Homestead forum diaspora

I don't think I'd be able to get her out of that! *lol* I thought about a baggie, but then thought it would just get torn.

A friend gave me some Ruffwear dog boots a couple years ago that I never bothered to use for Shannon... I was organizing emergency kits tonight and found them. I just tried them on Rowan tonight, to see if maybe they'd work, and I think they just might fit!  If her paws were any bigger, they wouldn't work, and I'm not even sure if they're just a touch too small, but her paws slide in easily, so I'm going to give them a try. They have Vibram rubber on the bottom, so they won't let any water in from below. They are worth a try!

Nothing, nothing is on my mind except the crickets I hear when I log onto our new site. I hope this isn't going to end by drift.

Rob, that crossed my mind.  Are people just busy or are they drifting away?  This web site isn't as easy to use as the old one but we are promised a new site shortly.  I hope people hang in there!  There's been some delays - both Karen and Tobit have lives to live just like the rest of us.  From furnace fires to very sick Mama's...  Both the flu and the stomach crud have taken their toll!  K and T have been hit hard; we can be patient. 

It's not all bells and whistles, but this site works and costs nada. I think we need some new voices to add a bit of energy into our little community. Some people are not sure about posting for fear of rejection. I get that, but if there are any folks out there lurking, come on in. We don't bite hard.

The weather isn't helping either.

Yeah, that's my take.  I'd be posting pictures about stuff I'm doing, if I was doing anything - but Im' not. I'm not even hunting, which is sucking ass becasue the winter is when I normally get most of my outdoorsy hunting time.  But it's stupidly cold and all the critters are hunkered down, and any time it gets above 20 degrees it snows.

I agree about the weather. It has many on lockdown, without power and, generally, going crazy. I think we will be fine. We seem to be a dedicated bunch if the Neighborly News thread is any indication.

On my mind: having a sick toddler might be the most stressful thing I have evern endured.

Oh, Sac.  You've just begun!  Wait until he's a teen and is 30 minutes overdue on a rainy night.  Now THAT's stress!  My older son decided to follow the sirens.  He stood on the side of road and watched policemen he knew pull dead bodies of teenagers out of a car that argued with a large tree and lost.  Never occured to him that I was at home worried sick.  I could hear the sirens.  But there is justice in the world.  His son paid him back - oh golly did he ever!    Now younger son's day is coming.  His oldest is 12 and has a 10 yo sister right behind her. 

Don't have to work until 7 today. Thought I'd relax all day, then get up and clean. Instead, electrician showed up 9 minutes after I woke up to fix the light in my bedroom. Then landlord called and was like - Hey, the plumber (to fix the boiler) can come today instead of tomorrow, are you still home? Ugh. 

Been researching strep throat all day online. Apparently coming down with something like rheumatic fever later on in life is extremely rare these days if you opt to go the antibiotic-free route. Plus, antibiotics really screw with your gut, and mine is just starting to get back to normal. Then again, SLC has the highest rate of RF of pretty much anywhere outside of third world countries. The last year we had a high rate was 1998 though. Apparently the antibiotics don't help you get over the illness if it IS strep... It just cuts the time you're contagious, and helps prevent future complications. Decisions, decisions. I've considered going in just for a strep test, but just walking into the instacare is expensive, and right now I can't go anywhere anyway because the plumber is here wrenching on the boiler.

Today would have been the easiest day to go in though, since I don't have to work til late. But now I have to work in 4 hours. I just want to sleep. I was up all night, off and on, too hot or too cold, with my throat bugging me.

I know, Why. I can feel my hair turning grey!

I was glad Wiggles did not have anything that required an anti-biotic. The one time he has been on them (for 2 days until tests came back negative) he had severe diarrhea and his tummy hurt. That was after just 2 days. There just has to be a better way.

My older son had the same reaction to liquid anti-biotics.  I forgot to tell the doctor and we went through diarrhea more than once.  They can give a shot and when he's older a pill/capsule.  You might ask, if this comes up again, if you can crush a pill and feed it to him in applesauce.  Add a little sugar if you have to!

Parenting. At this stage it's looking doubtful that I'll ever find a man, let alone have children. But things like parenting still take up space in my brain sometimes.

I watched a TED talk yesterday. I'll link it here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY

And while watching dishes this morning, I had this song stuck in my head... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B32yjbCSVpU

I realized that the song was related to the video... And why are parents still not internalizing these things? Obviously it was something people were already aware of and sad about when Harry Chapin was a young father... Why are we still discussing it, and trying to make people see the light? Why hasn't everyone grasped this connection? I just find the way that regular society raises their children to be mind-boggling. I assume that most people love their children and want the best for them. What gets in the way? 

I assume most people are selfish ass-hats and bad parents. The children pay the price. Like my Ex most parents can't seem to put the good of the kids in front of their own selfinterests.

It's a hard realization when you understand that you and the person you parent with are not on the same page. I love the original of that song and my Dad made those hard choices to be present with his girls even at the cost of other things. Now, I am trying to raise my son and appreciate the finite amount of time I have to be his teacher, mentor and guide before he no longer wants or needs me. It is a calling I never expected and one I have embraced completely.

I am selfish and self-centered but he is the center of my self so, right now, being that way is the best way to be.

I was all about being a dad and in my opinion I was a damn good one too. My problem was I had a penis and in Alaska you can't have a penis and be a good parent. In Alaska the court's view is, if you have a penis you must be an abusive, drunken, womanizer that can't possibly provide a loving home........

Rob, you've heard my bitching about family court and my hubby's ex-wife. We are just a wallet for her to suck money out of and the court cares nothing for a relationship between him and his kids.

I'll just say, it makes my current situation with him all the harder: a chance to be the kind of parent he cannot be for the daughters is before him and it is being squandered away. Choices and consequences of choices.

Dang, that's tuff.

It is.

I am often curious why the courts are set up to award child support to the woman, even if she gets the house, primary custody, and much of what has been saved over time...and then, when the man takes the child(ren) for say three months at a time, he still has to pay child support, even though the woman may be making as much or more than he is...I never did get it...period.

"Family" courts are stuck in the long gone era for which the far right yearns. "Mom" is always best for the kids. Never mind "moms" parenting skills or her income.