Mostly dog comments here which is good. But the deep writing in your post was the feeling of powerlessness. There are big enough numbers that we should not be powerless...so why do we feel that way? And what do we do about it? (I refuse to believe there isn't SOMETHING to be done...even if it is in electing SOMEONE who might be responsive...)
Good fodder for a future piece from you when you get creative pulling out of your funk. Your thoughts will likely be incisively interesting. And every real thinker should be heard...because some of them are right.
So sorry abut the chickens (and roosters). We just got chicks, one of each: Blue Andalusian, Plymouth Rock, Olive Egger, Black Astralorp, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orphington, Creme Legbar, and Colombian Wyandotte. Just for the eggs. I live in a small house with a small yard in the middle of L.A. While they are sitting under a lamp, we're building the coop.
We went to many rescues up and down the state on our way to and from Nevada. All they had, consistently, were Pit Bulls, German Shepherds and Huskies. Such beautiful dogs--I asked why. They told me that the latter two breeds are smart but extremely high maintenance and can be aggressive, and people just can't handle them. I'm glad you are keeping her. She'll be happy there, her taste for chicken aside.
After many sleepless nights and months and months of reading, it finally dawned on me that I am powerless to fight injustice at this level. And yet I still vocalize my anger every chance I get, mostly in public forums. I have to believe it works just a little though I know I will likely be gone from this earth on the off chance any of it has any impact.
huskies are strong willed escape artists that require constant vigilance but also fucking awesome individuals with lots of personality. be the alpha ALWAYS!
As a parent of many dogs I must confess the most destructive eventually become the best of pets, I suspect, though I have not tried, that children are similar. In the end I love them and their foibles all.
As to the rest of the bullshit I have to pray that karma will bless them, they have a lot to be blessed for.
Powerless is sitting down doing nothing even when there's things one can do. A woman who can dress and quarter (is it called that with poultry too?) a dead animal is not powerless, and power is like muscles: use it and it grows, making you stronger but also making you take on more (and more and more).
I know the feeling though. Ten+ years back I busted my L5 disc in my back, so now it's slightly loose meaning I can't lift at anywhere near full strength - no hoisting the wife over my head on straight arms and twirling her around until she threatens to puke in my eyes, ahh married life!
Our oldest dog is a lost&found dog, was found abandoned in a dog park and brought to a kennel. Broken nose, just like mine (sins of youth in my case, only it gets more marked the older I get), and missing several teeth (again like me) and initially deadly scared of anything resembling rods or canes, and would break into where we keep the garbage to rip open old breadbags to lick them clean of crumbs. I would not mind an hour alone with the bastard(s) who mistreated her. Pulp Fiction, but with fish-hooks, copper wire and a generator. Or a glass bottle up the back passage of the f*ckwit and then a good hard kick in his rear.
The load that is life doesn't get lighter the longer we live, but we do get better at carrying it.
Think of the woke schmucks: all they can do when faced with adversity of any kind, like the store being out of their favourite soda, is throw tantrums and p*ss themselves. Believe me, no matter how hard it gets, it's way better to do right, stand straight and walk tall.
Did you see "The Biggest Little Farm?" They rehomed the adorable chicken killer. I am sorry to hear of the chickens. Good thing you are a capable and non-squeamish Guttermouth. I am relieved to hear that you were able to put them to good use.
Your eye-catching headline photo suggested this missive from the Gutter was going to announce the latest Mouth Farms venture, haruspicy. Sadly, not the case. My sympathies for your problems with Mouth Mutt #3. Had a similar experience many years ago. Kept the dog. Dog repaid us, years later, by cornering a couple of local lads trying to steal fuel one night. Kept them in the shed until my son and I could explain to them the error of their ways. Good dog.
Interesting fact: Although I did test for a class A CDL with lots of extra endorsements (including hazmat), my examiner pointed out that there is one thing I'm not licensed to drive. Class A passenger vehicles. "What is a Class A passenger vehicle?" I asked, and it turns out they almost don't exist. Apparently it's something like a tractor-trailer, where the trailer is a bus; some airports use them, I guess. I've sure never seen one.
Birthday boy is a handsome dude and well-loved, as I see it. As to the frisky Husky, Well, I’ve always considered them one tick from the wild. My folks had huskies and St. Bernards. I had German Shepherds. Yes, both are high maintenance, but I found the Shepherds were very trainable. The Huskies are highly intelligent, exuberant, have a high prey drive, down right stubborn and barely trainable. They need a lot of attention and seek a lot of adventure (chicken bowling, comes to mind). You can train them, but it’s a lot of work and commitment. Guess you can look at it as part of farm life, which is rewarding but a hell of a lot of work.
You are not alone in your feelings. I keep thinking there must be something we can do about the shitstorm that is taking place all around us. Like you, I’m a doer, and I intensely dislike the feeling of watching it all happening and no clue what to personally do about it. I keep asking myself at what point will concentrating on my daily life tasks be all for naught if the world around me crumbles.
Seems to me one obvious stupid thing we’re doing is poking a nuclear power into a corner which might not be a good strategy no matter how horrific that power is behaving. There’s a myriad of other totally off the wall strategies this government is currently engaged in that signals a coming doomsday scenario on multiple fronts. Don’t know how any of us can keep ourselves level headed, sane and moving forward. I find it necessary to stay current on what is happening but that also drags me backwards into a downward spiral. I limit my time keeping current and try to focus on daily tasks and finding bright spots along the way. It’s like a frickin’ roller coaster ride. Hang in there as best you can.
Sorry to hear about the chickens. We lost 2 to coyotes last week. It's hard to take sometimes. It could be worse though. My landlady told me about a blue heeler she had that literally skinned all her chickens alive one day. She rehomed it quickly. Dogs are tricky sometimes, especially ones that weren't well socialized when young.
Mostly dog comments here which is good. But the deep writing in your post was the feeling of powerlessness. There are big enough numbers that we should not be powerless...so why do we feel that way? And what do we do about it? (I refuse to believe there isn't SOMETHING to be done...even if it is in electing SOMEONE who might be responsive...)
Good fodder for a future piece from you when you get creative pulling out of your funk. Your thoughts will likely be incisively interesting. And every real thinker should be heard...because some of them are right.
So sorry abut the chickens (and roosters). We just got chicks, one of each: Blue Andalusian, Plymouth Rock, Olive Egger, Black Astralorp, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orphington, Creme Legbar, and Colombian Wyandotte. Just for the eggs. I live in a small house with a small yard in the middle of L.A. While they are sitting under a lamp, we're building the coop.
We went to many rescues up and down the state on our way to and from Nevada. All they had, consistently, were Pit Bulls, German Shepherds and Huskies. Such beautiful dogs--I asked why. They told me that the latter two breeds are smart but extremely high maintenance and can be aggressive, and people just can't handle them. I'm glad you are keeping her. She'll be happy there, her taste for chicken aside.
After many sleepless nights and months and months of reading, it finally dawned on me that I am powerless to fight injustice at this level. And yet I still vocalize my anger every chance I get, mostly in public forums. I have to believe it works just a little though I know I will likely be gone from this earth on the off chance any of it has any impact.
huskies are strong willed escape artists that require constant vigilance but also fucking awesome individuals with lots of personality. be the alpha ALWAYS!
As a parent of many dogs I must confess the most destructive eventually become the best of pets, I suspect, though I have not tried, that children are similar. In the end I love them and their foibles all.
As to the rest of the bullshit I have to pray that karma will bless them, they have a lot to be blessed for.
Assure the Birthday Boy that I, specifically, think he’s fan-freaking-tastic. Birthday wishes to him from So Cal! 🎈🎉
I thought those red "balls" were skinned cherry tomatoes.
Also, feed the husky to the pigs.
Powerless is sitting down doing nothing even when there's things one can do. A woman who can dress and quarter (is it called that with poultry too?) a dead animal is not powerless, and power is like muscles: use it and it grows, making you stronger but also making you take on more (and more and more).
I know the feeling though. Ten+ years back I busted my L5 disc in my back, so now it's slightly loose meaning I can't lift at anywhere near full strength - no hoisting the wife over my head on straight arms and twirling her around until she threatens to puke in my eyes, ahh married life!
Our oldest dog is a lost&found dog, was found abandoned in a dog park and brought to a kennel. Broken nose, just like mine (sins of youth in my case, only it gets more marked the older I get), and missing several teeth (again like me) and initially deadly scared of anything resembling rods or canes, and would break into where we keep the garbage to rip open old breadbags to lick them clean of crumbs. I would not mind an hour alone with the bastard(s) who mistreated her. Pulp Fiction, but with fish-hooks, copper wire and a generator. Or a glass bottle up the back passage of the f*ckwit and then a good hard kick in his rear.
The load that is life doesn't get lighter the longer we live, but we do get better at carrying it.
Think of the woke schmucks: all they can do when faced with adversity of any kind, like the store being out of their favourite soda, is throw tantrums and p*ss themselves. Believe me, no matter how hard it gets, it's way better to do right, stand straight and walk tall.
Did you see "The Biggest Little Farm?" They rehomed the adorable chicken killer. I am sorry to hear of the chickens. Good thing you are a capable and non-squeamish Guttermouth. I am relieved to hear that you were able to put them to good use.
Congrats to husbandmouth!
Your eye-catching headline photo suggested this missive from the Gutter was going to announce the latest Mouth Farms venture, haruspicy. Sadly, not the case. My sympathies for your problems with Mouth Mutt #3. Had a similar experience many years ago. Kept the dog. Dog repaid us, years later, by cornering a couple of local lads trying to steal fuel one night. Kept them in the shed until my son and I could explain to them the error of their ways. Good dog.
Interesting fact: Although I did test for a class A CDL with lots of extra endorsements (including hazmat), my examiner pointed out that there is one thing I'm not licensed to drive. Class A passenger vehicles. "What is a Class A passenger vehicle?" I asked, and it turns out they almost don't exist. Apparently it's something like a tractor-trailer, where the trailer is a bus; some airports use them, I guess. I've sure never seen one.
Birthday boy is a handsome dude and well-loved, as I see it. As to the frisky Husky, Well, I’ve always considered them one tick from the wild. My folks had huskies and St. Bernards. I had German Shepherds. Yes, both are high maintenance, but I found the Shepherds were very trainable. The Huskies are highly intelligent, exuberant, have a high prey drive, down right stubborn and barely trainable. They need a lot of attention and seek a lot of adventure (chicken bowling, comes to mind). You can train them, but it’s a lot of work and commitment. Guess you can look at it as part of farm life, which is rewarding but a hell of a lot of work.
You are not alone in your feelings. I keep thinking there must be something we can do about the shitstorm that is taking place all around us. Like you, I’m a doer, and I intensely dislike the feeling of watching it all happening and no clue what to personally do about it. I keep asking myself at what point will concentrating on my daily life tasks be all for naught if the world around me crumbles.
Seems to me one obvious stupid thing we’re doing is poking a nuclear power into a corner which might not be a good strategy no matter how horrific that power is behaving. There’s a myriad of other totally off the wall strategies this government is currently engaged in that signals a coming doomsday scenario on multiple fronts. Don’t know how any of us can keep ourselves level headed, sane and moving forward. I find it necessary to stay current on what is happening but that also drags me backwards into a downward spiral. I limit my time keeping current and try to focus on daily tasks and finding bright spots along the way. It’s like a frickin’ roller coaster ride. Hang in there as best you can.
You're really a great writer. It's a privilege to read your stuff.
Real enough article for me. Hope you manage to tame your furry friend
Sorry to hear about the chickens. We lost 2 to coyotes last week. It's hard to take sometimes. It could be worse though. My landlady told me about a blue heeler she had that literally skinned all her chickens alive one day. She rehomed it quickly. Dogs are tricky sometimes, especially ones that weren't well socialized when young.
((((Guttermouth)))) <-- hug
I love Dog #2❤