Wednesday, May 04, 2011

The things you learn...

First, before anything else, thank you all for your thoughts and support.  I know in my head it was the best thing to get rid of a potentially diseased chicken, for the benifit of the others, but that doesn't make the heart feel better... Anyway.

I am trying to get myself into my book, as in, actually researching and WRITING it.  To wit, I have been finding out a lot about cattle brands in Oregon.  This is a relatively minor point in my book, but I want to make sure that I don't 'step on toes' if I put a specific brand.  So, what do you do when you want to use a brand?  You email the Oregon Department of Animal Health, and ask! 

I didn't know if I would get a response, but I did. (Same day, even!)  Turns out the brand I had planned on using was already taken, but presently expired. (You have to pay to continue to use a brand.)  The gal, bless her, said that since this would be for writing, and not actually attatching said brand to a cow that I own, that I should contact the Secretary of State, because she thinks it would more a matter of copyright ownership, rather than a brand, per se.  So, I have an email to the Secretary of State, we shall see...

The goofy permutations of what I thought would be a simple question!

Aaaannnd, scale day.  Ok, I am up a pound. MY FAULT.  Been nibbling too much, not salt, just nibbling.  So I need to knock that off!  (Whack!)  Anyway, on the plus side, so to speak, I have been decreasing the time I take to do my 7 rounds from an hour and a half to just over 50 minutes, and I am thinking of adding one more round, for 8. 

Rudee may not appriciate this.  He is getting to the point, he is just not excited after 6 rounds.  I am not sure how to deal with him.  He's not a young dog, so I suppose it might be that.  But right now, I think it's that "Yoo hoo, I got winter coat and it's too dang warm" syndrome.  He is a trooper, and I am trying to brush him, so hopefully he won't have too much problem. 

But dang, it is so hard to brush a wiggle!

2 comments:

messymimi said...

It is hard to brush a wiggle, and just as hard to brush a cat that wants to head butt the comb the whole time, not to mention the one that doesn't want brushing and tries to run away the whole time.

Is there a way to add a round and just get Rudee to stay in the house for it? Maybe do two rounds first, then come back and get him?

As for the brand, some people say it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission on some of these government things.... Hmm. Might not be a good idea for someone who volunteers with deputies to do that.

Dawn said...

Might as well send the WHACK machine over here too. I hate when my doctor notices that small detail. :( Hang in there, every day is a new day. :)