Various doings

[altivo]

Finally saw Bolt last night. Predictable Disney in some ways, but the characters are well done, most especially Bolt himself of course. I really liked it. Squeaky carrot, anyone?

This time I really have a cold. Yesterday I started feeling symptoms about mid-afternoon. This has happened several times this winter only to back off after four or five hours, but not this time. Not much sleep for me in the past 24 hours, even after taking stuff that should help.

Snow is supposedly headed in again. Yesterday they issued a winter storm warning for up to six inches of snow to commence last night and go all day today. Like the last one, they seem to have cried "wolf" at the chihuahua. There was a slight frosty film of snow overnight and that's it. They backed down to a winter weather advisory and said it would start at 1 pm. It's now 3:30 and still nothing, though the temperature did drop from 48F to 37F over about an hour's span. They've cut back the predicted accumulation to two inches now, overnight, but are still calling for continued snow all day tomorrow and overnight into Tuesday or longer. I'm sure no one believes it any more.

Saw a golden crowned kinglet about 1 pm today sitting in the wire of the dog fence. These are tiny birds, only a bit larger than a hummingbird, grey with dark wing bars and striped faces, and a bright yellow stripe like a mohawk down the crown of their heads. They can erect that crest like a bluejay or cardinal but usually it lies flat and nearly escapes notice. Typically they seem just to pass through here when migrating. I should be watching for their cousin, the ruby crowned kinglet, too. Similar but without the stripes and wing bars, and the mohawk is bright red. I've seen both before, but not for many years.

Gary is doing barn chores for me, though it's my day. I don't feel too guilty though, as I've done them for him pretty regularly of late due to his school schedule. Strawberries still not planted. Probably just as well if we're having another round of snow and ice. They will dry out in the shipping package though if held back much longer.

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnyhi, Rider.

You lucked out, as did I, to find a wonderful mate who appears to not mind doing the annoying and obnoxious at times, chores.

Yea, same here I doubt there will be more than a light dusting of snow particulate material. Not to mention, snowflakes.

Flattoothy grin.

Was gonna work on the garden and bought two types of strawberries (root ball types) but not today, maybe mid week. Have a nicely rototilled and raked out fenced area about twelve by thirty all ready other than rain and chilly wind. Mid week I hope.

Poor Tonka so wants to come up and visit but his past being beaten by a stupid horse trainer (so-called) has him too worried. Still if I walk away he follows right up close behind probably for life... sigh.)

Impers

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I think you can get Tonka over that. Carry some little slices of carrot or something like that in your pocket and give him one when he comes close. Not always, but just one out of three or four times will do it.

Archie and Asher always come right up to us to see what we're doing, and whether there are treats. But they are not obnoxious about it, digging in your pockets or nipping, because they don't always get a treat. Only sometimes.

Tess was a pocket checker when I got her, so I haven't encouraged it much.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Sounds like a good tip to me :)

*will need to remember that*

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Ah, sorry to hear about the cold - ephedrine-containing medication (Wick MediNait, specifically, but your brands over there'll be different) usually seems to help me there.

I hope you'll be able to get the strawberries planted soon, too; it'd be a pity to see those go to waste.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, pseudoephedrine really works well most of the time. Unfortunately the extreme paranoia about illegal drugs here has resulted in making it virtually unavailable. Apparently it can be used as a starting ingredient in the manufacture of one of the illegal recreational drugs. I guess some drug stores keep it under the counter and will let you buy it if you sign a register as if it were a narcotic.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Oh. So that is why they have taken it out of Lempsip in the UK?

Oh, Schnee, if we ever meet, bring ephedrine-containing cold meds. :)

[schnee.livejournal.com]

*noddles* From what I've heard, it's similar here, but only for medication containing no other active ingredients - concoctions that combine (pseudo)ephedrine with other ones are sold over-the-counter and can be bought without any kind of hassle (well, I imagine if you showed up and asked for a thousand bottles, for instance, that'd still raise some eyebrows, but the same is likely true for other medication as well).

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Aww... Sorry to hear about your cold.

*tucks you in the bed and gets you a big cup of
hot homemade blackcurrant juice and then
sits down next to you*

I really hope you get better soon. I don't like it
when my friends are ill.

Sounds like those weather reports and storm warnings
aren't very reliable. But I guess they are taking the
"better safe than sorry" approach.

I hope you get the strawberries out soon.
I like strawberries a lot.
I just need to aboid eating too many because the back
of my mouth will start itching a bit if I do.

*scritches behind ears*

Now it is a good time to rest, you deserve a break
from the animal chores anyway. You are not well,
after all.

So, how did you like Bolt? I personally don't know
if I'd enjoy it. Seems a bit... Well, let's say I
have seen too many Disney musicals and irritating
Finnish dubbed characters. Voiced by the same team
every time. :\

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Bolt has background songs but is not a musical. None of the characters bursts into song or dances. ;p

Surely you could watch it in English without the Finnish dubbing? I'm sure your English is good enough. The storyline is exaggerated, of course, but that gives you clear heroes and villains. The little girl actress's agent is a first class slimeball, and the television network executive is a very believable gem of a yuppie manager run amok. Bolt is just what I imagine some dogs would be like if caught in the situation he was placed in. Very well written and well played too.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Ah, good. That was one of my main fears, main characters bursting into
song and dances With everyone around them singing along as if it had been
carefully rehearsed beforehand just for that event. Kind of ruins any kind
of suspension of belief and throws me from being "in there" back to my
seat. However, I am not a great Disney fan so I normally tend to steer
clear of them. Not sure why. I guess I am getting old.
Zebras only live up to about 30 years in captivity anyway. :P
I think Disney lost a lot of their magic when they changed to computer
graphics. I guess I could watch it with friends some day tho.
Not in much of a hurry to see it yet. :)

I am terrible with movies. But it applies to many other things as well.
It is hard to get me enthusiastic about anything.
Except horses. I could watch them all day long.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Then you need to see Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron. It's not Disney, it's Dreamworks. Not only is it not a musical, but the horses don't talk except through a narrator. They make real horse sounds. It's not computer animated, though they used computer assisted techniques. And it's a great story.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

I did watch that. I liked it a lot. :)

A bit hard for me to watch it tho... The time of the year you see.
It stings this lonely zebra deep inside.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*points at the strawberry seedlings with a look of disapproval on his face* In ground now! :)

Here's a box of horse sized tissues for you, *hands you a rather large box of tissues) Hope you feel better soon and that it at least warms up some.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Still feeling yuck, and the weather is too cold for the strawberries. Hope it warms up soon before they're all stillborn.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Your icon feels oddly appropriate. Hope you feel better.

I liked Bolt. He's a good doggeh.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Bolt was cute. I hope they have cute plushie versions of him, but haven't seen any yet.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

There's something going around. Girlie is sick too.

So far I've dodged all virii comers.

*hides back in the foxenbunker and avoids all
human contact, not that hard for him.*

XD

*makes you some chicken soup with good veggies
and just a touch extra salt.*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Chicken soup soon. I made chicken on Sunday, just by chance, and there's a lot left over, with rice.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Whinnywellgee.

Drove off to work this morning expecting a snowy road and presto, a tree totally across and blocking M216 so, like the guy in front of me, did the multiple Y uturn and tried another road. Same thing, tree across. Went south and finally made it after much discomfiture and only about ten minutes later than usual. Probably three inches of very wet and heavysloshy snow. Breaking trees and powerlines (lots of power outages all day but not here, fortunately, nor at work, also fortunately.

Oh, and the guy I have been keeping busy at work, John Smith (really) got laid off as did seven others and there was an afternoon Company meeting and so everybody got a five percent paycut. I was expecting ten so happy.

Times are hard here and abouts these days. Happy to have a job that pays reasonably well, that I enjoy, and that has flexible hours. Wonderful, actually.

So still have a job and two less horses to feed and Bear working to find us a cheaper Internet (we already went to the most basic satellite TV and telephone) I think we can, with a garden to boot, make it ok.

A few hobbies may have to be on hold for a while or forever.

Gonna visit parental units first week of June and paid for already. Have savings in a credit union (will never ever use a bank again even though Countrywide is merging into Bank of America for our home mortgage) still... life is seeming ok so far cross hooves.

Imperator your loyal, magnificently gorgeous dream flying stallion mount. Gee, lucky guy wish I had one.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Regional and local banks don't seem to have been so deeply caught up in this huge scandal. I remember the commentators back in January saying the banks like 5/3 Bank were fine. I have most of my savings in the credit union, too, back at Michigan State. They've been excellent over the 40 or so years since I joined there.

Paycuts for you guys are an extreme measure. It's not as if you were unionized and getting $35 or more an hour like the auto workers. I can hear the screaming all the way out here in the woods but, ya know, it was bound to catch up with them eventually. Not that the execs were exactly underpaid either, but some of them are going to be the first to go to the chopping block as well.

At the moment I'm more amused by the news from Iowa. Iowa! And the legislature overrode a governor's veto to pass it as well. I think someone must have had a bee in their bonnet about showing California how it's properly done. I hope it sticks. And Vermont followed suit, even though they already had "civil unions" for years. Vermont and Massachusetts, not so big a surprise. But Iowa? I think the "Defend the Family" groups are about to be buried as their house of cards collapses.