Hiya, FsOB! Well, it's "hump day" - Wednesday. It was so cold overnight that there are bits of ice on the surface of the river, which is quite still this morning.

May Urban Sea rest in peace, how sad that she passed during foaling. May her colt continue to thrive.

Alex, what a milestone you've reached on the discussion board. One million posts since 08/2006! Kudos to you, Alex, and continued thanks for keeping the FsOB together to do good works in memory of the sublime horse Barbaro.

Rest in peace, Champion URBAN SEA, and may light perpetual shine upon you. I am so sorry that you didn't live to a ripe old age, and so grateful that a surrogate has taken your colt to her heart...he will live to perpetuate your glorious memory!

97 co-sponsors as of today!

Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th)

Congratulations OH Group!

So sad about Urban Sea

May La Ville have a safe foaling.

Broodmare Weekend Storm Dies

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49448/broodmare-weekend-storm-dies

Sorry sometimes blue links do not work!

Good Morning Beautiful Barbaro

We are here...your famblee...a family of love, compassion, and WE GET IT!

We miss you....we love you....

Good Morning Family/Fans of Barbaro

Please call, fax, email...please....we speak for so many that cannot speak for themselves....we are their voices...

Please remember help our rescues, read the db...please...alot going on....

Our Fallen Angels, the ones suffering human or animal, our wildlife, and always our loving family...

Have a nice day...

###
Good Morning Alex.
Good Morning Tim and Fair Hill.

Our Fallen Angels....never forgotten...we are here.

Oh dear, I seem to be doing this much too often...

Rest in peace, precious broodmare WEEKEND STORM ~ I am so very sorry that you didn't not survive your foaling. You will live on in the hearts of those who love you AND in the blood of your offspring, including your newborn colt.

###Here's to the unsung angels who step in and become surrogates when the dams are unable to care for their foals.

I remember the story from Joe of the Morgan mare that foaled soon after coming to TB Friends. She kept trying to kill her foal. Joe sent the foal to Jodi's place (I believe) and shortly after she sent a photo of the surrogate, her foal and the adoptee, all running along.

I saved that photo to my desktop and it is one of my favorites.

God bless the surrogates.

###Happy Hump Day to all and safe travels to those in the northeast and anywhere else the weather is being a poop.

###Alex, congrats on the millionth!

And THANKS a million more.

Joe at TB Friends

### Robyn

Last year while waiting for two foals to be born, I learned there is a huge "window of opportunity" for the foal to be born. I can't remember it exactly, but it was a way bigger time span than I would have thought. I do know that if you are on foal watch for 23 hours 55 minutes a day, the foal will come in that last 5 minutes, guaranteed! There are all kinds of signs, some may happen and some may not. By the 2nd foal I had calmed down considerably. Mother Nature just does her thing. It is very hard to wait though!

Good Morning Gang.

RIP Urban Sea and Weekend Storm.

#### The Huskies are getting restless. They have been boarding for months. Luke is losing weight so I have him on extra feedings. Sitka is getting very anxious and extremely clingy. Jack seems to be more resilient. I have them 'living' in seperate suites now. Just to give them a rest from each other. They can still play in the big yard together. But they need supervision. Their Mom never comes to visit or take them out for walks or drives. I am getting fearful for their safety and the dreaded words - failure to thrive. I do what I can, but I have 30-40 other dogs to tend to as well. Please say a small prayer for Jack, Luke, and Sitka. Also for Felix and Gloria. They are still waiting for a forever home. Lucky is walking a little slower the past few days. Monkey is still enjoying her new digs and Famblee and every day she shows a new trick she has invented. Her coat has almost completely transformed. She is so pretty and most unusual in appearance. One of her relatives, the pup named Zeus, is on his way to Denver this AM. Another relative, Mama Dog the pit bull, is recovering with us from a serious case of mastitis and spaying. (Zeus is one of her 2 surviving pups from a litter of 7). She'll be ready to leave for Colorado on the 9th. She is very gentle and very sweet. A cocker spaniel we had was so badly matted we had to shave her down to almost bare skin. In one of the clumps we found a 3 hook fish hook. She went to her forever home on Monday.

God Bless ALL of the animals.

###
MARGIE ~ I may have missed the beginning of the story when I was without a computer for such a long time, but why are the huskies there if they have a mother???

####
SOS...still trying to save those two youngsters! please read the db and help

alot going on at the discussion board...if you can ....it would be so...so appreciated....

A ROSE FOR BARBARO

Julia B very thoughtfully has plans for those of us who are unable to attend the statue unveiling...if you are interested in participating by purchasing a rose, please click on the link and be sure to email Julia (addy is in that post) to let her know that you want to be counted in!

Goodmorning to ALL

Haven't posted for a long while...
we are busy trying to figure our way through this cancer maze.Days are extrememly tiring as we have spent so many sleepless nights.Hans is up several times during the night with not enough relief so I think subconsiously I am aware of this and thus am not sleeping soundly!! There's his constant nausea and constant pain and it all is never ending and we are just trying to get past every day as best we can ....

We have another appt with the urologist because our doctor is concerned about damaging his kidneys and the treatment may not be working fast enough???OR not at all??? Our doctor wants surgery but there is a 120 patients before him!!! There is risk of stroke again with the 3-4hr surgery???

It is all very overwhelming!! I am comforted by the fact that you ALL are praying and thinking of me...I love you!!! You are the best!!
HUGS and love...

###
MARIBEL - thanks for the update...it's always great to see you here! Please give my best to Hans...he has certainly had quite a struggle, and both of you are real troopers!

#####
HSUS....is asking for us to watch the abc nightline news.....the undercover expose news about chimps....etc.

please, call, fax, email....we are getting co-sponsors!!!!!

thank you.

### FOBS the horses need your help on antislaughter please. Illinois is BAD NEWS!!!

Please send out to your FOB friends and list.

I just talked to Gail and she said the opposition really has a strong voice in Springfield, Illinois and we need to have a stronger voice. We need to call and fax today we can not lose Illinois. Keep calling please time is not on our side.

Follow this link stop Illinois from making horse slaughter legal

to the list of all the house members. Call everyone you can and ask them to vote HB 583.

Here is a list of the Reps that voted in favor of a slaughter ban in 2007 please call them : )

Y Acevedo Y Krause Y Ramey

Y Arroyo Y Dunkin Y Lang Y Reboletti

Y Bassi

Y Beaubien Y Durkin Y Lindner

Y Beiser Y Lyons Y Riley

Y Bellock Y Feigenholtz Y Mathias Y Rita

Y Berrios

Y Biggins Y Flowers Y May Y Ryg

Y Ford Y McAuliffe

Y Boland Y Fortner

Y Franks Y McGuire Y Schmitz

Y Fritchey Y Mendoza

Y Bradley,Richard Y Froehlich

Y Golar Y Miller

Y Brosnahan Y Graham Y Soto

Y Burke Y Granberg

Y Hamos Y Molaro Y Sullivan

Y Coladipietro Y Mulligan N Tracy

Y Cole Y Harris Y Munson

NV Collins

Y Colvin Y Hernandez Y Nekritz

Y Coulson Y Hoffman Y Osmond

Y Crespo Y Holbrook Y Osterman Y Washington

Y Cross Y Howard E Patterson

Y Jakobsson

Y Currie Y Jefferies Y Pihos Y Yarbrough

Y D'Amico Y Jefferson Y Younge

Y Davis,Monique Y Joyce

Y Davis,William Y Kosel

E - Denotes Excused Absence

Maribel, we are all thinking of you and Hans. Please keep us posted.

Chief has an apt with his doctor late this afternoon. He had a very hard time breathing yesterday and last night. A little better this morning but not much. The vet will try to figure out what pills need to be changed or added to or what in the heck can be done. His wheezing and breathing is especially bad at night. I suppose that is when the fluid builds back around his heart and lungs.
I know I will lose him but I always want one more day. The bottom line is he is to be kept comfortable.

### Dang I meant to say VOTE NO TO HB 583

###Haskin is saying on his column on blood horse that NIcanor is in on Sat. in a grass race.

###

TWO SWEET BABIES NEED HELP....SOS TRYING TO SAVE TWO YOUNGSTERS....AND RUNNING OUT OF TIME...PLEASE HELP...READ THE DB...PLEASE.

Prayers for Chief, one of our favorite FOB mascots!

May you rest in peace, Urban Sea..
why did they breed a horse her age.. 20??? so soo sad.... May her little Baby gave a good & healthy life....

Hi!pxdj! http://doiyvigy.com goaul femgy

Hi!

####
SANDRA

Many prayers for Chief!Hang in there Sandra: it is so hard to be that watchful and care about not letting them go before their time, but not making them stay just for us...

Have been there so many damned times. I feel your pain.
xxoo:j
COURAGE

###
Lookout...Slew in equine heaven....coming up with ideas for chocolate popcorn....and a Time Machine....

what are they up to next? lol..
a good read...

thank you...equine heaven...

Hi webmaster! bsb

Hi webmaster! bgl

*** For Jonna ***

Wednesday, March 4th... Keeping track of numbers, because long ago I learned how important it is to document your day. There were 14 requests yesterday for Tbfriends to take horses. Including several starvations. Including two preggo mares. Including a black and white yearling filly stuck in the mud. Including 4 race horses. And an old palomino mare flooded out of her barn.

A nice family in Brentwood willing to take 3 unwanted horses. In pouring rain mother and daughter bring us pictures of their other animals. And a sack of glazed doughnuts for Pony Boy.

Those willing to take ranch foreclosure horses are from Loomis. Marysville. A place called Glenn. Roseville. Davis. Martinez. And friends who live close by in Capay Valley.

There is no ending. Days and months blend together, and you are left with a big giant blurr. Like when your camera refuses to focus.

Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say his feed lot is flooded. So he has rented another stock trailer, and off to slaughter in Canada all the horses go.

A teenage girl near Sacramento, and she is hysterical on the phone. Her pasture a lake, so can her gelding come live with us until the water goes away?

I was able to meet Nicole, and she is a student at Sacramento State. On Monday in a Northern California chat room, Nicole led a drive to save a thoroughbred gelding at mexican rodeo. Nicole raised $425.00. A lady called Smart Lollipop was happy to provide transportation. In the rain Nicole is at our front gate. She wants to meet the gelding, and take his picture. And then Nicole gives me $50.00 for his hay and grain.

The mexican rodeo gelding is scared to death. Health wise he is in okay shape. Nicole named him Travis Star.

In the regular mail a dvd of Batman, a gray gelding adopted from us in 2006. Batman is getting ready for show season. The dvd comes with background music. Blowin In The Wind by Peter Paul & Mary. Batman is amazing.

And that about sums up a Tuesday. We must have had close to another two inches of rain. What a mess. Mud on our kitchen floor. Martha Stewart would be aghast. Always liked that word... aghast. Been hoping for a chance to use it.

Joe

Lifetime horses on our ranch.

Top Left: He came to us in 2005, badly injured after a decent racing career. We call him Indy, and he lives in our north field.

Top Right: Old folks Hans and Cherry arrived last year in horrible condition. They are never more than a few inches apart. Hans and Cherry live in our south field.

Bottom Left: It has been 3 years since he came to us starving from Animal Control, and we call him Imagine.

Bottom Right: His sire is Runaway Groom, so we call him Groomer. He made good money as a race horse, and now Groomer lives in our north field. His wife is Rita.

###
Sandra, praying for your boy Chief - tell him we love him!!!!

Fran

March 4 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

An amusing story is told about Tecumseh to show how kindly tolerant he was. One evening on entering the home of a white man with whom he was friends, he saw a gigantic stranger there who was badly frightened at the sight of Tecumseh. The man for all his size took cover behind others in the room. Tecumseh stood a moment sternly watching the great fellow, and then he went up and patted the cowering giant and said good naturedly, "Big baby; big baby!"

The Great Spirit told me to tell the Indians that he had made them,and made the world--and he had placed them on it to do good and not evil.

Tenskwatawa
1808

##### been offline for a week; still not quite over the world's worst chest cold, and dealing with ramifications of my music partner Fred losing his Mom so soon after losing his Dad, not to mention ongoing personal devastation over my Joely having a serious setback in his battle with IBS - just haven't had the requisite mental state to soak up all that shows up here.

Deb phoned with the news about IL and I got myself mobilized to get it out to my mailing lists and make the calls. I'll try to be back to "normal" here henceforth -

With LOVE and wishes of comfort and easy breathing for CHIEF ...... and many hugs for you, Sandra !

Sherry and AMIGO

Nicanor on Bloodhorse

Prayer for Chief and prayers for Nicanor, also Maribel and Hans

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=6997869&page=1

Nightline on ABC tonight is running an expose on improper treatment of primates in a federally-funded laboratory. Includes undercover videos by a former employee, and by HSUS.

Nicanor on Yahoo

Hiya, FsOB! To echo what many others said here today, may Weekend Storm rest in peace. My thanks to Kathy in SC for answering my technical questions about the average length of an equine gestation and the accuracy of dating pregnancy in a horse.

May Nicanor be safe on Saturday. Nurse Nervous Nellie here would be less anxious of Nicanor's jockey were to be Edgar Prado. I trust that some of you may be able to reassure me that he'll be in safe hands on Saturday at Gulfstream. I am unfamiliar with the jockey.

Alex, any news on La Ville Rouge tonight? Wendy, our esteemed Spambuster, can you please work your magic on the posts time at 9:12 PM and 10:26 from a blue-linked name?

Wishing everyone "ACN". I've had a long, frustrating workday and plan to treat myself to a well-deserved Manhattan soon. Peace, RMH

#### To Margie: I am so sorry about Jack, Luke, and Sitka. Does their lady still pay their board? Does she give a reason, if called, as to why she cannot visit them with some frequency? If I remember correctly, her house burned down. If she no longer wants them, would the shelter consider contacting any group which helps foster adoptions of Huskies? I could give you the name of the lady in Maine from whom I received Nikita. She may have some contacts outside of New England, perhaps. I sure hope that those three dogs can get all the love that they are seeking and which you are bestowing upon them, while trying to help other dogs in need there. Huskies are so pack-like and they really bond with their humans. Speaking as a dyed in the wool Husky lover, I thank you for lavishing the trio with love, Margie.
To Maribel: Thank you for stopping in, we have all kept you & Hans in our thoughts. Sending healing wishes to Hans.
To Sandra: Please let Chief know that we sure love him up here in CT. I hope that his medication regimen is being adjusted and brings him some relief. Isn't it really hot in west TX right now? I suspect that the heat could be affecting the CHF.
Hello to Sherry & Amigo! ####

Exciting news about Nicanor.

Where is that foal?

Maribel - my prayers for you and Hans. I hope each day is easier and better for both.

Sandra - hoping and praying for you and Chief. I understand the "one more day".

Good night and blessings to all!!

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

Nicanor on Thoroughbreedtimes

from yesterday

March 3 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Some mysteries have never been explained; how a firefly lights up its tail, and how a hummingbird can hover and dart.

Even deeper mysteries surround us personally. How did we get to this place to do this thing? We know little more about ourselves than we do about the firefly and the bumblebee.

To think and ponder and question is a part of our nature--but if we were to put to work what we already know we would be financial geniuses and spiritual giants. No mystery stands out here, but think what we could do if were we to work like the ant--and with no overseer.

He did not depend altogether on his eyes for information.

Said About Pontiac
Ottawa,1700s

Hi Gang.

Good luck and safe racing for Nicanor.

CJ, may your long lasting cold get better real soon.

Maribel, Sandra, Chief and everyone. You all are in my prayers.

#### Robyn, the Huskies are being paid for by the insurance company. I was told today that they will be with us for 2 more months. I played ball with them a lot today. Me against a football team. But they loved it. And they behaved. Sitka tried to grab Luke a few times, but he listened when I said, "No!". I wore them out. Maybe their Mom will take them out this weekend, just for something different. After dinner, everyone went out for a final duty call. Then I put them all to 'bed', while "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was playing on the piped in music. All became quiet and I left 'work' with a smile on my face. It was a good day and I felt better leaving the Huskies. I will let you know, Robyn, if their Mom decides she cannot handle all 3 anymore. Sitka would be the one that would need a new home. He is precious and very loving.

thank you kathyb for posting Joe: ur da best.

we slept most of the day trying to catch up on the night my 100 year old knees took from us. like lynneb sez: GETTIE OLD IS NOT FOR SISSIES.
love to all. prayers for La Ville Rouge and for Chief and hans and everyone out there who is fighting their own battle...and make no mistake, everyone is fighting.

um, that's supposed to be GETTING...not the other thing that my finners made appear. sigh.

#### Thanks for the update, Margie! The Huskies are fortunate that you are in their corner. ####

from Monday

March 2 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Certain people affect us like a tight shoe that rubs in all the wrong places. We try to ignore it until we can get to a private place where we can get rid of it. But while we are wearing it the pain goes on and becomes nearly impossible to beat.

So much pecks away at us like dripping water until we cannot ignore it. In retrospect we see the foolishness of not handling the problem more quickly--but we were taught to ha tse s da, grin and bear it. Be nice. Be kind. But the shoe pinches and rubs and our patience grows short. How much wiser to quietly step out of the shoes and never go back.

I kept out of all the fights and troubles.

Little Raven
Arapaho, 1800s

from this past weekend, Sat & Sun [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Feb 28 & March 1 Cherokee Devotional

Feb 28

We can't always gear our lives to the desires of others. And that doesn't mean we should be difficult or hard to get along with. It does mean there is a time to make it easy on ourselves.

Take a few easy steps. When life crowds in, it is time to quit giving the impression of being superhuman. Going the extra mile has always been important, but we have days when someone else needs to go that extra mile and give us relief.

It is somewhat like breathing--there's a time to inhale and a time to exhale.

You hear of us as murderers and thieves. We are not so. If we had more lands to give you, we would give them, but we have no more.

Red Cloud
Sioux Chieftain


March 1

When we stop to think, we realize that at one time our main teaching was to be honorable and just and compassionate. And now, most of our entertainment is watching someone bring down someone with a degree of innocence.

We are free to hiss and boo what we see and hear, but how many admire such a gift of treachery? What would it be like to manipulate and generally ruin other people's lives for pure entertainment.

Who can we really trust or rely on? We can begin with ourselves. By weeding out past experiences and by forgiving ourselves, we can be someone that can be trusted. It is a beginning---and a responsibility.

My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of your forefathers.

Pontiac
Odowa, 1763

From last Friday

Feb 27 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Winter storms affect things of nature the same way human storms affect us. Differences are forgotten when the problem is a common one.

Meadowlarks and doves that usually keep to the open fields come down to feed with the cardinal and titmouse. Finches and bluejays, though very different in size and temperament, feed together peaceably. The food is there in one spot and there is little discussion about who sits at the table.

If they serve no other purpose, strenuous times are great equalizers. They put people on a common basis with a common issue--to make it through. When people survive together there is a bond of understanding. They learn to support and to look out for each other.


In my youthful days, I have seen large herds of buffalo..and elk in every grove, but they are here no more...all have gone toward the setting sun.

Shabonee
Potawatomi Peace Chief, 1700s

from last Thursday [catching up on over a week's worth of emails ... ]

Feb 26 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

It is frequently not the opportunity we need but the lesson we must learn from having lost it. Our senses may be sharpened that timing is very important and that we have to be ready when opportunity comes.

But opportunity is still not the whole thing. Making ourselves aware, being sensitive when we brush against the chance to do something worthwhile. If we are dull of spirit then nothing beckons to us, because it couldn't get our attention if it did. Like attracts like. There must be something in us that hears the music of the spheres when everyone else says it is absolutely silent.

Did you know that trees talk? Well they do. They talk to each other, and they'll talk to you if you listen.

Walking Buffalo
Stoney, 1800s

from last Wednesday (now I'm all caught up.....)

Feb 25 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Grandmother was the matriarch-- a woman of few words and a lot of action. Children and adults knew she was the driving force. She did not beg for results, she expected them.

The Cherokee family recognizes age, respects the authority of one who has lived many experiences and does not want to explain them. Her actions were not always appreciated, but there was order in the family and a learning that was to be our guide.

When adults are not wise in their love and discipline, the child must use his own inner voice of authority to keep himself disciplined. No matter how many sources of discipline, the best comes from that inner source.


In my early days I was eager to learn and do things, and therefore I learned quickly.

Sitting Bull
Sioux, 1800's