing. There really is a ridiculous amount of work that needs to be done on it. Not just the animal pages either. I've totally abandoned it.

And, of course, I'm not writing now that I'm home.

I think I might work out.

Although vegging with a movie sounds like an idea too.

This is Òrla....

2009-11-26T06:29:14Z

....or Òrlaith or Órfhlaith or Órlaith or Órla.*

Aaron, Scolaighe and Gleann are asleep in the bedroom, but she's here in the living room with me, totally crashed out now. She spent a good bit of time lying in this spot at Aaron and my feet, while Scolaighe cuddled one of us and Gleann was on the other couch semi-cuddling the other (this switched around a few times). She didn't eat when I first fed her, but after the rest went into the bedroom she decided it was okay.

*I know that Órfhlaith is the old Irish and the other two with Ó are more modern Irish variants. I know that òr is "gold" in Scottish Gaelic...but I don't actually know if the names with that accent are legit native names or not...although I did find them "in use." The again, Kaytlyn and such are "in use" too doesn't make them real Gaelic names. But, you know...of course we might go with Órfhlaith just to keep our tradition of messing with the minds of vet receptionists. ~;p

Um, I need to figure out the codes to make the accent over the upper case letter so I can stop cutting and pasting it. I got them for the lower case.

She's here

2009-11-26T01:42:16Z

Yes, another big muscular girl, red fawn this time! No more black pack. Her name is Prevo but we're trying to figure out a better one. She's very pretty, was a bounce (adopted and returned), 7 years old. She's a little nervous, no surprise, but is fine with the other pups. Photos soon (she's on http://www.gpstopdog.com/)