The Baalands

A successful lambing season

2011-04-26T17:11:00.012-04:00

Lambing season's over, although there's two more ewes that could lamb late. There were more single births and fewer triplets this year, which I attribute to the poor nutrition last summer and fall. We had the worse drought ever, and on top of that, I hurt my back, restricting my ability to feed. I had round bales put out for the ewes and they were of very poor quality.

Despite the lower lambing percentage, lambing was good. I only lost one lamb, until yesterday when my favorite lamb, Isabella, got crushed by a metal gate. I was heartbroken. I must have arrived shortly after the accident. Her body was still warm. Out of 60 lambs, why did it have to be her? I had planned to keep her for breeding. She was RR. Her mom is a quad.

All of the yearlings have done well. The first three to lamb have nice single lambs on them. Miss Piggy is raising a nice set of red ram lambs. 24's latest daughter also has twins on her, two ewe lambs. They were the smallest litter (weight-wise), but are growing just fine. This year's lambs were definitely on the heavier side, a result of fewer multiples and good nutrition during late gestation.

I use to worry about yearlings lambing. I breed my ewe lambs when they are seven months of age, so that they are mothers by the time they are 12 to 13 months of age. But now, they seldom have problems. I keep them separate until they wean their first lamb(s).

To my surprise, 24, the best producing ewe in the flock for the past several years, only had a single lamb. After all those years of triplets, she's only got one -- a very nice ewe -- to look after and feed. I attribute it to a combination of her age (now 9) and the poor nutrition. I'll probably keep her around for another year.

92, now 12, kept coming back into heat, and I last saw her mated (by the crossbred ram) in January. That would mean June babies. Stranger things have happened. A ewe that I call "Patch" because of the color splotch over her eye was observed being bred on December 10. It looks like she may be bagging up. If so, she'll lamb around May 5. It may be wishful thinking on my part to think that either of these ewes will lamb.

I have two bottle lambs: Lillie and Legs. Lillie is a triplet lamb out of an old black ewe, whose udder has seen its better days. It took Lillie's litter mates several days to figure out how to nurse from mom's low-hanging udder. I decided to keep Lillie on the bottle.

I call the other bottle lamb, Legs, because until recently you practically had to pin her down to get the nipple in her mouth. Her mother injured her udder last year and got mastitis. She didn't come back to milk on the affected side. She's raising a ram lamb, and I'm sure Legs gets a bit of milk as well. Both lambs have the genetics to grow.

Start of the 2011 lambing season

2011-03-21T20:38:00.009-04:00

It's been a strange start to the 2011 lambing season. The 14 early lambs --compliments of a gate-jumping, crossbred ram lamb --are a couple of weeks old now. There are three single births, four sets of twins, and one set of triplets -- nine ram lambs and five ewe lambs. All-in-all, a nice-looking bunch of lambs.

One ewe lost both of her lambs -- an aborted stillborn and a malpresented lamb (head back) eventually delivered dead. I have a devil of a time delivering lambs whose heads are back. I'm 0 for 4 in ten years. So, I milked the ewe for about ten days and now have a supply of colostrum and sheep milk in the freezer. I bought one of those Udderly EZ milkers. Worked great.

So far, only one ewe has lambed in the planned breeding season. The first set of Katahdin lambs -- a black and white split pair from a two year old -- were born two days ago. It's looking like lambing will be a bit later this year, though quite a few look ready to pop.

As my mom likes to remind me, every year is different. Lots of lambs will be born. Most will be born and raised without problems. There are likely to be a few problem births and lambs.

It's a time of the year that I always enjoy.

Quotes I like

2011-03-21T19:27:00.008-04:00

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves

Abraham Lincoln

A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within

Ariel Durant

The inherent vice of capitalism is the uneven division of blessings, while the inherent virtue of communism is the equal division of misery.

Sire Winston Churchill

Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world.

Alan Greenspan

Government control of the economy, no matter in whose behalf, has been the source of all evils in our industrial society -- and the solution is laissez-faire capitalism, i.e. the abolition of any and all forms of intervention in production and trade, the separation of State and Economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of Church and State.

Ayn Rand

Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others.

Ayn Rand

Russia does not have to destroy America with missiles; America will destroy from within

Nikita Kruchev

Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

Ronald Reagan

That government is best which governs least.

Thomas Payne

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

We must reject the idea that ever time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.

Ronald Reagan

Top 10 dream jobs

2009-10-11T20:33:00.004-04:00

In no particular order:

Cattle rancher
Sheep rancher
Feedlot operator
Freelance writer
Freelance photographer
Magazine publisher
Presidential food taster
Matthew McConaughey's personal assistant

Still trying to think of a couple more.

World's Best Dog

2009-09-13T00:47:00.009-04:00

I've read the book and seen the movie,"Marley and Me," several times. The movie is a must-see for any dog lover, a must-read for pet owners. It tells the story of the world's worst dog-- or so it seems. Marley does everything wrong that a dog can do, but still captures the heart of his family.

Marley and Me combines the antics of all of the dogs I've ever owned, but is especially remindful of my last dog, Sly, a Labrador Retriever mix, who I lost more than four years ago. Marley was a lab, too. A golden one. So many of the tales in the book have Sly written all over them. Like Marley, Sly was a "bull in a china closet," but with a heart of gold.

Though he's not perfect, my current dog, Zak, is quite possibly the world's best dog. Zak's a cross between two pure breeds. His pop was a Tibetan Mastiff, a working livestock guardian dog named Mongus. His mom was a working Border Collie. That makes Zak a Tibetan Collie or Border Mastiff. Take your pick. Whatever he is, he's a good looking animal.

Though Zak would probably be a decent livestock guardian, like his sire who was killed in the line of duty (taken out by a couple of mountain lions in Colorado), Zak doesn't seem to take many traits from the Border Collie side of his family. Which is good for me, because I don't have the time to give a Border Collie the attention (and exercise) it needs.

Zak is very laid back. While he loves to play and rough-house, he is also quite content sleeping on the couch. Some nights, he sleeps on the bed. He never wakes me. He's never in any hurry to get up in the morning. He'd sleep until noon if you let him.

Though Zak chewed some furniture when he was a puppy and occasionally chews on a pot holder, for the most part, he doesn't do much wrong. He seldom barks in the house. When he wants to bark, he asks to go outside. He's not a digger, crotch sniffer, humper, or jumper -- all very annoying habits. He doesn't have accidents in the house.

He drinks water from the toilet, but seems to do it without getting the seat too wet. He seldoms takes goodies from the cat's litter box. If a bag of trash is left out, he usually doesn't bother it. Of course, there was the time when he ate through several layers of bags to lick a copious amount of pus off of some paper towels (after I had drained a few sheep abscesses).

Zak walks very well on the leash. Like most dogs, he enjoys going on walks. He barks at the dogs we pass, but not too aggressively. He doesn't try to poop on other people's yards or in the middle of the road. He waits to do his business on public land at the intersection. Or he does it in the backyard at home.

Zak and my cat Max get along famously. This is very important since Max has broken both of his back legs and can't get around as well as a normal cat. Zak enjoys the company of my two Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs, McComb and Boone. Zak's never been aggressive to another dog -- even when they've "invaded" his home.

Zak's not especially fond of riding in the car. He's not bad either. Mostly his drool machine kicks into high gear. I guess it's a sign of stress. He behaves well at the vet and anywhere else I take him. He's never aggressive towards people. I don't think I've ever heard him growl.

Zak's a good eater. He eats what I feed him and doesn't constantly beg for people food. He does like to lick the bowl after I've had cereal or ice cream. Cheese is a favorite snack of his. He's fat, but that's my fault. They say when your dog's fat, you're not getting enough exercise.

I'm pretty lucky to have a dog like Zak. He's well behaved, fairly obedient, stays reasonably clean, is healthy and easy to care for, and has a gentle disposition. A watch dog, he's not. But you can't have it all.

Unique little faces

2009-04-04T01:48:00.007-04:00

I'm sure the average person thinks all sheep and lambs look alike. These pictures prove differently. This first picture is the smallest lamb from the second set of quads. He doesn't look anything like his siblings: hair coat or otherwise. He's a full-time bottle baby. One hundred percent Katahdin.

I call this lamb "L'tl Red." She's a triplet. 82 percent Katahdin x 18 percent White Dorper. At first her dam (550) didn't want to let her nurse. I used a head stanchion to change her mind. Now, they're a "happy" family.

This sweet little face is of a ewe lamb from a set of triplets. She is 91 percent Katahdn x 9 percent White Dorper. Her mom is raising her second litter.

There are still several more ewes to lamb, including the yearlings. My dad's ewe lambed today.

Spring is for lambs

2009-04-02T20:03:00.029-04:00

Nothing symbolizes spring more than the birth of lambs and other animals. Here are some images of this year's lamb crop from My Flickr web site.

These are Darby's twin girls. Darby (319) is a six year old ewe, 5/8 Katahdin x 3/8 Dorper. She always has nice lambs. At first, she didn't want to let the smaller one nurse, but after spending a few hours in a head stanchion, she gave up on that foolishness.

This lamb looks a bit like a Southdown (in the face). He had a sibling, but I found it dead. It was a big disappointment. His mom is a 2-year old ewe I dubbed Crissy (7105). She is very feminine and has a large, nicely-shaped udder. With all the milk to himself, this lamb should grow like gang-busters. I suspect he will make a good ram lamb to sell for breeding.

This lamb was recently born (in this picture). His mother, a 2 year old ewe (7061), went way out into the pasture to deliver him and his sister. With the exception of one breech birth, all of the ewes have lambed unassisted.

These twins, a ewe (L) and a ram (R) belong to Scarlet (7062), a 2 year old ewe that my niece named. I wonder if they'll be friendly and trusting like their mom. I like the brown markings on the male.

I always have a difficult time getting good images of black lambs. I guess their intense color fools the camera's meter. This year, I have four black lambs. Two rams and two ewes. All can be registered 100% Katahdin. I may keep one of the ewe lambs. The one pictured is a ram lamb (ear tag in the left ear). He's all black and doesn't appear to have a white mark on his body. His twin brother has a white blaze, white-tipped tail, and two white socks.

Oh, how the lambs love to run and frolic. They do the same thing inside the hoop house, but outside on pasture they have so much more room to play. Right now, I am able to let the twins out. Soon, I will start letting the triplets out. They haven't been out to pasture yet. About all they can do for fun is run around the hay feeder, which they sometimes do when their moms are busy eating.

Lambs, lambs, lambs

2009-03-31T18:54:00.011-04:00

Don't ask me how many lambs have been born, let alone the ratio of rams to ewes. I lost count awhile ago. I had a second set of quads born, to a 2-year old ewe, the daughter of the 10 year old ewe that gave birth to quads. So far, not a single ewe has given birth to a single lamb. All multiples. There have been three stillborns, including a deformed lamb (without a face).

The first set of quads is doing fine. I offer bottles to two of the lambs. One of the lambs from the second set of quads was much smaller than its siblings, so I removed it for bottle-feeding. It never tried to nurse its mother. I tubed it for the first 24 hours and kept it in the house for convenience. When I returned it to the pen with its mother, it kept sneaking out, so I keep it in its own little pen.

There are six more mature ewes to lamb, plus seven yearlings, one of which is my dad's. One of the yearlings may have aborted a few months ago. I blame the goat I had. Harry kept butting the ewes. I gave him away.

Three of the mature ewes are going to lamb later than expected. I'm not even sure one of them is pregnant, a 2-year old registered black ewe. The other two look pregnant and may be starting to bag up. I may blood test the black ewe to see if she's pregnant. If she's not, she's going into my freezer. I've already started to call her "burger." Too bad. She's a very pretty ewe. Of course, the pretty ones are seldom the best producers.

The lambs are doing well. I have separate pens for the twins, triplets, quads, and yearlings' lambs. Soon, I will set up a creep area. The January-born lambs will soon be weaned. I have already started cutting back the feed of their dams.

I am enjoying lambing season more this year, thanks to two days of spring break, two days of furlough, and several half work days. I've been able to care for the sheep at a more leisurely pace than if I was working full-time. It takes a lot of work this time of year, with all the different pens to feed and water. Lactating ewes drink a lot of water and they don't like it dirty. Plus, you have to make sure all the little ones are getting enough milk.

Several lambs are emerging as my favorites. Of the early lambs, Kelso is the most friendly of his birth group. He and McComb seem to have become best buds. The first set of quads has the sweetest dispositions. When I offer bottles to two of the lambs, the other two jump all over me and nibble on my clothes. They all have little black noses like Californian rabbits. I try to get pictures of them, but they never stand still.

Tony is a triplet lamb who is very friendly and rambunctious. He is easy to spot with a red mark on his neck and a black spot on his tail. Of course, the little quad (from the second group) has grown very attached to me. He's like a needy little child.

Poor Boone is afraid to go through the hoop house. The first pen contains ewes with triplet lambs. One or more of these ewes must have been mean to him because he won't pass through their pen anymore. One day, I heard him yelp pretty loudly. If he doesn't pass through the triplet pen, he can't get out to where McComb is. As a result, I think he's lonely. He "clings" to me when I'm feeding. He has recovered from his recent neutering.

Lambing 2009

2009-03-21T09:45:00.010-04:00

The 2009 lambing season started early, in late January, a result of Snow Wolf slipping through the electric fencing during a power outage in late summer. He impregnanted four ewes who gave birth to eight healthy lambs: 4 rams and 4 ewes; 1 set of triplets, 2 sets of twins, and 1 single birth. Seven white lambs and a red one. Don't know where the red color came from. These lambs are doing well and ready to go out to pasture with their moms. I'm going to need the room in the hoop house.

The next unauthorized lambing was a result of ram lambs slipping into the the pen with the ewe lambs while I was away in China. Four ewe lambs (almost yearlings) lambed, including one I sold a few days before it lambed. Three sets of twins and one single birth (the one I sold).

One of the sets of twins included a deformed lamb with no face. Obviously, this lamb was born dead. The lambs are of mixed colors. They are doing fine, though you always wish yearlings produced more milk. There's one ewe lamb I keep offering a bottle to, to make sure her appetitie is being satisfied.

So far, my favorite lambs are a set of twin black ewe lambs. They are solid black. One has a "star" on its forehead, like its mom, who also has two white feet (back). The lambs can be registered and there's a 50:50 chance that they are RR. #536 produced two nice lambs last year. One I sold at the KHSI annual sale. Her lambs are "pretty." She's a good milker.

Another favorite is "Kelso," one of the early lambs. Kelso was born when it was cold. I don't think he nursed much the first 24 hours. As a result, he got chilled. The first time I've had a hypothermic lamb. I tubed him with warm milk, then brought him into the house and placed him between two heating pads. After a few hours of warmth, he was up and demanding to be fed. I fed him a few more times and took him back to his mother the next morning.

Though she wasn't objecting, he wasn't interested in nursing her. He wanted me to feed him. So, I fed him for several days on a bottle. Eventually, he decided mom's milk tasted better. He has thrived ever since. I named him Kelso, after the Ashton Kutchner character on the 70's Show because he got chilled because he was too "stupid" to nurse. Pretty, but stupid, just like the 70's Show character.

One day when I went out to the hoop house, I found five lambs from two ewes that had lambed. I wasn't 100% certain which lambs went with which ewe. I think I got them right, but each of the ewes refuses to let one of her lambs nurse. I've been holding the ewes. Today, I'm going to put their heads in stanchions. I don't want to bottle feed lambs, whose moms have plenty of milk.

Last evening out in the field, seven lambs were born to two ewes. A 2-year old ewe gave birth to triplets and the matriarch of my flock, #92, gave birth to quads. All the lambs are white, with some freckled faces. These are my first lambs out of Lincoln, my new ram from Illinois. There are five rams and 2 ewe lambs. So far, all the multiples are doing okay.

Poor #92. She is 10 years old now. It's a heck of a time to have quads. She's a fantastic mother and an excellent milker, but expecting her to raise four lambs is probably expecting too much. Don't know whether I'll remove one lamb for bottle feeding or offer bottles to all of the lambs as a supplement. I'm going to take extra special care of #92. She's never been a ewe that holds a lot of body condition on her small frame.

Thank you, President Bush

2009-01-20T16:06:00.004-05:00

On the day the 44th President of the United States, Barack O'bama is inaugurated with enough pomp and circumstance to bankrupt a third world country, I wish to write a thank you letter to the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Thank you President Bush for 8 years of dedicated service to this country.
Thank you for standing up for what you believed was/is right, instead of changing your positions to make your poll numbers go up.
Thank you for keeping us safe for the last 8 years.
Thank you for standing up to terrorists.
Thank you for keeping your committment to the Iraqi people.
Thank you for protecting the lives of unborn children.
Thank you for trying to uphold conservative values.
Thank you for having grace and humility when it seemed as if the whole world was against you.

I am not opposed to Barack O'bama's presidency, though I don't like the manner in which Hollywood and the media is slamming it down my throat. I only hope President O'bama is able to earn my respect like his predecessor did. O'bama is charismatic and well-spoken, but is he up to the job? Only time will tell. Best of luck to both Presidents Bush and O'bama, as their lives lead them down different paths.

Collections

2009-01-02T21:59:00.004-05:00

I'm a collector:

Sheep figurines
Red cat figurines
Serta® sheep
DVDs
Bells
Banks
Flags
Books
Key chains
Christmas ornaments
McDonald's placemats
Foreign money

Wrapping up 2008

2008-12-29T14:30:00.009-05:00

Another year is almost behind us. It was a busy year. Lots happened. Of course, it was a big year in politics. I didn't vote for Barack O'bama, but am 100% behind his presidency. Hopefully, he will earn my respect. He's got a tough job ahead of him on both the domestic and international fronts. I don't dislike him, so much as the crowd that is following him to Washington. I can't stand to watch the news these days. I have no dislike for George W. Bush. I consider him to have been a good president who stuck to his guns.

The Washington Redskins ended the regular season 8-8. Redskin fans shouldn't be disappointed. At this point, the Redskins are a middle-of-the-road team and finishing at 500 is probably all they were capable of. Unfortunately, they built our hopes up early in the season when they went 6-2. It was a difficult slide to watch. I hope Jim Zorn gets to stick around another year. Through the playoffs, I'll be rooting for my favorite AFC team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least, the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs.

My alma mater Virginia Tech won the ACC again and will play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Orange Bowl on New Year's day. The Washington Wizards have one of the worst records in the NBA. The Celtics, Cavaliers, Magic, and Lakers all have outstanding records. The Baltimore Orioles still suck. I don't even know who won the World Series this year. My dad and I have vowed to go to more Hagerstown Suns (minor league baseball) games in 2009.

My dad and I went to a University of Maryland mens basketball game recently. The Terps won easily, by more than 20 points, but it was a sloppy win. They beat the Bryant Bulldogs, a no name team in its first year of Division 1 basketball. We didn't even know where Bryant University is? Three of the starters hail from Rhode Island, so that was a good guess.

The Terps have only one star caliber player, Junior guard Greivis Vasquez from Venezuela, who was second team All-ACC last year. He's currently averaging 17 points per game. Maryland can shoot from the outside, but lack an inside game. They start three guards. Bryant equalled Maryland in rebounds. My dad and I figure the Terps are going to be eaten alive once they start playing ACC games. They need to recruit some big men.

During the Thanksgiving weekend, my cat Max broke his leg. I suspect he got hit by a car. This was his second broken leg. When he was less than a year old, he broke his first leg (he's about 6 now). He has pins in the leg, but cannot bend it; it is stiff. Consequently, the surgery to repair the second broken leg was more extensive and expensive. In addition to the leg being pinned back together, there is a metal fixture on the outside of Max's leg. It is secured in three places with pins. The fixture will be removed after eight weeks, which will be sometime around the beginning of February.

Max is doing fine. He didn't eat much or use the litter his first week, but now he does both well. He can stand and move himself around, but it is still painful to try to walk. Who know how this will all turn out for him. He's definitely an inside cat now. Previously, I had let him spend his days outside. Now, the only time he'll be able to go outside is with supervision. Once a cat has been outside, it's hard to keep them inside all the time. They don't seem happy. They seem to know what they're missing.

Zak gained 12 pounds in the last year. He is the fattest dog I've ever had. I'm going to put him on a diet, though he doesn't eat much -- but I think exercise is the key. What is it that they say? If your dog's fat, you're not getting enough exercise. Even my doctor told me to lose some weight. I'm going to start scanning the classifieds for a used treadmill.

The newest addition to the farm and family is Boone, another Great Pyrenees. I got Boone when he was about 8 weeks old. He's from a farm in Ohio. I bought him at the Katahdin Hair Sheep International Expo that I hosted in September. Boone's name is derived from Boonsboro, the location of the meeting. This was appropriate since my other Great Pyrenees, McComb, takes his name from McComb, Mississippi, the location of the KHSI meeting where I got him.

Boone is very different from McComb. He's got a little bit of color. His hair doesn't seem to be as long. Unfortunately, he's got an overbite. Boone goes where he wants. He doesn't stay where I put him, though he can't get out of the fencing. He craves attention more than McComb did (does). He seems to be bonding well with the sheep.

I'm not sure how many ewes I'll have to lamb this year, since I've still got 14 (bred) ewe lambs left to sell. Unfortunately, one of the rams went through the fence during a power outage. I'm expecting early lambs (mid-January) from two ewes. The rest are due to start lambing the middle of March. The lambs were bred 21 days later.

Lincoln is my new stud ram. He's from a Katahdin breeder in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln (hence his name). He's white with lots of black speckles on his head and legs. He's a fiesty boy. He was beating the "snot" out of my goat (another new addition to the farm), so I had to separate them.

The goat's name is Harry, named for President Harry S. Truman. My pet sheep is named George W. so I wanted to name the goat after a Democrat. I had to go back to Truman to find one that I liked. Harry is a Boer wether that my niece showed at her county fair. He will have several jobs: eat some of the browse on the farm, share a pen with George during the winter, and serve as a mascot for a educational web site on goats.

Favorite books and authors

2008-12-22T19:31:00.005-05:00

Authors (in no particular order)

Daniel Silva
Vince Flynn
Steve Berry
Nelson Demille
Clive Cussler
David Baldaci
Iris Johansen
Lillian Jackson Braun
John Grisham
James Herriott

Books (in no particular order)

Charm School . . . by Nelson Demille
Snow Wolf . . . by Glenn Meade
Mark of the Assassin . . . by Daniel Silva
The Marching Season . . . by Daniel Silva
Romanov Prophecy . . . by Steve Berry
The Last Juror . . . by John Grisham
Without Remorse . . . by Tom Clancy
Icon . . . by Frederick Forsyth
The Moscow Club . . . by Joseph Finder
The Da Vinci Code . . . by Dan Brown

My impressions of China

2008-11-01T10:12:00.003-04:00

In October, I spent two weeks in China. It was a great trip. Here are my initial impressions (in no particular order) of the world's most populated country:

Smog
Crowded
Colorful
New construction
Contrasts
Cell phones
Concrete and bricks
Small dogs and pretty cats
Chopsticks and lazy susans
Ping Pong and badmitton
Bicycles, motocycles, and motor scooters
Honking
Hand labor
Food on a stick
Desire to speak English
Brooms
Toll roads
Basketball courts
Heavy loads
Vehicles with three wheels
Service-oriented
Stopping in the middle of the road
Litter
No fat people
Bathroom scales
Goats being led somewhere
Cranes
Corn drying in the road
Smiles
Friendly people
No loud music
Dirty bathrooms
Young soldiers
Well-dressed farmers
Slits in todder's pants
White goats
Rickshaws
Bad teeth
No tipping
Children wearing warm-up suits and carry Snoopy backpacks

Aquarium of the Smokies

2008-07-20T22:40:00.010-04:00

One of the highlights of my niece's and my recent visit to Tennessee was Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Though quite crowded, we enjoyed our underwater excursion. I think the aquarium in Gatlinburg is actually a little better than the aquarium in Baltimore.

The shark lagoon was too cool. There were lots of colorful fish, different kinds of sharks, stingrays, and a few sea turtles. You stood on a moving walkway as the underwater world moved around you. Unfortunately, everything moved too fast to get too many good pictures. My other favorite exhibits were the jellyfish, spider crabs, and coral reaf.

Here are a few pics to remember the visit by:

I think I'd like to learn to scuba dive so I can do underwater photography. Aquatic life is sooo fascinating and it would be neat to explore shipwreaks. Okay, I've been watching too many movies. But I am going to look into it.

Sports wrap

2008-06-09T22:44:00.010-04:00

The Baltimore Orioles are playing 500 ball and are sitting at the bottom of their division. Of course, this is a rebuilding year; they're not supposed to be any good. It's been a long time since the Birds were good. As a life long Oriole fan, I have to cling to the memories of the great teams of the 70's and early 80's.

The Hagerstown Suns have a losing record. The other teams score lots of runs against them. My dad and I want to go to more games, but the weather is currently too hot and humid. We went to a game a couple of weeks ago. The stadium was pretty full. It was a Saturday night and the first 1,000 fans received a bobble head figure. There were fireworks after the game. We like it better when the stadium is "empty."

I'm not usually a horse racing fan, but I was rooting for Big Brown to win the Belmont Stakes. It's been many years since we had a triple crown winner. But it was not to be. Not only did the colt not win, but he finished dead last, after his jockey pulled him away from the pack. There are no explanations for Big Brown's disappointing run. Perhaps, he just didn't feel like he was in the groove.

I've watched the first two games of the NBA finals. I've always been a basketball fan, and it's my favorite sport to play. Two Celtic victories, so far. The Lakers and Celtics have always had a big rivarly. Back in the 80's, I rooted for the Celtics. I was a big fan of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale and the playing style of the Celtics. Today, I'm rooting for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Hopefully, the Lakers will fare better on their home court, with all the Hollywood stars watching them.

Redskins football isn't too far in the future. Who knows what things will be like with a new coaching staff. I was glad the 'Skins re-signed Todd Collins, last year's late season hero. Jason Campbell is developing into a solid QB. I hope Clinton Portis still has a good season left in him. The 'Skins seem to fare as Portis does. Maybe Jim Zorn will open up the Redskins offense. Hopefully, the Redskins will make the playoffs in 2008, and if they do, go farther than they did in 2007.

Why I won't vote for Obama

2008-06-08T08:01:00.013-04:00

While Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama has some characteristics that I like and positions that I agree with, I will not vote for him because of these reasons:

He's got ideas, but not practical solutions. He's all talk.
He lacks experience. He hasn't even completed one term in the Senate. He would make a better candidate after several terms in Congress and more of a record of leadership.
Charisma and gifted oration are not substitutes for experience and practicality.
His rating on economic policy is 87% liberal, 0% conservative. I consider myself to be a fiscal conservative.
I doubt he has the political clout to get things done.
He opposes drilling in Alaska. While I don't think we can drill our way out of the energy crisis, drilling should be part of the solution. I believe we can drill in an environmentally-responsible way.
He advocates universal health care. Univeral health care usually means working people pay for health care, while people too lazy to work get free benefits. Many uninsured Americans simply choose to spend their money on luxuries (SUV's, cell phones, and cable tv) instead of necessities (health care). Then there are the irresponsible ones, who refuse to stay with a job to earn or keep their health care.
He would let illegal immigrants stay in the U.S. and become citizens.
He supports giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
His rating on foreign policy is 85% liberal, 12% conservative. I don't want him picking up the red phone or sitting across the table from the Russian president. He's making up his foreign policy as he goes along, adjusting it to please whoever he's talking to. He's too naive on issues of national security.
He voted against the ban on partial-birth abortions. He voted against a law that would protect babies born accidently during abortion. I support legal abortion in the first trimester, but there need to be laws that protect the unborn child.
He does not consider homosexuality to be immoral. If it is a life style choice, as opposed to a biological predetermination, it is immoral, just as much as a heterosexual who sleeps around. He should respect the beliefs of conservative Christians who consider homosexuality to be immoral -- not tell them they are wrong.
He supports civil unions that would carry equal legal standing with marriages. He thinks gay partners should get health benefits.
Obama has received the endorcement of Sen. Ted Kennedy.
He is rated F by the National Rifle Association. I'm not gun crazy, but a rating of F must mean he has no respect for a person's right to own a firearm.
The ACLU has given Obama a rating of 88% on civil liberty issues. There's not too many issues that I find myself in agreement with the ACLU.
He wants to strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is already a burden on government, industry, and society.
He used drugs in high school and college. It's good that he's honest about his drug use, but he made poor judgements as a young person. I grew up in the same era and never tried drugs.
He sends his kids to private school, but doesn't support making private schools more reachable for less affluent Americans. Public schools are okay for everybody else's kids.
He advocates free public college for any student with B-average. You need to pay for your education to appreciate it. You have to make sacrifices to get a college education. A college education is a privilege, not a right. Community colleges are affordable for most Americans.
Scored 60% on Humane Society scorecard. The Humane Society leans towards animal rights and is anti-animal agriculture.
Opposes renditions. I'm okay with renditions, so long as we charge the people we apprehend and don't send them to third world countries for torture.
He supports making the minimum wage a working wage. The minimum wage is not meant to be a working wage. Raising it will reduce jobs.
He wants to strengthen unions. Haven't they caused enough problems?
He voted with Democratic party 96% of the time. He talks about bi-partisanship, but never splits with his party.
He opposes any efforts to privitize social security.
He wants to raise capital gains taxes and taxes on dividends.
He will raise taxes. He will raise taxes

Scarlet and George

2008-05-19T22:13:00.007-04:00

To my surprise, Scarlet, the last yearling had a lamb. Friday night, I happened to glimpse her from behind. Her bag had enlarged since the last time I saw it and decided she might not be pregnant. Plus, she was acting goofy. I consider goofy to be one of the signs of impending parturition, especially amongst yearlings, who aren't quite sure what is happening to their bodies.

I predicted Scarlet was going to lamb very soon, so I checked on her about 11 p.m. I used my spot light to locate her. I scared the other sheep half to death with the spot light. Nothing had happened with Scarlet at this point. When I went out Saturday morning, Scarlet was off by herself , under some trees, with her new baby, a healthy good-sized ram lamb. She was/is a very attentive mother, like most Katahdin yearlings.

Not long after, I saw a large predatory bird hanging around, too close to the new family to suit me. So I moved McComb, my livestock guardian into the yearling pasture. I told him to watch the new lamb. He did, never straying far from his charges.

Scarlet is in a pasture with ten yearling ewes and their lambs. I have one more yearling, but she is with the mature ewes. She lambed first and had a single lamb, so I thought it was okay to put her with the mature ewes. The yearlings have performed well and will be a real boost to future flock productivity. I'm going to try to limit my replacements to four this year.

My niece named Scarlet last year when Scarlet was a young lamb. I told my niece that the naming theme was western characters. I had Butch, Sundance, Annie (Oakley), and Maverick. I guess Samantha thought Gone with the Wind was a western movie so she chose to name the friendly little ewe lamb Scarlet. I guess the ram lamb's name should be Rhett. Scarlet is still gentle and friendly, a flock favorite.

George, the mascot of The Baalands and Sheep 101 is enjoying pen rest and two aspirin per day in a handful of pellets. His back right leg is swollen and he was limping around before I brought him into the hoop house for convelesing. The swelling seems to be going down, but he still holds his leg delicately. Besides, I think he'd rather be waited on than have to find his own food.

George is six years old now. He's biggest challenge in life remains carrying his fat body around. He weighed 213 lbs. last fall. It's hard to keep him from getting fat, since he does absolutely nothing (he's good at it) and it's not usual for him to be in a pen by himself.

Baseball, Idol, and Lambs

2008-05-06T23:17:00.009-04:00

A lamb was born on Saturday. A late-born yearling that I had bred late. She has a nice ewe lamb and is a good mom. There's one yearling left to lamb. I don't know if she's pregnant. She, too, was exposed late, and I didn't keep good records towards the end of the breeding season. I'm not sure when the last date is that she can lamb.

The lambs are doing fine. I "weaned" the quads today. They are six weeks old. They're not really weaned since they can still nurse their mom. The lambs are starting to eat a lot more creep feed. Thanks to all the rain, the grass is plentiful.

My dad and I went to our first Hagerstown Suns game of the season. It was all-you-can-eat night. For $10, you could stuff yourself with nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, chicken nuggets, chips, and other "nutritious" fare. You had to pay for drinks.

The Suns got hammered 14-7. We left after the sixth inning. The game was already three hours long and I was cold. There weren't many fans in the stadium, especially at this point. We didn't recognize any players' names from last year, which is to be expected as these young men should have moved up to triple A ball, else given up on their dream to play in the big leagues.

We plan to go to more games this season. There's not much more relaxing than going to a minor league baseball game. When he was a teenager, my dad sold hot dogs at Forbes Field, where the Pittsburgh Pirates used to play. I've always loved baseball.

I've been watching American Idol this year. My favorites are long gone -- the handsome Aussie Michael Johns and country girl Kristy Lee Cook. Of the four remaining Idols -- David Cook, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, and Syesha Mercado -- I don't really have a preference, only that Jason Castro is long overdue for being eliminated.

Mr. Dreadlocks is charming, but lacks the talent of the other three and many who were eliminated before him. On tonight's show, Simon told Jason to "pack his bags." I think that rocker David Cook has been the best and most consistent performer all season and should probably be this year's American Idol. On the other hand, Syesha seems to be peaking now, while young David Archuleta seems to have the most fan support.

Everyone is enjoying spring. Max has been catching bunnies lately. He likes to carry them around in his mouth, let them go, and pursue them all over again. Several times, I've put him in the house to give the bunnies a chance to run away. Why can't Max kill rodents instead? Even birds would be better. Zak likes bunnies too, but his leash doesn't allow him to pursue them.

Yearling babies

2008-04-15T23:17:00.007-04:00

Nine of the 11 yearlings have lambed: six sets of twins and three single births. One of the sets of twins is my dad's ewe.

This morning, the black yearling (I call her Lakisha after last year's American Idol contestant) had two hooves sticking slightly out of her, but was showing no signs of labor or distress. So, I checked her out. I discovered that the baby was coming backwards.

The hooves were pointed down and further inside was a tail, not a head. I got the lamb out without too much difficulty. It was fine. The ewe was relieved and instantly starting licking her offspring.

The last two yearlings were bred later and should have their lambs closer to May. Crissy is bagging up. I don't see anything with Scarlet yet.

The yearlings are doing a good job with their lambs. Three of the yearlings with twin lambs initiatially disowned one of their lambs, but within a day or two, they forgot why they didn't like their second lamb.

One of the yearlings gave birth to a mostly black lamb. The twin is white. I'm not sure where the black lamb came from since both parents are white. Several of Ears's progeny are showing his characteristic big ears.

Ears is supposed to be picked up this weekend. He's sold for breeding. I'm going to miss him. He's got a lot of personality.

The rest of the lambs are doing fine. They spend their days outside frolicking in the pasture and their nights inside cuddling with their mothers and picking at the creep feed. The pregnant yearlings have access to the pasture at night and early in the morning.

The quads are growing well. Of course, they should be. They're double dipping. They nurse their mother and drink milk from a bottle. I offer them milk two times per day. Another lamb, a twin from my 10 year old ewe, occasionally nurses from the bottle. I could probably discontinue the bottles, but the quads are doing so well.

Another yearling lambs

2008-04-01T01:17:00.014-04:00

Another yearling ewe lambed yesterday. #7-087 had a split set of twins. She's a full sister to the ewe that had quads. After he got his legs, one of the lambs ventured far away into another pen. So when I put the ewe and her twins into a jug, she wasn't sure about this second lamb who had "run away." Sometimes she lets him nurse. Sometimes, she butts him.

The young mother is "confused," but slowly coming around. In the meantime, the "runaway" has become good at nursing from behind. I'll keep her in the jug until she accepts both lambs. If necessary, I'll put her in a head stanchion.

This evening, I merged two groups of ewes with twin lambs and set up the creep area, giving access to both the triplets and twins to creep feed. I start the lambs on cracked corn, soybean meal, and minerals. When the lambs are about a month old, I begin changing the creep ration to whole barley and a 38% protein pellet. I cut back on grain after weaning.

Already, the lambs are attacking the creep with vigor. At this age, they chew on anything they can find. They enjoy their expanded freedom and like to climb onto and into everything. They love to race around the feeders and kick their legs out. It's a good time to be a lamb.

I was figuring that the yearlings would start to lamb after April 1st. That's based on a gestation period of 145 days. Obviously, the first two yearlings had gestation periods of less than 145 days. I put most of the ewe lambs with rams 21 days after the mature ewes were joined with rams. This enables me to manage the ewe lambs/yearlings separately.

My dad still has one ewe left to lamb. One of the yearlings I am lambing is also his. Since he only kept one ewe lamb back, we thought it best to keep it with the other yearlings.

The quads continue to do well. Two of the lambs drink little supplemental milk. The other two get milk from both the ewe and me. All of the quads are bouncy and ready to join a larger group of lambs.

Quads and more

2008-03-30T00:44:00.012-04:00

On March 22, one of my Katahdin ewes gave birth to quadruplets: two ewes and two rams. They ranged in weight from 6 to 8 lbs. and are all healthy and doing well. After they were a couple of days old, I started offering them a bottle. I don't figure any ewe has enough milk for four lambs.

The last time I had quads was in 2003. After a couple of days, I removed one of the lambs for bottle feeding. This time I'm going to leave all the lambs on the ewe and supplement them as necessary. I don't mind bottle feeding when I'm not locked into a strict schedule.

The ewe that had the quads is a 3-year old ewe that I call "Frecks." Her mother is Freckles. Everybody with a Katahdin flock has a ewe named Freckles. Freckled faces are common in the breed. As a yearling, Frecks had twins. Last year, she had triplets. This year, quads. I hope she doesn't have quintuplets next year!

Frecks is a good mother. She's got a nice udder on her. I'm pretty much giving her all she wants to eat. I feed her a grain mix three times per day, plus all the alfalfa hay she can eat. I still have her and the quads in a pen by themselves. Soon I will put them in a group pen so they'll have access to creep feed.

My 28 mature Katahdin ewes lambed in 16 days (March 10-March 26). They are raising 61 lambs among them. The ratio is almost 60:40, ewes to rams. A good ratio when you're selling ewe lambs for breeding. Freckles hasn't lambed yet. I'm not sure what's going on with her. She's eight years old and has had triplets for the past five years. She's passed on prolificacy to all of her female progeny.

I had to pull the first lamb in two years when I saw a big head sticking out of one of my black ewes, #454. When I investigated, I determined that both of the lamb's front legs were back. I righted one of the legs and was able to pull the big black lamb out without too much difficulty.

The big fella was lifeless when he came out. He seemed dead. His head wasn't swollen much, so he couldn't have been sticking out for long, but still it had obviously taken a toll on him. I worked on him and got him breathing. I breathed a sigh of relief as he quickly came to life. I checked for a second lamb. There was one, but I left it for the ewe to deliver. Best to interfere as little as possible.

The ram lamb weighed over 12 lbs., which was big for his mother who is not one of the bigger ewes in my flock. Its twin is a ewe lamb. Both are solid black, not a white hair between them. I dubbed the ram lamb "Titan."

Round 2 of lambing season began this morning when the first yearling, #715, a ewe I got from my dad, gave birth to a single ram lamb. I don't mind when a yearling has a single lamb. It's like a mature ewe giving birth to twins. There's almost always enough milk and no need to fuss with them.

There are 10 more yearlings to lamb. Several will give birth to Ears's first progeny. I'm anxious to see his lambs. Two of the yearlings were bred late and should not lamb until close to May. The rest are all bagging up.

The 2008 lambing season is going well. I'm enjoying it.

More lambs

2008-03-21T14:11:00.009-04:00

It happens at some point during the lambing season. I've lost count of how many lambs there are. Yesterday, there was a set of triplets and twins born. A 3-year old, part Dorper ewe, #550, greeted me in the morning with two rams and a ewe. The ewe lamb is the smallest and sometimes its mother will not let her nurse. I held 550 for awhile last night (she fought me the whole time) to let the little one nurse, but other times, I see it nursing on its own. I'll keep an eye on it.

Yesterday during feeding, a 4-year old ewe that I call "Pretty" (#461) gave birth to twin ewe lambs. Of course, she ate her grain first. She didn't want to miss a meal. I decided that she is a good, but lazy mother. She stayed down after the lambs were born. Did most of her licking from the prone position. When she got up, the lambs nursed right away. They are strong, nice-looking lambs. They are sired by Bull's Eye and have about 8% Dorper in them. I'll probably keep one for breeding. Hopefully, one will be RR.

Late last night, (early this a.m), another set of triplets was born. Two ewes and a ram from #13, last year's top performing ewe (pounds of lamb weaned). She is seven years old. I was there when the first lamb was born. It was up in about 20 seconds. It was the most active newborn lamb I've ever seen. It's mother had to follow it to lick it. I had to get it out of two pens that it managed to slip through during its travels. 13 was in no hurry to have any more lambs so I went to bed.

The next morning I found one of the lambs on its side, kicking in place. The ram lamb. He does not have use of his hind legs. They are floppy. His belly also seems to be swelled. Obviously, he did not get any colostrum during the night. He has a good appetite and I have been feeding him colostrum with a bottle, a few ounces every few hours. He's a tough little guy, always struggling to get up. I don't know what will become of him. Sheep need use of all their legs.

Two days ago, the matriarch, #92, gave birth to a split set of twins. #652, a 2-year old ewe, had twins ewe lambs on the same day. She is RR and bred to Snow Wolf, so both ewe lambs are RR. Yesterday, I put 92, 652, Darby, and 308 (the ewe that I treated for mastitis) in a mixing pen with their lambs. This is the first chance the lambs get to romp and play and make lamb friends.

Thirty-three lambs

2008-03-18T09:51:00.046-04:00

There are 33 lambs on the ground now. My favorite ewe, Darby (#309), greeted me with twin lambs, a ram and a ewe, yesterday morning. Neither lamb has big ears like one of her lambs from last year, who I dubbed "Ears" for obvious reasons.

One of my original ewes (#90, from the Grantsville Stockyards) gave birth to triplets yesterday. She is nine years old. She's had a sore leg (perhaps arthritis), so the delivery had to be a big relief for her. I was hoping she'd only have a single lamb, so it would be easier on her. But these Katahdins are so darn productive.

At the beginning of lambing, it was mostly ewe lambs being born. Then came the boy run. Yesterday's drop was mixed, 3:2, ewes to rams. Overall, there are 17 ewe lambs and 16 ram lambs. No singles. There are two black lambs and two brown/red lambs. The rest are white. Many have colored markings and spots. A couple of the ram lambs have single brown legs.

One of the ewes that had triplets last week developed mastitis, only the second case of clinical mastitis in seven years of raising Katahdins. She smothered one of her lambs. I took her other two lambs away for a couple of days so I could treat her. I tubed and/or bottle-fed the lambs, who I dubbed "Summer" and "Dirk" after characters in the Clive Cussler novel that I'm currently reading (Trojan Odyssey).

The ewe came back to milk yesterday and I put her lambs back in with her. At first, she was reluctant to let them nurse, but after a short time, she welcomed them back as her own. So far, she and the lambs are doing fine. I've got my fingers crossed that she'll be okay and able to raise her lambs. Bottle feeding is too much work!

My big Weeks ewe (#426) had twin ram lambs for the second year in a row. The biggest lamb was 14.2 lbs. That's BIG for a Katahdin lamb. I named him Thor after the Norse god of thunder. He should make a good stud ram. There's a 50:50 chance that he's RR.

My oldest black ewe (#22) gave birth to triplets while I was at work: two rams and a ewe. My dad put them in a jug. This is #22's second set of triplets since she had a c-section in 2006. One of the rams is jet black, not a spot of white on him. The other ram lamb is red with a white blaze on his forehead. He's a chunky lamb.

The ewe lamb has a fawn colored face and a brown body. I may keep her. They are a beautiful set of babies. #22 is a wonderful mother with lots of milk. She's in a pen with a 3-year old ewe (#526) who is raising triplets for the second year in a row.

My 10-year old ewe, #11, had twin ewe lambs out in the field. She's not much too look at any more, but she's been a productive ewe. During the early part of her gestation, she had gone off feed. I suspected she had a tooth abscess. I treated her and kept her with the ewe lambs until shortly before lambing.

#11 has raised twin lambs every year. She's never required any assistance or intervention -- my kind of ewe! I have two of her daughters in my flock. Darby is one of them. In my flock, I value easy care, prolificacy, mothering ability, milking ability, and longevity. It's a bonus -- but not requirement -- that the ewe look "good."

I've got one pen with two ewes (#'s 513 and 624, half sisters) and their four ewe lambs. They -- the ewes and the lambs -- can't decide who goes with who. I've seen all four lambs nurse both ewes. Both ewes allow any of the four lambs to nurse. I haven't eartagged the lambs yet because I'm still trying to figure out who goes with who. It's an unusual situation that may never resolve itself. But at least all the lambs are being taken care of. Katahdins are such good mothers.

McComb is enjoying the lambing season. It's a race to pick up the afterbirth before he finds it and eats it. There's something about dogs and afterbirth! I compost the afterbirth, along with any lambs that I lose. My compost "recipe" includes straw, hay, manure, and leaves. It's nothing fancy, but it works. McComb doesn't bother anything in the compost bin. Eventually, the compost is spread on the fields. Then, it's like a "treasure hunt" for McComb, as he finds leftover bones to play with and chew on.

So far, 15 mature ewes have lambed. There are 14 more to go. They should finish by the end of the month. The ewe lambs, now young yearlings (n=11, I sold 4 yesterday) should start lambing around April 1. Many are already bagging up. Some of these lambs will be Ears's first progeny.

Lambing has gone well so far. No ewe has required any assistance. The only problem has been the ewe with mastitis and this seems to have resolved itself -- at least for now.

The key to a successful lambing is proper nutrition -- not too much feed, nor too little. Balanced rations are necessary -- feeding the right kind of hay and grain and making sure mineral needs are being met. It's also important to cull the problem ewes so problems do not repeat themselves or pass onto the next generation. It helps to have a little luck, too. Some years are better than others.

First born

2008-03-10T22:23:00.006-04:00

The first lambs of 2008 were waiting for me this morning when I went out to feed. #537, a 3-year old ewe who I call "Fancy" had a nice split set of twins. Last year, Fancy was the first ewe to lamb. She raised twin lambs, a girl and a boy. I retained her ewe lamb (Reba), who will be lambing in April. Fancy wasn't old enough to breed her first fall. These first two lambs are sired by Hurricane. Fancy is a good mom, but didn't like me touching her teats (to check her milk supply).

When I went out for my 10 p.m. check, I found another set of split twins. #536, a 3-year old black ewe lambed. I thought she might lamb tonight. She ate when I fed this evening, but afterwards was acting kind of goofy. The ram lamb is the biggest and white. The ewe lamb is black, with white markings on her face. They are sired by Hurricane.

Last year, 537 had twin ewe lambs, one black and one white. She rejected her white lamb. I raised "Annie" on a bottle. So far, it looks like she's accepting the white lamb. I've got my fingers crossed. Who says animals can't be racist! Contrary to popular belief, sheep are not colorblind.

I love lambing season because every day is like Christmas morning. There are so many new packages to open (look between their legs to see what sex they are). I love the wrapping paper. Some lambs are pure white, others are spotted. Some are red and some are black. Mostly, they're white. The red ones are my favorite. I'd like to add another red ewe to the flock. I can't wait to see if Ears' lambs have big ears like he does. Some of the ewe lambs he bred are already bagging up.

I expect all of the mature ewes (n=29) to lamb in 17 or 18 days, one heat cycle. I put most of the ewe lambs (n=15) in with rams 21 days after the mature ewes. This way I can feed and manage them separately from the older ewes.

Despite having only 7 ewes, my dad's already had three sets of lambs: two sets of twins and one set of triplets.

My gentle giant

2008-03-03T19:00:00.031-05:00

I call McComb my gentle giant. McComb is my Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog. He lives with my Katahdin sheep. He'll be four years old this summer. I've never regretted getting him.

McComb takes his name from McComb, Mississippi, where I got him in the fall of 2004. My parents and I were attending the annual meeting of Katahdin Hair Sheep International. Someone had brought a litter of Great Pyrenees puppies to sell. I couldn't resist picking the puppies up. Who could? They were big balls of white flufff, with gorgeous eyes.

At the time, I was considering getting a livestock guardian, but hadn't decided yet between a dog, a llama, or a donkey. It goes without saying that a dog is a big responsibility, one that will be with you for 10 or more years. I already had a pet dog, Sly, an 85-lb. Black Lab x German Shepherd mix. I wasn't sure I wanted another big dog, even if it was going to live with the sheep (and the goats that I had at the time). Plus, I didn't want to drive a puppy all the way back to Maryland. My mother certainly didn't want to share her ride with a yappy canine.

My fellow Katahdin breeders were encouraging me to buy a puppy. I told them I wasn't sure if I wanted one. Then I said, if I was meant to have one, there would be some kind of "signal." Perhaps, lightening would strike. I'd know the sign when it came. As the event was drawing to a close, one puppy remained. No one had bought it. One of the Katahdin breeders said this was the signal. I should get the puppy. Still unsure, I resisted.

Not wanting to take any puppies home, the breeder donated the unsold puppy to the Katahdin association, to be auctioned off during the business meeting with the proceeds going to the association. As the bidding started, I remained silent and held my arms crossed. I was not going to buy that puppy, even one as cute as McComb.

The president of our association started the bidding at $20 and said he was going to give me the puppy. Several others joined in the bidding, with the same intention. I don't remember what the final price was, but McComb was mine, compliments of Katahdin Hair Sheep International. How could I have refused the puppy? My mom thought I could. He came with a box of toys and food -- and a name.

We bought a dog crate, a leash, some dishes, and puppy food at the local Kmart. It was going to take us two days to drive home to Maryland. We picked McComb up on a Sunday morning, in the pouring down rain. Not long after we left, McComb started to wimper and cry. It was going to be a long trip. My mom was probably thinking, "I told you so."

We took McComb out of his crate and let him stretch out on the floor of the car. This contented him. He didn't make any more sounds. Sometimes, we would hold him on our laps. He walked on the leash without any coercing. When we stopped, he did his business quickly. He was frightened by the big trucks that went whizzing by. While we slept in the hotel, McComb slumbered in his crate. He was an excellent travel companion. My mother was amazed. What a good puppy he was turning out to be.

When I got McComb home, I placed him in a pen (in my hoop house) by himself for a week or so. It's good to raise a guardian puppy with baby lambs, but it was October and all I had left were two adolescent ram lambs and a wether kid. I put McComb with the lambs and goat. He got knocked around a few times, but eventually they accepted each other. McComb liked licking their butts and perhaps they liked it, too.

After the lambs and goat were sold, McComb went in with the ewes. He spent much of his first winter under the hay feeders, trying to determine his role on the farm. He was intimidated by the goats, who were always trying to eat his food. McComb liked when the new lambs came. The lambs always accept him as one of their own. They play with him and he with they.

McComb was an adorable puppy. After I put some pictures of him on Flickr™, he was named "puppy of the week" by a web site. He grew rapidly. His rate-of-gain was comparable to that of a lamb or goat. Full grown, he is a magnificent looking dog, true to his noble heritage. The last time I weighed him, he was 106 lbs. His fur is 5 to 6 inches long. He stays relatively clean for an outside dog. I had him clipped this past summer. He had a couple of hot spots on his hind legs. His fur grew back rapidly. I think I'll have him clipped every summer to make him more comfortable and allow his fur to regrow.

McComb loves cold weather and the snow. After all, his breed is meant to live in the mountains. While he always has access to shelter, McComb prefers to lie in the snow or on the cold ground. During the summer, he sleeps under the trees or other places where he can find relief from the heat.

The only problem I've had with McComb was when he was about a year old. There was a lamb whose front legs were scarred. I suspected McComb had caused the injury. He wouldn't leave the lamb 's side. So, I took McComb away from the lambs and used the opportunity to have him neutered. I also had his back declaws removed. I don't put him in with ram lambs anymore. They are too frisky. Sometimes, they try to mount him. I guess you can't blame McComb for biting back.

In another incident, a lamb was running and collapsed (it died of unknown cause). McComb ran to the lamb and stayed with it until I came, as if he knew it needed my help. A neighbor related this to me. She was amazed at McComb's response to the incident. In fact, watching McComb relate to the sheep and lambs is one of the greatest enjoyments of having him. His relationship with them seems so natural.

At one time, I thought McComb was chasing the ewes too much. It was during breeding season, so I was doubly concerned. Then I realized that the ewes often run when he's running, but not after them. During the lambing season, the ewes are very brave towards him, but the rest of the year, they try to keep some distance. The lambs always trust him. He is one of them. Eventually, all of the flock will have grown up with him.

Sometimes, McComb slips through an open gate. He's taken a few strolls around the neighborhood. He's got an ideal life for a dog, but sometimes I think he longs to know what life is like outside of the fence. He always comes back -- if I don't catch him first.

McComb has an incredible personality. He is sweet and gentle. He does his job well. He patrols the perimeter of the pasture. Nothing approaches the perimeter fence without his notice. Usually, he runs to whatever or whoever is near the fence. He follows the neighbors as they drive up their driveways. At night, he barks a lot. It took me awhile to get used to the barking, but now it's soothing to me. The sheep don't seem to mind. The neighbors have never complained.

Everybody loves McComb -- my family (especially my mom), neighbors, and everyone who visits my farm. McComb loves people, especially children. He gets along well with my pet dog, Zak, and my cat, Max. On occasion, I put Zak and McComb together to play. Sometimes, Max joins them. I give McComb a treat every morning. Sometimes, I sit with him and stroke his fur. Sometimes, we play. He romps around like a huge, goofy puppy.

I give more attention to McComb than I could if I had a large farm. But since the farm is small (40 ewes and 7 acres of pasture) and he can't get out of the high-tensile, electric fence, I can give him a little bit (maybe a lot) of attention. After all, he's my gentle giant.

Pictures of McComb on Flickr™

The cat who broke his leg

2008-01-26T20:46:00.000-05:00

It was Memorial Weekend, 2003. Max showed up in a tree. I had hosted the family picnic and family members had just left. I heard a cat cry. I tracked the noise down to a tree in the backyard. A kitten was stuck in the tree, too scared to climb or jump down. I rescued the frightened animal and put it on the ground.

He was a beautiful kitten, perhaps the prettiest cat I had ever seen. An orange tabby with longish hair and a long fluffy tail. He had a mane like a lion and was probably only three or four months old. His fur was soft and shiny and he looked more like a lost house pet than a stray cat. I wondered how anyone could discard such a beautiful animal. Perhaps, he had strayed too far from home and was lost. I never knew. He didn't have a collar and no one came looking for him.

At this point in the year, my little farm had already been "invaded" by several stray cats. A queen decided to have kittens in my garage. I fed her so she could nourish her litter, but while I was able to tame her four kittens, she remained wild and unreachable.

As soon as they were old enough, I found a home for the kittens (one had mysteriously disappeared), but wound up taking the mother to the Humane Society. Better she be put to sleep than live the life of a stray and keep bringing kittens into the world that would probably remain homeless and worse yet, be abused or hit by a car.

Another cat took up residence in the hoop house. I named "him" Barney because he lived in the barn. Later, I found out that "he" was a girl, and probably a neutered one since he/she never had kittens of her own or attracted any male visitors.

Barney was never a problem, so I let her stay. I fed her and she never ventured too far from the hoop house. The sheep accepted her and let her share their space and water. She was always afraid of me, though she seemed to enjoy the few times I caught her and combed her matted fur. She was probably treated poorly in another part of her life. I found her dead in 2006. I never knew how old she was. I was sad to lose her.

After being rescued from the tree, Max followed me around, meowing as he walked. He would arch his back and rub against my legs. He was friendly and needy for attention. He wanted me to pick him up. I did. It soon became apparent that Max didn't have a home and wasn't going anywhere. He started sharing Barney's food, but Max wasn't content to stay in the hoop house. So, I started bringing Max into the house at night. He'd lay with me on the couch while I watched television or read a book. He had a personality that could make a cat-lover out of anyone. I thought of the Kenny Chesney song, "you had me from hello." Max did. Still does.

In reality, I had wanted to get another cat, an orange tabby, much like Max. But everytime I found one, usually on someone's farm, the owners would not relinquish it. It seems the orange cats always had the most personality. Of course, I already knew that, which is why I wanted one.

But I had a problem. I already had an orange tabby, a fat house cat named Rex. While Rex was a very good natured feline, it wasn't a surprise that he didn't like the intrusion of this young male cat, even one as sweet as Max. Thus, Max spent most of his time outside. Rex was the inside cat. Max was the outside cat. Barney was the barn cat. That's the way it was, the way it needed to be.

Everything changed after I had Max for five or six months. One day, upon returning home from work, I found Max on the garage floor in excruciating pain. I had no idea what had happened to him, only that he was in pain and needed to go to the vet.

He spent a painful night in the house. I was unable to comfort him or alleviate his pain. Eventually, he found a secluded place to be until I could take him to the vet the next morning. Rex seemed to understand the difficult situation and spent the night curled up on my bed.

Max had a broken right leg and needed surgery. The surgery was going to cost over $300. I call it the $500 leg because while Max was at the vet for surgery, he also needed shots and medicine for a runny eye. The total bill was over $500. Some of my family members thought I was crazy to spend $500 on a cat that didn't even live in the house. Little did they know, I would have paid a lot more. Cats like Max don't come around very often. He wasn't just a cat. He was special. He was put in that tree for a reason.

They put pins in Max's leg. Several pins because it was a bad break. Max was a good patient and awoke from the surgery hungry. When I brought him home, I put him in a dog crate to recuperate. In the house, of course. Rex kept a watchful eye on him, but seemed to understand the need for the intrusion. But, Max couldn't stay in the crate forever and with his bad leg I didn't want him going outside. Thus, Max became a house cat, after spending the rest of his recuperation on the couch. He hasn't spent a night outside since.

Eventually, the fur grew back on Max's leg. He was able to jump and play. Since the pins in Max's leg were never removed, his right leg is straight. He can't bend it. When Max walks, he kicks the leg out. It looks like he's goose-stepping. When he goes up stairs, he puts the leg out like a propeller. When he takes a bath, he shoots the right leg straight up into the air. He slides around on the laminated floors. It's funny to watch him run. It's not pretty. He's not as quick and agile as other cats, but he gets along very well with his disability.

Rex never accepted truly Max. They never fought, like male cats often do, but Max would often antagonize the much older Rex. In particular, he used to go up to Rex and wrap both paws around him as if he were hugging him. Rex didn't like someone invading his personal space. Sometimes, they would tumble around the floor in a ball. As Rex got older, his tolerence for Max grew, but I always intervened if I thought Max was bothering Rex. Both cats jockeyed for position on the bed at night. Sometimes, they also had to compete with my dog Sly who weighed over 80 lbs. and took up a lot of space. Sometimes, I wonder where I slept.

Rex died tragically during cancer surgery in 2005. He was 14. When Rex got sick, Max mostly left him alone. Max is now the cat of the house. Instead of antagonizing Rex, he plays with my dog, Zak. Nine times out of ten, it is Max who initiates the play. It is so much fun to watch them play. They never hurt each other and they seem to relish each other's company. Max gets along fine with my big guardian dog McComb. He enjoys life on a farm. The sheep still marvel at him with his striking looks and long, bushy tail.

I love Max's personability. He typifies why I love cats so much. Cats are so loving. They seem to know when you need their soft touch or the warmth of their sleeping body. They give a home a warm, cozy feeling. But they have two personalities, and I enjoy the mischievous part of their personalities almost as much as their warm, cuddly side. They are curious, independent, playful, ornery, and tricky. Max is all of these things and more.

Not long ago, I had Max in for his annual vaccinations. I asked the vet what he thought caused the injury to Max's leg. According to his notes, it was probably crushing injury. The vet thought Max was likely hit by a car.

I think about the life Max now has. He's allowed to go outside, though he has a curfew (darkness) and spends all of his nights in the house. He usually sleeps on my bed at night. He has full run of the house. He gets all the food he wants, canned food on the weekends, and treats frequently. I see to his every need and do almost everything he asks. Sometimes, I wonder if he didn't plan it all, endure pain for a day because he knew there would be a big payoff at the end. Only Max knows.

So far

2008-01-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm back to my lists. So far, it's been an interesting year.

The New England Patriots will play the New York Giants in Superbowl 42. The Pats beat the Chargers in the AFC title game, unexpectedly winning on the strength of their defense, not the arm of their playboy quarterback. Brady threw three picks. Now, he's nursing an injury and was photographed wearing a brace.
The G men surprised the football world by beating the Green Bay Packers in one of the coldest games in NFL playoff history. I was cold just watching the game in my parent's toasty living room. I had to cover myself with two blankets. The previous week, the Pack beat the Seahawks in a fun frolic in the snow. I wonder if they'll ever put a dome over the stadium in Green Bay? Probably not. I guess the cheese hats'll keep those Packer fans warm.
All the while, I was rooting for the venerable Brett Farve to return to the Super Bowl, but it was not to be. But don't count the Pack out. They are one of the NFL's youngest teams and Brett seems to have a lot of life left in his arm.
Eli is playing like a Pro Bowl quarterback. Big Plaxico Burris was unstoppable in the frigid cold, constantly beating the Packer's Pro Bowl cornerback, long-haired Al Harris. Harris's only interception was called back due to pass interference. The Pat secondary better find a way to control Burris or it could prove to be a long afternoon for them.
Don't count the Giants out. They played toe-to-toe with the Patriots in the final game of the regular season. You never know. If Eli matches Brady throw for throw . . .
Nonetheless, I want the 17-0 Patriots to complete their perfect season and etch themselves into the record books as one of the best, if not best teams, in NFL history -- in all of sport's history. Eventually, Tom Brady will hold all the quarterback records. Joe Montana must be looking over his shoulder; Joe Namath, too, because of Brady's escapades off the field.
I'm looking forward to the Superbowl commercials, especially the Budweiser ones, but not the half time entertainment (Tom Petty). I'll be in Dallas on Superbowl Sunday. I guess I'll be out of town during the Superbowl most years, since this is when the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science meets.
Joe Gibbs retired as coach of the Washington Redskins. It was not totally unexpected, despite the year left on his contract. He took the 'Skins to the playoffs a few times during his second tenure as head coach, but could never put the team back into the Superbowl. Nice try, Joe. Good luck in retirement.
Joe's replacement has not been announced yet. I've always assumed it would be high paid and well-thought of defensive coordinator, Greg Williams. The Ravens have a new head coach. Who cares?
Oil hit $100 a barrel. Gas prices slipped back below $3 today. I put four new tires on the truck. My old Ford pick-up still runs well. I haven't bought a GPS unit yet -- can't decide on a model -- but I plan to.
Heath Ledger was found dead, an apparent drug overdose. A fine young actor. Such a tragedy. I enjoyed his work in The Patriot, Four Feathers, and A Knight's Tale. He was good as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, though it was hard for me to watch. At least the scenery was pretty and no sheep were harmed during the filming.
Susan Pleshette died of natural causes. She'd fought cancer. She's best known for her role in the '70's Bob Newhart Show.
My favorite song of the new year is "A Letter to Me," by Brad Pasley. In the song, Pasley gives advice to himself, as a 17 year old. "International Harvestor" by Craig Morgan is a catchy tune that is getting a lot play time on country radio. If you don't like his driving (in his International Harvestor)," then get back on the interstate!"
I've read two excellent books from two of my favorite authors: "The Secret Servant" by Daniel Silva and "Stone Cold" by David Baldaci. I took a day to read each book. In the first book, Israeli assassin Gabriel Allon intervenes when the daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Britain is kidnapped by terrorists. Stone Cold re-unites the Camel Club, some of my favorite characters. But this one has a tragic ending and I'm not sure they'll be any more Camel Club novels.
January's been cold, but so far only one snowfall. Some of it's still on the ground. It's flurrying tonight. I hope we get at least one good snow this year, preferably on a Thursday or Sunday night.
Three Republicans have won presidential primaries. Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race already. No wins for Rudy G. yet. McCain seems to be the GOP front runner, despite his age. The next big test is Florida. The Maryland primary is in February. I'm still undecided.
Obama won in Iowa, but Hillary has regained the top spot for the Dems. Obama has some attractive qualities, but I don't think he has enough experience or mettle to lead the world's lone super power. Though I don't agree with most of her politics (or any Democrat that's running, for that matter), I think Hillary could probably handle this role. It's beginning to look like Clinton vs. McCain.
President Bush visited the Middle East and promised an Israel-Palestine peace accord before his second term ends. Rhetoric or reality? Time will tell.
American Idol has resumed.
Beta fish #4, Aristotle is still alive.
The screenwriters remain on strike. Still lots of reruns on the tube. I'm eager for Grey's Anatomy to return. In the last new episode, McDreamy and Meredith finally broke up. She didn't like him kissing a pretty nurse. Go figure.
I'm sick of hearing about Brittany Spears. Would have been better her than Heath Ledger. Her kids would be better off without her and the rest of her family. I pity the children of celebrities. They're probbaly better off raised by nannies or sent away to boarding school.
I've become addicted to reruns of Two and a Half Men -- back-to-back episodes starting at 7 p.m. The kid's the funniest part of the show.
I've been to College Park twice. That's enough for the year.
Zak ran away for 7 1/2 hours. He had a bath at Petsmart and took a dump in the toy aisle. Tic-Tac finally went home. She was a much better guest this year. Damon has another puppy for me, but I think I'll pass. Max is Max, mischievous and cuddly at the same time.
The Maryland men's basketball team upset top ranked North Carolina on the Tarheel's home court. 4th ranked Duke is next on the agenda, a home game for the Terps.
I visited Virginia Tech to speak, but couldn't find the memorial to the April 16th massacre during my quick drive around the Drill Field. I didn't have time to visit the book store.
Maryland's six percent sales tax became a reality. I oppose ALL tax increases, especially ones that will never be repealed. O'Malley has certainly not earned my respect. As the bumper sticker on my truck says, "Don't blame me, I voted for Erhlich."
The sheep are doing fine, eating and gestating. First lambs are due ~March 10. There will be a mess of them. I like the colored ones.

My 9-11-01

2008-01-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

It's been more than six years since terrorists slammed planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and United Flight 93 crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. Just a few days earlier, I was finishing up an international assignment (with CNFA) in Moldova. Little did I know what loomed ahead -- a punctuating end to the Cold War, with the first shots being fired in the new War on Terror. I guess I was lucky that I was able to fly home, because in a few days I wouldn't have been able to, at least not until after a long delay.

Like many people who remember where they were when Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were shot, I remember where I was when the 9-11 attacks occurred. I was attending a "Small Grain" breakfast (for farmers) at the Holiday Inn in Salisbury. I was in class at Ohio State University when Reagan was shot and in the playpen (I don't actually remember) when JFK was assassinated. When I got back to my office on September 11, 2001, I became glued to a TV, waiting to learn the plight of Flight 93 and the twin towers. Seeing the towers crumble to the ground is a site that I can never forget.

Recently, I watched a movie about United Flight 93. There are two movies. I saw the made-for-TV movie. It was very good. I thought the filmmakers handled a delicate subject very well. They were respectful. They avoided politics. They used unknown actors, no special effects, and took few creative liberties. To their credit, they did not show the plane crashing. Mostly, the movie moved back and forth between the families of the victims and the activity that took place on the plane.

Our primary insight into what happened on Flight 93 comes from the cell phone conversations between the doomed passengers and their families and the recording of the flight box. Flight 93 is a difficult film to watch, but at the same time triumphant. We don't know exactly what transpired in the air, but there is compelling evidence to suggest that the passengers and crew fought back against their aggressors. They may indeed have prevented an attack on the White House, Capitol, or another important government installation. Even if they didn't, they were courageous and all died heroes.

A month after 9-11, I traveled to New Jersey and New York City to participate in a tour organized by Cornell University to learn about sheep and goat marketing. We visited many places that were owned and frequented by Muslims. We were told that Muslims were staying inside, concerned for their safety. Strangely, 9-11 had an impact on the sheep and goat markets, since Muslims are a major consumer of both meats. We saw many American flags hung in the windows of stores and butchers shops, including on many Halal shops. We ate dinner at a white table cloth restaurant in Manhattan, then traveled as close to Ground Zero, as was possible. We could see the smoke. It was a strange feeling. Very eery.

A couple of years ago, I attended the retirement ceremony of the wife of a friend of mine. The ceremony was held at the Pentagon. She was retiring from the Army. While there, besides touring the massive facility that symbolizes American military might, we saw the memorial to the victims of the 9-11 tragedy. Construction had not yet begun on the memorial park, which will honor each victim of the attack.

I generally supported the decisions to employ military action in Afghanistan, then Iraq. I know that things have not gone as well as we would have liked, but we have made progress and need to remain steadfast in our support of these fledgling governments. Since Europe, the media, and public are so opposed to the war in Iraq (and probably would be opposed to any war, not matter how noble a cause), it's hard to know exactly what is going on or if we are even doing the right thing. History will be the only judge. In the meantime, I stand with my President and our men and women in the armed forces.

Yet, while military action might offer a short-term solution, I think the long term solution is far more complex. I believe energy independence to be the most important part of the solution. We've got to stop waging war for OIL. Energy independence will take many years to accomplish. I hope it could happen in my lifetime. It will take political will. I'm not sure we have it. It will require the cooperation of the public and private sectors. All energy sources and policies will need to be on the table. It will require sacrifice on the part of all Americans, sacrifices I'm not sure most Americans are willing to make. The American public complains about Bush's war in Iraq while driving their big SUVs and lawn tractors and heating their big houses -- with Saudi and Iraqi oil. Movie stars are the biggest hippocrits, living in their big mansions and jetting around the world in their private airplanes. I wonder what percentage of our gas expenditures end up in the hands of terrorists?

At the same time, a reduced dependence on Middle Eastern oil is not likley to eliminate ALL potential conflict between East and West. Israel is an imporant American ally and we will stand by her side. Israel is a Democratic nation that has a right to exist, as does Palestine. Perhaps, creating a Palestinian state and making Jerusalem an international city would resolve this long-standing conflict between Jews (and Americans, by association) and Muslims.

Even if oil is out of the picture, the U.S. will (and should ) always be concerned about rogue nations (or the terrorists they "breed" and/or support) having or pursuing weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, it is probably small arms which are the greatest weapons of mass destruction, yet we freely trade them with these nations. There needs to some consistency in our policies. I'm probably asking for too much. After all, we supported Bin Laden in the Afghan War and helped give rise to the Taliban. We tolerate human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and Egypt because they are our "allies" -- but hunted down Saddam Hussein for his. Egypt is no more a democracy than Iran. Saudi Arabia practices a very strict form of Islam and considers women and children to be household property.

I hope we will always be concerned about human rights and not let "cultural differences" allow women and others be be persecuted in the name of religion freedom. Perhaps, we'd find more success in our foreign policy if we were concerned as much about the situation of women and other ordinary people in these countries as we are about the source of our next barrel or oil. Our future depends upon the plight of the youth in these countries. How can we encourage these young men (boys, really) to pursue a path different than the hate and intolerence they're being taught in "religious" schools? We'll need more than the promise of 72 virgins. How do we empower young Muslim women? Our policies need more balance. I'm not opposed to the use military force, but we need to work other avenues as well. Books instead of bullets. Education instead of occupation.

If I was a journalist, I'd always refer to the terrorists as godless, women-hating cowards who exploit poor, uneducated people to promote their perverted interpretation of Islam. While it may take courage to die for your cause, I think it takes more courage to stay alive and stand up for your beliefs. Not to mention that suicide is forbidden in the Qur'an. Of course, the "real" terrorists aren't the ones who strap bombs to their bodies or drive planes into buildings. They're the ones that recruit "followers" and plan the attacks, while safely sipping tea and watching CNN in their bunkers. Talk about cowards!

I'd never write or say anything about Islam, because terrorism isn't about religion anymore than Nazism was about Christianity. The God (Allah) that Jews, Christians, and Muslims ALL worship does not condone the taking of innocent women and children and other non-combatants. Period. Unfortunately, like the Bible, the Qur'an can be taken out of context, giving hopeless young men a twisted "justification" for their criminal actions.

Nowadays, we often talk about the pre and post-9-11 eras. It's often asked if we feel safer since 9-11. I do. I think. I know that a lot is being done to prevent acts of terrorism here and on foreign soil. There's a lot that we don't even know about. Though I get irritated when I go through airport security -- especially when they take my toothpaste -- I'm sure that security measures are having an effect. I'm also realistic. Unless we and our European allies become police states -- which we don't want -- there's no way to prevent acts of terrorism 100% of the time. It's the world we live in. I understand. We all need to.

I would like to visit the crash site and memorial in Shanksville, PA. I would like to visit Ground Zero in New York City. I want to see the Pentagon Memorial Park when it is finished. I don't think visits to these sights would be enjoyable. It's like when I visited the concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland -- it's a moral obligation. We always need to remember our dead and learn from our mistakes.

While I'm proud of the passengers and crew of Flight 93, the firemen, policemen, and others who responded to the heinous attacks of 9-11, and I grieve for the families and friends of the victims, I am disgusted by some of the 9-11 aftermath: complaints about the memorials, squables over compensation to the victims, rescue workers, and their families, ridiculous conspiracy theories, political manuvering and partisanship, criticism of our government's response to the attacks, and endless lawsuits.

While dying due to a terrorist attack or during the response to a terrorist attack is horrible, it's no more dead than when a soldier is killed, a child's parent is killed by a drunk driver, or someone's spouse loses their battle to cancer. I, for one, would rather have seen those billions of dollars spent on erecting memorials, taking care of our men and women in uniform, and generally protecting our nation from future acts of terrorism.

In the end, the blame for 9-11 lies solely with the terrorists and those who support them with their money, rhetoric, and/or silence.

Seven and a half hours

2008-01-15T19:06:00.000-05:00

Seven and a half hours. That's how long my dog, Zak, was missing last night. He slipped away from me when I was trying to latch the flex lead onto his collar. With freedom in sight, he ran from me, away from me, down the driveway, out to the road, in and out of neighbor's yards, to destinations unknown.

During the 7 1/2-hour vigil, I experienced a wide range of emotions: worry, sadness, anger, selfishness, relief, and elation. Mostly, I worried that Zak would be hit by a car. He's not street-smart, and I've already had three dogs killed in this manner. Jack, a Border Collie, was the first dog that was my very own. He was hit by a car in front of our house. I had to watch him die at the veterinary clinic where I worked. Cage #23. I'll never forget. Jack was not even two years old when he was snatched from my childhood.

After I bought my first house in 1989, the first thing I did was get a dog. Sam was a pound puppy, a German Shepherd/Terrier mix, with buff, wiry fur and erect ears. A good watch dog and a great companion. One night, I let Sam out to do her business. I fell asleep and didn't awake until after midnight. I got concerned when Sam didn't come when I called her; she always did. She was very obedient. I saw the answering machine blinking and my heart sank. There was a message about Sam. She had been hit by a car and was dead. My sweet Sam, the dog who'd accompanied me the previous year on my 7,000 mile cross-country odyessy.

It's been almost three years since Sly was killed on the road in front of the neighbor's house. Sly was a rebound dog, a German Shepherd/Black Lab mix that a friend found in a newspaper ad. I got her a few weeks after I lost Sam. Sly sometimes "escaped" before I brought her in for the evening. Usually when this happened, she'd run around the yard for five or ten minutes, looking for bunnies or anything else that moved under the fir trees. Like always, after a few minutes of freedom, I figured she'd be at the front door, begging to come inside for the night. So, I went in.

After about five minutes, I started calling her again. No response. Not that unusual for Sly. After she'd been gone for about ten minutes, I started calling again. I was getting a bit worried. I noticed a commotion down by the road. I knew instantly. A young man started walking up the driveway. He had hit Sly. He was very apologetic. A black dog, loose on the road, at night. It wasn't his fault. But, Sly was gone. She was a good dog. Eighty-five pounds of boundless energy, with a heart of gold.

Even if Zak wasn't hit by a car, I worried that he couldn't find his way home in the dark. If he ventured too far, I worried that he wouldn't be able to find his way home when daylight broke. What if he got into some kind of trouble? If somebody hurt him? Stole him? I worried that Zak didn't "love" or need me enough to come home. Maybe he would run away, run away from me forever. Then, I was mad that Zak ran from me, that he didn't come when I called him. I do everything for him. How could he betray me? Sly was the same way.

I experienced sadness. I couldn't image life without Zak, that goofy, sad-eyed mutt that was given to me by a friend, shortly after Sly was killed. It was an accidental litter. Zak's dad was a Tibetan Mastiff named Mongus, a working livestock guardian. Mongus inpregnanted my friend's Border Collie. Zak was the result. I was concerned about getting a rambunctious Border Collie pup, but my friend assured me that Zak was a calm, docile puppy, the runt of the litter.

When I got Zak, he weighed a mere 2 1/2 pounds and was full of worms. I called him a "puppling." He wasn't big enough to be a puppy. He looked like a skunk. Now, Zak is almost three years old. He weighs about 65 lbs., halfway between his Mastiff dad and his Border Collie mom. He's a beautiful dog with a beautiful personality. While his personality is probably more like an affable guardian dog, Zak's not lazy, he just conserves his energy. He loves to run and play, but isn't non-stop like many dogs or breeds. Like Sly. In fact, he's the perfect dog for me. Like Sam.

Everything in my house reminds me of Zak. I remember the first night I had him. He fell off the couch and cried. Now, the couch is one of his favorite spots. He's usually up on the couch when I'm watching TV or working on my laptop computer in the evening. He also likes curling up on the chair beside the front door, sometimes forgetting that Max is already there. When I go to work in the computer room, Zak usually follows me. Zak used to be afraid of steps and doors, but not anymore. Unlike Sam and Sly, Zak doesn't enjoy riding in the car. If the roads are too bumpy, he tosses his cookies. He drools a lot and gets the seat soaked. He tries to get into the front seat with me.

Zak's toys and bones are everywhere unless I put them away. He loves to drop his bones on the laminated floors, making a big sound. After which, he looks at me innocently for a reaction: who me? Zak's bed lays beside mine. Sometimes, he sleeps on my bed with me and Max. This past Christmas, my dad made a stand (out of oak) that holds Zak's water and food bowls. Zak loves to lay in between the vertical blinds in the dining room. When he was a pup, he chewed on the legs of the dining room table chairs. He ate the remote control for the DVD and ripped the whiskers from the teddy bear that sits on the bench in the living room. He and Max love to play. He and McComb are best buddies.

After Zak ran away, I searched for him for several hours, both on foot and in my car. My dad helped, so did a few neighbors. It's not very easy to find a mostly black dog in the dark. Eventually, we had to give up and hope that he'd come home on his own, or we'd resume searching in the morning. I slept on the living room couch so I'd know when he came home. I kept all the outside lights on, so Zak could find his way home and know that I was waiting for him. When McComb barked, I assumed he was calling Zak home. I woke every hour and checked to see if Zak had come home. In my dreams, Zak came home. But, he hadn't yet. What if he didn't? I thought about the people who put signs up for their lost dogs. I thought about the lost dog ads in the newspaper. How much reward would I offer?

As Zak was running around the neighborhood, I felt a little bit selfish, too. Zak is never free. He's either on the leash, in the house, in his kennel, or in a fenced pasture with McComb. Don't get me wrong. I don't think dogs should be allowed to run free. Today's world doesn't permit it. But that doesn't mean dogs don't yearn to run free and explore everything that they see, hear, or smell. Dogs gave up a lot when they "agreed" to domestication.

I don't let Zak do many of the things he likes to do or would like to do. He likes to get specimens from the compost pile. Can't let him do that. He likes to go in the basement and clean out Max's litter box or see what he can find in the trash. Can't let him do that. He wants to chase bunnies, but he can't catch one or even give it a good chase at the end of a flex lead. At least, I still let him drink water from the toilet.

One of my best memories of Sly is when I would take her to my parents' place, to the pond at the back of their property. Part Lab, Sly adored the water. It was so much fun to watch her swim around the pond and retrieve whatever I threw. She'd shake the water off her fur and eagerly plunge back into the water for another swim. She never seemed happier. Nothing was more natural for her. I need to find a similar activity for Zak, something that will allow him to express his natural doggy behavior more. I scoff at people who think they are giving their dogs a better life when they treat them more like people. Yes, Zak likes sleeping on the couch, but I bet he'd rather chase bunnies or play tug-of-war with afterbirth -- at least before bedtime. He ran from me because he wanted to be a dog for awhile. If only it wasn't so dangerous for him and hard on me.

At 3:30 a.m., I awoke to a clunking sound on the deck. I immediately got up and went to the side door. There was Zak. I knelt down and Zak came to me. I wasn't mad at him. I was relieved that he had come home. The clunk was a dead cat. Zak had brought home a dead cat. It was frozen, partially eviserated, and appeared to have been dead for awhile. I couldn't imagine that Zak would kill a cat. I doubt he did. He's never shown any aggression to another animal. And, he loves Max. No, this was a gift for me, as if Zak was asking for my forgiveness. I immediately thought of the book, "1001 Uses for a Dead Cat." A gift, when you don't know what else to give.

Once in the house, Zak ate heartily. He ate so fast, I figured it wouldn't stay down for very long, but it did. I examined my dog. My usually clean, nice-smelling pooch had an odor about him. He was a little dirty from his escapades. He was still pretty wired, still interested in what was going on outside, not sure he wouldn't still rather be roaming freely. I think he enjoyed his romp, but eventually got tired or hungry -- or maybe he realized that running is fun, but he belongs home with me, Max, and McComb. Eventually, he curled up on the chair in the living room and fell asleep, as did I.

Several hours later, daylight came. My heart was filed with elation as I looked over and saw Zak asleep on the chair, remembering what had happened. Max was asleep on the couch with me, and all was well in the world again. The three of us slept for awhile more, putting off the start of a new day. Once awake, Zak didn't seem his perky self, as if he was experiencing remorse, not sure if I had forgiven him yet. If he could talk, perhaps he would say "Okay, so I was bad. But I got you a cat. I know you like cats. It took me awhile to find one. Is all forgiven?"

All is forgiven, but I didn't enjoy those seven and a half hours. And I prefer orange cats that are alive, not frozen.

Goals for 2008

2008-01-03T19:03:00.000-05:00

It would seem that I like to create lists. So, here's another one: my goals for 2008.

Eat healthier
Exercise more
More exercise for George (pet sheep) and Zak (dog)
Procrastinate less
Maintain a cleanier, tidier house
No speeding tickets, parking tickets, or fender benders
More random acts of kindness
Get another good year out of both of my vehicles
Finish paying off new deck
Paint kitchen
Paint gates and feeders
Manage pastures better
Enroll flock in NSIP
Give Zak a bath, maybe two
Take up another hobby
Write more
Take more pictures
Make more money
Go to New Zealand
Watch the Washington Redskins win the Superbowl

2007 in review

2007-12-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

As one year ends and another begins, it's always interesting to recall what happened in the previous year. Here's my summation:

The Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning finally won a Superbowl.
The San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan won another NBA title. At least, the Washington Wizards made the playoffs.
The Boston Red Sox won the World Series, while the Orioles had another subpar year.
Major League baseball is under a cloud, as many players have been implicated in steriod use, including Roger Clemens and several Orioles.
Cal Ripken, Jr. was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame.
The New England Patriots completed a perfect season, 16-0, smashing quite a few records in their pursuit of perfection. Tom Brady showed he is the best quarterback in the NFL.
A mentally deranged student murdered 33 students and faculty in a shooting spree at Virginia Tech.
Former Virginia Tech quarterback and NFL standout, Michael Vick was convicted of running an illegal dog fighting ring and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by terrorists. Her party was expected to win enough seats in Parliment to sweep her back into power. Al qaeda and the Taliban claimed credit for the cowardly act.
The Washinton Redskin's star defensive player, Sean Taylor, #21, was murdered during a home break-in in Florida.
The Washington Redskins won their last four games to earn the last slot in the NFC playoffs, thoroughly beating the Dallas Cowboys in the last game of the season.
The Ohio State Buckeyes fell short of two national titles, being defeated by the University of Florida in both title games.
Wars continued in Iraq and Afghanistan. More Americans and innocent civilans perished in the war against terror. President Bush remained steadfast in his support of the fledgling Iraqi government and efforts seem to be slowly paying off.
Osama Bin Laden is dead (hopefully) or remains at large.
The Presidential race heated up. Who knows who'll eventually come out on top.
Time Magazine named Russian President Vladimir Putin its Person of the Year.
Teenager Jordan Sparks was 2007's American Idol.
Rascal Flatts was the top country group.
Carrie Underwood continued her post-Idol success in country music.
My favorite TV shows were Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order: SVU.
I visited Mexico and Canada.
Notable deaths included Merv Griffin, Deborah Kerr, Luciano Pavarotti, and Anna Nicole Smith (not notable, but her death captured a lot of headlines).
Gas prices topped $3 per gallon.
Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize. Better that than the presidency.
Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all time home run record, but is the record tainted because of his alleged steriod use?
The top grossing films of 2007 were Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, Spider-man 3 and Shrek the Third. I only saw the Pirates movie.

Vote for me

2007-11-19T20:21:00.000-05:00

It's that time again. The presidential campaign season. Actually, it always seems as if someone's running for office. If a candidate wants my vote, here's what they need to espouse: my 2007 platform.

Energy

Gradually increase mandatory fuel economy standards.
Tax credits for more fuel efficient vehicles.
Luxury tax on gas-guzzling personal vehicles (use taxes to fund energy research).
Stop subsidizing ethanol production; it's not the answer. Besides, it makes it more expensive to feed my sheep. :)
More four day work weeks, tele-commuting, and flex time to reduce commuting and the energy it uses.
More natural landscapes -- less grass cutting, more grazing.
Drill responsibly in Alaska.

Education

No home schooling after the 8th grade.
Physical education five days a week, K-12.
Not all children should go to college. Emphasize vocational education more.
Sex education to include include abstinence AND birth control.
Free college education for students who perform public service (2 year commitment) in at risk areas.
Restore mission of land grant universities.
School uniforms.

Foreign Affairs

Reduce troop strength, but maintain commitment to Iraq.
Stay tough with Iran, North Korea, and other rogue nations.
Sleeper agents and more human intelligence.
Work for change in Saudi Arabia.
Make the establishment of a Palestinian state a priority in foreign policy.

Social programs

Drug testing for welfare recipients. Rehab for those who test positive.
Incentives for social workers who get people off welfare.
Free day care instead of welfare.
Mandatory job training and placement for welfare recipients.
No social programs for illegal aliens except for emergency health care.
Tie welfare payments to behavior: more money if kids stay in school, more money if the kids don't get pregnant.
Peace Corps volunteers in inner cities and other depressed areas.

Health care

No universal health care.
More health care professionals.
Incentives for preventative health care practices.
Tort reform.
Insurance reform, e.g. no restrictions on pre-existing conditions.
Insurance buying pools for the self-employed.

Legal

No same sex marriage, but no amendment.
Legal abortion, but no 2nd or 3rd trimester abortions, partial birth abortions, and notification of parents and spouse required.
Less restrictions on stem cell research and cloning.
Tort reform.
Supreme court justices that uphold the constitution, not legislate from the bench.

Immigration

No amnesty for illegal aliens.
Expand guest worker program.
Penalties for businesses that hire illegal aliens.
A wall may be an important short-term solution.

Agriculture

Gradually phase-out farm subsidies, 10 years.
Use green payments to encourage conservation practices.
Manage public lands with prescribed grazing.
More public funding of agriculture research and education.
Eliminate plans for National Animal Identification System. Let the market, i.e. private industry, take care of it.

Fiscal

Balanced budget amendment. in 10 years.
Line item veto.
Reduce grants as a method of funding.
No taxes when you buy from the Internet.

Political reform

Term limits.
Public financing of campaigns (albiet short ones) -- free air time.
No pensions for elected officials, just contributions to 401 K programs for the time they are in office and away from their primary careers.

Miscellaneous

Make English the official language of the U.S.
Keep God in the Pledge of Allegience.
Don't restrict display of the ten commandments (freedom of speech).

Evil prevails

2007-10-23T16:51:00.000-04:00

Two movies recently made an impression on me: Tears of the Sun and Lord of War. Both movies utilize the same famous quote which goes something like this: "Evil prevails when good men fail to act."

Tears of the Sun stars action hero Bruce Willis and takes place in wartorn Nigeria. The backdrop of the movie is civil war and ethnic cleansing. Willis's Seal Team is sent in to rescue an American doctor, a priest, and several nuns. The nuns and priest refuse to leave their mission/hospital and are soon killed by rebels.

The lady doctor refuses to leave without the indigenous people in her care. Her morality is never in question. Thus, the stage for a heroic rescue is set, as rebels chase Willis and his Seals, the doctor, and Nigerian civilians through the jungle en route to the Cameroon border. Of course, military air support for the rescue operation is delayed until the last part of the movie.

The movie is entertaining, if you enjoy action-packed military-style violence. The action is very graphic, not for the faint of heart. It is particularly difficult to watch a scene in which rebels are murdering civilians. There is an attempt to set a man on fire. One women's breasts are cut off. The Seal Team intervenes as the Nigerians watch in horror.

While plenty of the Nigerians are killed, along with several Seal team members, good eventually triumphs over evil in this film, as Willis's desire to do the right thing overrides his duty to follow orders and complete the mission. The movie has a very satisfying ending, as Willis and the doctor reach the Cameroon border, along with the son of the assassinated Nigerian president. You are left with hope for the people of Nigeria, who begin to rally around the son. You are proud of the Navy Seals and the intervention of the U.S. military. You think: gosh, this is what the military should be used for!

Lord of War, on the other hand, does not have a satisfying ending, at least from the stand point of humanity. But, perhaps its ending and message are more realistic, especially in today's world. The movie stars Nicholas Cage, as a Ukrainian-born American who enters the arms business as a young man in New York's Little Odesa. Cage's character finds success as an international arms dealer, with few scruples. When he is finally apprehended by Interpool, he is released and returns to his murderous occupation, despite the death of his brother and being disowned by his family.

Cage's character is not brought to justice because his illegal arms dealings often serve the foreign policy interests of the United States and her allies. Governments cannot tolerate having their arms merchants jailed. They may need them later to get "around" an arms embargo. While arms dealers sell their wares to anyone who will pay, governments supply their allies or the enemies of their enemies (remember Iraq before the first Iraq War?) for political gain.

At the end of the film, text points out that while the private arms trade is thriving, the five biggest arms dealers in the world are the five members of the UN's security council: United States, Britain, Russia, China, and France. The movie's conclusion is not the full quote from the Bruce Willis movie, but rather "Evil prevails." This is because getting rid of one or many private arms dealers will do little, if anything, to stop the carnage in the world, not as long as governments of the world continue to support armed warfare and wage their wars in developing countries.

Ethan Hawke plays the relentless Interpool agent who finally "gets" his man (but not really). His character calls small arms the "weapons of mass descruction." Nuclear weapons, while frightening to all of us, just sit in their silos while AK-47's and other small arms kill and maim people, many of them innocent women and children. Unforunately, movies such as these, with serious messages, are never as popular as Spiderman or the Transformers.

I recall the time I worked for an arms dealer. It had nothing to do with guns or grenades. I worked for one of his "legitimate" businesses, a sheep farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. From what I read, my one-time "boss" worked for the Pentagon and CIA for over 40 years. Sometimes, I wonder how many people this one man's "weapons of mass descruction" killed.

Yes, I know guns don't kill people. People kill people. But people don't kill people with guns, if someone doesn't sell or give them the guns. By the way, the name of the farm where I worked was "Black Eagle," a symbol of Nazi German. This arms dealer fought for the Nazis as a teenager. I guess selling weapons wasn't too far from his roots.

My essay on Vietnam

2007-09-23T21:56:00.000-04:00

Different things motivate me to write about different subjects in my blog. Today's subject is the Vietnam War. I'm reading a book (fiction) about Vietnam, actually listening to it on my iPod. I've already read it. It's Nelson Demille's best-selling novel called Up Country. It tells the story of a retired military cop and Vietnam combat veteran, who goes back to Vietnam to investigate a 30-year old crime.

When I first read the book, I found it interesting, as it offered a different perspective on the Vietnam War. Hearing the story a second time has caused me to think and I realized how very little I know about the Vietnam War, an important part of American history. The Vietnam War was never covered in any of my history or social studies courses. Perhaps, the history was too new or too controversial, probably more of the latter. So, I decided to do some reading about the war, hours of it.

I was a child at the height of the Vietnam War. I remember watching the fall of Siagon on television. I remember the POW's coming home. I remember watching the state funeral of Lyndon Johnson, who didn't live long enough to see the war's end. I think I remember these things. Of course, I was young. I was definitely too young to have an opinion about the Vietnam War.

Before I did my reading, I didn't know the history of Vietnam, as a country. I knew France was involved, but I didn't know to what extent. I didn't know what triggered and escalated U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. I didn't know the role the various U.S. presidents and their advisors played. I didn't know how Laos and Cambodia fit into the war. I didn't know that U.S. soldiers fought two enemies: the invading North Vietnamese army from the North (Up Country) and the Vietcong, communist insurgents in the South. From what I read, the U.S. and South Vietnam army won most, if not all, the battles waged in Vietnam, but lost the war.

During the war, atrocities were committed by both sides. I'm sure there were many more Ma Lais and not just by American soldiers. It was war. Bad things happen. No one knows how they will behave in the situations soldiers face. While I certainly don't condone it, I can understand how a soldier may lose his sense of morality if he just saw his buddy's head blown off by a villager he thought was a friend and ally.

I do not believe that America owes Vietnam an apology unless Vietnam also apologizes for its treatment of our POW's. Actually, we should both apologize to each other. Though we did leave behind a bad legacy in Vietnam. Our use of chemicals to defoliate the jungle canopy may have seemed justified at the time, but its effects are lingering, not just to the Viets, but to our veterans, as well. The Amerasian children left behind are another legacy for which we cannot hold our heads high. From what I've read, these children were treated as outcasts. While we opened our doors to many of these children, these children were still without a country.

After 30 years, much of what happened in the war has been "forgotten." We restored diplomatic relations with Vietnam over 10 years ago. We gave Vietnam most favored nation status and Vietnam is a member of the WTO. Vietnam has one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Vietnam was recently removed from worldwide watch list for religious persecution (against Christians and Buddhists). At the same time, they remain a police state, a one-party state that controlls the press and limits the rights of its citizens. Despite its economic successes, Vietnam remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Open market policies (i.e. free enteprise) will continue to drive Vietnam's economic growth, but I can't believe that people won't eventually want more personal freedoms.

The Vietnam War divided the American public and it still does today. The debate is whether the U.S. was justified in its actions to prevent the North Vietnam communist government from overtaking the South Vietnam non-communist goverment, which it eventually did. After reading pages and pages of documents and essays, I've concluded that there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Wars and the events leading up to them and following them are too complicated to leave us with simple answers. It's easy to have any opinion after you have all the facts, but no one did.

U.S. involvement in Vietnam has always been justified on the basis of the "domino theory." After the second world war, there was a concern that Communism was spreading. Eastern Europe had already been lost. If Vietnam fell to communism, so too, would the rest of Southeast Asia. That was the belief. Of course, opponents of the Vietnam War are quick to point out that this didn't happen. But how do we know that fear of U.S. intervention (as demonstrated in Vietnam) didn't prevent other countries from following a similar path as Vietnam.

Opponents to the Vietnam War claim that it was a Civil War between the North and South and that U.S. troops had no business being in the middle of it. North Vietnam claimed it was a fight for independence, the independence that had been promised after the second world war, as a result of Vietnam's support of the allies. If it was a fight for independence, why did so many northerners flee the government of Ho Chi Mihn before the war and so many South Vietnamese flee after the takeover of Siagon? It was also about communism. There were land purges, persecution of "class enemies", and "re-education" camps. Sound familiar?

Approximately 58,000 Americans lost their lives in Southeast Asia. Thousands more were injured or affected in other ways. Most of the Vietnam vets that I know are normal people, living successful lives. No matter what opinion a person has on the Vietnam War, we should all agree that our veterans were mistreated upon their return to the U.S. We should agree that they deserve our respect and admiration for the sacrifices they made for our country. Many made the ultimate sacrifice. I recall the words to a Billy Ray Cyrus song, "Some gave all, all gave some."

Three million Viets also lost their lives in the "American War," as it's called in Vietnam. Many, many more lives were lost after the American withdrawal, as North Vietnam seized control of the South. The Khmer Rouge committed genocide in the years that followed the Vietnam War. It doesn't matter whether it was U.S. involvement or U.S. withdrawal that prompted it, it happened, resulting in the deaths of millions of people in the killing fields of Cambodia. These losses should also be respected by all Americans.

It's my hope that countries learn from the past, but it seems we are always doomed to repeat the mistakes from the past. Unfortunately, man seems to be programmed for war, not peace.

A good start

2007-09-10T23:11:00.000-04:00

It was a good start to the NFL season:

Redskins won
Steelers won
Ravens lost
Eagles lost
Giants lost

The Cowboys won, but somebody had to win the game between Dallas and New York. I guess a tie would have been alright. Next time, I hope the Giants trounce the Cowboys.

We Redskin fans deserve a good year. It's been awhile. The parts are in place. The defense is solid. We just need Portis to stay healthy and find holes to run through, Jason Campbell to play to his potential, and the receivers to hold onto some balls. Campbell needs to get the ball to Chris Cooley. He makes things happen. And it's time for Randle El to shine as a Redskin.

It was good to see the Steelers win big and for Ben Roethlisberger to play well. If the Redskins don't win much, I need the Steelers to have a good year, so I have a team to root for. Last year, both teams sucked. The Steelers and 'Skins have always had similar strategies: good defense and a good running offense. Win games in the trenches. Win with any quarterback.

I like professional football. It's the only sport on TV that doesn't put me to sleep. All the kids may be playing soccer these days, but it sure is boring to watch on TV. Sorry Beckman.

I'm looking forward to the new television season. Last year, I became a huge Grey's Anatomy fan. Don't anybody call me Thursdays at 9 p.m. I'll miss the charactor of Dr. Burke. I don't think Isaiah Washington should have been fired. I guess Mark Sloan will be my new favorite doc. McDreamy is handsome, but too goody, goody. George is just George. Alex is intriguing.

I've seen a few good movies, latley. The Shooter stars Mark Wahlberg, who portrays an ex-military sniper who is framed for the assassination of a foreign dignitary. It's a great action movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I like the movies that I've seen Wahlberg in: A Perfect Storm, Three Kings, Invincible, Four Brothers, Planet of the Apes, and the Italian Job. Of course, he's also got a great physique. Hard to believe he used to be a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block.

The Guardian, starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher is the Coast Guard version of An Officer and a Gentlemen. A pretty good flick. Demi's a lucky lady. Costner is always appealing, even as he ages. Another Paul Newman type.

I finally saw Garfield the Movie. I love Garfield. The movie was cute -- probably too cute for many people. Sometimes, it's fun to watch simple, meaningless movies like this one. I can't wait to see the sequel.

I'm running out of books to read. Some of my favorite authors -- Daniel Silva, Ken Follett, and David Baldaci -- have new books out or coming out -- but I don't like to pay full price, so I have to wait awhile for the prices to come down on Amazon.com.

On Michael Vick

2007-09-03T14:55:00.000-04:00

As a Virginia Tech graduate and football fan, I've always been a fan of Michael Vick. He is a phenomenal athlete and football player. If he were a basketball player, he'd probably already have risen to the level of Michael Jordan. But, football requires much more of a team effort.

I'm sickened by the situation Vick now finds himself in. It goes without saying that I deplore his involvement in dog fighting. At this point in his life, he has proven that he is not a man of strong moral character.

I don't understand how any decent human being could find dog fighting to be entertainining or allow it to happen, if they knew it was happening. Blood sports were common centuries ago, but we are a more civilized people now, are we not? Of course, I would say the same thing about bull fighting and cock fighting, which remain legal in many parts of the world. I looked it up. Dog fighting is illegal in most parts of the world, except Japan and Russia, though it still occurs in a lot of places, including the U.S. (obviously!).

I'm a dog lover. I have two dogs. I've always had a dog. When I lose one of my dogs, I mourn its death, the same as I would a family member. I don't like the thought of anyone drowning or hanging a dog, which I believe is the method they used to get rid of the dogs they no longer wanted. I think it is wrong to train a dog to be mean and aggressive. Sooner or later, they are going to hurt people.

With all this said, there are two issues regarding Michael Vick's crimes that bother me. These are second chances and perspective. Vick has plead guilty to running a dog fighting ring. He should be punished for this crime. But once he serves his time, he should be given another chance. The NFL should not ban him. He should have the opportunity to resume his career.

Vick made a mistake -- a huge mistake -- and he is going to be punished for it -- big time! While most of us do not go to prison, we all make mistakes and deserve second chances after we've admitted our mistakes and paid a penalty, if such is the case. All the major religions of the world teach forgiveness.

Now, about perspective. We've lost it. We're talking about dogs, not people. I love my dogs immensely, but they are still dogs. As humans, it is both our moral and legal obligation not to be cruel or inhumane to animals, but they are not equal to humans. But killing dogs is not the same, let alone worse than harming human beings.

Drunk drivers who kill other people often do not serve any prison time. Black on black crime often goes unpunished. Many violent crimals serve little time in prison. Michael Vick should receive an appropriate penalty for his crimes, not be made an example of.

Vick's sentence should not be influenced by popular opinion or the rants of animal rights activists. In some ways, I think some type of community service might be more appropriate than signficant prison time. He could go around to city schools and talk to young people about the importance of making the right choices and the consequences of making the wrong choices. He could become a good role model for young people.

Dog fighting is a bad thing and a punishable crime, but there are far more problems in the United States and abroad. There are also far worse problems in the animal world. Many more dogs and cats are killed than those in dog fighting and in far worse ways. We need to continue to educate the public about spaying and neutering their pets and service animals. We need to enforce leash laws. In my opinion, it would be wise to ban the breeds which we know to be bred and used for fighting (e.g. Pit Bulls).

Let Mike Vick pay his price. Move on to the next story.

The dog days of summer

2007-08-12T10:06:00.000-04:00

My new deck is coming along. It is going to be so nice. Of course, it better be, for what it is costing! I'm really going to enjoy having a deck behind the house.

It finally rained a bit. I got over an inch of rain last weekend, the most in several months. Though it's still very dry. I put the ewe lambs in the hoop house, to give the pasture they were on a chance to grow. The ewes are still out back with a round bale of hay. The drought hasn't seem to affect George's body condition. I've still got over 20 ewe lambs to sell. I may keep an extra two. I'm not going to tell my family. They already think I've got too many sheep. But, I'm a sheep specialist. I supposed to have sheep.

McComb survived his clipping ordeal. For the first week or two after he was clipped, he acted very lethargic. He had developed a couple of hot spots on his back legs. Hair is starting to grow back, and he's back to his old self. He looks quite good with his short hair coat. I know he's got to be more comfortable. Zak is doing fine. The hot weather doesn't seem to bother him. Today, Max brought me a bird. He wanted to bring it in the house. I said no.

This week starts the Garrett County Fair. My niece Samantha will be showing both a lamb and goat. Her shows are on Tuesday. Next week, she and I are going to Williamsburg for vacation.

The Redskins scored two touchdowns late in the 4th quarter to win their first preseason game against the Titans. The third string quarterback Todd Collins led the rally. I had already given up on the boys in maroon and gold. They were playing as bad as last year. A paltry offense. Neither Jason Campbell nor Mark Brunell played well. Is there going to be another quarterback battle brewing in Washington?

My dad and I have been going to Hagerstown Suns baseball games. They're not very good. They're dead last in their division. When we went last, they lost 3-1. They only scored a run because of a trick play -- they got the opposing pitcher to balk when they had a runner on third base. We did get a free cheeseburger when the designated opposing player struck out. Poor guy. Every time he batted, the crowd chanted, "Burger King, Burger King." Hey, we needed something to cheer for. When we were leaving the stadium, we each got two loaves of bread.

There are six miners trapped in a coal mine in Utah. After so many days, nobody's holding out much hope that they are alive. My prayers go out to their family and friends. Coal mining is so dangerous, but it's such a vital source of energy.

My favorite season of the year is approaching. I've got to start figuring out which ram to put each of my ewes with. This year, we will be using three Katahdin rams. Snow Wolf, my homebred ram, will be getting some girls. He's the biggest ram of the three. It will be the third year of breeding for Hurricane and Bull's Eye. We'll probably get one new ram next year.

Things nobody wants to admit

2007-07-07T13:50:00.000-04:00

There are many things we know to be true, but are afraid to admit, let alone say. I'll "say" them for everybody else.

Most Americans are impatient, spoiled, lazy, and wasteful.
Profiling works.
No food is good; no food is bad.
The best diet is everything in moderation.
All George Bush is trying to do is protect "our" oil.
Celebrities are only liberal, because they can afford to be.
Entertainers are more overpaid than athletes.
Food is cheap.
Gasoline is still cheap.
Our houses are too big.
Our cars are too big.
We cut our grass too often and too short.
We take too many showers.
We eat out too much.
Racism is still alive and well.
It's not the lawyers who are ruining our country, it's the psychologists and psychiatrists.
Every shister lawyer has a willing client and jury of our peers.
Most gay people are born gay; it's not a lifestyle choice.
Homosexuality is not normal (it's also not a reason for discrimination).
The children raised by gay couples are not more likely to turn gay themselves.
Presidents get too much of the blame and too much of the credit for what happens.
The only purpose of a handgun is to kill people.
Hunters don't need automatic weapons.
Life begins at conception.
Nobody calls it a fetus, when it is miscarried.
Illegal immigrants do the work that most Americans are unwilling to do.
Political correctness is stupid and demeaning.
Religion is created by man, not God.
Terrorists are not "freedom fighters" or insurgents.
Organic food is not healthier to eat than food grown by conventional methods.
Home schooling makes little sense.
Having sex doesn't make you a parent.
The best parent for a child is not necessarily the biological parent.
With rights, come responsibilities.
You are responsibile for your own actions: not your parents, not some disease or drug.
Bill Clinton contributed to the moral decedence of this country.
ADD is overdiagnosed.

The "N" word

2007-05-24T21:08:00.001-04:00

White people aren't supposed to say the N word, but black people can. White people think they should be allowed to say the N word since black people do, but black people don't want them to. White people say the N word (not all of them). Black people say the N word (not all of them). Black rappers "sing" the N word. White kids buy their music.

As a white person, I'm not supposed to say (or write) the N word. And, I don't. I don't have a problem with this expectation of me (as a white person and decent human being) because I understand that when a white person says the N word, it probably has a different meaning than when a black person says it. Recently, three white people used the N word in my presence. They used it to put down black people in a hateful way.

I don't pretend to understand how a black person, especially a child, feels when he or she hears the N word. From a historical perspective, the N word has a very negative connotation and is a symbol of white racism and prejudice. It is associated with slavery and the racism that followed slavery and still exists today, albeit in a lesser form.

It doesn't matter if the ancestors of the white person saying the N word were still in Europe during the slavery period or that the black person hearing the word did not descend from slaves. The issue is the same. Bad word. Bad intent. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to understand this.

While it may seem to some to be a double-standard, I understand how the N word could mean something totally different when it is said from one black person to another. In the black community, the N word seems to have been reborn, redefined (I heard this in a TV interview). That's good, to turn something bad into something good. Why can't white people just let black people have their own word? White people had their chance. They didn't do good with the word.

At the same time, there are far more problems affecting Black Americans than the N word. If I was a black parent, I'd probably be more concerned about the education my child was receiving than what Don Imus said on syndicated radio. That's not to say that racial slurs or other hate language should be tolerated, only that the issue not be put ahead of education, housing, health care, and job creation. It would be nice to see see black leaders attack social problems with the same vigor as they go after white people whose words offend them.

In no way am I a fan of political correctness. Notice I say black people, not African Americans. I think we've gone way too far in analyzing every word that comes out of our mouths. But white people (and other races) could and should refrain from using the N word, spoken or written. If we don't like someone, we should call them a butthead, like five year olds do. Butthead is derogatory, but equal opportunity.

The black community bears responsbility in this issue. I think it would help if black people limited their use of the N word, especially in song lyrics and movies. The use of the N word in our pop culture only serves to desensitize the public, especially young people, to its historical, hurtful meaning.

I googled the N word. It comes from the Latin word niger, meaning black. In English, the word became the noun negro (black person). In Spanish, negro simply means black. It is believed that the N word is the phonetic spelling of the white southern mispronunciation of Negro. No matter the origin, the N word became a degenerative nickname, and we shouldn't use the word when referring to black people or anyone else.

I'm white, not black, so this is just my interpretation of a controversial subject. I hope my words don't offend anyone. Of course, I don't care if I offend racists.

The world would be a better place if only people were more like sheep. Sheep don't care what color each of them is.

“I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a nigger." ----Muhammad Ali

Spring is for picture-taking

2007-05-20T00:47:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite pastimes is taking pictures of the lambs, dogs, and cat during the spring. Here are a few recent pictures.

Ears is turning out to be the most photogenic lamb of 2007. He seems to crave the limelight. He's a handsome boy, with a devilish personality.

Here's Ears again, this time with McComb. In this picture, Ears seems to be receiving lessons from McComb on how to be a livestock guardian.

Max has always been photogenic. I love this recent picture of him. His eyes match the color of the grass. I don't know what he was looking at. Maybe, he didn't think I could seem him.

To date, this is the most popular picture I've put on Flickr. People love Max's pose. I called the picture Pounce. I'm not sure if he pounced on anything, but it looks like he did. He looks so content in this position.

Another lamb that likes attention is Hondo, a triplet that I supplemented with a bottle. He's been weaned from the bottle for several weeks, but remains very friendly and curious.

This picture was taken more than a month ago, but it never made it to the blog. This is the ewe I call Pretty (#461), snoozing with one of her lambs.

Pretty and her lamb are so pretty that they warrant another picture. Here, they're still dosing on the same beautiful spring day in March.

Sticking with the snoozing them, here's a picture of Darby (#309) using one of her lambs as a pillow. The lamb is the twin sister to Ears. This picture was also taken several weeks ago.

Class of 2007

2007-05-12T10:40:00.000-04:00

Each year brings a new set of lambs. Sometimes, I feel like a school teacher who gets a new class of students each year. Like a teacher, I watch the lambs grow and play and develop into healthy, productive individuals. There are always several lambs that stand out due to their performance, appearance, and/or personalities.

Annie (white lamb below) is my favorite. It's hard not to fall in love with a bottle lamb. They bond to you as if you are their mother, which essentially you are. Annie was a twin born to a 2-year old black ewe, who decided she didn't like her white baby. Annie's sister (I dubbed her "Sis") is also very friendly. She never abandoned her sister. I may have a hard time parting with Annie. Hopefully, I'll find her a good home. Or maybe I'll keep her (?) I don't have to decide yet.

Ears stands out on all counts. His big ears have set him apart since his birth. While he is slowly growing into them, his ears are still quite large compared to other lambs. His twin sister has big ears, but nothing compared to his. Ears is one of the nicest-looking, fastest growing lambs in the flock. He'll make an excellent breeding ram. He's also one of the friendliest lambs in the flock. Whenever I'm out in the pasture, he finds me. As a male, he's very frisky and rambunctious. He's never afraid of me or McComb, my guardian dog.

Sundance is another outstanding ram lamb. He, too, is one of the nicest-looking, fastest growing lambs in the flock. I have no doubt he will be sold as a stud ram. He is also very friendly, in a gentle way. His twin brother (Butch, of course) is much more aloof. Sundance's ears are big and droopy like his mom's. His mom is the biggest ewe in the flock. Butch and Sundance are going to be big boys.

Lakisha (named for this year's American Idol contestant) has always known that she is special. She always holds her head high and alert, expecting you to notice her. She's one of four black ewe lambs in the flock, but is the tallest and prettiest. She's all black with one white foot (left rear). Her mom is just a yearling, but as a single lamb, Lakisha is growing quite well. She's a keeper.

My niece named Scarlet. Scarlet gets the prize for being the sweetest, friendliest lamb in the flock (not counting Annie). She has a light brown tinge to her coat. She is blocky and woolier/hairier than most of the lambs. She's somewhat of a fuzzball. Scarlet comes out of a good young mother and maternal line, so there's a good chance I will add her to the flock.

Scrappie Doo is the "scrappiest" lamb in the flock, hence her name. She was a triplet born to a 7 year old ewe that always has triplets. I think her mom decided she only had enough milk for two lambs and abandoned her smallest lamb. I seldom, if ever, saw Scrappie Doo nurse her mother. I must have offered Scrappie Doo a bottle at least a dozen times, but she stubbornly refused each time. Instead, she stole milk where and when she could. Specifically, she latched herself onto my original black ewe, #22, who lets anyone nurse, but is raising her own set of triplets.

For the longest time, Scrappie Doo looked pitiful and scrawnie. She stood all hunched up. But now she is filling out and should eventually catch up with the other ewe lambs. I think she will make a nice breeding ewe because she has strong genes for prolificacy and is a fighter. She's even starting to trust me a bit.

I could never forget Hondo. Hondo is another triplet, born to a 2 year old ewe. He was born smaller than his brothers, so I offered him some extra milk. He liked it, so I fed him a bottle for six weeks, while he still nursed his mother. A double-dipper, he's growing quite well. Since he was a bottle lamb, he is very friendly and curious. I made him a wether, hoping I'll be able to sell him as a grazer or "dog sheep" (for training herding dogs).

I don't name all my sheep or lambs. But each year, I label the special ones. Some of the ones that earn names I keep; some I sell.

Professor Aunt Susie

2007-04-28T21:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I achieved a professional milestone. I found out that I received promotion from the University of Maryland (College Park). In fact, it was the Dean who called and told me. I missed his call, but he left a message on my voice mail. I was pleased, too, that my two colleagues (at WMREC) also received the same promotion.

In extension lingo, it was promotion from Senior Agent to Principle Agent. In university lingo, it was the equivalent of promotion from Associate to Full Professor. Whatever you call it, it's a good thing. Usually, there's a raise associated with it. And of course, the privilege to serve on more committees (yikes!).

It was a long process. I submitted my paperwork last July. I think my CV was a half inch thick! I worked hard on it. I was fortunate to have good external reviewers who were very familiar with me and my work. My package had to be approved by committees at the department (extension), college (agriculture), and university levels.

I've been kidding all my colleagues, telling them that now I'm a full professor/principle agent, I'm going to speak up more and tell people what I really think. They laugh at me because I've been doing that for years. I may have been shy as a child, but as an adult, I tend to speak my mind. I respect other people who do the same.

I told the sheep and pets that I got promoted, but they didn't seem to care. Max didn't even lift his head when I told him. Zak did raise an eyebrow. One of the lambs chewed on my nose. I haven't celebrated yet, but I do feel good about it all. It's nice to know that your work is valued by your peers.

A couple of years ago, I became certified as a Professional Animal Scientist (sheep and goats), allowing me to put the letters P.A.S. after my name. Nobody knows what the letters mean. But instead of telling them "Professional Animal Scientist," I'm going to say the letters stand for "Professor Aunt Susie." My niece has always called me Aunt Susie.

Maryland Day
Today, my parents and I went to Maryland Day at the University of Maryland College Park. I judged the student sheep show. There were five classes of students, who tried their hand at showing lambs. I was impressed with their abilities. I "retired" from judging this year, after more than twenty years, but this was a different kind of show, and I didn't mind helping out.

My mom says she took us to Maryland (Ag) Day years ago when we were small. Today's event was very impressive. While we stayed in the Ag area, there were activities all over campus. I enjoyed the day. Parking and traffic weren't too bad, considering where we were at. Even the traffic on I-270 was free-flowing. All in all, a good couple of days.

A Virginia Tech Tragedy

2007-04-26T21:35:00.000-04:00

On April 16, 2007, a deranged student murdered 32 students and teachers at Virginia Tech. As we all heard, it became the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, worse than Columbine. For many of us, this date will be etched into our memories like 9-11.

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1984 with a B.S. degree in Animal Science. The two and half years I spent in Blacksburg were among the best years of my life. I didn't live in the dorms and I'm not even certain I had a class in Norris Hall, but somehow this tragedy seems more personal to me, as a Tech grad.

I'm proud of the Virginia Tech community and how they handled this upspeakable tragedy. You saw prayer, not hatred. You saw unity. And dignity.

Per usual, I am ashamed of the media. They gave the murderer what he desired, a showcase for his agenda, his rantings, his sick reasons for taking the innocent lives of 32 people. They disrespected the victims and their families. They gave other madmen and deranged people someone to relate to, ideas to feed their sick minds. The worst TV violence is on the news, not in TV shows. My local newspaper put a picture of Cho with guns blazing on the front page. Talk about poor taste! When the Virginia Tech community called off the media, I applauded them.

Furthermore, I am sick of the media and pundits always wanting to blame someone, instead of the one who is responsible. Seung-Hui Cho bears the sole responsibility for the murder of 32 people and the wounding of countless others. This incident didn't happen because of lack of gun control. It didn't happen because Virginia Tech lacked proper security. It didn't happen because Cho had some chemical inbalance in this brain or because he was picked on in school. Cho was 100 percent guilty of this act and he will burn in hell for it. The only good thing he did was take his own life.

On the other hand, I don't mind that the incident ignites the gun control debate. If there are loop holes in the gun laws (in Virginia and elsewhere), they should be closed. Why should a person with documented mental illness have been allowed to purchase a gun? That is a legitimate question. As is the fact that Cho was able to use rapid firing ammunition. But to those who say that this only happened because of easy access to guns, I disagree.

Phooey to the Europeans and other gun control advocates! Cho planned and plotted this act for more than a month. If he couldn't have bought a gun, he would have used something else, perhaps a bomb, which would have killed more people. Not to mention, there's not a gun control law anywhere that will prevent a criminally-minded person from acquiring a gun. For sick, violent people, there is always a means of violence.

As far as the security issue, the only way to prevent these mass murders would be to create the equivalent of a police state, and even this would not be fool-proff. None of us want that. Unfortunately, freedom comes at a price. College campuses are generally safe places, but events such as this can happen anywhere. All we can do is look for the danger signals and hope that we can prevent people like Cho from carrying out their sick acts of violence.

I am awed at the heroism of the victims and survivors of this tragedy. I greeve for the 32 lives lost. So much potential lost. Such a waste. Among the 32, there were professors at the top of their fields, a Holocaust survivor, young people destined for careers in engineering and medicine. Who knows what these young people could have accomplished in their lifetimes. The victims came from all different walks of life, from different countries, races, and religions -- a cross-section of America. They had parents, brothers, sisters, boyfriends, and girl friends. I am sad for their families and friends.

In time, everyone will heal. Virginia Tech will come out of this stronger than ever. The victims will not be forgotten. Cho will be.

A beautiful spring day

2007-03-27T14:41:00.000-04:00

I stayed home today to do my taxes. What a task to undertake on such a beautiful spring day. It is bright and sunny, in the 70's. The lambs are out playing.

Last night, a yearling gave birth to a single ram lamb. He is spotted. So far, the three yearlings have all had single births. That's a first. I usually get several sets of twins from the first-timers. Of course, yearlings with single lambs are a lot easier to deal with, since they always have enough milk for one lamb, but not always two. I have one more yearling ewe left to lamb. Hopefully, she won't wait too long. It's no fun being in a pen by yourself.

I had a delivery of barley today. Soon, I will start going through a lot of feed. The lambs are just beginning to nibble at the creep feed, but since their rumens are still developing, their creep feed is a mixture of cracked corn and soybean meal. They pick out the soybean meal. They also love licking at the minerals.

Of course, their favorite activity is standing in the feeders or hurdling them. I've got a few bales of hay in the creep area, so that they can play king of the hill. It's fun to watch the littliest lambs take a flying leap off the bale.

A successful lambing season

2007-03-25T21:27:00.000-04:00

It was a very successful lambing season. The ewes lambed in 18 days, for the most part unassisted. The only ones left to lamb are two yearlings, which I bred one heat cycle later. My other two yearlings were impregnanted early by the roving black ram. They are both nursing black ewe lambs.

At last count, there are ~72 lambs, ~2.2 lambs per ewe. One lamb from a set of triplets was born dead, and I found a 4-day old triplet lamb dead. I think his mother crushed him. Other than that, there have been no mortalities.

I'm bottle feeding two lambs. One is a twin from a ewe that rejected her. Her mother is a "racist!" She gave birth to a black lamb and a white lamb, and she doesn't let her white lamb nurse. I call the lamb, "Annie." I've grown very attached to her. That's the problem with bottle lambs. I am also supplementing a triplet lamb, out of a 2 year old ewe. She could probably raise him, but he was born small so I had offered him a bottle. I named him "Hondo." This year's naming theme is western characters.

While the majority of the lambs are white, there are lots of colored lambs, including 6 black lambs, of which 4 are ewe lambs. I'll probably keep one of the ewe lambs, to ensure the continuation of color in my flock. I may keep another red lamb, too. There are a few of those. I enjoy the different colored lambs, and so do many of my customers.

This year, there are more ewe lambs than ram lambs. Many of my best ewes are raising two ewe lambs. That will make my selection decisions hard. There will be so many good ewe lambs to pick from. On the other hand, the ewe (#426) that I wanted to have ram lambs did. She gave birth to two monster boys, 13.2 and 12.7 lbs. I nicknamed them the "Bruise Brothers." To go along with the western theme, I'll probably dub them Butch and Sundance. They are growing fast and at least one, if not both, should be RR. Mom is QR while the sire is RR.

The hoop house is full. I let the twins out for the first time today. I will probably alternate between the twin and triplet pens. There's not enough grass to keep them out all the time. It's been raining a lot, so hopefully the grass will grow quickly. The ewes and lambs are eating me out of house and home!

Half way through

2007-03-09T22:32:00.000-05:00

Half of my ewes have lambed. I have 38 lambs out of 18 ewes: 5 sets of triplets, 10 sets of twins, and 3 singles (2 out of lambs/yearlings that lambed early). Though I'm having a run of ram lambs, the ewe lambs still outnumber the ram lambs 20 to 18. I have six black lambs. Four of them are ewe lambs.

There haven't been any problems so far, knock on wood. I pulled a lamb out today that was coming backwards. The ewe looked wore out, so I thought I'd help her out. In fact, it was several minutes before she got up. She, #01, has two nice size ram lambs. Frecks, #517, had triplets today, all boys. One is on the small side.

Yesterday, #353 and #426 gave birth to three big ram lambs. I figured out that #426 owned two of them and #353 had the single. I am disappointed when a mature ewe only has one lamb (353 is 4 years old), but sometimes it happens. She'll go back to having multiples next year. It should grow out to be a nice ram lamb. Earlier in the day, Darby, my favorite (#309), had a split set of twins. The ram lamb has the biggest ears; he could probably fly! I'm going to have to get a picture of him.

There are still many good ewes left to lamb, including my best ewe, #24. Other good ewes still to go include #18, the red ewe, and her daughter, and #526, daughter of #24 and granddaughter of old #92. Freckles hasn't had her babies yet, nor has #423, another flock favorite. Old #11 hasn't gone yet either. Hopefully, the other two ewe lambs/yearlings won't lamb for several weeks, which was my intention. The black ram kept jumping the gates and impregnanted two of the ewe lambs early. It's probably why they had singles, which is fine with me.

Happy Birthday

2007-03-07T21:58:00.000-05:00

My birthday was on Monday. It was a good one, several days of special treatment, gifts, and good food. I enjoyed a four-day weekend. I wanted to spend time with my sheep. I turned 45. Age doesn't bother me too much, not like a lot of people, who fret at each birthday.

I've got twenty something lambs now. Since my last post, there have been three sets of twins, two sets of triplets, and a single birth. The single birth was from a yearling, #612. She had a black ewe lamb, the first to be sired by one of the ram lambs, obviously the black one. The birth was the result of the ram jumping over a gate, since I had planned to breed the ewe lambs three weeks later than the mature ewes. It is a nice lamb, and she is a good mother. I don't mind when some of the yearlings have single births.

On my birthday, #92, the "matriarch" of the flock presented me with a big set of twin ewe lambs. She is a fantastic ewe. They will be nice lambs. I will probably keep at least one. #92's granddaughter, #461, who I call "Pretty," had a nice set of split twins. Prior to that, #513, daughter of #92, also had twin ewe lambs, also nice lambs. One is tan in color. All three of these ewes are excellent mothers.

That evening, #309 gave birth to triplets. One was stillborn. It was a strange lambing. She had the first lamb around 4 p.m. The second two were born about five hours later. Perhaps, the second two were difficult for her to deliver. But, she and her two lambs -- a ewe and a ram --are doing fine. These were the first lambs to be sired by Bull's Eye. Her daughter, who I gave to my dad as a lamb, gave birth to triplets yesterday, but the smallest lamb didn't make it.

This evening, #305, had triplet ewe lambs. I'll be going out to check the sheep shortly. I am offering one lamb a bottle. Its mother doesn't always let it nurse enough.

It snowed today, about 6 inches. It's a light fluffy snow. So, I worked from home.

American Idol
I don't have a favorite on American Idol yet. I missed the boys singing last night because I had a class to teach. I like Phil, the bald-headed guy, whose wife just had a baby. I also like Sundance. I don't care for the young man -- I don't recall his name -- that the judges always rave about. I watched the women sing tonight. There are several that I like. I think that Lakisha is the best. I like her personality and story, though tonight she revealed that she is afraid of animals (odd). It will be interesting to see who gets voted off tomorrow night. It won't necessarily be the ones that should. It may be a singing contest, but it takes more than a good voice to win this thing.

A fast start, a good start

2007-03-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

It's been a fast and good start with lambing season. Since last night, three sets of triplets have been born. I now have 15 lambs, a fairly even split between males and females. So far, all of the lambs have been sired by Hurricane. My dad doesn't have any lambs yet.

I breathed a sigh of relief when #22, my first black ewe, finished lambing and passed her afterbirth. Last year, she had a c-section. Everything went fine with the c-section, but I had some concern about her next lambing. She gave birth to three black lambs! Two are solid black and one has a tiny spot of white on its forehead. They are two rams and a ewe.

This morning, I found #397 with a set of triplets. Two of the lambs are white; one is brown. Two rams and a ewe. Last year, #397 had gotten very obese. She delivered her lambs late in the season. I had almost given up on her. Every year, she has at least one lamb with color. She's a good ewe.

This morning, #13, one of my best ewes, delivered triplets: two ewes and a ram. Two of them have red necks. Last year, #13 raised a nice set of triplet ram lambs. She ranked second in performance. I got a beautiful picture of her with her three boys. She's my "poster" ewe for the Katahdin breed.

So far, everything is going well. I've got my fingers crossed that this continues. You never know what can happen during lambing season.

I'm going to have to get a picture of the black triplets. Triplet black babies has to be somewhat rare.

First born

2007-03-02T20:11:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures of the first born lambs of the 2007 season.

#550's lambs are trying to nurse from the same side.

One of #536's twin ewe lambs.

#537's lambs are all legs.

Little voices

2007-03-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

The 2007 lambing season is underway. Lambing season is like Christmas morning -- every day. When I go out to the hoop house, I am anticipating what is waiting for me. When I hear little voices, I know that new lambs have entered the world -- and they are doing okay.

So far, it's been a good start to the lambing season. During the past 24 hours, three ewes have given birth to twin lambs. Four ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs. All of the mothers are two-year olds. One of the older ewes (#01) has been trying to steal the lambs as they are born, which is confusing the young mothers a bit. But, they come around once the older ewe has been removed from the picture.

One of my black ewes (#536) lambed this morning -- a black lamb and a white lamb, two ewe lambs. She's not sure she wants the white lamb. Could this possibly be a racist sheep! I think she'll take the lamb, if I am patient with and give her a little time. Otherwise, she'll go into the hand stanchion. She will raise both lambs. That is not negotiable.

More ewes could go at any time. I know for a fact that #92, the matriarch of the flock, was bred the first or second day I put the rams in.

Let it snow

2007-02-25T17:06:00.000-05:00

It is a beautiful snowy day today. I took some pictures to remember it by, since spring will be here soon.

Zak making foot prints in the fresh snow.

Max likes to go out in the snow, but not for too long.

McComb is made for the snow.

The sheep are all warm and cozy in the hoop house. These are the four expectant ewe lambs, acting like busy bodies.

Likes, Dislikes

2007-02-23T22:52:00.000-05:00

I was driving to Solomon's Island today, when somebody cut me off. I hate when that happens. And I hate when people tail gate (unless they're having a tail gate party). Then, I started thinking about all the things I don't like. All of a sudden, I noticed there wasn't any more snow along side the roads. I thought about how much I like snow. For the next hour or so of driving, I thought about the things I like and dislike. Here goes:

Likes

Virgin Snow. No foot prints. No tire tracks. No yellow snow.
Getting a day off from work because of snow. I get plenty of time off, but it's more fun when it's because of snow. Just like when I was a kid and there was no school.
Four seasons.
Sleeping in.
Cats sleeping; they're so warm and cuddly. I love to pick them up. Just seeing my cat curled up on the chair gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Lazy dogs. Nothing seems to bother them. They're good company, even when they're sleeping. You still feel safe. All you have to do is say "treat" or "walk" and they'll wake up.
Frolicking lambs. I especially love when they prance. I won't sell my lambs before they're three months old because I want them to have a chance to play.
My local radio station, WAYZ, for its patriotism. Every morning, they play the pledge of allegience and pay tribute to our veterans and active military men and women.
Warm chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk.
A long, hot bath.
Weekends. Especially, long ones.
A cold, clear, still, starry night.
The new James Bond. Daniel Craig. Great bod!
The birth of twin ewe lambs. Even better, triplet ewe lambs.
Black lambs and red lambs.
American Idol and Grey's Anatomy -- my two favorite TV shows.
Reruns of Friends and That 70's Show.
Children. Before the world taints them and steals their innocence.
Hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Listening to my sheep munch on their hay.
Going to the dump.
Ledo pizza.
The Caribbean.
Big dogs and orange (red) cats.
George Strait and Joe Nichols.
A medium rare steak and baked potato smothered in butter.
Cary Grant movies. They don't make movies like that anymore. Nor actors.
Pepsi, not Coke.
E-tickets.
5-speed manual transmission.
Serta counting sheep.
Sheep that don't need their hooves trimmed.
Black and white photography.
Flickr^TM(where I post my pictures online)
Matthew McConaughey
Van Gogh.
A full tank of gas.
MS-DOS, HTML code, and Word Perfect reveal codes.
My video iPod.
Blogging.
Books with spies, terrorists, Nazis, and/or assassins.

Dislikes

Bad drivers. Aggressive drivers. Tail-gaters. People who cut you off. I understand how "road rage" happens.
Speed traps. They are what they're called, traps. They don't make our roadways safer. They make our wallets thinner.
Getting up early. I'm not a "morning person." If it was up to me, the work day would be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Emptying the dishwasher and cleaning the kitchen sink. These are the household tasks I dislike the most.
Faculty and staff meetings. Two hours of pointless banter. And no refreshments.
Driving on I-270. Too much traffic. Doubles driving time.
Most any kind of traffic.
All the trucks on I-81. Can't see ahead. Worse in bad weather.
The "horse culture." I'm female, so I must like horses!
War protestors.
Hollywood liberals. Streisand, Redford, Sheen, Penn, etc.
The liberal bias of the media and Hollywood.
Lying politicians; come to think of it, that's all of them.
Bush bashers.
Dixie Chicks. Though, they're not as bad as Jane Fonda.
Beer, coffee, and tea (hot and cold). I know, my taste buds are weird.
Green beans.
People who don't return their shopping carts.
Overpaid administrators.
Animal rights activists, animal rights groups, and the animal rights agenda. They lie and mislead people. They're not in it for the animals, they're in it for themselves.
Paying people not to work.
Paying people to have babies.
Calling the card for food stamps an "independence card." It's the opposite!
Vegetarians and vegans.
Activists on both sides of the abortion issue.
Politicians and pollsters who insist on making every issue black and white, in a gray world.
Racism. By any one and in any form.
Cell phones in public. People who talk on their cell phone when they drive.
All the stupid ring tones that people use.
Days when we don't get mail.
Junk e-mail, spam, and phish.
Working with animals that have horns.
Airport security, especially 3-1-1.
No meals on domestic flights.
Microsoft Word.

Sheep Update

The first lambs are due in about a week. I have 36 expectant mothers. Even George looks pregnant. One (#325) that I should not have kept doesn't seem to be pregnant. She prolapsed her uterus last year, after having triplets, and was given ample opportunity to get pregnant. If she doesn't lamb, I believe I'll put her in my freezer.

Too bad, because she's a very nice looking ewe and has produced a couple of very nice looking lambs. In fact, that's why I decided to give her one more chance. My mistake. Every time, I get swayed by a sheep's phenotype, I get burned. This ewe is going to be four years old and she's yet to raise a set of twins. "Ugly" ewes out-produce pretty ones nine times out of ten!

On being politically correct

2007-01-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

One of the most destructive movements in this country is political correctness. Everyone is so damned sensitive about what other people say. There's no forgiveness for saying something that someone might find offensive. We've got serious problems to address in this country, and this is what captures headlines.

Take the recent incident with Grey's Anatomy star, Isaiah Washington, a.k.a. Dr. Burke. He called a castmate a "faggot," back stage at the Golden Globes. The other actor, T.R. Knight, a.k.a. George, is indeed gay, but faggot is considered an offensive slang term to describe a gay man. Though like the "n" word, faggot has lost much of its meaning from overuse in our society. It's only offensive when someone decides it is. T.R. Knight decided it was, his perogative, I suppose.

Washington should certainly not have used the term. It was insensitive and in poor taste, and he knows it. But, he has apologized publicy. Shouldn't he be forgiven? If he's ousted from Grey's Anatomy, I might stop watching. I'll go back to ER. In my opinion, Washington is one of the best actors on the show. He made a mistake. He apologized. Let's get over it.

According to the dictionary on Google, a faggot is also a pork meatball. Perhaps, that's what Washington meant. Of course, then he would have offended pigs. Fag or faggot is also British slang for a cigarette.

On the other hand, Hollywood knows full well that it is offending many Americans by pushing the gay lifestyle down our throats. I think there are more gay people on TV and in movies than there are in real life. When are they going to apologize? A subject for another day, perhaps.

Sign the Petition to keep Isaiah Washington on Grey's Anatomy. I did!

American Idol 6
Another season of American Idol is underway. Last year I started watching once the 16 (?) final contestants had been selected. I looked forward to the program every week, sometimes twice a week. My favorite Idol was Elliott Yamin (#3). I'm eagerly awaiting his first CD. I also enjoyed the two country crooners: Kelly Pickler (#6) and Bucky Covington (#8).

This year, I'm watching Idol from the start. People are already complaining that Randy, Paula, and Simon are being too mean to the contestants. Once again, people are being overly-sensitive. As Simon said in a recent interview, nobody pulls the contestants kicking and screaming into the auditions. I enjoy the banter between the three judges and between the judges and the contestants.

Many of the contestants are horrible, and they've got to know it. If I was on American Idol, I would be crucified. Of course, I've been telling myself that even a bad singer could master one song. What kills most contestants is that they are stupid with the songs they pick or the way they act or dress. Would you expect respect if you came in juggling or dressed like Apollo Creed? Most of them deserve what they get, and most of them can give it back. A few are living with serious denial. If they can't handle it, they can always cry on Ryan Seacrest's shoulder. I wouldn't mind doing that.

Keep dishing it out Simon and Randy! I'll keep watching. If you don't like it, don't watch. Without Simon, the show would be nothing.

Russia (1990)

2007-01-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

I've taken thousands of pictures over the years. My photography hobby started at a very young age. My photo archives include slides, negatives, prints, and digital files. I've decided to start scanning the slides and negatives. I plan to display some of them on this blog. The first pictures I displayed were from my six month stay in Poland in 1993. They are on my last post. The pictures in this post were taken during my 1990 trip to the Soviet Union (Russian Republic), my first trip outside the U.S.

Poland (1993)

2007-01-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

In 1993, I spent six months in Poland, as a participant in the Polish-American Extension Project. I lived in Jelenia Góra. I had the chance to visit many parts of Poland. What a beautiful and fascinating country. I took a lot of pictures. Here are a few.

Big Dog, Little Dog

2007-01-03T19:38:00.000-05:00

My niece's dog, a year old Bichon Friese named "Tic Tac" is visiting the Baalands for a month. Tic Tac is a little dog, with little dog ways. Zak is teaching her how to be a big dog. He's got her chewing on hard bones and big Kong toys and playing tug-of-war. Unfortunately, she's too small to drink out of the toilet, although he's trying to teach her. After all, the cat can do it. Big dogs don't get weekly baths. Zak just had his first bath over the holidays. Zak wants Tic Tac to smell and act like a big dog when she goes home.

Max is not happy about having two dogs in the house. But, he's the only one who gets to sleep on the bed and eat on the dining room table. And that seems to satisfy him -- for now.

My Dogs and Me

2006-12-29T00:04:00.000-05:00

For Christmas, I received the best-selling book, "Marley and Me," by John Grogan. The book reminded me of all my dogs, past and present -- and probably future. It is a must-read for any dog lover, the true story of a lovable, but unruly Labrador retreiver named Marley that touched the life of the author, a columnist for the Philadelphia Enquirer, and his family.

We had three family dogs during my childhood: Tag, King, and Bo. Tag was a playful German Shepherd-Collie mix. He was hit by a car at a relatively young age, when I wasn't very old either.

We picked King out at the pound. He was a purebred German Shepherd. He was a wonderful family pet, gentle, yet protective of three growing children. King was the dog we grew up with, and we couldn't have asked for a better one. It broke the heart of a family when we had him put to sleep when he could no longer walk (hip displacia). But, he had lived a good long life.

Bo was a Cocker Spaniel mix. I always thought her head looked too small for her body. She had a heart of gold. Bo loved playing with my brother's Border Collie pup, Luke. They'd roll down the hill together in a ball. She was spayed, but didn't mind Luke's amorous advances. She was quite fond of our cat, Kitty. They would like down in front of the fire place side-by-side. Bo was more my mom's dog than anyone else's, as I left for college soon after we got her. It broke my mom's heart when she had to put Bo down prematurely because of a debilitating disease.

Jack
My first dog was Jack, a purebred Border Collie that I bought for $75 at a sheep show. I was sixteen years old and lacked the committment necessary to train a herding dog.

Jack was pure poetry in motion, the Michael Jordan of dogs. Jack didn't herd our sheep -- though he certainly had the desire and the "eye" -- but he was a world class frisbee catcher. His spectacular catches were only limited by my ability to throw a frisbee. He would jump our fences with the grace of an olympic hurdler. He had the speed of a sprinter. When I played basketball, Jack would tackle the ball after it fell from the basket -- every time!

One of my fondest memories of Jack was during the big snow storm of 1980; I think we were off school all week. We had about 2 feet of snow on the ground. His dog house had been buried in the snow. It was such fun to watch the athletic Jack romp through the deep snow.

Jack died way too young, hit by a car in front of our house. My dad brought his battered, unconscience body to the vet hospital where I worked. I put Jack in cage #23. There wasn't much that could be done for him. He died on my watch. After he died, I made a short Super-8 movie of him. I called it "Born to Run," which he was.

Jake
Jake was a purebred Australian Shepherd, a beautiful tri-colored animal with a stub for a tail. In hindsight, he wasn't the best choice for a graduate student living in an apartment, a half hour from campus.

While I excelled in graduate school, Jake and I flunked out of obedience school. Every time we passed another dog, Jake wanted to pick a fight. He wasn't a mean dog, it's just that other dogs seemed to bring out his aggressive nature. Neutering didn't help. Nor did the dog obedience experts, who recommended a pinch collar, which made Jake angry.

Jake loved children. Several times, he got loose and ran across the street to the school yard to play with the children during their recess. I took Jake with me when I went to play basketball at the middle school. He watched as numerous people challenged his master to a game of "horse" -- and usually lost to the girl who got labeled a "hot dog" by her high school coach. Jake and I used to take long walks and gaze at the stars in Montana's big sky. Sometimes, we watched the planes land and take off at Belgrade airport.

Before I moved back East, I found Jake a home on a sheep ranch. Jake had a lot of energy and deserved a life that could give him a way to expend it.

Sam
When I bought my first house in 1989, the first thing I did was go to the local animal shelter and pick out a puppy. Sam was a German Shepherd-Spitz-Terrier mix. Her two littermates looked nothing like her. She had light colored, wiry fur and erect ears and looked like a small German Shepherd. She was an excellent watch dog and faithful companion. I had no doubt she would protect me from harm. She demonstrated it several times, when she thought I was in danger. I used to take her with me when I went places at night. I always felt safe.

Like Marley, Sam was petrified of thunder. One day when I had left her alone in the house, she attacked the vertical blinds in the dining room, ate a bra, chewed up a sweatshirt, and dumped over a large bin of dog food. Whenever it thundered or she sensed it was going to, she would go beserk. She had to be touching me, in fact, practically be on top of me to feel safe, maybe not even then.

Sam didn't like being left alone. If I got out of the car to pump gas, she would go nuts in the car. One time, I had left my keys in the ignition and she locked me out. Camping didn't work real well, because she would start making a big commotion if I left the campsite for any reason. Sam preferred hotels to tents. Sam did okay when I left her at the kennel, but I knew it was very stressful for her.

I lost Sam in 1998. She was hit by a car. She was not quite 9 years old. The summer before Sam died, she and I took a mammoth vacation. I drove over 7,000 miles, going as far west as Lake Louise, Canada. I took Sam with me wherever I could. She was a wonderful travel companion, my friend and my protector.

Sly
I got Sly shortly after Sam died. Sly was most like Marley. She was half Labrador retreiver and half German Shepherd, solid black with a few white toes. But forget the German Shepherd, she was all Lab, save for a few physical features. Slow to grow up. A bull in a china closet. A tail that could have been registered as a deadly weapon. 87 lbs. of pure unbound energy. Always grasping for all the gusto life had to offer. But, not a mean bone in her body.

It didn't take me long to figure out that Sly was more dog that I thought I could handle. At four months of age, she was already proving to be a handful. After having such a well-behaved dog in Sam, I decided to find another home for Sly. I put ads in the local newspaper: Lab-Shepherd Mix. Free to a good home. Needs room to run. But when I started getting calls, I couldn't bear to part with her. How could I? She was so sweet. She just didn't know her strengh. She'd grow up. In time.

Sly graduated from dog obedience school. At graduation, the dogs received dog bones as rewards. Marley ate her diploma -- I hung Sly's on the refridgerator -- Sly ate the other dogs' bones. Every once in a while, I had to remind Sly who the alpha dog was. They told me to sit on her, which I ocassionally did.

Sly was a world class chewer, digger, and jumper. She got more than a few knees to her chest, to discourage her jumping. It didn't take her long to eat Sam's dish and dog house. I had to put her kennel on my paved driveway after she tried to dig her way to China. Sly ate many things and I would find them in her poop in the yard. Whenever I boarded her, I told them not to put any thing in her kennel, because she would eat it. She could devour bones with incredible speed. I used to time her. It took her only 15 seconds to devour a lamb bone. She ate anything. Her food never sat for long. She always attacked it as if it were her last meal on earth.

Like Marley, Sly loved the water. After all, she was a Lab! I had never had a dog that liked, let alone loved water. My parents had a pond on their farm. I would take Sly for swims. She loved playing fetch. Once or twice she swam in circles with the pond's resident beaver. I loved watching Sly frolic in the water. She attacked the water with the same vigor she approached everything else in life.

I lost Sly in 2005, the third of my dogs to be hit by a car. She was 6 1/2 years old, just hitting her prime. So tragic.

Zak
The latest dog resident of my house is Zak, half Tibetan Mastiff, half Border Collie. Yes, it was an accidental breeding. Zak is tri-colored, but mostly black, with floppy ears and the soulful eyes of his sire, a Mastiff named Mongus. Zak's fur is soft and sleek. He pretties up really nice after a bath. He just had his first bath before Christmas.

Zak's just the right size dog, about 55 pounds. He'll be 2 in February. I got him in April 2005 from a friend, not long after Sly was killed. Zak was the runt of the litter, so small (2 1/2 lbs.) that I called him a puppling. My parents thought he looked like a baby skunk. He was full of worms and needed dewormed three times to get rid of his pot belly. He was a very docile puppy, which is what I thought I needed after Sly.

In Zak's case, the Mastiff genes seem to be dominant over the Border Collie ones. Zak neither protects sheep like his sire or herds sheep like his mother. But he's my best buddy and seems to suit my personality and lifestyle well. Zak's not lazy, he's just conserving his energy for when he truly needs it.

For the most part, Zak is a good boy. But of all my dogs, Zak gets the prize for being the biggest chewer. He knawed on all the legs of my dining room table chairs. He ate the remote control for the DVD player, bit into one of my flash drives, ate his leash and several collars and all the other pet's collars, and has chewed various pot holders, dusters, gloves, and other household items. You can never give him a soft toy because he will pluck the stuffing out of it.

I haven't had Zak all that long, but I already have a favorite Zak story. I had lanced abscesses on two of my sheep. I wanted to find out what kind of bacteria caused their abscesses. I collected the copious pus in paper towels and double-bagged the paper towels and put them in a trash bag in the basement. Zak snuck into the basement and chewed through all the bags to get to the pus. He licked the paper towels clean. I was a worried about his health, but the vet assured me he'd be fine -- and he was.

This year, Zak was especially skillful at removing baby lamb carcasses or body parts and afterbirth from the compost pile. Once I found his front feet and legs completely covered in blood. I guess his antics shouldn't have surprised me. He's a dog! All my dogs have enjoyed cleaning litter boxes, eating manure, drinking water out of the toilet, and chewing on afterbirth. If these things are bothersome to you, you probably shouldn't get a dog.

Zak is equally adept as Sly was at almost pulling my arm out of its socket (while on the flex lead) when he sees a rabbit; in Sly's case, it was birds. I bruised by sternum once when I was leaning to the side and Sly spotted a bird. She got the bird, but I landed hard on my side and was very sore for months. The only reason I didn't go to the doctor is because I figured they couldn't do anything for me anyhow.

McComb
The only similiarity between Marley and my guardian dog McComb, a purebred Great Pyrenees, is size. McComb is well over 100 lbs. But I call him my gentle giant. With the exception of chasing the sheep ocassionally (they probably deserve it!), McComb is extremely low key and well behaved. He is obedient and sensitive. He takes it personal if you scold him. He was a gift from Katahdin Hair Sheep International and takes his name from McComb, Mississippi, where I got him as an 8 week old ball of white fluff. He's quite possibly an "angel" as dogs go.

As I read the last few chapters of Marley and Me, I filled a small waste basket with tissues. Unfortunately, dogs are only with us a short time. I was touched by the author's struggle with Marley's last few years of life and his difficult decision to let her go. I was sad for his loss and sad for my losses. I hope Zak and McComb don't leave me for a long time. The memories of King, Bo, Jack, Jake, Sam, and Sly are always with me.

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really.
~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Salute to our Veterans

2006-11-12T19:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was November 11th, Veteran's Day. Over the years, my family has not had a big involvement in the military. My dad was in the army during the Korean conflict. We always tease him because during the war he protected Washington DC from "hostile fire." And, he built latrines, actually the toilet seats. Well, somebody had to do it. We continue to poke fun at him, but are proud of his service to our country.

My dad's uncle (August) fought with Patton's army in the Battle of the Bulge. My dad's dad was more valuable to the war effort stateside as a civil engineer. Illness kept my maternal grandfather from serving in the second world war. My nephew is currently serving in the United States Navy in Sicily. He'll be coming home for Thanksgiving.

A couple of years ago while surfing the 'Net, I stumbled upon the name Otto Schoenian. Otto fought with the Pennsylvania infantry during the American Civil War. It was a surprise to come across his name because we thought the first Schoenians arrived in the U.S. during the late 1800's. There still aren't many Schoenians in the U.S. Perhaps, Otto is kin to all of us. Good thing he didn't get shot by the rebels!

Before marrying my dad, my mom worked for the U.S. Navy in Washington DC. She met many important military men, but her claim to fame was when she accidently knocked down the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. He was taking his morning stroll, and she was late for work, in pursuit of a bus. She's disappointed that the episode is not mentioned in David McCullough's best-selling biography of Truman.

When I was in my mid-20's, I considered joining the Army National Guard in Salisbury, MD. They were a transportation unit, but I was more interested in medical or intelligence. I took the test (did well), but eventually decided against enlisting. Sometimes, I regret my decision. Now I'm too old.

I am thankful to the many men and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms and our way of life. I am thankful to all those who have served our country, many seriously injured, when called upon. I am thankful to the men and women who continue to fight for our freedoms in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places we probably don't even know about. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones. I am sad for the many more who will die or be seriously injured when they are called upon to defend our nation.

Recently, someone sent me an e-mail that truly touched me. It said that only two people were willing to die for us. Jesus died for our sins and the American soldier dies for our freedoms.

Post Election

2006-11-09T18:50:00.000-05:00

Everyone I voted for on Tuesday lost, even the Democrat. Of course, I'm used to this. When you live in a somewhat rural part of an urban state, your vote almost never counts. I was surprised that Robert Ehrlich lost to Baltimore's Mayor O'Malley. I thought Ehrlich was doing a pretty decent job as governor and deserved a second term.

I guess I should be happy that O'Malley won. He campaigned on the idea of increasing funding for higher education. Of course, more funding here means less funding there, or more taxes. The Democrats tend to favor the later. I'll try to maintain an open mind with O'Malley.

I should be happy that liberal Marylanders allowed a republican to serve one term as governor. It'll probably be another 40 years before it happens again.

I was most disappointed that Michael Steele lost. He seems to be a very intelligent, articulate, principled man. I hope he doesn't give up on Maryland politics. It has always been difficult for Republicans to win a Senate seat in Maryland. The state has always had the distinction of having two of the most liberal members of the Senate. On the bright side, I don't think it's possible to be any more liberal than Paul Sarbanes was. I'll try to keep on open mind with our new senator, Ben Cardin, until I find out otherwise.

On the other hand, I'm angry that Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and other congressional lifers got re-elected. There needs to be a mandatory retirement age. Bartlett is 80 years old! Robert Byrd (D-WV) is 88! Ted Kennedy (D-MA) is a "youngster" at 74. Congress is the grayest it's ever been. It's not so much their age as their tenure. Byrd and Kennedy have a combined tenure of 91 years in the U.S. Senate! Bartlett will be serving his 8th term in the House.

Congress should not be a career. It wasn't meant to be. We should have citizen legislators -- school teachers, farmers, businessmen, etc. We need fresh faces and fresh ideas. We need leaders who can walk without a cane. That's what our forefathers envisioned. I'm becoming more of a proponent of term limits than ever before. That and removing retirement benefits. If you take away their bennies, they'll have to get a real job, like the rest of us.

Initially, I was mad that "my team" lost, but after some thought, I realized it's no big deal. It happens to every President who gets a second term. After six years into the presidency, the American public gets tired of the current administration and puts the other party in charge of the Congress. We like division. We like partisanship. We really don't know what we want. That's why we elect a government that won't be able to agree on much. It happened with Clinton. It happened with Reagan. It'll happen with the next two term president. It makes a strong case for the American President serving one 6-year term.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next presidential election. There will be a stream of Democrats lining up to throw their hats into the '08 presidential ring. The party will move to the left to appeal to the party faithful. Two years is probably not long enough for the Democrats to alienate the American public, so they're not likely to get ousted from Congress (yet). Usually, we elect a president of the other party. If w don't, I can always move to the Caribbean. Yeah, mon.

In the end, who sits in the White House, Governor's mansion, Statehouse, or Congress has little effect on my every day life. Life goes on. The ecomomy chugs along, hits a few stumbling blocks along the way. You pay taxes. You celebrate birthdays. You feed your dogs. The political climate remains the same. The cast of characters just changes every two years or so.

At least I exercised my right to vote.

Footnote: Al Queda was very pleased with the results of the election. Boy, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzing inside! Thanks, my fellow Americans.

So long, Barney

2006-10-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

Barney came when the hoop house was built, about four years ago. She never left. She took up residence there. I fed her daily. I think that's why she never attacked the rat population with any vigor. She had quite a nice life in the hoop house, never venturing too far. She and Max got along okay. She didn't care for Zak, but they seldom came into contact with each other. Same with McComb. I don't think Sly ever slowed down enough to meet her.

She never completely trusted me. I had to sneak up on her to catch her. Occasionally, I would comb her out. When I stroked her, she would purr, but would never totally relax. I think, perhaps, she was mistreated by humans in her earlier life. She was so skiddish that I didn't even know she was a girl until a year or so after she came. Since she never gave birth to kittens, I had assumed she was a neutered male. That's why I had named "her" Barney, the "barn cat."

When I went to feed the lambs this evening, she was lying in the hay. She looked like she was sleeping. Usually, she curled up when she slept, so I went over to her a little concerned. She wasn't moving. She was dead. Probably, not long. She looked peaceful, not a mark on her body. I will take care of her body in the morning. She will spend one more peaceful night in the hoop house, among her sheep friends.

This morning, she had meowed for her food like always. I'd give her a handful of cat biscuits in the morning and evening. Sometimes, I brought her milk or canned cat food. I caught her this morning and petted her for a few moments. I'm glad I did. She was really starting to look good, like a house cat. Her fur was smooth and pretty, and she was filling out. She was never a big cat. I didn't know how old she was. At least five, she could have been older. I suspect she was spayed.

I hope she died peacefully in her sleep. She wasn't a pet like the others, but I'm going to miss her. She was a fixture in the hoop house, and it won't be the same without her. She touched my heart. I'm gonna hold Max a little tighter tonight.

Barney
???? - October 28, 2006
Say hi to Jesse and Rex in cat heaven
Thanks for stopping by. Sweet dreams.

A Time To Speak

2006-10-20T00:59:00.000-04:00

I'm not a student of the Bible and don't often quote it, but here's a verse that's been resonating with me a lot lately:

For everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weap, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stone, and a time to scatter stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, Verses 1-8

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

2006-10-18T23:26:00.000-04:00

Thumbs Up

To the school in Texas that is teaching its students to fight back if a gunman enters their school. All this passiveness is killing innocent Americans. You can't reason with these madmen. Doing what they say or being passive just makes it easier to get killed.

To Pennsylvania's Amish community for their forgiveness of the insane gunman who brutally murdered their children, then turned the gun on himself. And to the media for allowing the Amish community to bury their dead with dignity. So many claim to be good Christians and Muslims, but are filled with vengeance and hate. They could learn a lot from the Amish community. If only I could figure out why the Amish can't have zippers on their clothes.

To Linda Faillace for telling her story of USDA's heavy-handed seizure of her sheep in 2001. Her book is called "Mad Sheep: the True Story of the USDA's War on a Family Farm." It'll probably make us all mad.

To the Detroit Tigers who are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1984. Maybe, there's hope for the Orioles.

Thumbs down

To the schools that are banning tag and football from the playground because they're worried about law suits. First, dodgeball. What's next? Kickball and jungle gyms. Let kids play!

To the networks for firing sports commentators for making inappropriate statements during broadcasts. America needs to stop being so damn sensitive. We all say the wrong things sometimes. If they apologize, why shouldn't they be given another chance. What happened to forgiveness?

To the D.A., Duke University, the media and everyone else who "convicted" the Duke lacrosse team before facts were known. Even if the young men are vindicated, their lives have been forever changed in a negative way.

To the media and others for criticizing Madonna's adoption of an African baby. Some commentator called white people adopting children from Africa "modern slavery." He should be fired! The father and aunt of the child have approved the adoption. Why should this boy have to grow up in an orphanage when there's a couple who want to adopt him?

The Deadskins

2006-10-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

If they can't even beat a 0-5 team at home, what do you think's goin' happen when they play a 5-0 team on the road? It probably wouldn't even help to knock Peyton Manning out of the game.

Perhaps, it's time to shake things up a bit and play Jason Campbell. The Redskins have got some powerful offensive weapons. It's time to air it out and let 'em play. The running game will only get better if opponents fear the long ball. Maybe, it's not the other way around. If they still lose, at least it'll be more fun to watch.

Mark Brunell is not a bad QB. He's certainly not the only reason why they're losing; it's a team effort. But, he's old in football years (though he's 8 years younger than me and I could have babysat him). Let him be the mentor now. Let Campbell light things up. Sure, he'll make some "rookie" mistakes, but he's big, strong, and mobile. There's gotta be a reason why Gibbs drafted him.

As for the defense, I don't know what the answer is. I don't suppose they're the worst defense in the NFL, but teams seem to run and pass at will. I didn't think they needed to re-learn the defense. That's the excuse the offense uses. Still can't figure out why they let Lavar Arrington go.

No matter what, I still think Joe Gibb's is a great coach. I'm stubborn that way. Perhaps, his better years are behind him. On the other hand, he took the team from 6-10 to 10-6 and a playoff victory in his first two years back.

I'm still a contented fan. I enjoy when the Redskins win, because I can watch them more. But, when they lose, I remind myself that it's only football. I can always root for my favorite AFC team, the Steelers, though they haven't done much better. But, big Ben's back, so winning ways hopefully have returned. I also enjoy it when the Ravens lose. After all, you can't live in Maryland and like both the Ravens and 'Skins. As a Redskin fan, I obviously like it when the Cowboys lose, but they appear to have a pretty good team this year.

Sweet Autumn

2006-10-12T23:45:00.000-04:00

The rams went in with the ewes on October 6 and 7. Lambs will be due March 1, give or take a day. The ewes are split somewhat equally between Bull's Eye, at my dad's house with a group of 19 ewes; and Hurricane, at my house with 21 ladies. They'll switch places in a few weeks.

I'll wait a few weeks before putting rams with any of the ewe lambs. At least that was my plan. Twice now, the ram lambs have jumped over the gates to get to the young girls. If the girls lamb a little earlier than expected, it'll be okay. They're all big enough. Snow Wolf, my homegrown RR ram lamb, is anxious to be a father. So's the black ram. Well, really, all of them. They're young boys!

We weighed all the ewes before putting the rams in. George, my pet wether, tipped the scale at 206 lbs. I knew he was fat, but WOW! As for his condition score, it's probably 5 out of 5. I keep telling George that he needs to go on a diet, but he just ignores me. I might just have to put him on a treadmill.

Fall is my favorite time of the year for many reasons. I love breeding season because it is full of new hope. I enjoy the fall weather and the leaves changing colors. And, I'm a big football fan. Actually, a diehard Redskins fan. Their 2-3 start is nothing to be excited about, but I think they will do okay this year. They're in a tough division, so perhaps they won't make the playoffs, but as long as they're in the hunt, I'm a contented fan. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Joe Gibbs' last year as head coach. Most of us Redskin fans have Joe Gibbs up a pedestal. After all, he brought us three superbowl victories.

Basketball season isn't too far behind football season. I'm a big basketball fan, too, plus it's my favorite sport to play. The Washington Wizards, my home team, should be decent this year. Don't know about the University of Maryland. I've never been much of a fan of Maryland football, but I've always been a Terp basketball fan. I remember the year my Dad and I went to several Maryland games. During one game, we saw an unbelievable shooting exhibition by Ernie Graham. We went to a game a couple of years ago, too, when a colleague gave me a few tickets.

My parents got me interested in Dancing with the Stars. Apparently, Jerry Springer is still alive in the competition. He's hilarious. But, I'm rooting for Mario Lopez, from "Saved by the Bell." He's a natural dancer and has a good chance of winning, if he doesn't keep breaking the rules of the competition. His dimples don't hurt his case either! In a few months, another season of American Idol will start. I suppose I'll watch again. I sure enjoyed it last year. I was tempted to return to the Virginia State Fair to see Elliott Yamin, my favorite Idol, perform in his first concert.

Children of the World

2006-10-01T12:41:00.000-04:00

I have two favoroite subjects when I take pictures: animals and children. Here are some of the youngsters I've met during my various travels.

Kazakh boy at the Green Market in Almaty.

Siblings in Moldova

Young girl in the Dominican Republic

Boys at the fair in the Dominican Republic

Boys from Brazil

Go to Branson

2006-09-26T10:13:00.000-04:00

If you've never been to Branson, Missouri, you should go. It's a great place for family entertainment -- great for seniors, great for children, and great for couples -- maybe even for dogs!. Wholesome and patriotic. It's a beautiful area, nestled in the picturesque Ozarks. Prices are generally reasonable. My folks and I spent a few days in Branson, before going to the Katahdin Hair Sheep International Annual Gathering in Jefferson City, Missouri.

We did three main activities during our 2-day stay: went to Mickey Gilley's Show, took a paddleboat cruise on Table Rock Lake, and rode a "Duck" around Branson. We also visited the trout hatchery that supplies Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo.

The Mickey Gilley Show was great. I've always been a big fan of Mickey Gilley and his bluesy style of singing and rambunctious piano playing. He is joined in his show by musician and comedian Joey Riley, who has a face made out of rubber. If we'd stayed a day longer in Branson, we would definitely have gone to Riley's show. He was hilarious. Good, clean humor. Mickey Gilley did a good job playing his straightman. We gained a new perspective on the phrase, "Think outside of box." (you had to be there!).

We took a lunch cruise on the Branson Belle, an old time showboat/paddleboat. Lunch was good and the variety show was quite enjoyable. It included singing, Dixie-style music, acrobats, and comedy. The cruise wasn't really expensive when you considered all that you got for your admission price. The Branson Belle was built above Table Rock Lake and slid down into the lake on bananas! The company hadn't wanted to pollute the pristine lake.

We rode the Ducks. Ducks come from DUKW, a military acronym: D Stands for the year it was designated, 1942; U for its amphibious nature; K for its all-wheel drive; and W for its dual rear axles. D-Day brought a force of 2,000 DUKWs to the Normany Coasts.

We were all given "quackers" and instructed to blow our quackers at other Ducks we saw as well as when we passed a golf course. It was all in fun. My dad took his quacker to the KHSI meeting and told me he was going to quack me every time I told a bad joke. Fortunely, all of my jokes are good. Either that or he was asleep during my presentations.

We rode our Duck around Branson and onto Table Rock Lake, skirting "Gilligan's Island." We all got a little (maybe, a lot) wet when our duck plunged into the lake. We learned the history of Table Rock Lake, a man-made lake with over 800 miles of shoreline. Our Duck also climbed a "mountain (barely!)" and we saw several military-style vehicles from different wars.

I didn't know that I had ridden a Duck before, but apparently when I was young, I had ridden a Duck in Wisconsin Dells, the first place where Ducks were used as "recreational" vehicles. There are also Ducks in Baltimore and Washington DC. I didn't know. I didn't even know what a Duck was before I went to Branson.

The trout hatchery proved to be an interesting side trip. Over a million trout are produced in this "Shepherd of the Hills" hatchery. We had a chance to see eggs being harvested from female trout. No fish hanky panky here. "Baby fish" are made by mixing the eggs and sperm in a "bowl." The hatchery gave a new meaning to the word, "factory farming." But, I didn't see any fish complaining, and survival is much higher in the hatchery than the wild.

One of the things that I liked best about Branson is its appreciation for veterans. Many veterans travel to Branson for reunions. Each show or activity recognizes them, as well as other tour groups and individuals celebrating birthdays or anniveraries. Recently, a special event was held for Vietnam veterans. Our Duck driver was a Korean War vet. I join Branson in thanking our veterans for preserving our freedoms and way of life.

I sure hope I get to go back to Branson, sometime soon!

"When God looked upon the work of his hands and called it good, he was sure alookin at this here Ozark Country…" Harold Bell Wright

Across the USA

2006-09-04T22:35:00.000-04:00

Mt. Rushmore

Reflecting Pool, Washington DC

Big Sur, California

Lots of places in Colorado

Northern New Mexico

Sedona, Arizona

New York City (shortly after 9-11)

OIL

2006-09-01T23:19:00.000-04:00

War continues in Iraq. They're calling it Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were going to call it Operation Iraqi Liberation until they realized that spells "OIL." -- Jay Leno

The Muslim world believes that the United States invaded Iraq for oil. Duh! The non-Islamic world thinks the same thing.

Be Cool

2006-08-22T22:43:00.000-04:00

On the way to work this morning, I was thinking about all the "cool" things I've done, cool things that I still want to do, and things I've done that aren't so cool. Thought they'd make a good topic for the blog.

Cool things I've done:

Steered a boat through the Suez Canal -- didn't hit anything!
Drove a BMW on the autobahn when there was no speed limit. Stayed in the "slow" lane and only drove 110 mph.
Visited the Soviet Union before it broke apart.
Lived in Poland for six months.
Met the President of the Dominican Republic.
Heard a speech by Boris Yeltsen while I was standing in line to visit the Lenin Masoleum.
Rode a camel around the pyramids at Giza.
Participated in a taxi race in Moscow. My car won.
Met Eugene "Lucky" Flucky, WWII submariner and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Participated in another "taxi" race. This time in Egypt with donkey carts and young boys as drivers. My cart won.
Drove to the top of Pike's Peak. Had a bowel movement at 14,110 ft!
Drove the scenic Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming.
Rode a horse on the beach in Barbados.
Saw a Beluga whale born at Marineland in Canada.
Went horseback riding in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Went inside St. Basil's Catheral.
Visited Kazakhstan three times.
Went snorkeling and swimming in the Blue Lagoon in Jamaica.
Held a lion's stomach in my hands (during surgery at the vet hospital where I worked).
Saw the Bay of Fundy, one of the natural wonders of the world.
Toured the Pentagon.
Went snowmobiling in Lake Tahoe. Fell off the snowmobile at least three times.
Saw performances of the Moscow Circus and Bolshoi Opera.
Visited Roswell, New Mexico. Met an alien, got abducted, and kicked out of area 51.
Wrote my name in the sand at Whitesands National Park. Spelled it wrong.
Went up in the Sear's Tower and Empire State Building. Waited for Cary Grant -- he never showed. Nor did Tom Hanks.
Went to church services in a castle in Kracow, Poland.
Ate dinner in Yugoslavia before civil war tore it apart -- the country, not my dinner.
Showed at the Centennial National Southdown Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Judged the National Sheep and Goat Shows in the Dominican Republic. Three times.
Learned how to juggle.
Ate real Hungarian Gulash.
Went horseback riding through vineyards in Hungary.
Ate three lobsters for dinner in Maine.
Saw a white buffalo (in North Dakota) named White Cloud.
Delivered lots of baby lambs.
Went rock climbing and repeling in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Participated in a 20 km cross country ski race in Szkarska Poręba, Poland. 7 klicks and I was out! Had never skiied before in my life. Not since, either.
Spoke at an international conference in Brazil.

Cool things I still want to do:

Go on an African safari.
Go to Paris.
Visit Norway.
Take a cruise to Antartica.
Ride an elephant.
Jump out of an airplane.
Ride a mule down into the Grand Canyon.
Drive the Alaskan Highway.
Drive a race car.
Drive the entire length of Route 50 -- from Ocean City to Sacremento.
Go to a professional basketball game (NBA, not WNBA).
Drive to Chile.
Set foot on every continent. So far, I've been in North America, South America, Africa, and Europe.
Visit every U.S. state. Still haven't been to Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
Ride on the sailboat that my brother is building (out of steel).
Go to a Washington Redskin's football game.
Go to a boxing match.
Visit Ground Zero.
Tour the White House.
Fly first class. I've flown business class, but never first class.
Visit Romania, Vietnam, and South Africa.
Go to New Zealand and Australia.
Go to Mexico.
Ride a bull named Fu Manchu (for 2.7 seconds).
See the Loch Ness Monster.
Meet Tony Blair.
Take a train ride across Canada.
Take a cruise down the Nile.
See the Great Wall of China.
See Stonehenge.
Drive the LA Freeway.
Go on a date with Matthew McConaughey.
Create my own breed of sheep. Susanschaf.
Publish a novel.
Take up fencing and/or kickboxing.
Get a makeover.
Learn another language.
Win a million dollars by making a basket from half court.
Host a talk radio show.
Go hang gliding.
Coach a basketball team.
Did I mention go on a date with Matthew McConaughey?

Things that I've done that aren't so cool:

Got a ticket in a country that didn't have a speed limit. I ran a red light, so they said. Mailed me a ticket - I didn't pay!
Fell off a donkey. Good thing I didn't fall off a camel. I'd have broken some bones.
Drank water from the Nile River and lived to tell.
Drank water in the Dominican Republic and barely lived to tell.
Spent the night in the emergency room in a Chicago hospital.
Locked the keys in the car on the Polish-Ukranian border under the watchful eyes of the border patrol (up in their towers).
Voted for Teddy Kennedy when he was running against Jimmy Carter in the Democratic Primary in 1980.
Voted for George W. Bush a second time. Of course, what choice did I have?
Had the airbags in my car go off twice.
Totaled my Ford Escape.
Backed into garbage dumpsters, loading docks, mail boxes, and other cars. At least, I never ran any of my pets over.

Dog Day Afternoon

2006-08-12T22:44:00.000-04:00

McComb and Zak

Zak and McComb

Zak, 1 ½ years

McComb, 2 years

Rex
March 1991 - August 2005
He is missed!

Thundering Water

2006-07-20T22:16:00.000-04:00

Recently, my niece and I spent six days in Niagara Falls, Canada. It was the fourth time I had seen the falls. It was Samantha's first visit. The falls were as breath-taking as ever.

The American Falls

Canadian Horseshow Falls

Maid of the Mist

Close-up of the falls

While in Niagara Falls, we visited nearby Marineland and saw a Beluga whale born. There were numerous other animal exhibits: red and fallow deer, elk, bison, black bear, and other marine animals and shows. We rode the world's largest steel roller coaster, called "Dragon Mountain." The roller coaster had several double loops.

Beluga Whales at Marineland

A Black Bear waiting to be fed

During our stay, the Italians beat the French in the World Cup. There was pandemonium in the streets. I'd never seen anything like it before. I didn't dare say, "it's only soccer!" In honor of the Italian victory, Samantha and I ate at Mama Mia's Italian restaurant. It was very nice. Good food and speedy service.

Celebrating the World Cup Victory

Niagara Falls skyline

Though I came home with empty pockets, Niagara Falls is a fantastic place for a family vacation or romantic getaway. It's a natural wonder of the world, with plenty of other attractions. It's the third natural wonder I've seen. I've been to the Grand Canyon and I've seen the Bay of Fundy. Guess I've got nine more wonders to go

Ramblings

2006-05-21T11:57:00.000-04:00

So long goats
I sold the goats today. The two moms and their five babies and the two yearlings. I think they will be going to a good home. I will miss them, especially Clover and her babies. I will take them to their new home next weekend.

So long Elliott
American Idol is down to its final two contestants: Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee. I was disappointed, but not surprised that Elliott Yamin was eliminated. He was definitely my choice for American Idol. I think he has the best voice, and he seems like such as nice guy, though Katherine is really good when she's on. Her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow truly was outstanding, and that's why she made it to the finals. Her stunning looks don't hurt matters either.

But, I still think Taylor will win. He's just plain popular with most people. His performances on Tuesday were very good. I was pleasantly surprised at the voting. I didn't imagine it would be that close. That should give Elliott some consolation. I congratulate Elliott. I think he was the best performer week in and week out. His mother should be very proud. Paula was in tears when the final vote was announced, resulting in Elliott's departure.

Salary woes
I made a big mistake last week. All of the salaries of University of Maryland employees are published in the university's newspaper, the Diamondback -- and I read them!. I now know what all my peers make. I've got a good memory, so every time I see a colleague I'm going to think about their salary and compare it to mine. I am very frustrated because I make less money than many who have just started or were hired much later than me. Some don't even have tenure! I've had 18 consecutive years of good evaluations, but what has it gotten me? Nothing! I've held two regional positions, but what has it gotten me? Nothing! I've worked hard for 18 years, but what has it gotten me? Nothing! Mediocre faculty make more money that I do. That's a helluva message the university is sending me.

At the same time, there are faculty members who are more underpaid than me. I feel bad for them, too. I understand how this happens, and I know that life isn't fair, but damn, these are the most important earning years of my life! I'm going to have to work until I'm 88, which by the way is how much my supervisor makes or I thought she made. According to the Diamondback, she makes 88K, but she really makes over 100K, a damn administrator! Administrators sure do take care of themselves, but nobody else! The dean makes 205K.

Missouri
I spent yesterday in Washington County, Pennsylvania, teaching an Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) workshop. It was my 21st such workshop, and it seemed to be well received. It's amazing how long I can talk about worms! This week, I'm off to Missouri to do some goat meetings. It will be one of three trips to Missouri for me this year. Earlier in the year, I had done a meeting "in Missouri" via the polycom system. I go to Missouri so often, I think I'm going to have to buy a St. Louis Rams or Kansas City Royals sweatshirt.

Down to 3

2006-05-11T23:12:00.000-04:00

American Idol is down to three contestants: Elliott Yamin, Taylor Hicks, and Catherine McPhee. Everyone was shocked last night when the rocker Chris Daughtry was eliminated. It didn't surprise me because even though Catherine's previous night's performances should have ousted her (at least according to Simon), I didn't think the public was going to vote for three men. You never know what's going to happen when the public is involved. If Elliott's performances are good next week, Catherine may go then.

I think Taylor Hicks will win the competition. Everybody I talk to seems to like him. It's hard to beat his charisma and playfulness. But my pick is Elliott Yamin. I think he has the best voice and has given the most solid performances throughout the competition. He just continues to get better. Unfortunately, he's kind of goofy looking, though I think he looks much better now, almost sexy, with his goatee.

Catherine is still capable of winning, but she has fluttered recently and seems too nervous to go all the way. I think she was shocked when it was Chris, and not her, who was voted off. The announcement by Ryan Seacrest was very abrupt, as shocking as the actual news. Chris was obviously surprised, and I'm sure very disappointed. Paula was in tears. They are all good. It is sad to see any of them eliminated after they have come so far. Like Parris and Kelly before him, Chris will likely find success in the music business. My problem was I didn't always like the kind of music he sang, though he did a good job with the Elvis songs and the Keith Urban song.

I think it would be kind of fun to see the Idols in concert this summer. I doubt I will, so I guess I'll have to settle for their CD, due out in another week or so.

Fat and Red

2006-05-02T18:38:00.000-04:00

Clover, the goat, finally had her babies. Triplets, this morning. Two does and a buck. Two red kids and a small white kid with traditional Boer markings. These will be my last baby goats. That I will miss. Here's a shot of the two red babies.

The fat ewe's lambs were big at birth. The male weighed 10 lbs. The ewe weighed 11.75 lbs. The male keeps getting out of the pen. Every night when I come home, I have to put him back in with his mom.

Peter was weaned a few days ago, at seven weeks of age. He's doing fine. I'm sure going to miss him when he goes to his new home.

Keeping with the fat and red theme today, here's a picture of George. He's not red, but he's fat. Now that the fat ewe has lambed, he has regained his title as fattest one in the flock. He can't help it. All he does is eat, and I can't get him to exercise. He doesn't even get to go to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival this year. He's retired. Retired at 4, what a life!

The fat lady sings

2006-04-26T20:46:00.000-04:00

I had a pleasant surprise this morning when I went out to feed the sheep. The fat ewe had given birth to twin lambs, a ram and a ewe. They are colorful. The female is red and the male is red and white. They are doing fine. I will keep the fat ewe, now.

We took our administrative assistants out for lunch today at Cracker Barrel. It was nice. There was 11 of us. Afterwards, I had a doctor's appointment in Hancock.

I got home early and cut grass. I'll probably have to cut it in another week. Afterwards, I took Zak for a run/walk. I'm going to try to do that every day. He enjoys it, and I need the exercise. Actually, he needs the exercise, too. He's a bit chunky.

This year, I'm hooked on American Idol. I never watched it in previous years, but decided to give it a try this year. I've enjoyed it immensely. There are six contestants left and all are good. It's hard to say who will win. I'm not even sure I care who wins. Anyone of them could and would be worthy of the title. I'm sure all will get contracts doing something in the entertainment field.

Last night, the judges, even Randy and Paula were kind of mean. They liked Elliot. I think his performance was the best of the night. They liked Chris. I didn't care for his performance much. They thought Paris gave the best female performance. She was okay, but I preferred Catherine, who they didn't like last night. She sang Whitney Houston's "I've have nothing." I thought she sang it well and is the most talented and versatile in the group. Kelly didn't give her greatest performance -- her song was boring -- but I thought the judges were hard on her. It's obvious they don't like country music. Simon's even admitted it. The judges didn't care for Taylor's performance either. I didn't think it was one his best efforts, but I don't think he'll be voted off yet.

Who will go tonight? Kelly? Paris? It's hard to say. It could be any of them. I tried to vote for Elliot last night, but couldn't get through on the phone lines. Apparently, it was an all-time record vote.

. . . Kelly got voted off. Then, there were five.

Frolicking Lambs

2006-04-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Nothing makes it seem more like spring than seeing lambs frolicking in the field. Here are some pictures. But, they're not frolicking. Did you ever try to take pictures of frolicking lambs? I wanted to get a picture of Peter, the bottle lamb, but forget that. He's always on my heels, and when I try to take pictures of other lambs, he hits me looking for milk. So, I've got a lot of blurry pictures of lambs. These aren't so bad.

#18 and one of her triplets (I might keep this lamb).

One of the yearlings with her twin lambs, their first day outside.

The Proud Papas (Hurricane and Bull's Eye) and George

Still waiting for the goat and fat ewe to have their babies. It could be as long as a month. I think the goat will kid sooner, but who knows. The babies will come out when they are ready.

Downsizing

2006-04-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

Wow. It's been awhile since my last post. The lambs seem to be doing well. Peter is 6 weeks old today and can be weaned anytime from the bottle. I still offer a few of the yearlings' lambs a bottle once a day. The black yearling (#536) gave birth to a solid black ram lamb a week or so ago. I dubbed him Jet. Clover, the Boer x Alpine doe, has still not had her kids. Her daughters are not likely pregnant. One yearling sheep, the young one, doesn't look pregnant either. I think the fat ewe is pregnant, with at least two lambs, maybe three.

I've decided to cut my flock back to somewhere between 25 and 30 ewes. I am getting rid of the goats because they complicate my management. There are times when I need to separate them, which creates additional work. They get into the creep area which infuriates me. It's amazing how they get through the small openings, but they do. It's like Santa Clause going down the chimney.

I'm having a hard time deciding who to get rid of. I started with 40. If I substract the four goats, that leaves 36. One ewe died. That leaves 35. Two ewes need to be culled. That brings me down to 33. Peter's mother, the ewe that prolapsed, and the fat ewe, that hasn't had any lambs, should probably go, though if the fat ewe lambs, I'll probably keep her since she's only 3 and is registered. Otherwise, that would put me at 31. The rest of the ewes have all been productive and problem-free, so the decisions become more difficult.

A smaller flock will make management easier. Though I have a nice hoop house, I really don't have enough space during lambing or enough space to store hay. I also have only 7 acres of pasture. 40 is too many for that resource.

I received cost-share from NRCS and will be having a heavy-use area and concrete pad for manure storage installed at one end of the hoop house. I may do something similar at the other end of the hoop house, but other than that I don't plan to spend any more money on my facilities.

I think my flock will be more productive if I do a better job matching my resources. It will also be more enjoyable. We always want more animals -- it's human nature -- but we'd probablly all do better with less. I'm going to take my own advice.

Finally, we've been getting some rain. It's been raining all weekend. The grass is green and primed to grow. It just needs some moisture. This should do the trick.

Young Mothers II

2006-03-30T00:13:00.000-05:00

I just returned from my late night feeding of the lambs. I have four yearling moms raising twin lambs. I'm supplementing four of the lambs. Another yearling is raising her lambs on her own. One that could use a little bottle feeding, by the looks of him -- I call him "bones" -- refuses to take any milk. Another yearling has enough milk for twins, but is still rejecting one of her lambs. I keep her in a head stanchion most of the time.

Peter is doing well. He woofs down his milk three times a day. It will soon be time to go to a twice a day feeding. There are two more yearlings to lamb. They are younger and I'm hoping that they'll have singles sometime in April. I'm in no hurry. I hope they're not either. The goat (Clover) is definitely pregnant. I'm not sure about her daughters, "Thelma" and "Louise." Who knows about the fat ewe.

Spring has finally arrived, and I let the lambs spend their days outdoors. They have a blast running and playing. Sometimes, the goats join in their "reindeer" games. Goat kids are pretty docile for the first few weeks of their lives, spending most of their time under the feeders. I'll miss having baby goats in the future.

Young Mothers

2006-03-23T19:41:00.000-05:00

Two yearling ewes (#'s 517 and 526) gave birth to twins recently. Both are good mothers, but neither has a lot of milk (yet). I'm supplementing the lambs, bottle feeding the first set of twins and tube feeding the younger set, born this morning. I still have four more yearlings to go. Two are bagging up. The other two are younger and not showing any signs yet. My two goat yearlings aren't showing any signs of impending motherhood either. Their mom hasn't kidded yet, but is definitely pregnant. Perhaps, she kept the young billy away from her daughters. Damn goat!

I've decided to get rid of my goats. I've only got four, plus their babies (so far, only two of them). I need to reduce my flock to 30. I had exposed 40 for breeding: 36 ewes and 4 does. 40 is too many for my hoop house. I don't really have enough room to handle them during lambing and kidding. 40 is too many for my seven acres of pasture. The goats don't like my pasture anyhow; it doesn't contain much browse. Since the goats require more effort and don't produce as much income, they will go. I'll miss having goats, but I won't miss some of their antics. I prefer sheep.

The lambs are looking good and doing well. The ewe that prolapsed her uterus is doing okay. She is eating. I think she is going to make it. Unfortunately, too much time has passed for her to take her lamb (Peter) back. The black ewe that had the c-section is doing well. Her lambs are doing great. Tomorrow, her stitches come out. I already have a buyer for her black ram lamb, so the c-section was definitely worth the cost, not to mention it was the right thing to do for the ewe and her lambs.

Peter (the Great), the bottle lamb, is driving me crazy. He follows me everywhere. He goes through gates to get to me. I can't go through doors anymore because he is on my heels, through the gates before I have a chance to close them. He jumps around on the hay. He's not afraid of McComb. He's a hearty eater. Soon, it will be time to reduce his bottle feedings to 3 a day. He's solid, doing well. I can't decide whether or not to castrate him. If he's a wether, I might be able to sell him as a pet or grazer. With his genetics, I think he might grow into a nice breeding ram.

I love pictures

2006-03-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

I lost a ewe and her lambs today, #77, a ewe I called Tubby. One of my original Katahdins. But, I don't want to dwell on the negative. I want to show some more baby lamb pictures. So, here they are!

One of the twin goats.

The first lamb born.

Lamb being born.

Beautiful black lamb
(born via c-section)

Ugly and Beautiful

2006-03-16T14:23:00.000-05:00

When you raise livestock, it is amazing how quickly things can change from beautiful to ugly and back to beautiful again. For me, lambing time can be an emotional roller coaster that sometimes goes from beautiful to ugly, back to beautiful again.

#325 had had a difficult delivery. Her first lamb had died inside of her. But after her second two lambs were delivered, she seemed fine. She was eating well and taking care of her lambs. My only concern was that she had not fully passed her afterbirth. She was receiving antibiotics and that was supposed to take care of it, but it didn't. About 36 hours after her lambs were delivered, she prolapsed her uterus. A prolapsed uterus is one of the ugliest experiences you can have raising sheep. It an emergency, often fatal condition. With my dad holding her, I tried valiantly to put her uterus back inside of her. But I failed. It's like putting something the size of a small football back through a small hole, while the ewe keeps pushing to keep it out. I called a vet. Though he also had a difficult time, he was eventually able to get it back in. He put in a stitch to hold it in, and so far it has held. She is still alive, but not yet thriving. She had crushed one of her lambs, so I removed the remaining lamb and am feeding him with a bottle. I have dubbed him Peter (the Great). He's pictured above.

While the vet was here, I asked him to look at another ewe that was worrying me. #22 is a small black ewe. She had been straining for several days. She was very, very swollen from behind. Based on her condition, I didn't see how she was going to be able to deliver her lambs successfully. I knew the lambs were full term, so I suggested a caesarian section. The vet came back in a few hours and performed a c-section on her. He removed two very large lambs from her. One black (ram) and one white (ewe). They were active, healthy, robust lambs. I tubed them for several feedings, until their mother woke up. She is now raising them. The little family seems to be doing fine. I characterize a c-section as beautiful. The birth of any animal is beautiful. A c-section is a way to bring life when circumstances seem to want to prevent it.

Several more healthy sets of twins have also been born since my last posting. All of the pairs have been split, with one ram and one ewe. There are three mature ewes that have yet to deliver. I'm not sure if one is pregnant. She is sooooo fat! Though she looks pregnant, she doesn't appear to be bagging up. I call her George's fat friend. I am hoping that she will have lambs. Otherwise, it's off to the mutton factory for her. George is the only sheep that's allowed to be unproductive.

The first goats were born. #29 (the nice goat) gave birth quicker than I'd ever seen any animal give birth. Plop, plop, there they were. Twins, one doe and one buck, screaming their little lungs out. Three more goats to go, along with six young yearling ewes. I hope they are all pregnant and there are no more problems. I'm opting for beautiful.

Spring is for lambing

2006-03-13T15:04:00.000-05:00

I truly have lost count of the number of lambs that have been born (still no goat kids!). I believe there is one lamb over a 200 percent lamb crop, so I guess all I have to do is count the number of ewes that have lambed and multiply by two (and add one).

While it started out as a dreary, foggy day, it turned into a beautiful spring day, quite fit for lambs to be born. In fact, having lambs born out on pasture makes spring seem that much closer.

Three sets of twin lambs were born today, two split sets and a pair of ram lambs. The dams are all old, standby ewes: #'s 01, 92, and 90. #92 is my flock builder. I will probably keep her ewe lamb. #01 has also been a really good producer. She raised triplet lambs the previous two years. I guess she deserves a break this year.

Over the weekend, three sets of triplets came into the world, along with a set of twins. The first set of triplets were waiting for me when I got home from the hay auction (without any hay). It was #10's third set of triplets in as many years. I guess I should keep one of her ewe lambs.

The second two sets required assistance. Freckles (#49) had acted goofy the whole day, then labored for a few hours in the evening without any progress. When I investigated, I discovered the problem: a breech baby was blocking the way. I ended up losing the breech baby. He was delivered alive, but must have been deprived of oxygen, because he died shortly after birth. The other two lambs -- a ewe and ram -- are doing fine. It will be the first time in long while that Freckles is not raising triplets. I'll still give her special atttention.

Another ewe, #325, also labored too long without any progress. She was only partially dilated and had a malpresented baby blocking the way for its siblings. This lamb had died in utero. Once it was removed, the other two lambs could be delivered. They are big boys: one tan, one white! The ewe has not totally passed her afterbirth, so I am a little worried about her. I wonder what causes babies not be be presented right for birth.

One of my black ewes (#454) delivered a colorful, mixed set of twins. The male is red, while the female is spotted, as shown.

***

The March wind roars
Like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.

When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here.

Author Unknown

NAIS is Baaaad!

2006-03-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

The Baalands opposes the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The sheep oppose it because they don't want any more holes in their ears or a microchip injected under their tail (talk about an invasion of privacy!). The goats oppose it because they're goats; and well, they oppose everything.

Everyone who values freedom should oppose NAIS. It goes against the core values on which this country was founded. NAIS is a large-scale, unprecedented surveillance by the U.S. government of citizens simply because they own a certain type of property. It is an invasion of privacy and an attack on personal property rights. Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves.

The rationale behind NAIS is to safeguard the American food supply and control foreign animal diseases by being able to determine the origin of an animal disease within 48 hours, i.e. the infamous 48-hour traceback. NAIS does nothing to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases either by accident or acts of bio-terrorism. It does nothing to prevent foodborne illnesses. Seems to me, all a 48-hour trace back will do is place the blame on farmers and give Uncle Sam the right to seize private property. Remember the Vermont sheep that were confiscated five years ago because four sheep tested positive for an undifferentiated TSE? If USDA was so concerned about these sheep (and the risk they posed to public health), how come it has never conducted any tests to determine what, if anything, the sheep had? Five years!!!!!!

NAIS is already costing the American public millions and millions of dollars. If we really cared about food safety, wouldn't it make more sense to spend our valuable resources on more food safety inspectors? Most contamination of meat occurs at the plant level, not at the farm. The biggest criticism pertaining to BSE is lack of surveillance, not whether or not cows have proper ID. In my own state, we lack adequate animal disease diagnostics. What's the point in putting a microchip in an animal, if the state lacks the ability to diagnose diseases in the first place.

NAIS will place an unfair burden on livestock producers, especially small producers. Producers will have to pay for ear tags or other identification methods for their livestock. The burden of record keeping will be huge. Every time an animal is born, moved, co-mingled, exhibited, or slaughtered, it will have to be reported. Non-compliance will result in fines. The U.S. government will have the right to come on your property without a court order. Isn't there something about illegal search and seizures in the Bill of Rights?

USDA claims that the public supports NAIS. Of course, they do. You can get John Q. Public to agree to anything if you ask him the right poll question, tell him only part of the story, then restrict his answer to yes or no. I wonder if you told the public that NAIS does nothing to prevent animal diseases, they'd still be for it. Or if you told them that it woud not prevent the most common causes of foodborne illness? How about if you told them that it will increase food prices without providing any benefit to them? Would they still be for it? Wait until you tell them they're going to have to register Fido and Fluffy!

"BIG" agriculture is for NAIS. The major commodity organizations, along with American Farm Bureau, all support NAIS. Why shouldn't they? It benefits big farms by opening potential export markets. As for me, I don't know why we should let foreign countries dictate what we do. If China won't buy our meat unless our livestock are microchipped, then we should stop buying all their cheap merchandise produced by children living under a repressive Communist regime. As for Japan, they want to sell cars, don't they?

There is a valid concern that NAIS will force small and medium sized farms out of business. NAIS definitely favors large farms. Large farms will be able to identify animals in groups whereas small producers will have to identify every lamb and chicken on their farm. Large farms will likely receive tax breaks to implement NAIS. Small producers will be left to foot the entire bill. NAIS also favors large companies. I worry about the effect NAIS will have on small meat processing plants and livestock auctions. It seems everything the government does results in larger farms and firms.

A legitimate concern of all producers is the confidentiality of the data. Farmers are afraid the government will use the data against them: "This farmer has 100 cows, I think he should show more income on his tax form. Let's audit him." Producers don't want terrorist animal rights organizations like PETA to get a hold of the data, which will be linked to GPS coordinates. There's this thing called "freedom of information." The government claims that won't happen. How many times has it happened already?! It doesn't matter whether the data is released by accident or on purpose. The result is the same.

There is a one consolation. NAIS is a HUGE undertaking. The U.S. government probably can't pull it off. There is already a mandatory identification program (for scrapie) in the sheep and goat industry. The sheep and goat industry is very small, yet the government has managed this program very poorly, never fully funding it. Oh, did I mention? They give producers the ear tags! Otherwise, many producers wouldn't comply.

Stop NAIS!

NoNAIS.org
StopAnimalID.org
No Mandatory Animal ID

Baby Update

2006-03-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

At last count, I think there are 27 lambs. No kids yet. There was a run of ten straight ram lambs. Today was a rough day. #81, who I was very worried about, started to deliver. I pulled the first lamb out. It was a good-size, healthy ewe lamb. The next lamb had his head turn back. I pushed him back in before delivering him. He was dead. A third lamb also had its head back. Ditto. He was dead. #81 is eight years old. She's had 9 lambs in her previous 3 lambings, but only four lambs have been born alive. She will have to go after this year. Her udder is abnormally large, plenty of milk for three lambs. I think I will need to milk her out some. Her lamb should grow like a weed.

The surprise of the week was finding one of the ewe lambs (#520) standing in her pen with a lamb. The ewe lambs aren't due for another couple of weeks. The ram must have snuck in early. She does not have much milk, so I am supplementing her lamb with a bottle. He's red, Bull's Eye's first offspring. I've dubbed him Nicholas. I'm on a Russian theme for this year (for names). Hopefully, she'll be able to raise him with a little help.

One of my best ewes (#24) had triplet ram lambs. I wish I had a flock of ewes like her. She's Pretty's mom. They are together in a pen with their six lambs, along with two other triplet moms. Another nice ewe (#13) also had triplet rams. Another one of my consistent twinners (#100) had a single lamb. At least, it was a ewe lamb. A single ram lamb can't pay a ewe's annual upkeep, unless it is sold for breeding.

Tomorrow, Dad and I are off to the hay auction. One thing's for certain, these sheep sure eat a lot this time of the year.

Happy Birthday

2006-03-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

Today is my 44th birthday. At least, it is for about 20 more minutes. I was planning to write something very witty, talk about the significance of the number 44. But, atlas, the only thing I can relate 44 to is a couple of famous athletes who wore the number: Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, and John Riggens.

Perhaps, I will find more success examining the year of my birth. Besides yours truly entering the world on a snowy March night, some pretty interesting things happened in 1962. Jamaica, Rwanda, Burundi, Algeria, Western Samoa, Uganda, and Trinidad and Tobago all gained their independance. On May 31, Adolf Eichman was hanged in Israel. On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prayers in public schools were unconstitutional. On August 5, Marilyn Monroe was found dead of an apparent drug overdose. On October 1, James Meredith, escorted by federal marshalls, became the first black student to enroll at Mississippi State University. For 13 days in October, the United States and Soviet Union were on the verge of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis came to an end when Nikita Khrushchev announced he would remove his missiles from Cuba. For the first time in 400 years, Neptune and Pluto aligned. President John F. Kennedy declared that the U.S. would have a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

In 1962, the Los Angelos Dodgers won the World Series. The Boston Celtics beat the L.A. Lakers 4-3 in the NBA finals. The Houston Oilers and New York Giants were football champions. The first Superbowl wasn't played until 1967. NCAA champions were Cincinnati for basketball and USC for football. Brazil beat Czechoslovakia to win the World Cup. There was no triple crown winner in my birth year.

In the world of entertainment, movie releases included Lawrence of Arabia, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Manchurian Candidate, and Divorce-Italian Style. West Side Story captured the Oscar for Best Picture. Moon River (by Henry Mancini) won Grammy awards for both song and record of the year.

Famous people who share my year of birth include Garth Brooks, Jon Bon Jovi, Clint Black, Matthew Brodderick, Tom Cruise, Jodie Foster, Roger Clemens, John Stockton, Doug Flutie, and Jerry Rice. Famous deaths include William Faulkner, Ernie Kovacs, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

I suppose birthdays are a time for reflection, about where we are, where we've been, and where we want to be. I'm pretty content with all those places. My to-do list still includes traveling to Paris, riding a mule down into the Grand Canyon, riding an elephant (but not down into the Grand Canyon), and jumping out of an airplane (but not over the Grand Canyon).

To quote a Tim McGraw song, "I think I'll take a moment and celebrate my age . . . My next thirty years will be the best years of my life."

* * * * *

During the previous 24 hours, one set of twins was born. Double ewe lambs: a red lamb, with a white head and white tail; and a white lamb. The dam was #15. It's a bit of a relief that she delivered. For the past two years, she has prolapsed her vagina before lambing. I was thinking that if she did it again this year I should mark her for culling. Last week, her vagina crept out a few of times, but nothing so serious to require action on my part. I'll keep her around for another year. She's got a big udder and is a good mother. A ewe with a very nice disposition.

No ewes delivered today. Of course not! It was my day off! There was a ewe (#100) that had previously lambed on my birthday three times. She broke the string last year. Otherwise, I was going to suggest her for the Guinness Book of records.

Max and Zak

2006-03-03T22:59:00.000-05:00

Here are a few shots of Max and Zak, one minute playing, the next minute cuddling.

Four more

2006-03-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

A set of triplets (#18) and a single lamb (#50) were born today. Three ewes and a ram. The triplets are multi-colored: a white ewe lamb, a red ewe lamb, and a roan ram lamb. All are doing fine. #18 is one of my best ewes. She has had 11 lambs in 4 lambings. #50 has been a good ewe, too. Prior to this year, she raised four sets of twins. Dad had six lambs born today: 1 single, a set of twins, and a set of triplets. Unfortunately, most of them were rams.

A better start

2006-03-02T15:09:00.000-05:00

#461 a.k.a. "Pretty" gave birth to triplets while I was at work. Two ewes and a ram. They are fine. She is a good mother. They are up and nursing. I was a little bit worried about Pretty because last year she only produced milk from one side of her udder. Both sides seem to be working fine. Pretty continues the outstanding legacy of her mother (#24) and her grandmother (#92), one of my original ewes.

Three ewes are hovering like vultures. They'd steal Pretty's babies, if they could. One ewe is pawing the ground. Perhaps, she will deliver this afternoon. I'll check back soon.

These are Hurricane's first babies, so any doubts that he wasn't active have been put to rest. Last night's lamb belongs to Caesar. Bull's Eye still awaits the birth of his first offspring.

A bad start

2006-03-02T00:11:00.000-05:00

It is not a good start to lambing season. A ewe (#309) had triplet lambs, but only one is alive. A small lamb appeared to be cleaned off, but perhaps was trampled by the other sheep. A larger lamb was born dead. True to form, one of the older ewes (#81) tried to steal the lamb. In fact, I orginally penned her with the lamb, until I noticed another ewe was interested in the lamb and had a discharge from her vagina.

It is always discouraging to start this way, though invariably problems occur early in the lambing season. I know that there will be many healthy sets of twins and triplets, but it is hard to get past this first delivery that only resulted in 1 live birth out of 3. It is especially frustrating because you seldom know the cause of still births. I had taken added precautions by including antibiotics in the grain. So much for that.

It would be nice, if tomorrow morning, there were a healthy set of twin or triplet lambs (or kids) waiting for me. I've got my fingers crossed. Max is hoping, too.

"Humane" education bullshit

2006-03-01T23:14:00.000-05:00

I received a solicitiation in the mail today from the National Humane Education Society, based in Charlestown, West Virginia. I received some cute wrapping paper and gift tags. The enclosed literature told a heart-wrenching story about two mistreated pets, Sandy and Miracle. Who's heart strings wouldn't be tugged a bit after reading their stories. Get out your check books.

Being the untrusting person that I am, I thought, "What are these people going to do with my money?" So, I visited their web site and read their various position statements. My mouse immediately clicked on the articles that relate to my industry: agriculture. These people described "normal" agriculture as "factory farming." Whoever coined the term factory farming ought to get a commission every time this term is tossed out. The web site claimed that "most" food animals are confined in restrictive, dark areas. Another article claimed that animals are slowly bled to death during slaughter. According to the web site, farms do not provide animals adequate water, food, shelter, or veterinary attention. I just wonder how many farmers have figured out how to stay in business by depriving animals of these basic needs. The reality is: more pigs are vaccinated than children! Farm animals consume more balanced diets than people!

I'll bet the founder of this organization doesn't realize that the National Organic Standards don't allow sick animals to be properly treated: no antibiotics (even if the animal has a fever or life-threatening disease), no anti-parasitic drugs (even if the animal is severaly parasitized and is going to die), nothing to prevent coccidiosis, a deadly diarrheal disease. Let's by all means keep animals outside, so predators can eat them, they can eat poisonous plants, and bloat on legumous plants. The reality is: animals outside have just as many perils as those in confinement. I know where my sheep go when the weather turns foul. The goats won't even tolerate one drop of rain!

Everybody has a right to their opinions, even if they are based on emotion and ignorance. What I hate is when these organizations mislead the public by not revealing their true agenda. In the case of animals rights organizations like the National Humane Education Society, the agenda is the abolishment of animals for food, entertainment, medical research, hunting, and countless other uses that the vast majority of Americans find acceptable. Kind-hearted people who love their dogs and cats will open their check books without realizing how their money is being spent.

All I ask is that organizations such as these lay their cards on the table. Reveal their true intentions and stop misleading the American public. Solicit donations honestly. If people share their vision, they will send money. Of course, the risk is they won't send money because they don't support the full animal rights agenda. I used to boast to my family that if I ever had a lot of money I'd donate it to spay and neuter dogs and cats. In reality, I wouldn't. Because most of the organizations that advocate spaying and neutering pets use this popular cause to cover up their larger animal rights agenda that seeks to abolish the use of animals for any purpose.

My other pet peave is that donations to these "politically-minded" organziations are tax-deductable. I think I need to write to my congressional delegation to voice my opinion on this tax loop-hole.

Enough said for now. It's almost midnight. I need to go out to my barn to check on my pregnant sheep and goats. Of course, being a "factory farmer," I don't provide them any food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. I guess I won't give "Freckles" her twice daily treat anymore!

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." -- Genesis 1:26

Jefferson on Religion

2006-02-27T23:53:00.000-05:00

"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. " -- Thomas Jefferson

Well said.

Baby pictures

2006-02-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

I found Max in a tree, as if he'd been dropped from the heavens. After I rescued him, he folllowed me around. It didn't take very long to realize I was going to keep him. I fed him outside for awhile, bringing him into the house only for a few hours each night. It wasn't until he broke his leg, that he became a permanent resident of the house. On nice days, he still goes outside. He sleeps on my bed at night.

Zak was the runt of the litter. He weighed only 2 1/2 pounds when I got him last April. He was so small that I called him a "puppling." My parents thought he looked like a skunk! As a pup, he definitely favored Border Collie, but as he's grown, he looks more like his sire, a Tibetan Mastif. Zak's just the right size dog, about 50 to 60 pounds.

McComb takes his name from McComb, Mississippi, where I got him. He was a gift from Katahdin Hair Sheep International. McComb was a sweet puppy. A year and a half later, he's a sweet dog, a gentle giant who stays with the sheep and goats, but craves human attention. I think he was the most beautiful puppy I ever saw. Now, he's simply magnificant, tipping the scales at around 110 lbs. He and Zak are good buddies.

When I moved to my farm, I owned one cat. That spring, I had as many as 9. A cat had a litter of kittens in my garage. I let her raise the kittens and found homes for them, but she was wild, so I took her to the Humane Society. Before Max moved in, Barney had already taken up residence in the barn. Max and Barney get along okay. Barney's not too fond of Zak, especially since he eats his food all the time. McComb doesn't bother him . . . or his food.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -- Anatole France

My first post

2006-02-26T23:24:00.000-05:00

This is the first post to my new blog. A few days ago, I didn't even know what a blog was. I reckon it's a place where you can create a personal diary that the rest of the world can see (and read!). I guess I'll use it to express thoughts (and ramblings) about my life, hopes, dreams, likes, and dislikes.

The Baalands is the name of my farm. I own 8.2 acres of land in Western Maryland. I keep a flock of sheep and goats, which are due to start having babies tomorrow. I'll probably post some pictures of them to this blog. In addition to the farm livestock, I have two dogs and two cats. One dog named McComb is a Great Pyrenees guardian dog. He lives with the sheep and goats. He serves as their protector. The other dog is named Zak. He's a year old and still all-puppy. He's a cross between a Border Collie and a Tibetan Mastif (oops!). In other words, he doesn't know whether to herd the sheep or protect them. Actually, he does neither. He's just my buddy.

"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul." -- Jean Cocteau

I would definitely fit the definition of a "cat person." I absolutely love cats. I guess I'm attracted to their deviousness. I have two. Max is almost 3 years old. He's an orange tabby, with some Persian mixed in. My family calls him my $500 cat, because a couple of years ago he broke his leg and had to have a pin inserted into it. The surgery wasn't cheap! The pin was never removed, so he's got one leg that is longer than the other. I tell people he goosesteps like a Nazi! It's really funny to watch him, especially when he goes up and down steps and puts his back leg out to the side like a propeller. Actually, he gets around rather well. The other cat (also an orange tabby) lives in my barn. It showed up one day and I decided to let it stay. I thought it was a male cat (I used to not be able to catch it) since it never had kittens (or had any gentlemen suitors), but as it turned out it was a female. Too bad 'cause I had already named "him" Barney.

2005 wasn't a good year for my pets. It was down right sad. My dog, Sly, a Black Lab-German Shepherd mix was killed by a car in February. She was only 6. Zak was her "replacement." My cat Rex (another orange tabby) was put to sleep during cancer surgery in August. He was 14 years old. No replacement for him. I wouldn't mind getting another cat to live in the house. Cats make a home all warm and fuzzy (literally!).

All my life, I've loved animals. People, I could take or leave, but animals I've always loved. Everybody thought I'd grow up to be a veterinarian. I even worked at vet hospitals to pay my way through college. But, ultimately I chose a career working with farm livestock. I really love sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and rabbits. I like raising 'em, teaching people about 'em, and even eating 'em! I work for Maryland Cooperative Extension (University of Maryland). I've been with the university for almost 18 years, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I got my dream job -- to be a sheep and goat specialist.