SOME INTERESTING VIDEOS.......!!!

 There is so much interesting stuff on the internet, I learn something new every day.........!!


https://www.facebook.com/spanacharity/videos/10156900125895695/


https://www.facebook.com/878540765638275/videos/1021539531338397/

Couldn't resist........!!

Linda sent this video and I just had to share.  I guess Justin and Pepsi have decided that the adventure of getting in the trailer, camping out, all the other donkeys and people is really fun and exciting...........that running stuff..........not so much.  This is next to last place and last place "racing" to the finish line, after 6 hours to do about 10 miles.  I would imagine Pepsi and Justin aren't as tired as Linda and May......!!!  At least it was still daylight......!!  LOL

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj1CO7qFFTl/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=7pwkpvo2y295

Linda hasn't filled us in on all the gory details yet, so we only know what the pictures and videos show, don't know did Leo and Jill I think her name is finish?  Leo is a racer, so I would think they did pretty good, if she could hang on to him.

Leo and Jill?

 

 We also don't know how Lynn and Loki did.  

Not sure why Justin's crupper is over his tail, hopefully they caught it before the race started

The scenery in Colorado is really gorgeous, lots of history

Not all the race is on nice wide roads

Pretty country, to a desert rat....!!

Thanks to Linda and May for the pictures, it's almost as good as being there, without all that running.!!!   LOL

BOY.......IT'S HOT........AND HUMID.......!!!

Not much going on around here.  We've had clouds the last few days, even had a few sprinkles hit the ground, but mostly just temperatures over 100* and icky, sticky humidity.......!!  Suppose to be this way for the foreseeable future.  The donkeys just stand around in the shade waiting for something to happen.  I would imagine they move around more after dark, although it doesn't cool off until close to midnight.  

John is doing really good with his defibrillator, he says it is less painful every day, which is a good thing.  He goes for a wound check this week and should find out more "dos and don'ts".  He let the donkeys out at bedtime last night.    Doug has been letting them out and he does it like I do, open the gates and let them out.  Of course they feel cheated without the obligatory piece of carrot, that John always gives them.  So I'm sure they appreciate having the "real" crew chief back.....!!

 Here are some more pictures from last week-end, haven't heard anything about how this week-end at Creede went. 

Look at Loki's front feet.......!!

It looks like he is mimicking the way Linda is standing, so funny........!!

Justin looks like a winner, doesn't he?

Justin had no problem jumping that log.......!!

Pepsi and Justin look like they know what they are doing

This hot weather seems to be helping the mesquite beans set and will probably help them ripen quickly.  The day we see any ripe beans on the ground, is the day the donkeys start spending more time in their pens than they spend out.  Last year they had unlimited access to the beans for a couple of weeks before we noticed they were gaining weight.  This year we will be pro-active on how many hours a day they are out and also how much access they will have to Burroland.  They all look pretty good right now, although some of them like Coquette and Jasper, are still carrying too much weight.  

Speaking of Jasper, he has really blossomed, he interacts with the other donkeys, although he and Gus usually hang out together, which is nice.  They both have compromised feet, so they aren't going to be running all over the place.  Gus has never really had a buddy before, he's always liked being around people more than other donkeys.  Jasper loves having people here on tours and usually ends up following them around as they see the other donkeys...........just in case they might like to show him a little more attention along the way.  

He's actually looking pretty good, but if you run your hands between his spine and his ribs, there's still a lot of extra fat there, in fact it makes little hills and valleys.  Don't know that he will ever lose those pones.  He seems satisfied with what we give him to eat and doesn't seem to be overly hungry, which is a good thing, unlike some of the others, Coquette for one and Rosie for another.  Rosie eats wood, she's not a cribber in fact I don't know if I have ever heard of a donkey that cribs.  Rosie seems to like having extra fiber in her diet.  All of the shelters are wood.......except for hers.  She had a wooden one, she also had one made out of wooden pallets.............both gone.  Hers is metal and the garage has metal corners to protect them from her.  The old well house doesn't look too good either, but she had help there, Cheyenne and Lynn the 2 mini jennies decided they'd snack a little too.......!! LOL

I'M BACK........!!!

 

 The Colorado boys practicing their moves.  Pepsi has become quite the little runner, even if he is a  "chunky little monkey"  I don't see his saddle bags disappearing yet, hopefully by the time they bring him back, he will be "slim and trim", although I'm not holding my breath.  At least he will miss mesquite bean season in Arizona...!!

 This could be one reason Pepsi isn't losing weight.  Lynn and Linda think the pasture up there is terrible, BUT....... Pepsi seems to be enjoying it and none of them look like they are wasting away....!!! LOL

 * * * * *

Well that didn't take long.  John had his little defibrillator installed yesterday afternoon, and we were home by before 8pm.  Doug had fed and let the donkeys out at bedtime, so we didn't have to worry about that.  

He said he slept pretty good last night and today is sitting in his recliner waiting for the doctor office to call to see how he is doing.  That isn't his primary reason for waiting for their call.  They gave him a cute little monitor to put on his nightstand, that will download info every morning at 1AM.  Unfortunately there is no cell service in our bedroom, which probably is the reason his little monitor is flashing like crazy to tell him, no service.  So when they call he's going to ask them what happens now?  

People in the city don't understand the lack of service out in the wilds of the country.......!!!  They look almost as confused as when they ask for a cell phone number and we tell them we don't have one.  We actually do have a cell phone, but we never turn it on unless we want to use it, and a lot of times when we turn it on, we have messages that have been on there for days.  So there isn't any reason to give the number to anyone.....!!!  LOL

* * * * * 

Lynn and Linda are racing today in Creede, Colorado in one of the longer burro races, with I assume Loki and Justin.  Not sure if some of the other boys will be racing or not.  Pepsi will hate to miss out I'm sure, he's really taken to this racing business.  

IT TOOK ME AWHILE, BUT I FINALLY FIGURED OUT IT IS ACTUALLY FRIDAY, NOT SATURDAY, SO I DON'T THINK THEY RACE UNTIL TOMORROW......JEESH.....!!

Lynn and Linda with Loki and Justin at the Idaho Springs Race, I think

May, a friend with Pepsi

 

Pepsi's not sure he wants to jump that log

Oh well......might as well try it....!!

The ones that finished

Yea.......I guess there are quite a few that don't finish, although this was only about 5-6 miles.  The Creede race this week-end is about 10 miles......!!!

I guess Lynn was up at 1am "designing" a Justin proof barrier.  Justin got bored and was jumping in and out, in and out of the trailer that was attached to the truck, Lynn and Linda were trying to sleep in..........!!!   I'm really surprised this stopped him, I see weak spots in the design........!!!  LOL

MIGHT BE OUT OF TOUCH FOR AWHILE

John is in congestive heart failure from chemo in 1999 for non-Hodgkins lymphoma a little gift from Agent Orange that keeps on giving.  He worked on the spray birds (C-130's) that drop the stuff, they even used it in a bucket around the perimeter of their base for weed control. He also said the radio equipment he worked on was pink with the stuff when they came back from a flight.  He's often wondered how many of the guys he worked with are still alive.  He has been diagnosed with 3 different cancers since 1999, two of which the VA identifies with Agent Orange.  Or as they call it in civilian circles......Roundup......!!!

Tomorrow they are putting in a defibrillator that will shock his heart if it decides to act funny.  The heart muscle is weak and none of the medication they tried made a difference.  He says he is going to be bionic..........!!!  Gee a month ago he was just fine.....till he went to his cardiologist for an annual checkup......!!!   LOL  The procedure only takes about 45 minutes, they put it under his collar bone, then he's not suppose to do anything for 6 weeks.  I have a feeling that is going to be a LONG 6 weeks.

All of the donkey are doing good right now, we're only doctoring every other day and it's working out good.  Boaz's mouth isn't healed, but the crusader mask is keeping the flies on his mouth, so no re- infestation.  Socks on the legs of all those that need them and the new socks are working out really well, staying up much better than the ones I've used for years...........YEA....!!  

Thanks for the picture Mindy, these masks do make a statement...!!! I had put this picture on the blog earlier but in case someone missed it.  I'm amazed the donkeys don't mind having it down around their mouth at all. 

Haven't heard from our Colorado satellite, Lynn and Linda are suppose to do a burro race this week-end.  I'm pretty sure Loki Joe and Justin are going, not sure about the others.  I hope Lynn starts up in front, if Loki keeps showing interest in running it won't be long before they start getting some top 10 finishes.  

This was the lineup of packsaddles and equipment for the races a couple of weeks ago.  I can see where it would be important to have everything organized, to prevent last minute frantically looking for something. 

Penny seems to be doing OK after her problem getting up the other day.  I guess she just got her legs a little wrong and couldn't get up.  Believe me, I can sympathize.......!!!  LOL

I raced last Saturday night and finished 2nd and the car didn't jump out of gear..........YEA...........!!  If it had I wouldn't have finished 2nd.  LOL  Larry, a good friend and fellow racer, came up with an idea for a rod to drop down behind the gear shift after I shift to 3rd.  There is no way the gear shift can move with the rod there.  At least that's what we all thought, but didn't know for sure until we tried it.  John said he started getting anxious at lap 14 but nothing happened, then lap 15 was OK, so by lap 16 he was pretty confident that I could make it to lap 20 and the finish.  I'm in 5th for points, not sure I will be able to finish the year any higher because of 3 lousy finishes earlier in the year because of the shifting problem.

Meet & Greet, looks like I got tired of standing..... and John found someone to talk to.........LOL

I don't race again until the end of June, which gives my crew chief a chance to recuperate and figure out how disruptive this little thing about the size of a pocket watch below his collar bone is going to be.  He already has heard some do's and dont's, nothing really life changing so far.  Of course they usually wait to tell you the bad stuff until after the surgery, at least that's been my experience...........!! LOL

One good thing I would think is, usually these defibrillators don't get put in until the person has had a heart attack and their heart is damaged.  John's heart isn't damaged, the heart muscle is just weakened from R-CHOP chemo. 

His surgery isn't until 3pm, which means he will have to go all day without eating and drinking after 7am.  I'm sure that will be a fun filled day.........!!!  He's usually not too happy if he doesn't get lunch by 1pm......!!! 

SCARY MORNING...........!!!

We never know what we will find when we go out in the morning.  This morning after the round up for breakfast, Penny and Coquette were missing.  Doug and John went out to look for them, no luck.  John and I both had the same idea Penny was down somewhere and Coquette is so bonded to Penny she would stay with her, even if it was time to eat.  

John went out looking in odd places, I mixed feed and Doug fed.  When I got done, I hopped on the quad and took off for Burroland.  Met John coming in followed by Coquette and Penny.  He said if he had gone on the trail I was coming on with the quad he would have found them the 1st time.  Sure enough Penny was down, her front legs out in front of her and her hind legs both straight out on the same side.  Not a position an equine can get out of very easily.  They have to have their hind legs underneath their body to push up.

He said she had been there awhile, the ground was tore up and her leggings on her front legs were down around her ankles, poor girl.  He said he started to try to get her up and remembered years ago when I tried that with Old Pepper, and he broke my leg when he fell on me.  So he provided vocal encouragement and a little pushing and she finally wobbled up.  From the way it sounds she was laying, I'm really surprised she made it up without ropes and being rolled over.  

When I saw them she was gimping along, but I would imagine laying like that for any length of time, probably made things go to sleep, or compromised blood flow, who knows.  I gave her an Equioxx, was going to give her flavored bute in her mush, BUT, she has a trained palate when it comes to ferreting out meds in food.  Equioxx is pretty benign smelling and I assume taste wise also, so it sneaked in with some animal cracker crumbs..........!!  

Penny is the one that had colic surgery a few years ago, is hunched back, has had a broken jaw and was a fear kicker when we got her.  Certainly made life exciting if you had to work with her although she has really mellowed over the years.  She is the only one that has actually "damaged" Dr. Jeremy, she bit him pretty good early on in their relationship.  Because of her broken jaw it's impossible to even pretend to read her teeth to age her, but she probably hasn't been a "spring" chicken for quite sometime.  We guess late 20's, and although donkeys can live 40-50 years if they have good care, I doubt that Penny ever had good care in her former life, although she obviously is a survivor.  Her behavior was that of a roping donkey, when means her legs are probably arthritic.  She's one that pretty much gets all the animal crackers she can beg for, we figure there hasn't been a lot of treats in her life, so we'll make sure she gets more than her share. 

Hopefully it was just a fluke, but we'll watch her and if she has to be on meds to make it easier for her to move around or get up, no problem, we'll just add her to the list..........!!! LOL

Linda sent some pictures and videos of the burro pack races last week-end.

Waiting for their debut, only Leo the spotted one has ever raced

Linda and Justin, Carrie and Pepsi.  Carrie is a long distance runner, but I think this was her 1st time running with a buddy.  I bet she's hooked, I'm sure it's more fun to run with a buddy than by yourself, even if he doesn't always do what you expect.

Lynn and Loki Joe all ready to go.  Love the orange we can usually pick Lynn out of the crowd. 

Minis are kid magnets

One of the spotted donkeys is one that wins a lot.  Linda said all 5 of these are linked together although they don't race that way.  But it's pretty cool that they are trained to run as a team it would make it easy to exercise them.....!!. 

This is the start of the Georgetown race.........!!! 

https://www.facebook.com/david.carner1966/videos/pcb.10215564561657811/10215564561257801/?type=3&theater

 Looks rather chaotic, but they all seem to get straightened out.  I guess Loki Joe was so excited he bolted at the start from the back and headed for the front.  Linda said he found little holes and ducked and weaved through everyone.  I guess Lynn was hanging on for dear life, and kept saying as they flew thru the pack, "Excuse me, pardon me, coming through-sorry he has no manners.......!!!"  LOL  John and I died laughing when we read about it and said, "that's Joe"......!!  Linda said he was scraping the saddle bags on his way thru, and the noise was freaking him out and making him go faster.  Lynn managed to hang on, Linda said it wouldn't have been much longer before they parted ways, but Loki took a right turn and Lynn got control.  She said Loki Joe was still pumped up and raring to go.   

They said he did outstanding for his first time, now if they can just harness all that energy.......!!! LOL

Lynn can't decide whether Loki is competitive or trying to please the runner, or if he just likes to run.  I can almost guarantee he isn't trying to please the runner, I'm sure that is the farthest thing from his mind.........!!! LOL

Linda said she was training Justin, and Pepsi and Loki didn't want to miss out on the fun.

Hmmm..........MYSTERY SOLVED......!!

A few days ago on this blog , I was wondering why someone would walk up to me and asked me if I was the oldest woman racing or racing in NASCAR .  I'd have a talk with Woody, but, it seems this isn't the 1st time he's used my age as mic chatter when he's calling the races, so it wouldn't do any good.........  For those that don't know how old I am, listen and he'll tell you.........!!!  LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASQimZt6dM

CATCH UP TIME

I haven't forgotten the blog, it seems that time has just gotten away from me, more than usual.  Here's some more pictures Mindy took while she was here. 

I think this is Don Juan "helping" me set up my doctoring kit.  I've told them over and over they aren't much help, but they still insist they are.  Not sure what Doug is doing..........LOL

 Mindy headed home Friday or Saturday and I think she would have stayed longer, but she had something planned that evening.  She really enjoys being with the donkeys. 

Doug took her over to Burroland in the golf cart to see the donkeys in their "natural" habitat.   Looks like they ran into a road block.

You would think BlackJack would be in shade, as dark and  hairy as he is.  Obviously not......!!  He looks like he's asleep.

We spent Memorial Day with our good friends Larry and Terri.  Larry had a brilliant idea on keeping my race car from jumping out of gear.  So while Terri and I visited, the guys worked on the race car, welding and bending, and designing an arm.   I will flip it up against the back of the gear shift, when  I get on the track and am in 3rd gear.  I stay in 3rd gear for the whole race, unless I spin out.  Then I would need to shift back to 1st, but all I will have to do is flip the arm out of the way, do my shifting back to 3rd and flip the arm back against the gear shift.  

The car has been getting harder to start and has been running a little rough when you start it.  Not sure what is going on, but probably better get the backup car up and running in case this one blows up.  As usual I am running for points and so far this year the shifter problem has REALLY been discouraging.  I'm in 5th for points, but I'd really rather be higher than that...............LOL

Lynn called last night to tell us Linda is composing a long e-mail to tell us about the 1st two burro races for Loki Joe, Justin and Pepsi and how they went.  So he wouldn't give us much information except that all 3 of the boys did good, said he didn't want to ruin Linda's e-mail.  

Saturday they ran at Georgetown, about 8 or 9 miles.  Lynn said Loki Joe was a little distracted and hadn't figured out that the plan was to run........forward.........!!!!  Linda was running with Justin and Pepsi was running with a woman they know.  He did say Justin didn't want to pass Pepsi.  As "sturdy" as Pepsi is, I'm surprised he will even run for miles...........LOL Hopefully, he should be less "sturdy" when they come back in the fall, he will be getting a lot more exercise than he gets down here.

Sunday they raced at Idaho Springs, about 5 or 6 miles.  Lynn said Loki Joe figured how what they were suppose to do and  focused on running  much better than the day before.  

These are some pictures Linda sent of them just hanging out with the donkeys.

Lynn hanging out with Loki Joe, Pepsi and Justin

I think that's Pepsi on the left and I know that is Quilla on the right...!!

I know that's Linda, but not sure who her buddy is.  It's probably Justin, but the camera angle makes him look like a big guy.

Quilla is such a lovebug, he soaks up all the attention he can get.

This is Pooh Bear, who is an inside playmate, going outside to play with Saddik.  The dogs know the difference between inside and outside playmates. Although Lennon especially likes to sneak the inside toys out if he can.

 Saddik seems to be having more fun than he should probably because he knows Pooh Bear is suppose to stay inside.  I think Pooh Bear is also suppose to have a shirt on, not sure where it went.....  LOL

MINDY MADE IT.........!!!

She's been here a couple of days and we haven't had a chance to see much of her.  John's been doctoring more than usual and had appointments yesterday and today, which take most of the day.  

That's OK, she's here to see the donkeys.........!!!!  LOL  She comes in the morning  and spends the heat of the day hanging round the pool at the motel.  Then comes back in the late afternoon to spend  more time with the donkeys.  She does some brushing, which is a big hit with most of them and of course comes armed with animal crackers, which is a hit with them all......!!!  

Here's some of the pictures she's taken

 The brothers, Shaggy Bill and Don Juan

 Rosie pulling out all the stops to beg for a cookie

 Even Roxy the neighbor's dog is begging for cookies

Boaz in his crusader fly mask that keeps the flies from reinfesting the side of his mouth with habronema eggs, that hatch into larvae that burrow into the edge of his mouth.  We'll be fighting the good fight all summer probably, but the mask really helps to get some control over the problem.  

Thanks for the pictures, Mindy....!!

Linda sent some pictures from Colorado of boys being boys.  This is Loki Joe and Leo trying to get the best of each other.  Watching geldings play can be traumatic for people not use to it.  They play rough.....!!

 

 

Guess Leo won.........!!!  LOL

MINDY IS COMING.......!!!

Mindy comes to visit with the donkeys, when she feels like it.  She actually is thinking of moving to the Benson area and maybe visiting this time of year to see how hot it is.  She lives up in the Phoenix area and it's usually hotter than we are, so it might be a pleasant experience for her.  

 This is a picture of Mindy a couple of years ago with Daisy....RIP

While she is here she is going to do some grooming on the donkeys.  All of a sudden most of them are shedding like crazy.  When John and I play "doctor" almost every morning (get your mind out of the gutter..LOL)  I carry a brush and some of them get a few swipes, but they need individual attention.  I would imagine it is itchy.  I usually have to clean the brush after every swipe.  Most of them love it and stand absolutely still, I guess they don't want to interfere and make you stop.  

Tula is now out, as long as she doesn't start limping.  Frijolita our little gate opener, managed to take the gate off the post between her pen and Tula's.  It was overnight, so Frijolita was out and Tula was "trapped" in her pen and had been for days and days.  Frijolita's outside gate to her pen was open.  So once the gate was taken care of Tula was free as a bird.  

I went to a clinic at Dr. Jeremy's yesterday morning and asked him, since she wasn't limping if she might not be better off out.  He said to watch for limping and see what happens.  So far, so good, we took her leggings off this morning and put some SWAT on her knees where she had roughed them up laying down.  Good grief you would have thought we had lost our minds to add another "torture" to the routine.  I thought she was going to go down on her knees in the dirt before I could get it on and get my abusive hands off her legs.  Probably for the foreseeable future we will be doctoring those knees, which means she will be going into the squeeze once or twice a day............oh! what fun...!!!  

Still doctoring the corner of Boaz's mouth and will be for quite sometime.   He's so easy to work with, I can do just about anything with him, which is amazing.  I remember a time, when he wasn't that happy to be messed with and didn't mind throwing a hoof to make his point.  Now he is just a big lover and has learned to work visitors for attention preferably a cookie.  Actually he works anybody he sees, but he seems to realize that visitors are suckers for a cute face more than we are, so he pulls out all the stops on them.  It's fun to watch him work them. 

I raced last night, can't say it was one of my better nights, although I did get to go thru tech after the race, with a 4th place finish.  I think there have been 5 race nights and that is the 1st time I've finished good enough to go to tech.

All the cars are suppose to be going the same direction, obviously there is a problem here....!!  LOL  This young man in the blue and yellow car and I had been running side by side for quite a few laps.  He got impatient and slammed into the side of my car and then rotated in front of my car.  Hmmm, what to do, what to do..........slam on the brakes and take a chance on someone behind you running into you or help him out of your way.  Didn't hurt him, in fact he finished 3rd to my 4th, but I bet he won't lean on me again.......!!!  LOL

My car jumped out of gear 5 times during the race, which has been a problem every since it was wrecked and the frame straightened.  The guy's have done all they can to fix it and they think the frame is weak and allowing everything to move around too much.

Our son has been working on a back up Neon, so I think they are going to try to get it ready to race in 2 weeks.

It's further along than this, but there is still a lot to do to get it race ready in 2 weeks.  Hopefully Rod will get his part done in a couple of days and John can do what he needs to do.  Our friend Larry has offered to help John get it ready.  Another friend Gary will help too.  It's amazing how many people are willing to help me keep racing.

I had something funny happen at the races last night.  I had a spectator come up to me and ask me if I was the oldest woman racing in NASCAR.  He didn't say "Hi" or "I have a question" or "I hope you don't mind me asking", just walked up and asked his question.  It's not polite to laugh at people, but it wasn't easy to keep a straight face, while I explain my checkered past in racing and how long it's been.  Sometimes it doesn't take a whole lot to amuse me I guess..............!!! LOL