My Yapping

Please Take The Time To Do This!

Smelly — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:45:25 GMT

Please go to this site http://www.searchkindly.org and vote for the "Saddlebred Rescue" for this month's charity poll. The "winner" receives all of the charity money raised for that month. This is a valid American Saddlebred Horse Rescue organization and they have placed many Saddlebreds into wonderful, kind and loving homes after being rescued from cases of neglect and/or abuse. This is my breed of horse, they are a wonderful, proud, kind, willing to please, friendly and beautiful breed of horse. So, please, all my peeps, support them and help them to take on a few more "rescue" cases to be placed in caring homes. Thank you all in advance. Hugs and love, Smelly Melly, Dusty Bucks and the "memory" of New York's Fashionable Lady "Bug"

New York's Fashionable Lady "Bug"

Smelly — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:57:28 GMT

New York's Fashionable Lady "Bug" 7/06/1996 - 9/22/2007 This saturday evening was a very sad time for me and I shed many tears and did not sleep so well. I found out that my dear, sweet mare, Bug, had to be euthanized due to the equine disease EPM. This is a nuerological disease that is spread thru opossum feces and the protozoa gets into a horse's spine where it will eventually completely debilitate them. This is what happened to Bug. Bug was the first horse that I raised from a foal and broke to ride myself. Bug and I had a real "horse/person bond that I have not had with many other horses in my life. She truly was a very good horse and one of the sweetest and most spoiled I have ever known and she loved her barn cat buddies. A year and a half ago I made the difficult decision to get "out" of horse ownership and sent Bug down to one of my closest friend's brother's farm in Missisippi to live and just "be a horse". Bug was very happy and became a family pet for them, the first "pet" horse they have ever had since she did possess such a glorious attitude. Jack's family was extremely sad to have to be the bearer of this news and their whole family is quite upset by Bug's passing. I am thankful, however, that she had such a good life with me and then with them down south. It bothers me though, that I couldn't give her that one last hug and kiss goodbye and to tell her that I loved her. Bug will be missed and will forever be in my heart and the feelings of sadness and tears will go and be replaced with all the fond and happy moments I did have the chance to have with her. She was a good horse.

"FINE WINE" Update

Smelly — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:16:46 GMT

Fine Wine: To Box Or Not To Box, That Is The Question? There is yet another new twist on the wine "bottle." First, screw tops started taking the place of the venerable corked bottle. Then, boxed wines made a comeback after an abysmal venture in the 1980s, when upscale vintners started using them for their prize-winning juice. Now, the box has grown soft. More wineries are putting their products in soft-sided boxes that can easily be tucked into a crowded refrigerators or pantry shelves. And, the containers are growing smaller. Several vintners are choosing to "bottle" their wines in "bullets," 250-ml., soft-sided boxes that look a lot like long, narrow juice boxes -- without the attached straw, of course. It's enough to make a cork sniffer's head spin. But the newer packaging makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons, as wineries strive to make wine more convenient and accessible to consumers. Wine in a box, soft-sided or not, is really wine inside a plastic bladder (thank goodness they don't call them "bladder wines"). An attached tap lets the wine out but doesn't let in air -- wine's nemesis, because oxygen causes wine to go south. The technology means boxed wines last more than a month after opening compared to mere days for wine in a bottle -- a plus for people who enjoy just the occasional glass. Wine retailers say boxes stack up well to bottles since they're recyclable, easier to carry and store and cheaper to produce. So, always, remember......only the "finest" will do!

Nothing like the Box

Smelly — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:10:22 GMT

Cork-sniffers be warned: The box is back and bigger than ever before. Wine industry officials say boxed wines are making a comeback, currently accounting for up to 20 percent of wine sales by volume. Wine in a box is usually really wine in a bag -- and the bag is in a box. The wine is inside a plastic bladder with an attached tap that lets the wine out but doesn't let in air -- wine's nemesis -- because oxygen causes wine to go south. The boxing trend comes at a time when wine industry officials, facing a world oversupply, have been looking for ways to make wine more accessible and convenient to consumers. Wine in a box will last more than a month after opening compared to mere days for a bottle, which is a plus for people who like to drink just the occasional glass. Box wine started gaining in popularity in the 1980s, and really caught on in Australia. But until recently, box wines maintained a lower status than corked bottles of wine. Now, a new crop of vintners is going for the box. Wines that have won good ratings and medals in competitions are being released in boxes. These new pro-box people also are giving the box a new name, calling wine served from a cardboard cube "cask wine" instead of "box wine." Delicato Family Vineyards, which has won numerous accolades, is among those thinking inside the box. Delicato is putting many of its award-winning wines in boxes, including its shiraz, which was rated 90 points (out of 100) by Wine Enthusiast. For retail outlets, boxes are a boon as well. Boxes stack up well to bottles since they're easier to carry, cheaper to produce, recyclable and more compact.

Ah, the Playa

Smelly — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 22:29:13 GMT

Am slowly, very slowly trying to grasp reality camp once again. Currently am experiencing severe Post Playa Syndrome, which I was warned about at least. However after my experience in the desert I am a changed person and will never again be able to miss another chance to go home. Came to alot of realizations while in BRC, here are only a few of them. -Black Rock City is my home, PA is only where I live. Towards the middle of the week I finally got it (being the whole thing) and what it means when you are greeted with "Welcome Home" from so many. -I have been able thru BM to let go of some things that I couldn't have before. -The connections I made are life long ones for sure. And, the one most precious to me: -I have FINALLY found what I have been searching so long for )'(. Burn on and until next year live the playa year round )'(

In Thirty Four Hours

Smelly — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:00:49 GMT

In thirty four hours I will be leaving for the desert. The anticipation and excitement is taking me over. I am so ready to experience Burning Man and everything it has to offer. All I have left to do is throw a few odds and ends in yet and do a couple things and I am ready and raring to go. Can't wait to see everyone on the playa. It is going to be the most incredible time of my life. Boo Boo, will miss you, thank you again and I love you dearly :-) The realization has finally really set in.................................. )'( HOLY SHIT, I AM GOING TO BURNING MAN )'(

This Time I Couldn't Even Say Goodbye

Smelly — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 01:07:27 GMT

Well, only one week and two days has gone by since my Fred was put to sleep and here today I find out that one of my very special barn cats, Tom, has died. My friend Denise found him dead by the well outside of the barn at one of his sleeping/sunning spots, so I am hoping he just went to sleep and passed. Back in December I just spent around $600.00 in vet bills for a urinary blockage and it was touch and go for a while, but he recovered and was doing great. Where Fred was my "kid" and friend, Tom was my buddy. He followed me around all the time and kept me company at the barn for several years. I grew quite attached. He loved to be pet and held. He would just purr and purr. The worst part about losing Tom is I never even had a chance to say goodbye to him. Seems lately that I just keep on losing things that mean something to me and it just isn't going to stop. What next? I wish I could just quit caring. I will miss my Tom. He was a good, sweet cat and I loved him. So now tomorrow Tom will be laid to rest beside Fred.

Why does saying "goodbye" hurt so damn bad?

Smelly — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 00:24:33 GMT

Today I was forced to say goodbye to Fred, my old kitter kat. He finally succumbed to his diabetes. He had the most horrible seizure I have ever seen tuesday night which crippled him behind. My good bud Mickey took him to the vet's on thursday to have him humanely euthanized but brought him home with hopes that he would come out of this. I took one look into Fred's eyes yesterday afternoon and he told me it was time to let him go so today Fred left me behind peacefully. There will never be another Fred. He was a unique, likeable charactor and he will be with me forever. Now he is at peace and with his brother Barney and is not suffering. Seeing him seizure, falling and not being able to walk or eat destroyed me inside but I know I made the right decision. I gave him the best life I could for the twelve years he was with me and he gave me much joy and happiness with his quirkiness. I am going to miss the little bugger like crazy. At least he knew that I love him and I know he loved me and I quess that is why it hurts so bad to say goodbye, it is so final.