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Sunday Open Thoughts

by: Alma

Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

It is an Art

I've mentioned before that my daughter is an animal whisperer, but I don't know if I ever mentioned her ability with some insects. We generally don't kill bugs here, we take them outside. I don't know if some insects sense that Katie won't hurt them or what, but the other day when we went grocery shopping she discovered a pretty metallic green bug with wings on her knuckle. Well she figured it would fly away but it didn't. It stayed on her hand the whole time we were in the store until we were in the checkout line. So about a half hour.

I first started getting an inkling of her animal abilities when she was a toddler and the ducks would come try and nibble on her toes when we sat on our porch with our bare feet dangling. Then we she was 5 or so she started bringing birds in the house to me. She talks to everything and most respond in their manner.

A few months ago my daughter started working with a woman new to the USA that came from India about 6 months ago. Well Bockney (I probably really misspelled her name badly) has had time to observe Katie as she befriends all the stray animals, cats, dogs, squirrels, mice, etc. their clients animals she goes out to visit when they come to the store, and the insects she takes outside. The night before last as Katie was taking an ant outside I think Bockney nailed it. She said: "The way you are with the dogs and the insects, it is an art." and ICAWHMIISIM!

Hows your Sunday?

Alma :: Sunday Open Thoughts

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Sunday Open Thoughts | 23 comments

Good morning, Alma (15.00 / 5)

This blew me away:

BRODY: I just want to understand. You're saying that you're not willing to play this mainstream media "gotcha" game basically? Is that what you're saying?
ANGLE: No. There's no earnings for me there. We're looking at how can we best benefit from the media. We get so many requests. I do sometimes seven interviews a day, so it's not like we're running from the media. It's just that we're earning with that media.
BRODY: When you're on Fox News or talking to more conservative outlets but maybe not going on "Meet the Press" or a "This Week", those type of news shows, then the perception and the narrative starts to be like you are avoiding those mainstream media outlets.
ANGLE: Well, in that audience will they let me say I need $25 dollars from a million people go to Sharron Angle.com send money? Will they let me say that? Will I get a bump on my website and you can watch whenever I go on to a show like that we get an immediate bump. You can see the little spinners. People say 'Oh, I heard that. I am going and I'm going to help Sharron out because they realize this is a national effort and that I need people from all around the nation. They may not be able to vote for me but they can certainly help.

I stole it from Trix's Sunday A.M. Talking Heads post over at Orange.

How much more blatant can she be that she's a money-grubbing idiot in the mold of Michelle Bachmann?

By the way, what does this mean?

ICAWHMIISIM

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 07:14:38 AM UTC

Hi Youff (15.00 / 5)

I couldn't agree with her more if I said it myself.

Angle sure is a piece of work Chris Matthews went over that clip the other day and made an open statement to Angle that he would let her mention her website and need for money on his show if she would come on. Called her bluff he did. I don't think we'll be seeing her on there anytime soon though.

by: Alma @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 15:35:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ahhhhh........ (14.67 / 6)

Just one more day (today) of this hot, humid weather, with temps in the mid-90's, and then we're in for some relief (I hope). :)

Knock on wood; One never knows with our New England weather!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 12:53:22 PM UTC

Got my fingers (15.00 / 6)

crossed for you Miki.

If it cools off maybe you can get a bike ride in. :)

by: Alma @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 15:36:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Alma. :) (14.00 / 5)

I looked thoroughly at the upcoming weather forecast for the next week or two, and, after tomorrow, the relief will kick in, and I think (hopefully) that I will be able to get some long-distance bike-riding in.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 16:26:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

alma (14.60 / 5)

is that your katie?
what a beautiful girl she is!

& yes... it is an art, her talent with animals....

we used to be more like her than we are now. moving to the coast of SC where the mosquitos are the size of dragonflies & cockroaches are the size of sparrows- *& fly right at you!* ... well, it got to be too much. we're bach up-country now so those two are no longer a problem. we do mostly use natural means of combating insects, keeping them out of our living space & garden but a recent infestation of fleas (from our girl's dog) had us buying chemical weapons because they seemed to be not affected at all, in fact multiplying with great rapidity, with natural methods.

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 17:41:16 PM UTC

yep (15.00 / 4)

Thats my girlie back in October before we did her orange fauxhawk. She'd been experimenting with her makeup trying to make herself look older. She's always hated that she looks so much younger than she is. She had just turned 26 a month before that pic.

We haven't been perfect here with natural bug removal. I can recall a few times we had to bug bomb to get rid of fleas. And we have an infestation of ants that I put out bait traps for almost yearly when they get to bad and get in the pet food or kitchen area. I usually don't tell Katie when I'm doing that. ;)

by: Alma @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 20:05:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ants (14.75 / 4)

i got cinnamon oil from the drugstore, put a dropperful (or 2 if its really bad) into a spray bottle (12oz?) of water & spray outside around windows/doors or wherever they're coming in. seems to work.

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 20:30:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Alma, that's a super (14.20 / 5)

photo of Kate -- I hadn't seen that. She looks great!

I'm here to tell everybody that I, personally, witnessed Kate's ability to "talk to the animals." I think she feels connected to them all (and we are, really) and she definitely makes connection. Maybe, because of her deep belief, tone of voice, genuine effort and something abstract we're not aware of, but whatever the components, it works!

Yes, definitely an art!

And how about "Ms. L?"

by: Tahoe @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 20:51:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lala (12.25 / 4)

is still about the same. The doctor gave her a vitamin c shot and a steroid shot Friday, and liquid c for at home. The only solid type food she's eating is her pellet mash of pellets soaked in hot water and then blended with wheat baby cereal and she sometimes eats a little of the pulp from liquifying her lettuces. I'm getting lots of liquid vegetables in her but it hasn't been enough to keep her weight up. Since piggies are grazing animals and almost constantly eat when awake, its hard to try and keep up. And of course I'm still putting out lettuce and hay in case she can all of a sudden eat it. Since Friday morning before the vet visit she's had loose stool so I had to quit giving her the fruits I was getting in her. But her spirit and energy are still good. She gets a little depressed and frustrated when she tries to eat the lettuce or hay and can't, but it doesn't last long since I'm right there to syringe her liquids to her. (I managed to get a bath yesterday so I smell better again.) ;)

AT&T was here again today. 2 guys this time and one of them said he fixed a few small "errors" on the pole or at the main box and that service should be fine now. I'm not holding my breath. I think they've been out 3 other times since I last emailed you. We talked to the next door neighbors and they have the same AT&T service and haven't had any problems. Go figure.

by: Alma @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 23:19:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm glad her spirit and energy is good! (14.50 / 4)

I dunno' -- I've always tended to look at animals as much the same as us -- except, of course, vegetarian v. carnivorous.

What I'm thinking, though, and I'm sure you think the same -- all these liquids are causing her loose stools.

I've always operated a little on instinct, as well as doctor advice.

This may sound nuts! I just had a thought (amongst my many -- LOL!)! What if you were to blend her juices with some cooked rice? Or, just plain rice, blended to a soupy kind of mix -- then, eye-drop feed her with some of the stuff? You know, rice has some binding abilities. I think she needs to get something "solid" in her. Of course, that depends on if her mouth is well enough, etc. Also, cream of wheat!

AT&T -- you should mention. Some have problems, some don't? How interesting! I just wrote my friend, B . . . , on my experiences of late -- would you believe that suddenly, there was an Internet notice saying it had shut down. I quickly copied everything, lest it be lost. This is real stuff, Alma!

Funny -- how they send their bills and insist on payment on the due date, or a penalty will be charged -- but you can be without adequate service for days on end -- and dare you to bitch! What does this all sound like?

by: Tahoe @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 03:42:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Piggies (14.00 / 5)

can't have rice, cooked or raw either one. It'll make them really sick. The baby whole wheat cereal is better for them than cream of wheat. The main cause is where she's not eating hay which aids their digestion and all the fruits and sugars she was having. She's drinking more liquids now than she was and its been getting better ever since we stopped the fruits and carrots. Getting her to eat the pellet mash has helped too, I'm sure.

I think she needs one of these chin slings.

by: Alma @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 05:24:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

In my case it was Verizon... (14.75 / 4)

I may have mentioned this: if so, apologies for the repetition.

But when I moved in, I was SO looking forward to DSL after dial-up.

Finally got a guy who went up the pole, and voila! found that my connection was hooked into another apartment, downstairs, that (at the time) didn't even have a tenant. He rewired the box, hooked me up, and I've been online ever since.

Wish it were that easy for you, Alma!

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 07:19:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

AT&T might have (14.50 / 2)

finally gotten it fixed. We didn't get any, as we call them, "time outs" last night while we were up. So maybe the pair they sent yesterday actually knew what they were doing.

by: Alma @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 15:03:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

gha! n/t (12.33 / 3)

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 07:10:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

afternoon, sister (11.80 / 5)

I can't believe it's already after 4pm and I still can't find the energy to get up and around... I finally had to get up 'cause Dolores and Dreamer have been at my window talking up a storm, and I just know they're asking me, what the hell's goin' on around here? we're hungry daddy!

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Thoreau ... and, do no harm

by: newpioneer @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 20:27:45 PM UTC

Aw newp (13.80 / 5)

Your babies need you. They'll let dad rest up for a few days, but then they will demand their attention.

Love you brother and I hope things get easier for you, but sometimes it takes awhile.

by: Alma @ Sun Jul 18, 2010 at 23:22:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm feeling back to my old self, sister... (11.33 / 3)

still crazy as ever, but well-rested and giving lots of love and scritchins to all the babies. Juan really stepped up over the weekend, even made his own food! 'course, once I heard him rattling around in the kitchen I got up and put the fire extinguisher next to me in the bed!

but all's back to normal and the never-ending work here on our little farm continues :O)

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Thoreau ... and, do no harm

by: newpioneer @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 13:35:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi there, newp!! (11.50 / 2)

Glad you're on the mend! :)

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 13:58:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey, Miki! (9.00 / 2)

all's well here, thanks! hope everything's going great on your end :O)

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Thoreau ... and, do no harm

by: newpioneer @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 14:24:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey again, newp! (14.00 / 2)

Things are going well, thanks.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 17:22:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The question is (12.00 / 3)

did you have to use the fire extinguisher? ;)

I kind of assumed Juan could cook too since you guys had the restaurant. But come to think of it I don't remember you ever mentioning him cooking anything.

Never ending work would be right. Heck I can't keep up with the little gardens and animals I've got. I'm so in awe of you with all you do brother.

by: Alma @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 15:12:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

HA! (12.50 / 2)

no, didn't have to use it, but with J in the kitchen it's always a possibility! he took care of the books, and would grab the mop occasionally and would always help out washing dishes when things got crazy... but he's an absolute disaster anywhere near a stove or oven!!!

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Thoreau ... and, do no harm

by: newpioneer @ Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 17:28:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sunday Open Thoughts | 23 comments

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