Happy Easter! Jelly beans and chocolate bunnies all around!

Thanks Acadian, but I´ll pass. I´ve already had enough

I don´t mind easter eggs in games though..

Happy Easter!

Well, it's that time of the year again.

Yup. Spring cleaning. And my home office has been in dire need of it for a couple of years. My health issues have kept me pretty much out of it, except to play a little Oblivion. But Sunday my little bro (okay, he's not so little anymore - he's in his mid-40's now, but --) called to tell us that he will be heading out to Erie, PA for training for his new job (tech consultant/support technician for GE Locomotives. Yup, the big diesels on the Grade 1 railroads. Dad would be so proud and fit to burst if he were still alive). He will be passing through town from Mpls. Saturday and spending the night with us. As his wife is horribly allergic to the cats, he has not done that for five years now. But he's on his own, so . . .

So guess what? I tackled this home office and whipped it into shape. Clean, shiny, ship-shape. Between this and my volunteer work, I swear I broke every fingernail on both hands. Well, all but two. And if my bro calls tomorrow to say he's flying out instead of driving . . .

Oh and I went to my volunteer job twice this week - my regular morning on Tuesday and about an hour or so this afternoon. Nice break from spring cleaning, if you ask me. Grooming horses for the therapeutic riding program - it was really nice to be back with horses again. Grooming really is one of the best ways to get to know a horse, and there are really nice ones at the barn. The smell of horses, the feel of their coats (and yes, they're blowing their winter coats big time), and their calm presences is bringing back many good memories.

Pistol is sensitive in his front feet, and keeps putting them down when I try to pick them out. But he's such a good boy about it, and lets me pick them back up right away. So it took me a little longer than usual, but I didn't mind.

Kiwi gets crabby and mouthy when she is in season. I actually suspect she feels some cramping, though we really don't know for sure. But based on her behavior and what we women experience (and how it affects us), I wouldn't be surprised.

Pepsi is big and rangy, he'd be perfect as Camillius's mount.

Kay is a rock, and wonderful about letting you pick out her tail.

And Sven is my favorite so far - he drools when he is happy. The first time I worked with him, he didn't drool at all. I suspect he knew I was new, and he wasn't sure what I would be like. But by the time I got done with him, he was dribbling saliva on the floor pretty good. So I was happy that he was happy with me.

All in all, a week of work and fun. Oh, and I'm training for a new role at my job, too. So I'm keeping very busy!

Sounds like a productive week of spring cleaning at Chez-Rider!

Reminds me of my dearly departed Great Dane.

Interesting read, h-e-r. An inside look into your life!

With all the closing in and inland border controls, fruit controls, other checkpoints with constant asking for IDs and all that, it´s important to recognize the good cops. Here is one video I found that is very encouraging

Here is another video. A marine telling alot of cops to leave ordinary citizens alone and stop gearing up like it´s war. This man has my fullest respect and admiration.

Typical male... ...

Or is that just me?... ....

Aaamywho, sounds like you've had a fun time with them anyways...Never done much with horses...They seem lovely though...

Cows...Always the cows...Urgh!... ...

So. How do I put this.

I just received news that my grandmother on my mom's side, who I've never met, has committed suicide by shooting herself in the head.

What the... I really don´t know what to say...

Damn..

I'm simply surprised. Never met her, didn't care about her much, I'm just shocked

News like that are never expected so naturally there will be a shock when you hear them. Does anyone know why?

Not quite. I'm told she was abusing drugs though

I´d hate to be the one discovering such a thing..

Yeah, I feel bad for that person. She lives pretty far though...

Kobby, that's terrible. Even though you never met her, she's still family and that news has to be pretty disturbing. Sorry.

I'm more worried about how my mom is taking this

...Aw hells matey...That's going to be a hell of a shock to the family, whether there was "Circumstances" or not...

My hugest sympathies to you and your family... ...

We'll be fine.

Wow KOB, That's awful. I'd be worried about anyone that found something like that.

That must be awful, Kobby. Sympathy to you and your family.

haute, I’m so glad you’re recovered and able to tackle the office project, even though the brother didn’t get to visit and enjoy the results. Now it’s shiny for you to use! Your story of Sven made me smile. He sounds like my favorite males from several assorted species.

I know spring is here when the Grits men start washing cars in the driveway. This year I’m strong enough to be trusted with the hose. It was great fun to be back even in a limited capacity. Of course when I started toward the flower beds they were quick to chase me indoors. I’ll save that for another weekend!

That sure is a true sign of spring

Hmmm my hubby's name is Sven.....made me laugh you know!

KOB, so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope your mom is doing OK.

As for everyone else, I enjoyed your comments about Sven. It seems that he is a standout not only IRL, but also in a very brief, virtual discussion. I promise to take a pic of him (and the others) for you all to see. I think he and Kay are proper Skyrim horses - not the prehistoric freaks Beth put in Skyrim and ESO.

As some of you know there´s an issue with the mirocu farm about who´s gonna own what between my dad and his sister. It all resembles what I went through last year when I lost my job; it´s tough to go through but will turn out good once it´s settled.
Because of how every building is located, this split-up means that my dad is going to lose the workshop, tractor garage and every storage space but will keep the cottage and the woods. We´ll have to get some new storage and other things and it´s gonna cost us. But I guess we´ll manage in the end..

mirocu, it makes me sad to hear about your farm. Sorry you're losing some of those things and that dear old woodshop. I know you and your dad will make the best of it though.

KOB: Sorry to hear that man, best wishes.



I hate family disputes. Hopefully things go smoothly.

I’m sorry to hear about the split, mirocu. As you said I’m sure you and your dad will make the adjustments you need, but it’s still sad to see something you’d like to have stay the same slip into memories.

I’m glad you’ll get to keep enjoying the cottage and the woods. I hope you’ll have many more happy summers there.

Thanks for your support, guys

I don´t mean to whine about this, I know I´ve been talking a lot about it from time to time. But it is a big deal for us and part of it is just to talk about it.

While it truly is sad we´ll lose so much, we do get to keep the most important thing; the cottage. The woods means a lot too but the cottage is the holy grail for me. We´ve never lived there year-round since it´s just built for summer but my whole childhood has that place written all over it. I really, really love it

Starting again on a workshop can be the best thing that happened to it. Provided you get to keep the good tools and install them in the new layout.

We have talked about moving the machinery but we have no good means of doing it, plus it means getting another house for them and it costs.... And it´s the whole place itself that matters the most really since that´s where my grandfather and great grandfather used to work.

But we´ll see what happens

Some good news: It seems that we might get a rather large storage building for pennies! That is if we had pennies here..

The place my dad worked at before he retired is selling off some things and he might get it, and for a discount too! It will be perfect for our lawnmower rider, snowblower and all our car tyres. The biggest problem we have now is figuring out how to move it and where to place it!

Excellent news.

Good news, mirocu. You gonna use a levitation spell or borrow McB's sexeh tractor to move it?

I vote for the levitation - with a video!

Levitation is fine, but the tractor is sexier!

At least for me anyways. It's a farming girl's best friend!

Levitation FTW!

I now have a bachelor's degree.

WOOOOO HOOOOOOO! Congratulations, KC! That is simply outstanding!

*Applauds KC most heartily*...

Fair dues...Well done that man!!...

Good on you, KC! I'm very proud of you and I know it was a long road getting there.

Who doesn´t have that?

Given the sequence of posts here do I get the impression that KC has a bachelor's degree in Levitation?

Otherwise, why would he have chosen to post at exactly that time? Inquiring minds and all that...

Congratulations, KC!! No more homework! Do you still get that feeling that you’ve forgotten an assignment? It took me a while to get over that.

Well done! Let there be celebrations!!

I don't.

Thanks everyone.

And of course it's Levitation.

Looks like I'm late to the party, but congrats on your Bachelor's Degree, KC! Whoo Hoo! This can open so many doors for you - it's up to you how you use it now.

Not everyone has a Bach's, so it is still a big deal. Not everyone wants to go to school for longer than they legally have to, you know!

And for the mothers on this forum, and the mothers of everyone on this forum, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!! Without you we wouldn't be here!

Congrats

And by the way......


PSERON! Good to see you!

I know! We could help KC come down gradually by giving him assignments here.