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Archive for November, 2009

Post-vet visit

28 Nov

Yesterday, as I was driving out to the barn, I was afraid that Isis was having another EPM episode that was causing her to lose control over the muscles in charge of swallowing. I had no idea how bad she would be or what the vet might say.

When the vet arrived, she sedated Isis and then tubed her. (Tubing goes up the nose and down the throat. It’s used for worming, seeing what a horse might have in their stomach, and in this case, pushing water down to help clear the blockage.) It only took a minute to clear. The vet was very pleased.

Here’s the run down: The vet said that Isis was not having another episode of EPM. The stress from the choke had triggered swelling or agitation or something around the nerves that had been damaged during her June EPM episode. The nerves haven’t healed yet so any stress could trigger the same type of symptoms she exhibited in June. (Because nerves can take 1-5 years to heal, no shows or clinics until a full year goes by. And then only gradually taking her places and seeing how she responds.) If new symptoms appear, that could mean she has a new case of EPM.

The vet said to continue Isis’ regular work as soon as the neurological symptoms go away (12-24 hours).

Right now, we’ll see what happens tomorrow. The symptoms had not abated when I left the barn. Isis was still wobbly but her vision was back and she was a lot more coordinated than she had been.

 
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Posted in Horses

 

Isis this morning

28 Nov

The barn just called. Isis may be having another episode of EPM (neurological disorder), like she did back in June. She isn’t as bad as she was then, but she still isn’t “right.”

I’ll write more when I know more. I’m on my way out to the barn now.

Update: It’s not EPM. It’s choking.

Update 2: After the vet visit, Isis turned out to be okay. The mild choke was cleared within a minute or two of tubing Isis. I’ll write more later. Been a very long day.

 
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Posted in Horses

 

Happy Thanksgiving

26 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! Hope everyone enjoys their holiday and survives tomorrow’s crazy shopping.

 
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Posted in General

 

Nerd/Geek Test

25 Nov

Heh. I actually scored higher this time than I did when I took the test back in February. (Keep in mind, that I do have social skills and personal grooming skills. ;)


NerdTests.com says I'm a Mega-Dorky Nerd God. Click here to take the Nerd Test, get nerdy images and jokes, and write on the nerd forum!

 
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Posted in General

 

Cell phone is dying

25 Nov

My cell phone is dying a long, slow, painful death of the abused electronics kind. The phone has been to the barn, through dust and cat hair, riding in the rain, and all manner of abuse. It’s lasted almost three years — pretty good for a little touch phone with a battery back that comes off if you look at it wrong. It’s a good little cell phone: Motorola Ming A1200 running Monta Vista linux.

Over this summer, the phone started randomly shutting off, rebooting (and then not coming back up unless the battery was removed), and dropping calls. Nope, it’s not the signal, it’s the poor abused phone. It just wasn’t meant to take the kind of abuse I put cell phones through.

I’m looking at getting a Nokia N900, running Maemo (linux OS for cell phones). It’s an unlocked phone. Pretty, pretty phone: based upon Nokia’s line of internet tablets, so this phone has some power behind it. Multiple desktops, 32GB storage built in (plus a memory card slot), and a 5 MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Nice keyboard, good screen, and real email/browser capabilities. Pretty.

No carrier subsidy so it’s going to cost me more than a regular phone on a cell phone plan. However, I like having access to a phone’s full capabilities without having features locked down by a cell phone company. I have waited months to see if T-Mobile is going to offer this phone on one of their contracts. The N900 carries T-Mobile’s 3G broadband frequency, so you’d think T-Mobile would carry the phone.

The N900, of course, costs just under as much as the used saddle I bought for Isis last week. It will be another month before I can afford anything. I just hope the Ming makes it through another month or two. (Unlikely considering this past week the phone quit recognizing the memory card.)

 
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Posted in Geekitude, Tech

 

Been a while.

25 Nov

Wow. So it’s been a while since I last posted. I’ve managed to land (mostly) on my feet. I went from being unemployed to being over-employed, but in a good way.

My old freelance contacts paid off in the best possible way: I was given enough work to get me through until I located a (hopefully) contract to hire position at an excellent company. I’m currently working about 50 hours per week, but I really like the job and the freelancing.

I am incredibly thankful to have had people take a chance on hiring me as an editor and letting me work remotely. It has been an awesome experience.

A few weeks ago, Isis colicked again. Mild, this time. Mostly from dehydration caused by the change in weather. We caught her early and she pulled through fine. (Here, Ms Vet, why don’t I just give your clinic a direct line to my bank account? Sheesh. This summer I put their kids through college with all of the vet bills I had.)

Chiropractor also came out and adjusted Isis — and mentioned that I need to have her saddles fitted because one of them isn’t fitting properly along her back.

So… adjusted horse is doing better. I have a new saddle (when I really wanted to get a new cell phone) and we’re finally back to riding.

Poor Kasane has been rather neglected because I’ve had to focus so much on Isis this summer. However, she will be getting back to pre-saddle work this week. With all of my time off for Thanksgiving I plan on spending a lot of time at the barn.

The cats all seem to be doing well. Ambush looks great. The nasty gunk on his fur has gone and his coat is soft to touch once more. Only thing is that I’m going through about 20 pounds of kitty litter per week because he pees so much.

Stella is playing a lot. I haven’t been as good as I should be about her fluids because of starting the new job.

Kiesha has her behavioral issues still. I can really tell when the Feliway runs out…

I’ve been reading more: poetry journals of all things. It’s interesting how reading poetry impacts how I write. I’m more aware of word choice (work as an editor this summer made me extra aware of grammar, word usage, and phrasing).

That’s the long and short of things for right now. I have more pictures to post of the saddle and how it fits. Pictures of Kasane with a saddle on for the first time. Pictures of the cats running around and playing.

Maybe, just maybe, I can relax enough so I am not so focused on the world possibly collapsing because of economic uncertainties.

If this job goes permanent after six months, I’ll be a very happy camper. I’m documenting IT with a bunch of hard core geeks. I got the job because I knew Mac OS X was based in Free BSD. :) These are MY People! :) (It doesn’t hurt that after the interview I was asked if I preferred a Mac, PC, or both? Yes!)

 
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Posted in General