Delightful, isn't it? hahaha!
Friday, October 9, 2009
The toe, two days later... gross foot pictures included.
The bandage seams to have pushed all of the bruising around to the inside edge, hehe. Excuse the ugliness of my tootsies *grin*. I did shave my toes before taking the pictures so you wouldn't be subjected to my hobbit feet.
Delightful, isn't it? hahaha!
Delightful, isn't it? hahaha!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
So much for my nap...
I yawned, rubbed my eyes, and set my laptop to the side with a tired sigh. Just a few more hours of sleep now that the kid was off to school would be delicious. I carefully climbed over the sleeping dog curled under a blanket between my feet and stumbled to the bathroom to potty before I turned down the tv and tried to snooze. I lift the lid and see... high water. Delightful. I grab the plunger and flush, then proceed to plunge until the water level drops properly. No over flow, yay!
So I do my business, plunge again after flushing just for good measure, then stumble back toward the livingroom... and with far more force than seems possible I smashed my foot into the vacuum that lives parked at the end of the hall.
*CRACK*
"HSSSHHHHHHHH! owww! OWWWWWW! Shhhhhhhhhhon of a... owowowow!"
Normally I would have burst out with a string of colourful profanity but the instant pain shooting all the way from my toes up to my knee seemed to have disconnected my swear box from my brain. I hopped one footed toward the kitchen making hissing sounds until I regained my balance and set my foot gingerly back down on to the floor. Bright flashes lit up before my eyes.
"Get down." I hissed at Nigel, still curled peacefully beneath my blanket. No way could I climb over him with only one functioning foot. He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "DOWN, you doofus!"
Dejectedly he dragged himself from under the blanket and went in search of another warm place to snooze. I turned and sat down, pushing myself back into my spot using the foot that didn't make me feel light headed when I moved it.
I stared at it. The toe closest to my pinky toe on my left foot. It looked normal. It did not feel normal. I reached down cautiously and tried to wiggle the middle toe. Sore, but not bad. So not the source of my pain. Toe next to pinky toe, which was obviously the one hurting the worst... I try to wiggle it and the bright flashes turn to black flashes and i feel myself slumping sideways. I let go quickly so I don't end up passed out and I sit there for a moment staring at it. Well, maybe I just jammed it. I'll leave it be for a while and get my nap and see how it feels when I wake up.
Ever see the cartoons where someone hits their thumb with a hammer and it puffs up and turns red and starts to throb? Well, it didn't puff up and turn red but as I closed my eyes I could feel it throbbing. Every time I moved it shot blades of pain up the top of my foot. I try for almost a half hour to ignore it before looking at it again. Now it looks like someone grafted a grape on to the end of my toe. I reach down to try wiggling it again and it flexes fairly normal until I try to bend it toward the middle toe and it bends almost straight to the side at the joint closest to the end of the toe. No bright flashes, no dark flashes, just this bizarre light headed feeling that says, "If you were not sitting down you would be falling down right now."
It feels normal when I poke at it, so I don't think the bones are broken but it looks like the joint is pretty well blown out. I've been through this far more times than I can count thanks to my life with horses, so I know a trip to the doctor will start with a copay and end with them taping my toe to the one next to it and billing me for x rays and who knows what else. Unless it feels like I have bone fragments I can treat this myself.
So I go in search of bandage tape, which of course we have none of. So I found a cotton ball to unwind and place between the toes and two bandaids to work as tape. I felt light headed every time I touched the toe, so I worked quickly. It was getting more and more painful so i needed to get it done as soon as possible. This is the masterpiece I ended up with:
For some strange reason this entire adventure left me completely wide awake, so I think perhaps there shall be no nap for me.
So I do my business, plunge again after flushing just for good measure, then stumble back toward the livingroom... and with far more force than seems possible I smashed my foot into the vacuum that lives parked at the end of the hall.
*CRACK*
"HSSSHHHHHHHH! owww! OWWWWWW! Shhhhhhhhhhon of a... owowowow!"
Normally I would have burst out with a string of colourful profanity but the instant pain shooting all the way from my toes up to my knee seemed to have disconnected my swear box from my brain. I hopped one footed toward the kitchen making hissing sounds until I regained my balance and set my foot gingerly back down on to the floor. Bright flashes lit up before my eyes.
"Get down." I hissed at Nigel, still curled peacefully beneath my blanket. No way could I climb over him with only one functioning foot. He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "DOWN, you doofus!"
Dejectedly he dragged himself from under the blanket and went in search of another warm place to snooze. I turned and sat down, pushing myself back into my spot using the foot that didn't make me feel light headed when I moved it.
I stared at it. The toe closest to my pinky toe on my left foot. It looked normal. It did not feel normal. I reached down cautiously and tried to wiggle the middle toe. Sore, but not bad. So not the source of my pain. Toe next to pinky toe, which was obviously the one hurting the worst... I try to wiggle it and the bright flashes turn to black flashes and i feel myself slumping sideways. I let go quickly so I don't end up passed out and I sit there for a moment staring at it. Well, maybe I just jammed it. I'll leave it be for a while and get my nap and see how it feels when I wake up.
Ever see the cartoons where someone hits their thumb with a hammer and it puffs up and turns red and starts to throb? Well, it didn't puff up and turn red but as I closed my eyes I could feel it throbbing. Every time I moved it shot blades of pain up the top of my foot. I try for almost a half hour to ignore it before looking at it again. Now it looks like someone grafted a grape on to the end of my toe. I reach down to try wiggling it again and it flexes fairly normal until I try to bend it toward the middle toe and it bends almost straight to the side at the joint closest to the end of the toe. No bright flashes, no dark flashes, just this bizarre light headed feeling that says, "If you were not sitting down you would be falling down right now."
It feels normal when I poke at it, so I don't think the bones are broken but it looks like the joint is pretty well blown out. I've been through this far more times than I can count thanks to my life with horses, so I know a trip to the doctor will start with a copay and end with them taping my toe to the one next to it and billing me for x rays and who knows what else. Unless it feels like I have bone fragments I can treat this myself.
So I go in search of bandage tape, which of course we have none of. So I found a cotton ball to unwind and place between the toes and two bandaids to work as tape. I felt light headed every time I touched the toe, so I worked quickly. It was getting more and more painful so i needed to get it done as soon as possible. This is the masterpiece I ended up with:
For some strange reason this entire adventure left me completely wide awake, so I think perhaps there shall be no nap for me.
HANG ON!
Wow. It is WINDY out there! We've had days and days of rain, AGAIN. And now the whole house is trembling and shuddering and creaking from the wind. I took Tiff down to wait for the bus in the truck. That poor truck is such a mess, lol. Tiff says she loves it, it's like a dinosaur.
There are several school closings, but not ours. I'll be shocked if we don't lose power at some point. The horses are all huddled up against the big barn looking annoyed. The barn cats are all in hiding, except Amber who is perched on the porch glaring at me to let me know she is still mad about her move outside.
I am so tired. My S.A.D. has started kicking up with this week of dark overcast days. I fell asleep around 2pm yesterday and woke up at 3:15 completely disoriented, unable to remember what day it was. I almost had a panic attack (been a long time since I had one of those) trying to remember if Tiff was supposed to be home or not. Then she walked in the door and I snapped out of it. It was weird. I've woke up from naps disoriented before but not like THAT. I definitely need more sleep. This waking up at 4:10am is wearing me down. I mean I usually fall asleep at like 10pm, so it isn't like I'm not getting a reasonable amount of sleep but waking up that early messes me up.
And speaking of naps... I think I'm going to try to go back to sleep for a few.
There are several school closings, but not ours. I'll be shocked if we don't lose power at some point. The horses are all huddled up against the big barn looking annoyed. The barn cats are all in hiding, except Amber who is perched on the porch glaring at me to let me know she is still mad about her move outside.
I am so tired. My S.A.D. has started kicking up with this week of dark overcast days. I fell asleep around 2pm yesterday and woke up at 3:15 completely disoriented, unable to remember what day it was. I almost had a panic attack (been a long time since I had one of those) trying to remember if Tiff was supposed to be home or not. Then she walked in the door and I snapped out of it. It was weird. I've woke up from naps disoriented before but not like THAT. I definitely need more sleep. This waking up at 4:10am is wearing me down. I mean I usually fall asleep at like 10pm, so it isn't like I'm not getting a reasonable amount of sleep but waking up that early messes me up.
And speaking of naps... I think I'm going to try to go back to sleep for a few.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Click, click.
So the last week has been a total bust for working the ponies. Rain, wind, rain, wind, mud mud mud. Prior to that I was kind of in a holding pattern with the Bregster. He knows what I want, does it most of the time, but still gets his stubbourn moments where he just doesn't feel like it so he tucks in his nose and says, "screw you!". Or, he just resists until I increase pressure, which I call a "mini screw you". He does what I want him to do but more like the kid who cleans his room but does it as slowly as possible and while muttering under his breath and glaring over his shoulder.
He does this once or twice at least during each training session, sometimes in a minor way, sometimes with great energy and enthusiasm. Well, what for HIM is great energy and enthusiasm and what for most other horses would be only a half hearted attempt. lol.
Anyway, week off, no training... Today it is still muddy but not rainy, a little windy but not terribly so. Plus I bought a surcingle at the Celebration of the Horse and put extra holes in it (still barely fits him, the tiny little pop tart) and I wanted to see how well it worked.
He was a superstar. I longed him first and he just wanted to rip around like a fool so I pushed him forward until he was ready slow down and walk at the end of the line. Then I put the long lines on him and he was just so supple and willing and responsive. It was delightful. I kept it short because he was doing so well, and didn't want to push him until he got annoyed and resisted. But it was like during his week off something clicked. yay! I totally expect him to have his piggie pony moments but today was just delightful.
I got some pictures of them when I went out to give them breakfast.
Peeking through the weeds:
They were dozing in the early morning sun, the filthy little beasties:
I got some pictures of the grapes that grow outside the paddock fence:
I wish I had a place to home brew, I'd put all those babies into a bottle, hehehe!!
Well, the ponies were trying to figure out what I'd seen over there that was so interesting:
It cracks me up the way his lip droops when he is feeling lazy:
He is getting his winter mustache, lol!
He does this once or twice at least during each training session, sometimes in a minor way, sometimes with great energy and enthusiasm. Well, what for HIM is great energy and enthusiasm and what for most other horses would be only a half hearted attempt. lol.
Anyway, week off, no training... Today it is still muddy but not rainy, a little windy but not terribly so. Plus I bought a surcingle at the Celebration of the Horse and put extra holes in it (still barely fits him, the tiny little pop tart) and I wanted to see how well it worked.
He was a superstar. I longed him first and he just wanted to rip around like a fool so I pushed him forward until he was ready slow down and walk at the end of the line. Then I put the long lines on him and he was just so supple and willing and responsive. It was delightful. I kept it short because he was doing so well, and didn't want to push him until he got annoyed and resisted. But it was like during his week off something clicked. yay! I totally expect him to have his piggie pony moments but today was just delightful.
I got some pictures of them when I went out to give them breakfast.
Peeking through the weeds:
They were dozing in the early morning sun, the filthy little beasties:
I got some pictures of the grapes that grow outside the paddock fence:
I wish I had a place to home brew, I'd put all those babies into a bottle, hehehe!!
Well, the ponies were trying to figure out what I'd seen over there that was so interesting:
It cracks me up the way his lip droops when he is feeling lazy:
He is getting his winter mustache, lol!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Why I will never be a breeder... FEAR!
All my life I have wanted to raise something. Horses originally, first Arabians, then Clydesdales, then Miniatures. Then I wanted to breed dogs. Chinese Crested Dogs. Then I thought it would be awesome to raise bobbed tailed cats.
A part of me looks out at Brego and thinks, "If I were rich I would breed Gypsies." but I know that is a load of poo. With the animal over population in order to justify breeding any animals at all the breeding stock would have to be stupidly close to perfect and have so much genetic and health testing before I would breed it that there is no way aside from winning the Mega Millions Lottery that I could ever afford to breed and still be able to sleep at night without feeling guilty for breeding instead of rescuing.
Some times I get angry at all of the irresponsible twits out there who let their animals breed willy nilly (or who intentionally breed their crap animals) because if they would knock it off I could justify breeding without feeling guilty. But such is life.
When I get really annoyed thinking about it I just remind myself that even if I could breed the act of selling my "product" would just emotionally wreck me. I still worry about all of the cats and kittens I have placed over the years. I am haunted by concern for a horse I sold almost 16 years ago that I completely lost track of and whose buyers turned out to be coo coo.
Now, you know my breed of choice is that overly flashy hairball breed that sells for thousands of dollars, right? You would think breeding and selling those would be pretty safe because honestly with what they cost and being a rare breed folks who buy them are going to take care of them, right? RIGHT?
Think again.
On of my online friends just recently had to go repossess a horse she sold on co-ownership. She took a deposit and payments. Thankfully she has a SUPER contract, which allowed her to get him back. When ever she asked the buyer she was told that the horse was doing great, healthy as a horse, and they absolutely loved him like crazy. Unfortunately they don;t feel obligated to make their payments on him. Hm....
This is what the horse looked like when she sold him two and a half months before she went to get him back:
Isn't he lovely? all fit and glossy and full of spirit. This little guy is sweet as sugar and just adores people. He is a SUPER easy keeper and just thrives on a minimal amount of food (like almost ALL Gypsy Horses).
So, breeder/seller hears rumours and being RESPONSIBLE she does what it takes, at great expense of both time and money to herself, to find out for sure. When she finally lays eyes on her sweet boy just a short 2 1/2 months later she immediately got him out of there and THIS is what she brought home (picture modified ONLY to remove person who wished to be removed from photo):
TWO AND A HALF MONTHS!!!!!
THIS is why I could never breed and sell animals. These people seemed like a perfect home. And in less than three months they turned a fat sassy happy boy into a complete mess of malnourished tangles. How does a horse get that bad in less than three months? The fear of this happening to a life I brought in to this world stops my animal breeding dreams right in their tracks.
Thankfully his breeder is a wonderful and caring person. She planned ahead by having a very detailed contract that she was willing to enforce. She followed through by checking up on him, and she risked doing what ever it took to get him back. And now she is putting her all into getting him back to his previous healthy fat self 100%. Thankfully he was just neglected and not abused, and his sweet temperament is still intact, but if she'd not had that detailed contract it could have taken 6 months of legal crap to get him back. Can you imagine what could have happened in 6 months if he looked like this after 2 1/2?????
So yeah, this is why I will never be an animal breeder, no matter how badly I have always want to raise something. Unless I can keep it forever or eat it (lol) I just can't handle the fear of what could happen to it.
A part of me looks out at Brego and thinks, "If I were rich I would breed Gypsies." but I know that is a load of poo. With the animal over population in order to justify breeding any animals at all the breeding stock would have to be stupidly close to perfect and have so much genetic and health testing before I would breed it that there is no way aside from winning the Mega Millions Lottery that I could ever afford to breed and still be able to sleep at night without feeling guilty for breeding instead of rescuing.
Some times I get angry at all of the irresponsible twits out there who let their animals breed willy nilly (or who intentionally breed their crap animals) because if they would knock it off I could justify breeding without feeling guilty. But such is life.
When I get really annoyed thinking about it I just remind myself that even if I could breed the act of selling my "product" would just emotionally wreck me. I still worry about all of the cats and kittens I have placed over the years. I am haunted by concern for a horse I sold almost 16 years ago that I completely lost track of and whose buyers turned out to be coo coo.
Now, you know my breed of choice is that overly flashy hairball breed that sells for thousands of dollars, right? You would think breeding and selling those would be pretty safe because honestly with what they cost and being a rare breed folks who buy them are going to take care of them, right? RIGHT?
Think again.
On of my online friends just recently had to go repossess a horse she sold on co-ownership. She took a deposit and payments. Thankfully she has a SUPER contract, which allowed her to get him back. When ever she asked the buyer she was told that the horse was doing great, healthy as a horse, and they absolutely loved him like crazy. Unfortunately they don;t feel obligated to make their payments on him. Hm....
This is what the horse looked like when she sold him two and a half months before she went to get him back:
Isn't he lovely? all fit and glossy and full of spirit. This little guy is sweet as sugar and just adores people. He is a SUPER easy keeper and just thrives on a minimal amount of food (like almost ALL Gypsy Horses).
So, breeder/seller hears rumours and being RESPONSIBLE she does what it takes, at great expense of both time and money to herself, to find out for sure. When she finally lays eyes on her sweet boy just a short 2 1/2 months later she immediately got him out of there and THIS is what she brought home (picture modified ONLY to remove person who wished to be removed from photo):
TWO AND A HALF MONTHS!!!!!
THIS is why I could never breed and sell animals. These people seemed like a perfect home. And in less than three months they turned a fat sassy happy boy into a complete mess of malnourished tangles. How does a horse get that bad in less than three months? The fear of this happening to a life I brought in to this world stops my animal breeding dreams right in their tracks.
Thankfully his breeder is a wonderful and caring person. She planned ahead by having a very detailed contract that she was willing to enforce. She followed through by checking up on him, and she risked doing what ever it took to get him back. And now she is putting her all into getting him back to his previous healthy fat self 100%. Thankfully he was just neglected and not abused, and his sweet temperament is still intact, but if she'd not had that detailed contract it could have taken 6 months of legal crap to get him back. Can you imagine what could have happened in 6 months if he looked like this after 2 1/2?????
So yeah, this is why I will never be an animal breeder, no matter how badly I have always want to raise something. Unless I can keep it forever or eat it (lol) I just can't handle the fear of what could happen to it.
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