Scooter Rally Anticipation: "Making Party" Weekender!

With February nearly gone, I'm setting my sights on the first big scooter rally of the year! Actually, it's the biggest this side of the Mississippi all year with the very biggest being two weeks before in Las Vegas. Since I can't get the time off of work for Vegas, I'll settle for WKRP in Cincinnati!


Last year, Durso, Silent Ron and I packed three scooters in the back of Katherine's truck and drove down. Mind you, THREE scooters in the back of that truck was a tight fit even though I insisted it wouldn't be.







Getting there was half the fun we had all weekend! We met the rest of our Chicago crew there along with our favorite scooter club from Quad Cities. There were two options for hotel accommodations. They were described as "the making party hotel" and "the making sleep hotel." You can guess which one we chose! Our room was the official "making party" room all weekend. Of course you may be wondering, making party and riding two-wheeled vehicles?? Don't worry your pretty little head, we're safe and saved the majority of our boozing for the hotel room.

First off, you have a few different kind of rally goers. The first is the "I'm hardcore and I'm going to ride 10 hours in the rain from Chicago to the rally." While I admire the hardcore attitude, I often don't have that kind of time to get to and from a rally. The second is the "Pack it in the truck and drive to the rally guy." Most rallies I've been to have been close so I HAVE ridden to them. WKRP isn't one of them. I DO enjoy our yearly ride out to Quad Cities, however. Six hours on an old Vespa is a long time. Harley riders and Vespa riders are two different breeds and I'm pretty sure the Vespa riders are more hardcore regardless. How often do you see Mr. Harley rider on the side of the road cleaning his carb or changing a broken cable? Never. Of course that is the luxury of owning a 4 stroke, straight from the factory vehicle like a Harley. All due respect, I'll keep with my old ass, "slow" scooters.

So what else happens at a scooter rally?? From the few I've been to I'd have to say that "making party" just about sums it up. There's lots of trouble making and pranks too. Last year, as a lighthearted joke, Durso, SR and I made up stickers mocking a mutual "friend's" scooter "club" called The Magnificent Seven SC or in short, The Mag 7. We had a field day making up mock club stickers! We came up with "The Fag 7" and "The Insignificant 7." We put our stickers EVERYWHERE. You name it, they were there. People who were in the know got a huge kick out of it. Our "friend" did not. He didn't speak to us for a long time after that, which is what we had hoped to accomplish. Anyways, trouble making, drinking, scooter riding, dancing to Northern Soul music, gymkhanas and other fun stuff IS what happens at scooter rallies.

With any luck, my small frame will be up and running again with a quick carb clean and reattachment of the fuel tap. I've been thinking about selling it yet don't have the heart for it. Of course if things ever get to that point, I can always sell it. I'll cross that bridge as I come to it!

Weekend is the Week END!

Oh Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.....I look forward to busy Sunday at the hospital believe it or not! When things are busy, the night flies by. Lately, for some reason (I blame the economy), people have not been seeking medical attention for their pets as often as they did in the Summer. I mean, I KNOW there are sick pets who have emergencies, I just question if the owners either A, don't know or B, don't have the extra cash to seek said emergency medical care. I'm going to go with a healthy combination of both.

When it comes to common sense, someone killed that fairy a long time ago. I field some of the silliest questions on the phone. For instance, "What's a uterus?" REALLY? That question is even funnier because you can hear the woman's kids screaming in the background while this woman is asking about her female Pit Bull and how she's not "spayd-ed" yes.....people say "spayd-ed." My favorite calls are the ones where I hear the entire life story of the person and never quite understood why they called in the first place. It's incredible. Oh, one more of my very favorites is, "My dog at rat poison, what should I do?" Ok...so that seems as if it's pretty straight forward, right? WRONG. When I explain that eating "rat" poison can kill the animal, people are shocked. YES, shocked. "But I thought it only killed RATS." Yeah, that's right. A poison that KNOWS what type of animal ate it. Super poison! Ugh. Anyways, enough ranting about rats, uterues and whatnot.

I really should be sleeping now but for some reason all I can think about is getting to work. OCD, anyone? My dreams last night were about work and running clotting times on this one dog who presented with pretty severe neurological symptoms and very bloody urine. Lucky for him, he did not have a clotting problem! He was a really nice Beagle or in Millie speak, "bagel." Beagles are not one of my favorite breeds but again, I love all dogs. Fuck, I love all animals, even those good for nothing cats....LOL.

I'm anxious for this next week to be over. With any luck, I can convince Dr. M to let me come in a few extra days this week to help paint the office. It would be a welcome change of pace in comparison to how "balls to the wall" and stressful the hospital can be. Yawwwwwn. I think I'll try to shut my eyes for an hour before venturing out my bed to end my week.

Hope all my "stalkers" are happy and healthy! Take care of yourself and your pets!

I HEART Freewill Astrology: Catching Happiness!

Scorpio's horoscope for the week of February 16th

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin said that the U.S. Constitution "only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." That's a good reminder for you, Scorpio, as you enter a phase when you'll probably have more success than usual if you hunt for pleasure, joy, and bliss. I suggest that you draw up an appropriate strategy to employ during the coming weeks. Start by creating a list of at least three sources of delight with which you want to commune. Then write descriptions of how you're going to increase and expand their presence in your life.


I LOVE making lists! To be completely honest, I really do need to get up and around a bit more. Derek and I have been working on planning our trip to Ireland, Germany and Italy this coming October and I'm really going to have to bust my ass to save money! While I could work more hours at the hospital, I just don't need the extra stress! I've contacted a few old friends and lucky for me, one of them needs some help around the store! It pays not to burn bridges (DISCLAIMER: Sometimes I burn 'em because I know I'll never go back. Often times people need to be told how it REALLY is. Reality certainly escapes some folks).

So a list of three sources of delight? That's EASY!

1. Vintage Vespas and motorcycles
2. Horses, mainly Tru
3. My friends

I think since this blog is public, I'll keep the details of the list to myself. I'd hate for people to start shit talking about something I said and take it completely out of context. People on the Internet are dumb. The problem is, there is no voice so it's hard for people to really decipher what it is you are really saying.....you know like on instant message and such. Anyways, I'll be deleting said shit talkers very, very soon!

Happiness is made and we're all in control of our own destiny. The easiest way to accept that is by making good moral and ethical choices. And sure, it's easy to fuck up, as I've said time and time again! I can't list the bad decisions I've made in my day but I know that they were MY decisions. I embrace my flaws, after all, they are MINE. Love it or leave it.

Bird Love

I am absolutely addicted to You Tube videos about swearing parrots, African Grey parrots, Amazon parrots crying like children and dancing Cockatoos.

Children crying is one of the most awful sounds in the world. Parrots mimicking children crying is one of the cutest things in the world! Go figure. I'm so into birds it's kind of funny, however, I'm by NO means in to Big Bird. Otherwise, I love them and everything about them. I enjoy watching birds do what is natural to them whether they are a companion parrot or a bird outside. I've also been infatuated with the wild parrots of Hyde Park! Super cool stuff! I had heard about them a long time ago but had never seen one until I started dog walking in the South Loop last year. I remember hearing this odd call and no sooner did I look, there was a small, green parrot in the tree! I called Durso and was freaking out! He has a thing for birds too!


Mid Summer last year, I saw a pair of the parrots in the tree right behind my house. I ran upstairs and got my camera and snapped a few photos. Here is one of them:

While it's not the best picture, you get the idea of how neat they are! My parrot, Jarobie, has been such a jabber jaw lately! Her newest thing is "There are eels in my hovercraft." Yes, she says that. One of the funniest things she does is talk to the cat, Boo Boo. We talk to him a lot when he meows and he meows quite a bit sometimes. So when he meows, I'll say, "What!" So now when he meows, Jarobie says, "What!" Most of the time her what is followed up with her calling him. His nickname is "Booby" so she'll do this sing song voice and say, "Booooooby." I love my pets!

Furry Angels Are On My Side!

You haven't experienced a terrible smell until you have smelled necrotic intestines. Let me tell you, of all the gross shit I've seen in the past year, this pup's intestines were it! This poor pup didn't stand a chance of surviving and if it did, it would have been a very rough recovery.

The puppy angels must also be on my side (or Gracie's). Her blood work was waiting for me last night. I skipped over the CBC and went right to BUN and Creatinine-BOTH were normal! In fact, according to all the Dr's on staff last night, her blood work was impressive considering she's a 12 year old!! The exact words of one of the Dr's was, "Well Millie, you're doing something right!" I am ecstatic to say the least. I don't think I was ready for the worst case scenario. This episode made me really appreciate my dogs (not that I didn't before). I swear by the best possible food your money can buy. In my dogs' cases it has been Innova Evo for many years, Raw Diet and Abady (granular, kibble and raw). I like to think that when it comes to animal care, I am at the very top.

I've always had a high standard of care for my pets. Sure, it's easy to get lazy sometimes (you should see Jarobie's cage) but in all, I try to do right by them whatever the cost. I feel a short road trip coming on! Tru, here we come! Last I heard, she was looking fabulous and Vernon has been doing a wonderful job (as always) at keeping her fat and happy. I've heard various reports of her condition. The mud thing cracks me up. She's a draft horse cross, the mud isn't going to kill her! I understand every one's "quality of care" is different but there certainly should be some consistencies throughout. 1. If the horse is going to be in a stall for days on end, it should be picked at least once a day! 2. Horses should be fed on a schedule 3. They should have mental enrichment of some sort be that a "stall ball" or a salt lick 4. They need yearly medical attention 5. Every horse is different and has different dietary needs that should be taken in to consideration 6. Exercise. For my horse that was pulling a carriage. My vet said that pulling was a great source of exercise. I guess 'ol girl isn't getting much of that anymore but that oh so long walk back to the barn every night will have to do, lol! 7. Turn out, which borders on the whole "mental health thing."

I suppose I could go on but I have a full day of fun ahead of me! Hope everyone is doing great! Kiss ALL of your horses, dogs, cats (ack), birds, rodents....whatever for me!!

Possible Sad News About My Aussie, Gracie.

I don't like incidental findings. They're never fun especially when they are directed at your beloved pets.

Gracie, my Aussie, may be in the beginning phases of renal failure. I'm really sad but realistic that she's 12 years old and isn't going to live forever (Keeper will though, lol). I had though several weeks ago that she wasn't looking as great as she usually does and opted to pull some blood for a "geriatric" profile. I've never run a blood panel on her and with her age, it was certainly time. Don't get me wrong, Gracie is acting like a puppy as always which is why this is really hitting me hard. My job has forced me to be more realistic about the lives of our animals and that they can go any time, no matter how great they look.

This profile did not include a UA but since we have a new gal training in lab, I offered some of Gracie's urine for her to practice on. The specific gravity of her urine is 1.010 which is often associated with the end stages of renal disease. It basically says how well the animal is concentrating the urine. We thought maybe she just had a bunch of water or something so I was told to run it again before I left for work this morning. Much to my disappointment, it was the same. I'll wait until tonight and bring another sample in to check. Dr's say that without knowing her BUN and Creatinine, there's no way to know if she's Azotemic. I'm really lucky to have a staff of Dr's who love me and my pets!

All I can say is that I pray, pray and pray some more for her to be OK. I love this dog so much it hurts sometimes. She's been a wonderful companion and I'll hate to see her go when the day comes. Of all the breeds, I would have never chose an Aussie but someone had just adopted one and I really liked the look and intensity of her dog. I'll write more about Gracie when I know the results of her blood work.

Sadly,

-AD

Back to THE Grind

What a lovely few days it has been! It's too bad I have to go back to the grind tonight.

Yesterday the boy and I enjoyed a walk through Lincoln Park and a delicious dinner at Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. OMG, if you've never been there you really should go! The Pina Coladas were the best I've ever had!! Even thought the last 5 days have been nothing but a joy, I feel like the world is trying to tell me something.

Yesterday I ran in to a few different folks from the carriage world! Of all the people to run into, why them? It was awesome to catch up with them AND love on a horse for a few minutes! My life is seriously not as great as it could be without horses in it everyday. The first thing they wanted to know is what I've been up to. I told them about my job and neither were surprised at what I was doing. Helping animals is something I was born to do. I'd prefer to be working in large animal or in aquatics but for now dog and cat (ack) will do. The conversation quickly changed to the industry and one quote was, "Where the hell did you go without even saying goodbye!" I never had any real attachments in the industry but there were a few people I had fairly strong feelings for. The conversation ended with me asking if I could sit on the drivers seat again just so I could remember what it was like to stare at a horses ass. I felt giddy and my boyfriend saw a whole different side of me, the side that used to love being a carriage driver.

I stick with my gut, however, and know that I can only move forward. Carriage driving was a fun way to make money and pass the time but my life began the day I walked away. Of course it has taken a year for me to say that but I can say it with ease the further the past is behind me.

Since We're Throwing Personality Disorders Around.....

With the recent developments, I couldn't help but right another blog on my blogger.com site.

I came clean on my last blog about how I followed the Exposed Truths blogger site. I think anyone and everyone in the carriage community does too. It’s addicting only because so much of what is happening in the industry is directly related to what this person has been writing. I was really quiet shocked on Friday. Not because of the allegations that Cutters neglected their horses but because the city actually did something about it. I’m certain that the city has a pretty solid case against Cutters and their history over the past year.

Losing the barn on LeMoyne was the beginning of the end for them and my company too. We were lucky to find a place right around the corner on Throop and Cutters found a spot on Magnolia, the street just East of Throop. Katherine, Lori and I were all somewhat reluctant to sign the lease on Throop due to the cost. In the end, it was one of the many reasons we decided to call it a day and hang up our hats. What I do know, however, is that our horses well being was never sacrificed or compromised due to us not having enough money.

Leaving the carriage industry was one of the hardest things I ever did. Even though there were so many undesirables involved, I did my job and took awesome care of both horses (Epic and Tru). Recently, it was written that a “horse trader” sold my horse to a company in Shipshewanna where she was currently giving carriage rides. Nothing could be further from the truth. I KNOW for a fact where Epic went. And the horse trader was not a horse trader at all but rather a very kind, honest and generous Amish man named Vernon Miller.

The woman spouting lies is just pissy because of a deal gone bad with said Amish man (which she blames on ME of all things). When are people going to stand up and take accountability for their own mistakes? Furthermore, NO ONE in the Chicago carriage community would speak poorly of this man because they KNOW him and have worked with him for years. Beyond that , I won’t get in to a pissing match because I know what I know and I don’t have a history of lying. I’ve always told it like it is and sometimes that upsets people who are living in a false reality. It's really unfair for you to make false posts about me, however. That IS known as slander. My lawyer is on it. Seems like you could use a good lawyer now a days.

And for those who consider me a "life ruiner" way to give me a huge ego boost! Thanks! I never knew I had such power over people. Maybe you chose a poor choice of words. Coming from you though, I don't really care. You'll spew lies to anyone who is crazy enough to listen.

Watch where you point that thing!

OMFG, of course I've been following the Exposed Truths blog, how could I not? While some of it is kind of funny, some of it is really kind of sad. I'm sad about the death of an industry that I was once a part of and that had a huge part in my life for many years. None of it really comes as a surprise though. It was just a matter of time before Chicago could no longer fly under the radar. I'm glad I got out when I did.

What is bothering me in all this is that I'm being accused of helping Exposed Truths. First of all, I don't talk to anyone from the industry with the exception of Katherine. I picked up my shit and left. I left without telling anyone. It was planned and thought out. Katherine and I figured that since 2007 was so terrible, 2008 wasn't going to be any better. We were right. So rather than sacrifice the quality of care for our animals, we said, "goodbye and good night." I like to think that I had a very high standard of care for my horse(s). I treated my own and others with care and regard at all times. Did I ever do anything wrong, of course I did. Fuck, who hasn't made a mistake in their lifetime (I've made enough to live a whole other life!)? I have a few regrets about some of the choices I made in regards to my horse. One regret I don't have is that she is no longer living in the city day in and day out. I neglected her basic needs of being turned out. Did she ever complain? NO.

The relationship I have with my horse was always one I took very, very seriously. When questioned by paying customers (and non-paying customers at that) about the care Tru received, I was passionate about telling it as it was. I don't think I ever covered anything up about how I loved her and how the money she made was always her's first. I always spent it on high quality food, shelter and goofy things that were most likely unneeded such as polos and rain sheets. Call me goofy, call me what you will, I love my horse.

I'm not certain I'll write at this particular blog again because my life is my life and I share it with only those I feel worthy (yes, I'm a pompous, cocky, dressage queen, cunt, asshole blah blah blah, narcissist.) Whatever. I wish everyone the very best and wish the horses even better. I'm angry to see how poorly some of the horses are being cared for. So I'll put my money where my mouth is. If anyone out there in the carriage world need help with caring for the horses, I'd be happy to feed, clean or whatever FREE of CHARGE. I'm a phone call or e-mail away.

Oh, and my sex life is an open book. If you have any questions of who I'm fucking, how I'm fucking them which position I prefer etc, etc vibrators, strap ons, cock rings, condoms, lube blah, blah, blah...... I think anyone who knows me well enough knows that I've never been shy about VAST sex life or much else.


-AD