Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Hairballs...Heat...Drugssssss...


Wow the great hair off campaign is in full swing. After so many years you would think that I would no longer be amazed at how much coat these little hairballs (alias Pomeranians) put on in the winter. WoW… this past winter had weeks of below or near zero weather and they dressed for it. Good thing it was wicked cold expecially when the wind blew. However it’s so thick that it is not just shedding it’s going to have to be pulled. Slicker brushes, combs, hair rakes, soft bristle brushes, and clippers are a flying. Yes I said clippers I usually don’t do summer cuts but they are getting trims this year. Not real short, my little hairballs do not need sunburns. But a trim up just the same.

It jumped from the 80’s to between 110 and 115 a couple of days ago. So I’m going to be a bit scarce till I get this grooming done. The first big comb out in the spring/summer is always a monster of a job. This Year it is an Olympian event. I thought of that first karate kid movie last night somewhere between 10 and 11 pm as I was finishing up Copper Pudwell. You know the fence painting and the wax on wax off… he he… with me it’s brush brush, comb comb, clip clip…

Happily it was only in the 80’s yesterday, you know it felt cool in comparison. Felt pretty good.

Pop (my Dad) has been her visiting, and David (my husband) has been on vacation at the same time. Actually that worked out pretty good. They have been able to hang out together and go fishing and such. David tried to brush out one of the dogs a bit yesterday. I was happy that he tried, he helped by dumping and refreshing their water yesterday afternoon. They foul it pretty fast when it’s very warm or hot. They play in it and plop themselves in the water buckets. Frankly I don’t blame them. I would to. But you have to stay on it or it gets nasty in a hurry.

Truth be told, as tired and sore as I am, I’m glad to be able to do this work. The past few years, between west nile, adhesions, and a nasty hysterectomy made it nearly impossible. The hysterectomy really trashed my abdominal muscles. It’s taken a couple of years but they are getting stronger, and stronger. Decent abs make such a huge difference over all. Especially in your back. Wow!

On the muscle regeneration/healing/development/healing note… I learned this past week that a drug that I was taking to help with muscle spasms. Get this… let’s see how did they word that. Oh yeah… paradoxically can cause muscle degeneration.

Let’s see…hmmmm… I was (note the was) taking a drug to help me work through the process of repairing and building up my muscle structure and one of it’s side effects is … DESTROYING MY MUSCLE STRUCTURE!!! Get this that nice little side effect was not listed in the initial side effect information that comes out with a new prescription either.

Added benefit of this particular drug. One of many I might add… is deterioration in your vision, swelling, eye redness/irritation/infection. A couple of weeks ago I went into the doctor because my face looked like a swelled up melon and was red as a stop sign. Eyes were nearly solid red. By the way having your skin turn yellow is another side effect.

This particular drug is Skelaxin. In truth it makes a difference in muscle spasms. In the long run it does more damage than good.

FDA approved all right… this will be the last time I take a drug and trust that the required explanation that comes out from the pharmacy is enough information.

I’m glad I was taking some good quality vitamins/minerals. Scary to think what it would have done to me without them. I wonder just how many people are taking prescription drugs. Trusting their doctors and pharmacies that what they are being prescribed is actually a good thing, when in fact it is making them sicker and in some cases actually killing them.

Life is a journey… sometimes it’s a heat hair storm… Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Something to think about


I sat down at my computer at the later stages of another long day and decided to check my email while I was shredding paper for puppy bedding. I open up one from my friend Tammy B and this was inside. Well worth reading... may it bless you as it has blessed me. I have no idea who wrote it... if I did I would give credit... so once again the prolific Anonymous has credit...


Breakfast at McDonald's

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,
literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then
even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling".

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.


I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

H e look ed up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on
the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to
LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE
PEOPLE.

There is an Angel sent to watch over you.

In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.

An Angel wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head.

To handle others, use your heart.

God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
Life is a journey... with many different views... Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

I'm Free I'm Free I'm Free......

Well Just do a happy gator dance! I’m free…. Free free free free free free free.

A major weight just lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I just lost 250 lbs in an instant. This mess has been crushing me for as long as I can remember.

Gets pretty ingrained when it starts as a child. But I’m free… free… free… free… free… free… free… I learned today that my Mother is mentally competent. I am so glad. Doesn’t mean that I don’t care. But it does mean that she has the capability of making competent decisions and being responsible for herself.

I finally put my foot down. And said enough and had an evaluation done. Yes she is pissed. Tough. Sounds rude doesn’t it… tough tookis. I’ve been on the receiving end of some major manipulation and guilt giving for my entire life. Enough. I love her or I would have simply walked away years ago. As it is now I know she can live her life. It’s her choice how she does. I will no longer enable her manipulative self-destructive self-serving behavior.

Now both of us are free to be. Free to actually live our lives and enjoy them. I wish I could have done this 28 years ago… so much time lost tied up in emotional pain and anguish. Always carrying around the burden of another person’s refusal to take responsibility for their own lives. No point in crying over spilt milk. I don’t have a time machine. What I do have is now and the potential for the rest of my life. I’m free. Free. Free. Free. Free. Free. Free… you know all prisons don’t have walls. Some of the most restrictive have no visual walls at all.

I’ve done my part. Now what she does is up to her. I hope she does well and enjoys her life. The bottom line is: it’s her choice… not my responsibility.

Just a thought folks… when you enable someone in codependent behavior you are not helping them. You are enabling a self-destructive behavior. As harsh as that may sound. You are hurting yourself and them.

It amazes me… that compulsion to eat is gone, the heavy weight in my mind and heart is gone… the static in my mind is not there… wow… it’s actually quiet in there… I can’t remember the last time it’s been quiet in there. I have room for a good stretch and a yawn… without being braced for someone screaming emergency emergency emergency… did you do this did you do that…why haven’t you done this or that… why aren’t you a better daughter… nothing you do is ever enough… and on and on and on and on… all that clatter is gone… I might actually be able to get a good nights sleep. Perhaps wake up without a migraine. How nice would that be. Gives me a bit of a giddy giggle. Oh yes I know all hell will break lose. Or maybe not ... the last emergency cry didn't get the response she wanted... so maybe not. hmmmmm... wouldn't that just be the blue bird's tweet.

It sure was good to get the news. I'd been worried about it. I thought she was competent, but was worried that just maybe she wasn't. Now I know she is.

Time's a flying, glad I came in for a bit of a break and to do some dog laundry. I'm going to stick another load of dog blankets in the washer and head back out to the whelping house. Little cuties are getting microchipped today. I won't do that kind of work when I'm upset. I tend to make mistakes then and a mistake in vaccination or microchipping can be a fatal one. The little hairballs (Pomeranians) deserve better than that. They sure are beautiful little creatures. So full of life and glee...

Life is a journey… how you choose to travel on that journey is up to you… Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

Monday, June 18, 2007

Frown turned Upside Down...

Yesterday I was having a totally raunchy afternoon. ... one of those terrible, no good, horrible, very bad days. I was working my way thorough the emotional garbage pile asking myself how can I turn this around, and how can I keep this from happening again… that’s all the detail I’m going into on my horrendous afternoon… Then I opened up the following in my email and it gave me a smile... perhaps it will give you one as well...
I can almost feel myself losing weight . . . by forwarding this to you! You'll understand at the end. I've seen two shows lately that went on and on about how mid-life is a great time for women. Just last week Oprah had a whole show on how great menopause will be....Puhleeeeeeeze! I've had a few thoughts of my own and would like to share them with you. Whether you are pushing 40, 50, 60 (or maybe even just pushing your luck), you'll probably relate.
Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache. In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.
Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror and you can see your rear without turning around. Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.
Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too."
Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones. Mid-life is when you look at your know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?"
In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only thing we can retain is water. Mid-life means that your Body By Jake now includes Legs By Rand McNally -- more red and blue lines than an accurately scaled map of Wisconsin. Mid-life means that you become more reflective . . . You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice? But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important. We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!
Send this to four women and you will lose two pounds. Send this to all the women you know (or ever knew), and you will lose 10 pounds. If you delete this message, you will gain 10 pounds immediately. (That's why I had to pass this on - I didn't want to risk deleting this.)

Good friends are a blessing.
Life is a journey... laugh or cry it's up to you... Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Sunshine...after freezing temps last week

Wow... Summer is here for sure. Amazing how fast the weather can change from way down in the 20's this past week to up over 90 now. the farmers really got hit with the frost on their corn and bean fields. They aren't too sure what effect it had on the wheat yet. The corn just looks sad. Yellow and curling down on the tops. This is going to be a financial bite on quite a few farmers. Ouch!

Doesn't seem to have effect the alfalfa fields though. Folks are cutting and baling like crazy. They have to get it off the fields so second cutting can start to come on. Spring and summer for farmers is a mad rush from dawn to after dark. So many time I see tractors out in the fields with lights on at night working. Trying to tend crops to get the best out of them. I have a lot of respect for the folks that work farms. Family farming is a real challenge. It's a challenge to come out in the black rather than owing the bank everything. The profit margin can be really narrow. You know these are the people that fill our grocery stores all around the world. Farmers and Ranchers feed everyone. I'm not just talking about the farmers and ranchers in the USA. I mean Farmers and Ranchers around the world all deserve our thanks and respect.

Ok I'll get off my soap box. I've got to get out the door for evening kennel care anyway.

Life is a journey... enjoy the trip... Mary E. Robbins & the Hairballs

RobbinsRunRanch: Living the Dream With Our Pomeranians

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Up Early Full Day Ahead


Wow… June 9th already. 2007 is flying by. Frankly I would like to put it on hold for a while. Kind of stay in late spring. Before the summer heat. Savor it a bit. Dogs woke me up before dawn this morning. I’m pretty keyed into their barking and the different tones. Wakes me up almost immediately. I’m babysitting a friend’s kennel right now as well as my own. So I’ve been on extra alert. She had a family emergency to tend to .

I”ve started the great spring hair off program. Lol… a through brush out after all that winter coat has been loosened a bit. WOW. Can we say hair. Started working on some summer projects too.

Like I don’t have enough to do. Actually in the long run the summer projects I’ve started will make it much easier here in the winter. It’s a heavy snow fence to go up staggered across the north and west. Slow down those snow drifts a bit in the winter. Keep it from piling up so much around the kennels and the house. At least that’s the plan. It won’t stop it altogether but it should help quite a bit. I’m planning on using the snow fence as the large exercise area boundaries as well. Plus it will help to keep the coyotes farther back. Help out the fowl and cats a bit.

It will be a great work out as well. Today I’m seriously feeling the effects of that “great workout” tired and OUCH! It’ll get better. Always gets worse before it gets better. That’s the stage that knocks people out of their projects. Myself included, more than once. This past winter was a huge motivator as far as getting that snow fence up. I was struggling through hip deep snow for months. It was that deep because it drifted across into the kennels. Need something for it to pile up on farther out. We’ll still get drifts but shouldn’t be so much. Some of those drifts were over 12 feet tall. Beautiful to look at. But awful to work in.

I’m keeping cattle off my pasture this summer. That will help a bit too. The grass will still be on the pasture through the winter. Snow will catch and pile in the grass as well. That will benefit the pasture as well.

Whoa Nellie… looking at the entire ranch project is a bit overwhelming. One step at a time. Speaking of one step at a time. I’m shredding paper for puppy bedding. Then I need to get out the door and mow a couple of yards.

Puppies are soooo cute playing out in the yards…

Time’s a flying…
Life is a journey… enjoy the trip.. Mary E. Robbins & the
Hairballs

307-788-0202

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