Greetings and good morning.

A quick update on Ziggy:

When I went to a seminar Thursday, there were two vets there so, after their presentations, I had a chance to speak with one of them. Based on that conversation and all the research I've done in the past month, I called my vet yesterday to arrange for him to come out and start some blood work. The test I'm most interested in is a fasting insulin test, done 10-12 hours after his last meal. I also asked him to run a full panel to check liver, kidneys and anything else he may want to look at. Ziggy seems to be feeling ok, making slow progress on getting the weight off of him. He only needs to lose about 30 pounds...but he doesn't seem to want to give it up willingly...lol. It will be very interesting to see what comes up in the blood work but he does have several markers for being insulin resistant... unusual fat pocket on the crest of his neck, seems to pee quite a bit more than Bokay and wolfs down his hay like he's starving when his body fat says otherwise. IR is treated with diet and supplements, which I'm already doing at the low end until we confirm he has it. I can go higher with the supplements but I just don't want to until we run the blood work incase there's something else going on that would make the supplements counter-productive.

Gotta zoom.......another long day ahead.

XXOO

Hi Patty,

While we were walking around the grounds of the Acapulco Princess we came to the area where the horses that people ride were relaxing in the shade. I immediately thought of you and Bonnie and the other horse lovers here. Now I know sometimes horses available for public riding are not treated right, but these all looked happy and since I know nothing about horses, except to say, "Hey, that's a horse" I made my husband take a picture! I was glad I saw them because they reminded me of you ladies. So, just for the horse lovers, here they are:

Horses at the Acapulco Princess



Patricia

Oooh la la, be still my heart! What I wouldn't give to go riding along the beach there in the background. Thanks Patricia...I'll be dreaming all day...while the temp barely makes it to 40 degrees here in Virginia.

Actually got out the heated buckets last night, good thing too..the outside tubs had a half inch of ice in them this morning. I am soooooo not ready for cold weather. Unless of course I can find some volunteers to help me build an outdoor ice rink to skate on this winter?

OK....let's see....4 Motrin, cup of tea, oatmeal cookies...will that touch my aching head?

What a day, 3 strikes and it's only 4:00.

My day started out with the vet.......Ziggy, was not a good boy. Dr. Lee couldn't get the twitch on him until the helper walked away...there's something about that second person that stiffens him right up. He got the blood he needed, we'll know some of the results tomorrow, the rest next week. The problem is that Ziggy has learned what a twitch is and I can't count on it for Spring shots so, I'm back to square one what to do with a horse terrified of needles.

OK, vet's gone, time for breakfast then head for bank, farm store and groceries. Bank-check, farm store-check, go to leave farm store, breaks failed on the vette while I was pulling out of my parking space. I got it stopped but holy cow, that was scary......I was on a hill facing the store with 15 feet to go. Fortunately, there was an auto parts store nearby so one of the fellas got it into a parking space that a tow truck could work with and he knew when he got out of it what was wrong...power break assist went out. All's I could think of at the time was the cars years ago that would jump into gear and not stop inspite of breaking...like it became it's own beast. Yup, it scared me. Car was towed home, parts are ordered.

And if that wasn't enough......a very important county court case involving illegal activity by 4 newly elected supervisors was thrown out. I had no connection with it other than knowing one of their victims, our former county administrator. The judge even threw out signed petitions to oust the famous 4 saying they weren't done correctly. Not done correctly???? Those who paid to have them prepared sought legal counsel beforehand to make sure they were done right and....legal! What a farce, reminds me of when a landfill for out of state trash was crammed down our throats. Days and nights went into petitions to stop that and when it got to court....the paid off notary stood up and said to the judge that she didn't remember swearing in the person who initiated the petitions. It was a lost cause from that point on.......you can't fight big money no how...no matter how right the people/person is whose fighting it. I wasn't involved with either but I knew the hard working and honest people who were.

So here I sit, tea is gone but the 4 Motrin are giving it a try. Maybe I should go read a book or something...lol.

Signing off bewildered..............

Greetings and good Sunday to all.

I wanted to come by to visit with all of you today just in case we are in for a rollar coaster surprise tomorrow with the launching of Yanni Voices. Last I heard, we'll still be here but at this point, I'll feel better when I see it.

I know it has been a hectic time for everyone lately, not much time to walk on the beach, especially considering the cold weather. My work days are lasting about 10 hours, even with an extra day thrown in there to get thru the stack.

With all the turmoil in the world...and here on the board, I really wanted to spend some time today just quietly walking the beach and pondering our future. If all goes well, we'll still be here, but if it doesn't, you have been a wonderful group to hang out with, tell jokes and private stories with and to just simply enjoy your company, even when we said nothing at all and just watched the waves break on the shore.

I have come here quietly many times to say prayers for our many members, several facing life threatening obstacles ahead of them. To all of you, you are so deeply inbedded in my heart, I know we will stay in touch one way or another.

As I get ready to head out the door to do some more Christmas shopping, I wanted to leave a brief unpdate on Ziggy's test results: Ziggy is doing fine, great even. His test results did throw a flag for insulin resistance but because I started him on supplements 6 weeks ago or better, the actual fasting blood levels were all normal. He had one reading that was elevated to indicate the IR is there but under control soooooo, what that all means is that he will do just fine on a managed diet. Just like some people seem to gain weight by just looking at food, well in horses they call them "air ferns." Remember the little potted plants that needed nothing to maintain their existance? Ziggy is one of those.

With his supplemental magnesium and chromium, he has actually started to lose weight to the point that I can increase their pasture time...which is where a horse really wants to be. Even this morning as I sat here at the computer, I've watched him and Bokay blur by on their way to the arena while they wait for "pasture time" which right now arrives at 1:30. As the grass dies off, eventually they will get out there by 10:30..as long as I watch his weight and supplements.

With all the things that could have been wrong, IR is something I can manage. Because I caught it early, there was no permanent damage done, a point that means it pays well to always be on alert for any problems. To those of us who have been around horses for many years, we know that our guts are our biggest asset when it comes to watching for flags....we might not be able to point at it right away but our gut tells us to beware...and that's how I caught the IR. Ziggy will be fine because I dragged my bewildered vet out here and told him my gut says to look for a flag....so he did long before it was obvious.

It's time for me to head out the door...but I do so with great hesitation. Will we meet again soon? I hope so.............


((((((((Yanni.Com Message Board))))))))))

XXOO

Thanks Patty for your post, I love reading about your animals. I would like to have just one pet some day. I was just thinking if the YMB goes "away", isn't there some way we could have our own place on this wide open internet? I know we have visited a site or two that ended, but if enough were interested , it would be worth a try. I dont have the know how to start something like that, but it would be worth thinking about. Someone surely could copy all the names and let them know. It would be better than just drifting off in the sunset.I have made too many friends here to just drop off, as I look forward to taking part of this great site. I don't think Yanni would object. Any suggestions? I guess the best thing is just wait, as usual.....

Bluebird, Linda has just such a message board which has been up since our last scare here, and many of us have been enjoying it for some time. Find one of her posts here and in the signature line is a link to her board.

Patricia

Good morning Bluebird and Patricia.

I must admit...when I first got up this morning, I was not able to zoom past the computer...I just had to know..are we or aren't we? I'm thrilled to see we are still here...but, my fingers are still crossed just in case there's a rug pullin before the day is thru.

Yes Bluebird, Patricia is right....Linda started another site months ago after our last scare. Check it out when you have the time, it's nice and I think you'll like it. I don't get there often, having trouble just finding time to eat....but it's always a warm and fuzzy place to go.

Thank you Bluebird for your commplement...I am glad you enjoy my farm stories....I swear I see another Chevy Chase movie brewing like Funny Farm 2, Behind the Willow Tree....lol.

XXOO

Patty, it's always nice to take a walk on the beach with you.

Bluebird, you are already a member of my message board, so if ever you want to come visit, just log in; however, I remain optimistic about our place here. I don't throw in the towel very easily, until I'm forced to.

Now where is my horse? Let's take that sunrise stroll.

Linda can I go too? Our sun is just starting to rise and it is beautiful!