Change of Plans

I went to the barn yesterday, but Harley was out in the far pasture. In order to get him I'd have to walk a good distance (no biggie) then open the gate between the far and middle pasture without letting the mares into the far pasture (a little tricky) get Harley (easy) then open the gate to bring him out without any of the other geldings coming along and not let any of the mares in (very difficult). Barb offered to help. I was going to get him, then decided not to ride. I'd go grocery shopping instead and ride Tuesday. So that's what I did. I'm sure Harley liked that decision-he could play and graze all day. I'll make him work today. I just have to make myself get up early!

Indian Summer

It seems as if Indian Summer is here. I turned off the furnace a few days ago and the house is quite comfortable. No waking up to temperatures in the 50's. Actually, I don't think it's even getting that cold outside. We were in the upper 70's yesterday and may be close to 80 today. This weather is absolutely glorious as the humidity has been low and the skies clear. I just hope it doesn't get too hot!

Stuff

I have a lot of stuff. I freely admit it. I am a collector, but I am also a pack rat. The problem is that I don't have a place, a proper place, for all of the stuff. I'm working on it-but it's kind of insurmountable. We cleaned the carpets downstairs last week-so everything is off the floors. Great. However, the table tops are piled high. I do my fabric cutting on the dining room table-but there's so much stuff on it, I can't cut fabric! Sorry rats. If I were to get the stuff quickly off the table, it'd wind up on the floor. I need to clear the tables soon for the holidays. Wish me luck!

Tired Out

Barrett is all tired out. He's napping on his bed right now. He got up early and was so excited to see his grandparents this morning. He got treats, good stuff, AKA people food, too. Grandma brought the animals chicken and in addition Barrett got some of the kabanosi they brought for me, but he still tried to get some of our breakfast sandwiches. Of course Grandma gave him some of hers. Then he was crying and pawing at both of my folks. Mom and I went to the farmer's market and Dad gave him a steak bone. When we returned he was begging for more. Then he wanted to play. Mom and I were hanging curtains and he was bringing his tennis ball and running around the house with it. Then he opened the cabinet and dumped out the garbage...twice. He was full of piss and vinegar. But he's all tuckered out now. My little devil now looks like a little angel.

Photo Phriday - Fall at the Stable

Today was a beautiful Indian Summer day. After a pleasant ride with Harley I let him graze with me and I took this photo: the colors of autumn with the mares in the far pasture. Here's Harley grazing.

Attraction

Attraction is an interesting thing. There are guys who I find attractive, I may even get to know them and like them...but I just can't picture having sex with them. Not that I necessarily would have or even want to have that opportunity, but do other people experience attraction like that? Even though I'm not looking for a man, every guy I see I automatically categorize: Nope, Possible, Attractive But Not For Me, Attractive I Could See Us Together But Not Really Intimately, Attractive I Could See Us Together in Every Sense of the Word, & OMG How Hot Can You Be?! In time some guys even change categories. Interesting. Is it similar for you?

In case you're wondering the picture above is Methos a character portrayed by Peter Wingfield. He fits into the Attractive I Could See Us Together in Every Sense of the Word category. Maybe even the OMG How Hot Can You Be?! Hmmm, must watch Highlander to see him again.

The Nice Sandwich

Work has been so busy that lately I've been bringing a sandwich in for lunch, as a microwave meal would take to long to fix and eat. Monday I got some nice luncheon meat and yesterday I made a nice sandwich to take to work. It had turkey and salami and provolone cheese. I wrapped it up and put it in the fridge. I had a doctor's appointment before work, and I wouldn't come home in between and I also needed to drop some things off at the post office. I took my nice sandwich out and put it in a bag with flavored water, a granola bar, and some Starbursts and put it on some things on a chair in the kitchen-so it was at table level. A little later I grabbed all the stuff and left for the post office, a little later than I planned. I dropped off the cards and headed to my appointment. I looked over and didn't see my lunch. I must have left it at home. So I stopped home, now I was really later than I wanted to be. I looked-the bag wasn't on the chair. Did I have it in the car all along and just not seen it? I looked on the table-not there. Then I glanced in the dining room. And saw the bag. On the floor. Chewed apart. Sandwich gone. Barrett had eaten my nice sandwich and it was too late to make another one. The peanut butter jar was out so I quickly grabbed 2 sliced of bread and slapped some peanut butter on. Then I really had to make time to get to the doctor. Drat that dog. At least he got to enjoy my nice sandwich.

Purina and Breast Cancer

What do cat chow and breast cancer have in common? I'm not sure, but the two are teamed up to help. Following is a copy of an e-mail a friend from Texas sent me telling about an easy way to donate-without opening your wallet.

If you go to Purina cat chow's web site & take a test on your knowledge of breast cancer, they will donate $1.00 to the Susan G. Komen foundation. The questions are not difficult & you keep going until you guess right.
Only 5 questions. Here's the website:
site:http://www.catchow.com/pink/?DCMP...HQS=donate
Please pass it along to everyone you know ... thanks!!

I only got 2 questions right. How about you?

More Heat

Well, I did it. I turned the heat on...and kept it on. However, I set the thermostat for 60 degrees, colder than I normally do for the winter. I give in...but not completely!

Heat

I refused to turn the furnace on. It's too early in the year and the cost is going to be high this winter. However, my folks came up yesterday, so for them I had to turn it on. I turned it back off, but when I woke up this morning, it was again 56 in the house. The rats have dragged fleece bits into their igloos and have barricaded themselves in. The rest of us don't seem to mind. I don't want burst pipes, however. I may decide to set it at like 60 and turn it on. It's almost noon and is 57 in the house. I wonder what it is outside? Probably warmer.

Greed

Is greed the downfall of America? Greedy CEOs screw up Wall Street, yet walk away with million dollar pensions while we in the middle class will have to pay more taxes as we struggle with rising costs. In Buffalo, NY the Buffalo Bills are having a great season (knock on wood) and now Channel 4 wants to charge Time Warner Cable for the games-which are free. The cable company said no, as then they'd have to make the consumers pay more. The TV said OK-no games for your people. As of today, none of the Buffalo fans who have cable can watch the Bills football games. In Rochester, NY buses have lowered their rates so more people will ride. In Buffalo, NY more people are riding buses-so now the buses want to raise their rates. Now I'm all for people getting their fair share-but this is ridiculous. Greed may bring us all to an unpleasant end.

Photo Phriday - Figure

I have always been intrigued by this figure...and it's location.

Job Security

I heard some things that got me a little anxious today. People at work are actually concerned about layoffs. They say not to be too concerned as our job title comes from the jail system and we'd just go to the prisons. But what if I finally get offered another job. And take it. Last one in first one out. Could I actually lose my job? It never seemed possible before. The I got home and got an e-mail from the EAP coordinator at work. Her last day is the 15th. She was part time and now she'll be gone. They stated it was due to budget cuts and her title. It's said the US may be entering another Great Depression. Is it true? Will I be able to maintain my current standard of living? I'm not exorbitant, but I spend a bit. Lots of little things. I'm going to try to just go on and not get too concerned over the issue, but, it has given me pause.

It's October!

It's October! The holiday season is practically here. The weather is a bit cooler and it's been gray and rainy for days-today being no exception. I have to turn the lights on in the daytime so I can see in the house! I need to finish decorating for fall so I can get the decoration boxes back in the attic. The folks are coming up Saturday and we're going to clean the carpets, so I have to get everything off the floor. I also need to wrap some Christmas presents. I'm meeting my Ohio friends in Pennsylvania later this month and we swap gifts then. But, more about that later. There's so much to do and I feel this season will be going by quickly. I'm glad I got a head start on my Halloween cards! I'd better get lunch going, then it'll be time to go to work.