If I'm going to attract things, why can't it be money?

HillBill has always said that I attract the crazy. And it's true. I do...

Last time HillBill and I went for a brewsky it was only a matter of 20 minutes before 2 completely drunk-off-their-ass types sat next to us trying to chat us up. And it was a couple... not even 2 guys (or 2 girls, for that matter). A couple. She could barely string a sentence together. He was trying to take a nap on the bar.

Somehow with Rebel I got lucky. He's fairly normal (most of the time). And most of my friends are normal. Actually, check that. We're all horse owners which make us (by default) not normal in the least. My animals are definitely not normal. Flash is gay. Goodwin is a diva. Seven is, well, Seven. Daisy just ignores us. And the Marshmallow is a molting pile of fur.

Our last landlords were a bit on the weird side, as well. Not straight up crazy, but just a tad controlling... about things that really didn't matter. But, oh well... we all parted on good terms.

Now, I'm dealing with another set of crazy landlords. Ones who don't do what they said they would. Ones that are now trying to tell me that I agreed to move my horses off property so they could seed the pasture. News flash: I didn't say that. I didn't even hint that. I'm paying for horse property so I can *gasp* have horses on the property. What I did say last fall was that we weren't in a complete rush to get the fences done by mid-October because I had a pasture they could hang in. They said they were going to fence in the lower portion of the property to move the horses to when they wanted to seed. Why is that so hard to remember now? Oh yeah. I know why. They are lazy fucks who don't want to get off their asses and do any of the things they said they would. The only reason I have a place to actually live in is because Rebel actually did all the work to get it finished (and they bitched about paying him once he had done it).

*sigh*

We do need a new place anyway. Now that Rebel is here full-time we need something bigger. 500 square feet just isn't enough for 2 grown peeps and a couple of mutts.

I hate moving, but it looks like it'll be happening sooner rather than later...

*sigh*

Full time...

So, Rebel has decided that "retirement" is boring and that he wants to work again... just not for himself this time. He also decided that he wants to be here full time.

*happy dance*

So, he's moving in...

*slightly less enthusiastic happy dance... until I think about finances... then VERY happy dance*

I'm excited. Those weeks when he was down south at his Sis's ranch were kind of sucky. Plus, this will be a good test before we pack up and move South together.

I'm sure there will be a learning curve. My place is small and there's nowhere to go to get away if things are tense. In the past, I've been able to ignore certain behavior because he was leaving in a few days and I could get over it without him being around. That won't be the case anymore. "Compromise" is going to have to happen. But I'm sure it'll be fine.

*famous last words*

And when it's not, I have you all to vent to. Which is a stress reliever for me and entertainment for you. Win/win, right? What could possibly go wrong?

*famous last words*

Goals for the ponies...

So, I've decided that I'm going to concentrate on getting Seven going (so he can be sold to a Junior rider) and do an easy year of LD's with Flash as well. To that end, I'm going to be trying to stick to rides that are multi-days.

The first one coming up will be Grizzly in April. Flash won't be a problem getting legged up for a 30. The real test will be getting Seven ready to do the 12 mile trail ride on Sunday (after I've done the 30 with Flash on Saturday).

That's the goal for Flash and Seven.

As for Goodwin, just getting him to not be quite so aloof (and reactionary) will be a start. To that end, he has to get messed with every night before I'll let him approach his hay. I'm hoping with consistent work, he'll start to see that people aren't so bad after all...

Someone needs to pay for my 15 kids...

 

I seriously have no words.

Except to say: pay for your own fucking kids. That shouldn't be my job just because I have a job.

Sometimes the little guy just needs a little help...

As you know, I have 4 horses... or maybe you don't know. But you do now.

Anyway, the state of the horses are such: Flash (arab, 15 years old) is home with me. Nice and fat. Needs to be in work, but the weather is not very cooperative. Storm (mustang, 13 years old) is at a friend's place enjoying retirement. Since losing a few pounds is doing well on her stifle that has been giving her a lot of trouble this past year. Goodwin (NSHxTB, 6/7 years old) is home with me. In good weight. Still a freak about everything. Working on it. Seven (arab, 7 years old) is home with me. After taking off blankets the other day was found to be too thin. Time to start segregating at meal time.

I discussed the situation with Rebel and how best to let Seven eat in peace without the chow hounds constantly pushing him off the feed. We decided to set up the corral panels just outside of the pasture and put Seven in there at night so we can get him some grain and constant access to hay all night. During the day he'll be out in the pasture with the boys.

Last night was our first night giving this new system a try. We gave Seven alfalfa pellets, some Ultium grain and around 4 flakes of hay. This morning when I went to check on him he was just hoovering up the last of the hay. Seriously... I cannot believe he ate that amount of food. He's maybe 13.2HH and weighs around 800 pounds. It's like watching a teenage boy go at the fridge. And at this rate he'll be back up to optimum weight in no time.

I love a horse that loves to eat. Plus, since he has a blanket on he's not burning precious calories trying to stay warm. Win/win.

I think we'll leave this system in place until the landlords take their horses back home and free up the other side of the pasture...

Hey, Hay...

It's official. I've dumped my former married name once and for all. I now have a driver's license with my actual name on it. And it only took me almost 5 years... hah.

In other news, I don't have internet at my house at present and typing up posts on my phone is the worst. So posts will probably continue to be sporadic until I get that figured out and am surfing the web from the comfort of my laptop (with WiFi). This whole depending on 3G thing really sucks.

In other other news, the world did not end. No explosion. Not even a fizzle...

So, I guess I'm headed to the Parental's house for Christmas. Hope the roads are clear. Or the chains are easy to put on... either way. Rebel took the truck down south to the ranch, so that option's out.

However, before Rebel left he worked on the project from hell (remember the stocking I'm supposed to be making?) He actually spent a few hours on this thing...

Best boyfriend EVAR...

Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is. Have a very Merry Christmas!!

Equality does not equal Entitlement...

I've been brooding on this subject for a while now. And the train of though got started innocently enough.

While driving from the beach to Portland over Thanksgiving weekend, Rebel and I were behind a car that had a bumper sticker that said "Equality for all". Simple statement. And one that I happen to agree with.

However, that car was being driven by someone who felt entitled to only drive 40 in a 55 zone and not use the slow car turn-out so the 30 cars behind her (of course it was...) could be on their merry way. Sure, you're allowed to use the road just as I am... that's called equality. You holding up traffic because you can't do the speed limit? That's entitlement. Get off the major roads until you feel you can safely handle that type of driving. You aren't entitled to make the rest of us miserable because you aren't up to snuff on a major roadway.

Am I the only one noticing that people are confusing the two? You are entitled to equality... however, what you do with it is on you. It's not up to others to hand you things. It's up to you to take that equality and work for it.

I think that's a message that has gotten lost. I hope it gets found soon...