Good morning, fellow Fans!

I have returned from my trek to the North Woods, refreshed and renewed. But I was saddened to read of the passing of Genuine Risk, the last TB I fell in love with until a certain bay colt came along. She was a tough, classy competitor and she takes a piece of my heart with her.

I see Shelley's Bright Nickel made his mom very happy while I was away. Congratulations, Shelley! I'm waiting for Boxy's return!

And Blackie got up for 2nd in the Sword Dancer and may be headed Alex's way. How neat would that be for Alex?

Prayers for all who are experiencing challenges, weather or health. Special positive energy for Janice & Den in FL who are dealing with both.

Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro (and Genuine Risk) forever

What happened, Lyn Gilbert?

Did Mr. Pillow win out today?

Rob ; )>

It's Wednesday FOBs

Welcome back Marg and thank you for the kind wishes.

T.S. Fay is still right over us and the winds and pounding rains continue. Astonishingly - we still have power. We usually lose it every time we have a good storm but I guess it's the lightening that does it and we haven't had any of that. There was a tornado about 15 miles south of us that destroyed a number of homes and that area is without power. I got up to get ready for work but I've decided that I'm not going anywhere until I get a better idea of the road situation. It's still too dark for me to see. Some of the roads looked like rivers yesterday afternoon when coming home from the hospital. I can imagine what 15 more hours of heavy rain have done. I hope all this rain has helped fill Lake Okeechobee. It had been a foot below normal level. From what I read on the news Fay will continue east and then north over the ocean, strengthening into a Cat 1 hurricane and hitting Florida again around Jacksonville. So - N.Florida and S.Georgia - get ready.

I'm hoping Den feels better today. They've done all the tests they can to find the cause of the blood loss but everything came back normal and yet, he's bleeding internally somewhere. It can be a tiny amount and yet over a period of months his hemoglobin level drops very low.

We're both missing Kaiser so much. Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks and yet the pain and sorrow continue. The house is so empty without him.

Blessings to all!

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Hiya, FsOB! Wishing everyone in FLA, TX, & anywhere in Fay's path a safe day. It's a golden morning here on the banks of the Thames and there's a deliciously cool snap in the air this AM. Peace, RMH

#### To Alex, please let us know if there is some sort of fund being established in memory of Parker Buckley. I don't know if he leaves a partner &/or children behind.
To Janice: It's probably wise for you to stay at home until you get some word about the advisability of travel. Denny is probably thrilled to have you at home with him, so that he's not worried about your commute.
To Renee: Thanks, I am sure that the problem yesterday was related to my cycle. ####

Morning skritches to the BBH, Sir JH, Gorgeous George, Belle, KeyKey, Genny and the rest of the fabulous gang of Heavenly Equines.

On their behalf, here:

MORNING POST/ShelleyA, Debra, WI/AAHS:

STRATEGY FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 18

Although Congress has now recessed until September 8, Legislative Aides are still there to take your calls. Until further notice, the strategy will be to continue to gain co-sponsors for HR6598 and the plan is to start with those co-sponsors of HR503. There is a list on the DB and the Wiki with their names and we are asking that they are only called by constituents. Please do not call the names in red because they are already on board. If your Representative is already a co-sponsor of HR6598, the best way to help is to reach out and find constituents in other districts. We now have 36 committments which is great!!

As well as calling DC, this is a perfect time to call your Representative's local office for an August appointment. You can also check to see if your Rep is scheduled to be at an event near you. It is a perfect opportunity to get their attention and have a few words. Below is a Fact Sheet for you to hand out if you do get the chance to see them.

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/legislation/110_equinecruelty_hr6598.pdf

Remember, this list will be friends of the anti slaughter legislation and there is no reason to go into detail. We’ve been asked to make sure they know that HR6598, the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equity Cruelty Act of 2008 is taking the Title 18 approach to end horse slaughter and has been introduced by Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. It is not necessary to answer complicated questions or try to explain the bill. Sometimes "less is more"!!

Although the paperwork cannot be done to co-sponsor while they are not in session, we will update this list periodically as commitments are received by the proper people in DC. When their name goes red, there is no reason to call again.

You have really set the groundwork and it seems that we’re off to the right start. We have been advised that our grassroots efforts have made a tremendous impact and YOU ALL are the reason. It is important that we now follow directions and stay focused on what has been requested of us.

Our mission is to GO RED!!!!

We are BARBARO’S VOICE…..let it be heard!!!!

Thanks,

Shelley and Deb

AMERICANS AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER

Posted by: ShelleyA at August 17, 2008 9:56 PM

Cheers,
Friar Tuck

##

Jan, thinking of you and Den. And CJ, thinking of you as well.

Robyn, I love your description of a "deliciously cool snap" in the air. It is the same here this morning and it is wonderful. I am so ready for fall.

Everyone, check out your local rep's website, or call, to see if they are making any appearances in your area. If so, go and meet them, ask for their support for HR6598. If they're already on board, go and thank them.

I just posted on the DB and not sure if this has been mentioned, but for Dr. Richardson's birthday, let's have a vigil at 7pm Eastern on August 30 to pray for the fight against Laminitis. This too would be a good way to honor him.

Everyone join me please at 7pm Eastern on August 30 for a few moments of silence, thoughts and prayers to support these efforts.

Good Morning everyone

##

Also, please see Deborah in CO's thread for donations to KF. I would blue link but I'm terribly challenged in that area.

Have a great day everyone.

IN HONOR OF DR RICHARDSON'S BIRTHDAY Deb in CO has organized a tribute for donations to the Laminitis Fund at New Bolton (deadline THURSDAY, 8/28) and to Kennett Florist for cake and other goodies (deadline TUESDAY, 8/26). Please click on the link for details...hopefully if we all do just a little to honor this great man, we will have a wonderful tribute!

Good Morning Gang.

Thank you Alex for going to Olex and posting the links. Even though I am not strong enough to read about it, thanks.

Skylar,

I will gladly join you on Aug. 30th in honor of Dr. Richardson with prayers in support of those fighting laminitis.

I love Barbaro's legacy to help all horses in need.

Dear Lord we ask for continued protection for ALL in Fays path.Let calm prevail. Amen

###
Jan and Den
BE CAREFUL...STAY SAFE !! Robyn is right.Stay where you are.The weather channel says much more rain is forecast.You could venture out and get stranded at work because of the flooding or worse in the middle of the storm somewhere.Den
would be sooo worried if that happened. We love you ...maybe now is a good time to take a rest break??? YOU deserve it !!! I'm still praying for Den...

Where are our other Florida PEEPS....I am worried about them too???

Baby Update
Still no appearance by our long awaited dreamt of twin grandchildren. Deanna feels great but there has been the occasional rise in diastolic that is being monitored by the hospital every couple of days.Generally she feels GOOD so the doctor says we could go to almost term which would be August 29th...term being Sept 7th.The babies continue to grow and be a good size but we must be running out of room sometime SOON?????

I leave Sept 4th for Yellowknife so maybe they are waiting for Nana to arrive before they make their grand appearance???!!! LOL Everyone is getting very excited! There are baby clothes everywhere at my house...the cutest little snowsuits hats and scarves you've ever seen......

GOOD POINT by Skyler
Find out if your Reps are making any pre election appearances nearby and go lobby for their support in person...it's hard to say NO to a SMILE !!!!!

Let's hit those phones and faxes and scare the willies out of all those leetle aides ....
Gotta get our legislation passed ...we NEED THEIR SUPPORT !! LET'S GETTUM..FsOB !!!!
Even though they are not there in their offices their leetle aides ARE and they are taking messages and faxes!!!!

HUGS and love to ALL

Awesome article about you, Alex. Congratulations

DeborahM 23

Joe will make you laugh then cry

Hello all

I took the good advice and didn't go to work. Called the boss and they said they would stay closed. Torrential rain still coming down. There is flooding everywhere.

I decided to take this unplanned time and dig through all our pictures and pull out those of Kaiser. I'm going to make a memorial book. It's painful to see all the stages from tiny puppy to gigantic dog he became but perhaps this will help me work through this sorrow.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Wendy it all sounds like fun, great pictures.
When you have time Tim and Penny site has a little Spam.

###
Jan from Florida

That is a marvelous idea and when the weather straightens itself out you can go get some lovely scrapbooking supplies.Then you can create the most beautiful memorial book anyone has ever seen for dear Kaiser.It will be grand because it will contain ALL YOUR LOVE for Kaiser.When you finish perhaps you would share it with all of US on the DB???? That would be magnificent???!!! YES ???
Give Den a HUG for US....STAY SAFE!!!

Hello again,

Just heard that we've received anywhere between 12 - 17 inches of rain and could go as high as 21 - 25 inches OR MORE. Rain and wind still very strong. Flooding everywhere. Power is being cut to certain areas for safety reasons. Hope that won't be us. Fay is not moving.

The surgeon's office just called and said that Den's surgery will take place as planned Friday morning. That's assuming that we don't all float away before then.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

###
JAN - since you're home from work today, have you considered building an ark?

PLEASE STAY SAFE!

Aug 20 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Talking trouble is rehearsing trouble. Innocent as it sounds, it draws an outline for the thing to happen. Medical information in the wrong hands lays out a mere possibility but is always a catalyst for hope and false hope at that. Remember that most of what we hear is simply read to us as a bedtime story meant to help us rest---but it never does.

Someone said talk is cheap, but it isn't. It is one of the most expensive items we can handle. And talking trouble may be entertaining but it is costly----and never worth what we seem willing to pay.

I am master of my condition, I am master of my own body.

Adario
Huron Chief, 1600's

#####
PLEASE CALL, FAX, EMAIL.....

PLEASE REMEMBER AND HELP ALL OF OUR RESCUES..READ THE DB ..

AND REMEMBER THE ONES SUFFERING IN A LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR ANIMAL/HORSE, AND THOSE FACING SEVERE WEATHER...OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU....

###
AND ALEX..THANK YOU.
AND TIM AND FAIR HILL...THANK YOU.

((((((((((((NancyinCT)))))))))))) LOL

An Ark??? What a novel idea.....LOL

BIG HUG for YOU!!!!!

JOE JOE JOE JOE JOE
****************************************************
Wednesday, August 20th...

Jenny Hartman goes back to school today for her senior year of high school. Summer vacation is over. Time flies when you live with flies.

We would like to welcome a new member to our transportation team. Kendra Potter (no relation to Harry) lives in Vacaville, and recently Kendra purchased a brand new 3-horse slant.

We would also like to welcome a new member to our checking references team. Nicole Ray lives in Citrus Heights, and a nicer young lady you will never meet.

The other day, when we last spoke, I told you about several unbroke quarter horses standing at a feed lot in Wilton. A very generous family in Fresno came forward. 4 young quarter horses were rescued, and there is no possible way we could do this without the help of so many. A big Thank You to Ryan Andrews, Stephanie Diaz, Holly Meeks, and Jennifer Wright. All 4 horses are now munching on green grass at their new farm. There are cows for company. Also a big blue and gold macaw named Maggie, just like our big blue and gold macaw named Maggie.

From a recent ranch foreclosure all 13 horses have brand new homes. A huge, giant, gigantic Thank You to Angela Youngblood for all of her help.

Often cars drive slowly past our ranch, no doubt disgusted with mountains of poop. Lots of folks who enjoy looking at horses. One day last week a small red truck went back and forth in front of our ranch. Finally the truck parked on the side of our road, and it looked like the occupants were eating. I figure who among us has not wanted to enjoy lunch on a 108 degree day with the windows down and a billion flies landing on your tuna sub. Which made me hungry, so I jumped in my truck and went to Raleys grocery store.

So I am leaving Raleys with a carton of the worst chow mein you will ever eat, and there is the red truck. Parked right next to my white truck. There is a young girl, and she is waiting for me. Oh oh. A stalker. I am thinking soon my tragic story will be featured on NBC Dateline.

Well the girl tells me her name, and for the purpose of this long, you have probably already clicked off story, we shall call her Anna. She is 14. Anna says this is her brother, who was driving the little red truck, and lets give the brother a nice name, like Bart.

They both shake my hand. I offer chow mein, but Anna says no thanks, they just ate tuna subs.

Anna tells me she phoned a few days before, asking if I could help find her horse a new home. Her parents are struggling for money, and she is far behind on board bills.

Anna said my response on the telephone was sorry, but good luck.

You must understand, there are dozens of these kinds of phone calls each day. 7 days a week. If you kept count, which I gave up doing long ago, Tbfriends probably turns down 70 horses a week.

Anna says please come see her horse. He is at a boarding stable not far from my ranch. She begins to cry. Anna tells me she is at a loss what to do. She loves her horse so much, and if I could meet him face to face she knows I too will fall in love, and help find him a good home.

And so I follow Anna and Bart to the boarding stable. For the purpose of this story, lets call her gelding Russ. He is 12, a thoroughbred with a racing tattoo. Russ loves to jump, but his knee blew up, and now Anna and Russ only do light trail riding. Russ is a sweetheart. He came right to Anna and waited for his hug.

Anna says please Joe. Please find Russ a family who will only do light riding, and give him daily hugs and kisses. Anna offers to clean my stalls. Wash my truck. Anna says she would do anything, if only I would help her Russ.

And so last Saturday Russ was moved to my ranch. Russ is in our south field, and already he is best friends with Peanut, a wonderful gelding who was recently returned to us. Both Peanut and Russ hopefully have new homes. We are in the process of checking references.

On Sunday Anna was at our front gate. She brought carrots, and an apple pie from Raleys. Raleys makes much better apple pie than they do chow mein.

She is 14 years old, and took charge. Driving up and down in front of our ranch. The love of a young girl for her horse. I am routine when saying no on the phone. But face to face becomes personal. Russ is a good guy. Watching Anna say goodbye to Russ on Sunday is a moment I will never forget.

Joe

New pictures refuse to load, but I will keep trying.

Below on the Top Right is a gelding who we bought from a feed lot. There is a racing tattoo which says he is 4 years old. 11 year old Kacie Myers was in our yard when this gelding came off the trailer. Kacie gave him the name of Tobin. Tobin is very sore, and lame. He likes carrots, but not peppermints.

For those of you who have called or written Dallas officials about Jenny the elephant whose penmate died early this year, it was announced today that Jenny is not going anywhere. The zoo management has decided to speed up the construction of the new elephant habitat and another African elephant is being brought to Dallas as a companion for Jenny. Kudos to the zoo management for listening to the public's concerns about their original decision to move her to a drive thru zoo in Mexico. Everyone involved is a winner, and Dallas gets another elephant!!!! Thanks to everyone who voiced their opinion and thanks to the zoo management who listened.

####W
Could someone email MargieM17...and tell her please i will mail $10 donation for the Painted Star Equine Rescue...raising money for dental work for two horses the FOBS...rescued....thanks.

###
JOAN - I just posted your message to Margie on the thread!

###
JOAN - oops, forgot to ask if you need the address.

####
Nancy...thank you....I wrote the address down...but thanks for taking care of me always.

###
JOAN - glad to be in the right place at the right time so I could help out!

#######

Jan and Den, I have tried to post condolences to you about Kaiser several times, but my browser would not let me. My thoughts have been with you for the last two weeks, I am a lurker FOB who has been on the site since the Preakness 06. I must tell you that I rescued a little Pomeranian named Honey who was with me for 7 years and died two years ago at almost 17. She was like my daughter and when she left I thought I would never be the same. I made a scrapbook of all of her pictures and some of the best times we shared over the years....at Cape Cod, at the Pumpkin Patch, in my perennial garden where she loved to wander....and I included a lock of her golden hair. Now, whenever, I miss her so badly, I go to the little book and I feel better, knowing she is still with me....also, each night when I walk, I pick out the brightest star in the night sky and say "Hi Honey, I love you" and I know she is with me. I now think of her with a smile and know she is no further away then my next memory of her. Hopefully you will find peace when remembering Kaiser's life and love. Also know that Den will come through with flying colors on Friday. Might I suggest that you adopt another loving dog and continue the love you had for Kaiser while saving a life, I think he would approve.

Hi, ALL.

I ordered some earrings from Dawn in Omaha and just got them today. They are beautiful! You should order some of her jewelry. Just follow the blue link for more information!

Don 't be shy, now. Head on over there!

On DB:

"NJ Camelot Horses in Need" - 3 horses there on lot that need homes...can anyone help?

Cobra venom to block pain

This is sad! Anything to win a race! Money!

Hello everyone,

Maribel - thank you for your encouraging suggestions. How exciting to have the baby and trip to look forward to.

Nancy in Ct. - your "ark" comment really cracked me up. It felt good to laugh.

Jane - I'm glad you posted today. Thanks for sharing with us about Honey. My eyes get teary every time I read of an FOB's love and loss of a beloved pet. We've had dogs euthanized over the years but always had multiple dogs in the house so we still had another one or two to care for. Since 2002 it's been Kaiser. We have no family here(they're all up north yet) so Kaiser became our child. Because Den has so many serious health problems, we've both agreed that we won't get another dog. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet. We've talked of moving but real estate in Florida is not selling. Last fall, as a favor to a friend, we took her cat. We'd never had a cat - always dogs. Add to that Kaiser had never been around a cat, so it was interesting. Actually I kept them apart for months with only short periods of supervised mixing. Kaiser loved her but she was frightened of him. So, we do have Marshmellow the cat to care for. But nobody or nothing will ever replace Kaiser and my heart will always ache for him. Den as well. I doubt the day will ever come that I can think or talk about him without tears. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever feel happiness again.

Again - my thanks to all. Bless you FOBs.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Jan in FL,
Are you near Melbourne? a friend of mine is there. Please take care, be safe. Nancy she is going to need a Cigarette boat. LOL

Hiiiiiiiiiiiii Everyone,
I'm here! LOL

Hiya, FsOB! Joe Shelton is something else, is he not? Renews my faith in humanity almost every day, "our" Joe does! Hoping that the blasted storm Fay heads out to sea and leaves everyone alone. Please stay safe and have a great night, it was such a glorious late afternoon for a walk here on the banks of the Thames. An "ACN" to each of you! Peace, RMH

#### To Janice, I am sooo glad that you stayed home today. I worried that you might be insulted when I suggested that you consider staying home. I hope that Denny's surgical booking isn't postponed this Friday. Please hang in there!
To Skyler, I agree, today resembled Fall in lots of ways. Brent is already whining, "It's over, Hoffmann, it's over" (he's referring to Summer, not to our marriage!). I'll certainly join you at 7:00 PM EDST on 08/30 for a vigil in honour of the birthday of Barbaro's "Dr. Dean".
To Maribel: How exciting it'll be when the twins arrive! Have names been selected yet, Maribel?
Hoping our pals Jonna & Sandra are doing well today! ####

Renee,

I work in Melbourne and live in Palm Bay (right next door). Do you know where in Melbourne she lives?

Good Night everyone. I think the rains have slowed down, thankfully.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kasier FOB